A Little Workspace Wednesday for ya!

I've taken the summer off from stressing about my art "business" and I'm back to enjoying my first love...art trading!  The creative juices are flowing and I'm creating things I love so much they make me want to cry...and not stressing at all over whether anyone else likes them!

Here are a few pics of my worktable with various projects in the works.  I'll be posting some finished stuff too just to share my joy.  There is nothing in this world that gives me more complete and total satisfaction than creating something from nothing.

Happy Wednesday, all!

Workspace Wednesday!

so...too much going on around here with the last child getting ready to graduate in a couple weeks.  we had Band Banquet, the last band concert ever (last of 4 kids through the band program), Prom and Senior Pictures all in a week's time.  needless to say...not much art has been getting done but i try to get a little in each day.

these are projects im currently working on...

Week 17 of the Chronicles Project at Wonderstrange Arts is done...i think.

and these are a few little canvases im working on.  having fun playing with this style.  hoping to have these available in my etsy shop soon.

i love trying new things but im still hoping to find that one thing that is truly mine.  the only way to get there, im told...is to make more art.  so i will!

thanks for stopping by!

Always a day late and dollar short!

At some point I will be better about getting this post out at the beginning of Wednesday and not the end but better late than never, right?

Anyway...here's what's going on at my desk today!  I just finished up the last of the commissions I had so now I can work on some things I've been wanting to do just because.  My amazing friend, Sarah Trumpp of Wonderstrange Arts sent me a handmade journal that makes me happier than words can even convey and I've been dying to take part in her wonderful Chronicles Project.  Check her and the project out at Wonderstrange Arts.  I'm also several lessons behind on the wonderful Lifebook 2014 class in which I was blessed to win a spot so I'm also working on the next lesson.

Here is the fabulous journal Sarah made and pics of what's on my desk...

I hope your Wednesday was wildly wonderful and that your Thursday is totally terrific!  :)

Hey! It's Wednesday!!

Here's another peek into my "studio".  Lots of things going on including some experimenting with the fabulous stencils I won from Artistcellar and projects in various stages of completion.  Thankfully its been a productive week so far.

I'm not sure what details would be of interest so if you have any questions about anything I'm working on...please feel free to ask.

As I was going to bed last night I was hit by inspiration.  Horrible timing, I know.  I'm looking forward to seeing if I can bring it to life.  If so...it should be AWESOME!  Hopefully you'll see some of it in future Workspace Wednesdays.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Layer upon layer...in art...and in life!

One thing that always draws me to a piece of art and something I strive for in my own is a background full of depth...the kind that can only come with many, many layers.  Almost every piece of art I make starts with a layer of text and book pages.  I'll add many more before I'm done but I'm finished with this first layer and I'm ready for the next...COLOR!

I started thinking about the importance of layers...not just in art...but in life.  As in art, the layers of our personalities, our experiences, or lives...add depth, interest, and make you want to look, absorb, and look some more.  Without the layers art is flat, one dimensional and uninteresting.  Without the layers...even the ones that make us complicated and even challenging...we are as boring and uninteresting as that bad art.

Personally, I'm baklava...layer upon layer upon complicated layer and you know what...considering the alternative...I'm okay with that.

WOYWW - Bringing out the big table!

Working on finishing up a number of requested pieces and starting on a commission.  Time to pull out the big table so I can spread out.  The first layer is always random pieces of vintage and foreign text.  For me it always gives a good foundation and adds to the depth of the background layering and I love the look of old and foreign text.  Some of it is art in itself.

I'm working on finishing up a couple of requested projects and have pulled out an art journal that I work in now and then to add some new stuff to it.  Still trying to figure out this whole art journaling thing.

Still trying to get this piece just right...and working on another.

Okay...so I'm still working on this heart piece.  I posted to a group I belong to on FB for Mixed Media artists to get some feedback on what it still needed.  The one thing that was mentioned the most was contrast and shadows to define the detail better.  I put the project aside for a day or two while I prayed for inspiration on the best way to achieve that.  I was finally able to add the shadowing and increase the detail.  I'm still not sure if I have enough contrast.  I'm posting it again for feedback.

The piece itself is already spoken for and the new owner has a picture she'd like me to incorporate into it.  Until I have that, the piece will have to wait to be finished.

Any thoughts on the direction its taken?

I also have a second project in the same style that I'm working on for a donation to a local non-profit for a Silent Auction fundraiser.  I like the way it is turning out.  Right now I'm trying to determine what text to put with it and perhaps a way to frame the design or add a little interest to the background.

What do you think?

WOYWW Workspace Wednesday!

Here is my workspace today.  I have a number of projects in varying degrees of completion and I'm having so much fun!!

Projects are coming together!

Working on multiple things this weekend has been a challenge.  I had some doubts that anything was going to come together for a while but with a couple of them done and one looking good despite a few moments of panic...I think its been a good weekend.

It was so great to take part in another Art-a-thon with some of my AFA friends and some new ones.  It took me most of the weekend to get into the groove of making ATCs again but once I got going I was able to put some things together that I was happy with...and I got to make some great trades too!

here are just a few of the ones i made for trade.

I also finished an altered envelope for a monthly trade.  It didnt turn out at all as I first intended but I'm really happy with the direction it ended up taking.

 front

 back

and last but certainly not least...my main project.  I took the next step with it...and absolutely hated it!  I wanted to cry!  I've been taught by friends and artists I really admire that if you make a mistake...put on another layer...keep going until you reach a point where you like it again.  I didn't know if I'd get there and I'm still a little sad that it wont be what I first envisioned but I'm happy with it again and ready to keep going on it.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it or on any of these. 

Three projects, an awesome score and this blasted cough!

The three projects I'm working on are coming along.  The big one, I'm really excited about and loving the way its turning out so far.    I'm posting WIP pics on my WIP page.  The other 2 are frustrating the heck out of me...but i will press on.

I went to Hobby Lobby today to get some things I needed for a commissioned piece.  I also hoped to get a couple of these Silks Acrylic Glazes for the big project.  Practically did a happy dance right there in the aisle when i found exactly what I wanted with those beautiful clearance stickers on them.  Instead of settling for 3 colors...at 50% off I could 6 for the same price!  SCORE!! 

oh...and the cough...so over this!  enough is enough!

Project juggling

okay...so ive started working on my next art piece which is based on one of the lessons in the Lifebook 2014 Course that im taking part in this year.  im really excited about this piece and if it turns out the way im envisioning it...it should be fabulous!

at the same time, im also working on an altered envelope that i need to get out in the mail AND some of my favorite arty friends are having a collage-a-thon this weekend on FB that im hoping to take part in.  its been so long since i did an athon and i have made ATCs in a while so my muse is really slow to switch gears.

here is a little peek at the beginnings of these projects.  ill be posting updates throughout the weekend.

blessings to all!

WIP

here is the project i started on last night and the various stages along the way.  i really am loving it and im at a crossroads.  the questions im asking myself now are...is it finished?  does it need text?  should the 4 canvas boards be separated or should the separation just be implied?

what do you think?