Thinking OutSide the Box

Another Drawing Class project...We had to make a graft over one image and draw it in scale into a larger image. I made my original with 1/4" blocks and drew into 1.5" blocks. It is very easy to draw just about anything this way, you simply draw what is in each box. I used compressed charcoal to get the desired effect I was going for.

Part of the project was to leave some boxes empty, and it was fun to come up with the idea and title for this piece!

Well, I have to go to class and work on a final project for next week and finals week. I think I may have to try another of these!

This summer I am taking a ceramics class and an acrylic painting class!!! YEAHHHH....

My First Gallery Show!!!

Here I am with the pieces I did for my Drawing 1 Class, "Make Mine SunnySide" and "Study In CharCoal". On Friday April 24 th., there was an art show opening event at the gallery in town. It was a student art show of art students from two local colleges. My two pieces were class projects using charcoal. Working from a still life can be a challenge,especially when you must draw whatever is in front of you! No matter what the subject!!! Or angle!

I am one of the "oldie" students, but love the comradely amongst all the artistic souls. This was actually the first time my work has ever been in an art gallery! What a fabulous feeling!!! Had to share!

Collage, Angel Distributing Hearts

This is a collage of an angel distributing hearts she has cut out. I used this same idea a few posts back. This is the first time I tried using collage to create my painting, I actually drink Lipton Tea and used the paper from the tea bag for the cut-outs!!!

I used a bunch of tissue paper for the background texture and painted over it using acrylics with my design. Rubber stamps were used for the background design that shows through.

"F" is for Frida and Her Hat

This is my first Frida! I have admired all the Frida's I have seen painted, and was hesitant to create one. But,I am listening to an audio book on tape while I am in my home studio and guess what it is now...Frida Kahlo's Biography and I am so meshed in this story of this incredible woman and artist who struggled with her health, art, life, as short as it was, and (Diego) ...do not think I could have put up with him and his womanizing, but their love was always there. She was so much stronger than I could be.

Anyhoo, here is my first take on Frida,a woman that I admire, for all she went through and what she accomplished in her short life. An inspiration to those of us who have not been blessed with good health and to those who have!

I gave her gold glimmers in her hair and dark chocolate eyes. I also tried to give her some panache with the jewels and flowers in her hat. Frida loved to dress with such color and jazz. Back to my drawing table and the rest of her story!!!

"E" is for Esme and Her Hat

Finally back to my hat series! Really like how this one came out. My cropping of the art isn't a very good oval, I noticed! AnyHoo......Esme was created with acrylic paint on a thin wooden oval piece. I am really trying to play with color using it for shadows, etc. I am just going with how it moves me at the time. I am not sure if that is correct or not, but I am enjoying the process.

I am listening to a book on tape. I pick these up at the library...love libraries, and listen while I work. Well, my latest is Frida a biography of Frida Kahlo...love it. So, guess who will be posing with her hat for "F" in my hat series???

Scooter and His "BaBy"

This is Scooter Boy, Mom's boy with his new "baby." All of his toys are called baby! He has a box loaded with toys from his very first and he is eleven yrs. old now! He meticulously picks one out, (he knows what he is looking for) and plays with it and then sucks on it, he goes into a trance kind of thing sucking on this toy and then falls asleep. He has done this ever since he was a baby. Too cute. Had to share this photo.

Pen and Ink Class Project

This is another drawing class pen and ink study. I enjoy working with the inks and different pen tips, but find I work much smaller, since it is such a delicate process. I starting a journal of pen and ink work, experimenting and growing in this new journey.

New Banner Idea...

Well, I bit the bullet and tried creating a new banner! I still am not sure about this one, hummmm. I also want to do something else with my blog layout.

Thank you...thank you!!!

Wow, Thanks so much goes to Shelley at http://www.thecharmingplace.com/ and to Darla at How I Spend My Time for giving me this ever so wonderful award. I am truly honored. Thanks so much for thinking of me.This Renee award was created by Bella and Ces in honour of their friend Renee.

In Bella's own words "this is a brand new award and I the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."
Now to pass it along. I am going to nominate 8 women who I love so much and thank every time they take some of their time to visit and comment on mine and everyone else's art. Checkout their work, they have so much talent and amazing creativity.

Cris at Mommy's Midwest Mountain Folk Art

Jolie at JolieArt

Hilary at Goldbutton Studio
PBSARTSTUDIO
Susan at Blogger (Blogspot) - susanfaye and Blogger (Blogspot) - 365catladies
Elaine at Pastel de Vie Studio
Kimberly at Soggy Dog Studios
Karen at purplecats corner

XoXo, SuZi

Class Project

This was our drawing class assignment last week.We had to use pen and ink with ink washes. I love the way the pen works it's magic, and the available nibs for different line work is fun to experiment with. I save flowers and let them dry to crackly little bunches. Then I use them to place in old bottles, etc. And one of those dried flowers became my subject.

A View of My Booth

Here is a glimpse of my booth at a local shop called The Mad Hen! Those "Chicks" are the coolest! I have an old display cabinet filling up with my "stuff". As you can see, I have made cards and prints of my paintings. I also have the jewelry designed with my art, journals, gift boxes, coasters, and home decor items I redesign and give new life to. I want to open an Etsy shop with my items, but am a little intimidated.

Jewelry

Well, I have been saving bottle caps and finally decided what to do with them! Make jewelry! I make glass beads and wanted to do something different with them, so I decided to incorporate these bottle cap charms I have been making. I have a few different things that I am doing with them, but here is my first endeavor. I also make cute trinket boxes to match each piece of jewelry, although you can't see the one that goes with this necklace very well. But you can see the top of another round box that also has a necklace inside.

Paper Hearts

What a fun piece to make. It started out as a gal dancing with a cat, but I didn't like the way it turned out, and then this just happened...She is casting her paper hearts for the wind to carry off, sending love out into her world.
I used torn paper for her skirt, the tree leaves, hat, and the hearts. It shows some nice texture and dimension in person. This would be good for Valentine's Day!

"D" is for Delilah and her Hat

May I introduce you all to Delilah. She is in her blue mood, as you can tell by her coloring. Her hat has some funky flowers made from my old paper palettes that I save. I love how all the colors that are mixed on them make their own little creative statement! I used a paper punch for the floral shapes and glued the three flowers to her hat.
She obviously has something on her mind...what I wonder. And what is she focusing on??

CoCo and Her Hat

This is "C" in my 'Ladies and Their Hats' series! Meet CoCo, and she loves her pink. The floral piece on her hat was created out of various shapes of pretty papers cut and pieced together. She is painted with acrylic paints and finished in a gloss protective finish.

GiGi and Pinkie

I wanted to try something a bit different. This is a collage mixed with acrylic paints, pretty papers, newspaper scraps, and rubber stamps. Then, I scrubbed on some browns for an aged look and added to the texture. GiGi and her poodle, Pinkie, (don't you think that is a perfect name for that little cutie??), are out enjoying the little bursts of Spring in the leaves, flowers, and grasses. I cut out tiny hearts in newspaper for the leaves in the trees. Pinkie and GiGi are wearing their hearts on their chests! This was created on an 8" x 10" canvas board.

"B" is for Buffy's Hat, the hat series continues!!!

This is Buffy and her black hat with strands of pearls swirling around it. She loves her pearls and wears them with everything! I love them, too! These gals are painted on oval pieces of wood with acrylics and sealed with a gloss varnish. I just love her little red lips!!! I always wear red lipstick and think my sub-conscious makes me paint my gals the same as me!!!

Other Ideas

Sorry about the quality of my photos! Still quite new at this... Here is my small cabinet that I found and painted with a scene. It is in a local shop for sale. They sell primitives and lots of funky stuff!

This is a set for Easter that I made using prints of my original painting, Bunnie's Hat. I painted a gift box and filled it with crinkled black paper. The little square box gift bag is out of paper mache, which I embellished with my print and acrylic paint. I added the crinkled paper to it also. It would be sweet to give to someone with tiny chocolates or a piece of jewelry inside! And last, I made greeting cards. What fun!!!