Art Play Date Giveaway

Come PLAY - Art Play Date is giving away 5 class spots!
This 25 week online e-course features 24 of the leading teachers in the decorative painting market and a lot of mixed media creativity and inspiration for just $99. You will receive 27 pre-recorded video lessons delivered right to your home. It fast, easy and you can watch them any time and as many times as you like until April 1, 2015. So, what are you waiting for? Visit www.artplaydate.com for more information and to see the list of incredible teachers.

Here's your chance to WIN a free spot. You have this week, March 17-21, to go visit the teachers facebook pages, their blogs even their twitter accounts to participate in this great giveaway. Leave one comment per site and increase your odds of winning! If you have already purchased the e-course, you will be fully refunded.

So, want to PLAY ? Answer my question in the comments section below.
When was the last time you had an Art Play Date?

Art Play Date

Art Play Date features 24 teachers, 25 lessons (me, twice) and one great price of $99. This online e-course combines decorative painting and mixed media bringing you an adventure into unlimited creativity and inspiration. The event starts May 5 and runs through October 20. You then have an additional 5 months to watch and rewatch the pre-recorded videos as much as you like.

Now, about this little bit of cuteness smiling at you. She is part of the March Bonus Lesson. You must sign up before Wednesday at midnight in order to get the class and well, I didn't want you to miss it. To find out more and to view the lesson schedule go to www.artplaydate.com

Inspiration 22/30

I cropped this iris extremely close because I loved the ruffles, water drops and the extreme value difference of the lovely petals. Did you notice all that in a single glance? I sure hope so! This blue violet iris is just a plethora of inspiration to my artist side. I actually want to paint this large, I mean really large using bold directional strokes of a very limited palette. It would be a huge challenge but the outcome would be a journey of learning the curves and gentle contours from within the structure of the flower. Adding the water drops would be the final step. The step that says you are finished, you have released your energy into the canvas now just sit back and enjoy it! Who knew that one flower would evoke such passion? What is your flower today?

Teaching 11/30

I taught this colored pencil class at my 20th HOOT Convention this past week. It really defines my career as a decorative artist. It was the first convention I ever attended, shopping at first, buying all I could carry and treasuring each aisle of goods with anticipation. I started exhibiting my own designs 2 years later and then teaching a couple years after that. I have run the gamut of classes - drawing, business, pen and ink, creativity, sketching, acrylics, colored pencils and now, mixed media. I love the enthusiasm of students, the energy they bring into each and every class and the certain look they get when they finally "get it!" It is a thrilling exchange I have been blessed to witness over and over again for the past 15 years, one I will cherish for a lifetime. If you have ever been in one of my classes, thank you for letting me into your creative world if even just for a couple hours together, I am forever grateful!

Feeling Small 4/30

I have been feeling small lately. Not because of anything specific. Just because I am suddenly aware of the vastness surrounding me. The bright blue skies freckled with white billowy clouds will get my attention any day. But layering them with the green lushness of the yard this year and well, it stops me in my tracks every time. I love the color palette it provides, so clean and crisp. I just want to grab my brushes and paint a landscape fast and furiously taking it all in and getting it all down to remember this specific, beautiful moment. I also want to lay on the pier and see what kind of images I can find hidden amongst the clouds. Want to come join me? I know we will find lots to discover!

Join me on my journey of
30 days, 30 blogs...

A Lovely Lunge

This is a newer dogwood tree and this year it is full of reaching blooms that follow the sunlight. It makes me stop the car in the driveway each and every day to admire its beauty. I captured the single blossom as it lunged towards the sunlight giving it such beauty, strength and gracefulness that I can almost cry. The delicate translucent white petals and the deep avocado leaves touched by a hint of fuchsia makes me admire the artistic work of Mother Nature. What fun she must have had touching her brush into a full palette of color and splashing the nature around her giving it life and wonderment. It has delighted my creative spirit for years and I know it will continue for many more to come!

Cryptic Color

I was so delighted to see the beginning of our daffodils opening. I always look forward to their sunny centers letting me know that the spring season is on its way. The ruffled center that pushes its way outward from the creamy white petals makes me wonder what Mother Nature was thinking when she created these beauties. So delicate and almost mysterious in their form that I find them one of the most challenging flowers to render. I can draw them quite well but the colors are just mystifying, almost unobtainable. Do you see the many shades of blues, greens and yellows in the white petals? How about the bright orange and deep green almost going into a violet for the centers? Are you understanding my perplexities now? Such simple elegance that sends my muse running for the hills wanting no part of the puzzle that lays ahead on my color palette. Now where did she go...

An Introduction

While at the Claude Monet exhibit it also featured a few artists and friends of his and their art was just as moving as his own. After the exhibit I wrote this in my notebook about Eugene Louis Boudin and his artwork Fashionable Figures on the Beach. "I was introduced to a wonderful artist today. The low composition and detail figures talked to my heart and soul. Will my art touch others like that? Can it? Will I let it?" It brought me to tears and today it still moves me in a way no other artist really has. To be so different and unique and able to tell a story yet fill a viewers heart with beauty beyond belief, that is what I want my art to be. He has lifted my artistic spirit to strive for new uncharted territories in my art and given me the challenge to really dig deep for the inspiration and the soul of my artful journey. Thank you Eugene for sharing your art with the world!

PHOTO SOURCE http://www.artfinder.com/work/fashionable-figures-on-the-beach-eugene-louis-boudin/

Art Whispers

While in Las Vegas this past week I had a rare opportunity to visit an art exhibition featuring Claude Monet. The soft palette and interesting impasto strokes made me feel all dreamy and not yet awake while walking the small rooms viewing this impressionistic artwork. Visions of pale peach, mellow yellow, soft lavender and mint julep greens filled my head with calm and gentleness that I really can't explain but will try. Envision waking up while the sky is just turning a soft hue of pink on the horizon, dew still on the ground from the cool evening and the promise of a glorious sunny day hangs in the air. Yes, that is the feeling I experienced while admiring his work. I am amazed that I found this photo of a simple haystack so enjoyable and moving at the same time. When you are transformed into the art for even the briefest of time, I feel the artist has done their job letting you see the subject through their eyes. Just simply breathtaking and it is a day I will remember for a long, long time to come.

PHOTO SOURCE http://www.fineartprintsondemand.com/artists/monet/haystacks_setting_sun.htm

Seeing Red

I received a holiday flyer from Crate & Barrel this week and was so inspired by the layout, colors and text, I used it for a couple of small canvases. I was fascinated by the red and all the different hues available in that color palette and wanted to explore it a little further. I added the stripes to the right and included a butterfly that has every red color name imaginable in it written inside. I added snowflakes for the upcoming holiday and included the small dots to mimic the ornament shapes. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. It will look great in the dining room cabinet surrounded by all the christmas items. What would you do with it?

Light & Shadows

The dramatic light in this photo captured my muses attention which lead me to the tiny branch of japanese maple leaves. The cast shadows on the large green leaf just makes me want to get out my paints and record it as artfully as possible dancing with each brush stroke. I loved the extreme light at the right of the photo ensuring that it gets proper attention as well. But, oh, my heart sings with the mysterious shadows lurking on each and every leaf. The tangled web of light and dark just ignites my creative soul down to its core. I hope you find inspiration wherever you look, even if it is in the shadows (a vincent price evil laugh is now playing in my head, sorry for that).

The Steampunk Aviator

I have been enchanted with the whole steampunk movement mostly because of the combination of insects and mechanical parts like gears. With owls being such a huge trend right now I thought I would try my hand at making it into my version of a mixed media canvas with various texture and many layers of random techniques. I know he needs a lot of love but I'm so pleased with the way he turned out. Actually he is pretty close to what I envisioned in my head - I know, you are sooo glad you aren't trapped in there, right? He looks adventurous and rough from a night of flying, the only addition I will make, a rolled up document to stick inside the cage as if he was delivering an important message somewhere. Hope you take flight with your next project, whatever it may be and wherever it may take you!

Just Be...

Today I had the whole day to just play in the studio and follow my creative bliss. My only agenda was to play with a couple new art supplies I bought recently. So, I put in my favorite music, opened the windows for a gentle breeze, gathered the puppies close and went to work. The hours went quickly by as light turned to dusk lending the setting sun to further my distraction of the day. The face is done with art parts and I have to say, I loved working with it. I added the dimensional elements with paint, various scrapbook papers, a tag and a little jewelry piece. I adhered it all to an 8x10 canvas panel and have it hanging in my studio already because I enjoyed the freedom to well, just be.

Today

I have been working on these little art cards and am enjoying the freedom it is giving my creative spirit. Not only is the size limiting (5x3.5" playing cards) but the word prompts are making me think long and hard about what kind of art I want to create to represent it. So, what does the word "today" mean to you? For me, it means there is no time like the present. Finding the perfect tag and a clock face with Paris on it was just a special treat and a stroke of luck. This page went fast and furious and has so much texture combined on the front that I just love it! My wish for you, treasure today because tomorrow it is the past.

Creative Color Class

I'm taking a creative color class online with Christy Tomlinson this week and am having a blast. Not only is she showing us ways to find inspiration but also encouraging us to do a project with what we find. I wanted to show the dimensional quality to my project canvas this week since it is a priority with my artwork to add texture. I used scrapbook and tissue paper plus fabric to form the flowers. Of course, it wouldn't be me without an added bug so I stamped a couple butterflies throughout the piece as well. Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful by searching your surroundings. You never know when that muse will throw something intriguing your way!

Houston Artist Expo

I spent the last week traveling and teaching at the Houston Art Expo held in The Woodlands Texas. It was a lot of fun for me and the students enjoyed learning about and experimenting with a new technique while creating memories in this inspirational environment. I am planning on submitting again so I hope you can join me June 26-30, 2012. For more information and to see what the convention is about you can go to http://www.artistexpohouston.com/.

About the photo, it's the hotel carpet, I just couldn't help myself. I found it so wonderful to look at and was totally distracted by it anytime I stepped into the hallways. Oh yes, I have about 20 photos from every angle - am I weird or what? LOL :)

Dreamy Air

I had to free write for 10-15 minutes and found it very exciting because I was actually able to do it. Not only did I keep writing but the subject of air and what I know for sure lead me to really look inside. The text hidden behind the rice paper reads: finding inspiration from the moonlight deep in thought. frantically working until all power is used. falling asleep exhausted only to wake up ready to start again. oh I have missed this excitement. dare I say the muse has enticed me into thinking I am creative I do have a voice I am unique. so I'm giving myself the freedom to dance in the moonlight always!

So Many Circles

Some Thesaurus words for "circle" - aureole, band, belt, circlet, cirque, coil, colure, corona, crown, curve, cycle, disc, ecliptic, enclosure, embrace, encircle, encompass, ensphere, envelop, globe, halo, horizon, orbit, periphery, revolve, ringlet, round, sphere, turn, vortex, whirl, zodiac.

Wow, what an assortment of words. Do I have a favorite? Yes, of course. Cirque is it for me but only because I love the spelling but for the meaning it would have to be aureole. I picked this photo for all the texture contained on or within each circle. Did you notice the thin spokes, the points on the outside of the back tires? How about the inner circles holding all together? Yes, this machinery is full of our word this week. I wonder how many circles you will now start seeing...

The Ignited Spirit

As I cropped this photo I was wondering if any of you caught the butterfly around the woman's face. I made her eye blue like mine, pinked up the lips and gave the cheeks a bit of color but otherwise left the image black and white. She is always pondering so I made the image of her askew, cut the paper at another angle, mounted on another piece then painted in the straight horizon lines in the spirit color to keep her balanced. The match has "ignite" written on it and goes from the spirit to fire to the fizzled out water elements. Did you notice the subtleties? I'm always trying to make the viewer see something up close and personal, did I do the trick with this one? I sure hope so, after all, I have been chasing the muse the last couple of weeks and she is a tricky one :)

Elements of Myself

This is the first page in my art journal, a reflection of myself within the elements. Can you see me there? I surely can because of the earthy feeling of the whole page. Brown as an overall color grounding the whole page. My love of nature in the painted frog and dragonfly plus the additions of the feather and paper butterflies. My fascination of words using them to represent each color as well as defining the element word. The adoration of texture is all around the pages in everything painted, stamped, added and collaged with, I just couldn't get enough! Have you decided on your element yet? As you can see, mine was decided for me.