Steampunk Series

My second online
e-course is about to go live. Today at midnight in fact.
To say I'm nervous, excited, thrilled, inspired and just plain happy would be an under-statement. This class has made me think beyond myself and embrace a bit of the daring artist inside. Steampunk isn't for everyone. In fact, most people don't even know what Steampunk is. If you can just imagine the melding of the Victorian Era and the Industrial Age, you have it made. Think soft but tattered, mechanical but intriguing, perfection to me. I was able to use my architectural rendering side to come up with wild and strange pieces that just make me happy. It added a quirky twist to my work that even I didn't know existed. I loved the challenge of finding what kind of items I could add that would give me the machine side of steampunk. Believe when I say, it was not what I expected. There are washers, gears, nuts, zippers, beads, charms, nails, clock parts and optical lenses, where else can that seem normal, right? Loved the challenge of making everyday items work in a piece of art.

So, have I convinced you yet to join the class? There is still time but know the hands are moving quickly, we start at midnight...
If you want to check it out you can find more information here http://kellyhoernig.webs.com/ecourses.htm

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!

Twig Tangler

These two daffodils are being held hostage by the little budding branch. I loved the color differences of the dainty blooms all white and yellow to the budding branch full of dark greens and browns. Even the textures are quite interesting. The transparent petals, the ruffled trumpet, the extremely structured leaves, the fragile tiny buds against the sharpness of the branches are all thing I notice when looking for good photos or design. I want to be intrigued to look closer to a subject. I want to look for the details that don't seem important until you are face to face with them. The composition would be fun to work with because it is so vertical making the flower blooms look like they are just sitting on top of the world. Imagine a background of sky blue instead of the brown, what a difference that would make to this tangled duo. Don't limit yourself to the photo, let it be just the beginning of your creativity!

Illumination

I absolutely fell in love with the lighting on this daffodil pair. The yellow hue is so intense with the sun shining on it but the cast shadows have such great shapes and color I just had to share. I love the texture of the brown, wrinkled leaf as well as the green climbing up the first flower - can't you feel the warmth of the day? The trumpets have a yellowed orange coloration that gets deeper into the shaded area letting them fade into the background a little more. I cropped the picture in this position because it added a little intrigue forcing the energy of the photo off the page into the darker side. I find myself studying the shadows more than the intensity, what part are you looking at? Why is that? The drama, the color, the location of the object - all of these are personal statements about your design opinions. I hope you are taking the time to let them guide you in to inspiration!

Happy Valentine's Day

Love is all around us today. In fact you can't get away from the flowers, candy or cards reminding us to give a thoughtful gift to the ones we love. I love this day because it focuses on the positive side of love - no arguing, fighting or anything else - just sweet sentiments!

I did this square pillow for Painting Magazine years ago but it fits into the current trends quite nicely with the graphic stripes and large checkers in various shades. Even the color scheme is current with brown and pink. Tags are great and this painted one says it all "love". Who wouldn't want to receive this? So squeeze your loved ones and let them know just how special they are to you today and everyday. Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Bird Stamp

I just loved this bird stamp when I saw it and have used it on several painting pieces but this one is my favorite because of its simplicity. It is put on a small paper mache box that I keep postage stamps in. For the design, I kept the stamp muted and let the egg (done in this years trend color - turquoise) take center stage. Notice how the stamp angle, string and small branch keep moving your eyes in a definite circular pattern bringing you all the way through your design. To me, that is so important and one many designers forget to do. My philosophy is once you have the viewers interest, try and keep it. It also helps you notice all the small details the more you study a piece of artwork. For instance, the soft shadow around the stamped tag, the darker one under the egg, the bright turquoise highlight on the tip of the top leaf - all details that would have been missed if you hadn't kept their attention focused. So the next time you are observing or doing a piece of art, see where your attention leads and try to bring it there again going over all the connecting pieces. Have fun and get creative!