Mixed Media Flower

Here's another one from my flower series and will be
for sale at the Indie Genius Bazaar on April 9th.
I hope to see you there!

4x6" Mixed Media

I started with a watercolor background and added the halos in colored pencil. The middle of the flower has acrylic paint, colored pencil and pen that's been glued on. Then I used pen, sharpie and white colored pencil for the rest of the flower.

Illustration Friday - Toy

When I got the topic for this week on Illustration Friday 

I immediately thought of one one we have in the art room at school.

It's recognizable to most adults, but I'm not sure if kids these days are playing with them. 

So maybe I see them as more of an antique toy. 

Or maybe retro. 

I'm not sure I really understand the difference between the two.

Either way, it's an old toy we use in still lives to teach cylinders and color.  

2.5x3.5" Mixed Media

 

Illustration Friday - Cultivate

Spring is definitely in the air!

Perfect weather and lots of beautiful iris' and tulips and 

other bright beautiful flowers that make me smile. 

While gearing up for the local art fair I've made a series of fun mixed media

flowers inspired by the beautiful scenery amidst the busy bustling city. 

The last time I was at the local fine art store I found KHADI sketchbooks and immediately fell in love. The paper is made from recycled t-shirts! I bought the rough texture spiral bound book which ended up being the perfect size for small detailed work like my flowers (it's about 6x8").

Blue Paisley

Sometimes I can only handle so much pink. 

Ok. 

Really it's MOST of the time.

So in effort to get out of the pinky-ness I went for blues and greens...
My husbands two favorite colors. 

I was just thinking that would make it more manly, 

but I don't know that I've ever seen manly paisley!

Pink Paisley!

Time for something a little different...

Pink paisley!

Lots of little pen detailing and colored with watercolor. 8x8"

Indie Genius Bazaar

Yesterday I got good news. 

My work has been accepted for a spot at a local art bazaar!

I'm super honored they liked my work enough and thought it was appropriate for their expectations.

I'm also very excited because the people putting it on have quite a fun reputation in these parts of town!

If you're in Dallas Apil 9th and 10th, stop by and check it out. 

Be sure to say hi to me too!

Architecture Inspiration

There's a local architecture contest some of my students entered.

The rules were to create something inspired by architecture. 

It could be realistic or abstract and in any medium.  

While they were working on their unique pieces, I created one of my own. 

 I used an old piece of cardboard that was laying around my classroom, an exacto knife, sharpie and white colored pencil.

The Process of an ATC

I was working on Artist Trading Cards (also called ACEO's) 

with my students the other day and I made one of my own at the same time. 

My instructions for the kids was to create a background, focal point and embellishment, 

so I followed my own rules too.

I started by misting the background with orange watercolor.

I really liked how the corners didn't get any color. 

Next was a focal point. I wanted to include a letter, but not because it had any significance. I just wanted it for the overall shape - trying to forget what letter it was. So S was chosen for the size, curviness and movement. 

Finally I added the embellishment - orange dots. But it was still too boring so I added the green with colored pencil around the white areas. Again, I still wasn't satisfied. I needed some way to tie it all together. 

Blue dots!!

I love how it's hard to tell if the blue dots are oozing down the page 

or if the green/orange is covering the dots.

The Real Thing

Christine was so right! 

All I had to do was scan it instead of taking a picture. 

It was so much easier and faster!

Very different from the last post, huh?!

          

           

                

Each is 2.5 x 3.5" watercolor and sharpie on illustration board

Something Unexpected

I found time today to make (and finish!) a set of ACEO's. 

However, the color of red and orange I used, hates the camera. I was trying to digitally manipulate it so it didn't look fluorescent in the picture, but it wasn't going well. I managed to make it look completely different, but I loved it! I thought I'd keep it to share with you. 

 Each is 2.5x3.5" Watercolor and Sharpie

I'll work on the original picture and have it up for sale soon.