HELP...please from all you paint party friday-er's

okay - so I have been working on my bicycle girl painting...I decided to do a pitt pen outline and was pretty happy with the way she came out THEN...I could not get going on the rest of it and NOW have a muddied up mess...
Should I cut her out and put her on something...should I just start anew...can I and with what theme could I collage around her??????????????????????? 
All your suggestions are appreciated!!!

she's an American Girl

What about cutting her out and putting her on newsprint...then putting some rolled up newspapers in her basket????  I do need to darken her hair a bit...somehow I make everyone blonde...

As always it will take me most of the week to get to visit all...I keep missing a few but keep trying to check in with all!  Thanks to Kristen and Eva for hosting such a helpful and inspiration day of the week!!!!  Be sure to check out all the art at Paint Party Friday!

cheers, dana
ps - I hope the majority suggested cutting her out and doing something because that is what I just did! We'll see what happens!
I know I'm writing this on Thursday but Friday's are my early day at work and I just miss it if I don't get it done early.
p.s.s. check out my new profile pic on facebook!!!!

Accidental art and Paint Party Friday...

While doing a project using spray paint I ended up with a cool piece of artwork!!!!
This is a result of the overspray around my project!  Sweet bonus.

Crazy don't  you think!  Anyways, thanks to Kristen and Eva for hosting paint party friday's....keeps me pushing.  Can't wait to see all of this weeks work!  cheers, dana
short post...late for work!

I am all over the map with my art ...

Okay my special sketch book cover page is still in process:

I changed some of the color and will be adding to it this week again.  It really is a mind clearing thing to do...just keep doodling and painting and coloring and wondering freely!!!  Peaceful!  Thanks Darla for this project!
Then, in the mailbox this week....a dvd...I haven't ordered any art instruction dvd's before, always books.  I am someone who does better if shown hands-on, so I don't know why I haven't done this before.
So, Jane LaFazio's "from art journaling to art".....LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!  This is JUST what I needed to help me get back into mixing color and making puddles so I can do the bicycle painting!!!!  I have this ATC size sketchbook that I have been carrying around and not doing much with...now it is art everyday.  I shall practice a quick and easy something and (how many time can you use and in a sentence, isn't it once??)
and...try to use it as my art AND fitness motivation/journal!!!!  What a combo!!!
Here is my starter page!

I am a pear shape that needs some trimming!!! I mean slimming!!!!  Thanks to Sophia for hosting Sunday Sketches...it takes me all week to get to everyone but I try - I don't want to miss a thing!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

IT'S FRIDAY...

Well, if you haven't visited since last weekend be sure to scroll down to Monday's post and read about last Friday's Cork and Canvas session I went to at Gallery 1212 in Old Town Lansing, MI.  A great night of fun and art!!!  Now onto this Friday and the Paint Party!!!
So, I have been chatting with Darla from Doodling in my Mind.  She has a class project of making Sketch Book Covers.  I love what she is doing so asked for the assignment....she was kind enough to send me a pdf and I have started my homework!!! lol...anyways.  She has incorporated zentangles with creating your theme cover and I have sort of got it going on...sort of...I have been working on it in-between many things but take my journal with me and sketch, color, erase...did I say erase...and invision.  My tangles that I have currently aren't tangly enough but they are truly zen-ful for me.  I totally get sucked into the paper and my brain clears of all the clutter that is reeling around.  It is funny, I am a true believer in coloring to calm the soul.  I used to direct a Jenny Craig center and I would tell my clients when they were struggling to get out a coloring book and crayons - get started...scribble on the page if angry, color outside the lines if it felt good or just color and their focus would be with the page...all outside chatter would quiet.  So, this project does the same thing and I am creating a cover for my sketchbook - all in one.  It is in the works and I am changing the colors that I started to fill in with but am loving the process!!!  Thanks Darla!!!

This sketchbook I am using is special because it has only two sketches in it to date...one or both are part of a project that I will share with you in April 2012...top secret until then...so this will end up on the cover and I plan on taking this book with me on my next artistic journey...November....Key West and painting session(s) on the streets with an artist from the Key West Gallery....I will post more as I firm up the information!!!! Can I scream EXCITED!!!!
Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting such a huge Party each and every Friday!!!!  It takes me all week to get through everyone!!!

cheers, dana
p.s.  I haven't forgotten about my bicycle painting....that I MUST do...but need sit down art-time for that project!

So, ask me about it when you visit...push me to pick up a serious brush!!!! Make me stop staring at the paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mojo Monday...and Friday nights cork & canvas....

Well Friday my friend, Stacy, and I went to "Cork and Canvas" at the Gallery 1212 in Old Town Lansing!!!  Rebecca our instructor was great along with the 7 other students.  We all had wine (my favorite was the gal that came with the Bell's Oberon - I am a beer girl by nature) anyways - some of them had special glasses - came with wine chilled in buckets....it was grand!  The artwork in Rebecca's gallery is INCREDIBLE, to say the least.  This months featured artist is B. Craig Cossey - his work, I want it all!!!!  A pic of my jazz musician patient, Etienne Charles, was hanging - how exciting!  The most incredible cow watercolor painting....oh I could go on and on....

Rebecca - our leader!!!!

We were shown Rebecca's finished piece and in work in process - given our canvas, pencil, brushes and paint.  We all drew our copy of the original as it was passed around the room.  We were then given some more instruction and blobs of paint - yay!!!

So we could reverse our background colors or follow the example...it was interesting to see what everyone did looking at the same thing...

Sharon and Vicki were seated in front of us...good artists'

So I have never painted in acrylics...I have dabbled them in paintings here and there but not done a whole painting....So, even though it didn't come out great it was a fun night and I should have brushed more and sipped less!!!!  Oh well, next time.  Stacy does not normally paint, she is a sketcher and a graphics artists so she really stepped outside her comfort zone...she really needs to start painting...hers was excellent! 

Stacy, Artist and ScrapFest project creator!!

If you are coming to Lansing anytime soon....come on the first Friday of the month and stop in at Cork and Canvas - Gallery 1212!!!!
Make a great week!!!! and it's Monday so get your MOJO in action!!!!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

IN REMEMBRANCE....

WE SHALL NOT FORGET!!!!

                                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkfokukjVV8

RESPECTFULLY, dana

Paint Party Friday AND THE WINNER IS ....

DEB at GECKOSTONE!!!!  Congrats, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.  Please check out Deb's blog AND her etsy shop...beautiful soul soothing works!!!!  I love her little blue lizard with the blue tail she is currently working on....wish we had those here in Michigan!

Thanks to all of you...your comments are ALWAYS INSPIRING!!!!  Just trying to get myself organized and back on track...still.  My artroom is almost back together so that I can work on the bicycle painting!!! Yahoo.   I am also trying to get my workout program back on track...yes, again!!!  So, for Paint Party Friday and little exercise motivation!!! 

couldn't get the pic to turn for some reason...NOW to use them!!!

SO HAPPY PAINT PARTY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!  Will be checking out all the art over the weekend as I am off to work...AND tonight attending a "Cork and Canvas" session!!!!  Painting in acrylics (which I have not done - just a dab here and there in work only) and sipping wine with 5 other people.  My metal artist's friend Stacy will be joining me...what fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting...and Deb send me an email with your info so I can put Taking Flight in the mail to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Mojo Monday!!!

It's Labor Day so I don't have to work (my husband does though boo-hiss)...that doesn't mean I'm not laboring!!!  Cleaning my artroom (yikes) and mowed the grass.  Anyways finished my sketch for a painting that I have been putting of for almost a year.  Can't believe my friend still wants me to do it...for money no less.  I haven't completely decided how I want to do the background but it is time to get going on this piece.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!  I can just start to smell our ribs!!!!  In the oven, it is only in the 50's here in Michigan...so much for last weeks heatwave!

Don't forget to leave a comment to have your name entered in the give away!!!! 

 A copy of Kelly Rae Roberts - Taking Flight!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!

Sunday Sketches...summers ending....

I keep bopping around and looking at all the great work here in blogland...between Paint Party Fridays and Sunday Sketches....wow, just amazing work and inspiration to be found.  I sometimes get overwhelmed and stop participating because I feel that unless I produce something "worthy" I shouldn't post.  I don't want people to feel they have to compliment work that isn't really good.  I realize that it isn't about creating a masterpiece - IT IS ABOUT THE DOING!!!  So, this morning I was up really really early - long story that I will save you from - just sipping my morning coffee, listening to the rain and GRABBED MY SHARPIES!!!  Pencil doodled and marker doodled my thoughts for the upcoming day. (Thank you Darla, doodling in my mind!!!)  Splashed some blue to convey my soothing mood and am done! 

HAPPY SUNDAY TO EVERYONE....PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO FRIDAY'S POST OR just know that next Friday I am pulling a name out of my favorite coffee cup to receive Kelly Rae Roberts book, Taking Flight.  We all need books to put our hands and eyes on to start our artsy wheels turning!!!  I have been so inspired by her work and all you Friday Sunday artists' that I just want to share some art-time!!!!
Thanks to our Sunday host Sophie - her mushrooms today just crack me up as I wanted to make my helmet look like a mushroom (because that's what it looks like I have on my head when I ride) but couldn't master it...wished I had checked in with her first!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls!

Paint Party Friday and back on track

Well, it has been a couple weeks of busy life choas and no time to paint or post.  Did take a minute to sketch a seen on my deck...my garden is really pots of herbs and flowers to attract hummingbirds.  We have to much sand to really get anything to grow in the ground.  I love flamingo's and have one of my many in a pot of chives.
Makes me smile...so yesterday while watching the big orange ball of sun come up over the tree line, sipping my coffee; I sketched my peaceful deck...later was able to add marker, watercolor and a dab of acrylic...

a "peace" of my garden

So in honor of getting back on track, into the groove and Paint Party Friday ...I would like to give away a  "peace" of  inspiration.  Leave a comment here today or a post I will do Sunday and Monday and this book could be yours...

Kelly Rae Roberts, Taking Flight.  It is one of my favorite books to flip through while drinking my morning coffee...so for all us coffee lovers, dreamers, artists at any level....hope you put your name in the cup.  Yes, cup, as my coffee time is my time I am putting all the names into one of my favorite morning cups and next Friday will pull a name and send the book on its way. 
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend for Labor Day and hope you get to Art today!
cheers, dana
thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday
P.S. I think my dad really liked his barn...or was it he was afraid to critique?!?