PPF and my mini Angel Eyes series continues...

So much going on but in my artworld...Kat's Liberate Your Art postcard swap has been sooooooo much fun!  I will be participating in her blog hop Sept. 13th so stay tuned to see all the beautiful art that flew around the world!

Then, I did a second girl for my Angel Eyes series - proceeds go to Optometry Giving Sight!  I decided to post my second girl on fb with an explanation and price - SOLD !!!!  I am only asking $7.50 as these are only 4 x 6 ish pieces - matted.  (plus postage please)... Anyway, I really like her - as I do the first one so am thinking of just doing it again instead of waiting until I have all 5 done!  Maybe I'll do 10 if it keeps working!  "Believe" is totally opposite of "we are the world" - hope you like her!

Please be sure to visit all the artists' at PPF!!!!  It does take about the whole week to get through everyone!  I always miss more than I want to but that darn job thing!  Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting!

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

PPF and a cause...

By day I am an Optician... by night I am secretly a caped crusader, I mean a random painter!  Really by early morn.  I am not a night person.  So I create between 5:30 am and 8:30 if I haven't gone on a morning bike ride or put in a walk/ run session.  I really don't have a lot of free time to be in my artroom creating.  I wish I was more disciplined but it is what it is.  When I get home from work it is about 7:30 pm and I have absolutely NO creative juices flowing.  On a day off I am usually found running around like a chicken with my head cut off and if I could ever get it all together I may, just may, get better.  That is why I keep plugging away at it!  If we weren't saving to take our annual Key West trip I would so be signing up for:
Flora Bowley's online class  -OMG- brave intuitive you!!!
or hopping on a plane to England for Lisa Wright's one day class at Highgate House, Creaton on Oct. 20th  http://thewrightbrainstuff.blogspot.co.uk/p/playing-with-your-inner-artist-one-day.html

or... the list goes on!!!!  If you have the means, do it!  Life is short, shorter than you may think!

I am currently doing a few little paintings to sell between $7.50 and $10 - all proceeds going to the organization Optometry Giving Sight.  Some wonderful people go to third world countries and give eye exams & glasses to individuals that would not have otherwise!  They have built labs to make glasses, trained opticians and provided vision for thousands!!!!  Let me know if  you see one you like over the next few weeks or if you can share a post that may bring in a donation - please let me know!

Today is the start of Angel Eyes!!!  No. 1, we are the world!

She is obviously a result of my class with Natasha May, a somewhat Cotton Candy Girl.  I just had to do the glasses!!!
Thank you to Kristin and Eva for hosting our Friday get together PPF - a place to see, be inspired, and encourage others!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all works copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

sunday sketches and having fun!!!

Well, I had the best meditative time finishing my butterfly journal page.... it was just as good as getting a massage... well, maybe not that good!  The point being that it held my focus to color in my tiny little wings and the colors made me smile!  It is good for the soul!







Then I had more fun sketching and painting my cousin Cat!  She was at a Motley Crew concert and this is a copy of a picture taken of her.  Unfortunately, I didn't do her justice she is so beautiful and my painting is a bit off but I had so much fun attempting to do a quick portrait on sheet music.  So Cat in Concert....

Cat in concert!

Have a great weekend and be sure to stop by all the Sunday Sketchers!!!!  Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!

Please keep checking in as I will continue to post about the Liberate Your Art postcard swap hosted by another Kat!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all work copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

PPF and my first postcard from the swap

Wow , so excited got my first postcard from the Liberate Art Swap... it is beautiful!

                                                           Thank you Kelly Ishmael

The poor postcard got a little beat up in its travels but still a wonderful mix of words and image!

#2 pencil, Ticonderoga, of course! on newspaper!
Jordyn Weiber, hometown hero!  MI- she lives just
a hop, skip and a jump from us!  so proud!

a journal page I am carrying around to finish

All these classes and projects on the table...I have just finally figured out you can have fun with art, everything you do doesn't have to become a painting... a publish-able piece... a masterpiece... a piece to be critiqued.... YOU CAN JUST JOURNAL or doodle or scribble or whatever!!!  Just keep doing because through doing YOU GET BETTER... omg, I think I've heard that before!  So, just sitting around with scraps of paper and my markers/pencils that I keep in my bag.... I just had FUN!!!!  I plan on continuing to do this!!!  It is okay that my mind gets ahead of my writing and I have to fit things in... it's okay if I misspell a word because this is the place to do it.  This is where you generate ideas, thoughts, feelings that develop into the next "real" painting!!!  There is a big smile on my face!!!!

Please be sure to visit all the participants at Paint Party Friday... I have learned so much from many!  So thankful that there is this positive inspiring place!!!  Thanks Alexandra for hosting!  More to come regarding the postcard swap... a blog hop... stay tuned!

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

copyright dana strickland/sinderellastudio 2012

Sunday Sketches and wings...

I have a painting that is calling for a dragonfly, and I KNOW that I can't produce it the way I see it in my head.  Minnemie did the most incredible dragonfly a few weeks ago and was kind enough to share with me how she did the wings.  I think I may have to get a plane ticket and go get lessons in person.  I am working from a photograph that artist friend,
Deb Drew Brown took.  She has this photo on her website and her work is incredible.  (not my reproduction of it ).

Anyways, this is my first practice page of the dragonfly.  This isn't the background that is going to be used but I need to just practice painting the bug before I move forward....I think this is going to take awhile!

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting our Sunday get together!!!  Please be sure to visit all the artists!

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

PPF and grandkids!

Our two oldest granddaughters get a special solo day with grams for their birthday.  The oldest of our grandkids is Cloee, she turned 9 in June.  We were just able to finally get her solo overnight b-day visit in!  She is a very busy girl with dance and just returned from a trip to Myrtle Beach for a competition!

Anyways, painting is an expectation when the kids come here.... we did a fun shirt project, then went and painted ceramics at a local shop!  We will get those pieces back in 2 weeks... it was very zenful there.  Cloee is a HUGE reader (thank goodness) and a trip to 2 different bookstores was on the agenda - she went home with NINE new books!!!
We completed our day with a late lunch at Gracie's Place in Williamston where I have another painting on exhibit!

She was so excited to see Grandma's work out in public - and ohhhhhhhhhhh, we talked about my piece in Sue Bleiweiss's book endlessly!
So, now time to recover and get back to some of my serious projects (too many) that are literally on the table!  Enjoy visiting all the participants here at paint party friday hosted by Kristin and Eva.  Can't wait to see the featured artist....
and P.S.
Jenny Lee Wentworth was the featured artist a few weeks ago...she has a dream that we can all be part of fulfilling!  If you have ever had a dream come true...please take time to help make hers a reality!

Jenny Wentworth:http://www.ebay.com/sch/j-went138/m.html?_nkw&_armrs=1&_from&_ipg&_trksid=p3686

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

New to me....Creative Tuesdays....

The theme was "spy"....hummmm, 007?  Maxwell Smart? Nancy Drew?  

double agents....

I decided to keep it simple:

Eye Spy!!!

Does anyone remember the game, I spy something....  and you would guess.  The person whose turn it was would let you know if you were getting warm or so far off that you were cold - you'd keep guessing until you "spyied" what they had!

Can't wait to see the other takes on "SPY"....CHECK THEM OUT WITH ME ...click on the Creative Tuesday button!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Busy Week and must complete a piece of work...

for an upcoming raffle prize.  It gets my name and work out there, who knows!  Have started a canvas and plan on making it see thru-ish rusty looking with - well you'll just have to stay tuned...You know how you have something in your head and it doesn't always come out on the canvas?!?!

So this weekend went to the Mid-Ohio race course with my husband while he worked.  I haven't been to one of his races in a few years so it was alot of fun.  Saw a few friends and while the 2 hour and 45 min race was running - I watched some and sketched some.. only took my basic water color palette - you know with only 7 colors, my waterbrush and a pitt pen...
so my flower is pretty flat but I like the leaves.  It was a great way to relax in all the heat!  Their car went off into the gravel so kind of fell behind, finished forth which was really good all things considered.

My husband hard at work!!!  Team RSR !!! in ALMS racing

 The team was disappointed having just come off a win at Mosport 2 weeks ago.  Onto Road America!!!
Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches - so happy to hear she is feeling better and has a break in her crazy schedule!!!  Stop and visit all the great work at SS !!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art share souls

ps if you missed the finished flamingo due to my computer issues - scroll down to my previous post!