SUNDAY SKETCHES & PAY IT FORWARD ART

Last year I participated in a pay it forward project.  You sent something that had to be home-made... didn't matter if it was art, or food, or clothing.  I received a beautiful package and I had sent out a hand-knitted headband with felted flower to my recipient.  Soooooooooo, when my artist friend Mark Doepker posted a pay it forward art project I immediately signed up!

I posted on my FB page as instructed and a friend signed up.  Chrissy (my now recipient) and her husband Tony took a long awaited honeymoon this past December.  They went to my favorite place, Key West.  I knew right away that whatever I did would have some Key West in it.  My muse took over and the perfect image came to mind.  I have hundreds of rooster pics from our trips to Key West.  The symbol of the island. I had a special rooster I photographed from this last trip and wanted to use him.  The painting had to be bright as that is how the island is!

I drew my picture and then set to work.  I used watersoluble Caran D'Ache wax pastels ( love how these feel - like you are spreading butter) for the blue background - mixing blue turquoise with cobalt blue.  Outlined the KW with black acrylic paint - sharpied in my writing within the KW.  Everything I put in there is symbolic of the island - had to include Captain Tony's for obvious reasons - and then included honeymoon Dec. 2012.  I used watercolors -  orange and yellow to fill in the letters and wow everything was popping - just like I had it in my head.  I was afraid to complete the rooster for fear of wrecking the whole painting. (things don't usually come out like they are in my head)

used dark brown for matting instead of black, it really made a difference

After a couple days of staring at it...I sucked it up and put the brush to paper.  I completed the rooster using watercolors and then sharpie for some definition and a little white gel pen for some pop.  I hope Chrissy and Tony love this as much as I do.

a raw rough frame captures the island flavor

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches - now to finish my labels for the postcard swap!

cheers, dana
May the luck of the Irish be with you today and always!

WOW, DECEMBER.... really???????????

First, I can't believe it has been sooooooooooooooo long since I have posted.   Lots of things going on and the outcomes were all WONDERFUL.  My husband successfully completed radiation treatment, got our numbers back and they are awesome!  I had two minor procedures and all pathology reports were GREAT.  So now back to the daily business and celebrating our health!

I have been viewing art and reading about Flora Bowley.  Her retreat sounds incredible and maybe next year something I will try to do if it's offered.  It's on my want list anyway.    I have always tried to produce art - but my most favorite pieces that I've done were out of emotion and didn't follow the rules that I had in my head.  With all this in mind, a couple weeks ago I decided to start a painting for my grandson Mason's room. 

His mom just said something nautical please.  Mason is three and, of course, adorable. 

 I was going to draw out my tracing paper and transfer my drawing - and start a watercolor.  BRAIN SAID STOP.... expand your comfort zone!  FEEL THE PAINTING...it doesn't need to be neat and tidy.  Read some more Flora... be inspired - just put on the paint...Okay - I hear ya!!!!  So, I had this big canvas that I bought and have stared at all summer!  Here we go!

Step one - big brush (Sanford Birdsey always said BIG BRUSH) randomly stroked some paint on - no need to cover canvas all neat and tidy just throw some paint on.  I used this blue RUSTOLEUM that had kind of thickened and it was fun!!!  It took awhile to dry the paint was so thick.  I just looked at it for a few days thinking of how I wanted to draw my subject on the canvas....read more Flora.... so just took a sponge brush and swirled in an outline with some patchie fill in.  Let it dry and looked at it for a couple days.  I really only paint in the morning before I go to work, so it's not like I have a big block of time.  I am NOT a get it done at night person.  Anyways the process continued like that - threw some more paint on with my hands.  Just sliding my fingers thru the paint and up and down the canvas - it felt so wonderful - like I was putting a part of me into Mason's painting.

I feel like this painting is mine, using the techniques and inspiration from Flora Bowley's book: Brave Intuitive Painting.

the m.a.w. is supposed to look carved into the boat, Mason date of birth -the painting is signed Grams in lower corner

On the cover of the book it states: techniques for uncovering your own unique painting style.  let go. be bold. unfold.  I feel like that is what happened in creating my nautical sock monkey.  I let go, I was bold for me and the painting seemed to unfold right before my very eyes.  You don't look at this and say that is a Flora Bowley painting. 
Although this year has been rocky.... I have learned alot!!! Thanks to my artistic connections thru blogland!!!! Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches... I hope you check everyone out and Alexandra's etsy shop too!
 Hugs to you all! 

Ahoy mating! dana

all work copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

more angel eyes for Optometry Giving Sight & SS

Hope you like her Jez!  Please, honestly let me know, I am trying to start a curly haired girl.  Anyways - next up for my mini's for Optometry Giving Sight is the finished Babushka Girl!!!  When I was a kid all the mom's wore babushka's - I even had to wear them when it was chilly outside.  Now I think they are cool and so remind me of the 50's!  Made to ride in a convertible!!!!  There is a no helmet law in Michigan now, I could try it on the Harley... hummmmmmm, NO.

Have a great weekend and enjoy all the stops at Sunday Sketches, thanks Alexandra!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

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

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

Sunday Sketches and Phoenicopterus

She is done and has been shipped, wow shipping a framed painting this big is expensive! 

Phoenicopterus!

I have truely enjoyed the experience of doing this painting.   I used techniques from Natasha May's Cotton Candy Girl class in doing the background and some valueable Mess/layering lessons from my time with Lisa Wright's class.  Ahhh, patience is a virtue!!!  At one point I had decided my background was mud and needed to start over.  I was in a panic because I needed to have it shipped before this weekend.  In my pj's- I drove like a mad woman to Michael's, it was Sunday and Hobby Lobby (closer) was not open.  Dashed thru Michaels trying to decide if I should just do a framed up canvas or watercolor paper again - I purchased both.  Charged home crashing into the diningroom where I had left my work and WAH-LAH.  It had dried and I loved how it looked.  Geez, why can't I just put the brush down, walk away and let each step dry before trying to finish it!  Yes, Lisa, I hear you!!!!
Here's to a great Olympics!  A wonderful ending to July and a fun upcoming August!   Alexandra our host for Sunday Sketches is very ill and unable to host this week.  Healing thoughts and hugs sent her way!

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

all works copyright of dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

Giveaway winner is... & Phoenicopterus, of course!

IN MY HAST TO FINISH THE FLAMINGO....I TOTALLY FORGOT TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY...OMG.  YES, I THINK I AM GETTING MEMORY ISSUES AS I AGE.

  BUT THE WINNER IS NORA CLEMENS-GALLO !!!! 

 HER WORK IS BEAUTIFUL AND I HOPE SHE ENJOYS THIS BOOK!!!

I finally finished my ATC to send to Minnemie!  As, I am sure you read in her interview last week, she grew up in South Africa.  She loves to paint animals of her native country.  Although I am not as skilled at it as she is - for our trade I decided to do a Phoenicopterus!!!!  I am working on a large comissioned painting of a FLAMINGO and discovered in my research that they are native to South Africa too!  Wha-la!!!!  My subject matter for our trade.  Minnemie sent me this incredible elephant which I posted upon receipt and now I am fulfilling my end of the trade! 

Wednesday,  I discovered that she too, is a chocolate lover...I knew we were kindred spirits and this seals the deal...we both are tomboys that are want to be princess's!!!!  She is surrounded by boys...I have 3 brothers, 2 sons, and a boat load of nephews and now 4 grandsons!!!...no girls around early in life but now - 2 step-daughters, 3 neices, a daughter-in-law, 3 granddaughters!!! Talk about princess-ville!  So how could I not do a PINK Flamingo!

So here is my Phoenicopterus:

Hope everyone stops by to see all the Paint Party Friday participants!!!  A great place for inspiration and knowledge!
Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting!!!!!  Can't wait to read about this weeks artist!

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

all works copyright of dana strickland, sinderella's studio

round 2 with the Angel....

Well, my WWII vet DID NOT LIKE THE ANGEL I DID, AT ALL!!!  "That is not what I asked for, I want a real map with an angel - Angels are WHITE!!!"  He was rude and it was hard to stand there and take it.  So, thank goodness for being part of Lisa Wright's Messy Book group - even though I hadn't worked in my book  yet.  I have had to work 6 days a week for a couple weeks and life has just been to busy.  But with that in mind I was able to buck up... took my angel to the sink and poured my cup of coffee out on top of it!  I  then took it outside and stomped it into the dirt. 

The trainee I was working with thought I had lost my mind.  I really didn't say anything.  Took the painting back outside and left it in the pouring rain.  As I was leaving work I ran it over a couple times and then put it in my car.  So, at the DEMANDS of my WWII vet, I redid the painting on a map with a WHITE ANGEL.  If he doesn't like this one, I am done.  I can't believe someone would be so rude when you are doing something for free.  He said all you artists' think you have the right to interpret what is being asked of you  - well heck yay, if you wanted a still life then take a photo for me to copy!!!

Anyway, here is the new version.  So my sweet 89 yr old vet has a mean streak that he didn't show when asking for me to do this and letting me know how poor he is.  Lesson learned!!!!

now, off to pour some dirt into my Accidental Mess Book so I can contribute to the group!
cheers, dana

make art, make friends (well, I guess not always) - share art, share souls

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

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