gifting art is so meaningful

Recently I was asked to do an Anniversary tree...I had done a wedding tree for one my sons' wedding and now was being asked to do a tree for a 50th wedding anniversary.  I changed it up a bit from the wedding tree but used some of the same handmade paper.  The guest stamped their thumb prints as the leaves and the bride and groom of 50 years were really happy with the event.  I gifted the painting and it made me feel probably better than the recipients!





cheers,

dana

make it a great day!

PPF and a busy life

So again, it's Paint Party Friday already and I haven't gotten done what I had planned.  Spent yesterday trying to find pictures of my oldest son who is turning  30!  OY.  My daughter in law is giving him a surprise party and wants a pic for every year.  I have boxes and boxes and boxes of photos - most undated and unorganized.  OMG what a task.  I have managed to get 24 yrs done.  I tried using Shutterbug or whatever it is called and was ready to smash my computer... so have copied to a disc and will be off to the do it yourself dept. after work tonight.

So, this morning just to make sure I started my day calmly... I tried a new coffee in my never ending quest for "the" one.  Although everytime I decide on "the" one, the next time I go to the store they aren't carrying it any longer! Another, OY.

sharing an older watercolor / pitt pen today

This morning Newman's Own, Nell's Vanilla Caramel.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  What is your favorite coffee????

Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting Paint Party Friday's!!!!  a great place to learn and be inspired!

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

copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

Sunday Sketches and life is busy

I feel like it has been forever since I have been in touch with my art!!!  The last few weeks have gotten taken over with medical issues and car issues... as I consider 13 my lucky number - I am really looking forward to next year.  Get all these "issues" taken care of and move on!  On a high note - we do have our vacation planned in the middle of diagnosises and minor surgeries to resolve issues... Both of us - how crazy is that!  So Key West be ready because we will be!!!  I plan on really taking some painting gear and seeing if I can't recapture some of the essence of Sanford Birdsey and my trip in 2008!

Dracu-ella !!!

Just a quick watercolor sketch this morning... feeling very Halloween-ish today!  Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!!!  Be sure to visit as many artists' as you can!

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

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 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

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

Back up and running....wow -

watercolor, stamps, and embellished

watercolor with jamaican coral
embellished

last weeks post for PPF was a disaster!  I have no idea what happened.  Trying to finish up the post and wham...computer goes into a fit and that was that.  Sorry it looked so confusing with comments going a mile down before you could find them.  All is well now.  Took it in, had a virus that locked it up.    All tuned up now and ready to roll.  I, on the other hand, wish I was computer tuned so I could clean things up a bit better myself before it goes haywire.

pure watercolor

Anyways, hope you saw the wonderful ATC trade I had with Celia Bradshaw...Sirens of the Sea.  I had so much fun opening hers and LOVED the steampunk mermaid.  I posted hers last Friday so here are the 3 that I sent to her!

Again, thanks to Wendy at Bliss Angels for hosting these monthly trades.  I have a christmas collection she hosted in 2010 that is one of my most treasured trades!

I trust everyone is having a great summer, I can't believe we are about to head into August!  Wow, time flies is no joke! 

Looking forward to Sunday's post...I finished the Flamingo!!!!!

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for this wonderful place called Paint Party Friday!  Can't wait to see the featured artist!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

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