My thoughts on my online classes & SS...

using one of Lisa's assignment backgrounds - working on ideas for
my commissioned Flamingo painting

WOW, in reviewing the last 8 weeks of my artistic journey, it is hard to express verbally all that has gone on in my head.  I took Lisa Wright's Wright Braine-Course...and Natasha May's Cotton Candy Girls just ahead of Lisa's but they did run together near the end.  There were points when I read an exercise from the Wright Brain course and went boo...this isn't what I signed up for BUT - HOLD ON THERE MISSY - YES, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING/SEARCHING FOR!!!  At first, when Lisa was talking about story writing...I didn't get that as part of my artistic journey but it is!!!!  In previous online classes I've taken the instructor just shows you how to duplicate "their" work - so If you do a good job & you post it - people think you have a piece of so & so's work - or they go Oh, she's taken so & so's class.  Your viewers really don't see it as "yours".  So how do you go about making your work your own?  That was Lisa's message.  How do I find things/subjects to make into art verses copying someone elses...?  Lisa's course has given me new thinking and SIGHT.  It took me a couple exercises to figure that out but when the bulb went on - WOW - a whole new world is opening up for me.  As I said, I was finishing Natasha May's Cotton Candy Girl course (excellent) as I started Lisa's.  It was beneficial to me to do both somewhat together.  I took the CCG class because it forced me to do something different! loved it!  Working Lisa's lessons too, I started to see things differently & one of my CCG's turned into a salsa girl after I observed a beautiful hispanic woman at a ballgame.  I would have NEVER put that all together without their class exposure!

I did not do every single less on paper but read them over and over, even if I didn't have time to do that particular assignment.  I will at some point though.  I read them silently, then aloud.  I  read them off the monitor - then in print.  I read until I heard the message and a flip switched in my brain allowing the true lesson to be "WRIGHT" in front of  me.  This has been a wonderful experience and I believe my abilities have grown immensly because of it!  Thank you Lisa for sharing the artistic message of creating!

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches where I first met Lisa Wright!!

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

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

Paint Party Friday GIVEAWAY !!!!

Yep, I am giving away a copy of Sue Bleiweiss's book, The Sketchbook Challenge.  I posted on Sunday the pics and my excitement over my tiny piece in the book.  Hey, I am published!!!!  So in celebration I would like to give a copy of the book away.  It is wonderful, packed with all kinds of how to's and inspiration.  All you have to do is read last Sundays post - http://sinderella-studio.blogspot.com/2012/07/sunday-sketchesdrum-roll-please.html and leave a comment here or there!  We missed Sunday Sketches and I am still celebrating the books release.   Here is my sketch triggered by Natures Beauty

I started with a photo my cousin had shot on the streets somewhere in California!  and from there my mind wandered!

I will announce the WINNER next Friday at our Paint Party.  Winner will be randomly selected!  It takes me all week to get through as many participants as I can !!!!  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting!  I am also super excited that MINNIEMIE IS THE GUEST ARTIST !!!!  If you follow my blog you know I am a fan of hers and received an incredible ATC not to long ago from her!  She is still patiently waiting on mine, thank you!  YAY, don't miss checking her out!!!!  AMAZING!!!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all materials copyright of dana strickland and sinderella's studio 2012

Sunday Sketches...drum roll please....

It finally arrived...Sue Bleiweiss's book The Sketchbook Challenge!!!!  I have waited a whole year for this week!  Sue approached my in early 2011 asking if I would be willing to take her word prompt and submit a sketch or two for her to consider for her book.  Are you kidding me...HELL YA!!!!  So I took the prompt and sent her two sketches...the prompt was Nature's Beauty...it has been hard not showing anyone this piece and keeping it under wraps until the release of her book:

birds' of paradise

I am on page 27 in this wonderful book!  It is full of techniques and sooooooooooooo much inspiration, everyone should have a copy of this!!!  Thank you so much Sue for allowing me to be part of this experience!!!!!

Can you believe it???!!!!  144 pages of incredible information and artwork!!!  Of course, I got a dozen copies!!!!

Thanks for stopping by,  whoops, it looks like Sunday Sketches is busy this week !  Hope everyone has a safe and happy upcoming 4th of July!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all works copyright of dana strickland and sinderella studios

PPF and the Wright Brain e-Course...

What an assignment...to take a piece done by a master and recreate it as if the master had been influenced by another artist's style....hummmmmm....way outside my comfort zone!  Lisa had chosen as an example Vermeer's "girl with a pearl earring".  I won't give her lesson away but seriously - in the past I would have picked a floral by Van Gogh and done something BUT with new found vision and courage...I did Vermeer!  I decided to create this piece with the influence of an artist friend who's work I find fasinating, Mark Doepker.  He currently lives in Charlotte, N.C. and his work is in galleries around town.  So this is my Vermeer influenced by Doepker:

my Doepker-ized Vermeer

Here are a couple pieces of Mark's:

You can see more of his work on his flicker site:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdoepker/Mark Doepker

www.flickr.com

auspicious EXHIBITS Folk Devils, Moral Panics & Pinups (group show)-Charlotte ...

I know for a fact that I would not have tried this if not for the last few months of taking Lisa's class and Natasha May's Cotton Candy Girl class.  I am amazed at how Lisa's class has given me new vision and has changed my thought process!  Natasha's class has given me courage to do faces!!!!  Thank you ladies' !!!!

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting paint party Friday's and I can't wait to check out all the artists this week!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Sunday Sketches and...

Okay - I finally sat outside and sketched then did quick color!  Just the simple watercolors that I give my grandkids...just sketch I tell myself and have never really been able to be comfortable with it.  It is just a journal page, its practice, its not anything but free flowing art....

yay, I did it!!!  It was weird.  I look at this sign everyday at work.  Playmakers is a running store, it is where I get my shoes and help with running form/injuries.  The staff there is great and over the years I have learned alot there.  The lady on the shopping cart is a landmake here in the E. Lansing area.  This location used to be a grocery store and everyone knows the shopping cart lady.  It was nice that years ago when the grocery store left - no one took down the sign!  So even though you are shopping for running gear here - you look for the lady in heels!!!!

I finished my #4 Cotton Candy Girl - she was supposed to be a rainbow girl and I had intended on doing a rainbow of blue's for background but, oh well, somehow I went in another direction.  She is done though - a practice mermaid for another project and I like it!  Natasha won't mind that I'm off track.  Now onto lesson 5 and the 2 BONUS lessons she shared!

and...for Lisa Wright...here is why I am always behind and in choas!!!  Hope this makes your mess look organized!



Please if you have a minute click on the sidebar to vote for my friend Joy's quilt!  unless, of course, you already have a friend entered.  She made it through round 1 - 148 entries and 15 chosen to move on.  They were given 3 weeks to create a piece involving an amish star...amazing!

AND, DRUM ROLL PLEASE....SUE BLEIWEISS's BOOK COMES OUT ON THE 26TH!!!!

can't wait - I'd hate to be my mailman - heavy delivery coming here for sure!!!!

page 27 can't wait to see it!!!!!!!!!!!!  Visit Sue's amazing blog - extraordinary artist in many mediums!!! http://suebleiweiss.com/

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches and bringing all this wonderful world of art to our day!!!!  Please visit all the participants, there is something to learn from each and every ONE!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

PPF and mermaids....

It has been non-stop busy here and NO time to really paint.  Still behind in Natasha's Cotton Candy Girl class and have two ATC trades due...ugh!  Need more time!  So, I decided to make my lesson 4 CCG a mermaid to help me out with getting ready to do 3 atc's due for Sirens of the Sea!!!  Here's where I am at in the process:

Sorry this pic is so blurry but in a hurry!!!  anyway she is supposed to be a rainbow CCG, I've decided to do a rainbow of blues behind her and that counts for two projects completed.  But now the challenge of doing the ATC's to finish.

CHECK HER OUT AT http://cripplepencil.blogspot.com/

I was also lucky enough to receive a BEAUTIFUL atc that I commented on.   Minniemie had posted this elephant that I just loved.  On her blog it looked incredible, in person it is even more so!!!  Then, added bonus, she sent it in a card that is another amazing piece of art!!!  When I inquired about the elephant she just offered to send it, I suggested a trade.  Now I am all intimidated at producing something that will be good enough.  It is like a rookie cook sending the chef a pastry!!!  I will work on that next week when the nuts schedule here settles a bit. 

(g-kids - one dance recital last night, one tonight, open house saturday and a baseball game on monday - see what I mean)
I won't even mention how far behind I am in Lisa's WrightBrain course,  I really can only work on her assignments when I am calm and settled to freely think about what she has asked or shared with us...it is a mind/eye opening experience!
Last but not least - two very important events:  (well, in my world anyways!)
Sue Bleiweiss's book comes out on the 26th!  I have a dozen copies on order because I have a sketch on page 27!!!!  Guess what all our kids are getting for christmas????  please check it out and visit Sue's site - amazing artist!!!
AND PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT - CLICK ON THE TOP SIDEBAR TO VOTE FOR MY FRIEND JOY!!!!!!!!!  A wonderful quilt artist that is stepping out of her comfort zone and sharing her amazing work.  This is her first competition effort!

Amish Wind by Joy Tallman!!!!

GOOD LUCK JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be sure to stop by all the Paint Party Friday artists...not only is there incredible art but sooooooooo much inspiration. Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting and please help the featured artist make her dream come true, Jenny Wentworth!