Liberate Your Art Swap 2013

Once again it was a joy to go to the mailbox each day in anticipation of receiving MORE ART!!!  Thanks to Kat Sloma for hosting such an awesome event!  This is my second year participating and I am looking forward to 2014 already.  Thinking - first year I did separate postcards of original artwork; this year a favorite photograph I took out my kitchen window.... humm - time to think and create to see what 2014 brings!

2013 Liberate Your Art

Each card came with special hidden meanings attached.  The first card was from Jo in New Zealand!  Oddly, my step-daughter was in New Zealand at that very same time.  In fact, when I first saw the card I thought it was from her.  Isn't that cosmic!  The scene is sooooooooo peaceful and Jaimie (said daughter) says the entire countryside is just like that - peaceful and beautiful.  Next came the beautiful photograph of a felted art piece by Caroyn, all the way from the UK - I love the water and felt the wash of the ocean as I held her piece.  love it!  Then  a soulful flower from Cindy in Phoenix, AZ.  I had been trying to find some flowers to photograph up close and personal for a painting - wha-lah - got it!  I am not sure if it is pollen dew or fairy glitter on the flower but love its softness!  From Amanda - and at this moment I don't know from where (again I procrastinated in contacting her to thank her for this wonderful piece), the island of Paradise.  Now, for any of you that visit regularly you know I am an island girl!!!  Key West is my personal paradise and I so hope to someday live there on a houseboat!  This card could not be more perfect for me!  Then a bouquet of tulips to light up my day!  These are from Deb - also from AZ, Chandler.  I see that she is just returning from what looks like an incredible trip to England!  Anyways the cosmic connection here besides my love of flowers is the name of her blog:  paperturtle!  I love love love turtles...I try to photograph them, watch them and had a small collection at one time.  They just mesmerize me!  So, double bonus!  Then, of course the serenity of Kat's postcard.... It is like meditating when you look into it!  absolutely LOVELY!

This is the postcard I sent out, he is a critter that visits our bird feeder on a regular basis - he just cracks me up!  I hope it made the recipients smile too!

The quote on the back is:  Life is short, make sure you LIVE it!  That is my mantra for this year and I close each post with it!

http://kateyestudio.com/2013/05/liberate-your-art-2013-blog-hop.html

cheers and enjoy the hop!  Thanks Kat!

dana

Sunday Sketches and no time...

My schedule allows little time for really creating.  I am a morning person so it is work out or create...currently on the workout path, so when can I art?  I've been taking a paper journal with me everyday now, grabbing my plain #2 pencil and making sure art is part of EVERYDAY!  I have given myself permission to just play - it is not about creating a masterpiece - it is just thinking about it and putting pencil to paper.  No real supplies just something to keep me growing.  It doesn't matter that I am not following a lesson or perfecting a technique - it is about the DOING!  So, crayons highlighters whatever is there - using it and smiling the whole time because NO PRESSURE!

My little bird of mixed whatever was on hand where I was at!  Color therapy - art therapy - call it what you want but it makes you smile!

My alter ego?????

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches!!!!  It is always fun to get up, grab a cup of coffee and explore on Sunday mornings!

cheers, dana
life is short, make sure you LIVE it

Liberate Your Art postcard swap 2013...

Is underway and I have received my first postcard...all the way from New Zealand!  It is a beautiful pic of the true essence of the country I believe.  NATURE!  Ironically, Mark's daughter is in New Zealand right now hiking and touring the country.  She just completed a 3 week clinical and is taking the country in for 2 more weeks.  I posted the card I received on FB and Jaimie (daughter) sent back - that it looked like where she was at that very time.  I can't wait for her return home so we can figure out if it is indeed someplace she visited.

www.joslittlepictures.wordpress.com

Thanks Jo, I loved the pic and your note!  Love liberation of art all around the globe.

Thanks to Kat for hosting the swap again this year.  This is my second time participating and it is so exciting to go to the mailbox to see what treasure has arrived!

Speaking of postcards,  Robin Panzer has share info that I'd like to pass along...
The Post Card Project - Angie
1920 Centerville Turnpike #117-199
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Send post cards that Angie, a young cancer patient, will share with her fellow hospital mates...let's help put some smiles into the day for these kids.  Here is my packet that I will be sending:

don't ask why it won't post up the right way - so sorry you'll have to view sideways, but you get the idea!  Hope you can join in the fun!
https://www.facebook.com/CHKD.Postcard.Project?fref=ts





cheers, dana
life is short - make sure you LIVE it

sketch everyday!

South African Woman...in the shadows!

photo from a friends visit to South Africa.

cheers, dana
life is short - make sure you LIVE it!

photo copyright Sally Spedoske 2012

still alive....

Yes, I am still here and now have some time to breath.  I have spent the last few weeks preparing for a Surprise birthday party for my parents.  My dad turned 80 and my mom 79,  their birthdays are on the same day.  They have been divorced for decades but for the last 15 or so years we have been able to celebrate together.  It turned out perfect!  I can't believe it worked out so well.  I only forgot a few minor things to take to the hall as part of the decorations so I was pretty pleased with myself.  I really organized my plan and actually followed my plan - wow - amazing for me.

Don't they look great!!!!  One of my brother's surprised them coming from Florida - they had no idea he was coming to town.  It was just awesome for them!!!

So now that I have had a week to kind of relax - well still going to work everyday so - just deciding to pick up my pencil and whatever notebook or paper is at hand to make myself DRAW...do art everyday in some way!  Keep my spirit soaring!  So here is the last two days of just scrubbin' on the paper!

working on cows for a project I have planned...and then Ray the Cardinal - one of my go to drawings to make me smile!!!!

Will be posting Wednesday regarding the Liberate your Art postcard swap...received my first one and love it!

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches and all the inspiring artists' that participate!  You all keep me believing!!!

cheers, dana

Life is short, make sure you LIVE it!

Monday moments...

Well, I am obsessed with a new artist I found.  Irina Rumyantseva, her work is just incredible.  I have been planning a painting with a cow for my step-daughters graduation gift.  In May she graduates from Michigan State University's Vet School as a Specialist in Cows.  There is a more technical term but I don't know what it is.  So I have been collecting some photos and have a photo date planned at a local farm.  I need some up close and personal cow shots.  While this has been my plan for the last year, of course, now I am down to the wire.  Then I discover Irina!  She paints alot of cows.  Hers are amazing and soooooooo captivating.

As practice this weekend I copied her cow for a sketch but then added traditional cow markings to it.  It was great fun and a good ice-breaker to get me to move forward on this project.

She is having a drawing for one of her paintings....I keep sharing her on FB hoping my name is drawn from the hat!

Here is my sketch!

my Irina adapted cow!  my photo didn't come out great but you get the idea.  So more cows to follow until I get the one I need for the gift I am creating.



Thanks to Irina for her inspiration and all the artists' I follow!


cheers, dana
life is short, make sure you LIVE it!

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!