Chaos and Calm

 

This piece is done in the similar style I've done in past pieces:  Layered acrylic background with the main image popping out dimensionally.  While we are constantly running a tight schedule, being bombarded with images and words of the future and past, it is when I'm on my yoga mat that I can be in the present moment.  The purple symbol is "Ohm", the universal sound.

Living

This piece depicts living a beautiful life in the now while always letting my angels in Heaven know how much I love and miss them.  Background is collaged with a journal page of mine, vintage sheet music and cool letters.  I mainly used heavy bodied acrylics for this piece. 

Just Be

I had a heck of a time adding images over the blended background!  I literally had to take the paintings advice and "Just let it be what it is".  Sometimes when you strive for perfection, you don't enjoy the dance (the process).  This painting has special meaning to me because of the both the struggle and affirmation.  :0)

Falling

In this piece, I used modeling paste to create the textured layers.  I loved it!  It went on like frosting on a cake only without the calories!  I really like how more dimensional you can get with this stuff!

Legacies of My Beloved

 

I started this painting this July and just now finished.  It is the first one I have done for my children, Morgan and Parker.  The process just took a while, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.  The blue dragonfly is for Morgan and has the kanji symbol, "ontoku", which means compassion and blessing.  The Green dragonfly is Parker's and has the kanji symbol, "warai", which means laughter and smile.  My boys have forever instilled these amazing qualiies in me and I promise to carry them forward.

Stepping Stones

I'm taking an on-line class called Chaos and Calm.  The instructors are teaching me a lot about painting with acylics.  This particular assignment taught us how to blend the paints.  I am really happy with my results!

9.2.10

I LOVE the results I got from carving my own stamp of "Aspen"!!  So this photo shows the carved stamp at the bottom and the printed image at top.  I LOVE it the way it is!!

8.12.10

PRETTY MESS

My version on encaustic painting!  I layered pieces of deli paper, that I had already painted, with melted beeswax.  I love how the under layers show through!  I'll be experimenting more with this!

Crunchy the Cow

My friend, Michelle, commissioned me to paint her daughter a piece that represented all the things important to her girl.  This includes Sarah Grace's favorite stuffed animal, Crunchy!  The young tree represents Sarah Grace with the love of her parents that grounds her (notice the upside down heart).  This painting is similar to my "Springtime" one.  Michelle and her daughter were very happy with it!  Phew!

Taking Flight

6.30.10
This piece represents me uncovering layers of my heart to find an artist hidden deep below.  I have come to realize my art is for me, and that is rewarding enough.  I don't make art to impress anyone, I make art to express myself.

The background was created with a lot of collage elements.  I drew the wings onto a sheet of music (hard to see in pic).  Oil pastels were used to create the heart.  The heart is hung by fishing wire and floats in the shadowbox.  The best part is the crystal hanging from the heart was Morgan's, my son.  :0)

6.1.10

Barn owl
For our nephew's high school graduation, I drew Kyle this barn owl knowing how much he has an affinity for these beautiful creatures.  They seem like human beings inside a bird's body, very intriguing!!

5.18.10

SPRINGTIME

This is my attempt at pointillism and let me tell you, it takes a lot of patience!  I guess that is the advantage of the oil paint, it takes longer to dry.  The clouds are of vintage sheet music with a wash of acrylic white and the rest was painted with acrylics.

4.30.10

This piece was inspired by my grandparents collection of kokeshi dolls (Japanese wooden dolls) that has now been handed down to my sisters and me.

I collaged the foreground with newspaper clippings from Japan and used fluid acrylics to paint the rest. I cut out the kokeshi doll from illustration and when I was done painting her, I covered her with a thick layer of tar gel to really make her stand out. Its hard to tell in the pic, but she definitely looks more dimensional.

I'm loving the whole creating process with my pieces!

4.22.10

Savor
This piece was inspired by the artist/instructor Pam Carriker. I'm currently taking an online art journaling workshop with her. Rendering in acrylics is kinda new to me, so I'm really pleased with how the pear turned out.

4.8.10

SEASONS
I struggled with this four panel piece! I love how the leaf turned out with the vibrant colors, just not keen on the burnt sienna border. It looks too country-ish to me even though I love the color. I'm finding I could work on a piece until the cows come home (again, country!) but I want to be content and move on. So, onward to the next art piece!

3.29.10

3.19.10

You will be seeing a lot of dragonfly paintings due to my affinity for them! I love the symbolism behind these beautiful creatures: Love, Hope and Change.

3.13.10

HOME

I really liked how this piece turned out. I believe its important to grow roots at home. From there, you can thrive! Watching over our house is Wiley, Morgan, Parker and Steve's dad, John.

3.6.10

My first commissioned piece! Betsy wanted me to paint her daughter, Alex a piece that had to do with the song she always sang to Alex as a baby...and here it is. I'm REALLY happy with it. Alex gets to open her present on the 9th, I hope she likes it too! Happy Birthday sweet Alex!