Level Three

Here is something to match Spring will Return -- "Level Three". Again I am using found objects in this painting too, along with plenty of texture and one strip of perfectly coloured paper.

"Level Three"

Back in the studio

I'm finally back in the studio after 2 months of inactivity. Boy you do get out of practice, I'm really quite tired this evening. But I think this small piece was a nice re-introduction to studio time. I'm building a body of work for a show at our local Wellness Centre.

"Spring Will Return"

Frames

I'm loving Mixed Media. You can incorporate so many fun, found objects. In this set I used a couple of oval frames to highlight a point of interest in each painting. Antique keys are another recent favourite of mine.

Post
16"x20"

Our First Date
30"x36"

Fall Fantasy Forest

Sometimes you just have to play! And that is exactly what I was doing with this painting. I used handmade transfers, buttons from Mom's button box, wire, rice paper and brought them all together in this "Fall Fantasy Forest" landscape. I'm picturing this piece in a child's room. I want to hear the stories that are told about this forest and its button leaves.

Most Popular

It turns out the most popular item from the Exhibition & Sale this weekend were my up-cycled Tennis balls. Even in this poor economy people love a sence of humour. In my opinion its the one thing that is absolutely vital. I hope those colourful tennis balls will bring a few people a few giggles.

Expressions of Art 2009

This weekend if you are in Ottawa Canada you MUST come to the Expressions of Art show & sale being held in Carp. Not only is there great original art but food and a Artist Trading Card table where you can take away a free ATC if you make one of your own to leave behind.

So get out for a drive in the country, bring a friend and enjoy the art.

Triptych

Triptych: tri / three, ptyche / fold.

A painting made up of 3 parts or divided into 3 parts. In ancient times these 3 pieces were generally hinged together. In more current times the 3 pieces can be separate and hung side by side or even one on top of another.

This week I bacame a Twitt

Yes, my brother was correct. I am a Twitt. OK well, he called me that before the days when Twitter was even invented.

On Twitter I am known as MixedMediaArts. Tweet me sometime.

Handpainted Sneakers

Finally I'm able to list my handpainted sneakers in my Etsy shop. There are only 5 pairs left in a few different sizes. All are uniquely and individually handpainted. They are coated with 3 coats of varnish after then are painted. That means that if they get soiled you can sponge clean them and bring back their lovely bright colours.

Melody I

During my summer vacation I not only began the first few felted vessels (see below) I also turned the boathouse into a printing studio. Specifically I tried out some gelatin printing. This process is a mono print process where you pull unique, never duplicated individual prints from a plate made from gelatin. The gelatin does eventually degrade and break up but a creative artist can still pull prints and make use of the gel crevices as a design element.

The print below was pulled using natural plant elements, discarded veggie bags and then sealed with a spray varnish. Once sealed the surface was embelished with mixed media additions.

Do Artists take Vacations?

What do artists do for vacation? Do they take a break? For me vacation time is the time I get to dedicate myself to my art. With a regular day job I don't get enough time to spend on my art so when I am on holiday, I bury myself in my art. I either, see art, do art or buy art.

This summer I got to do all three:
See: I did the Limberlost Studio Tour to see new artists in their studios.
Do: I took over the family cottage boat house and made it my studio for gelatine printing and felted vessels (seel below).
Buy: Yes I even bought a pice of art while on the studio tour. Its a lovely fused glass trinket tray. It was the colours that grabbed me. I may have to redecorate my guest room to match it.

If you fall in love with one of my new Felt Vessels, tell me which one & I will list it just for you in my Etsy store.

For Sale but you'll have to wait.

Naturally this new painting, "Perfect Pair", is also for sale but it is destined this week to be hung in a Dental office. You may still purchase it but you'll have to wait for delivery. The curator of the dental office's art displays changes the work every 6 months to co-ordinate with patient 6 month appointment rotations.


I was sceptical about hanging work in offices. Lets face it they are offices not galleries. But only a month ago I sold one painting because of its display in a medical office. AND that sale lead to this person collecting 5 more of my paintings. WOW! I was so happy that I had agreed to display that painting and brighten up that office.

Cooperation between artists and medical/dental offices is very popular these days. It beautifies the offices AND gives artists the opportunities for many many people to see their work. Its a perfect match.

3 new paintings in one day

Today I joined a friend in her studio to paint together all day. It was a great chance to catch up with each other and share painting ideas. I tested out a new watercolour paper with a synthetic content. It was recommended to me by another mixed media artists. It can take lots of water without wrinkling an warping. There is no need to stretch it, making it a wonderful stock to work on quickly. If you would like to see any of these in my Etsy Shop, let me know.

Another New Series

This new series is intended for kid's rooms. Kids love colour. Frankly so do I, maybe I'm just a kid. The series will be five paintings in total. I have only 2 more to go to make it 5. This is the first one in the series. A single colourful tree, the next in the series is a forest of colourful trees. Number 3 is the ghost gums with bird at sunset. Planned is a colourful tree at night.... then for number 5.... I'm open for suggestions since I'm not sure what number 5 will be.

Sellers help Sellers

Sellers in the Etsy Community seem to love helping each other. I recently purchased some interesting glass pendants that open. I envisioned small works of art in these pendants. So I ordered 5, along with the ball chains to match. The seller who sold me the glass pendants asked if a link back to my Art Pendants could be added to TheGemSaloon site. I was thrilled to have this link added.

Each of the Art Pendants are original one of a kind and unique on both sides. Because the glass pendants are glass on 2 sides a person wearing my Art Pendants get 2 looks for the price of one. Look for them in my Esty Shop.

Erin Getting Married

Thanks to the Blog "Erin Getting Married" you can read about Erin's ideas on suitable Wedding gifts and how paintings can be a great idea for a new couple getting married.

Fine Art papers

Today I visited a Book Arts show. I was encouraged to come to the show by a friend who is a paper maker, book binder and paper jewelery artist. I was excited to see some of the finest book artists in the area and to get myself a new "goodie bag" of lovely fine papers, many of them hand made. I use these papers in some of my collage works. They add wonderful colour, texture and pattern to my paintings. I also include some found papers, such as the gold coloured tea bag wrapping in this painting below.

Another Quilted Oak in this series is available in my Etsy shop BUT if you like this one better, just let me know & I can post a reserved listing for you.

HELP title needed

One of the hardest things for an artist to do after a painting is finished is to give it a name. For this one I am completely stumped on what I should call it. So I am calling on all my followers and friends to help me name this piece. What would YOU call it. If you need help with what I have called my other paintings go to my Etsy shop or my website. If I select one of your titles I will send you a Free ACEO off my Esty site just make sure, in your comment, that I can contact you somehow.

Painted shoes listing delayed

I promised you hand painted shoes in my Esty shop in late May but you will have to wait just a bit longer. The gallery in Huntsville, Ontario (cottage country north of Toronto, Canada) has decided to carry them a wee bit longer. Last summer they were quite popular so the gallery ower asked to keep them for another summer season. The tourists will be in town soon.

HOWEVER, if you see a pair on my website and reallllly want them I can ask the gallery to mail them. So don't be afraid to convo me and we'll make arrangements.

Another bowl

Another fulled and felted bowl. Like the first the basic bowl was crocheted in 100% wool then fulled in the washer and needle felted with colourful wool roving. It too is available in my Etsy shop. If you love both bowls and think that they should not be separated, just contact me via my Etsy shop contact button and tell me you want both and I will ship them together for the cost of shipping one.

Etsy Item of the Day

Thanks to the "Etsy Item of the Day" blog more people will be discovering my Father's Day Cards as well as many of my other Etsy shop items. Don't let another Father's Day go by without giving Dad another tie... but this time a unique tie card. Consider a Tie Painting too. I will list any Tie Painting you like on-demand on Etsy.


NOTE: If you buy another item from my Etsy Shop and tell me it is a gift item for Father's Day I will give you the card for FREE. Just remember to note that this is a Father's Day gift. ORDER NOW BECAUSE SHIPPING FROM CANADA CAN BE A LITTLE BIT SLOW. If requested we can price a courier delivery.

Needle Felted Wool Art Bowl

As Monty Python said: "And now for something completely different". I have just recently finished my first Felted Bowl embellished with multi-coloured wool roving. The roving is applied with needle felting. It felt very much like "painting" with a different medium on a 3D canvas.

This fibre art bowl is now listed in my Etsy shop.

Just finished Just sold

The paint has hardly dried. I posted my small series of bird images in my Etsy Shop and only a few days later they were purchased. These small studies are a test run for a new palette that I will be working with in the next few months. They are all transparents so that overlay very well on each other and are ideal for highlighting my textured canvases.

Getting to know you...

Getting to know you... article about me and my art.

You WILL of course visit the author's Etsy shop too, yes?

First Print to be offered on Etsy

So many people have fallen in love with my Poppies in the Wind painting that I have created a print version. It is 20"x19", printed on high quality textured paper with achival inks guaranteed up to 100 years for colour fastness. I am offering it in my Etsy Shop in an unframed version. It will be shipped flat and can be taken to any professional framer for matting and framing to match your home decor.