Mixed Media Painting on Canvas board - Orange Blossoms

This is another new Mixed Media painting done

on a 8x10 inch canvas board. 

The flowers are created with a organza-type ribbon

that was painted orange with yellow highlights. 

 and underneath is tissue paper with

the petals hand-drawn with black pen.

The stems are handcut from scrap paper,

painted with acrylics and then outlined with pen. 

The flowers and stems were also outlined with

 Faber-Castel markers for shading. 

Acrylic orange paint was splattered over the canvas board to finish.

 "Orange Blossoms"



 Close-up of the detail

Close-up of the flower dimension

This piece is also for sale in my Etsy store.

Hugs,  Erin



3 New Mixed Media Painting on 8x8 wrapped canvas

Here are three new pieces I finally finished. 

Each started with a layer of gel medium

and then scraps of neutral patterned paper. 

Then the addition of acrylic paint. 

 The flower and circles were done with a new foam stamp

 in two different paint colors.  Then I added ink for additional outline

and finally more acrylic paint for dimension. 

These are much different from my typical pieces

 but it was fun to try something different.

"Serenity"

 "Abstract Circle 1"

"Abstract Circle 2"

I hope you have been enjoying the month of August. 

With the kids starting back to school on August 16th

and then a suprise birthday party for my oldest son on the 18th

and his actual birthday on the 21st.  I have been very busy

but have managed to sneak in a few hours in the late evening

to do some sketching, art journaling and some more new pieces.

These will hopefully go up for sale, in my Etsy Store, very soon.

Happy Monday all!!

More new art coming up tomorrow.

Hugs, Erin

Art Journal - Flower Stencil pages

The cropped image of a 2 page spread in my Art Journal. 

I was with my new flower stencils and acrylic paint. 

So much fun!

This is one side of the 2 page, with a bit of my art table and supplies in the background.

And this is the other page, with more of the paints I used in the background. 

Love those paint dabber bottles. 

Fabulous!

Enjoy your weekend.  It is supposed to be wonderfully moderate temps this weekend.

Should be able to sketch outside without roasting. 

Hugs,  Erin



Sketchbook - New Girl #3

Here's my newest girl....she's a bit sassy!!

She needs a name....any suggestions?

Hugs,  Erin

Sketchbook - New Girl 2

Another new Girl sketch,

only this time I forgot to take a photo of the pencil only version.

 So you get the version with the watercolor crayons.....

Then the version with the color moved around

and done with the waterbrush pen

And finally the whole thing outlines with a black pen.

I think she needs a name...any ideas for me?

Hugs,  Erin

Sketchbook - New Girl 1

On Sunday I had a rare day with no committments

and 3 teenage boys were sleeping soundly. 

So I got quiet creative time to do some sketching.

My initial pencil sketch

Photograph: Mark Weiss/Getty Images



My tool of choice, just a plain #2 pencil

After altering the sketch a few time, I added color

with watercolor crayons...love these!



Photo:  Dick Blick website (where I purchased them)

I use this brand of color crayons as they have brilliant color. 

They are my absolute favorite watercolor tool. 

Save up and spend the extra money to purchase these

or another high end brand.  The cheap ones are disappointing

 and lack the brilliant color I want with watercolor painting.



And then I moved the color around with a waterbrush pen. 

One of the best things since chocolate (in my opinion)!



Photo: Dick Blick website (where I purchased a small and medium size)



I used a Niji Waterbrush pen to move my color around my sketch. 

I like these pend as you fill the blue section of the pen with tap water

and then squeeze to allow water to run out to the brush end. 

You control how much water you use as you move or blend your coloc. 

Truly a fabulous tool and very portable so I can sketch/color on the move.

My mood is so much better when I have time to create.  Sunday was a full day of painting, working in my art journal and sketching/coloring in my sketchbook.

More sketches tomorrow. 

Hugs,  Erin

Not getting lost in Iowa....yep, really

Anyone that knows me well (or has taken a ride in the car with me), knows I have no sense of direction (and I mean NONE AT ALL).  The compass did not come with this brain or body when I was born and at age 44 years, the compass has not managed to find me.



Photo credit goes to: 
http://www.insightzonecoach.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Compass.jpg

  
I was married for 17.5 years and we were together all the time so Ex-H drove us everywhere meaning I didn't need to worry about finding my way.  We worked at the same place so we rode together, we ate out together, we shopped together and we did everything together.  On the rare occasion when I managed a moment alone I could easily find the kids daycare, the local drug store or grocery store as I knew one direct route (so not kidding) to each of them.  In December 2005, when I finally became a single woman again (12/30/2005 at 12:30 pm....not that I'm counting or anything) I found that I really didn't know my way around town.

Well it has been 6.5 years since my divorce and I can still get lost in my own town, even though I've lived here since July of 1993.  Some might call this ridiculous (like I have any control over it....), some might say I'm just dumb (about some things , yes....), others have said it is because I'm blond (hmmm....maybe) and I'm sure others think I'm just mentally unstable (definitely.......).

But I am proud to say that during the month of July 2012, I took my youngest and a friend to Adventureland in Des Moines Iowa and managed not to get lost.  Now this is a real feat for me.  I also managed to find my way to Archiver's.  Hello people....this is one awesome scrapbook/crafty type store that I've only been to once before.   Not only did I find the store, I spend 2 full hours looking in every aisle and at every item on every shelf drooling over all the cool stuff.  I usually have teenage boys with me so I don't get to linger in stores like this....they can only stand about 10 mins before they become annoyed and want to leave.

And then I found The Cheesecake Factory, which I had never eaten at before and comes highly recommended.

I ordered the lunch portion of a southwest chicken salad, yum....I ate about 1/3 of the salad and was so full I didn't have room for cheesecake (damn it already!). 

The kids were still happy at Adventureland so I then found a movie theater and saw the movie "Brave".  Awesome illustrations, graphics and music!  The story is about a strong-willed girl who wanted to be her own person.  I loved it!!!

By the time the movie was over the boys were hot and tired and ready to head home.  So I scooped them up and ran in to Subway to feed them, then off to home.  I was so pleased that I managed a trip out of town and back without getting lost.

This was a happy moment in 2012!  Count your blessings people, it is the small stuff that helps cushion us from all the challenges out there.

Hugs,  Erin

Art Journal Page - Flowers (with glitter glue)

I did these art journal pages a few weeks ago but haven't managed to post them yet.  They are bright and glittery, this was all about playing with color and the glitter glue.  Go play in your art journal!  It makes a girl happy.

Hugs,  Erin

Art Show- My Art on display

I have one piece in the 34th Staff Art Show at the hospital I work at. Pretty cool....don't you think?

Hugs, Erin