Monday, January 30, 2012

Winter Art Retreat Weekend 2012

Cindy's art project for the weekend, was to build a birthday book for her sisters birthday
Once we arrived at the retreat center (my in laws lake house)
We built a fire in the wood burning stove and started open bags of art inspiration.
Got some chips and dip and started in on our art
The main table in the house was filled with papers paints color sprays
We decided to get a little air...hey I like building fires...so it did get a bit warm in the house
As you can see, the outdoors were just beautiful
Photo taken from the end of the dock

So many branches 
Remains of the Cattails 
Part of the most beautiful stream in the whole wide world.


There is always room for a sewing machine, even if you didn't bring any fabric.
Arting girls

One of my file cabinet cards
I just love the plate of paint, the bowls of orange chittos, my daily art journal, stamps and just so much!

A found photo of Mike & I about 15 years ago with Daisy Mae
Arting into the night
Even on the floor
A bit of Cindy's book
A good time was had by all
The next retreat will be a four day instead of a two day.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Catalog cards, cookies & Cats

Once or twice a year I like to throw a small art retreat for some of my friends and fellow artists. 
Well that weekend starts at 11am today! and will run through mid~day Sunday.
 Here is a card catalog from 7 gypsies
I cut out 4 cards per month. My plan is to do a card a week. 
I'll show photos after I catch up on the last 3 weeks.
 Cant wait to see this drawer full!
 Hannah has been baking cookies and cup cakes 
Here is her first batch with very little assistance.
 Some animal photos 
So funny how Chunk will sleep on top of anything and anywhere!

 Mr. Cooper 
Everybody wants to be in the sun

Have a great weekend!
I'll be back Monday with some fun photos
Lisa D.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A few more art books

The first book is my magazine/catalog water color paper book 
The second book is what I call a tuck away/travel journal
The third book is more for someone who wants to add a lot of their own images 
The last book is a small Love book, made from left over water color paper. Big and puffy!

Enjoy

See above video

This video didn't seem to want to work

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I am tone deaf & depth blind

 Sometimes things don't dawn on me, for example...I thought a gappers delay was a spot in town where there was always delays. Duhhh I find this happens to me every so often. Well here I find myself in a similar situation...

For nine years I've been trying to paint portraits, portraits I feel good about and have always struggled with the shading part, tones and such. I've probably taken six on line classes and studied numerous books. January 9th I started a 5 day 5 week course with Misty Mawn, which I was way excited about. The idea of changing my color pallet a bit, seeing how she shaded and toned her portraits. Three weeks into the class I find myself frozen, my hand and wrist just can't  seem to find the shadings and tones! AAAAAAHHhh So I run across a class with Pam Carriker called shades of grey and even though I'm in the middle of Misty Mawns class, I decided to sign up for it! I'm thinking for sure I'll be able to see it, the shades and such. I can see her doing it, but when I do it, there always hard lines. I'm not sure if it has to do with following rules? I have a very hard time following rules outside of the law at least. the rules make me feel tight in my arm and wrist.

Some portraits done over the years


The top center painting is a selfportrait from 2005

 Sometimes I can get a burst in me to do a portrait at the last minute before an event.
This was done 3 hours before Ell's birthday party, probably over five years ago.
 The morning after my return home from France I sat down and did her.
lol...I remember the feeling of excitement I felt from being in Paris and all its art.
 This was a large painting, in hopes that I would be able to see the depth and tones if it was larger scale
 When I do my Omo People, I don't feel like I need to add much shading.
 I think this one says it all!
I'm stressed and can't follow the shading rules!
 On this guy you can see my stress in his nose...but I love him so. 
He hangs in the kitchen...made from one of our kitchen cabinet boxes and that makes him the right size
 A little art block of Hannah & me 
Am I destined to paint flat? Will it ever dawn on me?

btw...I'm loving all that Misty Mawn is teaching! She is a really encouraging teacher.
I only watched the first 2 videos of Pam Carriker, but am enjoying immensely so far.

Enjoy your day
Lisa D.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

A short film of a few art books

 Here are a few I listed today on Etsy
Enjoy

Spending the day redecorating my Etsy art shop


Almost nine years now that I've been doing art :  )
Because life moves forward, I'm now at a stage of learning to promote myself and sell things more often.
I bought a white box thingamajig to help my photo turn out.
Worked ok, I think I need more practice with it.


 Here's the loot
I also made a short film on my art books
Look for that later today.

Lisa D.