The painting is a quick exercise in water colors....they are a bit messier than acrylics but I like the suttle effect that layering the same color has after each layer dries.


In the Studio, I have been working on more "Rustic Glamour" Earrings, adding even more colors to go with those beautiful summer sun dresses and such. They will be on Etsy soon.

Layers of Color

I love discovering things, in my own paintings, at thrift stores and now about myself. The way I start a painting is just by being free to pick up what ever color of paint that moves me at that moment and just start putting it down on my canvas, whether I choose to paint some thoughts I have on my mind or to just put down swatches of color. I compare this layering process to life. The process of layering is how we as human beings develop who we are (becoming).

When I first left my parents house and was just being able to freely make decissions such as how late I wanted to stay out and if or when I will clean my place, I did not believe that I was in the mist of discovering who I was but the truth is I've been in that process since that day I was born.
A different view of things.
The good thing is that when I began to truly understand that, that is exactly what life is about, discovering the tone my life has taken and just like in painting if you don't like the way it turned out you can create a new layer and change the look of the painting and your life. I am learning every day to embrace who I am through the layers of color that has developed. The tones of color in my own life are organic and most can be changed at any given time by me to develop the life I desire. This knowing helps me to change to things I don't like and to embrace the things I cannot change.

Self Motivating thoughts.

Reflections

This litlle painting has been done as part of my ongoing practice of learning something new, improving my art. This painting was done on a piece of cardboard from a cracker box, I had cut the box up and threw it in my scrap stash, just for practicing on the fly.
I like the way this turned out... getting pretty good. This measures 4"x 10," just something for the my records.

I can Dream.... Right?

Progression of the painting for the post, "In the Studio: Color Joy," stay tuned to see it develops.


I DREAM of being ready when a Licenser comes calling to sign me, for some main stream product design all while still maintainimg my small business at least until I get popular enough with the company that I am designing for in which I make an income that will contribute handsomely to our family... oh, lets say to start just $45to 50 thousand a year with the first ultimate goal being $60, 000 (you see how I am not trying to limit myself, LOL!).

I DREAM of first becoming a very successful Etsy seller, one that designs things that people can't wait to own (I am working on getting my courage up I have being working on product for too long and have not put a real effort toward uploading anything to sell in my shop). Becoming so popular of an Etsy seller that, I must hire an assistant to help me manifest the merchandise ideas that I want to sell, is my first goal.

The problem with this Dream is....

In reality, I have been stunded!! I have been blind sided by an unsupportive love one. All my life I have been told how talented I am and I actually start selling things I made when I was young, so up until now I believed fully in my talents and what I had to offer the world. It use to seem that I could (beautifully) make anything I put my full efforts into and people approved. But my confidence has been ground to a halt by words of discouragement from someone I love. I pray and I ask myself why am I not able to let this roll off my back and press on... I don't know.

I am still painting and crafting things, I just am dragging my feet when it comes to putting these things up for sale. All of the sudden I am afraid that what the "unsupportive loved one ," says is going to come true and that if this happends I will have know reason to ever paint or craft again (I have always enjoyed painting and crafting for not only my enjoyment but for others to enjoy and the selling part is my need for validation of my talents) I know this sounds very dramatic but I feel this just may be what I believe deep down inside... CRAZY, I know... but very real for me.

I am still writing my thoughts out loud in hopes of breaking this "spell," so that it is not just a DREAM.

In the Studio: Color Joy

That is what I am feeling like, "Color Joy." This painting is being done on a piece of card board that I am recycling in stead of throwing it out I chose to paint on it and if I like what I've done it will be a keeper. I feel my "Color Joy" today, it's exciting and refreshing to get re-energized again... if there was only a guaranteed way to stay in this zone I would be so there. But I will just rejoice and be glad in it today, Thank You Jesus.

The painting is making me smile the color combo at this stage is great but I know with the way my painitngs develop this is not the end I have more work to do I am just enjoying it at this stage.... ahhhh!

Oh, look close... can you see her?? I used graphite pencil to outline what's starting to appear. I am going to do my house work and if I have some more time today I will come back and see if there is anything more that needs to be out lined in the painting to be developed further... Although I think it is beautiful I know this is not done... there are some hidden deminsion to this that will be found.

In the Studio

Looking at my paint brushes in my little elephant vase makes me smile, I found this vase while out thrifting over 5 years ago, I think it makes a great artist addition to my studio. The girl in the painting that I'm working on was inspired by one of my children, Bell and I are currently growing her hair out naturally, from having had a relaxer.

Found Ladies

I found these ladies in my stash of paintings throw to the side... these were started a year ago... I don't know if I will ever finish them or that i even want to but I do know that subconsiously, they inspire the AFROBeauty Series. When you look at the things I am currently doing you can see the changes in my art... the development of new techniques.

To my artistic friends... What do you think, should I do more to them or leave them be? Be honest, I am not afraid of criticism.

Works in progress

These ladies are currently on my art table... they are in their beginning stage and the end results will most likely look totally different because I am not happy with their faces especially the lady in purple.

This is the final results of this flower painting that was started here but I realized I hadn't uploaded the final results (until now).


I'm excited about painting the single lady at the bottom, her background is combination of different acrylic pinks and purples that were applied with a dragging motion using a piece of card board ( a new technique for me) and I am very pleased so far, she was a quick sketch that came with ease.

Exploring new techniques

Yes I have been away since last October and I have a lot of catching up to do. I wanted the first post in almost a year to be about what has been a steady source of comfort and joy and that is my ART and with a painting I had done for my sister's birthday. Well initially this painting to the left here, was for my final project in an art class I took at our community college where I am taking some classes. The idea for doing this technique did not come from the class though although I learned a lot while taking it, this technique was first introduced to me by Mystele, who is my favorite artist online right now. She conducts online classes that she calls "Gut Art," but I have not had the time to take one of her classes yet but I read her blog regularly and she gives out free tips and advice freely at Little Glimpses Studio.

Back to the painting of the lady in the hat, it is a mixed media acrylic painting with scrap book papers and charcoal pencil. I started out just putting down paint on the water color paper I used and then went on to glue down some designer papers that I tore then more paint and after I had let it dry and came back I began to see this figure in the collage of paper and color so I took a graphite pencil and traced what I was seeing to make it more clear. After adding more paint to the figure it was clear to me that the lady in this painting was my sister. My sister tells me she likes most anything I make paintor craft so I thought this was a great gift for her, she told me after she recieved it she loved it and took it over to my aunts house for all of them to see... braging on me... Thanks Sis.

The picture of the colorful faces above was an in-class art project where we had to work in groups to create a collage piece using only oil pastals, I only took a picture of the part I did.

The quilt is something I am finishing up for my baby "Z," whom you will soon meet, along with the finished project.
The bird is a sample-sewing, where I hand sew and embroider with some beading work.
Hope you enjoy.

Missing in Action

Well it's been a while since I have posted to my blog and I have been doing a lot of things with the girls this summer but also I have been doing a lot of ART....I love it. Here are a few pictures of some things I have been working on.

This is a painting I did for my sister it was one of the gifts she recieved from us.



And the bottom two are some others I have started.