Here is a little sketchy I did after being so inspired by Jane Davenport's Whimsical Faces Video!  I enjoyed it so much, I couldn't quit watching it!  She is an amazing artist and teacher.  So fun to watch! I ran to my pencils and my journal to play.  I am not done with her, but just thought I would give y'all a sneak peek and say hello!

Well, here I am.  I bet you can't believe it!  Been busy like everyone these days.  Also, on May 22, my sweet Mom passed away.  Her name was Barbara.  She had M.D.S. (Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a pre-leukemia), that they believe she acquired from chemo she received from a previous diagnosis of Breast Cancer, some years ago.  She was diagnosed with the MDS in July of last year.  She spend a brave hard year ( my dear step dad Donnie, always by her side) doing everything she could to get better.  Unfortunately it did not, and turned into Leukemia.  My sister and I spent a good bit of time in Fla. being with her, and my amazing family and friends beforehand. Those times will always be treasured!  Mom was so many things, she was sincere and caring,  the best listener and friend ever, she was calm, she was and artist, and never would admit it.  She painted for a time in her life.  She painted landscapes.  Serene mountain scenes, that made you want to be right there.  She painted a light house on the beach, and things like that. They were amazing.  She had such a creative eye for detail in everything she touched.  She had amazing taste. She was so funny and fun, with an amazing wit and sense of humor, even in the last days.  We would make her laugh and laugh just talking to her about our days, or something crazy that happened to us, always wanting to know what the grand kids were doing and how they were.  She loved nature, and had such an appreciation for it.  She adored her family, we adored her.  Guess I was thinking about her when I drew Sunflower Girl.  I can't see a Sunflower without thinking of her.  Years ago, a photo was taken of my Grandfather, who we called Bobdaddy.  Bobdaddy was an amazing gardener......he had a yard full of beautiful Roses, Camellia's, Vegetables, flowers, citrus trees and more.  In the picture, he was standing out in front of a row of Sunflowers that he planted behind him.  They were so tall!  Taller than him, that picture just summed him all up for us without any words, and we've all always loved that picture of him.  Years later, Mom gave us a gold sunflower pendant, that I truly treasure. So I started drawing this girl, and I don't really know what happened but she ended up being a Sunflower Girl, and why not? In the original, there is a swirl of a quote in white lettering above her head that says:  "Hold your head high, keep a smile upon your face, and turn your face into the sun" actually it is a verse from an old Jann Arden song.  Sounds like perfect advice to me!  Thinking of you, and missing you Mom!! Now I am ready to go enjoy this beautiful day, and I hope you will too!

Field of Flowers on Canvas

 Just finished this piece on canvas today with the assistance of my sister Molly's, input.  I covered the entire surface with torn papers.  Then I used a combo of acrylics, and watercolor pencils to paint the sky and field.  I came back with Copic, Tombow & Montana Paint markers after sketching out the mountains.  At first she was standing in the field of Sunflowers, with nothing behind her.  Molly suggested the rolling hills and mountains behind her.  I was beginning to feel much better about it all after her suggestion.  Then after that, she told me I should have a villa in the background with a red roof!  Of course Molly!!!  The lady and the villa are the only collaged items in the piece.  I drew them on paper first, then collaged them into the scene.

 Here is a closer view of the lady, showing a little more detail

 This is where she is residing for the moment, on a shelf in my kitchen.

 I drew the villa, but then it was too big, so I copied and reduced the size of it and glued it into the hillside.  Complete with landscaping!  I thanked Molly for being my MUSE, she always knows just what to do about everything!  She said she enjoyed being a part of it, and thinks her ideas came from thinking of an upcoming trip her family is taking to ITALY this summer!  They will stay in a real villa and take pictures of real fields of flowers!  Until I get there, I will paint my dreams on canvas and share them with you!

Even now, I have scents of Lavender waifing through the cabin on this snowy, bleak, windy day on the mountain.  Somehow it helps, and knowing that soon I will get to harvest my own Lavender from my yard! 

Credits:

House and top border from Crowabout Studio B, Dwelling Kit at www.deviantscrap.com

top left borders- Nancy Baumiller

bottom left border- Shelly Massey Art

Created this piece for the Preposterous Painting group on Facebook.  In the group we are given a journal prompt, and collage can be used, but painting has to be involved in some way.  Loved the idea for the group!  I find that it helps me if I have an idea.  Also, I'm trying to challenge myself to paint more.  This weeks prompt was "bird in a hot air balloon"  so I was bound and determined to paint the balloon and the bird!  Everything in the piece was painted, except for the house and borders.  It was fun!  Guess what happened though?  I got the entire piece done, and I had written another quote out.  It took me forever!  The more I looked at it, the more I HATED it!  The lettering was too large and it took away from the images.  I tried to like it, but it bothered me.  So I thought I could paint right over it.  Well the pen from the lettering smeared into a big gray ugly mess.  After a couple of coats of paint I realized it was going to keep smearing.  So I decided to tear up papers and glue down on top of the ugly smeared mess.  After numerous layers of paint and papers, and typed lettering, I was finally satisfied! 

Credits-

Background- littlebrownwren

I drew this girl on a page from an old book.  Cut her out and glued her down.  I used a combination of Copic markers, acrylic paint and pastel chalk on the face.  I also drew and cut out the flower and leaves from the same book.  I used an adhesive flower border by K & Company for her headband. Bought several of them and this is the first one I have used.  I love and adore everything they make!  I got these at Michaels, and they also sell them at JoAnne's. 

Credits:

Made with images from Crowabout Studio B, Dwelling Kit, at www.deviantscrap.com

Loved all the images in this kit!  Can you tell I am ready for Spring?  Really loved the quote by Helen Hayes I found to use.  It said just what I was thinking.  We got more snow last night, I'm hoping that will be the last one.  I hope to maybe work in the yard some, in the next few days.  Time to trim the Clematis, and a few other things!  I'm hoping this snow didn't kill some things.  Somehow it all works out.  Enjoy your evening!

Had fun creating this one, laughed out loud at the quote, and as I thought about it, I realized it really was true.  There are layers of paper on it that you don't see because I managed to cover them right up.  I loved using my Montana paint markers!  Love the opaque-ness of them, which is so important.  Got the image of the lady from an old New Yorker magazine I picked up in an antique store.  I have had her for a long time, so it was about time to let her make an appearance.  Have an arty day!

A Crazy Week

Credits:

Two left side borders and Wish border- Nancy Baumiller

 Snail and lady on right- Nancy Baumiller from Collage Play with Crowabout images

 

Credits:

Bottom black and white border, and two borders beside lady from Shelly Massey at A Wee Bit Warped. 
Top side word border- Nancy Baumiller

Here are a couple of new collages I was working on recently.  Hopefully it can be an ART day here today! 

 This happened on Wednesday, when a tornado came across our mountain.  It made a huge mess out of the road and woods, with trees down everywhere.  Luckily there was only minor damage to a couple of neighbors cabins, we were all so very lucky!

Then this happened on Saturday!  We lost power for a couple of days from the tornado, so had to throw away everything in two refridgerators.  We tried to go out on Saturday to restock with groceries when the snow came.....had to turn around and come home!  We managed not to starve to death with stuff we had in the pantry.

Got to make a trip to Dick Blick Art Supplies for these though!  That made everything perfect! Hope I get to play with them today!  It's another rainy day in Georgia, so why not?