Monday, November 1, 2010

Sorry it's been so long.

I got the Davidsons' painting shipped off and never showed you which one they won. You may remember the giveaway I did for my followers... I gave away my beloved teapot painting. Thanks for all who have followed my blog. I will, for sure, do another giveaway sometime. So, get on my followers list. Only followers are eligible to win.

Little teapot
8X10
oil on canvas board

I have been super busy lately. I have done some painting, some crafting, some sewing, some drawing... all sorts of artistic things. I have gotten some photos of the things I've been working on, but others I failed to document.

This was my mom's birthday present. I haven't posted it until now because it is a total copy of another artist's work and I didn't want to take the credit. So, most of the paintings that you see on this blog can be made into a print if you'd like except this one. I will not be selling copies of this.
Pears and Grapes for Mom
20X16
oil on board

While I'm talking about prints- head on over to Fine Art America and order your fine art prints. I am working on offering all of my paintings as prints as well as greeting cards. If you would like something that is not yet on my site, let me know. I can also get prints done independent of FAA and would be happy to do some design work for you.

Anyway, back to the updates:

We have some wonderful friends who just moved far far away. Mike and I have really grown attached to this family and will really miss them. I painted this painting for them for their new home in Ephraim, Utah. It is the Manti temple.

Manti
11X14
oil on canvas

I also gave him 10 small drawings of each of the girls that I have worked with over the past couple of years. They are just their faces 4X5, then I made them into a little book. I had each of the girls write a little letter or testimony on a card and put it all in a little box. I hope it can be a reminder of these sweet girls. I wish the best of luck to the Nielson family.

I have also been doing some photo editing for my sister, Whitney. This photo was taken at the pumpkin patch (which is another reason we've been busy- Halloween. More on that to come) by me and edited also by me. Whitney takes great photos and I help with some of the editing. Check out her site and book your session today!


I have also been busy with Halloween. I made both Liam and my costume. I was Cleopatra and Liam was Nacho Libre. We had a fun party to go to on Friday and I was working like a crazy person on the temple painting, the drawings, and these two costumes all at the same time. Whew! I got it all done, though, and everything turned out just fine. :) My head piece is a little wonky. It is supposed to have beads coming down over my hair, but Liam got a hold of it and tore off all the beads. That's okay, Little Nacho. I forgive you. Oh yeah, and he had a mask, but wouldn't even let us get it close to his face, let alone wear it. Ah well.


And, of course, there was some pumpkin carving and Halloween baking going on. For the party I made some yummy cake balls on skewers. I dipped them in chocolate and added candy corn and orange sprinkles. They were pretty cute and I think they tasted pretty good. And here's our jack-o-lantern that we used as a decoration at the party.


I have done some card making in the past little while, too. And, I've been working on some Art Committee stuff. I have a show coming up in January that I'm pretty excited about! I'm telling you- I've been quite busy doing stuff. I have kind of neglected this bloggity blog, though. I will work on that. Happy Halloween, everyone!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Made a purse


Lemon Squeezy Home is hosting Purse Week, where people submit their original designs or sewn creation using a pattern to compete for some cool prizes. I thought it would be fun to submit. I've made a couple of bags before, but nothing like this really. I used some fabrics I've had for a while. It is somewhat inspired by a bag my Mother-in-law gave me for Christmas a couple years ago. I might make a new one to submit- a second draft of sorts. Anyway...


There are plenty of pockets for stuff- wallet, keys, lip gloss, fruit snacks, toy truck, eye glasses, cell phone, ball point pen...



The flaps close with a snap and the front flaps have a bead embellishment





Saturday, September 18, 2010

A painting

I just did this painting for my grandma. My dad took some photos of some hummingbirds a while ago. My grandma wanted one made into a painting. I used a couple of the photos, changed some composition, and ended up with this. The photo looks terrible, though. It's all washed out and glared. Liam is up now, though, so I can't try to take a better photo yet. I may try to take a different photo of it before shipping it off, but this is what you get for now.

As I'm staring at it on the computer screen I see lots that needs to be reworked- like the whole background. So, I guess this is take one of the hummingbird painting. Check back for the update. Ugh... maybe I shouldn't post this at all yet. Ah well. Here goes. Just remember that it looks better in person anyway, but it will be completely redone later and look a thousand times better still.

Hummingbird
8X10
oil on canvas board

Monday, September 13, 2010

I don't think you've seen this painting...

I would like to rework it. When I did it I was on a "I-want-to-try-to-use-a-palette-knife" kick. I just used the knife instead of a brush without knowing what I was doing. I think the knife is great and provides great texture when used correctly. Since I still don't know how to use it correctly I don't do a lot with it. I do love to see paintings which appear to have been slathered in paint with a knife, such as here and here.

Anyway, here is my first attempt at this technique. It will be in a show starting at the end of September called Urban Landscapes. It is a triptych rendition of Salt Lake City.

SLC Triptych
36X24
oil on board

This drawing
Night Lights
16X20
graphite drawing

and two paintings, this one

Shadow stroll
8X10
oil on board


and another, that I don't have an image of yet, will also be in the show.

I will, hopefully, have some new stuff to show you in the next few days. I just made 2 card sets with envelopes and matching boxes for a couple of birthday gifts. I didn't get pictures of those, though, so I'll have to make another just to show you! I would really like to sell cards, I think. I love to make them and try new things. Perhaps I will set up my etsy shop again and post some cards, just to see how they are received. Until then, if you need invitations, cards, or other paper crafts, let me know! My prices are great! :)

I also have at least 2 paintings to start and one that is half way finished. In related news, Liam won't take naps anymore. He has been skipping his morning nap and finally going down at about 4 in the afternoon. He then sleeps for an hour or 2 at best. This is the reason I've not gotten any painting done recently. I painted my bathroom and spare room, though... does that count?!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The new winner is...

I didn't get a response from jennifersaddress, so I picked a new winner. Again, please respond within about 48 hours so I know you are there. The number this time is 37, which means that (guess who!) my husband wins a painting. What are the odds?! Sorry, Mike, but you are ineligible. Besides, I'm working on your painting anyway. So, the new number is 26... This time the winner is The Davidsons! Yay, Megan! I think I might still have your address, but just email me and send it to me again anyway, if you don't mind! Do you want me to post which painting I'm sending, or do you want to be surprised when it comes in the mail?

Saturday, August 28, 2010

And the winner is...

First of all, I wanted to tell you how this person was chosen. Blogger put all of my followers into some order- I can't tell what order that is, but it is the same order each time. I went to random.org and had that site pick a number for me. I then counted down the list to the number chosen (which happened to be 42). It was all very random, so you all had the same chance at winning, except maybe my husband- I give him paintings all the time :)

jennifersaddress is the winner!!

There is no blog or site associated with this name, so jennifersaddress I need you to email me, or comment, letting me know that you are there. I also need your address to send you your painting. Please respond by Monday at 10:00 am Pacific time. I will post the painting that is being sent after I hear a response.

Thanks a bunch, you guys! Good luck next time! If you aren't a follower yet, click to become one. I will do giveaways like this periodically. But, you're only eligible if you are a follower!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Cakes

I have made 2 of these little cakes in the past couple of days. Two of my young women girls had birthdays this week. The first one was pink- light pink base with bright pink and green polka dots and a bright pink bow- and this one is white with two shades of green spots. I didn't get a picture of the pink one, regrettably. The green is fun, though, too. I am going to make Liam's birthday cake and needed to practice using and making fondant, as I've never even touched the stuff before now. I made a marshmallow fondant, which supposedly tastes better than the real stuff, and is about a million times cheaper. :) Cheaper is GOOD! I'm off to deliver this little cutie!

What up my 50 followers?!

It has happened! 50 followers, my baby is turning 1 (crazy!), it's my big sister's birthday, and I now get the Sunday paper with all sorts of great coupons! This is cause for celebration. Who wants a painting? Should it be a surprise as to which one I send, or do you want to know what you're getting? All you on my followers list will be eligible... I will let you know who it is tomorrow, August 27. Until then...

Monday, August 9, 2010

VOTE NOW!

I don't know when voting began because I never received an email, but when I went to the Gerber site I could now vote for my munchkin. So, go here and vote if you want.

You can do a search for specific pictures by first name or entry number. His first name is, of course, Liam and his entry number is 49265

(You can vote once each day from the same computer, so vote every day if possible!)

Also... I now have 49 followers! One more and one of you lucky people will get a painting!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

46 followers!

I have been vacationing and Art Committee-ing the past month or so, which is why I have not posted a new painting in a while. I have just completed 4- 5X7 acrylic paintings, though. I will get those posted in the next couple of days.

My sister took some photos of my family when we were there visiting. I did the photo editing and had a few favorites, which I've posted.

The main reason for this post, though, is to inform you that I just need 4 more followers and one of you will get a painting!
4 followers!







Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Cherries

I just completed one of the more difficult paintings I've done... ever. I have a few theories as to why it was so blasted hard: 1- I wanted to try out acrylics since I haven't for a while. I have gotten so used to the juiciness of oil paints that the acrylics just seemed dry. 2- I painted on paper. That was a bad idea from the beginning. Add to the dryness of the paints the dryness of the painting surface. 3- I have a lot of other things I should be doing but decided to paint instead. My focus was just not here. 4- There are a lot of colors in these little fruits. I was wanting to paint and get it done quickly so I could get on to other things, but I kept finding little flecks of blue or bits of yellow or green that needed to be in there. I don't think I would call this painting done, but I have to be done for now.

This painting is for the Rookie Painter online painting challenge. I think I've participated in it just a couple of times. Since the dissipation of the Different Strokes blog I am having a hard time painting as much as I should. But, I liked this photo and thought I'd give it a try.


Cherries
7.5 X5.5
acrylic on watercolor paper

Vote for our Gerber Baby

I entered the photo from the last entry into a Gerber contest. There are something like 50,000 entries so far, so it will probably be a far-fetched idea, but go on over and give him a vote. It would be so cool if he won!

http://www.gerber.com/Photo/?entryid=49265&source=10086654&utm_source=Gerber&utm_medium=email&utm_content=PhotoAcceptedReminder&utm_campaign=GerberGeneration#/gallery/

You can do a search for specific pictures by first name or entry number. His first name is, of course, Liam and his entry number is 49265

Get on over there and give him a little votey vote. (I think you can vote 1 time each day from each email address.)

UPDATE: VOTING WON'T BEGIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN VOTE FOR OUR LITTLE MUNCHKIN.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Still no painting...

... but I DID play around with some photos- does that count?

Original photo

Exposure, brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, blur, composition all tweaked.
Added the burned edge-
much better!

In other news: I now have 40 followers. 10 more and someone will get a painting. No joke!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Follow Me... again

38 followers as of 9:56 pm on Friday, July 9, 2010. 12 more and someone's getting a painting!

By the way... I kinda like this color combination lately. I made Liam a hat and shoes using these colors and I think they're so cute!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Test

Some cute baby face to test photo size... I'm tired of having tiny pictures while the rest of the world has great big ones that are so awesome! Here's my adorable baby in living color!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Camp Angelos

This is the lodge at the camp I will be going to this afternoon. I am teaching a watercolor workshop (if you can call it that) to 22 teenage girls. It is simply for girl's camp certification, so I doubt it will be as intense as that sounds. I wanted to give them an example of the type of painting they could do. Mike had a good idea- to give it to the Stake President at the end of camp. I think I might.



Friday, June 11, 2010

Happy Birthday, Mike



click invitation to make it bigger

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Hot dog

I painted again today. I decided this morning to submit something to the Weener-Art Expo. A buddy from our ward in Salt Lake City puts this crazy event (Ween-O-Rama) together every year and added the art expo to their lineup of other hot dog related activities. It sounds like a good fun time. Anyway, I thought it would be funny to submit something. I actually think I might want to eat a hot dog now. I can't let the staged weener go to waste, can I... :)

Hot dog
oil on paper
8X8

Saturday, June 5, 2010

I painted today....

It's been a while. If you've seen our family blog you've probably seen this photo. I thought it would make an interesting painting, so I did it. There are some bits that need fixing, but I think I might call it done for now. It's been so long that I've kind of forgotten what I'm doing. I need to pick up the brush a bit more often, but with an active baby boy... oh dear! He just fell and cut his lip...

As I was saying... with an ACTIVE baby boy it's hard to find the time to get any painting done.

He's so cute, though! See:

Liam playing in the grass
oil on canvas board
8X10

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Teapot

I gave myself about an hour and a half to paint, start to finish. Liam was sleeping and I have lots of other things I need to do (I get to go see family in about a week!) but I haven't painted in far too long. By the way, the previous painting was named Liam, got it submitted to the show on time, but I didn't get in. :( I'm a little disappointed, but not much I can do about it. Next time...

Anyway, I gave myself an hour and half to do this painting for this site. This is my first submission to this online painting forum. I wanted to stay loose and just get it done so I can get on to other things. I don't know... I like the composition and colors well enough, but I think I could polish 'er up and have a more striking piece. Perhaps some day I will tweak it to my liking. For now, though, I'm off to clean or sew or make food or play with Liam or something.

Teapot
8X10
oil on canvas board

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

New painting! Please help...

I just did this painting of my little sweetie pie. I need a title, though. Please help! I am submitting it to a juried competition and need a memorable title. I was thinking that something abstract would be better than just his name or age. Something like Hope or Wonder... I have to submit it like yesterday, though, so be quick with your ideas! Thanks!

Untitled
12X16
oil on canvas board

Blog interview

I got an email the other day that my blog had been submitted to be interviewed at bloginterviewer.com. I filled out the form and now my interview is on the site. Check it out and give me the "thumbs up" vote. And, remember to become a follower of my blog to have a chance to win a painting!


Click on the image or here to go to the interview.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

What has kept me busy lately?

Baby stuff:

Next door neighbor had a baby boy, so I made a quilt and burp rags.




(The presentation is the best part! I love seeing these blankies folded up and tied with a bit of scrap fabric.)

Good friend is having a girl, so I made another quilt, 2 changing pads with covers, a blanket, and acrylic painting. I only have a picture of the quilt.


Another good friend is also having a girl. I am helping with the baby shower, so I made these invitations. I also just finished her quilt. I will be making some muffins for the shower and some fun shower games also.

Church stuff:

The YW had their camp fundraiser this week. That is always a big job. I failed to document this event with pictures, but know that it went well. Everyone seemed to have fun and they made a good amount of money.

Art stuff:

The temple painting from the last post was during the past few weeks. I also have curated a show and had my sunflower painting in that show. I will be starting a new painting to put in the All That Jazz show coming up. I also want to do more daily painting to participate in some online painting challenges. I fixed a drawing for a friend over the last couple of weeks as well. I'm telling you, I really have been busy! I wish I had photographic evidence.

The biggest reason I've been so busy:

This kid just keeps growing up. He turned 6 months on March 5... 6 months!


Monday, March 8, 2010

IF temple

I painted this for a friend. I originally wanted to do it on gallery wrapped canvas, so she wouldn't have to frame it to hang it. Well, I couldn't find canvas in the size we talked about, so I did it on canvas board and made this frame for it to be able to hang it on the wall. I am pretty pleased with how it all came out. I love the frame, actually. The painting is from a photo that my wildly talented sister took. I hope I did it justice. I wanted the temple to kind of be in the background and make the landscape the focal point. I hope my friend likes it! Actually, I hope she loves it. I hope everyone who has any of my art loves it!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Follow Me

Thank you to a couple of people who asked about following me. I had never thought about it before, but I would really like you all to follow me. I now have a button, so it is easy to do. Just scoot on over to the right hand side of my page, find the "Followers" section, and click the little button and you'll get notified when I have a new posting and other exciting things. I am planning on giving away a painting when I get to a certain number of followers. Let's start at 50... when I get 50 followers I will write a post to let you know that the contest has started. At that point, comment on any post you desire and I will randomly choose a winner to receive a painting. So, let's get started!!

Morning Meditation now on Ebay

Go here to bid.

Morning Meditation
5X10
oil on hardboard

Friday, February 12, 2010

NYSE Rush

NYSE now on ebay! Go here to bid.

NYSE Rush
4.75 X 10
oil on hardboard