Palette Knife Adventure

My "Ever After" online coursework called for a palette knife painting as

one of our assignments for 'going out of our comfort zone'.

Well, this one did just that  Out of my comfort zone but

also a lot of fun.  I used a limited palette of acrylic

paint of red, yellow and blue with white.  

Goldilocks on the Run

"Goldilocks and the Three Bears"

inspired by Cinnamon Cooney

12" x 16"

watercolor and acrylic on Arches coldpress

During this month one of the 'Ever After' lessons is Goldilocks and 

the Three Bears in a dream setting. 

 I took the liberty to 

change up the girl.  

She was painted as crying.  I didn't see her as the crying type.  

I figure she was pretty much

a brave sort of girl..so here she is after being 

awakened in Baby Bear's bed, disheveled

and on the run through the forest to get away, besides 

I LOVE painting flying hair!

End of the Month - More Fairy Tales

"Seven Ravens"

12" x 16"

watercolor, watercolor pencil, marker, acrylic paint, Caran d'Ache 

watercolor crayon

on Arches watercolor block

You can find the story, HERE.

I have been working on this for a couple of days, honestly the first

one didn't make it off the easel.  I figured that my human

image need to be large and the first one I tried, didn't 

come out that way and it had too many things details in it.

I feel the need to stick to more 'design' rather

than a detailed painting.

I loved the colors in this one, I originally had

her top as a WRONG color, but was

able to correct that one with acrylic paint.

I am enjoying this sooo much.

I can't seem to stop.  It has got

me in it's grips..and I don't think it

will let go for awhile.

Sunday and the Girl with the Golden Goose

"The Girl with the Golden Goose"

8" x 10"

on Canson illustration board

~ at least my rendition of it.  I decided that I wanted my goose to

look real, so I didn't make it golden.  I used an 'inspiration' gathering exercise, where

I looked around my surroundings for items to use in my painting.

I love birds, hence the bird in the sky and I love my Pampas grass

that grows outside my studio window...so I included

a plant of that.

I used a couple of layers of different mediums in this one.

I used collage and some gesso ground for the second layer and then

more paint and pencil on the top layer.

This is done in mixed media, marker, gesso, collage, paint, watercolor and watercolor 

pencils.  

Leader of the Pack

At the end of the last post, I was trying out some faces for a future piece

to go with the story Little Red Riding Hood that has been done in the online course

I am taking "Ever After".  I envisioned Red as being a great wildlife enthusiast, calming and catching the wolf to lead him off down a different path.  I know, one shouldn't mess with Mother Nature, but 

think of all the Grandma's that were saved!!?

This one measures 11" x 14" and is done on Canson bristol (my first time trying this product).  I was surprised as with all the layers of marker, paint and pencil, it did not buckle.  Yay!

  

  

Where Have I Been?

You may have checked in and wondered, what is she doing?  Well, it has not been my intention to let my blog LAG like this..sorry.  I signed up for and am taking an online class called “Ever After” from July through October.  It is a mixed media art and style development course with a fairy tale theme hosted by Tamara Laporte and 12 other popular mixed media art teachers from all over the globe.  So spending most of my time, watching, learning, trying, failing, trying again, and planning and drawing and painting and painting - along with petting and combing and playing with studio cats and organizing and cleaning studio...oy!

And~~~along with that, DH and I continue to work on things around our 112 year old farmstead that need attention.  Home maintenance, car and appliance repair are all things we tackle on our own.  Why?  Because we can.  

Here are several of the finished pieces and some of the sketches from the class and what I am attempting to make my OWN..at this point, we are encouraged to copy the content and use the same methods and supplies for the learning part, about 3 complete pieces per month.  Then tackle our own piece using what we have gleaned from the month long attempts. studying, and videos along with journaling and sketching.  It's fun!  It's refreshing!  It's full of camaraderie and interest.  

The Little Mermaid

(almost exact copy)

Tam Laporte instructor

Beauty and the Beast

(a little change on the Beast - the one to copy looked too friendly)

Andrea Gomoll, instructor

Snow White

(used my daughter Jessica as a model for this one)

Annie Hamman, instructor

Just a sketch - trying out design elements - you get the idea

Jack and the Beanstalk, (my own creation)

Some Beauty and Maleficent sketching on my own

Sleeping Beauty

(not quite exact copy)

Jane Davenport, instructor

The Handless Maiden (my OWN maiden - 

and I hadn't heard this one either, google it)

Galia Alena, instructor

Little Red and Wolfie

(almost exact copy)

Micki Wilde, instructor

working on my own sketches - modeling the faces for my own version

of Little Red...

Now comes the good part for me - leave me a comment on

which is your favorite.  I want you to know, this is really

pushing me, and it's quite a struggle - but in a good way because

I am having a really good time learning to develop a new style

in this genre.

Happy Fourth of July!!

"The SPARKLER by the BONFIRE"

9" x 12"

pastel on pumiced and toned gatorboard

All year long, the seasons approach, the holidays fall right into the 

mix of days. Sometimes I think ahead to DO a painting 

that fits the oncoming holiday - just for 'festivities sake'!

Luck be, this year sitting right on my easel when I returned from

our trip west was a photo of my cousin

long ago at a Fourth of July family reunion.

It was dusk, the bonfire had been lit, the kids were out and about

with sparklers and I caught her enjoying her 'light' there.

It has been one of my favorite photos and I always

knew I would tackle it one day.

I was recently experimenting with black toned pumice

and thought what a great beginning to an already

'dark' event.  

It worked out just the way I wanted it!

Have a Happy and safe FOURTH!!