NatashaMay Art World

Ni hao from China

2012-01-29T00:00:00.000+01:00

Dear Mrs. Tiggy,
Hope this postcard finds you well and you were not eaten by an escaped circus tiger.:)

We had a bit of a riot on the cruise ship as well. Two newlyweds got into a fight in the middle of dinner, started throwing the dishes around and yelling such profanities that our staff had to intervene. We all thought they’ll sleep it off and make up in the morning but we were wrong.

These past few days were like taken out of that War of the Roses movie. The captain finally had enough and made an unexpected stop in China to disembark these two crazy loons.

Finally I had some time to explore and I visited the local panda sanctuary. It was magical!
Xoxo Mr. Black.

Linking to Postcard Challenge2012

In Wonderland

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000+01:00

Ok, how many of you have read Alice in Wonderland? Like the whole book not just extracts. :) I must admit I haven't. At least I don't remember reading the book when I was younger.

I have the book now and I've tried to read it but I think I'm too old for it to hold any interest for me. I think that ship has sailed. :) But I do enjoy the movies of course.

That said . . . I'm missing books. Like literally. I wanted to read The girl with the dragon tattoo the other day and I can't find it. And I can't find the sequels either. And two books from the Vampire Academy series. I've found where one of the books is located for now. I lent it to a family friend but the rest just vanished.

And speaking of Wonderland. :) I'm loving the Life Book class. This is a sketch I made following Bonnie's lesson. Bonnie Rose Bryan is one of the guest teachers on the Life Book and she's awesome. :)

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

Opposites attract . . . Or not

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000+01:00

The Butterfly Effect has a theme of “opposites” for this week. I pulled this ATC out of my stash to illustrate light and shadow. I was actually tired of drawing faces and tried out some simple silhouettes. Well, you could call a dog and a cat opposites as well, right? Anyway, let’s play a game of random again. :)

I’m back to drinking tea again. Coffee doesn’t work for me.
My dog beats me up every morning while I’m still in my bed. I’m not kidding! She knows when I stop sleeping I don’t even have to open my eyes. Then she gets all excited I’m gonna get up and take them out that she starts jumping on my bed, licking me and pawing at me. Is pawing a word? Anyway, she gets her paws in my face and basically slaps me around. And since I’m barely awake I can’t really do anything about it but to get up quickly so she can’t reach my face anymore. Cesar Milan would be so proud of me. :)
We’re having such a good weather this winter. I can’t remember the last time there was so much sunshine. I’m loving it. It beats the gloomy, gray and fogy days we used to get in previous years. Although it is said to rain today with a possibility of snow.
I sold another painting over the weekend. Happy dance! :)
Oh, and I had an appointment for allergy testing last Monday that I totally forgot about. I waited 3 months to get the date and now I feel like I wasn’t meant to know what I’m allergic to. Or . . . I might make an effort and go to the doctor’s again to get the medical referral form (I got that from my translator thingy so not sure if that’s how it’s called) then call for about a week to get somebody on the phone to give me a date in approximately 3 months time.

I just might do that. . . . Or not.

Oi from Brazil

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr. Black,
I’m with you on that dog situation. You’re really brave to withstand that stench I would probably have fainted the first day.

I only have time to write you a line or two since we’re in the middle of a dreadful situation here in Brazil. We landed in the middle of protests against animal cruelty in circuses.

Luckily it wasn’t targeted at us since we are not that kind of circus.

And although I agree with them wholeheartedly that a circus is no place for wild animals, I cannot understand the protestor’s actions this morning when they opened all of the cages and set the animals free in the middle of the city.

We’re all hiding behind closed doors until the authorities catch the escaped animals. Do to circumstances I think that our show this evening will be canceled. Unfortunately I won’t be able to go sightseeing either.

Xoxo Mrs. Tiggy

Linking to Postcard Challenge2012

Human Pokemon

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000+01:00

I've been doing some human Pokemon. Is that how they are called? You take a Pokemon animal and make it into a human. Ok, that's what I've been doing. Well, just these three. But I like them. Can you guess which ones they are?

I don't know what to talk about today. Let's see . . . I won Kirstin McCulloch’s giveaway. It’s your own fault for not entering. :) She's doing it every month so go follow her so you don't miss it. And I've been calling her Kristin. So embarrassing. My mind needs a minute to distinguish between Kristin, Kristen and Kirstin. :)

Strathmore is having free workshops again. If you want to join go here. Traci is up first but I haven't really done anything yet. I guess I'm not in a doodling kind of mood just yet. :)

Now I'm off to see what everyone at Paint Party Friday is doing. They probably have more interesting stuff to tell than me. :)

Paint it / Draw it / Quote it

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

What is your favorite quote or a poem?

Paint/draw/collage it.

Blog about it!

Then go over to The Butterfly Effect to link it and watch me draw this pretty lady. :)

I posted some of my favorite art quotes over there but my “life” quote is:

Thoughts become things . . . choose the good ones!
~ The Universe

I don’t do poems. :)

And cause I know you like FREE stuff. :) HERE is another FREE live video class. Amy's teaching us how to make a smash book. Come and join us today, Tuesday, 17. January at 9 am CST, 3 pm UK, 16:00 for most of Europe.

Hola from Spain

2012-01-15T00:06:00.000+01:00

Dear Mrs. Tiggy,
I knew from the second I met you that you were a star. I hope the museum poster did your beauty justice. :)

As for me, we just boarded the cruise ship here in Barcelona. I think this is the most magical city I’ve ever had a pleasure to put my paws on.

I think the La Rambla street is my favorite. I could walk the street all day and there wasn’t a moment I didn’t wish for you to be by my side. All the energy, live statues, flamenco dancers and smells of delicious paella. You would love it! I miss it already.

Now we’re off to our next destination and a few more days of those dreaded dogs that came aboard a week ago. You would not believe the odor they have. If it was up to me, they’d go overboard a long time ago.

Xoxo Mr. Black

Linking to Postcard Challenge2012

My Goddess Superpowers

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

Life Book's First Lesson.

I'm finally sharing it with you even though I painted it last week. I used the small moleskine which doesn't have the right paper and what happened is that the paper started pealing off when I was brayering the paint on. Now I know I need to wait for layers to dry or collage something underneath.

And it's funny how I'm not really fond of water-soluble oil pastels. I love them when I'm doing the book page portraits but not so much in an art journal. So I added some of my india ink pens and here she is now.

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

Forget not

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000+01:00

Are you familiar with Coraline Jones? She’s a main character in a book Coraline from Neil Gaiman. I didn’t read it but I did Google her. :)

The Butterfly Effect’s theme this week is “things forgotten”. And I’ll tell you why I chose Coraline to represent this theme. . . . Apart from the obvious fact that I “forgot” to read books.

I have periods of time when I would read book after book after book. But lately . . . I have several books unfinished but I just cannot fall back into reading so they are left forgotten. Hopefully not for long. :)

Coraline represents adventure. She reminds me of my childhood when all we needed to do was to go outside and meet some friends and adventures would happen. We’d find the silliest things to do and everything was so exciting. Our imagination was limitless.

As I get older it gets tougher and tougher for me to get carried away by imagination. It’s like that part of my brain is blocked. I remember so many times where my mind was blank when I had to use my imagination. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to dream up a fairyland.

Have you ever read a book and wondered how the f**k did a person come up with that? I have so many times. It’s like those people are living in a different world. But they don’t. They just didn’t forget how it's like to imagine like a kid.

Now, don’t get me wrong. From time to time I can come up with a decent story. I attribute it to challenges and all my lovely stalkers that force me to come up with something interesting.:)

But more times then not, I talk myself down from getting too carried away with my imagination. I wish I'd remember more often to think like a kid again.

Another FREE live video class over HERE. Amy's teaching us how to use hot wax. Come and join us on Thursday,12. January at Noon CST, 6 pm UK, 19:00 for most of Europe.

Greetings from Austria

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr. Black,
You will not believe what happened today! We were setting up tents in Vienna, Austria. We got this amazing space right in front of the Rathaus which is Vienna’s city hall. And I heard some tourists talking about this crazy Circus and Clown Museum nearby. I said to myself , Mrs. Tiggy you need to visit this crazy place! And when I walked in . . .

. . . Guess what I saw?? . . .

It was a big, huge poster of me! I am in a museum! Can you believe it? I’m a famous Fire Dancing Kitty Cat! Aren’t you glad you know me, now?! :)

Btw. That's Mozart at the front. You know him, right?
XOXO Mrs. Tiggy

Linking to Postcard Challenge2012 and Paint Party Friday.

Woodland creatures

2012-01-04T19:49:00.000+01:00

We have a guest post over at The Butterfly Effect. The lovely and talented Cameron suggested the theme in the woods. Here are my owls. :)

Do you know the feeling when there is so much going on that you don’t know where to start so you don’t? :) I’m kind of feeling it right now.

There are so many workshops starting and challenges and ATC swaps & trades that I feel like I should be on top of it but I’m not, so I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. I already had to withdraw from one swap and decided not to join in on one challenge.

I made like 16 ATC’s in past couple of days and have 4 more to go but I’m not feeling them so I’m stuck. I know I want to do one particular mail art trade but I don’t know when I’ll be able to paint something.

And I’m fresh out of moleskine journals. I have a smaller one but it kind of feels too small. I’ll have to try it out to see if I’m comfortable drawing in it.

Other than that, I’m doing fine. :)

Here we go ...

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000+01:00

I hope everyone is alive and kicking after the New Years Eve celebration. :)) You should have recuperated by now but if you haven't I hope you didn't have to go to work today. :)

Remember last year when I told you I was making some necklaces for gifts? :))) Well, here they are.

There's just four of them but I took a picture from both sides cause they are different. I used washers. Yeah, you heard me . . . washers. Some scrapbook paper and Pouring Medium from Liquitex. You can use Diamond Glaze or resin instead as well.

I saw a tutorial on Pinterest but can't find it for the life of me. That's why I didn't do the step by step but it's really easy. Take some washers, clean them with vinegar and sand them a bit so you can than easily glue scrapbook paper on. I used an exacto knife to cut out the middle once it was dry.

Then you pour the pouring medium on it carefully and wait for it to dry. It took me 2 days because then you have to turn over and pour the medium on the other side as well. If the medium is not dry enough when you turn the washer over, it will damage it and you'll have to pour the medium on it again to even it out.

So, if you haven't given up on this necklace while you were waiting for it to dry, you can now tie the cord to it.:)

To make it look pretty make a sliding knot. You are gonna love it! I first tried some dude's sliding knot but a guy cannot teach you how to make a pretty knot. He can teach you to tie a knot but only a woman can make that knot pretty. And easy in this case.:) Check out this video if you want to learn how.

Last one in 2011

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000+01:00

This is the last post in 2011. Hope everyone will have a good time celebrating the New Years Eve. :)

In my previous post I talked about resolutions and since then added a few more.

One is to adopt the mantra "What goes around comes around". Meaning pretty much that I need to reach out more to people in a good and selfless way.

The other one is that I'm ~~going to try~~ . . . doing the Postcard Challenge 2012 with Darcy. You need to read the "rules" but basically she will post a country every Monday and then we'll link over the weekend the postcard that we made from that country. You have to make up two people that will send each other these postcards though.

My "people" are going to be these two adorable kitties. Mr. Black is a British sailor that's been working on a cruise liner since he was 18 years old. His address is:
Cruise Liner Queen Mary 2
Deck 3
"Britannia Restaurant"

He met Mrs. Tiggy on a port call they made in Melbourne, Australia. She is a member of a Circus Oz that was founded by her ancestors.

They really made a connection but their jobs took them to different parts of the world. They decided to keep in touch with each other through postcards they would send from every stop they made. Her address is:
Circus Oz
Wagon 8
"The Fire Dancer"

So, we need a book for this project. I decided not to make a special book for it but to use my art journal. What I will do is paint or collage each page and then glue in an envelope or a paper pocket to hold the postcard as we go along. Here is the first spread introducing the lovely "people".:)

Linking to Paint Party Friday and wishing everyone a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wish you health, happiness, luck and prosperity! And of course lots of artistic inspiration. :)) See you next year!!

New Year's resolutions and cats

2011-12-27T07:30:00.000+01:00

Amy wants to know our New Year's resolutions over at The Butterfly Effect. I've never done this so I don't really know what to write about. Is it something you want to happen or is it something you want to change like bad habits?

I guess one thing is to start eating healthy and get fit. In other words lose weight. :)) I already started working on it this December. Very smart, I know. I'm having hard time avoiding sweets.

The other thing is to get a dream job. I don't know what that is yet but I want it. :)

I also want to start renovating the living room. It was planned for this year but things got in a way so hopefully stars will align just right to make it happen next year.

What else? . . . . . .

I guess I'd like to travel more. I love traveling but it all gets down to my husband who's afraid to fly. So my resolution would be to get my husband to travel more. :))

And that's it for my resolutions. :)) These paintings are 20x20 cm (8"x8") and were donated to the Association for feral cats Mačjelovka. I talked about it last year.

Another FREE live video class today over HERE. Amy's getting up super early so even Australian's get to join in. :)) We'll be there at 9 am CST, 10 am EST, 3 pm UK, 16:00 for most of Europe and 11 pm for Perth, Australia. Today meaning Tuesday, 27. December. :)

AND . . . Manon is having a giveaway. You can win this awesome notebook/diary. :) Go there now!

What's her name?

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000+01:00

This is the third one done on a book page. :) I find it quite hard to get myself to drawing, but when I do, it's finished fairly quickly. What's her name?

Now, because my writing muse has left on a holiday, I'm telling you some random stuff.

* I hate post offices in December. It takes three times as long for mail to arrive and they always end up losing something of mine.

* I told you before I'm making handmade gifts this season. I'm working on some necklaces and I love them! I just hate it that it takes so freaking long for them to dry so I can finish them.

* I learned to make a sliding knot. I'm freaking ecstatic! :)

* One of the ideas for a handmade gift was a little pouch for a mobile. I cut and assembled and I made my mom sew. I'm again convinced I am not supposed to be around the sewing machine. Just watching what all went wrong got me freaking out. That said, nobody is getting a handmade pouch from me. :) But I did keep the one we made. Shoot! I should take a photo and show it to you.

* One of my dogs decided to open doors for herself without my permission. She's been doing it for some time now but from the outside when she wanted to come in. Now she decided she'll let herself out if I'm not willing to get up and open it for her at that precise moment. I now have to lock the doors to prevent unwanted escapes. Well, I don't mind her going out I mind her leaving the doors open. And it's freaking freezing here these days.

* I need to buy another UniPosca pen. I love it! I think I emptied it.

* My next project are bracelets. I just need to buy supplies to start.

* If you want some fun today, skip over to Amy's FREE live video class over HERE. We'll be there at 12 pm CST, 1 pm EST, 6 pm UK and 19:00 for most of Europe. Today meaning Friday, 23. December. :)

Now go check these people out.--> Paint Party Friday

Happy Holidays!!

Oh, Betty!

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000+01:00

I'm so excited about this week's theme at The Butterfly Effect. It was chosen by one of the participants, Andrea, and it's all about paper dolls! :)

When I think of paper dolls first thing I remember is my collection of paper dolls when I was little. It was all the rage when I was growing up and I remember buying magazines that had paper dolls at the back to cut out.

And then one of my friends that was a bit older than me, decided to stop collecting them and gave half of the collection to me and the other half to another friend of ours. I was ecstactic! All those paper dolls! :))

Sadly I have none to show because I threw them away when I outgrew them. But my favorite was Betty Boop so I decided to draw her.

.Now I need to make some paper dresses for her. :)

P.S. We have snow today. I don't mind it but I wish it would stop snowing. It just keeps going. It won't stop.

The revengeful Elfie

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000+01:00

Meet Elfie. :)

She's pissed off.

You wanna know why?

Cause she caught her boyfriend making out with her neighbour Gnomette.

Aha! She's really pissed off at her cause she parades around nude with her boobs jumping all around and flirts with every male that comes by. He doest'n even have to be her species!! She was once caught smooching with Rudolf. Go figure! The gnirl has no shame.

Now Elfie is trying to figure out how to get back at her for stealing her man. And while she's at it she's gonna make some trouble for that no good cheating Elfonzo, too. She has a plan!

She's gonna sneak in the Santa's Workshop and mess up the equipment on Elfonzo's work station. She's gonna change all the gift tags with a naked picture of Gnomette. Once Miss. Clause sees that, she's gonna be so mad and she'll make her husband fire Elfonzo and put him and Gnomette in front of the Christmas council to figure out the punishment for them.

That is so clever. :) Nobody's gonna suspect that Elfie had her fingers in it. She's borrowing her father's camera tonight and she's gonna try to take a photo of Gnomette naked. Piece of cake!

Ahh! Revenge is sweet! Let that be a lesson to all not to piss off an elf.

I'm linking to The Butterfly Effect again cause I did such a bad job with storytelling on my Monday's post. :) And of course linking to my Party People who Paint on Friday. :))

Get them while they're HOT

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000+01:00

So . . . I painted yesterday. Because my computer was down and I was bored. :)

book page glued on canvas, girl painted with acrylic paint and india ink pens - signed on front and back - 20 $

I had this little canvases for a year but didn't know what to use them for. They are 10x10 cm (approx. 4"x4"). So I figured I'd paint my Cotton Candy Girls on them.

book page glued on canvas, girl painted with acrylic paint and india ink pens - signed on front and back - 20 $

I was sure I had 6 canvases but I must have lost one on the way. One I'm not showing cause it's a gift and here are the rest of them.

book page glued on canvas, girl painted with acrylic paint and india ink pens - signed on front and back - 20 $

If you want one e-mail me. The price is 20 $ including the p&p no matter where you are in the world. I'll e-mail you the PayPal thingy to pay through it.

book page glued on canvas, girl painted with acrylic paint and india ink pens - signed on front and back - 20 $

Linking to The Butterfly Effect cause I got nothing else. I'm all out of stories.;)

Bottle cap magnet tutorial

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000+01:00

I'm sure most of you are already shopping for Christmas gifts by now. :) I decided to make some handmade gifts for this year and I made a tutorial for you all, if you want to try it out.

This is how I made very simple bottle cap magnets. First off buy some bottle caps. Don't use old, used ones cause it will be hard to glue stuff to it. Or go into your mom's storage cause that's where you find this stuff that you usually don't think of buying yourself.

Then spray paint them if you wish. You don't have to, if you have really cool bottle caps. Mine were this weird golden color so I spray painted them black. Here's a tip: clean anything metallic with a little bit of vinegar so the paint sticks to it without chipping.

Get a picture you want to use inside of the bottle cap. It can be whatever. I printed out some of my art and I used an index (x48) setting to give me just the right size. However you can use larger ones and cut out the bit that you like and so on.

Cut it out by using a template. I found that a bottle cap from the golden acrylics fits just fine.

If you have a Fiskar's cutter and a template, use the smallest one. It makes it easier for you.

Glue the picture inside of the bottle cap. Any glue is fine but I prefer if it dries fairly quickly.

Then pour Liquitex's Pouring Medium on top. I think you can use Diamond Glaze as well or resin if you want to mess with it. Leave them somewhere where they can lay flat and undisturbed.

Mine took 8 hours to dry on touch but I left them over night as well just to be sure. The medium becomes clear when it's totally dry.

When dry, glue a magnet on the back or make them into a brooch/broach/pin. You can buy this stuff in any craft/hobby store.

I hope spray painting counts for Paint Party Friday. :) Have a great weekend!

Follow the links for a chance to win

2011-12-04T17:00:00.000+01:00

I'm having a giveaway at The Butterfly Effect this week. It's my choice of the theme and I of course chose book pages. :)

I'm giving away my FIRST book page girl so if you want a chance to win her, you'll need to play along with us over at The Butterfly Effect. :)

Today I'm showing you Lydia. She is a sweet girl, straight A student but she's been feeling a little rebellious lately.

She skipped school on Friday with her best friend Pippa and they went to this little cozy bar where artists hang out. Lydia struck a conversation with this cute, curly haired painter which just so happened was looking for nude models to pose for him.

Lydia was being a little shy but he finally sweet talked her into modeling for him on Saturday. Pippa said yes straight away.

Well, it's Sunday today and I haven't talked to her yet, so I don't know what went on yesterday but I do know she missed her curfew and she got in trouble with her Dad. I just hope it was worth it, that's all I'm saying. :))

Linking to the Artists in Blogland as well.

It's time for another naked gnome

2011-12-02T07:00:00.001+01:00

It's Holiday season and I thought it's about time for another naked gnome. A female this time. Is there a word for a female gnome? Gnomess? Gnady? :)) I call her Caroline.

I first thought she was Naked Gnome's sister but she looks too young so she might be his daughter. Now, don't get all disgusted. It's a nudist gnome community. I can't help it they're all walking around naked and being all like, I don't need no sticking clothes, and stuff.:)))

Well, at least they have some friends outside the gnome nakedness. This is Sue on the left being all pretty. She's Caroline's high school friend. You know. The one that drags you out pass your curfew so you have to sneak out and then gets you in trouble for skinny dipping in a public place. :)

On the right it's Caroline's cousin Betty on her mother's side. Only Caroline's dad is a genuine naked gnome, his wife was from a neighboring community and they wore clothes. But when Caroline's mom saw the Naked Gnome she fell head over hills in love with him. You see, you can't hide anything when you're naked. Who can blame her?! The man was gifted. :))

Let's see what everyone at Paint Party Friday is doing. Maybe there's someone else naked. You never know. :)

In pieces

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000+01:00

I'm pre-scheduling this post because I have a dentist in the morning. Oh, happy me! :)

I have no fear of the dentist but I find it annoying. You know. The whole process. I don't do yearly check-ups. Who does that? I go when I'm in pain. :) And even then I wait until it really gets out of hand to actually call a dentist.

It's just annoying to call just so she then schedules the appointment in a month or two. I'm ready to go right now, why do I have to wait? Well, if you complain that you're in pain, they get you in sooner but I usually don't. Cause I don't like complaining. That's a whole other post, believe me. :)

There's usually more wrong in your mouth than you thought and they only fix one tooth. Then they schedule you for another appointment in a month. Why? That is so annoying. Why don't they do the whole thing at once and be done with it. I get it if there's something in need of healing or they are "building" your teeth but not when there is just a hole to fix. Is it that much trouble to go to the next tooth? I don't mind. But they never ask me.

Oh, and I always cry in the dentist's chair. It's so funny. I just sit in it and my eyes start watering. I think it's something about the position I'm in. The whole half laying position, open mouth and bright light in your eyes. I'm not in pain but tears still flow. :)

The Butterfly Effect is in broken pieces this week. Go check it out. :)

On the book page

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000+01:00

water-soluble oil pastels over a pencil sketch.

I finally painted something other than an ATC. And it wasn't in my art journal. :)

I've seen these faces on book pages on blogs for some time now. Lisa is the most inspiring one. :) Thanks Lisa! So, I finally gave it a go.

Ok, this sounds like I've never done it before. I have. I like text as a background. I've done many ATC's with book page background and I've collaged book pages on the background. But I never actually drew in a book like this.

I found this old school book for Slovene language and it opens so wide. Really. None of the other books open this wide. And the pages are bound not glued. I love this book. :)

I know my American friends celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday. Everybody is in a very thankful state of mind and I even considered writing a list of things I'm grateful for but I decided not to. I'm in a weird mood and it's very hard to be thankful when you know things are not as they should be. Well, I should at least try, right?!

I know I'm thankful for my blog and FB readers for your love and support. THANK YOU! So, I decided to offer FREE shipping for all my items in my Etsy store. Just enter " freeshipping " as a coupon code when you check out.:)

And I'm thankful for Amy's free on-line classes. :) It's true. It's so much fun to chat away while Amy does the hard work. :) She's teaching a portrait class today, Friday at 2 p.m. CST or 21:00 for most of Europe and you're all invited.

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

Coffee or tea?

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000+01:00

COFFEE MUSTACHE

I was lost for inspiration for this week's Butterfly Effect theme Coffee or Tea. So, I Googled. And I found these photos.

(source)

Aren't they hilarious?! :)) I want that mug!

I don't consider myself a coffee drinker or a tea drinker. I used to drink tea in winter months to warm me up. And I love any kind of fruit tea. Green, black, white tea doesn't do it for me.

But I recently started drinking coffee on a regular basis. It's sort of a substitute for sweets. :) I add cinnamon to it and I love it.

Are you a tea drinker or a coffee drinker? What's your favorite?

As it happens, it's a movie night

2011-11-20T11:59:00.000+01:00

It's so funny! When I was doing that blogging every day in October, I didn't think I was gonna make it. But somehow I managed to find words to post every day. But since the start of November I'm struggling to write a single blog post. So, I'm going with random again.:)

* I'm planning to go see the latest movie from Twilight Saga tonight. If all the stars align just right to make it happen. It's something a couple of us friends have been doing since the first movie. Well, we've been going to the premiere but couldn't make it this time.

* I have these periods of time when I decide to watch movies and yesterday was one of those days. I watched Our Idiot Brother, The Art Of Getting By and I Don't Know How She Does It. I concluded all three were good watchable movies.

* I also find that my taste in movies varies. It so depends in what mood I am when I see a movie. It can happen that a perfectly good movie sucks because I'm in a "different" mood.

* I also find that I don't get British humor. I mean, we all love Bridget Jones's Diary, right, but Monty Python is a required taste. I saw this movie The Guard which is totally fine but it's represented as a comedy. I do not find comedy in it.

* And to finish this randomness which happened to turn into a movie review :), I decided to see all of the Harry Potter movies. I haven't started yet and I can't promise I'll go all the way through with it but I'll give it a go. To see what all the hype is about. And no. I will not read the books. Movies are as far as I'll go.

Linking to the Artists in Blogland.

Manon's Dolls

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

I told you about Amy's free live video workshop before and last week it was Manon's first workshop. She showed us two different ways to do her adorable little dolls. I don't have markers so I did the first one with acrylics and india ink pens.

The second one is done with chock pastels. It's more smooth and I really enjoyed playing with it but I might have to try it with a bigger face cause it's hard to smudge with fingers. :)

If you missed the live workshop, Amy recorded them all and you can find them here.(right sidebar)

You can catch another free live workshop tomorrow, saturday 19. November at 9 p.m. UK time. Click the ROOM to get in.

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

How to paint an ancient goddess

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000+01:00

You could see my Greek goddesses on Friday so I decided to draw another Greek goddess for a tutorial over at The Butterfly Effect.

This is Iris. She is a messanger of the gods and the goddess of rainbow. She is also know as the goddess of sea and sky and is represented as supplying the clouds with the water needed to flood the world, consistent with her identification with the rainbow.

There are 8 steps to drawing an ancient goddess and 7 of them happen before you actually start to draw. :) If you want to know what they are, you know where to go.

Linking to the Artists in Blogland as well.

Goddesses

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000+01:00

I was challenged again. :) To do Greek Goddesses this time. I chose Athena, Hera and Nike.

I love mythology and I always say to myself I'm gonna research the hell out of it. I wanna know all the gods and their relationships and the stories behind them. But I never do. Cause there's like gazillion of them!

Is there like mythology for dummies? I don't want to read books like Iliad and Odyssey (I did though), I want "facts". You know. Mythological facts. :)))

Athena

In the meantime we have wiki. :) Athena is considered a protector of Athens and the goddess of war strategy hence the worrier outfit. She is also a goddess of wisdom, warfare, divine intelligence, and crafts. Take your pick. :) She is also a virgin. She never gets married or laid. Poor girl!

What's interesting is how she was born. Her parents are Zeus and Matis however Zeus, her father, was the one who "gave birth" to her. Only she came out of his head which is typical of men to mess up the process.

Hera

Hera was Zeus' sister which made her aunt to Athena. She is the goddess of women and marriage. Hera was known for her jealous and vengeful nature, most notably against Zeus's lovers and offspring, but also against mortals who crossed her. Her name means "the queen of the gods".

One of her symbols are Peacock feathers. If you're wondering how the Peacock got it's pattern it was Hera who took eyes from Argus and placed them there.

Nike

Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Her name actually means victory. We could call her Victoria. :)

She has wings but I don't know why. She supposedly flew around battlefields in a chariot rewarding the victors with glory and fame. Maybe the wings are just a shortcut in portraying her.

Do you have a favorite Goddess?

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Little Missy

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000+01:00

I'm introducing Little Missy to you today. :) She's cute, ain't she? :)

Well, I decided she will be my very first ACEO.

For those of you who are not familiar with these terms, ACEO - Art Cards, Editions and Originals is just a version of an ATC - Artist Trading Card but you can sell it.

ATC's are for trading only, ACEO's are for selling. Get it? There is no other difference. The only requirement is the size that must be 2,5"x3,5".

Available on Etsy

The second Missy I already traded. I tried a new hairstyle and I liked it. :)

Valerie, do you recognize this? This is a mini easel I got from Valerie. The mini canvas that came along with it I haven't used yet but boy do I love the easel. Look! It's perfect for displaying ATC's. Or ACEO's in this case. :) Thanks again!

Kittens

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000+01:00

Last week Amy had a live video workshop and she painted a cat. I haven't painted a blue cat in a while so I was inspired to play along.

I didn't do the fabric and the sewing thing cause that only happens in a parallel universe. For now. I might change my mind later on but for now the sewing machine stays with my mom. That's where it belongs. :)

Blue cat ala Amy

So, I painted kitties in my art journal. The first one looks more like Amy's. I wanted it to look like Amy's. Cause then when I go back and look at my journal when I'm old and stuff and I'll be able to remember when this blue cat happened.

Cause it doesn't look like my cat so I'll be wondering why did I paint it and where I got my inspiration and then it will hit me. It was Amy's workshop! Yeah!

Or I could just write it down cause it's suppose to be an art journal where you write shit down. I should probably do that and not rely on my memory too much. :)

Pumpkin cat

The second kitty doesn't look like my blue cat either. I have no idea why I painted it this way. I guess I was inspired by a pumpkin. That's where it got its belly. :)

I feel I need to explain the sewing thing. I can sew. My mom taught me when I was little cause she sewed all the time. I even took a class on sewing. I sewed myself some short pants with pockets and belt thing and stuff. I can sew!

But it frustrates me. I get nervous around the sewing machine. Just thinking about sewing gets my blood pressure up. Something always goes wrong or the thread is doing weird things and it upsets me.

Like when I do happen to sew something it takes me years to forget that feeling and to try something again. I have not yet forgotten so it will be some time.

Amy is giving away that cat she made during the workshop so I'm linking to The Butterfly Effect.

Linking to the Artists in Blogland as well.

Cheeky Chicka

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hello peeps!

It's time for Paint Party Friday.

I felt like painting big again so I made this piece on Halloween hence the halloweenie inspiration. :)

It's painted on a A2 size watercolor paper sketchbook. It says it's 16 1/2" x 23 1/2". And I feel very relaxed painting on/in it.

As you can see I really don't bother being precise. Details annoy me. It really does make a difference the way I paint if it's on a canvas that I might sell or in a sketchbook that I know the piece is not going anywhere.

There's a certain freedom to it. I don't mind screwing up, don't mind if the lines are not straight, don't mind if colors don't match, don't mind if paint ends up where it's not suppose to. Don't mind at all. I'm liking it. :)

What do/don't you like about your sketchbook? :)

Art and Music

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000+01:00

First I'd like to thank everyone for coming to my Halloween Party on Monday. :) I so enjoyed visiting everyone and was so excited to see you all. :) I'll live the link tool open until Sunday so you can still link your after Halloween posts. :)

And secondly, thanks to everyone for commenting on my posts all through October. It was a Blogtoberfest challenge to blog every day. I had fun and enjoyed your visits very much. :)

Now back to the regular program. :) Art and Music is the theme for this week at The Butterfly Effect.

Nicola Toms is our very first guest poster. :) Go check out what she's got to say.

I followed her footsteps and decided to base my entry on music video as well. I have many favorite singers and bands and even more favorite songs. :) It was hard to narrow it down but I listened to Joss Stone after a long time and was inspired to do the bellow art journal spread.

Sorry for the cut off words. The journal is a bit bigger than my scanner so it didn't fit everything. It is based on three of my favorite Joss' songs.

The first one is Joss in her video for the song Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now.

The second is from her music video for Super Duper Love.

And the last one is Joss in my favorite car the VW Beetle with a song Don't Cha Wanna Ride.

And! Amy is having another live video workshop tomorrow Thursday at 2 pm CST. That would make 8 pm for most of Europe and 7 pm for UK and 6 am Friday for Melbourne, Australia. It's so much fun you don't even know what you're all missing. Go HERE to join us tomorrow. She is recording them as well and you can get the links on the right sidebar on the first above workshop link.

Halloween Linky Party!!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my very FIRST
Halloween Linky Party!!!

Look at my costume!

I'm looking fine, aren't I ?!
I have a little Raggedy Ann going on, don't you think? :)

Don't be shy!

Come in and join the party!

This really is my first ever Halloween party cause Halloween is not something we celebrate in our country. Well, not on the 31st October anyway. :) If you want to read about it I wrote a little something over here. So, I’m making up for it today.

First off a history lesson.

I got it from wiki caues we all know that's where you go if you need information these days, right?! :)

Did you know we have Irish to thank for the Halloween? Mhm. they thought of it first. If it wasn't for their celebration of Samhain there would be no Halloween today. Samhain means "summer's end" and it got all that wicked stuff attributed later on through history.

The carving of jack-o'-lanterns comes from the souling custom of carving turnips into lanterns as a way of remembering the souls held in purgatory. But Americans started carving punpkins cause they were much larger and easily available.

Trick-or-treating derived from "guising" which means almost the same as it does now but the difference is that with guising a kid had to perform a "trick" to get a treat. Nowadays it's the other way around. If you don't give out a treat you get tricked. :)

Now it's your turn! Show us your costume, your decorations, your treats or whatever. Anything Halloween is fine with me.

Link your Halloween post below so everyone can visit you and make sure you talk to everyone. Nobody likes a lurker. Unless that's your costume. Then it's ok. :)

Thanks so much for coming!

# 30 I'll put Voodoo on your doll

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000+01:00

On the last day before Halloween I give you the Voodoo Doll. :)

But wait!

I’ve done some research and wiki says that there is a practice in Haiti of nailing crude poppets with a discarded shoe on trees near the cemetery to act as messengers to the otherworld, which is very different in function from how poppets are portrayed as being used by Vodou worshippers in popular media and imagination.

We’ve been brainwashed by Hollywood, people! And James Bond is the one to blame. He is, trust me! :)

Voodoo Doll

Oh, well! There will be no more casting spells with Voodoo dolls for me. :)

Are you ready for tomorrow’s party?

I sure am!

Make sure to stop by tomorrow on Halloween to link your scary stuff here on my blog and I’ll make sure I’ll come over with drinks and candy.

Of course you can drink.

Who said you can’t?

Just make sure you don’t drive home.:)

Grab the creepy redhead and post her on your blog. Just for fun. And because you're super cool! :)

# 29 Frankie's bride

2011-10-29T07:00:00.000+02:00

Have you noticed, my dears, that I have been blogging every day in the month of October?

Yes I have! Thanks to Blogtoberfest. :)

I had so much fun and I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves as well.

There are 2 days left to Halloween and Frankie’s bride has come to visit.

Isn’t she pretty?

And sexy!

Way to go girl!:)

So, I’ve been digging some dirt on this gal. She’s a creation of the movies in 1935 as opposed to Frankenstein who was created in a book by Mary Shelley in 1818. And they didn’t bother to give her a name that’s why she is known only as the Bride of Frankenstein.

Frankie's bride

How many of you are dressing up as Frankie’s brides on Halloween?

Will you come to my party?

It’s on 31st October and all you have to do is link your Halloween post to a Mr. Linky on my blog and the fun will begin. :)

Linking to the Artists in Blogland today.

Catrina 3 days before Halloween

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000+02:00

La Calavera Catrina means 'The Elegant Skull'.

I did not know that?
Did you?
I thought it was a woman's name spelled weird. :)Well, it probably is by now but in Mexican culture where they celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Catrina is known as the skeleton lady.

Catrina

I’m counting down the days to Halloween. Is anybody else doing it? We have 3 days left and I hope you’re having fun. :)

It’s Friday so that means you’re definitely having fun today because we’re having a Paint Party.

If you want to go trick or treating with me on Halloween join me on the 31st October at my Halloween Linky Party. All you have to do is blog about anything Halloween and link it here on my blog on Monday.

What costume will you be wearing? Tell me, tell me!! :) Grab the freaky girl below if you want to.

Sugar skulls and masquerade on day #27

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000+02:00

I haven’t even been aware of this sugar skull tradition until a couple of years ago when I saw it in Blogland. :) See, blogging can be very educational. :)

I joined a sugar skull swap over at the ATCs For All forum and did these four.

I also made some bird inspired masquerade and they go perfectly with Inspiration Avenue Masquerade Ball . :)

If you’re in the mood to party on Halloween you’re invited to join me here on my blog on 31st October. I’ll have Mr. Linky ready for you to link your Halloween post to so we can hop around the blogosphere and spread some love around. :)

I expect for your to wear your Halloween costume to the party. :) Feel free to gab the button.

# 26 One day closer

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000+02:00

First of, so I don't forget. Amy is having a FREE live video workshop TODAY 26h October at 3 pm CST. Come on over! :)

Did you know that in my country we don’t really celebrate Halloween? It’s only been recently with the influence of the American culture that has become more popular but nothing to the extent that it is in America.

We do have a national holiday on 1st November called Day of the dead but it’s not the same as Mexican Dia de los Muertos. We’re more conservative visiting the graves and so on.

But we do have a holiday that would be similar to Halloween in February or March. Depends on the Easter. It’s supposed to be on Tuesday in the 7th week before Easter. Oh, wait. You’ve heard of the mask carnival in Venice right? That about sums it up but we have kurentovanje. We go trick or treating, too. Well, I don’t do it anymore but I did as a child.

Anyway. Way back Amy had a Summer Witch Party over at the Flutterbye ning and I even managed to make one witch. :)

Traded to Gina. :)

I think witches are cool. I know in “old” days and in fairytales witches were mean and ugly but these days they are cute, sexy and good.

We’re having a linky party here on my blog on Halloween. There really is nothing to it. Just post something halloweenish and link it here on Monday 31st October. Easy peasy! :) I'll have Mr linky ready.

And I made a Halloween Party Button. :) Feel free to spread the love around. Thanks! :)

Halloween countdown!

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000+02:00

The countdown to Halloween has begun!

It’s perfect you see cause the Blogtober fest ends on Halloween as well and I’ll be back to blogging 3 times a week. Will you miss me? :) I must say I quite enjoyed myself blogging every day. But I’m running out of ATC’s to show you so I can’t keep it up.

I’m starting this party with some haunted houses. I’ve never been to one nor know of one. I did live in this old squeaky house but nothing weird happened. I have cats and any kind of noise that I hear I write it off as theirs.

I have these two cats that open doors and I had friends over a couple of times when the cats would open the door and they were all like What was that! And I was like What? Oh, that. That’s the cat. :) I got used to the noises so much I don’t even register them anymore.

But I used to watch Ghost hunters and I just remembered that they did come to investigate one castle here in Slovenia and their conclusion was that it is haunted. I don’t remember ever being there but I think that I was when I was in an elementary school. We were always going on field trips and I don’t remember a single one.

Hey! Let's have a linky party on the Halloween? What you say? It gives you a week to come up with a Halloween theme which I bet you were planning to do anyway. I'll put up a linky for you and we can have a party! :) Ok? Deal!

We're having a Halloween Linky Party on the 31st October.

Make sure you'll join! :)

# 24 Surrealistic Story

2011-10-24T07:00:00.001+02:00

Neverending story part 5.

While the girl with a blue scarf reminisced about her hair, a whooshing sound came over her head.

"Oh my goodness!" the girl exclaimed.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. Was that her blue horse?

He was different. He had wings and a man on his back. But the man wasn’t an ordinary man it was that man of questionable origins that she saw in the window at that place where night meets day.

She shivered as she remembered the old wives tale of the man with no face. Nobody knew where he came from but everyone knew that no woman was safe when he turned up.

She recalled a story of this beautiful girl with golden locks. The girl was sitting by her window one night when she spotted the man with no face by the bushes.

She was startled for a second but composed herself right away to ask him of his business.

He said: “No worries little lady. I’ve come to collect the gold.”

She was puzzled as she knew her family had no gold.

“Whatever do you mean, kind sir?” she asked.

And before she could finish her words the man leaped straight up to the window and grabbed the girl by her hair.

“I want your golden locks.” the man said in sinister voice.

Before she could open her mouth to protest he pulled out a sword and cut off her head.

The girl with the blue scarf shivered at the thought and thanked the skies for having her mother’s ruby red hair instead of her father’s golden locks. At least ... that’s what she thought.

Linking to The Butterfly Effect.

Read on # 23

2011-10-23T07:00:00.000+02:00

It's day # 2 of the surrealism project for The Butterfly Effect and the rest of the interview from the FallingLadies.

Fishies in the sky or underwater tiny town?

6. How many pets...
Nine (9). They are listed with photos on my left sidebar.

7. 2 Goals... one huge and unrealistic one, and one achievable one...

To be a freaking rock star! It’s unrealistic because I can’t sing. I mean I can but my voice breaks half way so I won’t be singing on the X Factor anytime soon. :)
To make art for a living.:)

8. 5 things in your purse besides money and a cell phone...
Notebook, labello, tampons, one pouch in a shape of a coffee mug and a pen.

9. The emotion or feeling you hate the most...
I’m not a jealous person so I can’t stand when people are jealous. I just don’t understand it. If you’re referring to an emotion in me that would be fear. I always rationalize so it goes away.

10. If you could have 50 pounds of anything except money or gold what would you want?
50 pounds of chocolate would be delish. Ice cream would work, too. Oh, but nothing can beat diamonds. :)

Just plain weird #22

2011-10-22T07:00:00.000+02:00

Next week it’s all about the surrealism at The Butterfly Effect. I thought I’d give it an early start since I’m planning to count down the last 7 days to Halloween.

Freaky ballerina on a huge Trojan horse.

And FallingLadies made up some questions for us to answer so here I go. I'm gonna split it in half so I'll have something to write about tomorrow. :)

1. What should you be doing right now instead of sitting on the computer?
Making myself some coffee. I wanted one about half an hour ago but then I got a phone call, I had to go outside to get the dogs, then my mom had to tell me something so in the mean time I forgot to make myself some coffee.

2. What's the messiest area of your house? and dare you to show us...
Wow! That would be my studio. It was all perfect until I started bringing in boxes from my previous apartment. It’s like a bomb exploded in there. I would show you but that would mean I had to get up and go upstairs and I don’t feel like it.

3. 5 simple things that make you happy right now, above and beyond the obvious like your family and your health...

My pets. I find myself constantly amused by them. :)
The fact the snow is melting.
ATC’s make me happy. I love trading them.
Candy. The frog shaped kind.
That coffee from the first question would make me really happy right now.

4. When did you last cry?
Today. I cry all the time. Just give me something to watch. It can be sad or happy. I cry either way. My hubby is teasing me all the time.

He says: ” Honey, it’s ok. That didn’t happen in reality. ”

Well, f*ck you!
If they cry, I cry. :)

5. Favorite book...
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Crazy Friday # 21

2011-10-21T13:54:00.001+02:00

Sorry guys for being late to the Paint Party Friday.

We had snow yesterday and it caused the electricity to go out 4 times and it messed up the internet modem. We had to wait until today for the repair man to come over and fix it. He was quick by the power went out again a couple of times right afterwards.

All is well now. We had 15 cm of snow but it’s melting quickly. I had to shovel the snow twice yesterday though.

Here’s a little senorita to remind us of the warm and sunny days. :)

She’s big. I think her face is bigger than mine.

Hope you’re having a great day.:)

Just random #20

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000+02:00

It's Thursday and it's about to snow. Some random stuff to entertain you.

I just realized today that this lady has already been introduced to you before. But she's cute and she doesn't mind. :) Hope you won't either.

* I'm watching past seasons of House. I'm not even sure if I like them but I'm bored. Isn't it funny how they keep treating patients on a guess? Does that happen in real life?

"This looks like cancer let's give you chemo. Oh, no, now you're worst it looks like it wasn't cancer after all. Oops! Let's guess what's wrong with you again."

* I'm also watching The X Factor. I get embarrassed when people suck and I cry when people are brilliant.

* A couple of days ago or was it last week? I received one really cool mail art. :) Valerie sent me a big envelope of stuff. Awesome tags and this tiny little canvas with an easel. I love it! Thank you! :)

* You know how you can get a foggy effect on a painting if you seal it with a matt finish? Not over all just like splotches of fogginess. You can fix it by putting gloss finish over it. And if you want matt finish you put that on top of the glossy one.

* Past couple of days I was entertaining a thought about what I would do with the money if I won the lottery. I don't play but my dad does. He's been doing so for about 30 years for sure.

* You know how people share like funny/informative photos on FB? I recently saw this photo message shared that said something about vegetarians killing plants, help end the violence. Wait I need to find this and quote it.

"Every day, thousands of innocent plants are killed by vegetarians.
Help end the violence."

Now, I don't eat meat so I guess you can call me a vegetarian. But I don't lecture people about it or try to convince them to stop eating meat. I feel it's a personal choice and today everyone can get information on the internet if they wanted to.

But I do support certain messages that enlighten mistreatment of animals. Many people are not aware how animals suffer so they can get meat on their plate. Once you know, it's up to you what you do with that information.

So, this vegetarians killing plants is referring to messages about animals being killed. And some of my FB "friends" were commenting:

LoL! -- Funny! -- I'm so sharing this!

But I don't think they understand how ridiculous that comes across.

Cause last time I've seen omnivore eat they always had a side of potatoes and a salad next to their meat. And those hamburgers sure do look delicious between bread. Not to mention drinks that are made out of plants like wine and beer.

So, the ones calling for an end towards plant killing are omnivores who are also plant eaters.

Go figure! What a smart message.

I know it's supposed to be funny and sarcastic but it's just plain sad that people don't see the ridiculousness of that message.

This one as well has been posted before. I don't know what I was thinking. :) But I don't feel like searching for another so she's staying put.

Now, before you comment, go read the whole thing again. Cause in my experience when people read about something they disagree with don't bother reading on but feel very passionate about voicing their opinion at that precise moment.

This is not a post about what you eat or not. I don't care what you eat. I care what I eat. But if you feel so strongly against vegetarianism at least find a smarter message to post on your FB wall.

What's your inspiration # 19

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000+02:00

Inspiration Avenue is celebrating 500 plus followers and they want to know what inspires us.

Let's play along! :)

I find myself inspired mostly by faces, paterns and color combinations. I have caught myself numerous times studying shadows on my hubby's face. Like when we're having a conversation and his face is lit from the side I think to myself how I would paint those shadows. Don't worry! He's used to me not paying attention to him. :)

Other artists are a great inspiration to me as well. I don't have a style or a technique that I prefer. It's all around feel of the piece I'm looking at. Oh, and watching artists create is my favorite thing. It's the energy I feed off of.

Also challenges inspire me. You'll agree with me on this one. When you've been painting for a while you tend to gravitate to certain objects, colors and so on. And whenever I'm challenged to do something different I get all giddy from excitement. I research the hell out of it until I find something I like then I try to make it my own.

P.S. These were inspired by Sarah Bishop. I've done it once before. :)

Over the rainbow # 18

2011-10-18T07:00:00.000+02:00

I thought we should all enjoy some rainbow today. :)

I know it's been a hell of a lot of ATC's on this blog lately. But frankly I don't feel like painting on a bigger scale. I like this little girlies and other stuff. I don't think they'd work on a canvas anyway. And they get to leave home. :) I trade them all which makes me feel good.

Nobody wants to buy my paintings so I'm stuck with them. Maybe that's a reason why I don't feel like painting cause I don't want to hoard them. It's like I reached my quota now I wait. :)

Wouldn't it be great if we could trade our paintings like we trade ATC's? :) I know it's a riskier business that's probably why noone is doing it.

I mean they would have to be the same size of course. Cause nobody would like it if you made an 8x11" painting and got a 5x5" back. And I would be a lot more pissed if I got a painting I didn't like than I'd be with an ATC.

It's tricky, too, cause the photo doesn't necesarily show the quality of a painting either. It's different if your business depends on it but you can't really go: "hey, I want my painting back cause I don't like the one you sent me!". Right?!

It would be a totally great idea in a perfect world. Like in a world in which we'd get to read each others minds and we'd make exactly the kind of paintings the trading partner would enjoy.. I know I'd be devistated if somebody wouldn't like what I'd sent them in return.

And there's this thing about where to store all the paintings you traded. I have like 200 traded ATC's. Where in hell would I put 200 paintings? Right?!

Not such a great idea after all. So, as far as this blog goes, you're stuck with ATC's and an occasional art journal entry. :) My appologies to all who'd like to see something else.

Turn your swag on #17

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000+02:00

I really wish I could embed this YouTube video but embeding is not enabled so you'll need to click your way over there.

Cher Lloyd - Turn my swag on

According to the Urban Dictionary SWAG means appearance, style or the way someone presents themselves. Also, swag is made up of your overall confidence, style and demeanor.

I believe this girls has some swagger of her own going on. Don't you think?

Using watered down paint on a regular paper sucks. I might have to redo the background as well. I prefered the white. Something went wrong with this paynes gray.

Anyway, if you're into tutorials you might want to check out Amy's tutorial on masks over at The Butterfly Effect. Cause it's all about the masks this week.:)

My own species #16

2011-10-16T07:00:00.000+02:00

Red Frogtoise

Facts:

Liveson trees in a rainforest
Monkeylike tail helps it to reach down to ambush ants and other insects
Froglike legs keeps it stick to the surface so it’s harder for birds and otheranimals to snatch it for a meal
Tortoiseshell is small but sufficient for it to hide under when attacked

Red beak Capra Reptilia

Facts:

Livesin rich grassland and eats seeds
Goatlike hind legs and reptile tail help it move quickly and swiftly through grassto escape the enemies
Ituses forelegs to dig out occasional termite colony
Redbeak signifies male gender

Mergoat

Facts:

Goat’shorns are only for defense as it is a very peaceful animal
Allaround green color of its body helps it blend with its environment
Itis a vegetarian and eats only seaweeds
Redfins on the hips are poisonous

Panthera Aries Pteron

Facts:

Livesin a desert
Anteaterhead is shaped for digging out insects in the sand
Dragonlike wings are not for flying but for regulating its temperature
Ram’shorns are used in territorial fights and in a mating season to impress females

Linking to Artists in Blogland.

Freak out # 15

2011-10-15T07:00:00.000+02:00

So, yesterday I had a little freak out. I was checking all the participants in PPF and leaving comments then something strange happened.

I left a comment but it said I was bea and not NatashaMay. I thought Google is acting up again so I logged off. But when I tried to log back in I got this message on my screen.

It's in my language but what it says is that I need to give them my mobile phone number so they can send me a code to enter my account. I was freaked out that my e-mail was hacked so I gave the Google my phone number and they sent me the code.

Afterwards I freaked out even more cause now I gave the hacker my phone number as well and access to my e-mail. So I googled as I usually do to find out what the hell is going on.

Well, apparently nobody hacked into my account but because I didn't give my phone number to Gmail when they asked me nicely they closed down my account and got it the hard way.

Seriously! WTF!! They actually closed down my account! Like my blogs weren't there either. It wasn't just that I couldn't log in. They weren't there! Now I'm pissed!

Has this happened to you, too? What am I supposed to do now?

Here's a little ATC Giraffe to lighten up the mood. :)

And a little Ladybug & Giraffe Chimera. :)

Friday the 14th

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000+02:00

Aren't you glad that yesterday was the 13th so today is not Friday the 13th? :) Weird stuff happen on Friday the 13th. Not to me though. 13 was never a bad day for me. I used to live in an apartment building with a street number 13 on the 13th floor in an apartment 103. Take the 0 out of it and you'll have another 13. :))

Anyway, I hurt my cat yesterday. I closed the door behind me and didn't see her there so I caught her leg in the door. She limped the whole day. I'm gonna see if she gets better today or not.

I feel like I did absolutely nothing yesterday. I woke up thinking it was the weekend cause my hubby is home sick. Then I spent the whole day at the computer watching YouTube with occasional meal and bathroom breaks. It was like yesterday never happened. It made me think. I just wasted a whole day in my life.

I get like that sometimes. Well, a lot of the times. Thinking about the purpose of life. Why am I here, what am I suppose to be doing, what's the point and stuff like that. And it gets even worse on days like yesterday when you realize you just wasted a day doing absolutely nothing. And that would be fine if I was super busy and all around important. Then it would be called a relaxing day. But I'm thinking I can't really get more relaxed than I am right now so something better be coming along soon or I'll die of boredom.

Here's an old entry in my art journal. I tried to be pointillistic. :) Is that a word?

Linking to PPF. And if you want to enter my giveaway to win that painting you saw last week you'll need to go to The Butterfly Effect.

#13 Let's get wet

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000+02:00

Guys, you need to help me out here. I need some suggestions what to blog about. I mean, I have some atc's to show you but there really isn't any story behind them.

Amy got this one. :)

They are obviously fairies and I'm linking them to The Butterfly Effect. Just because I can. And because they have wings. I mean I can't win my own giveaway but you can. Go over there and enter. Go now! :)

My favorite so far.

Ok, some random stuff that I would probably not have blogged about but I'm running out of ideas. :))
* I'm training my pooches for agility. Ok, I train the big one Karma and my Mom trains the little one Kika. She needs a haircut. I like the word pooch. :)
* So, I had an appointment at my gynecologist yesterday. Don't you just hate it when they scrape stuff in there? I swear I can feel it for the entire day. Anyway there are some changes on my cervix and I'm scheduled for a laser operation one month from now. Nothing to worry about it's just another nuisance I have to deal with.
*I like this song right now.

* Let's see if you really read all that I write and answer me this question. :) What's your favorite cooked dish? Mine changes from time to time. I used to love spaghetti with tomato sauce, rucola and parmesan cheese. Rucola makes all the difference. I think it's called arugula in English but rucola sounds better to me. :)) I still like it but I'm not in the neighborhood anymore where that restaurant is located so I don't eat it as often
* I need to dye my hair. Orangie-red-ish. Cause I want to. And because I'm getting gray hair on my temples. I wonder if I'll ever have the guts to dye my hair blond? I'm a brunette with brown eyes and yellow undertoned skin (oppose to pink). Blond does not look good on me. But I'm curious.

Remember! I'll know if you read everything or not. :))

Digital Girl #12

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000+02:00

I had a request to draw a digital girl. Not to draw a girl digitally but to draw a digital girl.

What in hell is a digital girl?

I feel so old.

I have to Google everything so I know what the f*ck people are talking about.

Those are headphones if you're wandering. :)

Well, I don't know how digital she is but she's cute, right? And she's supposed to be in a matrix. That green background is a matrix. Just thought I should explain that.

I got some books to read from a friend of mine. I'm quite liking the Irish Devil from Diane Whiteside. :) If you ever get bored you should deffinitely pick up that book. And if you want my advice -- skip over the boring part and get to the juicy stuff. :) And there is no devil or any kind of supernatural in there it's just a metaphore.

Pokemon #11

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000+02:00

I really should look up what Pokemon is all about. I mean, I don't even know if it's a cartoon or comic or a game. I'm really too old for this.

As you know I had to Google it. Obviously it's all of the above only it is not called a cartoon but an anime. I don't have to tell you I needed to Google what's the difference, too. :)

Oh, did you know that the word Pokemon derives from a Japanese word Pocket Monsters? OMG! There are 649 fictional species made up just for the Pokemon!

I've been reading the concept on wiki but I guess I'm too old and stupid for it. What insects? Where did insects come from?

Anyway. I was asked to do certain characters from the Pokemon for a personal ATC trade. So here are James and Jessie on the left and Ach Ketchum on the right. :) Does the last name make you think of Ashton Kutcher as well? :))
When I scanned them the first time I had my settings set on black and white and I thought they looked pretty cool.:)

Things with wings #10

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000+02:00

I made it to the third of the Blogtoberfest challenge. Yay for me! :)

Today you get to see my creepy winged fairy painting that I'm giving away over at The Butterfly Effect.

To enter the giveaway you'll need to link up your artsy stuff at The Butterfly Effect.

If you want to play along with the challenge, this weeks theme is WINGS. But you can link up pretty much anything you want. Don't let the wings stop you from winning this painting. :)

See you there! :)

Chimera #9

2011-10-09T07:00:00.000+02:00

Have you ever thought about why things look the way they do? Lets concentrate on animals in particular. Why do they look the way they do? Have you ever thought about creating your own species? I mean in your mind not like for real. That would be creepy. :)

I often wonder when looking at an animal what they would look like if they had five legs or wings or a beak instead of a muzzle. And why don' they have like six eyes or just one. If you're wondering, there is a name for this. It's called Chimera.

Chimera is a mythical creature composed together of the parts of multiple animals.(wiki) It's also a medical term for an organism consisting of two or more generically different cells. But we won't get into that cause it's freaky. :) I found a great tutorial from LemurKat that explains animal chimera in detail.

She is also having a new species swap at AtcsForAll and here are my sketches.

On the left I used parts of a goat and a fish/mermaid. I don't know where the hands came from, some sort of mammal probably. On the right I used ram's horns, some sort of anteater inspired head, lion's hind legs and dinosaur's wings.

These two I'm not that sure that I like. On the left I used a chicken's head and feathers, lizard's tail, ungulate's hind legs and some mythical front legs. On the right we have a frog with monkey's tail and tortoise's shell, fox's head and snake's tongue. What do you think?

Linking to Sunday Sketches.

Read all about it! #8

2011-10-08T07:00:00.000+02:00

Amy had a great idea of interviewing all of us. Only we get to answer on our blogs and link it in her comments. Since I’m a week into this Blogtoberfest I need some fresh material to talk about. :)

1. what is your name and stuff? and any other good information. like bank account details.
My name is Nataša and I’m from Slovenia. I own 7 cats and 2 dogs. All of them but 2 of the cats (the oldest two) are rescued in one form or another. I like to consider myself an artist but I have no idea what to do for a living. I could give you my bank account details but it wouldn’t do you any good. Unless you want to fill up my account with a couple of thousands of €. :)
2. what is super hot about you? --- don't you Dare skip this one. answer it.
I’d say my eyes but I caught an allergy this year so they don’t look so hot anymore. :) Do you catch an allergy or develop it? I’d say develop. However my hubby likes my butt. I can’t see it so I can’t comment on it but I know it’s big. :)
3. don't lie or cheat: what is under your couch right now?
Well, if you asked me a couple of weeks ago I’d have something to tell but not this time. There is nothing but some dust. Not even that cause I vacuumed yesterday. Does a corner of a dog bed count? It's partially under it.
4. when was the last time you shaved your legs?
Monday or Tuesday, can’t remember.
5. what did you have for breakfast?
I started with green smoothies again but I skipped yesterday’s breakfast cause I had to go to the city and didn’t bother with it. I make my smoothies out of spinach, celery, apple and banana.
6. if you could choose a new name, what would you name yourself?
I had all sorts of names lined up when I was a kid but I’m happy with my name at this point. I wanted to be Nelly for a while and Madison and Montana were popular, too. :)
7. have you ever had plastic surgery?
No. And I don’t think I have the guts for it or money for that matter.
8. are you afraid of the dark?
No. Never had been. I was afraid what was under my bed after I watched this movie I can’t remember the title of. But I had to walk home through this poorly lit park when I was a teenager and was never afraid to. I always thought I was a bad ass anyway. I was ready to fight anyone. :)
9. are you a hermit?
I thought that meant if I was hording stuff but Amy got the wiki out and it means something entirely different. :) I guess I am a little bit. I like the company but don’t mind being alone either. I don’t see the point of going out for a drink though.

I mean, I can’t get drunk cause I’m driving, taxi would cost a million, and I don’t see the point in drinking alcohol if I don’t get drunk. Paying 2€ for a glass of juice is just ridiculous and I don’t see a reason for going out to a place where music is so loud you can’t hear a person next to you. So what’s the point of going out if you can’t drink and can’t talk? I guess I’ve outgrown it. :)
10. why do you blog?
I think of it as keeping a record of my art. And I love meeting all of you. I never thought I’d appreciate blogging as much as I do.

You won't believe it but this photo was taken yesteday around 5 p.m. The whole week had record temperature for this month like in ages but Friday decided to be something special. How can you go from 25°C and sunny to 5°C and snow over night?

P.S. I wasn't going to post any art today but I found these two koi atc's that I don't know how to incorporate into a post. So, they are just up there for viewing pleasure. :)
Linking to Artists in Blogland.

#7 Isn't it funny?

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000+02:00

Isn’t it funny how one small thing can ruin your whole day?

I got some mail yesterday that put me in a bad mood. Well, first I was furious then started calling numbers but they were smart and didn’t pick up the phone. Then I started to write a letter but stopped to check if I got all the facts right and then I realized that it was my fault.

I forgot to do something. Now I’m mad at myself for forgetting and mad at the institution for not reminding me or something.

So, I try to see the thing from another point of view. I’m trying to figure out if this was something that the Universe is trying to help me with or whatever. But can’t seem to find the silver lining.

Then I read about Jobs who died yesterday and his quote:
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."
Source

My little thing doesn’t seem so big right now, does it?

But with all do respect to mr. Jobs, it is party time today!! Join us at PPF.

I’m still working on my giveaway piece. Yes, I am pimping and I have no idea what you’re all still doing here. You should be checking out The Butterfly Effect to see how you can still enter this week. We all have portraits, right? So, what’s up? Why aren’t you linking over there? :)

You can get a head start on next week’s theme which is wings. And if you link up next week you’ll have a chance to win this painting of mine once it’s finished. It will be by Monday. I promise.

Oh, crap! I just remembered I forgot to do the October's newsletter. Or was it September’s. I have no clue. Either way I’m late. I’ll make sure I’ll do it by tomorrow. Subscribe on the top left sidebar if you want to. :)

Daisies for you #6

2011-10-06T09:00:00.000+02:00

Say hi to Daisy. :) I got a few questions regarding my drawing/painting technique so I figured I'd spill the beans. :)

I mean, I've made tutorials so it's not really a secret. You can refer to the Mama Bear tutorial and the Unicorn tutorial if you want to see how I do it.

You can see that the first Daisy is painted a little different than the others. I used acrylic paint and india ink pens for the face back then before I fell in love with watercolor pencils. The intensity of shading is lighter now but the scanner eats up a lot of the color as well, so in real life they are not as pale.

Thehair is india ink pen and the rest is acrylic paint, only the sky on the last one is watercolor pencil. I love doing the sky that way. :)

In progress #5

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000+02:00

I just remembered yesterday that I am having a giveaway on The Butterfly Effect next week and I should probably get my butt in gear and make something to give away. I first thought I’d do an ATC but you really need to be a collector or else you just get a tiny painting that you’ll probably lose.

That is my lap covered with a blanket cause even though it is hot outside it is cold in my house.

So here it is a somewhat bigger painting on stretched canvas in progress. I had to go with wings cause the theme for next week is wings. So if you want to win this painting that will be finished by then, you have to create something with wings and link it to The Butterfly Effect next week. Easy peasy!

My butt on a comfy chair infront of my computer desk, next to my hubby's computer desk. :)

I usually work on my lap if the piece fits in my lap. :) But in case you want to see my wee table of goods, here it is.

Linking to WOYWW.

I'm getting good at this :) #4

2011-10-04T11:08:00.000+02:00

Do you like books? There are times when I swallow every book I put my hand on but then there are times when everything I read bores me to death.

Oh, and I’m probably the only one in the world that has not read any of the Harry Potter books. Nor Lord of the rings. I haven’t watched the movies either. Well, I did get free tickets to see one of the Ring’s movies but was so freaking bored I said never again. I told my friend afterwards that the damn kid was climbing the mountain the whole freaking movie and still didn’t get to the top. And she said to me, Natasha, he’s been climbing that mountain for the past 2 movies as well. No wonder then!

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that lately I’ve been buying books that I already have at home. I don’t know why this keeps happening to me. I see a good deal on the book and when I get it I’m like confused why the story is so familiar. Of course it is. I’ve read it before.

Oh, well. I already told my friends they’re getting books as gifts this year. :) The only trick is that they’ll need to get the previous volumes first to get the whole story. :)

My all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice. What's yours?

And now for the art part. Remember these two from Sunday's post? See how ugly the sketch starts out? :)

Pencil sketch

Pen outline.

See how pretty they end up? :)

And thank you to everyone who's congratulated me on the giveaway win. I'm super excited about it. :)
Linking to Wizard of Whimsy.

Monday makes it day #3

2011-10-03T10:02:00.000+02:00

I found this great blog Muddy Colors where you can find all these different and amazing contributors. I was totally mesmerized by the Art Out Loud recap post. I so wished I was there it gave me goose bumps.

I never watched an artist create in real life. Have you? I guess that would be my greatest wish to see one of these artists create in real life.

Seeing all these characters makes me want to go to the library and borrow some kick ass books on drawing. And probably human anatomy since it’s obviously the basis for drawing a human form.

In the meantime while I dream of being a good drawer feast your eyes on my mermaids. Then you’ll get to say you knew me when I sucked big time. :)

Linking to The Butterfly Effect cause we want to see your faces this week. :) And to Artists in Blogland.

And I found out yesterday that I won Gritty Jane's giveaway!:)
A free spot on the Life Book course by Tamara Laporte aka willowing. I feel so lucky and excited. :)) Thank you!!

If you don't know what I'm talking about you need to head over there cause this e-course is freaking amazing. It will last the whole next year and not only will there be Tam teaching us but guest teachers as well.

Mystele, Wyanne, Gritty Jane,
Jane Davenport, Rhomany, Bonnie Rose,
Juliette Crane, Effy Wild, Guadalupe Brizuela Cabal,
Adriana Almanza, Jodi Ohl, Connie Hozvicka,
Samantha Kira and another mystery teacher will be announced over the next 3 months.

Click on their names to find out who they are or go over to Tam's where she introduces everyone as well. :) Oh my gosh! Now I have to wait until January. Crazy! :)

I made it to day #2

2011-10-02T16:45:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was a busy day. I had to take my gangster cat Charlie to the vet in the morning. Remember the incident when he attacked my hand 10 days ago?

Well, as it happens he didn’t get out of the cat fight unscratched. A couple of days ago I picked him up and I felt a lump on his chest. I thought it might go away by itself but it only got bigger. So the vet had to cut him open to clean the wound and cut out some dead tissue. Now he’s wearing a net dress to keep his bandages in place. He’s being a good kitty for now.

The other half of the day I spent celebrating two birthdays. My mother-in-law’s and my hubby’s great aunt’s granddaughter’s. I have no idea how to name that relation with just one word. :) I just tried but it all got even more confusing so I gave up. She's his cousin of some sort.

Anyway, I wasn’t home much but I did manage to sketch these two for a personal trade.:)

I now see I need to clean my scanner cause there are some cat hair on it. :)

Should I or should I not?

2011-10-01T20:55:00.000+02:00

There is this thing going on over at Tinniegirl called Blogtober fest. Amy was kind enough to point it out to me. :)

Basically you sign up to blog every day in October. That’s 31 days if anyone asks. Now, I had one such idea at beginning of this year but I slept on it and decided not to do it. Why you ask? Cause I don’t do well at sticking with things.

I suspect I’ll be all fired up the first week and then the spark will go out and I’ll be forcing myself to blog. And blogging for me means I have to show you pictures of my art. That’s just the way I am. I don’t trouble myself with scanning for pics on google or flikr to find something interesting. I have to make something of my own. So blogging 31 days means I’ll have to make art every single day for 31 days. That worries me cause I don’t create every single day. I just don't. Some days I just think about painting but don't actually do it.

However let’s have some fun and push ourselves out of our comfort zone. I mean, I promised I’ll do that workshop of mine remember? So this might be a perfect thing to record daily. Or not. Remember, my spark goes out very quickly so I might change my mind along the way.

This is me committing to Blogtober fest and at the same time cautioning you not to expect me to go all the way.

Oh, crap! Now I need a photo to go along with this post. How about this little book I want to turn into an art journal/soul seeking thingy? Now I just need to trust the weather will last so I’ll make decent videos.

What's up?!

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000+02:00

My first exhibition is over. I picked up the paintings on Wednesday and theyare back on my wall. I have this walk in closet in my living room that I planto tear down cause there is some remodeling going to happen in the future. Ihave these paintings hung on it so I can look at them and get inspired. Theyare now for sale. If you want one let me know. I will list them on Etsy as wellthough.

As far as the exhibition goes I was a little disappointed in my friends andfamily. The paintings were hung for 28 days and some of them couldn’t take timeout of their “busy” schedule to take a look. I mean really, come on. I know I’mout of town but it’s still 30 min on a freeway. And some of them acted likeit’s a waste of their time to just go and take a look at the show. They wantedto incorporate it into their activity. Like if they happen to be in theneighborhood. For real? I need not mention they never showed up. And some ofthem were driving past but they were in a hurry so they couldn’t stop.

Others on the other hand surprised me with their visits. A couple of themeven showed up with their babies. So thank you to all that took the time andwent to see my very first exhibition. I really appreciate the support. Especiallyas I realized it takes an effort to do so.

Ok, I got that out now here are some pics. These are from Total Alignment freeclass from Connie. I already showed the cat from afar once but here they are upclose. I’m showing them even though they’re ugly cause Connie says it’s aboutthe process and ugly is ok. Well, I like the cat. The cat is not ugly. :)

And another thing. Amy came up with this awesome idea that we all write a neverending story. Like you e-mail her to put you in line and when it's your turn you write a story continuing the last person's story. Get it? Well, just go over there and check it out. :) I mean click the damn cute cat!

Linking to PPF.

Totems as tribal art?

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000+02:00

Thanks everyone for expressing your concern about my cat bite. :) I did go to the doctor's and she gave me antibiotics for it. It's gotten better since Friday so hopefully I'll get to paint again in a day or two.

Isn't it funny how we always leave things to be done tomorrow? You know when you don't feel like doing something right now so you tell yourself it can wait until tomorrow? Yeah! That can backfire sometimes.

Like you can get bitten by a cat and you can't finish a zillion atc's you've promised people you'll do. Ok, so it's not a zillion but I still have to do cards for 3 swaps. That alone is 12 cards and then another 10 for personal trade. Because I agreed before the tomorrow came along. :) And I have my eye on a 4th swap but I really had to hold myself back from signing up.

And for swaps the deadline is in 8-10 weeks but the mail is so unreliable that I cannot count on it to deliver on time if it's too close to the deadline. I mean, I had my cards get to USA in like 4 days but one set traveled almost 7 weeks which is concerning.

And I wanted to do some tribal art for The Butterfly Effect over the weekend to post today but as I said before, tomorrow came. :) So again, you get to see some "oldies" from my ATC stash.

Oh, wait. I just changed my mind! I did some totem animals for a swap and this kind of counts as tribal art, right? And this is the set that traveled for 7 weeks to US. :) It all fits! You'll get to see mermaids some other time.

Prepare your eyes for bright color overload. You've been warned! :)

I'm not gonna explain why I consider them my totem animals cause I already talked about it before although not in this context. So if you're really interested, you'll have to make some extra effort and click here. :)

And if I'm not too late, I'm linking to Artist in Blogland as well.

Change of plans

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000+02:00

I thought I was going to show you something else today but the Universe and my cat Charlie had other plans.

See, my gangster cat got in a fight with my mother’s cat and when I reached between them (yeah, I know, stupid idea) my Charles got so upset he didn’t get to beat up his sworn mortal enemy Dos, he took his frustration out on me and attacked my hand.

I swear it felt like he put his fangs straight through the flesh to my bone. And once he was finished with my right hand he decided to taste my left index finger. I didn't even know how much I was bleeding until next morning (the event took place on Wednesday night) when I saw the driveway splattered with blood. It looked like CSI's crime scene.

My wrist is now swollen and hurts like hell so I can’t do sh#t. I can’t even hold the camera to take a shot let alone hold a paintbrush to paint. I hope you have a visual of me clenching my teeth typing this post with four fingers. See how dedicated I am? :)

So, considering the circumstances you get to see something else today. :) Remember my “Inspired by famous paintings” series?

Well, I made some ATC versions of them by request and for willowing swap a while back. And I know Tinker Bell and Snow-white are not famous paintings but they are still famous. :)

If you wanna join the party go over to PPF. And for all of you who want to see my Unicorn video tutorial head over to The Butterfly Effect to see it. :)

Eye-duh

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000+02:00

Hello peeps! :) I bet you're dying to see my desk today, don't ya?! :) Let's not keep you waiting. Ta-daaa!

There's a wooden art box that I bought some time ago but forgot all about it. :) I found it under the couch last week and was ecstatic to find watercolor pencils in it. :) I have my Faber Castell watercolor pencils but these are different shades of color. You can see there's even a pink and a purple in there. :)

And on top you can see my art journal with a Unicorn. That's what I've been doing last week when I showed you my desk/terrace/filming studio. For all of you who wanted to see how the tutorial ended up, head over to The Butterfly Effect to see it. :)

Of course there was a cat present at the photo shoot. Not Charlie, the white gangster but Ajda this time. :) She is fiery red mixed with black and some white. Cute, eh? :) I have no idea how to write her name so you would understand the pronunciation. Oh, wait, I Googled. :) It's like eye-duh. :)

Linking to WOYWW.

Unicorns vs. Zombies

2011-09-18T15:10:00.000+02:00

It's supposed to be an age old question.

Zombies vs. Unicorns.

But frankly I haven't heard of it until Amy made us pick a team. So that said. I must be very young. :)

I, being an inspiring romance novel writer (rofl) made up a story for ya. :)

There was a magical land hidden in the depths of an ancient rainforest where no man has set foot on. It was a beautiful place where Unicorns lived.

Whitey was the stallion of the Unicorn herd. Beautiful muscular horse with a long silver horn and a main so magnificent it would radiate all colors of the rainbow when sunrays would beam over it. Must I say he was every Unimares dream?

Whitey the Unicorn Stallion

He would skim through the grounds of his territory every day making sure everyone was safe and happy. Of course he would check out the mares along the way. He always had a thing for a beautiful red head Ruby that would tease him with batting her glamorous eyelashes at him and swinging her ruby red tail in rhythm of his heartbeat. She was a tease but he didn’t mind as he knew that one day she will be his.

One day he woke up with an ominous feeling in his gut. He was cautious all day looking for signs of trouble as he knew his intuition never failed him.

It was at the very North edge of his territory when he heard a ruffling noise. It was the kind he couldn’t contribute to any animal living in the Unicorn land. The noise was somewhat sinister making his muzzle snort and his main stand up in defensive manor. He wasn’t afraid though because it wasn’t in his nature. After all he was a Unicorn.

All of a sudden he heard a frightful scream. The kind only a Unimare in pain could exhale. He never heard it before as the Unicorns were very illusive and very hard to capture but he remembered the myths that were passed on to him from his father and his father before him. They were gruesome stories of capturing Unicorns with fair maidens to steal their magical horns.

He hurried through the forest growth in direction of the horrible screams. The closer he got the louder his heart beat as he recognized the voice of his beloved Ruby. When she came into his vision he was horrified at the sight. She laid there on the emerald moss in a pool of her own silver blood as these nasty rotting creatures took bites out of her beautiful body.

In his mind there was rage building as well as a hint of confusion. How ever are these creatures still standing drinking the Unicorns blood?

It is known for the blood of a Unicorn to be deadly to every thing living for the blood of an innocent and pure creature should never be caused to flow. It hit him then. They might be standing but they are not living. He remembered his father’s words telling him about Zombies.

Zombie the fair maiden

Another tiny yelp escaped from the battered Ruby. He stormed into the crowd of nasty creatures and horned them one by one until none of them were left standing. He stood triumphantly over their bodies for a second with red streams coming down from his horn then turned to his beloved.

Her body was half eaten but he knew she will be all right because the only way for the Unicorn to die was to remove his or hers horn. Ruby’s horn was splattered with her silver blood mixed with the red of her attackers but still soundly attached to her head.

A couple of days have passed but Ruby wasn’t getting any better from the attack. They figured she caught some sort of infection from the beasts which was turning her into one of them. The whole herd was terrified for her and for themselves. There were even some that were considering killing her to protect their loved ones.

Ruby the Zombie Unimare

But Whitey wouldn’t hear of it. There was still another chance. He offered a part of his horn to heal her. Unicorn’s horn is said to have magical healing powers. It heals diseases and neutralizes poisons and he being the stallion his horn is ten times more powerful. The magic worked. Ruby recovered almost instantaneously and was given back the red shimmer of her coat.

Needless to say Whitey and Ruby ended up getting married giving life to beautiful Unifoals and living happily ever after. Ever after being a long time since Unicorns live forever.

So it's Amy's birthday today and I'm helping to celebrate. :) I'm also linking to The Butterfly Effect cause there will be Mythical Creatures there all week long. And you don't want to miss my video tutorial so make sure you stop by. :)

Black, green and gold

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000+02:00

It's Friday and we're having a party! :) If you wanna join us go over to PPF.
Do you like my new painting? It's smaller and I had so much fun doing it. :) See the gold paint again? I think I have a thing going on with it. It just makes a painting special.:)

I don't have a title for it so if you have any suggestions out with them. :)

Heads up for my September newsletter. If you want to sign up you can do so on the top left sidebar. And I'll be posting a video tutorial at The Butterfly Effect on Monday, so don't forget to stop by to see it. :)

What's on my desk today, you ask?

2011-09-14T07:00:00.000+02:00

Well, an art journal, some book pages, matt medium and a Flip camera. :)

I'm filming a tutorial for The Butterfly Effect that will air on Monday. It will be my first time posting and my choice of a theme for the week is Mythical Creatures.

So, there will be a tutorial on painting a mythical creature. But Amy is having a giveaway this week so make sure you go over there and check how you can enter.

Oh, do you wanna see the view from my terrace? :)

Linking to WOYWW.

Kitty and I

2011-09-12T07:00:00.008+02:00

So, if you were an animal, what would you be?

People have always been attracted to animals and wanted to posses or at least attribute some animal characteristics to themselves. You can find this everywhere and everywhere. From native people all over the world to ancient cultures and mythology.

Half man half animal has always been depicted as a supernatural being or at least possessing some kind of supernatural powers. Today in the “modern” world we can find it in astrology and astronomy. We have constellations named after animals as well as astrological signs.

So, to which animal do you feel closest to? My Chinese horoscope says I’m a horse but since I was little I was fascinated by wild cats. Any wild cat would do but black panther was my favorite.

Interestingly enough I always dreamed of having a dog as a pet. Never a cat. Cats came into my life by accident mostly. It was only the first two cats that evoke a cat lover in me.

I don’ attribute any kind of cat’s characteristics to myself but I just love cats. I like watching them play and do their stuff, clean themselves and each other.

I have 7 cats and my mom has 5. It’s intriguing to me how each of them has its own character, their own habits, actions and reactions. How they can love each other and hate others with the same passion and to some are tolerant or they ignore them completely.

I have cats that would sleep on my face if I could breathe and one in particular that hates everyone except dogs. One is the alpha cat and she beats up everyone if she feels like it but most are social butterflies. One on the other hand hates just one and chases the other but loves the rest.

I love them all. Yes, even the trouble maker who picked up a cup from a sink and threw it on the floor so it broke, bit through every electrical cable he could find and still does his business on the bathroom floor next to the kitty litter box after 7 years.

I’d like to say I love them all equally but that would be a lie. I’m a little partial to my first two cats that have been with us for 10 years now. The alpha Roadie and the adventurous Murphy but the rest of them are close second. :)

Even as I write this post I have Ajda in my lap preventing me to write comfortably since it's her comfort we're both concerned about. :)

Linking to The Butterfly Effect which is going through some changes so you should deffinetly check it out. :) And Artist in Blogland.

Peacock

2011-09-09T07:00:00.009+02:00

It's Friday and we're having a party over at PPF. :) Come and join us!

Today's painting is very much inspired by Flora Bowley. You have heard me talking about her before. It's not as layered but I felt the need to blend colors. :) And I must say I found a new appreciation for the gold paint

I wish I've taken in process photos cause this one has gone through several stages. I don't know about you but I really have to think to take photos. While I paint I get into it and don't even dare to stop and take a photo for I could lose the momentum. Do you ever feel like that?

This painting is huge, too. :) Ok, so not as huge as you'd think but huge for me. :)

And this is the last day pimping. You can win a set of my greeting cards if you enter over at Jaws n Lbows . And you can sign up for this awesome course called Hero's Art Yourney e-course. It starts on Monday.:)

Also. I'm playing Unicorns vs. Zombies on 18. September. Are you?

A Journal or a Sketchbook?

2011-09-07T07:00:00.002+02:00

Paints on my workdesk again. :) Trying some new stuff in my journal.

Let me ask all of you who have art journals or whatever. Do you ever get to not finish the page? Cause I often sketch and then move on before I put in color. So sometimes my journal looks more like a sketchbook. What is the difference between them?

I actually came back to this journal spread just to add color so it won't look like a sketchbook. And another thing. Does anyone have any suggestions about sealing the pages so they don't stick together? I tried spray varnish but it doesn't work on all pages. Some of them still stick together.

Linking to WOYWW of course.:)

And a little pimping today. :) You can win a set of my greeting cards if you enter over at Jaws n Lbows . And you can sigh up for this awesome course called Hero's Art Yourney e-course. It starts on Monday.:)

Now, who desn't need an Angel?

2011-09-04T11:30:00.001+02:00

Do you believe in angels? I don't think of angels as beings but rather as an unseen force that helps us along our journey called life. Well, to think of it that force could have a face. Look at that! I'm contradicting myself. That never happens. Ever! :)

But angels are rooted in our history depicted as people with wings. So that's how I draw them. I don't do hands or I hide them cause frankly I don't know what angels do with their hands. How am I suppose to draw them? Like open arms welcoming us? Or holding something? Do angels hold things?

Did you hear of a theory that angels in prehistoric books and paintings are actually aliens? Cause people back then didn't know how to describe an alien so they drew and wrote what they knew. People who can fly. But wings were just means of expressing the flying part. Cause people are not aerodynamically designed, so putting wings on us would be just ridiculous.

Like we have good and bad people there are good and bad aliens thus good and bad angels. Get it? No? Never mind!:)

Linking to The Butterfly Effect, Artists in Blogland and Sweet Saturdays.

Oh! And the link to my giveaway at Jaws n Lbows is working now. Apparently the server crashed or something so you still have until next Monday to enter for the chance to win a set of my greeting cards. :)

And one more thing. I just found out I won a free spot at this amazing Hero's Art Yourney e-course. It starts on Monday so you still have time to sign up. :) How exciting is that?! :)

Flying by and a giveaway

2011-09-02T07:00:00.009+02:00

First off, thanks to everyone who congratulated me on my previous post. :) Thanks guys for all your loving and support.:)

Next on, I feel a rant coming on. :)

Are your days flying by, too? I have a feeling the time is getting faster. I wanted to apply for an exhibition but the deadline is so close I can practically smell it and I don't have enough paintings.

I distinctly remember thinking I have 2 months time to finish at least 10 paintings but all I've done are 3 and a half. And I have 2 weeks left.

Now, 2 weeks does sound like a lot of time but come on. How many of you can do 6 paintings in 2 weeks? I mean if I had any idea what to paint it would be plausible but since I don't have a clue, time is running out on me. And I'm a little pissed off. Why do they need all work completed before you apply for the show? I mean, if I got accepted at all it might have been a year before the show actually happens. I could do the rest of the paintings in a year for sure.

I'm thinking of applying with a different set though. Those abstracts I showed you before. I have enough of those. See, I have a question, too. Do you exhibit the same paintings or do you make different ones for each exhibition? Cause I have an exhibition going on right now but once it's finished I don't feel like exhibiting them again. Like, they are done and retired. :)

Oh! You know what else isn't done? That on-line workshop I so blatantly blurted out. I haven't even gotten to the filming part. It's safe to say it won't be done in August. Oh, wait! It's September already. Am I brave enough to call it finished by the end of September? Not really. End of the year? Hopefully. :)

I suck! I know. Get over it. I blame the ATC's.:)

In case you were wondering I did this painting a while back when I took the Gritty Jane's workshop. It's huge! I might do some more work on the wings. Excuse the weird photos.

I used acrylics of course, collage and spray paint for the background. I've learned that my spray painting technique doesn't do well on larger canvas. The paint dries too quickly.

Linking to PPF.

And I almost forgot about this. There is another interview and a giveaway. :) Go check out Jaws n Lbows for a chance to win my set of greeting cards.

For the very first time

2011-09-01T07:00:00.001+02:00

I think this deserves a post of its own. :)
My first ever exhibition.
From 1. September until 28. September 2011.

That's me on the left. :)

Wednesday again

2011-08-31T07:00:00.003+02:00

It's Wednesday again and another WOYWW. Which means you get to see my desk again. Well here it is.

I don't need to comment that, do I? And here is my trusting helper. Charlie the Cat. Sleeping on my easel. :)

Some of you wanted to know how those ATC's from last Wednesday's post ended up. They were all done on request. So here they are.

The middle one is Flareon from Pokemon. I have heard of Pokemon but never had any interest in finding out what's it all about. I still don't have a clue but I had to google some Pokemon images and came across Pokemon evolution threads so this Flareon is my kind of evolution. :) Or is it Eevee evolving into Flareon? Again, I have no clue. :) Let's just say my Flareon is all grown up. :)

Whoot

2011-08-29T07:00:00.003+02:00

I'm writing this post on Sunday night because I have a feeling I'm gonna sleep in tomorrow. :) I just spent a day celebrating my cousin's boy's 1th Birthday. And what do kids have at their birthday parties? A lot of other kids. :)

I have a lot of cousins and they have a lot of kids. Add cousins and siblings from my cousin's partner and add their kids. Are you picturing a number yet? A lot of kids! But it was fun. :) And I'll show up pretty much anywhere for a cake. :)

Anyway, I wanted to share some owls with you today. I did another ATC swap over at ATCsforAll forum. I didn't go for the whimsical kind this time.:) Me like them.

I am linking to The Butterfly Effect even though I don't know if I qualify cause I only used watercolor pencils and an acrylic pen for the background. Oh, wait! There's some acrylic paint in there, too. And some india ink pens. :) Well, I guess I do qualify. :)

How many media do you have to use to call it mixed media? I had to Google it. :) Wiki says more then one. But when watercolor artists use a black pen with their watercolor they don't call it mixed media. Why is that? And if collage artist use paint to enhance color over their collage they still call it collage and not mixed media. Is there a rule what kind of media you need to use? Wiki says no but I'd like to hear your thoughts. :)

P.S. I had to Google the plural for media also. I found out that media is the plural. :) I was so tempted to write mediums. :) I was also tempted to write watercolorist and collagist. :) Ignore me, please. I'm tired. :)

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap blog hop is here

2011-08-27T00:01:00.003+02:00

Kat Sloma organized a postcard swap a couple of months ago. We were asked to send in 5 printed postcards of our artwork whatever it might be and we'd get back 5 postcards from 5 different participants in the swap. All the cards have been swaped, mailed and (hopefully) received so here we are blog hopping. :) I only heard from 2 who got my postcards so I hope the rest of them got home alright.

I forgot to take a picture of my cards but I think I sent these.

In return I received these 5 postcards.
Rhiannon Connelly sent best wishes from Scotland. :)

And a quote:
"All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth. " Richard Avedon
Elaine Millar is from Portland, Oregon, USA

She said to plant a peeking garden. Ok, I can't really read the "peeking" part but it's eather that or puking. :) I went with peeking. I'm sure you would too. :)
Marie Otero sent greeting from New York, USA

Tara Romasanta from Las Vegas, USA

Said my dreams were worth pursuing. :)
Diane Stanley said Hi from California, USA

And said she loves making quilts and recently discovered she likes making bags, too.
The lovely hostess Kat sent me one too, thanking me for the participation in the swap. :)

Thank you all for the lovely postcards and to Kat for organizing the event. I enjoyed visiting your blogs and getting to know you and your art through them. :)

Subconscious travel and an interview

2011-08-26T07:00:00.007+02:00

You didn't expect this did you? :) This is the same painting from last Wednesday. I felt it was a bit too bright so I added some black to it. What do you think?

For some reason this painting makes me happy. It's bright and dark at the same time. I love looking at all those layers. But I have to tell you it was hard covering all that yummy background. I was stressing about covering too much. It's easy to say to keep the good parts but when the whole thing is one bright mess you can't really tell which parts are good and which not. It's only when you "frame" them that you get to see if it works or not.

Close up
All in all the stress was worth it. I like how it came out and it makes me feel. Do you know what I mean? When you look at something and you just "feel" it. I'm calling this one "Subconscious travel". Does that even make sense? I don't know. When I look at this painting those words kind of fit.

Close up
Linking to PPF.

Now for my first interview go check out the lovely Deborah's site Scat N Style. :) It will also appear at DangerousLee.Biz later on. Let me know what you think. :)

The making of ...

2011-08-24T07:00:00.005+02:00

The making of ATC's. You get a close up this week and see all the mess. :) And it's not a creative mess either. Half of it is just garbage I'm too lazy to throw in the bin. The rest are my basic supplies for making ATC's. Watercolor pencils, acrylics and india ink pens that you can only see a blurred glimpse of on the left.

Oh, look! Even my address is there. How generous am I to post my address like this so all the freaks can find me. :) But if you're not a freak and you want to send me something nice you're welcome to. :)

Not an interesting post today. If you want some eye candy you can go see the zombies in my Monday's post. :) Or you can go over to WOYWW and take a look around all the other desks in Blogland on this lovely Wednesday.

Is it hot where you are? Cause it's freaking hot here. I mean I'm not complaining since only a week or so ago I was freezing my butt off. But it could be just a tid bit less hot then right now. It was 35°C yesterday and it will be 35°C today and 35°C the entire week. That's 95°F for all of you Fahrenheit-ers. :)

Totaly unexpected. :)

2011-08-23T07:00:00.002+02:00

My Penny with pigtails print was featured on Front Page of Etsy. :) My first! I'm so excited.

I love me some Zombies

2011-08-22T07:00:00.006+02:00

I really didn't think that zombies would by my thing. I mean I'll take a vampire any day but zombies not so much. That is until I joined a Zetti Zombie swap over at ATCsforAll forum. :)

I know I told you on Friday I should get back to painting canvases but I have so many ATC's that I need to show you. :) I love making ATC's. They are small and get finished quickly and with swaps I get challenged to make things I otherwise would never think of drawing. Like someone saw my zombies and challenged me to make him a pin up zombie. I said bring it on! :)

I'm full of excuses, I know. :) I'm off to paint now. I promise I'll have a painting for you on Friday. I'm totaly linking these zombies to The Butterfly Effect cause they like this sort of stuff over there. :)

Journal page

2011-08-19T07:00:00.008+02:00

While I was painting the big canvas I was wiping the brush in my journal. This is what came out. Hope you like. :) It was Flora Bowley inspired but I don't think it resembles her style at all.

It's about time I get my ass back to painting, don't you think? Like the one I showed on Wednesday. I had my first interview a couple of days ago and I had to pick some pictures to go along. Well, I checked my blog for the past two months and all that's there are ATC's and inspired by famous paintings. Nothing that I can say, this is my painting, this is my style. It got me worried that I might have side tracked a bit. I mean this is all fun but if I plan to make this my carrier I need stuff to show and sell. And I can't sell ATC's and interpretations of famous paintings. I need to have fun on a bigger scale and preferably on canvas. :)

I'm linking to The Butterfly Effect and PPF. Head on over there to see other artist's creations.

Playing with paint

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000+02:00

We've been having some decent weather lately so I went on the terrace to play. Having fun just splashing the paint on the canvas.:)

Wow! I really don't have much to say today. I think the heat might be effecting my thinking abilities. :)

To snoop around some art and craft desks go over to WOYWW .

Cotton Candy Girlz and a secret

2011-08-15T07:00:00.000+02:00

When I made my first Cotton Candy Girl everybody wanted one. So I made her some sisters to spread the love around. :)

And I'm telling you a secret. I'm planning my first on-line workshop. :) I'm so excited. I did some examples already so I have a visual what I'll be doing. I think there will be 8 lessons all together and some bonus ones. I'll see how the filming will go. :) It will probably take me about a month to get it all together but I'll keep you posted. :) I'm telling you all this now so I won't get side tracked and forget all about it. Cause I tend to do that. :)

O-oh!

2011-08-12T07:00:00.005+02:00

O-oh! I have no "Inspired by famous paintings" painting today. Honestly I'm a little tired of doing them. I have wood blocks for 3 of them left and I think 5 sketches. I started on Frida and I know I want to do Klimt but haven't decided yet on the third one.

I'm doing loads of ATC's right now so I'm thinking I should share some of them. :) Or would you rather see journal pages? Or fearless paintings from Connie's Total Alignment class? Or Flora Bowley inspired paintings? See, I have loads to share I just don't know where to start. :) Let me know what you would like to see next Friday.

Today I'm sharing some naked Gnomes. :) They were done for a Gnaked Gnomes Swap over at ATCsforAll forum.

Head on over to PPF to see other artist's creations. And I'm linking to The Butterfly Effect as well cause I want as many people possible to see these naked gnomes. :) I'm so proud of them. :))

I have my easel on my desk

2011-08-10T07:00:00.002+02:00

You wanna know why? Cause I've been watching Total Alignment videos from Connie over at Dirty Footprints Studio. :) It's a free class so there's really nothing stopping you to go over there and give it a try.

As you can see, there's really no room on my desk so my easel is usually on the floor. But Connie says you have to paint standing up so the easel landed on my desk. The rest is just my usual mess. Paints and some ATC's in progress.

Charlie the Cat is not in the photo this time. He is actually under my desk sleeping on a piece of paper. Seriously, the cat has comfy chairs, two couches and two dog beds to sleep on and he chooses a piece of paper that was dropped accidentally. Now I don't have the heart to pick up that bloody paper and take away his bed. :) I had to take a photo of him to prove it.

Oh, look. You get to see what I hide under the desk as well. :)

Go check out WOYWW to see what others are hiding. :)

All together now

2011-08-08T07:00:00.007+02:00

It's the final week of Summer of Color. I think this was the first challenge that I stuck to until the end. See, I'm one of those people that get all excited about something new and then get bored really easily and drop the thing like a hot potato. So I'm really glad I got to finish this one. :)

But I thought there were more colors than this. Just eight? Think about it. We only see eight colors and their nuances. Well 5 really if you count orange, pink and purple as a nuance. And why don't we count white and black as a color? Is gray considered a color? Wait I need to Google this cause it's bugging me.:)

Ok, so I know there are three primary colors. Yellow, red and blue. And there are three secondary colors. Orange, violet and green. Oh, look! Green is a nuance as well. :) But I'm missing pink and brown. They are not tertiary colors so how do we call them?

Oh, did you know that if you add white to a color it's called a tint, if you add black to a color it's called a shade and if you add gray to a color it's called a tone? I did not know that.

Anyways. I wish I could have done more of a creative photo of the bunch but I don't have them with me anymore apart from the first one and the last one.

So it was nice to have met you all! Hope you get to stick around a bit longer. :) I still plan to post my ATC's cause I have loads of them.

Edit: I just realized I made a rainbow girl that fits perfect for this last showcase. :) Hop on over to The Butterfly Effect while you're at it. :)

Inspired by famous paintings - Bishop

2011-08-05T07:00:00.006+02:00

Welcome to another series of Inspired by famous paintings paintings. :) This is an unexpected posting cause I just recently became aware of this artist Sarah Bishop.

So this is how it went. Kristin from Twinkle, Twinkle blog started a Summer of Color challenge. And I decided I want to participate in this color challenge with ATC's. I have never done an ATC apart from one attempt with scrapbooking. So I became to love this little works of art and joined an ATCsforAll forum. In their gallery I saw these awesome Bishop Girls and decided to investigate. It was a Sarah Bishop Girls ATC Swap and there was luckily just one more spot open so I jumped in and grab a hold of it. :)

Here they are my Sarah Bishop Girls ATC's.

They are sketched and painted on a paper with acrylics and then I cut them out to glue them on a patterned paper. It's a perfect fit for The Butterfly Effect and PPF. Have a fabulous weekend! :)

Gluing bits and pieces

2011-08-03T07:00:00.002+02:00

On this Wednesday there is some journaling on my "desk". Ok, by now you must know my "workdesk" moves around. :)

Yesterday I was trying out some Teesha Moore style of journaling. Collaging is not really my type of thing but I made an effort. The thing with cutting out stuff from the magazines is that you end up with little bits and pieces everywhere. And I mean everywhere! And once you start gluing, those bits and pieces end up glued everywhere. Is this how it always goes or am I just messy? I mean, I've got stuff stuck to my pants!

Anyways my desk was full of cut out pieces of magazines and other stuff so I used my trusting paint box as a surfface to work on. This is how I left it before I went to bed.

You can go over to WOYWW to snoop around some other desks around the globe.

Final color of the summer

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000+02:00

Orange is the last color of Summer of Color challenge. I had trouble with this one. All I could think of was an orange and there is nothing cute about an orange. :) Then an orange cat came to mind. We all love Garfield, right? He's cute. But then I was playing around in my journal with some whimsical fish and yesterday it dawned on me to make a gold fish. Gold fish is orange, right? They are not gold despite the name. :) So here is my little Goldie. He makes wishes come true so make a wish. :)

Inspired by famous paintings - Vermeer

2011-07-29T06:00:00.004+02:00

This is the painting that started this series even though it took a while to finish it. :) This was the first sketch and I fell in love with her. I began with a black background and then I blocked in the shape with color.

Inspired by Johannes Vermeer and The girl with the pearl earring.

Mixed media on wood. Size 20x30 cm (8x12 in) and 2 cm thick. I used acrylics, Faber Castell's india ink pens and collage for the dress.

Original:

(Image Source)

I'm entering her over at The Butterfly Effect and PPF. Go check out these awesome sites to see who else is creating this Friday. :)

A journal page and a Cat

2011-07-27T07:00:00.001+02:00

What's on my work desk today? A journal page and a Cat. :)

Yeah, that's my Charlie sleeping in my "art box" where I keep my bits and pieces to have them handy. He's alowed cause he's a cat. :) Obviously when he's in there my bits and pieces are not so handy any more.

And that's my mermaid page almost finished. On the right you can see where I keep my paints. I like to have them in a box cause I move around the house to create and this way it's easier to move them around with me.

If you want to snoop around more desks go over to WOYWW. Happy Wednesday! :)