Friday, March 09, 2012
THESE ARE OIL PAINTINGS.
How insane is that? Carly Waito is one talented (and patient!) artist!
How insane is that? Carly Waito is one talented (and patient!) artist!
I just can't even imagine painting like this. Aren't they beautiful?
Carly has a lot of pretty images on her blog, too-- check it out!
Thursday, March 08, 2012
I'm starting something new! On Thursdays I'm going to post links to things. What things? All sorts of things! I'm calling it links of YES-- all the links are things I'm currently saying YES to. Fun, right? Let's begin!
Millie Rossman's scratch-off stationery Kickstarter project. With 4 days to go, Millie is getting closer to her goal! Her idea is so fun: interactive, scratch-off stationery that makes card-giving even more fun than it already is. Who doesn't love a good, thoughtful surprise??
(Did I mention she's licensing some of my patterns to use on the cards? So they'll be fun AND pretty!) Supporting Millie means you're supporting me, too, and you KNOW I'd love you for it!
Today I'll be teaching myself how to create repeat patterns using Photoshop using a tutorial in this book by Kim Kight: A Field Guide to Fabric Design. (Kim writes the fab blog True Up as well!)
I'll share my experiments with you tomorrow-- this is something I've been wanting to learn for a LONG time!
Last night for dinner I made something called "Pea-Naughty Veggies" out of this wonderful cookbook by Natalia KW, called Pure Pleasures-- she's a raw vegan chef, and her food is gooooorgeous and delicious. It makes me feel so good and healthy and energetic to eat this way-- and even Ryan liked it! That says a lot.
Alexandra Franzen introduced me to Sarah Von and her website Yes and Yes the other day, and I'm newly obsessed with her blog. She is awesome! If you sign up for her newsletter you'll get a free copy of her 'How to Charm Anyone' e-book, and let me tell you: it is CHARMING. Also: read the nudist colony interview post. It's so good.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
It's the last week of Flora Bowley's e-course that I'm taking right now, and I'm amazed to see how my paintings have transformed over the past few weeks. They're not finished yet, and I'm worried that they look too much in the style of Flora's paintings, but I'm just going with it for the time being. I suppose that's how we learn, right? I'm learning how she paints so I can incorporate pieces of her techniques into the way that I already paint, to move my own style forward.
I worked on the top painting last night-- and just so you can see how much each new layer transforms the paintings, here's what the above painting looked like before I started painting a new layer on top last night:
Crazy, right?? Completely different!
And here's my other canvas that I've been working on:
And here's what it looked like before I started painting the new layer, the bird layer, on it:
I'm so excited to see what happens with my paintings because of this course. I need to load up on canvases now-- I always paint on wood panels, but I'm really enjoying painting on canvas right now. Who says I can't do both??!
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
There is something about this painting by Sofia Silva that makes me want to keep staring and staring at it. I remember a painting teacher in college told my class to always paint on an interesting-colored ground and to let some of that color peek through, because it will make your paintings more interesting. I think she would be pleased with this painting-- that rust color poking through around the edges of the pillows and the people is just perfect. This same teacher also told us never to use straight-out-of-the-tube black paint, but to instead mix our own-- the best blacks I made were from mixing prussian blue, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna. I think Sofia here is a master of making her own blacks, too-- look how rich and gorgeous they are! The colors in this painting are to die for, in my opinion. Muted and bright, all at the same time.
What do you love about this painting?
{image via Roberta Donato on pinterest}
Monday, March 05, 2012
Morning. :) I added some new prints to the wall art section of my website this weekend (well, Carly did most of it... you'll meet Carly soon! She's going to start writing some blog posts here!) and these are 3 of my new faves.
I love making art that's meant to make you feel good. If you don't mind me asking, what's your favorite thing about my artwork? What keeps you coming back here? I'd love to know! :)
Friday, March 02, 2012
I got a fun surprise yesterday when I opened my mailbox-- I was asked to participate in an interview a number of months ago in Stampington's new magazine, Somerset Apprentice, and they sent me the spring issue (in which my interview is included)! Check it out:
The magazine is full of tutorials and step-by-step instructions on specific projects, as well as interviews with people in the biz (aka: moi!) I'm thrilled thrilled thrilled to be included in this fantastic publication. Thank you, Stampington!!
And I'm in good company: Mati Rose also has an interview in the mag, and so do Marisa Haedike and Mindy Lacefield. There are also many new-to-me mixed media artists whose websites I now need to go check out!
This is a fantastic resource for creative projects, tips, and techniques and inside peeks into the worlds of working artists. If you are creatively inclined, I know you will love it!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
I added this print, called Quiet Calm, to the shop yesterday. I'm liking the pink, blue, and lavender (which are quite girly all together) paired with the burnt orange color. It's interesting, no? Not a color combo I've ever used before.
What are your favorite unexpected colors together? Send me images! I love new color inspiration!
I get inspiration for the colors I use from many places... here is one of my very favorite photos that continues to inspire me color-wise:
And look at this one:
Isn't it incredible?? There is so much that I love about this photo. The color, the mustaches, the fact that it makes me want to travel all around the world, those hats (turbans?)....
Photographers really have the coolest jobs in the world, I think. Can you even imagine getting the chance to capture this image and be in that place? SO cool.
OK, this turned into a REALLY random post. To bring it back to the beginning: check out my new print! I like the colors! And feel free to send me your favorite color inspiration! :)
Monday, February 27, 2012
I just had to share this photo from my weekend with you.... this was pretty much my dream come true. I *love* snuggle time with the kitties, but it doesn't usually happen with both of them at the same time-- Anika and Juneau have never snuggled up this close with me together before. Anika was laying directly on top of Juneau! It was the coziest Saturday night ever. I made Ryan takes a photo because it was so freaking adorable. I look sort-of weird, but look at those sweet kitty faces!
If you've ever wondered what I do when I'm not working, this pretty much sums it up. This is one of my favorite things in the world to do.
We watched the movie 50/50 while this snuggle action was going on-- have you seen it? I really liked it! Though I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, and the guy in the movie got a rare form of cancer in his back... so now I have that worry to add to my list of things that could potentially one day be wrong with me. Oy. Do you have fears and worries like that? I've been like that since I was a kid.
Anyway, that's all for today! Are you ready to have an awesome week? I know I am! :)
Friday, February 24, 2012
I'm feeling a little under the weather today, and I've literally been staring at my computer screen at these paintings by Jennifer Sanchez for the last 5 minutes, just admiring the color. I'm in this weird color-haze-fog right now. I feel like I could stare at these for hours. Aren't they so cool and different?
You can find more of Jennifer's work (and links to where to buy her stuff) on her website.
Have a great weekend, and please send healing vibes to my poor sore throat! :)
{via Nicole Balch via Kate Spade on pinterest}
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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- in my dream house (7)
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- posts by carly (2)
- project: rain boot (14)
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- seasonal collections (2)
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- The Declaration of You (5)
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- wanderlust (15)
CHECK OUT THE SPRING 2012 RAIN BOOT LOOKBOOK:
{click on the images!}
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