Sunday, March 17, 2024

The Spellbinders Rabbit Hole


Mid-March already! Boy howdy, this year is getting away from me. 

Several months ago I slipped down a die-cutting, card making, creative rabbit hole. But, no worries. 

I'm okay, albeit a little lighter in the wallet. And my bestie was already down there  . . . beckoning.

I mean, come on! Greeting cards are expensive these days. Why not spend 20 times more money making your own?!

Here are a few samples of what I've done:






My friend Dawn has been doing this for a few years and has made some absolutely gorgeous cards.
She's been very generous with her collection of die-cuts and die-cut pieces to help get me started. (That top, autumn card was made entirely from a box of goodies she gave me). And any time I offer up cocktails, she's happy to bring her supplies over and craft with me for a while!



For the last few years, I've tried producing at least 12 new pieces of artwork a year for a calendar.  I'm currently experimenting with combining this new, fun hobby and my existing skill set. I hope to have a fresh new calendar for 2025 with some die-cut cohesion.

Here's an example:


The bottle and all its details, cork, glasses, and bubbles are die-cut pieces that I pasted into my sketchbook.
I then dropped it into Procreate where, it is still a work in progress, but you can get the gist of what I'm trying to do.


This, plus re-reading "You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero, is what I've been up to. 
It's been 6 years since I first read it, and I had forgotten what a badass I am.
I highly recommend the book.



When I say "Thanks for stopping by" I really mean it.
From the bottom of my heart - Thanks for stopping by!













 












Monday, February 12, 2024

Valentine's 2024


Wishing everyone a Happy February! 

I know it can be dismal, especially in the midwest, where nothing is green, and there's not even enough snow anymore to cover all the brown and gray. (I'll no longer apologize for loving snow).

But, it's my birth month! I try to celebrate myself for all 28 (29 this year) days of it. I think everyone should claim their entire birth month! Life is short.

Also . . . Valentine's Day. Hello. Plunked in the dreariest month of the year, a day to let the people in our lives know we love them. So, to the people in my life - I love you!

Above is a digital piece I started in Procreate last February. It was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest, so not an entirely original idea, but one I ran with. I pulled it out again in July, and polished it up a bit more, then waited 7 whole months to share. Haha!

Thanks for stopping by! 

May the remainder of your February be filled with love.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Mickey Mouse Fan Art - I'm not making money, I swear ;)

oil painting  24" x 30"

My 2 year old grandson is a new Mickey Mouse fan. He recently moved into the big-boy bedroom with his 6 year old brother, and needed something for the big, blank wall on his side of the room. 
Grandma to the rescue! 
First, I looked for posters. I found a similar idea with paint splatter in the background, but Mickey himself looked like a psychopath. I figured I could do it myself, and make Mickey less nightmare inducing.

So, I found a happy Mickey image online, and transferred it to a canvas.
I gave him a few days to dry because I was going to be adding background,
and I wanted to be able to wipe off anything that dripped onto Mickey.
I don't know if this was the most practical way to work,
but I didn't want to try to paint him later, over the top of the background. 



This isn't so much a tutorial as it is a sharing of a process 
where I'm just trying to figure out how to do something.
I started adding splashes to the background (and cleaning Mickey up when I was done).



I wanted Mickey to be brighter than the background,
so I started splashing those colorful splashes with white. (This was after the colors had dried.) 
I used an old toothbrush for some of that. I flung a loaded paint brush at it as well.



Then, the drips. It needed drips!



After that was the fun part. 
With the background entirely dry, I got back to Mickey himself (top image). 
I painted him up nice and bright, so that he became the star of the canvas.

My grandson loved it!

Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. The Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse, very recently made it into public domain. 
This version is not public domain, and I was nervous about even posting it on my blog, but as I am not making a penny on any artwork I do for my grandchildren (that will come later when they have jobs), and I admitted to having found this happy image online, I'm hoping that no one who sees this turns me into the authorities. Thank you.











 

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

And Then Like Magic, 2024 Appeared


I managed to get another calendar done this year, and this is my grandson, Tux- Mr. January.

I dropped the oil portrait I had done of him this summer into Procreate and, ABRACADABRA, here he is.

I had one heck of a 2023! So many big events, blessings, and wonderful moments. I have a feeling that 2024 is going to be another huge year. 

I wish you all health and happiness in the year ahead.

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, December 11, 2023

Santa Claus Is Coming

"Waiting for Santa" 8x10 oil painting


I have waited a long time to share this one! The idea came to me last December,
and I finished it early in the spring. 

Novan loves coming to Grandma and Abuelo's house and watching out the front door.


I slipped that photo into Procreate and did this.


This is the bottom layer in acrylics.

This step is after getting the oil paint on there. I still had some refining to do,
including Santa and the starry night sky.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

and Happy Holiday Season!


Thanks for stopping by!













 

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Please Don't Scare the Monsters


 Happy Trick-or-Treating - Please, don't scare the monsters!

We have a Drawing Club, for 10-13 year-olds, at our library. I found this Create a Creature game on the internet that we all had fun with.


Here's what I drew. Notice, I put the feet on backward (unintentionally).
Big toes go on the inside side of the foot! Rookie mistake.

I couldn't stop there. I have Procreate! 
When I got home I inserted the photo and began coloring over the top of it.

Here he/she is in progress: (fixed the toes!)

I didn't like the lobster claws, so I changed to human-like hands.
Also, wanted to make it more fun, so I added the darker background and the spilling candy bucket.
I hope everyone has/had a happy and safe halloween!

Thanks for stopping by!