Circles

The theme for this week's play day is, "circles".

I haven't found time to create any art this week, but I've spent a fair amount of time thinking about circles.

Specifically, I've been thinking about how my life just seems to circle around and around the two cycles of shame and self-hatred.

So be prepared folks.

If any art evolves from this heavy musing, it is bound to be as pensive and as dark as a day, sucked dry of all hope.

My ATC for Creative Play Day

ATC by j. N-L

The theme for last week's creative play day was color and we were required to use only one color.

I wish there were some way for me to capture the richness of this card. It's a beautiful card...full of swirling blues and alive with sparkle from the mica powders, crystals and Lumiere paint.

The background was created by layering watercolors, acrylics, gel medium, Lumiere paint, and ink. Although you cannot tell in this photo, the colors are quite vivid and the sparkle is rather intense!

I sculpted the heart with "Delight" modeling compound. I tinted the modeling compound with acrylic paint and then applied a very, very light wash of turquoise Lumiere paint to the surface when the heart had dried. A red/blue interference color of pearl ex, mixed with gel medium was applied to the lips and the cheeks.

I attached the face to the background with a two part epoxy. The flat back Swarovski crystals were added at this time as well. I made the beaded wire piece with some iris turquoise charlottes.

There you have it.

This is my heart, "Tangled up in blue".

Tangled up in blue...

Late last week I received word that my mother had died unexpectedly.

This morning I sat down with some "Delight" modeling compound and sculpted a little heart.

Once the heart has dried sufficiently to sand and shape, I will create an ATC using this as the focal point.

If you would like to see the finished piece, check back soon!

I will finish this ATC in the afternoon and submit it for Christian Mixed Media's (a yahoo group) Artistic Play Day...

The theme for this week's play day is, "Color"; and we are required to use only one color.

I've chosen blue....

Why?

Because since my mother's death, I have been tangled up in blue.

Creativity Takes Flight!

Winged Soul

Tuesday's Play Day theme was "Creativity Takes Flight".

I wasn't able to play on Tuesday, but I did manage to eek out a little time late this morning.

Here is a close up shot of part of my little four by four canvas.

Until I get a little help from Mother Naure, (in the form of natural light) I probably won't be able to get a full on shot of the entire piece.

So, I guess you will just have to wait with baited breath until the sun decides to shine!

I'll be sure to post photos and a description of this piece once I am able to get a decent picture!

Until then, may your soul soar on the wings of creativity!

For Pete's sake...

Something tells me that I won't be able to get a good picture of this piece no matter what I do, or how brightly the sun shines...the colors are just too rich, and have too much depth.

I'm just going to upload this photo and be done with it!

Bear in mind that the print is not blurry in real life and that the colors are much more vibrant!

Tuesday's Play Day!

mixed media collage on wood~j N-L

Today's theme for Tuesday's Play Day is "New Year's Hopes/Dreams"!

As you can see, I pray and dream of a New Year filled with creating art, love, and hope!

This mixed media collage was created using a four inch by four inch by 7/8 inch piece of wood that I had salvaged a few years ago when the neighbor erected his new fence. I believe this particular piece was originally designed to be a decorative accent on top of one of the fence posts.

At any rate, regardless of its intended purpose, it has served me well as a foundation and canvas for my Tuesday Play Day piece!

The wood was raw and required sealing, which I did and then primed. I painted yellow, green and purple accents using acrylic paint. The purple paint was actually a pearlescent acrylic and boy howdy, does it sparkle and shine!

Once my paint had dried, I drilled a hole in the center of the piece and I attached a small lampwork bead using a head pin and two part epoxy. I used the same epoxy to glue a 3 mm flat back sapphire blue swarovski crystal to hide the top of the head pin.

I decided to adhere a string of beads in one of the grooves that was carved in the wood...the beads are Czech 11/0's and goodness only knows what color they are; although to me, the color resembles an antique orange. To adhere the beads I used the same epoxy that I used to glue the lampwork bead.

Using my printer, I printed the words, "create", "art", "love" and "hope" onto a piece of tissue paper. Once that was accomplished, I carefully tore the words out and used gel medium to adhere them to the wood collage. I dabbled more paint around the torn paper edges and let the whole thing dry for a bit.

I hope to screw in a couple of up eyes later on and attach a chain so that I can hang the finished piece!

All in all, not too bad for a couple hours of play time!

**********************

PS~I put a lampwork bead in the center of this piece for two reasons. First, it looks pretty; and secondly, because I greatly desire to improve my skills working hot glass in 2006!

Faith, art and life!

~close up of my new Christmas mug!

My friend Laura gave me this mug as a Christmas present!

Not only is the mug a very cool mug, but it was selected with thought and care.

Laura understands that for me, art, faith, and life are all mysteriously connected.

Thanks Laura!

My life is so much richer because of friends like you!