All the BIG EYEs fans....

I hope you all had/are having a wonderful holiday! We had a lovely time visiting family and eating sweets...non stop. I am going to pay for that next month, but that's another story. Today I wanted to tell you a little bit about my art. I have always been a dreamer, and loved to draw. As a child I would sit in my room for hours sketching. My favorite subject to draw was fashion models from magazines, so naturally I thought a fashion designer was my calling, not art. I grew up and went on to other things, but as an early "second act" in life I went back to art. I say early because I'm really too young to retire, but I left my 20 year job as a hair stylist and started a new career path.

About 5 years ago, I started selling pieces and doing art shows. At every show I would be asked by customers, Do I know who Margaret Keane is?.....or they would say this reminds me of...and so on. I had no clue. This got to be so common, that the last time I was asked this question I decided to "google" her. WOW. I was shocked. I looked at her art and it started to come back to me. I remembered a set of prints that hung on our bedroom wall. My little sister and I shared a room . I was maybe 6?? at the time. It was a sad big eyed alley kitten and sad big eyed alley puppy. Honestly, they were heart breaking and I hated them. Now, I'm still not sure if they were Keane prints or just a knock off of her style. We all know how that goes, but  I wonder if the big eyes were an influence from my childhood that I never knew about, or remembered.  It's funny how things happen, and the little touches in daily life can shape your future. I love to paint eyes, and I have always thought eyes are a window to your soul......the same thing Margaret Keane said about her sad waif children with the big eyes. I saw the movie last night, Big Eyes by Tim Burton. The story is incredible, and I am drawn to her work now,  more than ever. If you get a chance to see this film or read the story, it is an amazing tale. Once again, real life is greater than fiction.

A Winters Tale...

Its December, I can hardly believe it. I hope you all had a blessed and thankful holiday, I know I did. Now back to more holiday prep.

I love mixed media, and paper crafting, so if you haven't checked out Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas and his demo. Please do so.  He created a beautiful "winter look" tag that I adore. It was my current inspiration for my latest creation. I started with this piece of loose canvas, and just painted. I was hoping to create a Christmas angel, but as I continued to add color and wings, she just didn't "feel" like an angel. I thought she seemed sad, and maybe a little bit  heartbroken. Most of time I paint with the thought, " I need to sell this". I know if you are like me, selling on Etsy, in your retail shops and at art shows that is where your head is at when you start a painting. I think its good to just paint sometimes. Whatever comes out on the canvas is what it is, a part of your heart and soul. There is no need to please a customer, or clientele....you just paint to paint. Art journals are great for this. We all need to create for ourselves, take a little time this month to paint for yourself. Give yourself a gift. Sit alone in the quiet, squeeze out the paint and see what happens. My favorites always happen this way. 

I'm nearly finished with this piece, Her wings are gone, and she holds on tight to her heart. I think the sadness I felt from her at first, has changed to hope. I sprayed glitter mist all over it, to give it a cold wintry look. Maybe she has lost her love? or searching in the night for Edward...{I know its all about Hunger Games now, but I miss Twlight :)}  To see more in progress paintings follow my Instagram- southendgirlart.