NEW ART and MONDAY update!

This past week was beautiful, the sun was unseasonably warm. We had temps in the 80's......I was outside all week in the sunshine working on this large painting. I had my ipod on (Adele), a tall glass of ice tea and paint all over!

"Sun Dance"

18x24 canvas

 I used a few new techniques in this one, I started with a wash of acrylic and layered with watercolor and water spray. I finished with chalk, pencil and more paint. If you look close you can see the background through her hair, this is one of my favorite parts.

I love the bold flowers. The color really pops on the wall, I have her hanging in studio now. I think she feels a little like a fairy looking for her wings :)

Visit my listing for more pics!

Click here for her ETSY listing

Art Journal Page

~Let it Go~

My little "starfish" style girl came back yesterday, as you can see in the above instagram pic. This page was done in acrylic, watercolor, chalk and ink. Visit my pintrest board to see my collection of art journal inspirations!

 I have a large blank canvas waiting  for me, hopfully I will get started on new art this week. As always, cards and prints are available in my ETSY shop.

Shop in my new Luulla Shop and I will send a free gift with purchase!

Click here!

thats what She Said......

no no no not the Michael Scott joke!

I came across a great set of word stamps called "She said" a few weeks ago. This set was created by Donna Downey for Unity. My first thought was, I have to have these....they are a perfect fit with my art girls........so here they are!! I worked on this group all week, they are 6x6 on wood. I painted, and collaged my girls and stamped the words on each one. They would make a great girly gift for a graduation, birthday or any day. The words are inspiring and powerful. I gave them each a name so I could keep track of them. The group is cute together, but each one is unique and would look perfect alone too. These are listed in my ETSY store. Originals....at a low price....don't miss out!

Each is ORIGINAL....one a kind!

Monday Morning Thoughts.....

I get emails from artfairinsiders.com, today I read an entry from artist/blogger Patricia Hecker. She creates the most exquisite wood boxes, see them here in her shop TattooDreams . I wanted to share with you her words-

Why would you buy this from me? I can tell you all kinds of facts about how it was made, who made it, the size, the color - buy why would you buy this? Why would you spend $55.00 for a box? $800.00 for a painting?

Financial/practical folks would say "Do you want it or do you need it?"
Of course you don't need it.
You buy art because you want it.

Will it improve your life? Debatable.
If smiling when you see this object counts, then 'yes'.
If feeling that you have helped contribute to the life of an independent artist to continue living their creative life makes you feel good, then
'yes'.
If surrounding oneself with unusual one of a kind treasures makes you feel
like you're creating a personalized pod to live in, then 'yes'.
If by owning this, you vicariously are living with a piece of this artists spirit in your home or office - then 'yes'.
Pretty compelling reasons I would have to say. Then again, I'm the artist who wants you to buy my work!

So - if this is the case.....think about these things the next time you hesitate. The next time you think,"should I buy that beautiful work of art that seems to be tugging at my soul".......just say 'yes'.

There is no right or wrong in buying art.
Buy what you love.
Buy what ignites your spirit.
Buy what makes you feel whole.
Buy what makes you miss a breath.
In becoming attuned to your inner voice, you come to count on it's intuitive input
when you need the push to say 'yes'!

As 2011 unfolds, make it point to buy at least ONE handmade piece of art each month.
At the end of the year, your collection will have grown,
your sense of collecting strengthened -
your passion expanded.
You will have grown too!
You may find yourself smiling more.
You may find yourself showing others your collection - having people into your home.
These are some of the wonderful aspects of art.
It is beauty and grace all wrapped in one!
--this is art!



Patricia

Happy Collecting!

I started this year off with purchasing a piece of art from ETSY. It was a very small investment, but I wanted to support other artists, they way people support my art. I know the economy still sucks, I feel it every time I sit all day at an art fair or check my email for online sales. I contemplate every day, should I put this all on hold and go back out in the "real world" and get a job.....or wait in faith that this is the right path. I think Patricia has it right, I want people to buy art because it will make them feel something....I buy art because it makes me feel happy. I want to look at the creation and know a kindred spirit created this to pass on the joy. I will continue this year with a purchase a month.....something tiny, just a little reminder for me to see every day and know that someone else out there is working with me.

Stormy

Just a couple of updates, I listed 3 auctions this week! These are all of my Halloween designs. They are originals....and I only have them listed as 3DAY- I always ship FAST so you will get these way before Halloween. Just in time for decorating. I have two on my mantle and they are so cute in the candle light. I'm not one for gross creepy Halloween decor....so if you think cute is creepy too CLICK HERE :)

I did a couple of art shows this past month, I was surprised to see my biggest sellers were mermaids. I sold nearly all of one design and all of the second. I love mermaids, but I was not expecting fall shoppers to be drawn to summer mermaids, with that in mind I created Stormy. This little cutie is in two parts- 2 5x7 wood panels. I pieced her tail fin by fin and added glitter, microbeads and

gold. The background is metallic blue and teal with a few touches of shabby pink. She is adorned with tiny shells I picked myself on the warm beaches near Saint Augustine, FL. I named her Stormy....for that dark hair.

~SOLD thank you~~

Design a life you LOVE

Just a quick shop update, I added three NEW card prints to my store yesterday. These are prints, I had fun with in photo shop. I thought they would be cute cards, this one is a cropped print from an original painting I did a few months ago. The original went to Ireland :0) I changed the colors a bit to give it a fashionable "grungy" look and added text. This was the text I used originally, but it was cropped out of the photo. I went in and added it digitally, I think it has a twilight look. The girls have wine colored eyes and pale skin......that is vampire-ish......don't you think??? These are available in my ETSY store------->

Party on......

I still LOVE the look of party lights...... with this in mind, I created a second painting. This one has my favorite saying/quote, I'm not sure where it came from, "Life's too short, keep your party dress on"

Inspired from a fashion drawing I came across last week, I created this piece. I painted the background on a 9x12 wood panel and then sketched and colored a "paper doll" separately. I had a piece of kraft tissue paper, so I decided to create a faux leopard print with markers. I layered the tissue over a piece of pattern paper and finished with bronze glitter stickles. I think she has a Barbie doll look, which I love. For more photos see the listing- Original available here

I think this will add a fun touch to any girls room/office/studio-- Would be a great Christmas gift, it's not too early to start shopping :)

Happy FRIDAY!

I'm trying to finish EAT, PRAY,LOVE so this will be quick.

I'm still working on the same piece that has stalled me :(

This painting may be going to the trash can soon. I felt I needed to create something dark and now I'm just stuck.

I listed more prints that I have just neglected to re-list for a while so they may be new to you. You can find them in my ETSY store. If you want free shipping grab the code and check out my Artfire store! Purchase an original in my ARTfire shop and you will get free U.S. shipping.....great deal! My new Halloween collages are in my shop until Sept 11. After that, I am doing an art show and they will go with me.

I hope you all have a great weekend! I'm trying to learn to meditate, I just finished India.......now on to Indonesia :)

Monday Morning Update

I just posted four new Halloween items in my ETSY store. Click here to see them. These were done on 6x12 wood with .5 inch sides. They have hangers on the back and will be so cute to add with your fall decor.

I just opened an ARTfire store, not sure how that will go. As soon as I get settled I will have a sale there. I'm not sure if I will like it there or not. I imported all of my etsy items so right now some of my originals are listed twice and I need to fix that. The Artfire store is in the same name Andrea T Designs.

I am also working on adding prints of the 6x12 pieces. Hopefully I will work that out, for now the four originals I have listed will be it on Halloween girls, until I add them in print. I have a summer cold that is slowing me down:(......next up is Christmas.

A friend is a GIFT

My weekend was full, but I managed to get a new painting done. This one feels like fall to me. I created it on a larger 9x12 birch panel. It has the wide sides that I left in it's natural wood state. These are heavy, so the shipping has to increase. Keep in mind if you are local I will be happy to let you pick up here at my home. I LOVE these panels, so I will do more in the coming weeks on this type of surface.

This little girl is wearing her raspberry beret and carrying her kitty. Text on her dress reads- "a friend is a gift you give to yourself" I am hoping to get prints of this made for animal rescue donation. I will keep you posted when I have them ready. Click here to see more shots of the original, which is listed in my etsy store. Be sure to check out my ETSY favorites- located in the column on the right......just down a bit. I found several other raspberry berets :)

Midnight Garden

In case you didn't know, I am a Twilight fan :) I'm not really a "Twi-hard" fan because I have not seen the latest movie. I have read the books and I love the story. I'm a team Jacob gal.......not really into the cold vampire types, although I do like the sparkly look and the deep crimson eyes.

This week, feeling the allure of the dark, I created "Midnight Garden"- my Bella inspired beauty is waiting by the gate in the garden for her love. Her raven hair sparkles in the moonlight as she gazes toward the sky. The deep crimson colored eyes are a sure sign that she has already been bitten.

Monday morning update!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun fourth! Friday night we went to my featured artist opening night at Creative Hands- We had a great time talking to everyone. I sold a painting!!! Yeah! that is always a plus!

Saturday we drove into Louisville to visit with my family and have a party. I have three and half sisters (that means you Karen :) and eight nieces, I have a few nephews but the girls really rule at these parties.The theme of my painting last week was "intertwine". Women seem to live with an intertwined life. We all have a bond and a common thread that keep us together. That was really the thought when starting this collage. The girls in the painting represent four different women, no one I know personally, but more of a representation of women and their bonds in general. I created another slide show with a few family photos, I couldn't include all the girls but there are a few of the many girls I am intertwined with.

Studio Update and todays thoughts :)

The Southend Girls are starting to line up! My studio is FULL of paintings, I am getting them ready to send to the Creative Hands Artistans Studio for a July feature. More to come on that, I am very excited.

I was awakened during the night, I had a nightmare. I dreamed I found a box of kittens, not scary I know :) but I have three cats and you know I cannot just walk away from helpless kittens! I must have gone to bed feeling overwhelmed by my feline friends. They drive me crazy. ANYWAY- while I was laying there awake I was thinking about my high school art class. Art was my favorite class, but I remember sitting there thinking I will never get my bowl of fruit to look like a bowl of fruit......and this is boring.

I wonder what art class would have been like if my instructor had said, make it your own! There is no right or wrong- art is art.

At the beginning of the month two of my nieces stayed with me for a week, one of them was constantly trying to make her painting EXACTLY like mine. She was so frustrated and self loathing over it. I made it a point to say, I am here to help, but art is FUN! It is cool that you have your own look.... perfection is not the goal, fun is the goal! Everyone creates differently, and that is ok.....it is what art is all about.

Now, the younger of the two girls, had a totally different attitude. She LOVED everything she did. She was proud and happy as a clam. She told me she was so impressed with herself, that she couldn't take her eyes off of her creation! I wonder why the self critic in us grows as we age? Now back to the start of my thought, what if that teacher had told me "art is fun, make it your own" would I still have grown up to be an artist that needs perfection? or could I just be blissfully unaware and happy with what I have done? I think that is why I like to add positive affirmations and happy thoughts to my collages. So when I look at each piece I quiet the inner critic and finish my day blissfully unaware:)

OK.....I'm done with my thoughts and observations for the day, back to work :)

So much rain.....

The rain that seems to never end has brought my inspiration for my latest collage. This one still needs a name, I would love suggestions. Two girls under an umbrella in a field of circle flowers. Vintage paper and buttons were used, as well as stitch rub on rain :) This will be part of my gallery show in July. It is a large 12x24 piece, I did this on wood, and finished it will mat spray.

Be sure to check out my "rain" inspired favorites from ETSY on the right.

Monday Morning UPDATE!

Just a quick post, I am still working on three commissioned pieces, they will be done today. So .... I thought I would put together a flickr album of recent art pieces I have done for clients who request my girls to look like their loved ones. I have just added a few to start with and I will add more. Theses are collages I did in specific hair and eye color, I can add wings , butterflies, or even balloons :) I will try to add more in the days to come. Look at the bottom of my blog and you will see a badge to my Flickr album.You should be able to click it and be re-directed to the entire book.

Contact me for a price and size list.

Note to the owners of the paintings- if you do not want your painting in my photo album please contact me and I will remove it.

Cowgirl UP!

I am feeling a little western this week. I created a couple of 6x12 paintings on wood that have a western feel. The first is "Don't fence me in" this is for all you free spirited girls out there :) She is wearing a dress covered in vintage doilies and boots. I did not add a hat, because I hate to cover their hair, she does have a country styled dress. She is standing on vintage map pages and has old buttons on her dress. She is listed in my ETSY store CLICK HERE to see more

I also listed a angel, you will have to wait til tomorrow to see her, unless you stop by my ETSY shop :)

Back from the beach

I took a great spring break with my sister and her kids. We visited Pensacola beach and had a wonderful time. The weather was great, and I needed to feel the warm sunshine. My husband stayed home with our dogs. My oldest dog Parker was diagnosed with cancer last fall and held on as long he could. When I got home his conditioned was much worse. We lost him this past Friday. He was friendly loving dog and part of my heart is missing.

Now if I can stop crying, I will get back to business :) This piece was finished just before vacation, entitled "Soul Sister" One of the dresses is made with a cool vintage lace paper. It will be available in print soon. I am going to hold on to the original for a fall art show.

MARCH MADNESS ---- CARD PROMO

March is almost over, so please get your cards now while they are on sale!!! Remember buy 2 get one free. Great for framing and gift giving! I gift wrap each sale so they are ready for special birthday gifts and Mothers day! Click HERE to go to my ETSY shop

GREAT give away- CHECK IT OUT

Lindy Gruger Hanson is one of my favorite ETSY artist. I found a give away on her blog this morning - Her art is bold and vibrant. I LOVE the colors and the whimsy, her birds and angels are my favorites. I purchased her collage sheet of positive affirmations a while back, I use them in my art frequently, two of the affirmations are featured in my set of affirmation cards for artists. I borrowed this image from her blog, CLICK HERE to visit her blog and be amazed by her talent.

More snow???????

I wish it were spring already! My SPRING PROMO is still going on! Buy 2 get one free 5x7 cards!!! Check out my ETSY store- Congratulations to the 100th sale winner! Thank you so much!

New auctions are up, including my birthstone angels- This is my February Angel done in the color of purple representing amethyst. I have March already listed. My plan is to offer an angel a month in the birthstone color. Eventually I would like to create custom angels for clients, this angel looks like my niece, Madison.