Prima January BAP

My take on the Prima January Build a page

I used a variety of Prima papers, including Annalee Poetry and Paradise City Morning Chirps and even fussy cutting the sprig of flowers from a piece of Pastiche Seaside paper on the left side of the page.

I used the underneath side of the Rosetti rose and layered more Prima flowers on top of it to copy the flower from the paper cutting. I also cut out leaves from the Blooming Retro Pumpkin Pie paper.

I really like the red, turquoise, cream, and brown color combo.

Have a super day and be back very soon with more creations - I am almost finished with a layout for Jenni Bowlin's Grid Challenge and I will be posting a photo on Friday of the painting which will be on exhibition at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

ttfn

Chris

Pink magnolias

Have I ever mentioned how much I love magnolias? I have been painting quite a few lately - this one I painted on Monday and Tuesday of this week - I am trying to finish at least one painting a week. I also did some sketching for the Sketchbook challenge and the Strathmore Visual Journal class - hope to post those tomorrow. I also did a canvas/paint/paper project for Gecko Galz - see sneak peek below - but can't show it until February as it will be used for a technique tutorial on their website.

It's been a good week also in the financial area - no spending except necessities, and I got some super movies and books at the library - Eclipse; Eat,Pray.Love; The Girl who played with Fire - woot woot!!!

I stopped by Books a Million to look at magazines and also to jot down names of new books to look for - I saw their "Book Club" display at the front of the store and wrote down the titles - I picked up The Maze Runner by James Dashner at the library - it's very good - not superb like the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins but good - somewhat similar in its view of the world. Check it out!

I put reserves in for some of the other books that looked interesting.

Hope you are having a good week and thanks for reading.

I will be back soon with some peeks into my sketchbook and also to show you the painting that will be in a show this next weekend at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

ttfn

Chris

Valentine mixed-media

Here we are, barely into the new year, and it is time to think about projects for Valentine's Day.

I am currently working on 2 new projects but here is a glimpse of things that I made in 09 and 10

I am keeping busy busy with my drawing and painting - and of course, laundry, cleaning, cooking, and...

There is so much creative energy out there on the web, and I have been infected or injected or whatever.

I have so many ideas spinning in my head - an abundance of creative thoughts

Hope you are feeling energetic and creative!

ttfn

Chris

Happy new year 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy new year to everyone!

I am excited to start the new year and ready to take on new challenges.

Above is a vision board that I made to help keep me focused on the things I want to accomplish and do in the coming year (I got this idea from Julie Balzer's blog; she is doing an art journal page a day - I won't be doing that but I will do them occasionally) I want to paint a lot more, have paintings in exhibitions and sell some, improve my drawing skills, do a Botanical Illustration course (in book form), take at least one watercolor workshop from a national teacher,sew some clothes and some pillows for my couch(which is somewhat similar in style to the one in the above photo, create some cool projects and layouts, knit, finish a couple of wall quilts, cook, bake (perfect my French bread), exercise, and read.

My word for 2011 is ABUNDANCE 

appreciating what I have, feeling grateful for my blessings, and

making do or doing without (money will be even tighter this year with no increase in income plus increases in the cost of my health insurance, food, and gas)

I have lots of paper, paints, pencils, fabric, yarn, and other items - 

and I will use up what I have before making any purchases.

I hope to take a vacation this summer to Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver so I am really

focused on saving every extra penny for that.

I worked this afternoon on sketching - beginning the first lesson in the botanical illustration course so that's a good start. I also finished a new painting this past week that I will have in an exhibit at the Vero Beach Art Museum the middle of January. (I will post it closer to exhibition time)

Then I played with my paints and came up with this - I have been looking at some old photos and magazines from when we were in the Bahamas, and I was reminded of the beautiful turtles there.

Just a fun little painting.

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great day, and a great new year!!!!

ttfn

Chris