Painting

As you will see from the photos below my focus this week has been on painting.  I LOVE painting on Ceramic and Porcelain pieces so I began to surface scour.  The small boxes are just a perfect size and I really like the porcelain cups with the silicone lids...they are going to make neat Christmas gifts....  I am not using patterns having discovered I really like the impromptu of just painting and seeing what happens....or doesn't happen....  I use the Rustoleum Frosted Glass as a surface prep so that I have tooth and then finish with 2-3 LIGHT coats of the Thick Gloss Paint which takes the surface look back to the smooth shiny porcelain look and the design just seems to recede into the surface..  

More Handmade Earrings Unique and one of a Kind.

I don't have pierced ears, so therefore I don't wear earrings but I always admire pretty earrings of others and shopped  for them for my sister, daughter in law, and friends..... AND....very rarely do I find any that I like so have been creating earrings for gift giving for a couple of years.

The neat thing is the beads and the feathers are pretty much one of a kind...so you have earrings you won't see anyone else wearing and I guarantee they will be noticed.  The are simple but striking and colorful as are the trends of today.

The crystals in the 2nd pair of earrings are really neat as they are blue in artificial light and lavendar purple in good natural lighting.

Once again the feathers are hand marbeled feathers from Ely of QuillnAros on Etsy,  the findings are Tierra Cast and the handmade glass lampwork beads have been made by various SRA lampworking artists from around the world....

 Making earrings is so simple and easy I am surprised that more people don't make their own....and my only recommendation is buy top quality merchandise, look for something that can't or won't be replicated/copied, and put your own personal twist to the item.

Great Balls of Fire

These earrings were made with the help of Ely's bird (feathers) of QUILLNAROS (Etsy)and I love this 

"fellows" fluffy fluffy feather beginnings. 

Thet polymer clay beads were made by TLSCLAYDESIGN (Etsy).  My job was just to correlate what these artists did into a piece of jewelry.  

(The clay beads remind me of stained glass).

Oh, and thanks to Jerry Lee Lewis for GREAT BALLS OF FIRE..... 

I think I am going to work on some more earrings this evening and maybe tomorrow I will hit the clay and a few of my rubber stamps and see what "I "can come up with; but don't expect feathers.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Sunday Muse

Another week ... has poofed away and a start into the next.

As of today I am not going to worry any more about tomorrows....just todays.  

I feel as if I accomplished a lot this week and have things kinda in order (both mentally and written on paper) for this upcoming week.  

Tomorrow I want to get in as much time as I can downstairs working.  I have a painting started to finish, I need to start an assemblage box for a Christmas gift, and on Friday the Gift and Food Bazaar at our local fairgrounds.  Last year it was great so I am hoping for the same this year....already have ideas on purchases so I really hope the vendors I am thinking about will be there.

I also need to get Session III
started here on the blog so I can get it posted before the end of the month.

So have a great week everyone.

More Jewelry

I worked on and finished 2 more fabric and lampwork cord necklaces.  FUN. 

 The one on the right is mine and the 3 fabric beads were kinda the ones that got laid aside and I thought why not really mix and match.  

It is funny what one remembers and just kinda,  sorta applies when designing.  I remember reading or hearing somewhere that design composition is 1 -3 - 5 and then after 5 you can have any number you want...  On my necklace I have used 3 fabric beads, one is different.  Excluding spacer beads I have a total of 5 beads on the necklace and the knots in the cording are one--three---and 5---numbers. .  The only thing everything has in "common" within this necklace is the color yellow..... but yet I think it is really pretty, unique, artistic, with good composition, balance and even texture with glass, fabric, metal.   And I like the fact that each one.....is One of a Kind.  You aren't going to find another just like these......  It is kinda nice to own and collect
art by others....I know I do.

  The necklace on the left is also done with cording and above the central beaded area and knots and beads.  One again throughout the necklace I have used the 1-3-5 design numbers.  The lampwork beads I have had for a couple of years and I cannot believe that the fabric bead ( from an artist in Isreal) that I have used matches so perfectly....as if it were totally planned instead of random luck.  Again with this necklace I have the smooth texture of glass, the rougher fabric bead , the texture of the knots, and twisted spacers.  This necklace will probably show up on Etsy in a few days....I would like to do a few more so there is a collection of this style jewelry.  

All of spacer beads and bead caps are from Dragynsfyre on Etsy who also carries her own handmade lampwork beads as well.
The fabric beads by Gulgulim on Etsy
The cording (which comes in several different colors) is nylon braided and I purchased all that I use at our local Military Surplus Store for a fraction of what I would have paid in an art or crafts store.  Think outside the box when you are looking for something.

Jewelry Items Handmade Lampwork Focal Bead by Dragynsfyre

This is a handmade lampwork focal bead made by Dragynsfyre (my daughter)  on Etsy.  It  reminds me of a waves and water....

The smaller beads are also handmade lampwork beads done by an artist in the state of Washington who specializes in tiny spacer beads.   I envison the dark green/blue for the deeper water, the milky white for the foam, the wrhite for the white caps with the blue lighter than the darkest.....  (The knots are inspired once again by Dragynsfyre as she has made several pieces of jewelry using this simple knotting technique along with her own focal and smaller beads).  The technique of this abstract knotting done with nylon cord  kinda gives the illusion  of  "motion" to this bracelet that I like.

 Note the little bubbles in the transparent glass which just adds to the all over water feeling.

This particular piece is a Christmas gift....I have been busy trying to make as many of my gifts as possible this year.....I love the "elfy" feeling I get.....kinda like a whistle while you work feeling...which I would love to still be able to do......  I loved to whistle....

Jewelry Items Hand Marbled Feather Earrings

Another of my favorite Etsy sellers is QuillnAros.  Ely handmarbles feathers.  These are so "cool" or is that not the "lingo" of today?  The bottom  and middle pairs are done using cockatoo feathers and the top photo are African Parrott....goodness I hope I have the "birds" right.....  I LOVE the fuzz that is at the top of the feathers....especially the longer African Grey ones.  I LOVE using other peoples art in some way when I make mine....kinda like a double whammy..... and with a lot of my jewelry I prefer one of a kind pieces....which is what happens when things get "mixed up".....  Lampwork and these handmarbled feathers provide me this exclusiveness....

The top pair of earrings are a Christmas gift ....  I love the red and green abstract design along with the furry tops....so unique and different.

I love the tropical feeling of the middle and last pair of earrings and the lax a daisy, whimsical, windblown, I don't care, carefree, loose feeling these earrings impart.  

Jewelry Items Handmade fabric and lampwork beads

This is a necklace I made today using a thin nylon cording, handmade lampwork beads and the main focal piece is a handmade fabric bead from the Etsy Seller Gulgulim .   I have a dish of beads that are waiting for me to "do something" with them.  Thank goodness I am finally using up my bead stash....

What a match of the fabric bead to a set of lampwork beads I had purchased.   Not sure just how this one will get worked up but I am thinking something asymmetrical...???  

Christmas Card??

3 has been a part of my life this year and it has carried over for some reason in what I wanted to paint for my card this year....  I am glad you can see some of the stars in the sky.. which are the Glamour Dust Paints in Ice Crystal.... although I used the Black Glamour Dust in areas of the dark sky......Paynes Grey/Soft White.

I purchase cards that have been prepared to accept a photo with gummed edgings which will act as the mat for the picture....

Now I just have to get a good photo to use in the card.....  I have been painting my cards on and off for several years.

Try your hand at painting YOUR holiday cards....

Session II Snow, moon, trees fog

SESSION #2

RESULTS OF SESSION ONE AND SESSION TWO.....

These sessions are going to be available on my Etsy site as a kit.  5" x 7"  Canvas board, photos, step by steps and instructions/paint list. etc.  The kit will be available with and without brushes.  I am hoping to get everything together to offer this by the first of December.

             

The next thing for YOU to determine is:

What will be the NEXT farthest thing from you?  

Establish your horizon line.

Decide on your Point of Interest area and object.

My Point of interest is about 2/3 across the canvas and is the mountain and a tree.  I LOVE trees.  Without them how boring winter would be.

Paint Colors:   Paynes Grey, Warm White, Hookers Green, Dioxizine Purple...Burnt Umber
Brushes:    Flat Brushes and/or Dry Brushes (my recommendation).  
                  Dynasty Foliage Wave Brushes and IPC Flats  DIANA'S LANDSCAPE BRUSHES:  I sell this packet of brushes on my Etsy site....and will be using these for the foliage portion of this painting.

 Brush Kit Includes:
Small and Large IPC Brushes (Black Handled) used for soft foliage,  dense coverage.
Foliage Wave brush (White Bristeled Brush)  Airy, openwork foilage.
DryBrush (Varigated black and white bristles)  Used for skys, blending, snow, water,
and occassionaly stippling procedures.

With the IPC brushes I use the narrow end of the brush the majority of the time (and sometimes I only use a corner of the narrow brush) and to have more control of where the paint goes I hold the brush down at the ferrel.  When I use the Foliage Wave brush I hold the brush highter up on the handle for more range of motion.

I tip the foliage brushes AWAY from me to get "UP" on the tips of the bristles.

I soak my brushes in tepid water for about 5 minutes before using.  This opens up the bristles so the paint will soak INTO the bristles for a soft, mystical look.   I then towel dry (roughly) on a terry cloth towel.  I purchase towels at thrift stores because they are a bit worn and soft.  If I buy a large towel I cut it into pieces.  These towels are one of my major staples.

I use the Eye of the Tiger Brushes and the Faux Squirrel flats, rounds, angles etc.  Also Dynasty brushes.  I like a brush that is a bit stiffer than normal as these 2 lines work for me.

There are approximately 3-4 applications of paints to get where you see a finished moon and a tree and pine bough.  With the tree boughs see 1-2-3.... and I used the small flat IPC brush for all 3 layers of color.  Keep the final white to the very tops as fresh snow.


When painting the mountain I used soft slip slap x shaped strokes....I want the mountain to be choppy and layered....not smooth.  I will smooth the outside edges of the mountain as I add layers of snow.  

Whatever brush you choose....work the same way with the criss cross x strokes.  Once again I am going to use the Paynes Grey and Warm White.  I want it darker than the sky so I added  more Paynes Grey to my brush and blocked in my mountain down to the horizon line even though part of the mountain is covered with trees/shrubs, etc.  As I worked down the mountain to the horizon line I progressively got darker.  When satisfied wipe off your brush, add more Warm White and lay iin some of the snow area so it takes on more shape....lights and darks.

The Moon was done with the dry brush and a dark mix of the Paynes Gray and Soft White to rough in the outline of the moon.  I then proceeded to add one or the other of the colors to achieve a realistic moon with darks, lights and inbetweens.  I took my liner brush and created this a thin line of PG.  If you want more lights add some Soft White to the dry brush and very softly add some small highlights.

Next it was time to establish my Tree Line and I worked down once again to the horizon line.  At this point I am going to change brushes to the Foligae Wave brush  because I want a lacey look to the tree line and bushes.

I DON"T VERY OFTEN WASH MY BRUSHES WHEN I AM DOING A LANDSCAPE UNLESS I AM GOING TO A LIGHTER COLOR AND MOST OF THE TIME I JUST WIPE THE BRUSH WELL ON MY TOWELL.  I DON'T CARE THAT EACH STROKE IS NOT THE SAME COLOR LIKE ONE WOULD DO WHEN COLORING.    I WANT THE CANVAS COVERED....BUT I WANT VARYING SHADES WITHIN THE "SECTION"  I AM PAINTING.  I FEEL THAT THIS CREATES A MUCH MORE REALISTIC PAINTING... WITH AN INTEREST INTO COLOR...WHILE ADDING DEPTH TO THE PAINTING. 

ANOTHER IMPORTANT "THING" IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE PAINTING FOLIAGE... YOU WANT LITTLE UMBRELLA SHAPES...AND TO ACHIEVE THIS...YOU POINT THE TIP OF THE BRUSH AT ABOUT A 33 DEGREE ANGLE AWAY FROM YOU SO THAT WHEN YOU PAINT YOU ARE USING JUST THE VERY TIPS OF THE BRUSHES TO TAP IN THE FOLIAGE.   IF YOU WANT TO "DROP" SOME TEXTURE ADD A BIT MORE PAINT AND TOUCH A BIT HARDER TO YOUR SURFACE....NOTICE I SAID TOUCH....NOT SMASH...  I AM GOING TO WAIT TO "DROP COLOR" WHEN I ADD THE SNOW TO THE TOPS OF THINGS FARTHER ALONG IN THE FINISHING ELEMENTS OF THE PAINTING.

To my dirty bursh  Paynes Grey, Warm White I added into the "mix" just a little Hookers Green .  The tops of the trees will be the lightest and you will work down to darker closer to the horizon line.  If you will check out the photo above you can see how light, airy and lacey the background foliage is....very faint at this point in time.  BE CAREFUL:  I wanted my tree line very irregular with ups and downs Check back at my painting to see how there is a soft irregular tree line and you can even see little umbrella shapes here and there.
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THE TREE....  I love trees and especially when one is unique, different, etc.   I added a bit of Dioxizine Purple to my dirty brush mix to darken (Says Jerry Yarnell,,,"purple is the natural
shading color",   and I like to use it to darken..especially in a winter scene.  Much more natural than using black.

I painted the trunk of the tree with the tip and chisel edge of an angle brush but I round works great.
I worked in short choppy strokes with the tree just a thin light at the top and growing in girth closer to the horizon line area.    Add paint when needed to your dirty brush.  Smoosh lightly on your towel to barely blend the color in and continue with the tree.  With a liner brush I painted in the tree limbs.  They should be bigger at the trunk and then get thin at the end.  The branches should not begin at the same point on the tree t runk  left and right...stagger the tree limbs from the trunk.

To get a thin line using a brush you must release pressure on your painting surface and paint with the very tip of the brush...even when using a liner. 

 Notice that the limbs on my evergreen tree are widely spaced apart and angle down which is the way this tree seems to grow here in OR and the foliage portion is going to be clumpy, thickest at th... e trunk area becoming less sparse as you work out the branches and densest/darkest in the very center of the little clumps within the big clump...  I used the small IPC brush for doing the foliage on this tree and remember to hold the brush down at the ferrel of the brush so you control where the paint goes, how much, etc.  I started with just Paynes Greay and my IPC small brush on all branches then I added Soft White to the dirty brush and added some lifht to the top of the branches.  I then wiped my brush on the towel and added just the Soft white to my IPC and added snow to the tops.

SO......that is it for session II.   I just finished painting our next session so I will add a photo to the end of this session in a day or so.



CAN YOU BEGIN TO "FEEL" YOUR PAINTING.  THE FOG WHICH I AM BEGINNING TO SEE.  THE TEXTURE OF THE EVERGREEN "CHARLIE BROWN" TREE WHICH I JUST LOVE....AND YOU BEGIN TO QUESTION WHAT THE NEXT STEP MIGHT BE.  AT THIS POINT IN TIME....I HAVE NO IDEA.......  HMMMM.    

STAY TUNED FOR "SESSION III" CAUSE FROM HERE ON TO THE END OF THE PAINTING .......MAGIC HAPPENS....AT LEAST THAT IS THE WAY I FEEL WHEN I PAINT.  I LOVE WHEN THE BASICS ARE IN, SHAPES FORMED, ETC.  THEN I GET EXCITED.

                                                                                                 SESSION III:   Coming Soon

 

Gingko Biloba Necklace

When I was doing some bead searching I found this handmade  Denim Blue Gingko ceramic leaf that I had purchased a couple of years ago.   The blue and white swirled lampwork beads match well and I used delica beads along with some square silver beads and a delightful elephant clasp.  I am a blue jean, t shirt or flannel shirt type so I wanted something simple;  yet pretty, piece to wear and as this developed it began to "fit the bill'.....   Hopefully it will inspire you to put together a necklace.

NEW ZENTANGLE LISA PAVELKA STAMPS.....HERE 11-2-113

These are 4 new stamps that are "on their way" to me designed by Lisa Pavelaka.   Aren't they great?  The first one is wings,
the second is cloodlettes, stamp 3 is Tumbling Blocks and the last one which is MY favorite is Illusions....  Awesome and I can hardly wait to use them.....  I am hoping to get them and have them on my Etsy site by this weekend....the first weekend in November.....2013.  

Get your holiday hat on and think how you can use one of these new designs in your creativity.....

Email me to preorder....hannahmaesporch@hotmail.com
Be the first in your group to have one or all of these stamp.


  

Handmade Christmas Presents

Tonight I finished 3 handmade lampwork items which I am going to be making for Christmas gifts  and to sell.

The first piece is an Ipad stylis.  The tip is a lightweight rubber and I have added 5 large handmade lampwork beads.  They are a dark green and silvered ivory.  The spacer beads are "large hole" made by Tierra Cast and sold by Dragynsfyre on Etsy.

And photo #2.  A neat gift for the man or woman who likes beer and here in micro brew country and so many different types of beer in a bottle this item is a personalized item also.  The lampwork is

handmade barrel beads in a beige and silvered ivory and is more masculine than feminine so it is perfect for the man in your life

Photo #3 is a item that holds your keys and makes them easier to find....in your purse.  Just tuck the beaded portion on the outside of a zipper pocket with the beads over the edge (as seen below)...so that they are easy to grasp....with the keys inside and zipper zipped.  Helps being able to find your keys quickly in your purse.

  Since I have a wristlet that I use for my keys I am using the hook to attach to the zipper to help me unzip with fingers which don't work as well as they "used to".  3 handmade lampwork beads in light and dark blue are so pretty.....and Tierra Cast spacer beads were once again used.

The cost of the items will depend upon how many beads, size, spacers used and how many.

I have been stashing a lot of lampwork I have purchased through the years so I have a nice little supply to go to.......

Candace in Living Color

First of all inspirations for the Zentangle designs which I have been doing is from the book Zenspirations Dangle Designs and the author is Joanne Fink.   If you cannot locate the book let me know and I will order some to sell.....  Great book.

Last night I started and finished this Zentangle dangle...so relaxing.  After I was done I used the Glamour dust paints and it just seemed to come alive.....  I gave the black and white and the colored one to Candace this evening and she was as excited with the black and white as she was with the color....so I guess "no color" is also an option.......  FUN....

I have used the portrait grade canvas and left it white....wonderful.....so smooth.  I used Micron and Sharpie pens (Micron Sakuras have different sized nibs) and then when I was all done I used the Americana Glamour Dust paints and I am just thrilled with the way it turned out.   I have some ceramic tag Christmas Ornamens and I am wondering how HO HO HO would look, or maybe the word Santa....  These would look great on so many different surfaces.......  And by the way the black matt was a package of 2 that I picked up at the Dollar Tree a few months ago....too good a buy to pass out and they are textured and really nice.....

Give your mind a vacation........do a hanging tangle....  And for some reason.....when I do this I think of circus and clowns....strange.... but aren't most artists' a little less ordinary??

HINTS:
I tried the canvas' that I had prepainted a color for different backgrounds  and with the pens it isn't something I would recommend as the points on the pens are sharp so they pull up paint and clog the flow....the felt tip pens should work good though so keep these in mind....or acrylic paints.  I would use Americana on these.  Cardstock background pieces are available in a 5 x 7 size and if one could find a book of soft backgrounds these also might look great with the Dangles.....  AND how about doing this for your yearly Chrismas Cards?   

Try it...you'll like it... and thanks so much Joanne for a WONDERFUL book.....a real inspiration to one just giving it that first try as I did.   When I find artists I love for whatever reason, you will find I scream their praises....but if I don't like I have a tendency to say that too.....which others find offensive.  Sometimes trying to be truthful is not the easiest of things to do.....and I hate to see people waste their money on something.....

Christmas Valley, Oregon Sand Dunes

 Here are 3 photos of sand that I took while ATV riding this past weekend (I feel as if I have been in a rock tumbler).  The photos were taken at 3 different places there and show quite a difference in texture, elements, and wind design.

Zenspiration Dangling Names "Hung out to Dry"

I purchased the very first Zentangle book that was published because I loved the concept of Zentangles but found it didn't help me do much of anything but frustrate me so my interest wanned.

Then I saw the book Zenspiration Dangles and I was once again motivated but just never seemed to get around to it....

This past weekend we went camping and so I took what I thought I would need.......only to find that the colored pens were all dry..... so I was forced to use the only pen that worked which was White....but it did what I needed it to do.....just in black and white.   LOVED IT....  I did my own "thing"....  used some of the dangles that were in the book but I can see that it is pretty much up to the artist to do....and I decided I wanted to do Dangles using the persons name....at least for this "round" .....  which was something that may be in one of the Zentangle books but since I don't have any but the 2 mentioned,,,, I feel it might be (or not be) my idea.....   I  feel that Zentangles should definately be related to the person doing and receiving....and so it is a "wing it and have fun" art technique that is personal.   I feel that "Hung out to Dry" pretty much says it all.........

Now that I am "home" I have rounded up colored pens from different "stash areas" and I have basecoated  two 5" x 7" portrait grade hand wrapped canvas panels.  One I painted a light aqua blue and the other is black and I am now really ready......  and anxious to see how things go with pens and canvas and of course I am going to be using other "things"..... one of which will be the Glamour Dust paints by Americana which I LOVE and try to use on just about everything I do if applicable and I am also going to try using glass and the Gallery Glass paints.... and maybe even some mixed media/altered art techniques..... I bet those will be pretty.  (It is going to be fun to see what "develops)    These might be Xmas gifts for friends and family as I think they will look awesome framed.....and maybe after the holidays I will take on some custom orders.  

I learned a lot from just what I did so this time (and I will do CANDACE again)  so it should run a bit smoother.  It is sooooo relaxing...and addictive you don't want to stop and it felt great.  A massage for the mind.....  

******* Excuse the lousy photo but for some reason even though I cropped the photo it shows not cropped on my blog .....must be something in the air tonight....

Perspectively Speaking

This is a photo I took over the weekend and I thought it might be of some interest ....

The farther away the telephone poles the closer they are together and the smaller they become......  the same with the yellow dotted line which disappears at the crest of the hill in the road.....

The road disappears at the horizon line...and look how big the road is closet to you.....the WHOLE width of the picture.

Follow these same rules when you draw or paint a path, stream, creek, road,  guard rails, fences, etc....  I love photos like this that can be used for reference material.  A camera is one of my best "tools"......

Shrine

As usual I get so excited to start some pieces that I forget to take a before and after..... so this is a semi before.  The statue was bronze colored when it was gifted to me...and the arm was broken off (which I have) but it i minus a hand....so I am going to work with this as is.

Just about the time I received this; on a group I belong to I had just signed up for a shrine challenge so this will be my piece.

I just finished painting it with Copper .... which actually is copper and will allow me to do a patina or "patinas"... as if it were SOLID metal. (The company also makes the product in several other metals).  I have also painted the eyes in green and for the second coat I used the Americana Moss Glamour Dust paints because I want the statues eyes to follow its recipient in a room......  There was some wear and tear that wasn't attractive on the black base so I have also painted it black using acrylic paints.

We are leaving tomorrow for 3 days so this will give me "time" to ponder..

I think that I am going to use Swarowski Flat crystals, I have some copper chains, and a cigar box that is really colorful that I "might" utilize.

Things most generally change as I start...  The shrine has to be done by the 30th of December but I cannot procrastinate and I think that I will
show the progression to this piece in this particular blog post so it is kinda in steps so if you are interested...check this particular post periodically......

I LOVE a challenge ..... sometimes.

SESSION I. Photo, snow, mountain, sky, fog and Painting?

Copyright  10-2013    Diana Putnam

Headed towards Sisters which is due West of Bend......  BRRRRR but BEAUTIFUL.  Winter,
at least in the past....tends to be dry...  so it is a good time of year for me healthwise.

I have a new winter painting  "in progress" but it won't necessarily "look" like this.  Photos just help me with colors, angles, a detail or two, cloud formations, haze/fog, depth....so many things come through in a picture.


WHAT WORKS FOR ME:

My FAVORITE color to use for winter skies, mountains, snow, etc. is PAYNES GREY and is one of my palette colors.   I brush mix with Antique White and will sometimes add yellow, red, or orange  for sunrise/sunset.  
 
I use smaller than normal brushes and most generally will do x strokes randomly to the horizon line,  sometimes blending...sometimes not.   I also like using dry brushes for skys using small amounts of paint in an up and down circular motion.   Choppier strokes that are not blended well with give the appearance of wind, breeze, motion in the sky.  


With both techniques/brushes I use a towel to wipe off excess paint....not very often do I wash my brush... 

My touch is light...I don't use very much pressure with the brush... and I prefer soft bristles.  If you are new to my blog....my favorite brushes are Black Gold/Dynasty brushes and my favorite canvas' are handmade portrait grade canvas boards....

One of my favorite "accents" in as many paintings as possible is the use of Americana Glamour Dust Paints...I thought they would be the same as applying clear over the color...but there is a big difference....Just the right amount of glitter is in a bottle...and it is IMHO totally awesome in winter paintings....  There are many times when you go out in the winter and breathe in and you can feel the ice crystals in hour nose..... and if the light hits just right....oh my goodness....the sparkle, the magic.
The fog that sometimes accompanies snow.... the low clouds, etc.  As you add the details the painting just seems to come alive, a shiver of cold....

I do clouds/fog in winter especially using the dry brush in a circular motion.... and I wipe nearly ALL of the paint off my brush on the towel....and I work from the inside to the outside with just  the lightest of touches..... With fog I work from the center out....in the darkest light area that needs the color more...
reducing pressure even more when at any of the edges of a cloud/mist, etc.

Also the sky color should be the darkest at the top, right and left with the center "area of interest" being the lightest......  And look at clouds for the silver lining that is in some cloud formations....   Maybe some time along the blogline I will remember to show you how to do a silver lining...thanks to the wonderful teachings of Jerry Yarnell.... If anyone EVER gets a chance to attend one of his seminars/classes do not hesitate...he is one of the best teachers I have come across...  I have learned so much from this Artist.

SO...try some Paynes Grey and Antique White... (I use Liquitex and I have noticed that there is a big different in this color between brands ie:  Americana, Traditions, Delta.  So if you are going for "color"
I would use Liquitex...

ENJOY.

Dairy Queen Bend Oregon

I would say that 90% of the bushes here in Bend that have been planted are either red or yellow.  These are planted along the "Enter" drive into our local Dairy Queen.....and of course I had to have a medium vanilla cone.....  So fall colors are high, low and everywhere.

Linda Travalent Lammergeler on Etsy

Copyrights   10-2013  

Linda resides in Albany Park, NJ and her jewelry is an artistic interpretation of nature.  These two pairs of earrings are her newest designs using the rubber stamps I sell.  She has just used a portion of the stamp for these.  There are several artists who have designed stamps...Helen and Mark Breil from Canada and Lisa Palvelka from Ill.

You can see/purchase other pieces of Lindas'  work by going to http://www.Lammergeler.etsy.com

Gorgeous work Linda.........

Monday Hunt

After making notes on items I would need for the Edison Bulbs...my first stop was the Army Surplus store which didn't have what I needed....but had had it in the past  BUT  I did get some neat nylon cording, some small buckles, tiny glass capped bottles, patches and some lacing.  From there I tried a couple of Hunting Stores and ended up with only a couple of peacock feathers but I love them and will use.  My last stop was JoAnnes where I got some poster board to make some patterns, felt piece in a pretty brown and sage green, some colored pipe cleaners, and a grommet tool and grommets along with some very glittery green heavy scrapbooking paper.....  So now to do my pattern.....this is not going to be easy...I THOUGHT I had it all figured out....but after two hours of fiddling tonight I haven't progressed to far.....  The idea is what I think a good one so I just have to keep thinking, and trying....I am not one to give up...buuuutttttt......

When you are shopping and see something unusual, unique, etc. PICK IT UP..... because when you go back to get it.....GONE.....

Sunday Muse

Tonight as I was ponderings some more on the Edison light bulb candle holders (See below post/photo) that are "in process" waiting fo rme to decide what the next step was going to be.  My daughter gave me her idea and since it was super neat.....I am going with it.  A little challenge of sorts.  Someone elses idea ....  and I get to do it however I want....what could be more fun that this?

I found myself going to Pinterest for some eye candy.  I knew approximately what I was looking for so I knew I could skim pretty quickly.  I just needed something to see how I could put one together without sewing......what I wanted mine to look like, etc.    Tomorrow I will stop at the Military Surplus store to look for what I need.....  This to me is the most fun....it is kinda like a mini little treasure hunt...and I love that I am learning where to go for what.....and since my memory is not as good as it "used" to be I have everything jotted down, ideas of what materials to look for and where....alternatives, colors, embellishments, etc.  I don't ever go "this far" with a design....to put in on paper with notes but  I think it is going to work Geeeereat.....

Have a great week everyone.

Turkey Track Fall

Copyright 10-13    Diana Putnam

My sister from Pennsylvania sent me a photo "close" to how this was painted in acrylics by "me".  I have played with the design, colors, etc for quite a while....some things just done't come "easy".... and the simpliest of paintings sometimes are the hardest....  I have just a few changes that I want to make before I can "deem" it finished.

I am a paint as I go artist which is a lot of fun....  I mark in a horizon line and maybe a couple of details and then just go for it.  I color mix my paints using a dirty brush so I can give the colors I used in the Liquitex brand but the rest is done by the artist.....YOU.  Even if I repainted this design myself it would look different and I would make changes along the way....  I can recommend brush sizes and types (99% being Black Gold Dynasty brushes) but even these are artist choice.  What works for me may not for anyone else as is determined by surface size, and learned personal techniques.  I always struggled with brush size and brand when I was learning....now I use what works for me...which is the way it should be.....never locked in to what the original artist might use or say.  The only time I "technique out" is when I am "stuck" ....

So branch out (no pun intended) and do your own thing....you might be REAL surprised at "what happens"...

So a turkey track fall to everyone....  (Turkey tracks is the name of a short cut road that links two towns together in PA and is called that because it is a one lane road that is maintained but makes you go slow and enjoy the scenery...........

Liquitex:  Black, Soft White, Titanium White, Cadium Red, Cadium Orange, Cadium Yellow, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Baltic Green and French Blue Grey.

Brushes:  Liner, Angle, Filbert (for leaves) Foliage Waves, Dry Brushes, and flats.

Canvas:   5 x 7 Portrait grade hand wrapped canvas board...

Personal:  Time, patience and perserverance

Red and Green

Red and green together are favorite colors with some beige thrown in for a neutral so it is kinda neat to have red and green peppers on the windowsill over my sink which just creates a little fall scene.  We had a freeze so I had to bring inside the produce that did not have time to "ripen" on the vine.   I hope that the green peppers don't change to red ... 

The hot little harvest can remain there for indefinately ....  3 of the really crinkled and wrinkled peppers are from last years "crop"....  Just a fun little "thing" to do.  Brings a smile, and seems as if I always stop and turn them....see how they are drying...look for soft spots, hang if needed.....and feel the texture of the skin....  When I went to an artists' home here in Bend right after Xmas she had used artificial peppers as Christmas tree ornaments as it went so well in the turquoise and yellow room.....  Poppy color toned down by her use of art to subdue the colors ..... and yet transform her work.  

I have never done my own still life piece so I may need to rearrange a bit different and a couple of more elements for a "different texture" one that is soft and subtle....and maybe frame with a bright yellow... 
Hmmmmm....another "to do" ???

Have a spicy weekend.

Awesome Edison Candleholders

This is just the beginning, but they look so NEAT just as they are.  I fell in love with the concept immediately when I saw them in one of last  months'  magazines while sitting in the Dr's office waiting to "be seen".

Fortunately I was able to find 3 of the Edison light bulbs on Etsy and rec'd them yesterday.  Today they got their "bath" and "glue" as I inserted them into the candlesticks.

Today one of Larry's friends brought me a 4th lightbulb ( I had purchased 4 candlestick holders) ....so he will get one of these....be it how it is right now or how it turns out....I wonder which he will choose.

 In the magazine they showed butterflys which were attached to the lightbulbs some how....  Mine will be winter.....  I have nothing concrete in mind but I am hoping to find time tomorrow to work on them.  The set of 3 is neat as the candlestick holders are all a different height and the bases different shapes.......the bulbs are all the same size.

I love the freedom that mixed media provides to an artist....

October 1,2013

This ole' truck is close to the road at the beginning of our driveway and one of my favorite picture taking "sites".  

Today I got a picture of the Japanese Maple that my husband planted in the back of his
favorite truck.....and we leave the skeleton driver in all year long..... he causes a rucus a lot of days....

Plenty of color here in Bend this time of year and I LOVE it..... Every season I say it is my favorite so I guess I am a pretty happy camper here in the Northwest.  Don't even mind the chill in the air.

My husband told me that the winter birds "came in" today and our driveway seemed to be their "landing" area.  That means that snow is not too far off in the future for us....


Happy October to everyone......