Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year all my blog friends! It's been a wonderful year for my art. I've come from rekindling an interest in art after a very long break, to now hoping to open my own etsy shop and some how make my passion more than just a hobby! I've met so many wonderful people who have inspired and encouraged me to keep working hard and I'm so grateful for that. I look forward to another productive year where I discover new ways to be creative. I'm having so much fun!

This is a canvas that I have been working on this week. I felt like I needed to paint as I've been working on my pendants and jewellery for the last couple of weeks as well as Christmas slowing me down a bit. This canvas represents summer and a new year for me (it's the middle of summer here). Hope you all have fun seeing the new year in tonight!!!

Look what I made!!!

Today amongst all the visiting I managed to make a couple of pieces using my new Christmas presents. I added some wire to a pair of earrings that I made a few days ago, which I bent into a spiral using my new tools and added a bead. The spirals may not be perfect but I quite like them like this. I think it adds a little something to the earrings. I made the bracelet with some beads I had lying around and some memory wire! I think I'm becoming addicted. I can't wait to team up some of my pendants with my art work and some beads, going shopping tomorrow to spend some Christmas money and buy some supplies yippee!!!

Look what I got for Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you all had a lovely joyful Christmas!! I had a great day yesterday and the kids were so excited! Very cute indeed. I got a lovely present from my mum and Step-dad. I really want to add something extra to my glass pendants so want to incorporate some beading perhaps around the pendant. So hopefully these books will give me some great ideas. I can't wait to get to the shops to buy lots of wire and beads etc Yay!!!

Earrings!!

Today some new supplies arrived which I was quite surprised about as its so close to Christmas and I think we're having a postal strike over here so I was very happy to receive this package today. I got some really small square glass and bit and pieces to make up earrings with. So I tried out a few ideas with the Japanese handmade paper I have used before. I think these would look great with a matching pendant. I'm also thinking of trying out some jewellery making as I think they would look nice with some pretty dangly bits as well, (hard to put into words but I'll try and make some soon).

Merry Christmas to all my blog friends!!

Well I decided I wanted to paint something Christmassy. I couldn't bring myself to paint a snow filled picture when we've been sitting in 36c heat! I'll never quite get used to these hot Christmases even though I've been living here over half my life now. In Wales it was freezing at Christmas and every now and then we'd even be lucky enough to have a white Christmas. So I decided to think about what Christmas means to me and straight away knew that its about the kids. Having two little boys really does put the magic back into Christmas as you see it through their eyes. It reminds me how exciting and magical this time of year was when I was a child and I love it. Seeing their faces light up when we put up the tree and the lights. Taking them to
Christmas carols in the park the other night holding candles in the dark. I really enjoy this time of year. So this piece is inspired by all those things.

I'm not sure abou this canvas though. Do you ever have times when you're working on something and it doesn't feel quite right? I kept tweaking it here and there but in the end decided it was finished. It's weird as to me it doesn't look like I painted it but I thought I'd post it anyway as I think I like it, heheheh I'm my own worst critic.

Illustration Friday - Hatch

"Eight eggs hurriedly hatching....."

Well it's not often this happens but I actually have an image that I did earlier this year that I felt fit perfectly. It is a draft for an idea I was working on. But I've been side tracked and haven't worked on it for a while, perhaps after Christmas I'll get stuck back into this one, so many art ideas so little time.

New Pendants and Crazy Christmas lights!!

I bought some handmade Japanese paper the other day and have started making some pendants with it. I really love how they come up and it's nice to have a line of pendants with a different theme. I've ordered some really small glass and materials to make earrings with so when they arrive I shall try making some earrings out of the paper too. I'm thinking that a matching pendant and earring set will look really god!

Also this week my hubby got inspired by the fantastic street next to ours, they all go crazy with their Christmas lights almost every house in the street is lit up. The community spirit is lovely there and we often walk around with the kids so they can have a look. It seems like everyone is out the front of their house chatting away with passers by with a glass of wine in hand. It's become tradition for us now to take the dog for a walk at night and join in their fun. One night our eldest begged his dad for some lights outside our house and so the hubby kindly spent a whole day and quite a bit of money making the house look Christmassy. It's not quite as full on as the next street but it's a good start. I think we've started our own tradition now which is nice and we seem to sit outside at night now (it's summer here) and watch the world go by!!!

The photo doesn't do it justice as the lights twinkle and look much brighter but you get the picture :0)

Mermaid

This is a small canvas, I thought I'd have a go with an oval shape!!

Mixed Media Monday - On the wings of love.....

I'm a bit later than normal with my entry this week but I had so much fun painting it. I straight away thought of an angel when I saw this theme. Perhaps this angel has fallen in love? She doesn't seem to be your average angel so anything is possible.....

I painted this on an A4 size canvas and used acrylic paints, inktense pencils, texture paste on the wings and some japanese hand made paper has been glued on her dress. I've made some pendants out of that paper too which I shall put in my next post. Til then I'm off to see what everyone else came up with this week.......

Illustration Friday-Crunchy

Well yesterday morning while I was at swimming lessons with my 6 year old I was thinking to myself 'what shall i do for this weeks illustration Friday?'..... I had a few ideas running through my head but on our way back to the car Rhys was stomping his way through some gum trees and he turned to me and said with a big beaming smile 'Mummy, I LOVE the way this sounds when I stomp on it, it's a great crunchy sound'....well how could I not put that on paper?

There are loads of different types of gum trees but this particular lot that Rhys was stomping under, I think, are called 'stringy barks' they have long bits of bark that just fall off the tree leaving behind different coloured bark underneath. I've always really loved them as they leave such lovely patterns that remind me of jigsaw puzzles. So this was my attempt at bring that to life!!

My first lot of Christmas presents and a blog award!!!

This year I've been able to make some gifts for some of my family,and I've had soooo much fun doing it. It's been a wonderful exercise in practising methods of making my pendants and seeing what works and what doesn't. I've also designed my first attempt at a logo and I've packaged them up so they look more professional. I'm really happy with how they turned out and can't wait to give them to people. I think though that I might work on another design, perhaps with different media, I'm keen to try a dragonfly design too. I really like the banner, which was inspired by tattoo art (my hubby is an art collector of sorts and is working on his second sleeve at the moment). He's got all sorts of tattoos, a Welsh Dragon with the Southern Cross around it in honor of his Welsh Australian connection. (The Southern Cross is a group of stars). He's got traditional tattoos, tattoo's that represent his passions which are me heheh, the kids and motorbike riding. The current piece he is working on is a whole arm dedicated to Japanese tattoo art. I've gone a bit off track now but that's where I got my inspiration for my banner. I know that tattoos aren't everyone's cup of tea but I appreciate the skill that is needed to become a good tattoo artist. I like the banner I've included but I think I need to make it bigger so that you can read the writing easier when it's in the packet.

Also this week the lovely Julie from the wonderful blog The Art & Life of the Ruby Nest passed on this award to me. If you haven't been over to her blog before please check it out, she is an amazing artist who paints beautifully and also makes these gorgeous dolls: The Ruby Nest Dolls Personalized Keepsake Dolls. This is one talented lady!

So with this award I am to pass it on to 7 other artists so I thought I would mention some of my newer blog friends who I've come to love visiting every day! Your art and your words inspire me!!! :0)

1. Val of Val Zdero Art & Jewellery

2. Kristin of Twinkle, Twinkle

3. Julie-Ann Heavenleigh Art by Julie-Ann Bowden

4. Sophia Blue Chair Diary

5. Adrienne of Adrienne Trafford Art Blog

6. Pinkglitterfae Art

7. Hot Tamale Art Studio

I'm also supposed to mention 7 random things about me that you guys wouldn't know ..... so here goes....

1. I LOVE horror movies! Zombie comedies are the best and I love 'Shaun of the Dead'.

2. I have an addiction to dark chocolate, especially with nuts.

3. We have decorated our christmas tree, and put up outside lights for the first time this year!

4. I'm afraid of flying.

5. I hate slugs with a passion!!! Yes slugs!!!!

6. I'm late for something right now because I'm obsessed with my blog.

7. I went to art school for 1 year but dropped out because the passion wasn't there for me. (oh how I wish I could go back.)

That's it from me for now, I think this must be my longest post ever!!!

A Welsh Lady

This week I have been working on a painting of a lady in traditional Welsh costume. A few weeks ago the hubby and I finally booked a holiday with the boys back to the UK for next year! I've been wanting to take my boys to Wales and show them where I come from, where my roots are as my childhood was spent in Wales up until the age of 15. This year was my 16th year in Australia so now I've been in Oz longer than I lived in Wales. I feel mixed emotions about this as I think I struggle with my cultural identity a bit these days. At my core I feel Welsh and always will be but I'm also Australian now as this has been my home for so long and my children are Australian (well half Welsh too I suppose but they sound like Steve Irwin heheh). I think I will always feel this way as my heart will always be torn between Wales and Australia. The Welsh have such pride for their culture and their country. I've been wanting to paint a Welsh lady for a while now and even though I was going to do it in celebration of St Davids day (March 1st) I couldn't wait any longer so here she is.

I also received a blog award from a lovely blog friend recently so I will talk about that in my next post. I think I have a nappy waiting for me ( I'm so over toilet training)......

Illustration Friday - Entangled/Mixed Media Monday - Bedtime Stories

Princess Charming, loved a challenge! Even when she became entangled in the evil vines outside the tower she knew she would be fine, she always had another trick up her sleeve. Her Prince heaved a sigh of relief knowing he would be rescued very very soon! ;0)

'Letting Go'

I did this painting the other day, just chilling out listening to a bit of Norah Jones 'Come Away With Me', I used to listen to this album when I was pregnant with my first little man. The thought behind this painting is about letting go of the past and embracing the future. Not being scared of what's ahead and accepting that you deserve to be happy.

I painted this on MDF which I'm quite enjoying as a change to canvas. I used my texture paste and scraped some patterns into that using a tooth pic (as you can see in some close up shots). I used my inktense pencils and acrylic paints as well as my irridescant paints.

Just another experiment that I enjoyed doing, hopefully I can turn this into a nice pendant. I also got another delivery yesterday of more glass that's a bit bigger than usual I'm planning on using these for broaches. So watch this space.......:0)

Mixed Media Monday-Playing Cards

Well when I thought of this weeks theme the Queen of Hearts immediatly came to mind. So I decided to do an ATC which is the size of a playing card. I used my acrylic paints, inktense pencils, iridescant paints and some ink for this one. I found it a bit of a challenge to paint that small but I quite like the result it's something different from what I'm used to doing and I'd like to do more ATC's.

Illustration Friday - Music

Well this week I wanted to do something that wasn't a pretty young girl type picture, just for something different. So this little character came to mind. I don't know why he is so bottom heavy but I'm sure it doesn't put anyone off his conducting! :0)

New pendants just in time for Christmas

I've been very busy today making up some new designs and creating some new pendants. I seem to be getting into a more organised rhythm in making these and some of my newest designs I painted with pendants specifically in mind. I'm getting very addicted this!!!

I think I might try opening an etsy shop after Christmas when I have alot more stock, at the moment I'm just trying out some new ideas and glues etc....

Illustration Friday - 'Unbalanced'

This is a new design for my pendants. I used acrylic paint and irridescant paints as well as my watersoluble pencils. I felt like this composition is 'very unbalanced'. All the 'action' seems to be happening towards the bottom left corner. I shall post a picture of the pendants when they are finished.

Mixed Media Monday - I am Woman

Well I was really pleased when i saw the theme for this week as I have been working on a piece that I thought fit perfectly. I have had a request for a pendant with a Geisha girl so I came up with this idea. It is painted on packing wood which according to my husband is called MDF. He has a heap of these left over from when he was on an organised trail bike ride recently and they needed some signs. Apparently kitchens are packed in them and I guess they get left over. I found them a great surface to paint on as it was very smooth and flat which meant I could use a lot of different materials. I used my acrylic paints, water soluble ink pencils, texture paste on the the hair decorations as well as my iridescant paints on her kimono which I'm sure hasn't shown up so well in the photo but it really made the kimono look like it was made of silk material.

I had lots of fun with this one and look forward to making it into a pendant!

Some new pendants

Been having major issues uploading so I've been trying to do this since Thursday. Finally it worked!

These are the pendants I made for the lady who requested the portrait of her daughter. I gave them to her on Thursday she really liked them. I've been very busy making lots of pendants broaches hair clips and even a ring out of some of my work for Christmas presents so I shall post pics of those shortly.

Illustration Friday - Blur

Through the blur of her tears Clarey the fairy could see the others talking about her as if she weren't there. She didn't quite fit in and she wasn't your average fairy with her doc martens and tattoos, but she was a good fairy and one day would appreciate that, but today she hid in the corner and watched everyone else at the annual fairy ball.

I used my new pencils to do this one they are called 'Inktense' which are vibrant watersoluble ink pencils. I'm not sure if they are different to water colour pencils but I feel like they are a lot brighter than water colours pencils as ones that I have used in the past have been a bit wishy washy. I outlined it with a black pen. I bought these pencils with some of the money I made from my first commission, it was a very nice feeling! I also got another request from someone to paint their 3 children which is very exciting for me, it'll be a bigger task but since doing my first one, I feel alot more confident yay!!! Not sure when I'll start that one we're just in talks at the moment but I'll be eager to start once I get some photos!

Flowers

This is just an idea that I'm playing around with to perhaps make some pendants out of. I've got so many ideas buzzing around my head at the moment but my 3 year old has been very very sick this week so we're all functioning on hardly any sleep at the moment and when I try to draw it's really very bad, ah well he's hopefully on the mend now so I'll be able to jot all these designs down. I would like to experiment a bit more with drawing animals and work on some of my own ideas for a childrens book. So many ideas such little time in the day....... I guess it's better than having 'artists block' as I had that recently and it wasn't much fun. Sorry I'm rambling now....I think I need an early night ;0)

My very first commission!

This is the painting that I did for a lady that saw my work through my donation to my sons Twilight fair. She gave me a heap of photos of her daughter and I picked two out and did two sketches to see which one she would prefer. She ended up picking the one that I like best which was great. I just really liked the picture that she gave me as her little girl looked so whistful which is my favourite expression to paint. I don't normally do portraits but i had so much fun with this one I feel like it's still in my style. I also used some of that modelling paste on the trees and the petals which seemed to give them alot more oomf! I gave it to the lady today and she was thrilled, I was so nervous as I've never been asked to so something like this before or been paid. But I could tell she really liked it as she got goosebumps (you can't fake those can you? heheheh) and I was so relieved. I'm quite proud of this one and also offered to make a pendant for her out of the print and she said yes straight away!!! Hooray!!! Today I FEEL like a a real artist yee ha!

New canvas and Illustration Friday 'Skinny'

Well here is my Nicole Kidman inspired painting. I REALLY enjoyed doing this one. I used modelling paste on my background to give it some texture. I've never used that before and so really had fun with it. I had no idea how it would turn out but I'm really happy with the results and will definitely use it more often, I also used my iridescant paints on the peacock feather to give it some sparkle and some gold acrylic in the back ground.

I know it might be a stretch but I thought this would fit in with the Illustration Friday theme 'skinny'. Nicole may have been the inspiration behind the original sketch for this but I have drawn her as one of 'my ladies'. My lady definitely has curves where Nicole doesn't and this lady kind of reminds me of one of those that you might have seen back in the 1920's full of curves and not in the least bit skinny.

I've been so busy this week, I've actually finished my first commissioned painting. I really really hope they like it. I really enjoyed doing it and it's a bit different to my other work I've been doing lately. I shall post it on my blog after I've given it to the lady. So hopefully that will be Thursday.

In the meantime I've also been working on using some prints of my work for my new pendants. I had a delivery over the weekend of the new glass that I ordered as well as the bobby pins etc so I shall be working on those this week. These are the first few that I made yesterday from some previous paintings. I'm still working out the best way to make these so they are a bit of a work in progress. But I quite like these ones. I just find it really hard to take a decent photo of them I would like to try wooden pendants next as I'd imagine they'd be good to take photos of without the glass.

I'm also finishing up my painted version of my Nicole Kidman inspired painting. Hopefully have that done today. I think this one would make a nice pendant too!

New Canvas

This morning I sketched up an idea for a new canvas. I was inspired by a picture I saw of Nicole Kidman. I was watching some trashy tele the other day and they were talking about stars getting fashion wrong and used Nicole Kidman as one example. I had to disagree though as I thought she looked lovely in this dress. The dress I'm talking about is one that she wore to the oscars I think some years ago. It was a lovely greeny blue colour and she added a peacock feather. Anyway after seeing that picture the other day i couldn't get that image out of my head and thought that particular look she had would translate to one of my ladies perfectly. So stay tuned as I hope to start working on the canvas today. I also went into town and bought some texture paste which I'm going to try on this one, it's white and you can apparently mix it with acrylics to get some texture into your picture and you can paint over it etc. So I'm not sure where I'm going to put this but I'm going to experiment today. I also received my first commission yesterday. A lady from my sons school saw the canvas I donated and asked if I could do one for her but incorporate her daughter. So I'm going to use my light box so I can get a bit of a likeness but I'm going to do it in my style. This is very exciting for me and a cool project to work on as I'll be trying all sorts of new techniques. So I thought I would try out a few new things with this sketch in preparation.....hope that all makes sense

Marvelous Moustaches - Mixed Media Monday

Hi everyone the theme this week took me in a completely different direction. I thought I would try to include an animal in my work instead of a person this time and I quite like how it turned out. Owls have always looked very distinguished to me so it wouldn't shock me if I saw one with a nicely groomed moustache and an monical!!! Tee hee, yes I'm mad!!! ;0)

I used lots of different materials for this one, acrylic paint, iridescant paints, my new pastel pencils and my coloured pens. As well as a few little stars glued on!