Still plugging away.... WIP

Do you ever look at something when you're dead tired, half asleep, and then realize what you need to do to change a piece?  

That's what happened with this one.  I was stuck on the colors and posted about it here, so I posted about it in the Lifebook FB page, got some suggestions, and then let it sit for a couple days as I pondered the color scheme.  It's hard to tell in the pic, but the background is a bit more blue.

I'm still working on it and haven't finished her face or hair or dress, but I'm getting happier with how she's coming out.  At least the color scheme is better...

Hope you're all well!

Paint on Collage - WIP

I've been on the computer all day updating my blog, ways you can follow me in case Google Friend Connect really disappears, and transferring all my favorite blogs from my blog reader to my Bloglovin option.

Now.... It's time for Art! Here's a work in progress that I have been working on. It started off with acrylics on collage, but then my dark pan pastels arrived so I had fun giving her a new skin shade. :-)

Paint Over Collage is a method I learned via Tam@Willowing as well as within her Lifebook course, if you're interested.

Hope to have her finished soon!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

LifeBook Assignment #6 - Paint Over Collage

Click to view larger

I finally managed to complete another assignment for LifeBook 2012.

Kind of amazing how I'm able to find a little time here and there since working full time and caring for a 3 year old tends to suck up a lot of my week, but I'm done.

I finished her, yay!

I'm no stranger to this technique, I actually purchased Tam's Collage Paint & Soul lesson from her Willowing network a couple months back.  You can actually see some of the other ones I'd completed over here:

Paint Over Collage - My Art

I'm just glad I was able to finish another lesson.  I actually skipped a couple lessons, partly from lack of time and partly because I wanted to keep up with the class, but when I have a spare moment or two I do intend to head backwards and finish the ones I missed.

With this piece, I had to re-do her clothes 3 times.  I really wanted a green background, and her shirt was pink and her skirt was a purplish paper color.  Well the pink really clashed and I hated it, so I colored her shirt purple...and oh no.  Horrible.  So I decided on blue, which kinda blended with the purple a little bit.  The skirt I colored over with gray and then dragged some of the blue in to it.  Once it dried I used copic markers to do the dots and lines for her clothes until I got her semi-presentable.  Haha.  Guess you could say I do the same with my clothes every morning until I can figure out an outfit that works for me.  Alas, to be a girl!

Still working on perfecting realistic eyes and hair...but I'm slowly getting there.

Anyway....

Hope all is well in your art world!

xoxo

Leila

Never Look Back - Journal Page

This is the 1st page of my journal, a reminder to myself to quit looking in the past.  (The Woulda's, Coulda's, & Shoulda's)

Created for Art Geeks, I lost the email so I don't remember if it's for week 1 or 2, but it's for the prompt "tell a story."  I was already working on this page and had the layout down when I thought this fit the theme.

Not quite sure if I'm done with it.  I really like how it currently looks, but I may add some doodling...
Used acrylic paints, magazine cutouts, and collage sheets from Deviant Scrap & Etsy sellers: Nancy from Crowabout Studios, Tangie Baxter, and Marsha from Tumblefish Studios.

WIP & Another Feature...

I've been a busy little bee this weekend.

I've been whipping together some digital collage sheets to sell in my shop.  So far I have about 20 that have all the backgrounds in place and I'm working on cleaning up images of other items, people, etc to complete the sheets.  So watch for those if you work in digital!

The other thing I've been working on is a collage mixed media canvas.

Here's how far I am so far...

Click to view larger.  It's a bad picture, but you get the idea.  Lets hope I can finish it THIS MONTH.  I swear I start so many things and then never finish becuase I move on to whatever new thing caught my attention, lol.

Ah well....More about this piece and who inspired me when I'm done.  Hopefully soon!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

....and last, but not least...my art was featured in another Etsy treasury.  Yay!  Love getting features, see the beautiful treasury below, and as always, click on the images to be taken to that item.  :-)

'Quotes for life' by vororo

Quotes are the short explanation of life and for life. Some are bringing you inspiration, some are helping you to find a solution and some are just making you smile. This is a small collection of quotes for life, which hopefully will help you, too! Enjoy!

5 x 7 Print -Mind O... ArtsyCreations $12.00	Judy Garland QUOTE ... PaperCakeCreat... $15.00	Funny Mae West Quot... AnnaCreates $20.00	Great Enthusiasm - ... TheArtsyGirlSt... $16.00
I never wanted her ... jasonramsey $9.95	Perfectly Painted K... hazelandlauren $10.95	Typography Collage ... melizzzah $19.00	Marilyn Monroe Pop ... Artistico $28.00
4 x 4 motivational ... morningstardes... $4.00	Pink Girl Flower Ar... PaintedViolets $40.00	Hand painted sign- ... somanysigns $45.00	New 2011 Insprirati... Hudsonsholiday... $3.69
Be The Change Gandh... catalyst54 $39.95	Golden Autumn Path ... finchfieldart $15.00	8x10 print - Oscar ... SamFlorance $17.00	Woodburn quote sign begonia08 $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Kept myself busy...

I kept myself pretty busy this weekend making a variety of dainty necklaces....

I showed 4 new pendants the other day, but here's a better picture of all of them...I made around 20, I think, kinda lost count once I got into the groove of making them.  :-)

A nice variety of style and color that I'll be adding to my shop over this next week.

I also started another paint over collage.

This is how it started...I'm a little further along and hope to have it finished by the end of the week, and of course, I will upload a pic to share.  :-)

Hope you had a great weekend!

3 words to describe me...

Mother to Be

Remember those mixed media girls and backgrounds I was working on?

Well, I finally had time to finish one.  :-)

How do you like her?

She's me...when my hair goes crazy, haha.

I've had babies on the brain lately, especially each weekend as I wake up and realize Xavier is in my bed again (I cannot get this little boy to stay sleeping in his bed...but truthfully, I really don't mind cuddling up next to him).  Every chance I get I watch him sleep and realize he's growing up way too fast.  He'll be 3 in October!  Where has the time flown by....  So thoughts of another one have been creeping in to my head, not sure when the next one will happen, but for now I've created my memory of being pregnant with my little man.

Created using Tam's Paint over Collage method.  

This is an original 5x7 on canvas using acrylics, markers, paper, and stamps.

Wake Each Day w/a Smile on Your Face

Came across a new challenge site called Journal Journey's the other day.

Just like with all the other sites I participate in, this site provides a word prompt and you have a month to create something in your journal based on the selected topic.

This month the topic is

PINK & ORANGE.

 

So here is what I've created, hope you like it.  :-)

 

xoxo

Leila 

WIP - Collaged Mixed Media Girls

I've been a busy bee this weekend.  Worked on 6 backgrounds, 5 x 7 in size, flat canvas board.  Previously I was working on watercolor paper, but the warping bugs me, so I moved to canvas board to see how they'd turn out.

Same technique I've been learning on Tam's Collage, Paint, & Soul course over at her Willowing network.  I've been modifying how I work for what works for me, but I still use her basic concept to achieve the results I like.

I really love how the backgrounds turned out, you can't see the details, but I used crackle paint on all 6 in various corners.  Looks pretty cool in person.

The last image are the girls I'm working on....just wanted to share the in progress work I've been doing since I haven't posted in a little while.  I was wanting to get all 6 done, completed, and in my shop this weekend, but alas, it's been a crazy weekend with trying to potty train the little one, fit in errands, and battling holiday traffic.

On the plus side, hubby, little man, and I got to see a drive-in movie.  Never done that before, so that was a pretty cool experience - the only down side is the screen looked a tad blurry...that or my vision really sucks (which technically it does since I wear glasses to see distance, boo!).  X being 2 1/2 didn't really grasp the concept of sitting still and watching a movie (he usually tears up the house while we watch a show, his toys and books will be all over the room, but it seems to be his happy chaos...that he has to clean before bed, lol), but that's ok since it didn't start until 9:30p so 30 min into it he was knocked out.  He sure did love the popcorn tho!  haha!!

Anywho....a warm welcome to all the new followers and a big HOWDY to those already following.  I hope wherever you are you are managing to stay cool and enjoying the holiday!

xoxo

Hear Me Roar - Collage

(click to view larger)

Finally finished my second piece from the self study course offered by Tam on her Willowing Ning site.

Collage, Paint & Soul is the course and it's a paint over collage style that I am truly enjoying.  

I signed up for her Digital Dreams course as well, but now I'm torn between starting up a third collage or catching up in the newly started course. 

Haha...I will have to see if I can split my time...or clone myself.  ;-)

Paint Over Collage - New Art

Tam over at her Willowing Ning site offers several super awesome courses.

I knew she was offering her Paint over Collage technique called Collage, Paint & Soul at 21 Secrets, but I didn't want to pay for all those courses with the limited time I have, so when I noticed she's now offering it separately on her site, well I jumped all over that!

(psssst....it's only $15!!!)

It's a self study course, which is fine with me because I can work on it as I have my own time.  She offers 2 videos and I watched both of them immediately.  I can't believe how easy she makes it look!  ...and it really is super easy.  I started my collage yesterday and I finished it today.

I'm quite happy with the first one I've completed and am just itching to get started on a new one...but I'll have to wait a couple days since tomorrow (6/15) is my BIRTHDAY and I don't expect to have much free time.  ;-)

Well happy birthday to me...I bought myself a fun art course, {teehee!}

Dance Like No One is Watching - Flat Canvas Board

Continuing with the Silhouette series I started....

I actually really love love love how this one turned out.

Partly because I DO dance when no one is watching, hehe.

I look at this piece and I feel so free.  I hope I captured her movement, I really wanted her to look like she was dancing to her own tune, ya know?  That's how I strive to be, I'm me, no matter what anyone thinks of me, I just do me.

It's a mixed media piece where I used paper flowers, acrylic paint, ephemera pieces, and paper collage.

I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out and will be adding the original and a print version to my Artsy Creations shop in the coming weeks!

Check back soon!

* * * * *

Well I'm off for a few days.  I fly out tomorrow for my little brother's graduation.  He's finished graduate school at Yale and he will officially be a lawyer come Monday 5/23/11.  I am SO proud of him...and even more proud and excited for him that the day after his big day he flys down to L.A. to start his new job for a judge.

I can't wait to watch him blossom in his new career...and who knows, maybe one day he'll be the next president!  Seriously.  This young man is smart and talented....and shhhhh....he has the softest heart!

Congratulations Mikko!

Love always...

*~*~Super duper very proud and excited BIG Sis!! ~*~*

Loves Me, Loves Me Not - Flat Canvas Board

 

 Remember the journal pages I was practicing on?

Well I moved on to flat canvas board.

It's a mixed media piece where I used paper flowers, acrylic paint, ephemera pieces, vintage dictionary page, and paper collage.

I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out and will be adding the original and a print version to my Artsy Creations shop in the coming weeks!

Check back soon!

xoxo

Stop & Smell the Roses - Flat Canvas Board

Remember the journal pages I was practicing on?

Well I moved on to flat canvas board.

It's a mixed media piece where I used paper flowers, acrylic paint, ephemera pieces, and paper collage.

I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out and will be adding the original and a print version to my Artsy Creations shop in the coming weeks!

Check back soon!

xoxo

Loves Me, Loves Me Not - Journal Page

Another journal page I had in my mind.  I'm quite happy with the end result, altho I will have to go a little lighter on the ink used for the text.  Seems a little hard to read.  Ah well, that's what a journal is for right?  Practice, yup!

Ok....on to the next one!  :-)

Used watercolor paper, acrylics, paper collage, paper flowers, lace

Stop & Smell the Roses - Journal Page

Here's a journal page I just finished, it's part of a series I'm starting and I figured I'd work on it in my journal before moving it to canvas.

I really like how it turned out!  I will definitely continue working this series.

What do you think of it?  :-)

I used water color paper, acrylic inks, printout, stencils, paper flowers, & ephemera.


In other news, little man is growing up SO fast.  I blinked and he's now in (pre) pre-school, complete with "school" pictures.  Here's one of my favorite ones we just received.  My little cuddly teddy bear.

2.5 years old

Angel - Blissfull ATC Swap

This months theme at Blissfull ATC swap is "Angels."

Below is the beautiful original Anita over at ASE Keepin' Creative sent me.

She also sent me this beautiful Christmas card.  :-)

Here's the one I sent her...and I used a LOT of glitter...cus I like SPARKLES, yay!!

I also frayed and tinted the edges to make it look (hopefully) like an old scroll.

A new method for me and I liked the end result.  :-)

 

....and as you can see...it really sparkles in the light, lol.

I did go over it to try and seal it and keep loose sparkles to a minimum.

Thanks for looking, Merry Christmas!

Blissful ATC Swap Challenge - Leaves

My swap partner this month is Donna. She sent me a beautiful ATC for the Blissful ATC Swap challenge. She even wrapped my package in wrapping paper printed with leaves. How clever was that? HAHA

The leafy man is just so cute, I love the colors used (purple and green, my fav!), and the texture of the cloth used really creates the stunning piece.  Absolutely love it!

Along with the beautiful stitched ATC she sent along some fun little goodies. Mine pales in comparison, but I hope she likes!

Here's the one I sent her. :-)  Can't see it in the picture, but there's glitter on the side to add some sparkle.  Not sure what it is, but I really love glitter right now, lol.

Since she was out of town I decided to wait a couple days before posting mine.  Hopefully she's received it now, I didn't want to ruin the surprise by her seeing it online first.  ;-)

Thems the rules, hehe!

pssst....did you miss my giveaway post...?

Click here to check it out. Winners are chosen on 10/15/10.