A New Abstract / Mixed Media Painting!

I have been drawn more and more to abstract art this last year. I'm particularly enjoying combining the free-spirited shapes and colors with layered mixed media elements. This piece is a very intimate expression of my life poured out on the canvas. I really loved watching it evolve. I hope you like it too :)

"Life"

"From one generation to the next, the song of life is sung; a melody of love and laughter, faith and family, wishes and dreams... searching for a home to share the precious time we have together."

 

 

Available now in our Etsy Shop

 

New Painting and Family Fun!

Ahhhh.... Now that was what a weekend is supposed to feel like!
Ok, so "maybe" it would have felt a "little" better if the Patriots would have won ;) But it was still great. It was a rare weekend with no obligations. (Or at least none I remembered... LOL). We spent a lot of time just being together. The kids played games, watched movies, practiced their instruments, etc. I got some work accomplished. We all enjoyed going to church together. We had a blast watching the superbowl and munching on yummy snacks. And we did a lot of painting!

It was Jacob's first experience enjoying the exploration of "wet colors" and he sure loved it! One of his little abstracts will surely be framed and join the other kids' work on our wall. I was amazed at how controlled he was. I thought I'd have a huge mess on my hands, but he was actually quite serious about the work he was doing. Here's a shot of him concentrating:

Too cute, if I do say so myself ;)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I even managed to finish up a painting, and I just got it listed!

~LOVE~

"Love is not blind. It chooses to see with new eyes."

(click the photo for details!)

I haven't painted over fabric in long time. I really enjoyed it and love the textures it creates. Makes me want to get back to work on some dollie ideas that have been dancing around in my head.

Hopefully I'll have some more work finished up soon. I've got about 6 canvases prepped and started. But I've got about 6 people all pulling on my apron strings at the same time, so it's still slow going :)

"Love" and Peace to you all, my friends...

 

New Paintings and an "artsy doo"...

 

~3 New Paintings Listed Today~
Check them out in our Hallowed Hill Shop.

  Oh...And while I was busy photographing and listing
My girls were busy too...

giving the little one a new doo.
I've got my own "Whoo Girl" now!
:)

  

Shop Update!

I just added these 3 Clay House Pendants to our
Hallowed Hill Etsy Shop!
Just click on the photos to visit the shop...

All 3 pendants include the 18" black ribbon/cord with lobster clasps!

  

Isn't it funny?

I sold my favorite little "graphite girl" this week.
I'm very grateful.And as an artist, I love it when someone else is touched by my work.
But... 

Isn't it funny?
Our art comes from such a personal place inside of us.

It's hard to let go sometimes.
:)

 

"Unlocked"



Everyone's heart has secrets in need of unlocking,
dreams in need of setting free,
tears in need of flowing...

Available now in my Etsy Shop :)



My Gypsy Heart

When I was a little girl, if I, or my brothers, were being particularly naughty, my mother would say, "I'll sell you to the gypsies". Those words scared the be-doobies out of me, let me tell ya'. Now, my mom was a tremendously normal person, and a very devoted mother, so I took it for granted that this was just her catch phrase during those overwhelming parenting moments, and that she'd never actually part with any one of us... never mind "sell us to the gypsies".
*
But still... In those dark and quiet moments in my bed at night, I would lie still and the thoughts of a tattered wagon with mysterious travellers answering the call to remove naughty children from their homes... for a fee... would haunt my imagination. I vowed to never... EVER say those words to my own children. And thus far... 23 years and counting, I have fought all temptation to carry on that family tradition.

*

As I grew from a small child into a blossoming teen... gypsies followed. My mom... yes... mom again... was a very creative person. If she put her mind to something, a most spectacular outcome would delight us all. And when it came to costumes... Mom was the bomb! (of course, that expression didn't exist in 1975, but you get the idea). One particular Halloween, I decided I was too old for trick-or-treating. My family was attending a costume party, but I was too mature for such nonsense. But as the hours ticked by, I was enveloped in the excitement everyone else was enjoying as mom took old dresses from the closet, toilet paper, powder, lipstick, hairspray, and any old odds and ends to design the most elaborate and original costumes. At the last minute, I decided to join in the fun, but it was too late for a costume, right? Not with mom around! She dug a little deeper in that closet, and before you know it, I had the most amazing 'thrown together' costume with jewel toned garments, golden accessories, teased hair with streaming ribbons, and dangling earrings.... yes, a gypsy.

*

That costume would reinvent itself throughout the years, even well into my adulthood. And one year when I ran out of piecrust on the night we were attending a costume party, I threw together whatever I had to make a yummy apple-nutty-crumbly concoction. We named it "Gypsy/Autumn Pie" in honor of the gypsy costume I was wearing while I made it.
*
But it was more than just costumes... more then scary catch phrases uttered by a frustrated mom... I have discovered that there's a bit of gypsy spirit in my heart. I thought it was just me. But then I stumbled upon an entire artistic community that knows just what I'm talking about. I left home for the first time at 16. Then, at the age of 17, I travelled thousands of miles away to live on a tropical island with my love. We travelled to a far off land and lived among the local people. The only constants were our passion for each other and music. Everywhere we went, he would play his guitar, and I would write words... Each of our life experiences drove our songs into different directions and expressions. It all seems like a dream now, but there we were... on the go... with our love for each other, music, and the people we'd meet along the way.

*

We missed "home". So home we went. And I've turned into quite the "homebody" as I've settled down to raise my little ones. But there's still this side of me that wants to "go". Only where I want to go is more someplace inside of me then some other shore. There are people, places, and things that call to me to "become" something. And I enjoy finding them and expressing our minglings in fabric, paper, clay... or sometimes photos... or words. I dream of wagons dripping in lucious fabrics... layers and layers of colors and textures. I hear the music, and the laughter... smell the fires.... feel their glow. I can taste the wine... and his kisses. There are so many stories to listen to... and tell. My favorite place is still "home" after all these years. But my dreams take me to the most wonderous places. I am this truly traditional woman... who still has a "gypsy heart".

*

This painting does not capture "it", but when I sat down to paint a "cutesy/whimsical" girl, she decided to visit instead, and I knew it was my gypsy heart reminding me it was still there...
*

"My Gypsy Heart"

is available in my Etsy Shop now.

"Mermaid"

~Mermaid~

"Mermaid?", you ask.
"A mermaid", I say.
But what makes her a mermaid,
not a saint or a stray?
I haven't a clue. I see not a tail
Neither fins nor shells,
Nay a watery veil.
But somewhere within her
My little girls saw
... a mermaid.
And their mama said, "awww".

9x12 Mixed Media Painting

Etsy Update!

Seems like it's been forever,

but I'm happy to finally have some pieces in my Etsy Shop again!
Just click on the image if you'd like to visit.
I'll be uploading lots more photos in the weeks to come

including some mixed media paintings

more graphite illustrations

and HoPeFuLly... a few new dolls!

 

Work-A-Day Wednesday "Whimsical" Mixed Media



Some fun pieces I've been working on for a while.

Can't wait to get the real photos taken and welcome them to the Etsy Shop.

Have I mentioned how great it feels to be working again???

Work-A-Day Wednesday

It feels so good to have a work table full of projects again! The little ones are getting to the point where they amuse themselves for more than 30 seconds at a time. And Mike's been my "bouncer" keeping distractions away from my workroom during "working hours". It's so hard because they all love to "help" and be creative. But they are learning that there are times when they can help, and times when Mama just needs to focus on the work.

This week's work table has a folk art doll and a few paintings in progress. I'm trying to take a tip from an online friend and teacher, Mystele of Little Glimpses. She teaches a lot of classes on what she calls "gut art", and story telling through art. I'm trying to "listen" to the canvas, and let the inspiration come from within the layers, without any expectations of what the finished product "should" be. In some ways I'm loving it. But it's new for me. And the finished product of a girl I just worked on is not what I envisioned at all. I can see that this could be fun. I just have to let go of coming to the table with any visions... LOL. This way of painting allows me to use many more colors then I usually do, and I really love that. I don't worry about the "norms", and just have a blast with all the paints, pastes, brushes, and fingers :)

I still prefer working in graphite with a color wash, so I'm sure those will not disappear, but it's good to explore. My girls think this latest painting looks like a mermaid, so even though that was not my original intention, we may go with that... LOL!

  



Sneak Peek...

It's so wonderful to be working again. I've got a whole new line of dolls cut, sewn, stuffed, and having personalities added... LOL. Some are more Prim and some are more Whimsy, but I am in love with them all. My husband said the one pictured below reminds him of somebody he knows. I took that as a big compliment, because each doll is a piece of my heart and soul... I'm glad he sees it in her even if he doesn't realize it :)

As it is Sunday, I'm not working today. But the kids and I are doing some artsy fun stuff, and waiting for Daddy to come home. But for the first time in a long time, I am sooo looking forward to the work week ahead :)

 Blessings... Linda

Some Art and Giggles... JUST LOOK AT HIS LITTLE FACE!!! LOL...

I thought I'd share a few attempts at actually getting some work done during summer vacation with 3 kids who don't quite "get" mommy works from home, as well as caring for a 10 month old, and 8 month old, and having a house under massive re-order. (translation=6 people camping out in a living room awaiting bedroom reconstruction and decor). Hopefully it will be finished before Hannah leaves for college in 7 years. : P

I've been taking a wonderful mini course with Little Glimpses Studio, which has been a delightful experience. I love challenging myself to make art in ways that are not my usual style. Exploring different techniques, colors, and themes always gets those creative juices flowing!!! Below is my "Storytelling Painting" in which the subject is just "pulled" from the abstract layered background. The process was fun and enlightening. Mystele is a fantastic teacher and inspiration. I would recommend her videos and classes to anyone who loves art and/or wants to learn more as an artist.

"Enter The Journey"... (almost finished... LOL)

Below are some sketches I'm working on for my shops. I've never done so much detailed pencil sketching on canvas. There are things about it I love, and the jury's still out on some others. But I'm excited about the process and looking forward to working more on these later when the kiddos are settled in.

Lastly, I wanted to share my interim studio... AKA the kitchen table. As soon as we are re-established upstairs in our bedrooms, we will be reorganizing rooms downstairs. The family/play room will become my studio. I CANNOT WAIT!!! But until then, I work where I can... sometimes the sitting room (which will become the new living room). And when it's really hot... the kitchen (where the only air conditioner is).

You can see that no amount of special effects could make this any prettier... LOL! Yes... those are dishes in the sink, and on the counter. Yes, those are baby bottles drying on the rack behind Jake. Yes, that is peanut butter right beside my easel... yes, right near the portable cheerios that I keep digging into to appease Jake. And yes... that "IS" Jake looking at me like he has had ENOUGH of this!!! (I love that rascally boy).

Oh, just a sidenote... See those cupboards over Jake's shoulders? Ya. Those are the ONLY cupboards in our entire kitchen! Yep. True. And to boot.... the drawers below the counter are broken, and useless. (Gonna take a cue from Miss Mustard Seed). I figure if she can take useless drawers out of bureaus and create this lovely shelving unit, I can do something similar with these old cupboard drawers!

Not sure why I love this old house... but I do. And if I never win the lottery and buy that big ol' lake house... that's ok. As long as there's a little roof over us where we can paint, sew, sing, and play goofy games together, I'll be happy.

Of course... if you're reading this Mike... I'll be lots MORE happy when I've got my studio... ;)

Love you, Sweetie xoxo

a Panda in My Pocket

"a Panda in My Pocket" is my contribution to the Willowing and Friends June Art Challenge: "Girls and Bears". They're done in pencil and a color wash, one of my favorite medium combinations :)