Paint Party Friday (Week 46)

"Just do You"

8 x 10 Altered FedEx folder

I was rummaging through my box of unfinished projects (yes, a whole box. Please tell me I'm not alone in this ;) this morning when I came across a colorful background I began nearly two years ago in a class with Traci Bautista. It was created on the back of a FedEx folder using several handmade papers that we cut and collaged to the front. I love the way she suggests and works with recycled materials as a substrate and I had so much fun playing with her tools and mark-making materials to create the handmade papers you see here. Having said that, I put it in "The Box" as soon as I got home and haven't thought about it since. . . .

Until now. When all of the sudden I saw it again and realized that it could be a perfect base for the "funky" face I've been wanting to paint for a while now. I scanned it so that you could view it in it's original form and went to work. Wanna see what I came up with?

Original background created in Traci's class

Varied eyes and one earring (pierced through the folder) that reads, "Wise"

Stars cut from handmade paper (from my stash) and outlined with crayons

Finished with decorative trim on the bottom and (pink!) wire for hanging

Isn't she quirky? Thank you for the base Traci - and for the colorful lesson - you are such an inspiration!

And thank you to Eva & Kristin for hosting such a great Paint Party.

See you there,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 45)

"you. are. beauty."

8 x 8 chunky canvas

Happy PPF!

I'm on my way out of town for a little weekend with family and friends, but I wanted to share this 8 x 8 gallery-wrapped canvas with you before I scoot out . . . .

As you can see, I'm on a Life Book kick and wanted to try my luck at a brunette version of this journal page that I recently completed on the course. I put her on a chunky canvas (which, btw, is ever-so tricky compared to the watercolor paper ;) and painted the words, "you. are. beauty." to the right. 

This is a gift for my girlfriend who really is stunning, both inside and out. She has an impressive career - globe trotting around the world in the beauty industry - which is how we met over 15 years ago. She's behind the scenes doing makeup for runway shows and at high-end events and weddings rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. And once in a while, she takes me (a former makeup artist myself) along for the ride. This is dedicated to her, my purty, purty friend and host for the evening.

Flocked paper crown

Chunky sides

Stickles glitter & Swarovski crystals give her movement

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment! To see more painterly pieces, you're welcome to check out the Party for yourself . . ..

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 44)

"Girls Are Like Apples"

 8 x 12 Moleskine journal

Today I thought I'd bring my latest Moleskine page to the Party . . .

Like most of us, I have a collection of special quotes and sayings that I've stashed away or saved for that "perfect" project. I've been saving this anonymous quote for years, waiting for that something special. It finally made it's way into this journal page, but I do think that it's meant for more.  . . . perhaps a canvas version of the same . . . . I dunno.

But I do know that I love the quote and am grateful to have it written down somewhere. It's a message that I think is vitally important to share with my little girl:

"Girls are like apples. The best ones are at the top of the trees. The boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid and don't want to get hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples that are on the ground that are easy, but not as good. So the apples at the top think that there is something wrong with them, when in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree."
- Anon

Mushroom college elements from Lisa's Altered Art

All writing done in pencil

Thanks for looking! I hope you have a great time at the party. . . .

Kristin xo

Life Book (1)

"My Super Powers"

9 x 12 Watercolor page (with extension)

I (finally) had the opportunity to finish my first lesson with Life Book! I'm thrilled to be a part of the year-long class and so look forward to the education, insights and camaraderie there.  

Our first lesson focused on creating a journal page that will eventually be bound in a book at the end of the year. We were asked to list what we believe are our "Super Powers," or the qualities that make us unique and which bring joy to ourselves and others. 

I really enjoyed making this page and learning how to create a more realistic, 3/4 portrait. It's the first that I've done like it, and I want to thank our teach Tam for sharing her beautiful talents with us.

Here's what I came up with:

Front flap, closed

Vintage text reads, "My Heart"

Full spread

Swarovski crystals on crown & Stickles glitter on lettering

Eeeee . . . . SO looking forward to more . . . .

Thank you for visiting,

Kristin xo

A Colorful 2012!

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color."

- Hans Hofmann

I. Am. So. Looking forward to what this year has to offer. There's a sweet feeling in the air, a crisp determination, a warm fuzzy that you get in the pit of your stomach when you know something good is coming  . . . I don't know how to explain it better than that, but I'm grateful to start this new year full of promise, possibilities . . . and color . . . .

Wanna know what I'm doing?

I'm starting the year on a beautiful note with Life Book. The community and camaraderie over there is amazing and I'm eager to begin the year's worth of insights and education by Tam and 15 other guest artists. I'll be there all year, and will be sharing most of what I do there with you here as well.

I'm looking forward to this year's new Our World Our Art, the next installment of the former One World One Heart focusing on art and artists. It's gonna be a great party, which usually begins in January . . . .

I'll be participating in Paint Party Friday and Sunday Postcard Art as often as possible. The weekly check-in's and communication with other artists are incredibly inspiring and so much fun. 

Speaking of color, I am thrilled to be hosting another installment of The Summer of Color! This year's theme, Ice Cream Inspirations should prove to be cool and colorful . . . .

Of course, there may be other possibilities to play that I don't yet know of. I promise to take every opportunity that brings me closer to another goal of mine this year: To make something of my art. Professionally. There, I said it (gulp). . . .

And on a personal note, I am optimistic that this will be the year of babies. I want one. Still. And I'm eager to see if 2012 brings the baby that we so desperately want here in our home.

Having said that, I'd like to share with you a recent (gorgeous, sweet and loving) addition that makes "baby" on the forefront of my mind right now: Kendra's new puppy! 

Brand new baby girl!

How sweet is she? We lost our family dog last year and this little one is just what we needed to bring a little light and energy back into our home. She's the first puppy Kendra and I have ever had, and I have to say, we're already in love!

So here's to new babies, new art, new adventures and a whole lot of color. I look forward to sharing it with you all . . . .

Kristin xo

Happy New Year!

"Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years, you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment."

- Sydney Smith

Here's to a deliriously happy & exceedingly colorful 2012 . . .

Kristin xo