Send in the Clowns . . .

Okay, so if you were paying real close attention, I told you that I'd share the rest of the journal I created while on vacation (the sneak peek is over here) in this post. But, um, I lied. Well, not really lied, but rather was derailed from finishing it because of this little one. The inspiration hit and I went with it, sooooo instead, here is my latest painting: "Send in the Clowns. . . ."

She was created on a piece of heavy watercolor paper (Arches) that had been previously painted and left in my stash. I started by ripping the paper in an organic shape and then roughly sketching the figure of a clown onto the surface. I then colored her in using a combination of acrylic paints, watercolor crayons (Caran d'ache Neocolor 11), wax crayons (my new obsession - Caran d'ache Neocolor 1), neon acrylic gouaches, glittered gel pens and charcoal.

A progression shot

The piece was then further enhanced with some faint pencil marks, molding paste mixed with iridescent Stickles glitter and white acrylic for the clown collar and Swarovski crystals to define the neckline:

Lastly, an actual piece of yellow balloon was adhered to the drawn balloon with matte gel medium:

And there you have it! My little Clown . . . .

Thanks for taking a peek here and at all of the other Party posts:

Until next time,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday: "I Am Made of Stars"

"I Am Made of Stars"

9 x 12; cold pressed watercolor paper

Happy PPF . . . .

I hope this finds you well! I've had a couple of busy, arty days and am filled with joy because of it. I just came off of a long stretch absent of creativity and missed it so much. It's crazy how much our moods can be lifted when we give time to ourselves, right?! 

Anyway, this week's painting was inspired by a book I was meant to read. I picked it up from one of my Mom's bookshelves a week ago, set it aside, and then (like a new word you've just learned and then keep hearing everywhere) for some reason people kept asking me if I'd read it. Seriously, like 3 people in a week - over a book from the 90's that I had never heard about until a few days ago! I took that as a major sign, and got to reading. Well, if you've ever experienced The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz), you'll understand why I read it in a matter of a few hours. It really is inspired.

And inspired I was then to create this - "I Am Made of Stars" - a 9 x 12 mixed media painting on watercolor:

Created on a gessoed surface with multiple layers of stamping and doodling

Sentiment written on neck with both matte and glitter pens

Also used: iridescent confetti stars and silver leaf

And here she is in her entirety:

Thank you for your time, thanks to Kristin & Eva for hosting PPF and have a happy, creative weekend. Perhaps with a trip to the bookstore thrown in for good luck. . . .

Kristin xo

PPF: "Just Be You"

"Just Be You"

16 x 20 Gallery wrapped canvas

Happy PPF! I had so much fun at last week's charity Auction and just read that our group donated more than $400 to help support the victims of Sandy Hook. Yay, us! Not only was I happy to contribute an item, but I was thrilled to have won one as well. Thanks again to Kristin & Eva for making it all possible.

This week I was able to finish off a large project that I had in the works, this 16 x 20 canvas with deep (1.5 inch) sides. She is entitled, "Just Be You" and has the words, "I Dare You" scribbled on the front. Here it is in it's entirety:

I Dare You

She was created on a heavily collaged background (using both vintage and new materials) and then drawn in with my non-dominant hand for the shape of the head, similar to some of the drawings I played with during 29 Faces. From there I quickly sketched in the features and then dry brushed several types of acrylics and acrylic Gouache to the surface for depth and detail. I'm still trying to be looser with my drawings for a "grungier" look and feel:

Cheek color applied with fingers. A single Swarovski Crystal earring on the left ear.

Final details include the use of color rich oil pastels, Stickles Glitter and iridescent stars on the surface.

Stickles Glitter applied to the hair

Here is a shot of the deep sides, which also serve to balance the bold magenta color on the surface:

Sides created with pigment rich oil pastels and varnish

Lastly, the words that issue a challenge:

I also wanted to share with you the gorgeous oil painting that I bid on for the Auction. It was created by the talented Gloria J. Zucaro and I am thrilled to have it. She even was kind enough to frame it for me:

Thank you Gloria, I love it! And thank you for stopping by today. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is up to this week . . . .

Kristin xo

Week One: Rainbow Sherbet!

"S"

8 x 8 Canvas Flag

It's Week One of The Summer of Color 2: Ice Cream Inspirations and our first prompt is to create something - anything really - using the colors found within Rainbow Sherbet . . . .

For my part, I've decided to paint a series of six canvas flags which will be bound together at the conclusion of the event to create a banner (or "bunting" which I recently learned from the lovely Missy K) suitable for hanging.

This little one was first sketched in pencil (on a gessoed piece of canvas fabric) before being enhanced with acrylics, Caran D'ache watercolor crayons and glittering (Sakura) gel pens. The white polka dots sparkle too, thanks to some iridescent Stickles glitter laid on top. A handmade fabric flower with a vintage button center and some white pom-pom trim complete the look.

Now on to Week Two and another delicious "flavor" to inspire us . . . .

Ice Cream Kisses,
Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday: Week 12

Happy PPF!

Can't wait to show you what I've been working on . . . .

Okay, so if you read this post about "A Boy & His Guitar," then you know I've been working on some annual Birthday Gifts that I give to my little friends Camden and Ashton, a brother and sister who were born on the same day exactly seven years apart.

Well, Ashton's is now complete, and this time around, I took step-by-step pictures of the gift - a 20 x 20 decorative canvas pillow - as it was being created. I've never painted a pillow before, but when I saw the canvas case online recently, I knew that I wanted to give it a try. Wanna see the process?  

Canvas case covered in Gesso and sketched in pencil

Adding color with Caran D'ache watercolor and acrylic paints

Finished with metallic and gel pens, additional pencil and polka dots

Oh! And a handmade fabric flower with a Swarovski crystal button for her hair

"Love Lives Here"

I know the colors will compliment her room (because I helped her Mom decorate it ;) and I hope that the (newly) 12-year-old will love it as much as I love her!

Thanks for your time and have fun at the Party . . . .

Kristin xo

A Boy & His Guitar!

"Cam's Guitar"

12 x 12 Gallery-wrapped Canvas

My little friend Camden turned 5 yesterday. He loves guitars (we may have a future Rock Star in our midst) so it was no surprise that his Birthday Party invitations featured them. Now, I have - for every year of his life - made a scrapbook for he and his sister, who were each born on the same day, seven years apart (I know, right) for their special presents. 

Remember this one?

From Camden's Birthday Book, 2010

But this year, I decided to go another route and create something for them both that spoke about them and their passions. I hope they're a hit . . . here's my attempt for Camden:

Drawn freehand from an image on his invitation,

using the colors of his room for inspiration

Acrylic, Caran D'ache watercolor, oil pastels and fine glitter

Gallery-wrapped sides covered in distressed wallet-sized photos

from last year's birthday party.

{Giving credit to the hubby for this idea}

A smudge of oil pastels completes the look

Whew! One down, one to go (er, complete) . . . finger's crossed, I'll have his sister's special gift to share with you for PPF . . . .

Until then,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday: Week 11

"PPF" 

First let me say how excited I am to have been selected as this week's Featured Artist for Paint Party Friday! I'm amazed and inspired week after week by all the talent showcased through PPF, and am honored to share a bit about my painting journey this time around. Thank you Kristin and Eva for your hard work, care and support of us all. Blog Land would not be the same without you!

For my submission, I wanted to create something that was colorful, quirky and representative of my most recent work. Since I've been doing a lot of long-necked ladies lately, I thought PPF might like to live there too and and since it's for a Paint Party, I decided to play with the idea of multi-colored strands of hair. The funky, glittery stars (which I seem to pop in everywhere these days) are a nod to my blog, Twinkle, Twinkle.

Wanna see more?! Well, okay then:

9 x 12 Acrylics on Watercolor

A mix of matte and iridescent acrylics, acrylic ink and fine glitter

The smudging of PPF was a last minute "accident." 

I liked the look so much, that I went back and "messed it up" even more

Thanks again to Kristin, Eva and You! I so appreciate your time and support.

Kristin xo

Looking for The Summer of Color? Read all about it here!

Mind. Body. Soul. (Art Journaling)

Okay, so I guess I lied. I thought I was onto the next word in the series of journal prompts from sweet Leslie's Mind. Body. Soul. e-course, but for some reason, it seems that Renew was not done with me. . . 

Here are two more pages in the almost-complete journal:

"Renew"

Scrapbook materials enhanced with glitter gel pen and ink

Martha Stewart Glue pen and glitter on neck and lips

"Gave 'em all away"

Background of decorative paper, stamps and acrylic

Collage using pieces of Kendra's baby clothes

Page tab created with a baby label and accessory

That's it! Now I'm off to create the final pages for Anxiously Engaged . . . whew . . .

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 7)

"I. Am. Yours."

9 x 12 Watercolor paper

It's PPF!

And I'm on a bit of a roll in that I actually completed the pieces I told myself I would two weeks in a row (she bows excitedly ;)  . . . Remember this one from last week?

"I. Am. Mommy"

(You can view the entire post here)

Well, the daughter version is now ready to be placed beside her. Here is the companion piece in it's entirety:

As you can see, I used the same colors in reverse and attempted to create a similar style and texture. I used a blue foil butterfly (cut in half) to mirror the bird above and created another house (this time only one, placed upside down) to tie the two together. 

Now here's the really interesting part: as most of you know, our daughter was adopted. As a result, most of my work focuses on the theme of adoption and mothering. Well, when I created the first page, I choose to include three houses on the bottom right corner. I do not know why I did that. I think it just felt "right," but at the time even I wondered what it meant, as we have only one daughter. It did not occur to me until I started photographing this second piece today that there was a reason why: we had three adoptions since Kendra was born six years ago that fell through. Each for a valid reason, each just not "meant to be," but each of which - understandably - left a little hole in my heart. However, as I see these two together - Mommy & Daughter - and read the title that I struggled to come up with (and wrote on her neck) it is very clear: 

"I. Am. Yours."

And look at that: it's "True Love!"

Thank you for your time! Check out all the art & inspiration at the party, I know I'll be there . . .

Kristin xo