Pine and Aspen Completed

"Pine and Aspen" is a 5x7" collage on canvas. I made just a few additions to this piece that, even though they may seem small were important to the composition and focal area. I added one aspen on the right and a pine, but worked to keep them in the background so as to bring more focus on the pine and aspen on the left. The strong horizontal with just a slight upturn were important to draw the eye to the right, and the very light suggestion of pine boughs on the right helped to unify the piece. This painting is available on my website.

I want to thank Autum Leaves for sending me several bird pics AND a link to others! Because she sent me pics and a link I am putting her name in the next give-away three times total. Any others who wish to send me pics I will add your name more than once into our next drawing.

In a post coming soon (as soon as my hubby gets them from the storage) I will be adding a few things to a give-away I will talk about soon that will come in December...right around the corner!!

Until then my blogger friends...HAPPY PAINTING and welcome to my newest followers!!

Trunks

I've loved trees and our mountains as long as I can remember. When I was old enough to go off on my own, I would tromp about these beautiful surroundings and would find aspen stands and just pause and feel the beauty go into me. The peaceful feelings and the inspiration came even before I began to paint what I was experiencing. I remember one particular time I went up and decided to camp right in the midst of them. I'm so glad I didn't know a bear or mountain lion could come along at any time and grab me up...since then, living in our house up in the trees I've had experiences with both!

"Trunks" is the latest in my ongoing series of aspen trees. It is the final version of the other in process pictures I've posted in recent days. This is a acrylic and collage using some handmade papers as well as a wonderful piece of paper I found that just screamed aspen leaves! I created this one on a 12x12" cradled panel that is 3/4" wide. I've stained the sides so it can be hung as is with a finished look or can also be framed. I love the versitility of the cradled pieces for this very reason.

This is similar to some others I've created as I feel there are so many different color combinations that exist I am on a quest to grab as many as I see at different times of the year. I try to vary the size and shape as I move through the seemingly endless color combinations, so there is variety as well as unity in the aspen series.

A lot of layers went into this piece. I layed in color with paint and then papers were added. I sanded some areas to give a weathered appearance in the background as well as a bit of depth with darker colors showing from underneath. I have to say these are a joy to create and I never know just what the end result will be! For purchase information please click to my WEBSITE.

I am so happy to say we are only one away from the goal of 50 followers! The very next person is going to receive a canvas business card holder just for getting us to that goal! This person will be able to choose from the card holders after my chosen follower chooses what they want from all the contest choices. As soon as we hit 50 I will contact the winner of the random drawing and they will choose and then I will happily contact #50 and let them choose which card holder they wish! I really enjoy saying thank you to my followers just for tuning in! Remember my sidebar location for the contest choices is a bit wonky so I posted everything in the June 9 post, so just scroll down and you can see them all!

Happy painting!

CONTEST CHOICES

"Foothill Meadow" Wax Collage

"Winter Aspen" Acrylic
"Sunlit" Acrylic
"Rocky Hill" Collage

"Daisy on Blue" Collage and Acrylic

"Two Bunnies" Collage

"Aspen 2" Collage

Tree business card holder

Art and Soul business card holder

Art and Passion business card holder

Brown and Black Art business card holder

Ok, I just checked the location where I keep my contest choices and it is wonky...some don't show up...there is just an X. I noticed if I click on the X the photo shows up, but in case it doesn't work for the winners of my give-away I decided to post all of them here...so, you have a book to read on my today posts! WHEW...sorry. Don't have time at this moment to problem solve the facebook issue and haven't figured out how to add a slideshow gadget (anyone who knows I'd LOVE it if you'd send me 3rd grader instructions on how)...so this is the next best way I can think of...CUZ WE ARE SOOO CLOSE...so, here they are! Remember the small paintings and collages are 4x4 on panel and the card holders hold the typical size of business cards. Sorry for the mess-up!

NOW, move on down to see the OTHER post for today...:)

My Baby Shoes

Last year or maybe the year before my mother gave me my first pair of baby shoes. They were moccasins. I am of Cherokee decent, so I guess that makes sense. As you know if you have followed me for very long my family ties mean everything to me; I got that from my mother. So I know what a sacrifice it was for her to give them to me. We are all SO sentimental! So, as a gift I painted them for her and gave the painting to her the next Christmas. While here at my parents house I ran across the painting (sitting on a shelf in my room with my sons first shoes in front of it) and decided to share this bit of mushy'ness with you. This was painted on a 6x6 wrapped canvas that I painted around. I've always wanted to do them again, and I had the idea while here to photograph my children's first baby shoes and do a series! Yes, I figured I'd let my mother have my children's first shoes since I had the children...Besides I knew they were in excellent hands and if I ever needed them back I could have them.

The photo I wanted to share with you all for a bit of inspiration is a simple one of aspen leaves. I think it would work well in just about any media. It seems like a puzzle to me. So, as with the others you are welcome to take it and do with it what you wish.

A hearty welcome to my newest follower! We are so close to our next

give-away(s)! Yippee!

Enjoy your Saturday!

CARD HOLDERS

So, even though I wasn't posting for a couple days over the weekend I WAS working. I created a couple of new card holders to throw in the pot for our contest. Last I looked we are only a few followers away from the goal of 50. So, ART brown and black stripe is #3 and Trees is #4. I think it is funny that even though I am POSITIVE that I take the picture of these straight on they look a little not square...I promise they aren't like that in real life...Guess I don't know all I should about photography!

I've also created a new mold for my paper casts...this one is a small aspen leaf. I found these adorable little frames that they will look so CUTE in...Those coming very soon...Right now they are drying from their coats of gesso...

Stay tuned for another wax collage or two...they are in process.

Summer Stand

"Summer Stand" is a 6"x12"x3/4" cradled acrylic collage using my handmade papers. To stand amongst the trees with them so thick all around is one of the most peaceful things I can imagine! The colors seem so much illuminated! This is my lighter, brighter version of "Aspen in Blue and Green" done a bit before...It is so much fun to play around with atmosphere!

Welcome to follower #40! This means we are only 10 away from our next give-away!

You can find purchase information on "Summer Stand" on my WEBSITE.

Aspen 2

"Aspen 2" is another choice for the painting/collage give-away! It is a 4x4" fiberboard gesso panel with dovetail slots on the back so you can either hang it or sit it on an easel. It is 1/2" wide so it will also easily sit on it's own. Who ever may choose this one can decide how they want to display it and choose the easel to go along if desired. This little gem is similar to the Aspen 4x4 that Michelle Burnette chose for her give-away gift, but has blue and green as the background. This is another collagepainted with acrylics with handmade papers added.

I would like to welcome our 39th follower; Sheila E. who is a budding watercolor artist. This means we are only 11 followers away from our next give-away. YEA! Remember the addition of the business card holders as part of the gifts that are available!

Now, back to my studio to finish a 6"x12" cradled piece similar to today's offering! Happy Painting to you all!

Card Holders Added to Give-Away

For those of you who have been reading the last few posts you know that we are in our second contest. When we reach 50 followers there will be another drawing for 4x4 painting/collages, and today added to the mix are business card holders. These are made from canvas that has been painted, and various things added. The dimensions of these holders are apx 3 7/8" x 2 3/4". Several cards can tuck safely and easily within the borders of the stitiching. The backs are also painted canvas. I will be adding to these from time to time, so be watching. As mentioned earlier I will be giving one of these holders to our follower #50 as a thank you for topping us off to our goal! The follower randomly chosen will be able to choose from either a 4x4 painting/collage or a card holder. The first person to choose will have preference. More on the details of this later!

The first two choices are shown above. I will number these so you will have an easy reference.

Welcome to my newest followers. I DO so appreciate you stopping by from time to time. Your comments are always welcome!