Little Pieces of Art by Brandie Butcher- Isley

2007-01-29T15:59:00.000-05:00

Time for a change...

I am moving! Ineeded a provider that gave me a little more freedom to make a site that really looks great and showcases my art a little better. I have a long way to go before getting everything moved from this blog to my new blog, but as of today I will not be posting new art here you will need to go to..

www.littlepiecesofart.typepad.com

(I hope you like it, I do. I am very excited.) I will provide a link on the new site that will direct you to all of my prior art posted on this blog... it just may take awhile. PLEASE provide suggestions, opinions and whatever feedback you are possessed to leave... I continue to learn more and more everyday from this growing blog community I have discovered... so please follow me to my new home!

enjoy!!!

Remember...
www.littlepiecesofart.typepad.com

Brandie

2007-01-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

My art has been featured on ZNE's homepage!

Smitten was chosen to be a feature piece on the homepage of Variazione (ZNE). It will remain on the page for a whole month! This is such an honor for me... I am pretty much speechless.
I am a proud member of ZNE, and I have been since January 2006. I joined Variazione (Italian for variation) when I first began selling my art on Ebay. We are a community of mixed media artists that support each other. Please check it out! www.zneart.com

Yeah! I feel like celebrating!

Thanks for looking!

Brandie

2007-01-22T19:25:00.000-05:00

Now for Sale on Ebay!

These two pieces are now listed on Ebay... both are perfect for Valentines Day!!!

Take a look to bid, or watch them just to see how they are doing!

Thanks everyone!

Brandie

2007-01-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

"Come Celebrate"

This is a piece I created specifically to be printed as invitations for a birthday party. My very best friend's daughter's 12th birthday party (bash!). She is very special to myself and my girls, so the original collage will be her birthday present. The collage will be printed on the front of the card and all the party info on the inside of the card. I chose this particular photo from my collection because these girls looked to have the most prescious friendship, so much is shared between them. I feel that birthday parties are all about friendship and sharing and celebrating with all of your friends!

I plan on signing and dating each card under the printed image... Can you think of a better keepsake?

This collage was created on a piece of 4.25 x 5.5 Arches 140lb cold pressed watercolor paper. I used a copy of an image of two girls, vintage sheet music, text from a vintage sheet music book, Golden fluid acrylic paint, and walnut ink.

Thanks for looking everyone,

Brandie

2007-01-20T20:21:00.000-05:00

"Babyluv"

Ahhhhh Babyluv... I actually came accross the word in a Stephen King novel I am reading right now. Yeah... it has nothing to do with the story... I just really liked the way it rolled off my tongue, and I had this LOVELY photo of this baby... so sweet... Don't you love this piece? I do. I love the simplicity of it and the colors turned out great too...

hmm... maybe I'll do one in pink too!

I will be using this photo and a few of my other pieces to make some note cards. FUN! I can't wait!

This piece was created on 4 x 4 inch clayboard. I used a copy of a vintage photo, vintage sheet music, graphite and acrylic paint.

Thanks for looking!

Brandie

2007-01-20T17:06:00.000-05:00

"Perfect Together"

With Valentines approaching I can't help but get a little sentimental. This piece is about the people who are still in your life after many many years. If you are around my age you might start to look at this a little more... Who are the people who have had so many open doors presented by you that would have placed them on a different path, yet they are still by your side... This piece is centered around our homes and our hearts... who do you have in your heart after all these years... hmn... we must be "Perfect Together".

I created this piece on 5 x 7 inch 300 lb watercolor paper. I used copied images, acrylic paint, walnut ink, graphite and vintage papers including pink construction paper dated 1931....

Thank you for looking!
Brandie

2007-01-19T17:29:00.000-05:00

My etsy store was featured on this artists' blog... check it out. I'm on her Jan 15 entry...
I'm very flattered, she is an awesome jewelry designer!

Her blog (where I am mentioned) so cool...
http://www.thejadedog.blogspot.com/

Darcy's Etsy Store:

The Jade Dog by Darcy Horn

I have so many ideas in my head... I wish to work very hard this weekend... I have a lot to do though...
I have to get moving on all those new years resolutions...

My Resolutions...

A household financial plan for 2007... ugh
Pay more attention to my husband... that could be fun...
A five year plan regarding my art...
To be better at keeping in touch with friends and family
to be healthier
to be happier... this one should come while working on all of the above...

Thanks everyone for visiting...

see you soon, Brandie

2007-01-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

"I'm Taking Care of Me"

She looks to me as if she is done, absolutely finished...

This piece was created on 5 x 5 inch clayboard. I used Golden fluid acrylic paint, vintage photos, a vintage letter, and a paper from a vintage poster, and... a vintage newspaper... Lots of old old paper in this one... It breathes rich history...

Thanks for looking... Brandie

2007-01-07T11:38:00.000-05:00

SCORE!!!

I haven't been to an estate sale in over 6 months... I've been so broke, and I have an existing fairly large supply of photo's and ephemera, so I have forgone going... I've forgotten what treasures are out there!
I'm not sure what posessed me to go this morning... but I saw it in the paper, and suddenly the girls and I were in the car heading accross town... (barely even dressed or brushed...)
Anyway... we totally scored. Tasha found this scrapbook put together in the early 1900's... It had pictures glued in it as well as snapshots just crammed inside. Over 250 snapshots! Not to mention newspaper clippings, letters, notes... All for $15.00! SCORE! I really needed some fresh faces, yeah for me!
Oh, and I thought I would include the kitties in the photo... exhausted from exploring the funky smells that came with the purchase!

Be looking for some new work posted shortly,

Thanks for visiting,

Brandie

2006-12-31T12:27:00.000-05:00

"We Have Started Over"
My entry to Artwords this week. Theme "Begin"

Hi everyone.

I hope your New Year's Eve is progressing safely...

I learned recently that my Great Great Grandmother was a single mother. Of course this collage is a direct attack aimed towards my great grandfathers father, whoever he may be. She never married, and she gave her child, my great grandfather James Butcher her maiden name. At first I was... contemplating the fact that one little twist of fate could have given me a different last name! That may have saved me from a few nicknames I would have gladly done without... There are definitely worse names out there in that respect though.

I do know that this man was a deserter... he didn't die, that would be the one viable excuse... he left her. I don't know much more if anything else about him.

And when I think deeper, I think of what it must have been like for her. How did she support herself and her baby. James Butcher was deaf, when did she discover this? How hard it must have been. Hopefully she was surrounded by friends and family.

I do know that I have heard, brave, loving things about James Butcher. I know he sacrificed his health for his family. I know that my grandfather Parker was posibly the greatest person who ever lived (okay, I'm a little bias). I believe that who you are is greatly influenced by your parents, and of course family and friends in general (sometimes it does really take a village to raise a child) That having been said, I am sure James was a good man.

I don't have any pictures of my great great grandmother. I have never seen one. The photo used for this collage made me think of her. I created it on 300lb Arches cold pressed watercolor paper (awesome). I used copies of many images, Golden fluid acrylic paint, walnut ink, graphite pencil and vintage paper.

Thanks for visiting.
be safe,

Brandie

2006-12-29T20:23:00.000-05:00

"I feel I've Lost My Way"

Hi everyone...

Was Santa good to everyone? He was to me... I got TONS of art supplies! Yeah!
Art supplies from my Secret Santa from work, Art Supplies from friends, Art Supplies from family.... All Good Good Good...

Hopefully this piece is the beginning of my return to my Blog...
Yes it's time to breath and get back to reality. It's a true tragedy when I don't have time to work on these little pieces of art... I truly can become very "clinical" when I lapse too long for whatever reason. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

The little girl in this picture is part of a family snapshot...
I actually have several photos of this very girl and she is generally happy... but in this one, she just seems lost, with her family but not... She has somehow lost her way.
I think she would rather be climbing trees and fences, but her mother insists she put her hair up and wear a dress...

And again I have to wonder, how do people part with family photos. I just don't get it. Maybe if they are of people you don't know, like bystanders that make it in front of your camera. Or people that enter your life so briefly that you have no memory of them. Or even bad pictures, oh yes there are plenty of those that will probably mysteriously disapear one day, we all have those... But, this little girl is part of an entire family. I have like six pictures of her with her mom, dad and brother, and a few that were taken of just her... Hmm... Very Very Sad.

This piece was created on 5 x 5 inch clayboard. I used a copy of a photo of a little girl, and an image of a house. I used vintage book pages, Golden brand fluid acrylic paints and walnut ink.

Thank you for visiting. I hope to have more done by the end of the 3 day weekend.

Be safe this holiday weekend,

Brandie

2006-12-21T21:34:00.000-05:00

This weeks Illustration Friday's entry for "Help"
(hopefully not too late to be seen...)

I was listening to Blue October... The song HRSA to be specific, when this photo popped in my head. I can't explain it. I don't think the song even resembles this collage... I have this collection of old photo's. I have gone through them so many times I can't even begin to count how often. So I think that many of them are imprinted in my head. I hear the line... "I won't cry over anything, I won't cry over anything... anything at all. " and boom... she is in my head. What really sucked was that I have been so incredibly busy (tis the season) that she has had to remain in my head for nearly a week! I lost sleep over it... honestly!

She is so hauntingly sober. Something tragic has happenned to her. I think she has lost someone close to her, and she is too young to understand how to deal... She needs help...

I created this piece on 6 x 6 inch clayboard. I used a copy of a photo of a young girl, and additional images. I used acrylic paint, walnut ink, clayboard inks, and vintage sheet music.

Yes, the red is really this vibrant on the actual collage...

Thank you for visiting... sorry I've been missing for awhile.

Everyone please have a safe and happy holiday!

Brandie

2006-12-10T15:37:00.000-05:00

Little Christmas mini collage gift tags signed by the artist!

There will be many more... these are created on 140 lb watercolor paper. I used any number of these supplies to create the tags: vintage miniature sheet music, acrylic paint, a white or red chinese crayon marker, graphite pencils, and a gold gel pen. I secured a metal eyelet in the corner for the string. This will protect the collage for tearing at the corner. Each one is unique and signed by the artist (that's me) ho ho ho

Anyone interested in these let me know. I would sell them for about a buck each. A bunch of them in the same package would mail 1st class for about 63¢. I would need your order by like Friday 12/15, to ensure they would arrive on your doorstep by Christmas... Unless of course you are close (like in town)... then they could be hand delivered :).
Just e-mail me with your request. There's a direct link to my e-mail located just below my profile pic and words... I would be happy to create a bunch for your holiday gifts!

Thanks everyone... I hope you are all shopping safely...

2006-12-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

Have you missed me this week? I've been very busy...

Commission Work:

"To Have and to Hold"

One, Two, Three...

This is the beautiful thing about this blog. My work gets seen and it touches people. Cheryl saw my work and commissioned me to do two pieces. One of her parents on their wedding day, and one of her and her siblings in childhood and as adults. Each will be given to her parents as Christmas gifts.

The photo of Cheryl's parents gives me hope. They are so in love and have managed to make it last 37 years! For someone who has just passed her 19th wedding anniversary, I have a very clear understanding of how difficult that can be.

I love the photo of the kids when they are little, so happy and they obviously have fun together, as the photo taken much later tells us as well.

I enjoyed creating these so much!

These were created on 5 x 5 and 6 x 6 clayboard. For "To Have and to Hold" I used a vintage sheet music book, the flowers were taken from the hair of a beautiful woman on the cover. The words that frame Cheryl's parents are cut from an article about an opera singer and her romantic lyrics and melody... For "One, Two, Three..." I used a vintage childrens book of sheet music. The flowers are from a vintage postcard.

Cheryl had told me in one of her e-mails that she liked the color and layout in my piece titled Broken Hearts in the Wind so I used the blue in both pieces. I also carried the rings into both pieces. I like how the blue inside some of the circles is brighter.

The actual art is a little softer than the scanned images appear. In addition to copies of the photos Cheryl provided and supplies mentioned above, I used acrylic paint and walnut ink.

I incorporate circles into my work often, I love the symbolism of the Circle:

The circle is perhaps the purest, most profound and the most common symbol in existence.
A circle, having no beginning or end, represents infinity, eternity, wholeness and femininity. Other meaningfully significant symbols or objects are circular: Stonehenge, Ouroboros, the Wedding Ring, a Halo around the head of an Angel, so much more... everywhere you look...

Thanks for looking!
See you soon,

Brandie

2006-12-01T16:50:00.000-05:00

"We Will Need Each Other"

I saw this picture and smiled. My guess is they were in a little trouble the two of them. They are most likely sisters, and they were most likely fighting and have been placed in time out for a little while. I just want to talk to them. Yes, I would be the girl standing in front of them right now telling them, you know one day you guys are really going to need each other... so you better start being nice to each other! (I'm such a Mom).

This piece was created on 6 x 8 inch canvas board. I used a copied vintage photo. Acrylic paint and walnut ink, vintage scrapbook pages, vintage sewing thread, and vintage sheet music.

Diane, owner of my favorite antique store gave me about 4 or 5 blank pages from an antique scrapbook she had... this paper is awesome.. it's thick, but very brittle, great to work with. This is what the words are written on and the stars are made from, I added vintage sheet music to the top of the stars and painted them purple. The stars are "hanging" with vintage sewing thread.

I have some custom pieces to work on, so I may not have new work posted until they are completed. If more than a week passes, I'll be sure to drop a line or two on here...

Thanks to everyone who loves my work enough to visit... really, thank you.

Brandie

2006-11-25T16:25:00.000-05:00

Run Away....
this weeks entry to Artwords this weeks theme: Window

She looks like she's looking at me saying: "One false move and I'm gone." I think she's lonely, like there are no other kids around... forced to entertain herself day in and day out... and she dreams of running away. She'll run to a place not so desolate, someplace populated where she can make some friends, and not be alone anymore.

I hope she finds her place.

This piece was created on 4 x 4 clayboard. I had this piece of clayboard sitting on my work table for a long time. Whenever I use walnut ink there is always some left over, so rather than just letting it dry out, I brushed it on this little piece of clayboard... This became the background for this piece, layers and layers of walnut ink... It is a deep brown color. I will with different consistencies of walnut ink... sometimes very thin sometimes very pasty... so many layers of different textures were applied to this piece. Well you know I used walnut ink on this one, I also used acrylic paint, copies of vintage photos and vintage book pages.

If you are visiting this post via Artwords , please visit my main blog page Little Pieces of Art to see more work!

Thanks for looking...

Brandie

2006-11-23T16:46:00.000-05:00

"I will break your heart"

Just look at me... I am smart, I am pretty, I am very charming.
I know my way around you... you will be wrapped around my finger in no time...
and I will break your heart one day.

I created this piece on a vintage report card from the early 1900's, it measures 4.5 x 7 inches. I used copied photos, vintage sheet music, vintage scrapbook paper, acrylic paint and walnut ink.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanks for looking.

Brandie

2006-11-22T19:38:00.000-05:00

Paper Landscapes...
my entry to Illustration Friday theme: Thanksgiving

I have decided to include this on Artwords , (if they will allow me a second entry). The theme this week is window... and this piece is definitely a window into my grandfathers past...

This is a little piece of what might have been in my grandfathers thoughts, if someone were looking in. I used bits and pieces of stories I have heard throughout my past. Some came from him, and some came from other family members... I know I never tire of hearing these stories...
I have strung along some words that are supposed to be portrayed as a random series of thoughts and memories that may have been in his head as he sat with his paper and chalk... with a little bit of fiction thrown in, only because I like to dream myself...
I think about him a lot this time of year... Thanksgiving was always a BIG deal... Everyone would be at my grandparents house... We even had relatives all the way from California some years. All the great aunts, great uncles, aunts, uncles, cousins... EVERYONE... ooh... I can smell it, and see it and feel it just as if it were yesterday...
He would always sit at the head of the table (the captains chair...) and of course I would be sitting next to him. Oh... I could go on... but I would cry... and I don't really want to do that tonight...

Following are the words written into this piece:

...One day he will quit school to go to work to help feed his family. His parents are deaf and can not find work. He works 14 + hours a day for very little pay. He has little time to do anything but sleep and work. He has 2 sisters and 2 brothers, they have beans with every meal. He watches as his father waits until everyone else has eaten. Sometimes his father doesn't get to eat. His mother taught him to talk with his hands. She would spell secrets into his cupped hands, a game that only they shared. He wishes she could hear his voice just once. He spends the early morning hours before work and before the noise of his siblings, with his paper and black chalk. He draws paper landscapes and dreams. One day he will have a beautiful wife and have children of his own, and they will have children too. He will not have to work so hard, and he will teach his granddaughter to speak and tell secrets with her hands, and he will teach her to draw paper landscapes with black chalk...

I created this piece on a vintage rail road time card. I used 2 photos of my grandfather, and a railroad landscape, acrylic paint, graphite pencil, and an archival black ink pen. I used gel medium and an image transfer technique for the 2 larger images. I hope this piece touches you as much as it does me.

If you came to this post via Artwords , please visit my main page for more artwork!
Little Pieces of Art

Thanks for looking

Brandie

2006-11-19T18:27:00.000-05:00

My heart belongs to you...

Hello,

These were commissioned from a friend of mine. She asked for a series of three. She wanted one done of each of her daughters then one of the two of them together.
I hope my work conveyed how much these little girls adore each other, because they truly do!

I created these pieces on 140 lb. professional grade cold pressed watercolor paper. I chose photo's from dozens that Denise shared with me. I used butterfly images for their wings.
The hearts are made with red paper and purple acrylic paint. I hand painted the background with acrylics and added vintage sheet music as well as a copies of the girls original artwork.

Thank you for looking! (remember you can click on the image to see a larger view!)

Be visiting frequently... I plan on doing alot of work this week!

Brandie

2006-11-12T17:34:00.000-05:00

"Life for Rent"
my submission to Illustration Friday, this weeks theme: "Clearly"

Clearly, she doesn't realize yet, her life is really not her own.

I can be quite cynical when it comes to love, not the first time I've expressed that very thing on this site. I just feel that we as women need to retain our sense of self. There may not be anything more important. Yes, of course, that doesn't mean that your life is all about you, if your like me, it probably hasn't been for a long time. Yes, we have responsibilities in our children and our relationships... but... We need to remain individuals with power and personality. What better message can we send our daughters and sons...

I created this piece on 5x5 inch clayboard. I used copies of vintage photos, a gel medium transfer technique, vintage book pages, and acrylic paint. I scratched out the brick and them painted each one individually, I think they turned out well.

Thanks for looking

Brandie

2006-11-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

"Stories to Tell"
I have submitted this one to Art Words, this weeks theme: "Story"

I love the way this man looks so clean cut, neat and orderly, a very tidy person, and yet everything around him is such a mess. He has some definite skeletons lurking in the shadows... or at least I hope so...

I didn't realize until it was ready for the collage, but a piece of a dictionary used says.. Parker Bu.......
This is a remnant of a dictionary that belonged to my grandfather, Parker Butcher. I almost didn't use it. I was very close to choosing a piece to replace it. My heart broke as I held it inches from the glued surface that would be it's permanent home. It was pulled out of the depth of vintage ephemera in my collection seemingly at random, but maybe he handed it to me for use in this fabulous piece. hmm lovely thought, a warm lovely thought, gotta love those.

I created this piece on 5 x 5 inch clayboard. I used copies of vintage photographs, pieces of a vintage cigar ad, a vintage dictionary, acrylic paint, matte medium, and walnut ink. Oh... and tiny pieces of archival scotch tape. (how clever).

I hope you enjoy this one... I feel a series coming on... I like creating these rooms.. Being inside someone's house is somehow so intimate.

Thanks for looking,

Brandie

2006-11-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

"Don't Try to Understand Me"

Hi everyone!

You know, I don't even know for sure where this idea came from. I know he was just sitting there in this picture in my collection. He was telling me, or someone else, what it's all about, and that was all there was to it.
Some people we will never understand. They can't tell us what they are thinking when they do the things they do. You can only hope that they will find their way someday... without hurting themselves or someone else...

I created this piece on 5 x5 clayboard. I used copies of vintage snapshots and vintage sheet music. I wrote on a piece of vintage notebook paper "Don't Try to Understand Me" and then reduced it for the collage. I applied graphite circles with an antique compass I picked up at an auction last summer. I love Clayboard! I was able to scratch parallel lines to create the hardwood floor, and it allowed me to chip away at the wall behind the boy to give the look of distressed cracked plaster...

I hope you like this piece, I know I do.

Thanks for looking,
Brandie

a note... I don't know why the fonts are all screwed up in some prior posts. When I try to edit them back to this size it doesn't work... if it bugs you be patient... I'll get it worked out.

2006-11-01T19:03:00.000-05:00

"Broken Hearts in the Wind"

Hello everyone!

This is my submission to IF the theme this week is "wind".

Do you ever look at a little child and your heart just breaks. Well that's what happenned to me when I looked at this picture of these darling little girls standing in the wind. I think it's all about that sweet naive innocence that is eventually grown out of that breaks our hearts. It's just so damn temporary. Like leaves blowing in the wind. They grow and change as fast as the seasons, as every year passes by... sigh.

I couldn't get the colors to scan well on this one. You are missing out on some blue-green and light pink. The blue on the original is actually almost as bright as the image you are looking at.

I created this piece on 4 x 6 inch 140 lb professional grade cold pressed watercolor paper. I used a copied photo of little girls and one of winter trees, vintage book pages, vintage sheet music, and acrylic paint.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you like what you see.

Brandie

2006-10-29T09:32:00.000-05:00

"Flawless"

Doesn't every girl aspire to be perfect, flawless in every way? Many of our girls today don't see the beauty when they look in their mirrors everyday. They see all those minor imperfections blown all out of proportion. They seem to have the need to surround themselves with "Perfect". Perfect clothes, perfect room, perfect grades, perfect friends... Flawless lives.

We can only hope that "Our Girls" have a better understanding of what is perfect, or flawless. We hope for perfect values, a perfect and flawless outlook on their futures. A grasp on the reality that what seems so devastatingly important now will be forgotten 10 years from now...

This piece is 5.5 x 6 inches and was created on professional grade cold press 140 lb. Watercolor paper (new to me). I took a photograph one of my two favorite models, and then altered it in my Corel graphics program, painting her black and white while leaving the reflection in the mirror in color (all new to me). I also used an image of a butterfly, vintage sheet music, and words torn from a vintage early reader, acrylic paint, matte medium, a white china marker pencil and a white gel pen.

This piece was meant for Artwords, but I was unable to complete it in time. The original will be for sale on eBay, on Etsy I've yet to decide which. I will submit the image to Prints of Darkness upon acceptance; quality prints will be available for purchase!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but please don't be discouraged. I must devote time to marketing my work and finding new sources of exposure. I seem to be falling into a routine of roughly 4, 5 or 6 days a month... usually in the same week. Drop me a line if you miss me! email , if you do, maybe I'll post something just because you care!!!

You can now purchase an 8x9 print of this piece!:

2006-10-22T19:25:00.000-04:00

"Beloved"

This weeks entry for Illustration Friday the theme is: "Ghost". I will be entering this piece into the Black and Orange contest as well.

I've had this picture of this glowing ghost like image of a girl in my collection for awhile now, waiting for her place... I bought it from a little antique store near my house. I will have to e-mail Diane, the owner of this little shop, she likes to see pieces I create with photos and ephemera purchased from her store.

I created this piece on 4 x 4 inch clayboard. I love the texture created with the handmade paper and layers of paint that became the ground she stands on (or hovers over). I used an image of a girl 2 crows and a moon. I handpainted the tombstone and a mansion in the background.

Thanks for looking

Brandie

2006-10-21T12:28:00.000-04:00

Pictures

We went to a local park last weekend. A friend of mine from work took photos of My Grandma, Myself, Ali, Tasha, and my Niece Cristyle.
It was a beautiful day. 60 degrees. A light breeze. Sun Shining. Very lovely. My grandmother was in very good form that day, very spunky. She will be 87 on October 31st... WOW. She has lived through soooo.. much in her life, literally history walking and talking. She is my favorite person. I love her. I am thankful we had the opportunity to do this...

To see more of this lovely day... visit Our Family Photo Album .

Thanks for visiting!

Brandie

2006-10-18T22:37:00.000-04:00

Smitten

This is my entry to this weeks Illustration Friday theme: Smitten.
Okay, to me "smitten" means that you are looking at that someone, and you are thinking "Wow, this is what it is all about." Yes I do believe that true love, head over heals love, la la la love is one great big fairytale. And... that what life with your partner really is, is one big power struggle after another that neither one of you will ever win, you will only compromise, and someday you just get too damn tired to struggle anymore, and either you will separate or you will just relax and look at each other and you will think "Wow, this is what it is all about..."

Hmmm... Who knows, I guess time will tell...

As always...thanks for looking at my art...

Brandie

This piece was created on 4 x4 inch clayboard, 1/8" thick. I chose a photo of a couple with a vintage look. I used acrylic paint, quality decorative paper, some vintage paper, and an image of the moon.

2006-10-17T16:13:00.000-04:00

Business Card/ Magnet Design

OMG, this is like one of the hardest things for me to do. If I could afford to pay someone I would, but I can't. So, I am forced to go on my own. I like the idea of having the art consume most of the business card. Hopefully, a nice little print will inspire someone to visit the links neatly printed under the artwork... let us hope. I think the works chosen are good representation of what I do.

My little to do list...

An entry for the Robot Laundry halloween contest.
This weeks IF theme "Smitten".
seperate Gallery blog.

Thanks for having a look...

Look for more to be posted tonight!

Brandie

2006-10-16T15:20:00.000-04:00

Faust: "Prince of the Neighborhood"

This is a piece in progress I have been working on for a friend who recently lost her beloved companion, Faust.

She sent me many photos to choose from. I then asked her to write about Faust and e-mail me her notes. I asked her to write about what she loved about him, and to tell me what he was like, since I didn't have the opportunity to know him. Knowing myself, I knew that her writings would inspire me. She sent me an e-mail full of her thoughts and Faustisms, many of which I've included in the collage. What stood out for me was that the other doggy parents in the neighborhood called Faust "Prince of the Neighborhood". What immediately bloomed in my mind was that we needed to crown Faust. He needs to be officially crowned "Prince of the Neighborhood".

So I took that idea and ran with it... I had the background painted and textured, I had the 3 background pictures printed. Then I hit a creative block with this piece... I couldn't move forward, something was missing. This lasted for too many weeks... I could play around with the background... maybe add some words here and there but that was it.

Then Lisa sent me more photos. Immediately I had it. I had the perfect crowning picture. And... at the same time a photo from my library came to mind, a picture of an angelic little girl, of all things she was reaching down touching a dog! She would be the one to crown Faust!

I hope you enjoy this piece. I hope it draws feelings of a lost pet of your own. I know most of us have experienced it... it's a horrible thing, just an awful experience.

Merriam- Webster's definition of "Faust"
:a magician of German legend who enters into a compact with the devil

Cool.

I'm not quite finished with this piece... still needs some finishing touches. Also, I must add that I cannot scan the whole thing... it's too big for my scanner so you are seeing a cropped version.
I created "Prince of the Neighborhood" on 10 x 10 inch Gallary wrapped canvas. I used photo's of Faust and a photo of a little girl. I created texture using plaster, acrylic paint, vintage paper and printed words then I distressed it with sandpaper and an exacto knife.
The photos of faust that I used in the background kind-of disappeared when additional texture was added, so I hand painted them back in.

I would like to give credit to a friend of mine who gave me the photo of the little girl... She knows my work and contributed to my photo library as a wonderful gift! Thank you Joan!

Thanks for taking a look everyone!

I plan to list a couple pieces on eBay and I'll put some new items on Etsy by the end of the night tonight.

Thanks again for visiting,

Brandie

2006-10-14T22:04:00.000-04:00

Artwords Entry "Brown"
titled "Dirt"

Okay... so what is browner than dirt? Good old broken earth. And what's better for a little boy than getting deep down and dirty!

I have girls myself... and they had no problem with rolling in the dirt. They would hit the tub at the end of some days, brown dirt in their hair and absoulutely from head to toe. They are teenagers now, I miss those days.

The photo in this came from a very good friend of mine, and I thank her for it. It so.. brings a smile bigger than you can imagine. He just looks like he's going to dig his way right to China. I wonder where he is today? How woule you like to bet he is working with his hands somewhere!

This piece was created on 4 x 4 inch claybord using a photo of a little explorer, vintage papers, walnut ink, and acrylic paint.

I wonder if there is anything more curious and lovely than a kid being a kid... even if it does leave dirt under the fingernails!

Thank you for visiting,
There is more to come,

Brandie

2006-10-11T13:22:00.000-04:00

Damn Day Job...

Hey everyone...
I just wanted to post an explanation of my not posting as much art lately. I am putting in alot of overtime, making my days pretty long. I am a little tired and brain fried by the end of the day. I always have good intentions all day long... but they are not panning out, I seem to be just too tired to sit at the collage table. I am planning on going through all my photo's for inspiration tonight after work. Maybe that'll do it. We'll see. If not, I just might have to be a weekend warrier til' things slow down at work...
It's still not to late for Illustration Friday's topic this week... "trouble" I bet there's some trouble brewing in my photo collection... cross your fingers!

Thanks for stopping by,
Brandie

2006-10-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

Canvas Sale!

Hi All!. I am having a HUGE sale on my My Etsy Store. I am showing my appreciation for discovering this wonderful venue for my art! ( and... I would also like to score some serious art supply money... he he). I am offering 40% off and free shipping on all My CANVAS pieces now through Midnight Sunday October 15th. I currently have 8 canvas pieces listed on Etsy, but here are a few of my favorites up for sale!

Thanks for visiting, and at least wander off to my Etsy store and have a peek!

Brandie

2006-10-07T19:46:00.000-04:00

Just Breathe

This started with thoughts of what it is like to be overwhelmed, so overwhelmed that you might experience anxiety or difficulty breathing...

Anxiety is something that happens to me personally, often enough that I have had to develop a recovery method to carry me through it... I just close my eyes and count to ten... taking deep breaths, and attempt to clear my head and slowing my heart...

Anyway... that was the concept leading into this collage. Although I think it looks like she is closing her eyes and imagining flight... Maybe this is her way of overcoming the days when life is just too overwhelming...?

This piece was created on Clayboard using digital images, acrylic paint, and vintage Mead notebook paper, which I dyed many different colors.

I currently have a couple of my altered post cards listed on eBay... have a look... you can click on the banner with the eBay logo located on my sidebar.

Thanks for looking!

Brandie

2006-10-01T19:43:00.000-04:00

The photo I used for this one is a little girl in a clearing in a wooded area. She has kittens at her feet and she appears to be feeding them. She probably has many strays she is providing for...

This is an altered vintage post card. In addition to the photo I used acrylic paint, plaster, inks, and vintage book pages.

We have had a good weekend I think. Ali and I watched "The Green Mile" for about the hundreth time... what a great movie. We decided she and I would read the book together. I don't know if any of you have read it. Or if you have, did you read it when it was first published? My husband and I did. It was a serial book. It was released monthly in 6 mini books. I remember reading each book in about three days and then We were forced to wait until the next one came out... pure torture... So Ali will read one, then I will reread it... on through all six, It'll be good.

Thanks again for stopping,
look for the work above and one or two more, to be listed on eBay this week!

Brandie

2006-10-01T14:57:00.000-04:00

Fun Drawing Games

Hi All...

Just wanted you to know I added some fun doodling games to the sidebar! Just in case you have exta time on your hands... (yeah right!). I'll add more as I find them...

Thanks for stopping!

Brandie

2006-09-30T19:54:00.000-04:00

Give Me a Quiet Room ...

This is my submission Illustration Friday this week. The the theme is "Quiet".

I had my daughter Tasha pose for this... She is a good actress/model. It's not the first time she's been the subject of my work. She does a good job.

For me quiet is not usually a good thing. It's what I need when I have a migraine, when I'm working on something that makes my brain hurt, or when I am what I call "clinical" and for some reason my head is all crazy... And...

Quiet to me is probably more the definition of silence... nothing but the noise in your head. Which can be a scary thing...

This piece was created on 5 x 7 inch textured clay board. I used a photo of my daughter, acrylic paint, molding paste, and vintage sheet music.

Thanks for looking...

Brandie

2006-09-29T21:04:00.000-04:00

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I have mastered the task of transforming the boring header this template comes with to an image of my own creation!!! This makes me happy(big big smile on my face!). I just threw this one together on Corel tonight... it works for now. I will work on some other ideas. Check out this Tutorial.

I hope to have a productive weekend. I have so many ideas waiting to be translated to my little pieces of art... Look for them to be posted!

Grandma is coming October 13. I want to have pictures taken of all of us girls that weekend... lovely fall weather, perfect!

2006-09-28T19:01:00.000-04:00

"Anchor" My entry for Artwords theme: Miniature

This is my very first week participating in Artwords . I create small pieces of art, it's kind-of my thing. I wanted to choose a piece of mine that to me looked like a miniature painting rather than art created on a small surface. "Anchor" was created on a 4x4 inch piece of matte board and canvas. I used acrylic paint, copies of vintage photos, molding paste, decorative paper and vintage sewing threads.

For those of you who frequent my blog often, I hope you enjoy seeing this piece again... For those of you new to me, please return. It's all about the art, oh and of cource occasionally about the artist, her family and her friends... Please check out my Blog!

Thanks,
Brandie

2006-09-27T22:09:00.000-04:00

If I were a cat... I would wish to be Mesha...

Hello...

I was looking at my cat lying on the chair next to me, and I thought...

The simple life of a cat. If I believed in reincarnation... I would wish to be a cat. I would have to be a spoiled cat. A loved cat... no not a stray cat, left to fend for herself cat... I would want to be my cat Mesha..

More Art soon... I promise...I already have pictures chosen.

I'm planning on having pictures of my Grandma, Myself, and the girls soon... Look forward to those...

For those of you demanding art...

Here is a piece I did for my grandmother. I used a photo of me when I was tiny that Grandma and Grandpa took me to have taken professionally... I think we all have favorite photo's from our childhood... This one is mine. You will also see another favorite of mine... Me on my bike... guess where? Yes... my grandparents house... LOVE unconditional...

That's all for tonight... off to watch the last half of project runway with my Tasha... (It's her weekly obsession!)

Goodnight,

Brandie

2006-09-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

Conquer Your Fears

Here is the final crop of this collage created for Illustration Friday
I love this. The original idea was to be Acrophobia or the fear of heights. I reconsidered this, I wanted to choose a phobia a little less common... Of cource, I already had the wall up on the building.

I chose Ornithophobia Fear of Birds.

The whole Phobia concept to me represented fear and getting over your fears... "Conquering" them. Hence the title.

This piece was created on clayboard, with a photo taken of my daughter, watercolor paint, paper and various images and additional photographs.

Thanks for looking!

Brandie

2006-09-26T10:28:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,

Following is what will be my Illustration Friday entry. The theme is "phobia".
I uploaded the image onto photo bucket before rushing out the door this morning, so that I could get it posted while on break at work (The glue was still drying last night when I finished it). Well, I didn't do a good job cropping the image. I will post it here for you to see, but let me fix it before submitting it to IF.

Maybe I'll go home for lunch and do it, if not, after Volleyball tonight...

I have been feeling a little down since the little car accident on 9/14/06. After some contemplation, thinking inward a little, and even some journaling I realized it is coming from the difficulty I'm having w/ my art. Yes, we don't realize how much we use our recessive hands. The process is just so slowed down. I came to the conclusion that I just need to get over myself. I will do as much as I can, and with me "as much as I can" is an honest statement, especially when it's something I am passionate about.

Oh, and I apologize for the decline in my cutting skills... lol.

Suburban Head in the Clouds

2006-09-23T18:04:00.000-04:00

Feeling a little down the past couple of days, maybe even a little clinical, this is what fell out of my head last night.

Some of the mom’s in this lovely suburb I live in seem so totally superficial and clueless. What are they defined by? Is it their cars? Is it their houses? Is it their husband’s paychecks?

They don’t even really acknowledge my presence. Sometimes maybe a fake smile when they accidentally make eye contact or a forced mini conversation when I pick my daughter up from a slumber party. This is what this collage is about. I wonder what these women are hiding behind the plastic faces and white picket fences… I wonder.

At least I have my talent and my values to define me. And when I’m feeling bad about my life, I can sit here and ruminate, or I can create something beautiful that carries all those thoughts right out of me… and into something concrete, something substantial.

I am very fortunate.

This piece was created on a 4 x 4 inch piece of black linen matte board. I used a photo of a woman, acrylic paint, decorative paper, vintage sewing threads and book pages

Thanks for looking,
Brandie

Lips Like Sugar

2006-09-22T22:16:00.000-04:00

Yes that's what I said.. Lips Like Sugar. I guess I just got the impression that this photo was a little suggestive...

I used a photo of twin girls, plaster and acrylic paint. This piece was created on 4 x4 inch black linen matte board.

What to look forward to this weekend...

I will be submitting a piece for this week's Illustration Friday theme "Phobia" I am very excited about that! What a great theme!
Working on making some blog friends and adding their blog links to my site and in turn hopefully they will add mine to theirs...
Hitting a few antique stores for some needed photos
I really want to figure out how to replace my header on this site with a graphic banner.
Revamp this blog a little bit... :)
And finally a new Etsy listing, as well as a few items for eBay.

Looks like an ambitious weekend, lots of family stuff going on too...

Thanks for visiting

Brandie

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

2006-09-19T21:40:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'm a little tired tonight... can't wait to turn in.. not sure what to write about, so I've decided to make a list of my favorite things and see how long it is. I would like this to be like journaling and have it just pour out not altering the thoughts... lets see how it goes...

the smell of wet acrylic paint
glue
paper
smiles
the laughter of my children
success
selling my art
finishing a piece
knowing that the people I care about are proud of who I have become
art that inspires me
good advice
praise
winning a cd cover art contest (yeah)
autumn
sandals
slippers
flannel pj's
a really good book
lyrical music that makes me think and inspires my art
old photographs
history
my beautiful Grandmother
my dearly missed Grandfather
independence
a movie that makes me cry
warm blankets
the color grey
I love who my daughters are
The fact that my mother has the courage to change jobs just because where she is is not where she needs to be! I love her.
Art that is whimsical and has hearts and crowns in it
I love to read comments about my art and learn that it speaks to people
pedicures
snuggling in front of a movie
hardwood floors
kind neighbors
laughing children
fresh baked brownies
cheesecake
wine
wine and live music
The Art Store
shopping for art supplies
shopping for art supplies with money earned selling my art!
My Mother and Father in Law's beautiful gardens and trees
Christmas time
especially stocking stuffers...
my best friend

To be continued...

Thanks for being here... especially the constant readers... you know who you are...

Brandie

Life Changes

2006-09-17T19:40:00.000-04:00

Hello,
On this piece I used a photo of 3 girls holding diplomas. This might very well be the biggest life change so far in their young lives...
You can't see them very well but the dark green paper has chinese letters printed on it... they read "change".
This is my submission to Illustration Friday this weeks theme is "Change".
I would write more but I'm afraid I am slightly typing impaired, if you are up to speed on my recent entries you know why... and I have yet to get some art listed on eBay, ugh...

Talk to you soon,
Brandie

OH yes it's me...

2006-09-16T22:05:00.000-04:00

Sorry I can't post the art yet... But here is the official announcement!
*****Gimmick*****

Anchor

2006-09-16T19:20:00.000-04:00

I created this one some time ago, but for some reason my scanner was picking up a dark shadow across her face. I couldn't get a good enough image to post or list it. Thanks to a friend taking the time to help me by photographing my art, we have a good image.

I love the woman in this collage... she looks so smart and strongwilled. You're not going to get anything past this one. yet she, at the same time, is the one you can bring anything home to. The one that keeps you grounded! The little girl will learn this in time...

I created this piece on Matte Board and canvas paper. I used two vintage photos and lots of acrylic paint, molding paste, vintage sewing thread, vintage papers and window screen mesh.

Thank you for looking...

Brandie

Moving on...

2006-09-16T08:47:00.000-04:00

Well, we went to the clinic yesterday to have them look at my hand that I smashed up wrecking my car Thursday morning. I have a broken ring finger and lots of bruising. My whole left arm and shoulder are sore. The finger has to remain in a splint for 3 weeks... then they will x-ray again and if all is well they will wrap it for another 3 weeks... It was my left hand.. which is better than my right but I do use both hands when I collage though, so we'll see what happens. I had the doc look at Ali too... she was having a lot of muscle pain in her neck and shoulders. She is fine, just needs rest. She will most likely still make the homecoming dance tonight...

Movin' on ...

A friend from work has a really nice digital camera. She photographed some of my art for me last Wednesday night. So I will be getting images ready for art fairs and exhibitions.
OH! I will be going to our local little 1 day art market on Sunday. I would like to do some research into the booth set up, marketing, prices and such. I'll post a little something about it after going.

I will be submitting an Illustration Friday piece... It will be the test to the effects of the broken finger... The theme is "Change".

After I grab some coffee and rest my hand... I'll post a new piece you haven't seen yet.

Thanks for being here..

Brandie

CD Cover Art

2006-09-15T13:05:00.000-04:00

Remember that CD cover art I was talking about a few posts ago... I WON! Can you believe it! Yes!
I will be speaking with one of the band members soon to ask what I can and cannot publish on my blog, and my Robot Laundry site. I know the $500.00 prize money bought them all rights to my art. But all I'm asking for are some bragging rights... I also know that they do not want the art published til the release of the CD in January 2007. But I will ask if I can publish portions of the art which do not contain band specifics. I hope so. Worst case scenario is that you will not see the art til the release of the CD in January.. We'll see.

Congratulate me!
This will look so damn good on my portfolio...

Thanks for reading! New art soon to be posted! TGIF!!

Naughty...

2006-09-15T12:53:00.000-04:00

3 days without a post.. that 's just naughty..
I do have and excuse for yesterday. I was in a damn little accident yesterday morning... while taking my daughter to school. I was heading east on a side street and encountered sun glare... bad glare. I had just slowed down a little then spoke to my daughter, "I can't see a thing" then SMACK into a parked car! I think I have a severely jambed finger or maybe broken and a sprained wrist.. I am SO sore, my range of motion in my neck is not so good. Ali has a sore neck. Good thing seatbelts have always religiously used, no excuses... Since it's obvious my finger and wrist are not getting better and the neck pain is so bad we will be going to the clinic after work.. ugh..
Anyway... back to the art..
I do have some new pieces I have not listed yet. I will post them tonight, given I am not all hopped up on pain killers...

Thanks for visiting..

Brandie

A short little bit about Cafe Press Ideas

2006-09-11T21:59:00.000-04:00

A little word about www.cafepress.com...
My mother inspired me this past weekend. She has a favorite piece of mine where I used a vintage (not quite antique yet) photo of her and her sister (my aunt Sharnie). She visited my Cafe Press Store loved it of cource, she then requested I add product featuring her favorite piece of my work.
I would like to encourage anyone who has a favorite piece to do the same. Ask for the item(s) you like with your favorite image specified. You could do this using the comment system here on my blog, or... commenting on my art posted on my Robot Laundry site. You can also email me directly with the title of the piece and a brief description of the piece you are in love with! fourheartsas1@yahoo.com.

Thanks for stopping by...

Brandie

Stress filled day...

2006-09-11T21:44:00.000-04:00

No new art to offer today. I'm working on a commisioned piece. It's much larger than I usually work, but still small enough to be considered a "Little Piece of Art".

I had quite the stress filled day at work, so immediately following the ritual of the timeclock... I grabbed the girls and my gym bag and we went and worked out... that combined with an awesome shower and working on my current piece totally absolved all my worries of the day.

I've included in this post an older piece since I am unable to provide you with something new today. This piece was very popular and inspired a bidding war on eBay. I looked at these two little girls and thought of the protective hearts they have for each other.. They will always be together and there for each other. Enjoy...

Grandma... and Zombie extras...

2006-09-10T12:59:00.001-04:00

No Grandma this weekend. We rescheduled to next weekend.
So no new pictures of Grandma and the girls til' next week.

Although I do have some pictures of the girls. There was a movie being filmed locally that was calling for "zombie" extras. Ali and Tasha got to be Zombies! I'll get those posted today on the family album site linked on the side bar.

Thanks for visiting!

Brandie

Underneath it All

2006-09-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

This piece represents the many layers that we accumulate over our past experiences. I symbolized this through applying many layers and then destroying and peeling away layers to reveal what is underneath.
I created this piece on an antique post card. I used a copied photograph, acrylic paint, vintage paper and vintage calendar pages, plus a photocopy transfer technique.

Thank you for your interest in my Art!

Get Your Hands Dirty

2006-09-08T23:28:00.000-04:00

This is my submission to Illustration Friday this week. The theme is "farm".
Never hurt anyone to get there hands dirty now did it? Well, this photo has caught my attention many times lying within my extensive collection of photographs... and she is home now. She comes from a day where it was understood that what you have is what you have worked for...

This piece was created on 4 x 4 inch wrapped canvas. I used modeling paste, paint, vintage sewing threads, and lots of paper.

Those of you brought here from Illustration Friday be sure to visit my main blog page for more artwork, as well as my archives.

Thanks for visiting.

Brandie

Lifetime... (discarded)

2006-09-07T21:46:00.000-04:00

This piece represents the relationships we develop throughout our lifetimes only to let them go. They are images strong enough to be committed to our memories, but lost, we have moved past them. The memories when drawn will inspire a little ache in our hearts… and sometimes… we are lucky enough to rekindle these lost pieces of our lives… sometimes…

I have created this piece on an antique post card. I used copied photographs, acrylic paint, vintage papers, and a photocopy transfer technique.

My precious Grandmother is visiting this weekend, so I hope to have some new pictures for the photo album page by early next week.

I am getting ready to begin preparation for entering the 2007 Des Moines Art Festival. Please voice your opinion as to pieces of mine you have seen that you think would jury well. I will need 6 pieces and I hope to have many finished pieces to choose from.

Thanks for stopping by.

Brandie

Do not Pass Go

2006-09-06T22:19:00.000-04:00

I've had the photo featured in this collage in my collection for along time. I finally found it's place. The boy gets to play all day, while mom is very hard at work. He has a carefree fearless life... I chose to use pieces of the instruction sheet from a vintage card game, vintage thread, decorative paper, molding paste and acrylic paint.

This piece was created on studio wrapped canvas.

Journey

2006-09-04T20:21:00.000-04:00

Hello again…

This piece was created on a 5” x 5”decorative ceiling tin tile… which is what you see in the picture. But then I thought that it might be a hard to frame or hang. So I mounted it on a 7”x 7” ceiling tin tile painted white and distressed. This created a nice border and the larger tile came with a hanger on the back… perfect.

I used 2 photo’s of sisters one photo has their puppy in it. I have used a picture of one of these girls before. I bought a group of snapshots of these siblings as a group at an antique shop. I find them inspiring. I have captured a couple moments in time where these girls are having a good time growing up in their lovely home and their lovely puppy. They make me smile.

I built lots of texture on this piece using plaster, molding paste, and decorative paper. I also used pieces from a vintage storybook and lots of acrylic paint.

This piece is for sale on eBay right now…

Safe

2006-09-02T20:10:00.000-04:00

My creation for Illustration Friday
This piece was created on 5 x 5 inch studio wrapped canvas. I used a photo of a dad and his baby daughter. You just know this dad is devoted to taking care of his little girl. She is safe in his hands, and so happy to be there..
I purchased this photo for this collage at a local antique store, and I think I may even know where the house behind the people in the photo is located... no kidding! I need to see if it's the house I'm thinking of. If it is I'll knock on the door and give them the picture of their house...
I also used acrylic paints, an old newspaper, a photo of a tree, vintage thread, and decorative paper.

This Piece is for sale in my Etsy.com store right now!

Cafe Press and other stuff...

2006-09-01T22:51:00.000-04:00

Look for these images and more printed on fun stuff at My Cafe Press Store! This is a great site for playing with images of your art. It's free to have a store, but you are limited to one of each item unless you upgrade. I really like the journals and the mini poster prints. If I sell some stuff I will definitely consider an upgrade. Be sure to take a look!

Look for my very first Illustration Friday entry. The theme is "Safe". You know I'll post it. Look forward to it tomorrow.

I submitted my CD cover art entry yesterday... I'm nervous. I keep telling myself that it is out of my hands, I need to let it go... Hopefully they won't make me wait too long. Wish me luck.

I will be talking to you tomorrow,

Brandie

One day away...

2006-08-31T22:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, one day away from a 3-day weekend! I expect to have lots of time for art this weekend. I will have some shopping to do, a little housework, but most of all I will be collaging all weekend. May do some marketing.. but that is all about the art too..

I have created some lovely refrigerator magnets to add to my shipments, I used the "Tenacity" image, faded it, then put my links over it. I like it. Now my dear mother came over and stole my entire first printing! She is traveling to my Aunt's house and needs to distribute them... Well, it is spreading the word right?? She makes me smile. I will create some more, maybe with a different image.

I am in the process of opening a Cafe Press store.. so you will see that link soon. I'm liking my art on the journal and believe it or not the light switch so far.

I will be back soon! So you need to return soon! Thanks for visiting.

Brandie

Vibrant

2006-08-30T23:17:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on 4" x 4" studio wrapped canvas. I used a copy of a photo of a child running, acrylic paints, molding paste, graphite, and decorative handmade papers.

This picture just held so much energy.. and I think the collage it inspired reflects that.

What have I been up to???

2006-08-27T20:02:00.000-04:00

I will have a new piece posted by tomorrow night.I have been working on a few things regarding my art.

I have a CD cover art contest deadline coming up very soon, Friday 9/1. I am finishing that piece up. I will post it after the results are in, wether I place or not. Look forward to it... it's pretty cool.

Second, I have been working hard on marketing.
I am trying to drive people to my etsy.com store as well as my items for sale on Ebay.
I have a good following on Ebay, but Ebay will not allow a link to the etsy store. I have on my about me page a link to this blog that is all they will allow.
I see etsy stores which opened around the same time I opened my store featuring artwork that see so much more traffic than I do. I know that part of the reason for that is that they are able to list more frequently than I do. But the numbers are very very high numbers compared to mine, like 400 times the hits I have received.

Following a short list of what I have been working on please if anyone has any ideas at all, please comment.

A magnet sign for my car with my etsy.com link and my blog.
Business cards and refrigerator magnets to put in the art I ship.
This site.
Flyers
I have put all of my links in my e-mail sig line on both of my e-mail accounts.
I would like to look into the geneology sites to see if there are any resources available. I would think I could pick up some custom work in that field of interest.

Again.. I would like your advice. If you are here, reading, I would have to assume you like it :). I am not afraid of alot of hard work, whatever it takes...

I am posting an older piece since I am unable to show you a new one... enjoy...

Pride

This is a piece created on 2.5 x.3.5 inch matte board. I used a copied photo of my great uncle. the baby he is holding is my Grandfather... I look at this picture and am amazed at how the pride is pouring out of this young man, amidst some of the worst poverty in the history of this country...
My Grandfather and his brothers and sisters remained close throughout their whole lives. They lived only houses apart right up until they passed! No kidding! I grew up with 3 of the 5 children up through most of my teenage years..
My Grandfather passed when I was 22. (my heart still breaks and breaks)

What a priviledge to be apart of their lives.

In addition to the photo, I used pieces from a vintage dictionary that belonged to my Grandfather and acrylic paint.

Trust

2006-08-24T07:43:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on 4" x 4" studio wrapped canvas. I used a copy of a photo of a child on a porch rail, a photo of my great grandmother, pieces of each photo throughout the collage, acrylic paints, molding paste, graphite, banana leaf, pieces from a vintage book pages, and decorative handmade papers.My great aunts and uncles as well as my grandfather must have had enormous trust in my great grandmother...all 5 of her children turned into extraordinarily honest, and loving people.

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Bound

2006-08-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on sage linen matte board. I used a copied photo of 2 young girls, molding paste, acrylic paint, decorative paper, window screen mesh, vintage thread, and pieces of copied photographs.

I looked at these girls and they look to be bound by the time and space they are in. They are so basic and naturally pretty. I felt as if I could stand in front of them and speak to them..

Passages

2006-08-19T09:23:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on wrapped canvas . I used a copy of a photo of a group of children, acrylic paints, molding paste, pieces from a vintage desk calendar, and decorative handmade papers.

To me while looking at these children, I could see the travels they experienced each day. Moving through time together... they saw the world with big imagination...

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12 Stories Inside Herself

2006-08-16T23:09:00.000-04:00

This piece is an altered vintage postcard from the 1940's with the original stamp. I used a photograph copied onto transparent vellum, heavy acrylics, modeling paste, pieces of vintage book pages, pieces torn from a 1940's package of powder make-up.

In the title the "12 stories" are actually representing levels, or layers. She looks as if she has seen alot in her young life.

Why did I choose 12? I don't know it just came out... Maybe it's my lucky number...

Look for this piece on Ebay beginning Friday 8/18/06.

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Stubborn Creativity

2006-08-16T09:42:00.001-04:00

I thought I would have a new piece to post today. I worked for an hour and a half last night and the night before on a little 4x4 and it just will not come out right... :( I think it's the photo. I just don't think the beautiful lady in the photo wants to be in my art.. or maybe she is the perfectionist that I am not...
It's too bad because she is such a strong presence.. the title will be "The Voice in My Head" speaking of all those influences in your life that speak to you and help you make the right choices... they speak to you through out your whole life.. they just become a part of you.. this photo reminded me of that... I don't know, maybe she is too strong for a 4x4 and I need to go bigger.. we'll see..
3 hours is already too long to work on a tiny little 4 x 4, yet I will continue to work on it a little while longer... maybe I will get it up tonight... Look forward to it, I don't give up easily and I love a challenge!
Thanks for looking at my art...

Question

2006-08-15T19:51:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on 6"x8" wrapped canvas. I used lots of acrylic paint, paper, window screen mesh, screws, vintage string, and pieces of pages taken from destroyed vintage story book.

The girl in this picture just struck me as a little thing with lots of questions about her world..

Kindred

2006-08-14T22:11:00.000-04:00

This picture was taken in the 1920's. You can see little girls had very little but each other. I see this alot in snapshots from this era, such pride in each other in the midst of poverty.

This piece was created on matte board and canvas. I used alot of acrylic paint, molding paste, vintage threads and decorative papers.

Tenacity

2006-08-13T15:02:00.001-04:00

This piece was created on 4"x4" matte board with canvas applied to it.

I used lots of heavy acrylics, banana leaf, window mesh....... etc.

The photo used in this one is a perfect example of
a photograph speaking to me...
it literally screamed at me from it's bin in an antique store...

Constancy

2006-08-13T12:27:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on 5"x5" Wrapped Canvas.
I used acrylic paint, handmade papers,
vintage threads and window screen.

The little girl looks as if she will always be there,
waiting for you...

Fragile

2006-08-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

This piece was created on 5"x 5" Wrapped Canvas.
It was inspired by this lovely photo of a girl.

I gave her a little bit of a Cinderella story
using pieces of pages from the childrens story book..
"Cinderella".