Thursday, October 07, 2010

Etsy Pick-O-The-Week - NothinButWood

Wow, I have taken quite the vacation from my POW (Etsy Pick-O-The-Week)! Over 2 years since my last POW post. Hmmmm, 2 years ago, I wonder what happened 2 years ago that made my life do a back flip??!!

Anyway, I'm back and I've got this wonderful shop that I've enjoyed for some time. I must have a fairy door!! NothinButWood is Nothin But Magically Whimsical!



Are you not loving this?



The workmanship is superb, with fantastic attention to detail.

I know the faeries in my garden would love a little home like one of these! (hint hint)

My life just may be settling down, I'm feeling content and creative again. So I hope to have another POW before it becomes POM or even POY!!!

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

I love me zee bugs



This is a cool bug that was on my windshield the other day. He sat there, content on staying on my car, as I drove slowly through the parking lot at the post office. As the wind hit him, he slowly started walking, his eyes moving around very chameleon like. Each step he made was a struggle against the air hitting his back. I had to stop. I got out, grabbed him carefully in my hands, then let him fly. He took off like a green little fairy. Fly be free!!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Summer Tiki - Lono Makua


Every summer for 3 years now, my son and I have been drawing a different Tiki. It's become a summer tradition.

This year I illustrated Lono-Makua. It is The God of Fertility and Peace, also known as The God of Music, Peace and Harvesting Crops, sometimes called The Provider... a God of fertility, agriculture, rainfall and music. The legend is that Lono descended to Earth on a rainbow. Well I'm sure it was a Double Rainbow!!

I think he's a bit Cowa-Bunga!

This tiki was done a little differently than last few tikis. Instead of markers, this year these were done with pen and ink, then colorized in acrylic. I painted it with no blending in the paint, because I was hoping to stay closer in style to the previous pieces.

We are in desperate need of some quality markers. Why is it becoming so hard to find Pentel colored markers at a store?

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Creepin Vines


I've been working on this painting off and on this summer. I finally finished it!

Are these vines growing on her hat with the help of this bird, or are they simply the pattern on her hat?


Here's the original sketch of this little lady. I often like to sketch while watching movies. Here are some sketches I did while enjoying a silent movie. See her original incarnation up in the top right corner. Seems that the original doodle often turns out better than the finished (supposedly) perfected finale. Doodles are just more spontaneous, I guess.

Prints, magnets and pendants will soon be available. The original is acrylic on an oval canvas, 9x12".

Sunday, March 14, 2010

smARTS Art Exhibit at Idyllwild Arts Academy


Every other year Idyllwild Arts Academy opens its Parks Exhibition Center for smARTS to have an exhibit of all the students' art at our local K-8 school. This is a big event for smARTS with never ending amount of hours to select the perfect art piece for each student, then carefully hang each piece and label it.


A highlight of the exhibit always seems to be the 8th grade project. This project is in response to their visit to the Museum of Tolerance. They are always very emotional pieces of artwork. This year their words were used to add to portraits of themselves. They are striking as a group as well as when you read the words they used in the art.


Here are the dragons I traditionally do with the 4th graders for Chinese New Year. They are fun.


I also always like the symmetrical butterflies I do with the 3rd graders


And here you can see the turtles that the kindergartners do, as well as the 5th grade project on foreshortening.

Yes, this is a good event, and once it's over, I think it's worth all the efforts.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Genie out of the Bottle



Ever felt like you've been all bottled up, like a genie, for maybe a thousand years?? Well I had that feeling, and was finally let free just last year.

I've had this design in my mind for almost a year now. Life has been wild, crazy and unsettling for this past year. And while it still is that way, I'm trying to balance all this with my creative side.... finally making it possible for me to get this drawing done.

Here it is in my Etsy shop.

Pen and ink drawing, embellished with some watercolor.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Wishing For Spring


Don't wish for Spring before it's time,
Thinking all will then be fine.
Time moves swiftly on its own,
Life flies by all alone.
Don't hope that it will faster fly,
Or it may listen, and then you die.
----Saffron


I wrote this poem March 5, 1992. Boy, my life hasn't changed much it seems. I still dwell on the winter weather, trying to survive it and it's hardships. This only makes me realize I still have over month of real winter here on the mountain. I have to deal with it as best I can.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Altered Cigar Box - Be Happy, Elf


Wow! How can this be?? I'm updating my blog again, already?? And it's only been a week since the last entry?? What, am I returning back to myself? Is the content me returning? Whatever it is, I'm glad!

So anyway, I was lucky to receive a whole shit load of cigar boxes from a special friend. This is my first creation using them, they are fun!


I painted this elf on the top, and added some tissue paper collage. Also on the side I added some tissue collage for some flowers.



Inside there is a little print of a painting I did a few years back, reminding you to Be Happy! I know I must remind myself of this from time to time! It's the perfect container for your potions, trinkets, or love letters. How nice it is to get a love letter!

It's available now in my Etsy shop! Have a looksey!

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Hats Available


I've been making some hats this winter..... some slightly hippie or maybe grungey type of hats.


Or maybe they're just woodsy and mountaingirlish.


Well whatever you call them, they are soft and cozy and keep you good and warm. See some in my Etsy shop.

Also, I was part of a shop last December. Luckily my smARTS/blogging buddy, Mother Bliss, got some good pictures of the little shop., including my little section.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Last Drawing of 2009



This was my last drawing of 2009. I started in the summer...Glad to finish it!

This is Kane Milohai, The God of Life. It's elements are the sun, sky, earth, and upper heaven. He is a symbol of life and the father of living things.

I won't be neglecting you, Little Blog, this year. I just know it!