Teresa's Art Studio Blog... mostly art pics with other stuff now and then

Veteran's Day- In Memoriam

2008-11-11T13:24:00.005-05:00

Those of you who read my blog may be wondering why I haven't posted in several months. Although my blog is usually about my art, today's post will be about something else. This post is in honor of my favorite veteran, my dad, who died from cancer earlier this year.

Robert Turner 1930-2008

My dad served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Like many other young men at the time, he joined the military while still in high school, and received his GED while in the service.

My dad, age 18, at Biggs Air Force Base in Texas

As a Veteran, my dad was active with the American Legion, the VWF, and the Delaware County Veteran's Association. He placed great importance on participating in funerals for American Veterans, and marched in parades each year on the 4th of July and Veteran's Day.

Over the last couple of years, my dad was very active in lobbying for and helping to build the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial, which honors men and women from Ohio who have given their lives in military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most days he was there working, rain or shine, along with many other members of his local Legion Post, #457, to make this memorial a reality.

My dad and Col. Bowman (Ret.)

In summer of 2007, my dad was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. Following surgery and radiation treatment, he passed away this spring shortly after his 78th birthday.

Crosses at the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial

My dad felt it was important to honor the contributions of America's Veterans. As my favorite veteran, I dedicate today's blog post to him.

Newest Celtic Tree of Life Drawing

2008-02-11T13:16:00.000-05:00

I started this on the weekend, and just finished it this morning. It's the latest in my Tree of Life series of drawings, done in ink on textured handmade mulberry paper. The paper has real leaf and petal inclusions, for a wonderful earthy feel. This piece would make a unique addition to a collection of Celtic or spiritual art.

TREE OF LIFE XIV
Now available in my Etsy shop!

Technorati tags: art,
blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, celtic art

Tree of Life Abstract Painting

2008-02-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

This is my newest painting, the first in a series of small abstract paintings based on the Celtic tree of life. The tree of life is a common theme in my work, but I thought it would be fun to explore some modern interpretations inspired by this classic motif.

TREE OF LIFE
Original acrylics on gallery canvas
6" x 6"
Now available in my Etsy shop!
Technorati tags: art,
blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings

New painting- View of Camelot

2008-01-31T16:51:00.000-05:00

Since my return home, I was able to finish up and scan a painting I'd started ages ago. This painting was inspired by the poem "The Lady of Shallot". It shows my rendition of the view from her window, with Camelot visible in the distance. (Here Camelot is based on Caernafon, one of the many castles I visited in Wales.)

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,castles

The best laid plans...

2008-01-31T11:04:00.000-05:00

I can't believe nearly four months have gone by since I had a chance to post to my blog! A quick update: Following my dad's cancer surgery in September, I've spent an inordinate amount of time out of town. I'm glad I've been able to give my folks a hand, but wow is all that back-and-forth tiring! I've gained a whole new level of respect for people who serve as primary caregivers. How they manage to find time for everything is beyond me.

Although I've spent more time away than home, I have managed to catch up on some things here in my studio. I've got something resembling organization back in here again (YAY!) and will be posting a pick of my latest painting this afternoon, with a few others over the next couple of days.

Ever feel like you're in a blender?

2007-08-31T14:21:00.000-04:00

This has been one crazy year! Between packing and getting ready to move, then unpacking, and lots of things going wrong since then, I haven't had a chance to post in months. I'm starting to feel like someone stuck my life in a blender and pushed the "Frappe" button. If you've ever felt that way, you'll understand. I keep hoping things will settle down and get back to some kind of normality. It hasn't happened yet, but hope springs eternal.

I'm getting ready to go out of town for part of September, because my dad's going in the hospital. After that...? Hopefully I'll be back to enough of a regular schedule that I can post about a bunch of new work.

One project I'll be doing soon are some holiday cards with this image from one of my little comical paintings:

A couple of people had asked me about it, so I thought I'd better get going on it now before the holidays creep up on me.

In the meantime, I'm back to revamping my web site. Hopefully I'll be posting again soon!

Giverny Garden Hat

2007-05-18T11:36:00.000-04:00

I love hats. Maybe I've just grown to love them because (owing partly to my Scottish & Irish heritage) I do not ever tan, and must wear a hat all summer. Or maybe it's because hats are such a fun way to accessorize. But I love them.

One problem with hats, though, is that it can be hard to find fun, unique hats which also have some level of practicality to them. Some of the niftiest ones I've seen don't travel well, or are only suited to getting dressed up and going out on the town. What about those times when a hat is needed for walking to the market or going to an outdoor barbecue? What about stuffing it into a travel bag to take on a plane, or in the car? It was this that led me to start making my own hats. (That, and being unable to find what I was looking for.) Sewing is another (more practical) creative outlet for me, but I don't do it as often as I'd like.

Here is one of my latest hats. This one is made from a summery cotton with a pattern which reminds me of Monet's paintings from the gardens at Giverny. It can be folded flat for travel or storage, and can be customized by changing the scarf. This hat is currently available in my Etsy shop.

Tuscan Sunflowers Miniature Painting

2007-05-09T17:52:00.000-04:00

Here is a mini painting I did this week, inspired by the fields of sunflowers found in Tuscany. This tiny painting measures just 1 inch high, and would be a wonderful addition to a collection of miniature art, or a unique accent in a classically furnished 1/12 scale dollhouse. This painting is currently available for purchase on ebay.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,
landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,miniatures,florals

Egyptian Scarab Sculpted Pendant

2007-05-09T09:06:00.001-04:00

Although I've done wearable sculpture pieces for years, it wasn't until last year that I started listing some of them online, and playing around with different techniques and materials. Here is a pendant I created using a couple of different colors of polymer clay, with faux gold leaf inclusions.

This pendant is currently available in my etsy store.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

New wearable art pendant

2007-05-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

This is my latest pendant, which has cheeful handpainted daisies using a wooden domino as the base. I created it to have a stained glass feel, using India ink for the lines. This pendant is now available in my Etsy shop.

Wearable Art Pendants

2007-04-30T16:38:00.001-04:00

I've been experimenting using different techniques to create art pendants. These are art you can wear, but they can also be hung from a simple cord or ribbon to decorate any small space, such as inside a computer armoire or in an office cubicle. Here are two of the ones I now have listed in my etsy store:

The one on the left is a mixed-media pendant with a dragonfly in 3D skimming across the surface of an impressionist lily pond. The one on the right has a vine motif loosely inspired by decoration found in the borders of medieval manuscripts. Both are handpainted using a wooden domino as the base, and sealed with a durable varnish.

New Triptych

2007-04-30T10:31:00.000-04:00

I finished another triptych in my fluid abstracts series. This one is entitled FLOURISH, and is inspired by curled tendrils of spring foliage. It is done on three acid-free canvas panels, each of which is 6" x 8". This painting is currently available on ebay:

FLOURISH
8" x 18"

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,photography,acrylic paintings

Poppies triptych

2007-04-24T18:56:00.000-04:00

I finished this set of three paintings before going out of town for the weekend, but didn't have a chance to post about them until now. This triptych of cheerful poppy blossoms is done in acrylics on three 6" x 6" gallery wrap canvases in abstract style. The set is currently listed on ebay.

POPPY ROW

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings,animal art

New mixed media abstract painting in celebration of Earth Day

2007-04-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

Today I finished a fun mixed media piece I did in a style of abstract naturalism in celebration of Earth Day. It's done in acrylics on a rigid canvas panel, with 3D accents using archival museum board, brass wire, mica chips, and fabric ribbon. All the materials in it are new, but I created it to look like it's made from reclaimed or recycled materials. It's abstract in style, but has plant-themed designs to be reminiscent of the way that Mother Nature will reclaim an old abandoned area, where new plant growth will sprout up through the pavement.

RECLAMATION

This painting is now available on ebay! The image above links to any of my current ebay listings.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings

Newest abstract painting!

2007-04-17T17:02:00.000-04:00

I finished another abstract painting today! This is another painting in my fluid abstracts series, entitled LAVENDER BREEZE. It's inspired by the swirling wind, carrying the scent of blossoms in the spring, and is soon to be listed on ebay.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings

First painting in my new studio! Yay!

2007-04-14T20:48:00.000-04:00

I finished an abstract painting today. It's the first painting I've done since moving to the new place. :) This one is from my fluid abstract series, and is now listed on ebay.

OCEAN WAVES
Original Acrylics
11" x 14"

My previous painting from this series sold before I could post it to my blogs:

VERDANT
Original Acrylics
8" x 18"

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,photography,acrylic paintings

Boxes in my studio (and everywhere else...)

2007-04-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

We moved at the end of March, so I'm writing this from my new studio! :) I like the new place, but there are still boxes everywhere. My studio space is coming along, though, and I hope to actually have more creative time today.

The worst part of the move wasn't the move itself this time. It was having AT&T screw up our address, so we were without internet access for close to 2 weeks. I think I was so mad I probably looked like one of those cartoon characters with a red face and smoke coming out their ears! They finally got us up and running again this week, so I've been playing catch-up on all the emails and things I missed.

Some good news: the gallery show our women's group (WORLDWIDE WOMEN ARTISTS) had in Florida went well. Lots of pieces sold, including this one of mine entitled Picket Fence Poppies:

I had painted that one after visiting my folks and passing a house which had poppies growing along a picket fence at the edge of their yard. Fortunately I make a habit of taking my camera with me for reference photos, because you never know where inspiration will strike. Speaking of inspiration, I am going to get back to organizing my studio while I am inspired to do so!

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,charity art,miniatures,florals,

Stuff Happens!

2006-12-06T18:31:00.000-05:00

Wow, has it been a long time since I've posted to my blog!! Things have been really crazy lately, with being busy, being sick, doing the Thanksgiving thing... I'm hoping things are getting back to normal enough now (whatever that is) so that I can get back to posting about what I've been working on.

Here's my latest small painting, an ACEO (a small painting the size of a trading card) done in acrylics on archival board. This one is entitled FIRST SNOW:

This painting is available in my etsy store. It is part of the WWAO Theme Exhibition for December, which is called Winter Slumber.

Handpainted trinket box

2006-10-04T19:27:00.000-04:00

Although I enjoy painting on canvas or paper, it's also fun to occasionally paint on other surfaces as well. This is a painting I did on the lid of a little trinket box or jewelry box. It's decorative painting which reminds me a bit of some of the patterns found in ancient textiles or manuscript illuminations.

This box is currently available for purchase in my etsy store. The image links to the listing.

Comical ACEOs from Teresa Turner

2006-09-25T09:22:00.000-04:00

I've always enjoyed creating silly little pieces that make people laugh. When I first tried selling on ebay, the comical pieces and minis are what I started listing. I hadn't been doing many of them lately, so I have started to create more of them again. Here are two of the ones I did this past week:

GIVE PEAS A CHANCE

That one is what happens when I'm tired and hear songs on the radio. :) It sold almost as soon as I listed it on ETSY

This one is a cute Halloween-themed one of a dog in a witch costume:

TRICK OR TREATS

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,aceo,miniatures,animal art

Rainbows in my studio :)

2006-09-24T22:13:00.000-04:00

This part has nothing really to do with art, except that it involves something that makes me happy and color. I had rainbows in my studio this week. In the window in my studio I have hung some crystals, including a suncatcher pendant made by a friend. This time of the year, if it is sunny, I get rainbows in my studio in the afternoon. Here is a pic of the ceiling in my studio, with rainbows across it:

Two new ACEOs and jewelry

2006-09-20T09:10:00.000-04:00

I just listed another two ACEOs I did this week. One is inspired by van Gogh's Starry Night, and is of a black cat gazing at the night sky.

STARRY NIGHT KITTY
Original acrylics

The other one is an abstract landscape of a tree with two crows in it. This is from a series of paintings I've done, though most of them have been larger pieces.

TWO CROWS
Original acrylics

I've also been working on some jewelry, including hair jewelry. Here is one, which is a beaded ponytail holder now listed in my etsy store:

BEADED PONYTAIL HOLDER
Glass, agate, and shell

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,aceo,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,miniatures,animal art,florals

Fantasy Art Cat Fairy Painting ~ACEO

2006-09-15T18:02:00.000-04:00

This week I started a new series of fantasy art paintings. I just listed the first one today, which is of a Maine Coon cat with monarch butterfly wings. Being the language geek that I am, I figured if he has monarch butterfly wings (and being a large and regal cat) he must be the reigning monarch, the king of the cat fairies. Having that idea, I had to paint him wearing a golden crown. Here he is, sitting proudly overlooking his cat fairy kingdom:

MAINE COON MONARCH
Original acrylics on archival museum board

Here is a detail view of his face and his richly decorated crown:

This painting is entered in a contest on ebay, called Fairy Fun.

Technorati tags: art,blog,
weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,aceo,acrylic paintings,miniatures,animal art

New abstract painting

2006-09-14T20:40:00.000-04:00

I finished an abstract painting this week. This one is part of a series of fluid abstracts, which are comprised of flowing lines and organic forms. It reminds me a bit of the sky in van Gogh's Starry Starry Night painting.

TRIBAL DANCE
Original acrylics
20" x 30"

All the other ones I've done in this series have sold, but you can see thumbnails of many of them HERE.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings

Another new kitchen art painting!

2006-09-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

I actually finished this last night, but it was too dark in here to photograph it then. This is the next in the kitchen art series, following the hot pepper painting I posted earlier this week. This one is the same size, and features a cup of coffee with the word cafe (French for coffee) on the side of the cup. It is surrounded by a pattern of spirals, dots, and coffee beans!

COFFEE #1
Original acrylics on gallery wrap canvas

Now that I've started this series, I have a whole bunch of ideas in mind for more. Funny how that works!

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings

Two more new ACEOs

2006-09-12T18:19:00.000-04:00

I feel like perhaps today's entry should be called "doing 100 things at once", because that's kind of how today seemed. I finished another kitchen painting the same size as yesterday's hot pepper one. It's too dark here to photograph now, so I'll be posting that one tomorrow (hopefully). I also worked on some new images for magnets, and images for some pinback buttons, which will be appearing soon in my etsy store. In the meantime, here are my two newest ACEOs, which I didn't get a chance to post here yesterday because of the storms we were having. The first one is an abstract landscape. It reminds me of the line from Peter Pan about "First star on the right, then straight on till morning..."

FIRST STAR
Original acrylics

That one is now in my etsy store. The image will open the listing in a new window.

The next one is a mixed media ACEO which I don't have listed anywhere yet, so those reading my blog are the first to see it. For this one, I used acrylics, iridescent acrylics, faux gold leaf, ink, printed paper (for the text), and handmade textured mulberry paper, all on cold press heavy watercolor paper. The cool textures in this one don't show up in the small image.

BIRTH OF AN IDEA
Mixed media

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,aceo,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,miniatures

Hot Pepper Kitchen Art

2006-09-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

I finished this today, just for fun... a painting of a hot pepper, with a funky decorated background:

HOT PEPPER
Original acrylics on gallery wrap canvas
6" x 6"

It's listed in my etsy store, so the image above links to the listing.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,photography acrylic paintings

Two new ACEOs

2006-09-05T18:24:00.000-04:00

Here are my two newest ACEOs. (For those who don't know, ACEOs are small works of art, the size of baseball trading cards.)

One is a mixed-media piece celebrating the fruit of the vine:

Salute!
Mixed media (including acrylics, India ink, patterned paper, handmade textured mulberry paper, faux gold leaf, and a professionally printed image of a glass of wine, from one of my original oil paintings).

The next one is an autumn-themed piece:

Illuminators of Autumn
Watercolors and India ink

This will be my entry in the WWAO monthly exhibition for October. The theme for that exhibition is "Illuminations of the Unseen". I have titled this ACEO "Illuminators of Autumn", which is a bit of a play on words. The border on it is a Celtic knotwork design, and in the middle ages, the pictures in the manuscripts were called "illuminations", so the scribes who did them were called "illuminators". The inside shows a fairy painting a face on a jack-o-lantern, and another fairy sprinkling fall leaves in the air. Since the fairies are small, they would go unseen in their work. Although they are hard to see in the small image, there are little spiderwebs and acorns inside the knotwork at the corners.

I seem to be focused on small pieces this week...

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,aceo, celtic art,acrylic paintings,miniatures

Miniatures and more magnets

2006-09-01T17:06:00.000-04:00

Today was a day for working on small things. I made some new theme magnets for putting in my etsy store, and also did a couple of mini paintings. Here is one, which I just listed today:

AUTUMN IN THE AIR
Original acrylics

There is a chill in the air, the leaves are blowing, and the crows are gliding on the wind... A black cat watches them from afar, while sitting in a meadow of purple asters.

Here is another one I did today. This one is of a koi fish:

KOI IN BLUE WATER
Original watercolors & India ink

I really enjoy working on little pieces like these. When I was a child, I was always making tiny things, or drawing funny little pictures. Although I'd been selling larger works for years, when I first started selling on ebay, I began with small pieces like these.

Smaller works of art are a great way to decorate in small spaces, and a wonderful way to have a collection of art without spending a lot of money, or needing a large space. Speaking of smaller works, be sure to visit the Worldwide Women Artists site for a link to gift items under $10 created by me and other members of WWAO.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,miniatures,animal art

Back home, and back to work! :)

2006-08-31T17:02:00.000-04:00

Well, I had a great time. I went camping for a couple of weeks, and we had pretty decent weather most of the time. I got back home last week, but have been playing catch-up on some things here and am just now settling back into my regular routine.

Here is a little painting I did right before I left, but hadn't gotten a chance to post about yet. It's a modern folk-art painting of a little black cat, eyeing a vase filled with daisies.

TEMPTATION
Original acrylics on gallery wrap canvas
6" x 6"

I spent a couple of days this week updating my web site, and also updating info for the Worldwide Women Artists Exhibition entitled "Garden of Delights", which can be seen HERE now through Sept. 29th.

Technorati tags: art,
blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,photography,acrylic paintings,miniatures,animal art,florals

Wall sculpture of 14th century knight on a horse

2006-07-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

I posted about this as a work in progress over a week ago, and finally finished it and was able to photograph it today. It's based on a stone carving of a knight on a horse from the 14th century. Mine is done in hydrostone and painted in acrylics to look like weathered stone.

It measures just over 6" x 6". Watch for these to be offered on my web site and in my etsy store.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,

Wall sculpture of 11th c. knights

2006-07-24T15:12:00.000-04:00

I finished another piece which I posted about last week. This one depicts a pair of 11th century knights on a horse, and is based on a seal from 1168. Mine is done in hydrostone as a wall plaque, and is about 4-1/2" across:

Because images of the actual historical example in books are copyrighted, I cannot include an image, but there is a picture of the original seal online here if you scroll about 1/4 of the way down the page.

Tonight or tomorrow I also hope to finish the 14th century style version of a knight on a horse I've been working on. When that one is finished, I will post a picture of it as well.

Soon I plan to add these to my web site, as well as to my etsy store. :)

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

Two sculptures completed!

2006-07-21T11:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I finished two of the sculptures I had posted about earlier. Both are based on historical pieces, and created in hydrostone painted in acrylics to look like weathered stone. Here is the griffin wall plaque:

This is about 6" wide by about 4-1/4" high.

The other one is based on a 14th century carved ivory mirror back, and depicts two lovers on horseback:

This one is about 4" wide by about 3-1/2" high.

Both of these pieces will soon be available on my web site, as well as in
my etsy store.

I'm still working on two other sculptural wall plaques, and hope to have those finished soon.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

New abstract painting!

2006-07-19T20:26:00.000-04:00

I finished this abstract painting the other day, but have been so immersed in sculpting, I forgot to post about it! Maybe I've had pirates on the brain lately, because the title is PIECES OF EIGHT:

Original acrylics on gallery canvas
8" x 10"
This painting is currently available on ebay. Click here to visit my ebay store.

I've been painting a couple of the historical sculptures I posted about earlier. Hopefully I can finish them and get pics of those to share before the weekend.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings,sculpture,

More historical themed sculptures

2006-07-18T15:46:00.000-04:00

I have been working on another historically based wall sculpture. This one is based on a 14th century bas relief of a knight on a horse. Here it is in progress, with the basic shape roughed in and some of the detailing completed:

I also finished one of the 14th century cat sculptures, which is based on a wood carving from a church:

In case you are reading this and wondering why so much of my work is influenced by the Middle Ages, I actually majored in Medieval English Literature. As a child I had a fascination with this period of history, watching reruns of old movies like Robin Hood, and playing in a friend's barn with a wooden sword. It's funny how some interests stay with us our entire lives.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Sculptures in progress

2006-07-13T12:09:00.000-04:00

I took another pic of the griffin sculpture after I finished detailing it:

Since then, it has received about 8 coats of latex, which means I still have about another 8 coats to go.

I am also working on a wall plaque of two knights on a horse, based on a lead seal from 1168. The design is only roughed in at this stage, so I still have a lot of detailing to do:

The detailing will take me most of the rest of the day, since I still have to carve in all the details and smooth it off. Then it will receive 12-16 coats of latex, and will be ready to be cast in hydrostone after the latex cures for a couple of days. Then the hydrostone gets painted. Although the originals for these were wood and lead respectively, I will probably paint them to look like stone.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Griffin sculpture- work in progress

2006-07-10T09:18:00.000-04:00

I spent the weekend working on this, and I snapped off a pic of it this morning to post (even though it's not finished yet.) This is based on a 14th century wood carving of a griffin. I have the basic shape completed, and am finishing all the details now. Eventually this will be a hydrostone wall plaque, painted to look like stone.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Artistic ramblings

2006-07-07T15:58:00.000-04:00

Someone asked me today how long I've been an artist. This always strikes me as an odd question...I mean, is one an artist from the time one first begins creating? From the time one begins publicly showing one's work? From the time one begins sellings one's work? Or from the time one passes certain artistic milestones, such as winning awards or having solo exhibitions?

I've been showing my work since 1989, and doing art full time since 1992. My mom tells me that I first made efforts to show my work publicly when I was five. This consisted of me deciding that I was going to go sell my paintings and become an artist, and setting up some of my paintings out at the end of the driveway. I don't even know what those paintings were, and since we lived out in the country at the time, it's likely that nobody but my parents (and possibly a couple of curious neighbors) even saw them. But clearly, the signs were there even then that this is the road I would find myself on eventually.

Then there's the question as to how long it took an artist to do a particular painting. I once heard an artist respond that it took her whole life, up to that point. I imagine she said this because artists inevitably must first create works that don't live up to their expectations, which are destined to end up at the back of the closet, before they can create works they are happy with. Even then, for me, it's a constant evolutionary process to create. New techniques, methods, or materials must be played with, then eventually they find their place in the artist's work or are left behind in favor of further experimentation. Looking at the work of some of the great artists in history, one can see how their work, subject matter, style, or choice of materials changed and evolved over time.

I cannot help but wonder, though, if there is some resemblance between the paintings that little five year old girl had at the end of the driveway, and the work I create now. Perhaps there is. Today I was working on a sculpture, and remembered how my mom has a clay sculpture of a bear I made for her when I was about four. It remains in her curio cabinet, where it has resided since I gave it to her. So, I guess in some ways, I've been an artist my whole life too.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

Making sculpture & magnets

2006-07-06T10:58:00.000-04:00

I'm still working on doing some designs for a friend of mine who makes jewelry. The designs are based on some 14th century wood carvings. I'm also doing a wall sculpture of a cat based on one of these. I'm still roughing it out in clay, so I don't have a picture to share yet. Once the initial shape is completed, I'll be sure to post a picture!

I've also been doing more magnets. Here are a couple of sets which are created using images from some of my artwork. One is a floral set, and one is a set which incorporates images from some of my abstract paintings:

Both of these, along with lots of other magnets I've made, will be listed in MY ETSY STORE

Technorati tags: art,
blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,sculpture,florals

A busy week! Raku, magnets, and more...

2006-06-30T11:42:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week here. I have been painting, doing raku, making small things like magnets, and doing some design work for a friend.

Here is one of the raku pendants I made, which is currently available in my etsy store:

I enjoy working on smaller projects, like making magnets, in between working on sculptures and paintings. Here are examples of a couple types of art magnets I've been making:

These will be available in my etsy store, along with lots of other things I've made.

I've also been doing some design work for a friend of mine who does custom metalworking and makes jewelry. When I have scans of a couple of the drawings, I'll share them here.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

New raku pieces

2006-06-21T19:52:00.000-04:00

I did the initial firing yesterday, then this morning I did the glazing, and I did a couple of glaze firings this afternoon.

Firing raku is always a bit like Christmas morning to me...you know it's going to be fun, but you never quite know what you're going to get. Here are a couple of pics of the finished pieces. These pics have miniature vases and jars, all of which are under 1 inch in size:

This shows the scale of one piece:

I also made some raku beads, pendants, and other small things. (My kiln is quite small.) I have the feeling if I were doing large raku pieces here, it would alarm the neighbors, so it's just as well that I'm limited to small pieces right now. :)

It's very challenging to do raku pieces on this scale. I challenged myself to make these as small as I could, and this is the result! It can be very difficult to remove something the size of a pea from the kiln and not drop it. It may be small, but it's still at 2,000 degrees F and will ignite anything it lands on! The lid for the smallest jar is about the size of a lentil, to give you an idea just how tiny these are.

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Firing day for my kiln!

2006-06-20T17:47:00.000-04:00

Today was firing day for my kiln. I had planned to fire the past couple of days, but we've been having thunderstorms here. Today I was able to fire it though, and I'm still waiting for it to cool. Tomorrow (weather permitting) I'll be glazing and doing some raku, which I love to do!!

The other thing I was working on today (well, a couple of things, actually) was a really tiny jar made from polymer clay. It's a piece a woman on etsy custom ordered from me. I probably could have made it from clay and raku fired it as well, but the problem is, it's so darned tiny, I'm sure I'd never find it in the debris. (Not to mention that glaze firing something that small would be a royal pain in the patootie.)

Here is the one she ordered, which she wanted to be 1 cm or less in size:

I painted it to look like a raku piece.

Then I decided to see just how small I could make a lidded jar. I also painted this one the same way:

Hopefully tomorrow I can do the glaze firing, and have some other pics to share! :)

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,miniatures,sculpture

New abstract painting

2006-06-18T14:24:00.000-04:00

I finally finished the abstract painting I'd been working on:

TRANSITION
Original acrylics
24" x 36"

I've been working in oils a lot lately, so this is the first acrylic abstract I've done in a while. I enjoy working in both media, as they're very different to work with. Sometimes I enjoy the immediacy of acrylics, being able to apply layers of paint, using washes or glazing, without the drying time oils require.

This painting has some fun patterned textures in the background sections, which don't really show up in the photo. It's raining here today, so there's not a lot of light coming in to my studio. Hopefully when the weather is better I can take some detail pics to show also. I used the textures and color scheme to add a vintage feel, to contrast with the modern composition of the painting, hence the name "Transition".

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings

Art is a crazy business!

2006-06-17T09:04:00.000-04:00

A fellow member of Worldwide Women Artists shared the link to this news story. I had to post it here:

Bizarre news article

This reminded me of this time that I went to the local public gallery to see what they had chosen for their "Open Juried Exhibition". There were perhaps 40 pieces, all of which were enigmatic, disturbing, or distorted in nature. I could have understood that if that were the theme of the exhibition, but it wasn't. There was not a tranquil landscape, floral, or still life in the bunch. You know the type of stuff they had chosen? Barbie doll heads attached to wires, stones stuck to the wall inside a square, etc. There was nothing in the exhibition I personally liked, or even really appreciated for the artist's skill. I was glad I had not chosen to apply, because clearly it would have been a waste of my time; there is no way the jurors would have selected my work. But then, I took comfort in the fact that truly great artists like Monet or Degas probably could not have gotten their work in either.

Obviously Michealangelo would have been disappointed had he sent his work to these people and found they chose to display the shipping crate instead. ;)

WIP (Works in Progress)- Raku and handmade cards

2006-06-15T12:33:00.000-04:00

I've been spending a couple of days this week making some things for my etsy store, in addition to trying to finish an abstract painting I've been working on.

One of the things I've been making is a small clay jar which will be raku fired, which I'm custom making for someone. After making it, I decided to play around and see just how small I could make some of these. Upon seeing them, H (my boyfriend) asked me what someone would do with such tiny jars. I told him that some people use handmade miniatures like these to furnish dollhouses, while other people just enjoy collecting miniatures. Here are two pics, of the larger and smaller jars. The clay on some other things is still drying, so I won't be able to fire up the kiln until the weekend.

I've also been making some handmade cards to go in my etsy store. Here is one:

These smaller projects are a nice break from working on a sculpture or large painting, which can take me months to complete. I'm also hoping to post a pic of the abstract painting later today, if I can get it finished.

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New Celtic Art

2006-06-12T17:26:00.000-04:00

I finished the Celtic cross I've been working on! Here is a pic of the finished piece:

It's about 3" x 5", created in hydrostone and painted with professional artists' acrylics. I will be adding it to my etsy store and my web site later this week.

I also made some Celtic-inspired fridge magnets:

These are hydrostone too, and are like mini sculptures for a fridge or filing cabinet. I will be adding these to my web site and etsy store as well.

I have some ideas for other Celtic pieces I hope to create this summer. If you like Celtic art, please stop in again!

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Rainy days and art shows...fine Scottish weather!

2006-06-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

This weekend is one of the larger art fairs in the Indy area, the Talbot Street Art Festival. I've heard of this one, but never been to it before. When I got up this morning (way too early for a Saturday, I might add) it was raining. Anyone who has done art festivals before, either as a participating artist or as a volunteer helping out, knows that nothing is worse than having to set up everything in the rain. (Well, almost nothing. Tornadoes don't do much to help either!) My heart goes out to all those artists and volunteers who are, at this moment, battling the elements to get things set up. I'm out of the rain and having another cup of tea. :)

Today I'm making the mother molds for the Celtic cross I posted about this week, and also another smaller Celtic project I'm working on. Normally I'd do this part outdoors, but since it's raining (and also too dark in the garage today) I will be working on them inside. This is a dangerous prospect, because I tend to be messy with these things...not quite 5-year-old-with-finger-paint kind of messy, but close.

No pics in this post, because the projects are UGLY at this stage, with all the coats of latex on them. BUT, when I have a cross finished (hopefully tomorrow or Monday) I will post pics then. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a pic of one of my Celtic-inspired ink drawings:

TREE OF LIFE X
Original India ink on handmade mulberry paper

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Another Wall Sculpture

2006-06-07T19:43:00.000-04:00

I did another wall sculpture like the gothic one I posted about last week, but this one has a mosaic set into the back part. It has a very Mediterranean feel to me. The colors are more vibrant than they look in the pic... the stones are royal blue and white, with turquoise ones around the edge. This is one of the times that I've created something and am very tempted to keep it. Here's a pic:

I'm up to coat #7 of latex on the Celtic cross I posted about yesterday. By the time I finish the glass of wine (cabernet) I'm having now, it should be dry enough for another coat.

I am working on another smaller Celtic piece as well..... more about that later!

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Celtic Cross - Work in Progress

2006-06-06T17:39:00.000-04:00

I finished shaping the Celtic cross wall sculpture today. Here is a pic I took of the original (made from a non-drying clay) before I started applying latex for the mold:

I am only up to coat #4 of latex right now. It will take about another dozen coats, so with drying time (about two hours in between coats) I will probably be applying latex till Thursday. Then it will have to cure for a day or two before I can move on to the next step, which is making a mother mold around it. (This will need to be from something rigid, such as plaster. It prevents the latex mold from losing its shape when the hydrostone is poured in.) After that, the hydrostone can be poured in, and then it has to dry before I can paint it. I'll be sure and post a pic here when I have one finished.

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Newest oil painting, and a nice letter from a customer :)

2006-06-05T18:40:00.000-04:00

I didn't get a chance to post a pic of my latest oil painting, because I had family visiting over the weekend. This is another in my Windows of Imagination series.... this one is called "Purple Fantasy":

Oils on canvas
8" x 10"

I also got the nicest note from the woman who commissioned my most recent miniature dog portrait (the one I posted about a few days ago.) She says,"Miss Frieda arrived yesterday and she is absolutely the most adorable little Diva possible. You did a tremendous job and I am so pleased with it."..."Thank you so much. Your work was right on and captured my little one's personality." It's always nice to hear that someone is so pleased with my work. (If you would like information about having your own dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or other pet's portrait painted, please stop by my web site.)

Today I worked on adding mosaic stones to one of those wall sculptures, and I am working on a Celtic cross sculpture. Pics of those will follow as soon as they are finished!

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art, celtic art,landscape paintings,miniatures,sculpture,animal art,oil paintings

Gothic Wall Sculpture

2006-06-01T16:56:00.000-04:00

After a couple of weeks, I finally finished this sculpture. It's in hydrostone, with a faux stone finish in acrylics. It measures about 9" high by about 6" wide, and can hold a candle, flower vase, gargoyle, or other small items. Here is a pic I took of it with a votive candle on the shelf:

I don't have it on my web site yet, but I did put it in my etsy shop.
Now I'm thinking I need to make one to have here at the house! :)
I hope to do one with a mosaic on the background next...

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,miniatures,sculpture,castles

Wall sculpture in progress

2006-05-31T17:10:00.000-04:00

I finally have a pic to share of the wall sculpture I've been working on! It's done in hydrostone, and made to look like a stone archway, with a little shelf just big enough for putting a small statue or votive candle on. It's still in progress, because it's not painted yet. (The white is the color of the hydrostone.)

I see a lot of possibilities for these, with a small fresco painted on the background, or even a mosaic set into the arch. I'll post more pics when it's finished.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,castles

Sculpture snafu in my studio

2006-05-29T18:24:00.000-04:00

Today I was getting ready to finally cast a sculpture I've been working on for the past couple of weeks, and I accidentally broke the mother mold. (This is the mold that goes outside the latex mold to enable it to keep its shape when the hydrostone is poured in, till it sets.) So now I have to make a new mother mold, which sets the sculpture back yet another couple of days. I started to make the new one today, but ran out of materials and have to go out and get them tomorrow to be able to finish.

I wonder if Rodin had days like this...

The good news, I got some concrete materials today to make a couple of outdoor pieces. Those will have to wait. Hopefully later in the week I can post pics of the new sculpture, if I don't run into any more snafus!

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Miniature Dog Portrait Painting

2006-05-26T16:39:00.000-04:00

Today I shipped a miniature commissioned dog portrait I'd been working on. The little dog's name is Freida, nicknamed "Freida the Diva" by her owner, so that's what I called the painting. Isn't she a cutie? Her owner doesn't know what breed she is. She looks like she's got some terrier in her for sure. The painting is 2" x 1-1/2", matted to fit a 5" x 7" frame. Here's a pic of just the painting:

To see other examples of animal paintings I've done, or to check on the possibility of having your own pet's portrait painted, please visit the animal art page of my web site.

Yesterday I finished working on the latex mold for that sculpture I've been working on. This evening I can make the mother mold (the mold that goes around the latex mold to help it keep its shape until the sculpture inside sets up.) I'll post a pic as soon as I get going on the sculpture. I can't wait! I always seem to get impatient at this stage.

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Miniature mosaic ACEO

2006-05-25T17:59:00.000-04:00

Since I had mosaics on the brain this week, I did an ACEO which is actually a mini mosaic, as opposed to a painting which looks like a mosaic, like I did earlier this week. In keeping with the ACEO size restrictions, this is 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". It was created on a water theme, and is entitled "River Dance". It reminds me a bit of the swirls of color in van Gogh's Starry Night.

I also finished putting the final coat of latex on for the mold on the sculpture I've been working on. Now I have to wait till tomorrow before I can do anything with it. Oops, thundering here- time to shut down the computer!

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,aceo,miniatures,sculpture

Mosaic inspired paintings

2006-05-24T09:04:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to do some mosaic work lately, but have been painting all this week. This is the result! I've done two paintings on 6" x 6" gallery canvases, which look like tile mosaics. One is a sun, and one is a moon:

"LE SOLEIL" (The Sun)
Original oils

"LA LUNE" (The Moon)
Original oils

The paintings continue around the sides of the canvas:

Because they have a Mediterranean feel, I gave them titles in French. Both are listed on ebay now. The pictures link to the auctions (links open a new window).

I've also been working on a new hydrostone sculpture, but am still in the process of working with the latex for the mold. It takes a few days to build up enough coats. Stay tuned for an update on this piece.

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Newest oil paintings- a trio of flowers

2006-05-19T16:17:00.000-04:00

I finished the third painting in a set of three yesterday. Each painting is oils on gallery wrap canvas, 10" x 20", of a single flower; a daisy, a poppy, and an iris.

I really do love flowers. They just make me happy! Planting them, smelling them, painting them.... while painting these I was reminded of how, as a child, I would often come in from playing outdoors, with a handful of whatever flowers I could find for my mother. Sometimes all I could find were dandelions, but she would take them and put them in a vase on the kitchen windowsill all the same.

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Newest painting and sculpture

2006-05-16T20:58:00.000-04:00

I haven't had a chance to post on here for about a week and a half, partly from being busy, and partly because we've had thunderstorms quite a lot lately. Having once had a telephone and some other things get completely fried when lightning hit near the house, I figure I'll spare my computer from that fate if I can.

Here is my latest abstract painting, entitled INFINITY:

Original oils
24" x 36"

Although I primarily work in realism, I do enjoy creating abstracts as well. They provide the artist with a creative outlet which is unlimited in scope or vision. I find them very freeing in that regard.

I also experimented this week with a different color finish for one of my dogwood wall plaques. I make these from hydrostone, which is the hardest of the gypsum cements. Previously I had always painted these dogwood blossom pieces with a faux stone finish, but decided to try one with a faux bronze finish instead.

DOGWOOD BLOSSOM
Acrylics on hydrostone
2-3/4" x 2-1/2"

I hope to post pics of some other pieces later this week!

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New giclee prints and updates to my web site

2006-05-02T19:36:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the day making some much-needed updates to my web site. I can now offer giclee prints (on canvas and on fine art paper) of more of my paintings, which is something I've had people asking about for a while. Here is a link to the new page of my site, which I've called Prints & Gifts. I don't have all of them on there yet, but I was glad to get part of it set up today.
Here are pics of a couple of the paintings I can now offer as giclee prints:

PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY
From an original oil painting
This painting is one from my American Vistas series, which celebrates the diversity of wonderful landscapes which may be found across the US.

READY TO GO!
From an original acrylic painting
This painting depicts one of the dalmatians rescued by the Save the Dalmatians charity, for whom I often list my art. I will be donating $10 from the sale of each print to help these folks, who have a wonderful program for the rescue and medical care of senior dalmatians in need of loving homes.

I plan to add some of my jewelry and other creations to this new section of my web site soon.

Curious about Giclees?
Giclees are a modern means of producing reproductions of a painting which come as close as possible to capturing the color and feel of the original. The special archival pigments are designed to have a longevity which meets or exceeds that of traditional watermedia. Giclees make an affordable alternative to originals, making the artwork available at a fraction of the cost of the original painting. Sometimes they are signed and numbered, or enhanced by the artist to make each one unique. They should not be confused with images printed by home computer printers. Regular computer printer inks are not formulated the same way, and have not been specially designed to have the archival properties of true giclee prints.

art,blog,weblog,wwao,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,charity art,animal art,oil paintings

Miniature paintings

2006-05-01T18:44:00.000-04:00

According to my mom, I've always loved making tiny things. I still do, and I often create miniature paintings. Sometimes these are my way of playing around with ideas for larger works, and sometimes I just want to paint something small for its own sake. I've got lots of examples of miniatures I've already sold on the miniatures page of my web site, but here are a couple of examples which are currently available:

EVENING LIGHT
Original Acrylics

SOLITUDE
Original Acrylics

HURON SUNSET
Original Acrylics

Some people who collect miniatures have an affinity for tiny art, and others get them for use in 1/12th scale dollhouses.

art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,miniatures

Flowers, flowers, I love spring!

2006-04-28T18:21:00.000-04:00

I've spent this week visiting my parents, so I haven't been online to post as much this week. The apple trees and lilacs were in bloom there. I trimmed some branches and put them in a vase for my mom, just like I did when I was little. The violets and bluets were blooming in the yard too.

I love spring! The colors and scents of everything in bloom always makes me want to paint flowers. Since I've been out of the studio this week, I'm looking forward to painting.... and puttering in the flower beds, of course!

Violets have always been one of my favorites. Here is a sculpture I did of a common blue violet:

The photo above links to a page about this sculpture on my web site.

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Monet and spring

2006-04-25T08:19:00.000-04:00

Monet has always been one of the biggest influences on my work. The impressionists just had a way of capturing the mood of a scene. There is a series of paintings by Monet (I think there are five in it) which depicts a cathedral in France. The paintings are all from more or less the same side, though the angle and vantage point changes somewhat. The really striking thing, though, is the way the mood is different in each one, just because the weather conditions and time of day at the time changed the light and the colors. The brightest uses soft pastel hues, like when you have a rosy sunrise and it tints the surrounding landscape, as if with a giant rose-hued brush. The darkest uses lots of deep grays and very somber tones. That one was before or after a storm.

I played around with using a similar composition to some of Monet's paintings a few times, just for fun. Here are a couple of pieces I did which were inspired by Monet's work directly:

This one has a little girl and her family dog out picking flowers, in an idyllic setting. This painting sold to benefit Save the Dalmatians, a canine rescue charity I help support, but prints of it are now available.

This one depicts a garden bridge at the famous Parc de Monceau in Paris. While visiting there (and having seen some of Monet's work at the Musee D'Orsay a few days before) I was reminded of Monet's painting of the bridge in the Japanese garden, and had to paint this one.

I'm out of town and away from my studio for a few days this week. I can't wait to get back to the easel. Spring always makes me want to paint flowers and landscapes!

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blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,landscape paintings,acrylic paintings,charity art,animal art,florals

New cat oil painting finished!

2006-04-22T16:51:00.000-04:00

I finished that other cat ACEO I was working on finishing last night:

TIRED TABBY
Original oils
2-1/2" x 3-1/2"

I haven't listed it in auction, but if I do I'll post a link. [added later:] Here is the link! I also made some earrings this week:

Celtic Tree of Life Earrings

Zen Moonflower Earrings

And this set, which was inspired by the works of Kandinsky, consisting of a pair of earrings and an origami trinket box:

I enjoy working on these other projects, in addition to painting. They provide another outlet for my creativity, but also give me a chance to think about ideas for paintings while I'm working on them.

art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,aceo, celtic art,miniatures,animal art,oil paintings

What I've been working on today

2006-04-21T19:43:00.000-04:00

Today I've been trying to finish another cat ACEO oil painting I started this week. This one is of an orange tabby, getting ready to have a nap. The composition is similar to the other cat painting I finished this week, only because that happened to be how the cat is in the photo I'm using. I had hoped to post a pic of it as a work in progress, but since it's cloudy here, the photo didn't turn out too well. It's nearly finished, hopefully tomorrow I can take a decent pic to share.

I've also been working on some assemblage art pieces this week, mainly earrings. I'll be photographing those tomorrow too, if the weather cooperates.

Thanks for stopping in! Have a great weekend!

art,blog,weblog,original artwork,
wwao,aceo,miniatures,sculpture,animal art,oil paintings

About my dog.......

2006-04-20T17:30:00.001-04:00

Since my dog spends a lot of time here in my studio with me, I thought I should devote a blog entry to her. I found my dog, Shilah, at the area Humane Society two months after I had lost my last dog to severe illness. (She was also a Humane Society rescue, but I got her as a pup.) I went to the shelter "just to see", and visited with a few of the dogs there. They had a quiet room where the person and dog could interact quietly, without the noise and distraction of all the animals in the shelter cages.

As soon as they brought her into the room, she ran over to where I was standing, leaned against my legs, and looked up at me with a big "aren't I cute?" doggie smile. I knew she was the one.

The ladies at the shelter told me that she was about two years old, and had lived her entire life till then outside. I guess the person who owned her had never taken her to a vet, so she wasn't spayed. She had ended up pregnant and had given birth to a litter of puppies (I don't know how many.) As winter was coming on, she had been brought in with her puppies by a concerned neighbor, who feared that she and the pups would starve or die of the cold. The owner said they didn't care. She had a patchy coat, and her teats were still visibly hanging down from nursing her pups. One ear drooped, and you could see her ribs. Despite all that, she was filled with hope and still willing to love people.

All the pups had gotten adopted, but nobody had wanted Shilah. She had been at the shelter for three months, and had been scheduled to be destroyed twice before, but they hadn't had the heart to do it, given how sweet she was. Normally the dogs become very stressed by the noise and being in a cage there, but I guess to Shilah it was an improvement, since she now had food and shelter. She went home with me the next day.

It became clear to me right away that Shilah had been mistreated. She was afraid of any loud noises, sudden movement, and any large men with low voices, even on the tv. Her posture would change and she would run and hide if I picked up a broom or yardstick. Although she couldn't tell me about her past, she had obviously been beaten and had things thrown at her. She was afraid of plastic grocery bags.

That was over six years ago. Shilah no longer runs away from a mop or broom. She has learned that she doesn't have to be afraid of plastic bags, and knows that I bring food and other goodies home in those. She knows she has a home where she is loved and safe.

Crow oil painting.... my latest ACEO

2006-04-20T14:42:00.000-04:00

I finished this one yesterday, but didn't get a chance to post it on here.

WATCHFUL CROW
Original oils on canvas, mounted to archival museum board
Currently available on ebay!

Please note: The text shown above does not appear across the actual painting.

More about ACEOs...
For those who don't know, ACEOs are a highly collectible form of art which has become quite popular with collectors. ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals. They must be 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" in size. The size enables them to fit into protective trading card sleeves, although many collectors mat and frame these pieces as you might with any other artwork. One advantage to ACEOs is the fact that their size enables even people with limited space to collect original art. Also, they are generally much more affordable than larger works, so collectors can add work by artists whose creations they might otherwise not be able to afford.

Back to painting!.......

art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,aceo,miniatures,animal art,oil paintings

Painting vs. other stuff that's not as much fun

2006-04-20T09:06:00.000-04:00

I've been getting more painting done this week, to the exclusion of other things which don't seem to do themselves.... No, no, must stop painting and do the dishes/do the laundry/eat/etc. It's weird, I get on a roll, and just want to keep painting.

The creative mind is a funny thing. Some days, boom, it's there. The ideas are flowing. Images go from my head to the canvas, and it seems that the brush is just a conduit, moving as if on its own. I remember reading a quote by van Gogh which makes mention of this very thing, how at times the brush will seem to move of its own volition. He also said that at other times, ("lean times" I believe he called them) the artist would be staring at a blank canvas, waiting for ideas to come. Of course, it's a little scary to think I have something in common with a man who eventually cut off his own ear. If he were alive today, he'd be put on meds, and we'd see him on talk shows discussing something horrible about his childhood.

Ahh, enough rambling. This is what happens if I get on here to post before I've had enough tea.

Time for more tea. Earl gray. Hot. :)

art,blog,weblog,wwao

Sleepy Kitty Original oil painting ACEO

2006-04-19T11:57:00.000-04:00

A cat works so hard! This sleepy calico has decided it's time for a nap beside the flower pots!

SLEEPY KITTY
Medium: Original oils
Support: Canvas on archival museum board
Dimensions: 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"
NOW AVAILABLE on Ebay

I've been creating miniatures for years, but haven't done any ACEOs in a while. At first when I started painting ACEOs, they seemed huge compared to the tiny 1/12th scale dollhouse miniatures I have created. Those are often less than an inch in size. I guess it's all relative to what someone is used to creating!

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AL FRESCO new wine still life

2006-04-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

AL FRESCO
Original oils
8" x 10"

This is my other latest oil, featuring a glass of red wine on a rustic wooden table, outdoors in a sunlit vinyard. This painting is fresh off the easel, and is currently available in my ebay store.

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Newest Oil painting- an abstract landscape

2006-04-17T18:23:00.000-04:00

I just completed another painting in my WINDOWS OF IMAGINATION series.

WINDOW TO SUMMER
Original Oils on gallery canvas
24" x 24"
Currently available in my ebay store

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Dalmatian assemblage art to benefit charity

2006-03-29T07:25:00.000-05:00

This piece is being listed to benefit Save the Dalmatians, a registered non-profit charity.

It was created by first carving a block with a reverse of the image, then applying archival ink (a technique known as block printing, which dates back hundreds of years.) Then color was added to part of the image, which is surrounded by a border of faux gold leaf.

"NOBLE FRIEND"

Visit my ebay store!

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Koi painting.... my latest oil

2006-03-21T16:50:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest oil painting in my Windows of Imagination series, which features elements from nature in a modern, contemporary style. The "frame" is actually part of the painting, using a traditional technique called "trompe l'oeil", literally, "trick the eye".

NIGHT AND DAY
Original oils on canvas
24" x 24"
copyright 2006, Teresa M. Turner

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Newest painting for charity!

2006-03-02T14:09:00.000-05:00

Here is my newest painting, which will be listed shortly on ArtByUs to benefit charity. This painting is of my cousin's dog, Tucker. itsn'e he a cutie? I had made Tucker a red bandana and heart shaped squeaky toy for Valentine's Day. He fell asleep with his head on the toy after playing for a while, and I just had to paint him that way.

SLEEPY TIME
Oils on linen
8" x 10"

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Special March promotion for Save the Dalmatians charity!

2006-02-28T17:17:00.000-05:00

I am having a special promotion for the month of March, to benefit the Save the Dalmatians canine rescue group. For the month of March, 10% of any sales from my Etsy store will be donated to this wonderful rescue charity. In my etsy store, I have not only original paintings and sculptures, but also mixed media and functional decor pieces for the home, which make great gifts for yourself or a loved one.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY ETSY STORE

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Orchid photographs

2006-02-27T05:30:00.000-05:00

Last week I had the chance to visit a local conservatory and see an exhibit of orchids and other tropical plants. The colors were amazing! Many of the plants were related to native ones we have here, such as different varieties of lady slipper orchids. I took my 35mm camera and tripod along, and took a bunch of photographs. (I'm old fashioned when it comes to photographing, I much prefer using film!)

The images will be added to my web site soon, with matted 8 x 10's available for purchase. I also have plans to do some paintings and create some digitally altered images using the photos.

Here are two pics of some of the orchids.......

Images copyright 2006

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Web site updates!

2006-02-24T17:11:00.000-05:00

I have spent most of this week making some much-needed updates to my web site. I've changed the color scheme, and have added a lot more pics of my art; pieces which have sold, as well as new pieces which were just completed this month.

Also, Worldwide Women Artists, an international women's art collective I co-founded with friend and fellow artist Laura Iverson, started expanding our group blog this week. The group blog may be found HERE.

Now it's Friday, and I'm looking forward to getting back to painting! :)

Assemblage Art!

2006-02-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine (and fellow artist and WWAO member) Griselda Tello recently introduced me to the idea of using dominoes in mixed media assemblage art. I've already sold several of them, but here are a couple of the most recent ones I've created.

DRAGONFLY DANCE

Currently available for purchase
in my ebay store.

VINTAGE ROSE

Currently available for purchase
in my ebay store.

I really enjoy the variety of materials and techniques which can be used in creating these pieces. The ones above have ink, paper, faux gold and silver leaf, micro glitter, paint, colored pencil, glass, and ribbon.

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Most Recent Paintings

2006-02-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy several months since I last posted to my blog. The holidays came and went, and now here we are already a month and a half into the new year!

Most of the paintings I've done since my last posting have already sold, so I'll stick with sharing the newest ones which are still available as of the time I'm writing this.

One series I started this winter is my American Vistas series, which features landscapes showcasing the wonderful variety of terrain we have in this country. My latest in the series is called "Spacious Skies":

Oils on canvas
16" x 20"

The latest painting in my Joyful Gardens series, entitled "En Fleur" was just completed over the weekend:

Acrylics on canvas
24" x 36"

Here is another abstract I painted last week, entitled "Cosmic Light":

Acrylics on canvas
10" x 60"

And here is the latest from my newest series, the Windows of Imagination series. This one is entitled "Sapphire Vision":

Oils on canvas
8" x 10"

Some of these are currently available at a huge savings on the ArtByUs web site:

Click here to visit my current listings on ArtByUs

That's all for today's post! Thanks for reading! :)

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What I've been up to...

2005-10-13T12:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I had *hoped* to start posting weekly beginning in September, but things have been too crazy! I did manage to *finally* finish a sculpture of two jack-in-the-pulpit flowers I'd been working on for ages. Here is a picture:

I've also started doing paintings to help support the South Carolina Awareness and Rescue for Equines. So far, I've painted two of their rescues, Sally and Cy. For the painting of Sally, I did an oil painting based on Monet's famous "Haystacks at Giverny". Here are the paintings, both of which will be available soon in my ebay store to benefit the charity:

Sally in the Sun

Seasons of Change

I've also been adding a lot of pics to my web site, so be sure to check there if you haven't visited in a while. Thanks for stopping in!

Teresa

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About The Artist

2005-07-27T11:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog! I have been a full time artist for over 12 years, creating mainly mixed media sculptures. In 1999 I returned to my childhood interest in painting, working primarily in acrylics.

Although I grew up in Ohio, I lived in Canada for several years. Frequent travel in the US and Canada, as well as recent travels in Europe provide me with the ideas and inspiration for many of my pieces. I have a great love of the outdoors, as well as a lifelong interest in history, which greatly influence my work.

I now work in a variety of media, though most of my two dimensional pieces are acrylics on canvas. Other two dimensional media I use include oils, watercolors, pen and ink, graphite, and gouache. My sculptures are mixed media, employing a variety of ancient techniques. Most of my sculptures are done in leather, using methods which date back to the middle ages. Some were created with porcelain elements as well. Other sculptures (such as my gargoyles) are created in hydrostone.

My pieces appear in private collections throughout the US and Canada, as well as throughout Europe and the UK. Additionally, pieces have been added to locations in the public sector, including a framed green man sculpture which was purchased by the City of Willoughby, Ohio. As a recipient of the Mayor's Choice Award, this piece now remains on permanent display in their Town Hall.

I have been honored to receive several awards for my work, and was selected to be the featured artist at the Geauga Parks District's Nature Art Festival in 2002. To see examples of my work, please visit my web site or my ebay store.

More info will be added to this blog soon.

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