Filed under Amazing Animals, Oil Paintings I Love
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
I WISH I could tell you that the above is my work. This is the one that got me drooling lately and wanting to try the “Acrylic Pour” technique. This one has the added effect of “Crackles,” which the artist then filled with gold. Gorgeous, huh!
I got the materials together after clearing off my drafting table. I finally got through the intimidated stage and have tried two techniques I found on YouTube over the past couple of days.
So far, I’ve made messes and had a lot of fun. Mostly, I’m learning what NOT to do again.
The example above was done using the remnants of previous pours by the artist. I have used two canvases thus far. I’m HOPING that I can PEEL the paint off the canvases and use the pieces to try to do my own version of the piece above.
Happily, I’m in the playing and experimenting stage, so I’m like a kid with finger paint, involved in the colors, the FEEL of everything, rather than worrying about whether my experiment is successful or not.
If I end up with something interesting, I’ll take a pic and show you. If not, I’ll have another fun time playing and learning.
I hope that YOU find something fun today, too.
Filed under playing in my art room
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you remember that I was devastated when I tried to winter-over elephant ear plants my friend, Laufrain, had given me, but failed. I re-planted them and nothing at all happened. I finally bought some ‘bulbs’ (is that what you call them?) from an online nursery. I got six and spaced them around the yard a bit. As you can see, they seem to be happy, and I’m thrilled.
I’m especially happy because my square foot garden is over, except for harvesting onions, and our tomato plants are looking very sad. Many of our flowers have just given up in the heat, even though we have an irrigation system.
These are to the left side of our front porch. They seem to be smiling, too. They have good protection from gusty winds and blowing rain here, too.
These are on the far side of the house. They seem to be doing fine, but aren’t as large as the others.
I just love these huge leaves!
And the surprise of the day is here. We have an area around the house we have dubbed “civilized,” keeping it mowed, etc. The edge of this drops off into woods we just let grow wild. A lot of yard waste we throw “off the edge of the world” here. If you look really carefully, you can see – two batches of elephant ears! I threw the failed bulbs here and some of them have NOW made leaves! Wonders will never cease. :0)
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
When we got home from errands this morning, I brought the finished “peacock” out to his place in the yard.
This was a pain to re-paint, due to how wide and unwieldy he is. There are lots of angles that hide from you as you paint, and he doesn’t want to ‘sit’ quietly, making it easier to work on him. He also had lost most of his beads, so those had to be replaced.
He used to be high up on the tower above where we put the “Belly Vested Whapadoo,” –
but I thought he could enjoy a new view.
There are some other, smaller pieces we’ll have to take down from the side of the house, and some larger ones, like the robot at the end of the driveway, but we’re due for summer to come roaring back, so I’m going to take a bit of a break.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis projects, Lewis yard art
New Territory!
I finally re-lost some weight and this morning entered new territory – okay, only .2 of a single pound, but we have to take our wins where we find them, right?
I am trying to take one day at a time, rather than looking at the whole of my goal at once. One day at a time, one pound (or less :0) ) at a time.
I’ve done well this week on my exercising, as well. Monday I did 3 short sessions with my weights and then my regular yoga stretching session. Yesterday I did 25 minutes on my elliptical trainer and then my yoga. Today is weights and yoga again.
I’m having trouble drinking all the water I’m supposed to. I am TRYING to drink 4 bottles a day. I’m a coffee-holic, so I’m trying to make myself wait to have another cup until I’ve downed another bottle of water. Sometimes that is successful. (I just got up and got a bottle of water from beside the chair in the living room and will try to sip while I’m typing.) I’m hoping that my body gets used to all this water, rather than feeling as if my eyeballs are floating as I run to the bathroom. (can THAT count as exercise, too?) :0)
I’m feeling more motivated as I move onward and downward on my efforts to lose the lard.
Filed under Challenges, Changes, DIET!, Dreams, exercise
Animal Friendships – Jonas Grinevicius and Mindaugas Balciauskas – BoredPanda.com
These pictures make me hopeful about the world. I hope they bring up your spirits, too.
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal friendships
My drafting table is covered with paint. I”M covered with paint. One wrap-around canvas is covered with paint. I splooped some dots of paint on my shirt, even though I wore my denim apron.
I’m letting my mess dry now, waiting to see if I got any “cells” in my paint. Even though I basically made a mess of the “Acrylic Pour” technique, I had a lot of fun trying.
Next time I try, I’m going to try a different technique that I also saw on YouTube. As usual, the result was not at ALL what I pictured and I’m at the “learning-what-NOT-to-do-NEXT time” part of the learning process. That doesn’t keep me from having a blast playing. :0)
On a more successful note, I finished painting our yard art “peacock” yesterday and glued on lots of beads today, around his neck and on his ‘feathers.’ If the glue does well, I’ll bring him back out in the yard tomorrow and take some pics.
I hope YOU are doing something fun and/or challenging, too!
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Baby Elephants – Inga Korolkovaite – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
“For Petr Václavek of the Czech Republic, inspiration came while he was out on a walk with his kids. Petr said they were collecting pockets full of acorns from the woods near their home. When they got back, they crafted the oak nuts into tiny “acorn elves” that Petr now calls Dubánci.”
Filed under acorn art, Petr Vaclavek - Dubanci.cz
I absolutely LOVE the way she has crafted her sculptures of dogs being real dogs. The poses make me smile. She is a true artist – not only making the art come to life, but making you REACT to her work. She is based in England, and I will look for more to show you.
Filed under ceramics, Christine Cummings
I made it through the 3-minute dumbbell exercises with Denise Austin – barely. Then I rested for quite awhile and did other things. I have just finished another group of exercises with the weights, and plan to do one more group before I give myself a star on my calendar.
I will go and do my yoga stretches in a minute – as soon as I finish this post.
It would be NICE if I could learn to love exercising. It would be WONDERFUL if I had a rush of endorphins. It would be even better if my body had an easier time getting through this stuff. Best of all, I’ll be happy if my tape measure gives me some pats at the end of this month. It would be terrific if I end up stronger, more flexible, and feeling good.
For the moment, though, I’m just working for a star or three on my calendar for the day- a sign that I’m TRYING to take care of myself. I have a chance for 3 stars today –
I’ll keep on keepin’ on
Filed under Challenges, exercise, taking care of yourself
I’ve been using a new face cream. What do you think?
We just got back from doing errands and I’ll fix our lunch in a minute.
The scales are finally beginning to notice my efforts to lose the lard more. I’ve lost 2 pounds in the past 2 days. Re-losing – so no confetti thrown until I’m in new territory.
The new addition to my exercise regimen starts this week, too.
Yesterday I cleaned and started re-painting the “peacock” yard art critter in our shop. The biggest part of the refurb project on this one is gluing new beads on the ‘feathers’ and around his neck. I’ll show you when he goes back outside.
Yesterday I also cleaned off my drafting table in my art room. I gathered my supplies for my “acrylic pour” experimentation. I also watched several YouTube videos on various techniques several really talented people are using. Today I bought some Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner to add to my supplies. I will find a heat gun or grab my hair dryer. Later this afternoon I hope to gather my intimidation and throw it in the trash.
I hope that you’re having a great day, too.
Filed under Gorgeous Glass
Matt Dixon – illustrator – games industry – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Art From Found Things, Matt Dixon - Robot Art
I found an article from 9News about the background of these wonderful signs. The man behind them is community volunteer, Vince Rozmiarek, who was asked by the Indian Hills community center to make a bigger sign for their general announcements – weddings, birthdays, etc. He did that.
On April 1st, he decided to have some fun and wrote, “Indian Hills annexed by Morrison slow down.”
Understandably, it took the community by surprise. And while some realized it was a joke, others contacted police to see if it was legit. He couldn’t believe how many people called the police, and decided to have more fun with the sign. He changes the message every few days. Some of them are his ideas, and he uses some from others.
And aren’t we lucky! :0)
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs, punny
I don’t care that “Nat’l Hugging Day” is January 21st. I saw this today, loved it, and will celebrate today. Are you with me?
Filed under holidays
Hilarious Signs – Taura Sitkauskaite – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
I am at the awkward stage where I would like to try something new in my art room, but I’m feeling intimidated.
I want to try 2 new techniques: impasto painting and acrylic pour painting. My mouth is watering. My dreams are full of efforts to try. And yet I’m still stalling. I have the materials I need. I’ve watched videos. I’m old enough now that feeling intimidated isn’t ‘cute’ anymore – if it EVER was. If my efforts are a complete failure, I can simply throw them away…
Today I’m going to do two things –
THING ONE – I’m going to clean off my drafting table, prepare it for acrylic pour painting, and gather my materials.
THING TWO – I will watch several videos on YouTube so I’m more clear on what I’m trying to do.
And then –
Filed under Challenges, playing in my art room
Filed under Art From Found Things
creativeartworksblog 