On top is a mixed-media piece on canvas that I made last night. I used paper and acrylics for the background, blending several washes over the fibrous paper that I had glued on.

The little "yo-yo" flowers are made from origami paper and some card stock. And of course I used my favorite Royal Coat decoupage medium to throw it all together. I love that stuff.

The canvas is one of those little post-card size ones. I always have a bunch of these on hand. It was the perfect size for me last night after along day of work. Sometimes a huge, looming blank canvas can be a little intimidating, especially when you're tired.

Since fall is here, I decided to color the background in some darker muted colors while the flowers are still pretty vibrant, with the exception of the deep burgundys that also give them an autumn feel.

The image on the bottom is an altered version of my original piece using the hot wax coating effect on my graphics program. I love the dimension and texture this feature adds.

Exotic Flower Linocut

Here's another linocut that I made recently. I had been carrying around the original drawing in my sketch book for weeks, and finally decided that it was fit to print. I transferred it, carved it, slapped some ink on it, and Voila! Some of the prints I left black and white, but the one shown here is filled in with a little watercolor. I like showing the original pink carving slab along with the finished print. It gives you a better sense of process.

Hello Kitty Tarot

Being that it's the end of September, it's time to start thinking of all things Halloween. This Hello Kitty Tarot deck isn't too spooky, but it sure is cute. I've never seen a more adorable "8 Of Swords" in my life! You can peep this deck and more over at Aeclectic Tarot. They have hundreds of beautiful and obscure decks, plus links on where to buy them if you feel the need.

MirrorMask

Last night when I was checking in some items at the library I came across a DVD called "MirrorMask." I rarely have time to actually sit down and watch TV or a movie (I probably sit in front of the television a maximum of 3 hours a week), but I gave this one a chance and took it home to watch. The story is about a fifteen-year-old girl named Helena who works for a circus. Her creative and artistic mind keeps her busy from day to day until her mother falls ill and has to go to the hospital. Blaming it on herself for an argument she had with her mother, Helena "escapes" into dreamland... or does she? The movie has been compared to Alice in Wonderland and one of my all time favorites, Labyrinth (and justly so.) It is a two-hour dreamscape which left me totally enchanted. The CGI effects, animation, painting, set design, and saturated colors were put together with an original style that is hard to find in today's over-hyped blockbusters. "MirrorMask" is definitely one of my new favorites and I encourage you to check it out.

~ Oooh-La-La! ~

Awhile age, Sandra Evertson posted this little Parisian lady on her blog to be re-printed by her readers and made into their own interpretations. I printed her out onto cardstock and had her sitting on my craft table for weeks. I had a total block as to what I was going to do with her until a few days ago...

Ta-Daa! Here she is...a little punk-rock Parisian witch. That's right, I'm thinkin' Halloween already. Her name is Nathalie and she's a little bit naughty and a little bit nice. Thanks again Sandra!

~ ~ Paper Mosaic #3 ~ ~

My latest paper mosaic. This one's small, about post-card size. It was quick and fun. Underneath is the mosaic revamped using a curlicue technique through my paint shop. Making these mosaics is a great way to teach yourself a little more about color theory and even a little composition too. I don't know why, but there's something about glitter glue that makes me perfectly contented each and every time I use it. Just one of those little reasons why I love to create.

~ ~ A Find From The Far East ~ ~

I was in a thrift store the other day and I came across a double-deck set of playing cards in a small black box. The box stated "Far East Playing Cards: 54 cards with typical costumes from China, Indonesia, Japan and India."

I'm not sure when they were made; from the looks of the graphics on the box, I'd say maybe sometime in the '70's. Here's a look at the backs and some of the fronts of the cards.

Some of them are incredibly beautiful, with deep reds and scintillating golds (go ahead and click on the images for some more details).

And at two bucks, they were quite the bargain! This is why I love thrift stores so much. Whenever I leave one with a find like this, my day is made.

Color Palette Generator

Check out the Color Palette Generator; upload a photograph and this application will generate a color palette for you. You can use it to match colors in your home decor or generate some color inspiration for your next art project or craft!

Paper Mosaic #2

Here's another paper mosaic that I've finished. This one was a lot of fun. Click on the image for further detail.