PALM TREES?

Yup!  I guess Tamara means "Palm Tree" in some language.  That's funny!  They aren't as fun and whimsical as I like to work with...not sure how to jazz them up without making them NOT a palm tree anymore.  Even the painting ideas are boring.  We'll see??  I'll keep you posted!

TREE IDEAS

These pen and ink trees are fun to do.  I was inspired by the Bristol paper I found at Micheal's, it was on sale.  Yes, paper inspires me. A sheet of crisp white paper is so full of possibility!

I'm trying to capture some landscape.  Instead of always focusing on a tree I want to develop some of the hills and vegetation in the paintings.  However, I don't care for these clouds.  My new goal now, is to figure out how to "fix" them.  As always, I start out with one idea and then just finish with fixing all the mistakes. Smooth or Hot Press watercolor paper can be tricky (for me) to paint on.  It's so smooth the paint will pool or sit on top of the paper creating odd color variations. The "fix" will start with fighting the smooth surface of this paper and making the color look fresh and effortless.  We will know better....lots of effort!!

More of the pen and ink on Bristol paper.

EGG ART

Who does this?  I always sharpie my hard boiled eggs.  It's useful, I tell myself, because that way family knows which eggs are hard boiled and which aren't.  BUT really I just want to draw something on those perfect white egg-shaped canvasses!

Working on a bunch of new tree paintings.

I'm using a 005 micro pen.

These have a sense of texture and....what's that called when you have a map that shows height and land shape?  Topography I just googled it.  I used to love looking at those maps as a kid.

I was really interested in the depth of the tree with this painting.  I wanted a lot of the branches to overlap.

TIME TO REELLAAXXXX!

Try something new and be inspired,

hang out with friends,

don't get bored,

eat lots of junk!

After all the soap making and all the bazaars trying to sell soap I am looking forward to NOT MAKING SOAP! Time to hang out and be silly.....but I can't wait to use my gift certificates and get something new at Blick for my paintings. I have a meeting with Rose Spring Gallery on the 27th. I need at least one new painting for that. Well not need but really want!

IN THE WORKS

First I want to tell you about a GREAT site I just found called Handmade Artists' Shop!  This is a great place to sell online.  User friendly, great aesthetics and new so you aren't completely lost in a sea of artists.  I'm all signed up and ready to go.

The sky on the owl painting is tricky!  I have to use super clean water and wash paint around each little owl and branch.  Anyone know of a better way?  I used gamboge yellow on the trunks of the trees on the painting below.  The yellow color I used on the birdie painting was yellow iron oxide not quinacridone.  The iron oxide colors have a dull browish color.  I'm still working out all my color blending.  I need bright colors that POP!  What color tricks do you have?

I WAS, BUT I DIDN'T

I was going to add the paper leaves....

They don't look so bad in these photos,  BUT they really don't show up very well.  I'm not an intuitive collage artist.  So I decided not to add them.

Here is the new tree I'm working on.

OH, and this is my new pencil cup.  It is the most amazing cup!  My neighbor made it from tulip wood.  He makes the most beautiful things out of  wood.  I'm encouraging him to keep trying to sell his work online.  When I have a link I'll get it out to you. 

WHERE'S THE PAINT?

Can you see the heart?

This painting will be called "Eighteen" Guess why?

These are almost ready for paint.  I joined Paint Party Friday all the same.  Hope I'm forgiven!  Next post I'll have something painted...then it won't matter that I didn't link specifically to this post.  OPPS!  I read the first linky party rules after I posted to Paint Party Friday, next time, got it! The owl picture is blurry I know.  Silly camera wouldn't turn it's flash on.  It will be clear as a bell next time I get the shot.

What I really want to work on?  Soap.  SO silly!  I flip back an forth between painting and soaping.  Life would be easier if I would choose one.  Not gunna happen.  Sorry Hon, Paul hates the soap mess when I'm working on a new batch.  I just got some new packages and ideas for presentation.  I have to wait for a shipment and then I can get started.  Ever heard of tomato leaf soap?  I can't write about it enough, it's so unique and wonderful! :)

THERE'S A BIRDIE IN MY TREE!

Another tree I'm working on!  Little red birds on the branches.

Fred!

Fred, which is the artist signature on this painting, has been hanging in my house since the 1970's.  My Mom got it when I was in elementary school.  He has always been a source of inspiration for me.  Not sure why?  BUT I still love him and Mom let me take him and hang him in my first house.  Which is still the same house we have now.  So much for moving into a little home because it would just be a starter home.  ANYWAY, I don't really know anything about Fred.  No one really knows or has any ideas.  Do you?

ANOTHER STEP IN THE PROCESS!

Is it finished?  Should I add the black and white news print leaves?  I'm thinking so.  My hesitation is that I don't normally take that next step and make my stuff collage-ish. 

Funny story, I was trying to add the glue to the circles for the glitter when I squeezed the stupid bottle and a huge blob of glue splashed across the painting.  There are mistakes in this picture (the lower left green balls are smudged.) Grrrr this painting has been a challenge. The leaves would cover the smudge issues.  Have I properly given all the excuses to ADD THOSE LEAVES?  I need to get over it and on with it. :)

There is a giveaway at this site: Dainty Squid One of my favorite sites! Check it out.....

WHAT I'M WORKING ON....

Wish I had taken a picture of this before I "fixed" it.  Oh man was it ugly.  I don't like sepia.  Every time I use sepia in my trees they look like they were in a fire.  So I added some warm burnt umber and burnt sienna.

I think I want to use green glitter and some collage elements like leaves from news print.  Not sure.....Any good ideas?

I should move on to the next painting.  The challenge of, "make it work" screams out to me to finish everything I start.  (Thanks Tim Gunn)  So I have a ton of paintings waiting while I make this sucker work.

MURAL PAINTING MADNESS!

This is one of the things I've been working on this past month.  HUGE mural at Venture Kidz Day Care Center.  The hall is 60ft long and I will be painting both sides.  The tree above is the first named "big tree", real creative name, I know!  All the colors were picked for me...I may try to pick my own colors for the next trees.  We'll see if I can get away with it. 

I was "OUT TO LUNCH" for way to long. BUT I have tons of work to share.  I'll try to get on my blog more often and start posting regular like a good blogger. 

OUT TO LUNCH

We are at Portland City Grill hanging out with friends for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is at the top of a big building in down town Portland. Really cool view of Portland. Minh is 81/2 months pregnant and really ready for the baby to get here! I just got done with her baby shower. I will post pictures soon. Today I'm off to the beach, Depoe Bay for an art retreat! Yehaw! The only problem with all these events, I've run out of time for blogging....I'll be back with regular posts and fun pictures next week. I need to get some work done so I have pictures to post. :)

My SIL MinhHai and I!

BIG BALLS

Trying something new!  I used pen size 01 for the balls and 005 for the trunk. I think I'm going to make the balls crazy colors.  I'll do the trunk traditional brown and green grass. I usually stick to three colors for the balls but there are so many designs.  What colors? Need some rules! :) Hmmmm still thinking.....

TREE PAINTING FOR KIM

Rules for this one include, classic swirls closed up and one size pen.  Sometimes I keep the swirls open and they lead into other details.  I usually use a size 00, 01 and 005 but this time just an 01.  I've started the painting process.  It will match the painting Rich.  I'll use gamboge yellow, crimson red, and then some typical browns. 

TREE PAINTING WITH BIRDS

Some of the birds are asleep!

Strange swirls...they look like snails.

Another painting I'm working on.  I added little birds and some strange circle designs.  It's hard when I get half way through the drawing stage and start changing the design.  Sometimes half of the drawing will look like a totally different painting.  SO, I always have to mentally give the painting a set of rules.  Like in this one, no full swirls without black dots or something like that....I've forgotten the rules already! HA!

NURSERY DECORATIONS

I helped my Sis-In-Law with her nursery awhile ago.  The butterfly, dragonfly, moth painting is pen & ink and watercolor.  My favorite medium to work with!  Then we stuck a bunch of vinyl cling decorations on the wall.  Above the door I painted an owl.  LOVE OWLS!  I think I'll make a few more owls up there and get rid of the vinyl clings.  They don't match the owl.  Anyway, it was a fun day.

AIRPLANE BARF BAG ART

 The last time I flew, in the summer to San Diego, there was a bunch of turbulence.

I'm use to that.  I fly a lot.  I grew up on an airstrip.  My family owns two airplanes.  We fly to Salem for breakfast on Sunday.  My Dad is a retired Capt. for Delta Airlines.  WHY ALL OF THE SUDDEN DO I HAVE A FEAR OF FLYING?  Oh the mind is a tricky thing.

So while I'm having the panic attacks and near nervous break down, I drew goofy trees on the barf bags so it wasn't obvious that I might need them...the one on the bottom, which is hard to see I know, is an cool idea.  A tree that's roots crawl down into the water and become tentacles like and octopus.  Can't wait to design that one!

MAGGIE & MONSTER

 The little sketches I posted earlier were for these magnets.

 Monsters are so much fun to draw...the combinations are endless....

 The monster is trying to be gentle with his flowers!

New tree for my Uncle Rich...I don't like the octopus looking roots in the front.  Hopefully I can "fix" them, somehow....

Also, I signed up for another ATC (artist trading card) swap!  Valentine themed.  I get so inspired by ATC swaps.  :)

ELF LOVERS EVERYWHERE

Elf sketches I made for my friend Dee!  I was working on them before Christmas but then I got so busy I put them aside where they stayed for awhile.  Elves are surprisingly specific.  Not to be confused with gnomes, fairies, pixies or dwarves.  I learned all this from Dee and then later from both of my sisters who had opinions. 

RANDOM NEWS

 The art bag on the lazy susan above is my all time favorite art supply organizer.  I love anything that organizes.  I will reorganize things that don't need reorganization just to put off something I'm nervous to do.

 Another goofy button/badge idea for the site.  TV's and Art In Flight don't really go together.

This one seems boring.  It does have an airplane but.....