Showing posts with label self portrait. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self portrait. Show all posts

February 24, 2020

She Cried Her Eyes Out...

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to cry?  That's how I've been feeling for awhile now.  Caring for a loved one who has short term memory issues is hard.  I try to keep the words "don't you remember?" out of my vocabulary but...

Taking on most of the daily responsibilities, being a single car family, doctor appointments; worrying about what the future may bring and hoping I can cope; needing to take time for myself - but feel guilty doing so - blah, blah, blah.  We have our good days and bad days.  Tomorrow will be better.


October 18, 2019

Self-Portait

It's been 7 weeks since I had a hip replacement.  I'm happy to say the surgery went well and the hip is healing as it should.  Unfortunately, some nerve damage is really making life miserable.  I've had some treatment and am hoping to feel better soon.

Yesterday, I decided enough with feeling sorry for myself and get in the studio and create!  Not knowing what to work on, I put a hat on my head, took a selfie and started this mixed media piece.

Started with acrylic paints and heavy gesso

spray with water to create drips

Charcoal sketch

Underpainting with oils

This is as far as I got today - need to take a rest

January 20, 2019

Pull Up a Chair...WIP

My oil paints were calling my name.  I took a few selfies...I decided to gesso over an existing painting and create a new work.

palette


gesso over canvas, acrylic paints just to add some color to background but not totally cover up the previous work...charcoal sketch


underpainting



October 14, 2018

Head Shots...

Taking selfies for my website.  It's hard to do...choices to make...

I'm thinking this one is best...




June 25, 2017

Full of Myself (Part 3)

I'm pretty pleased with my self-portrait.  Of course, I took advantage of artistic license and decided NO WRINKLES ALLOWED!  I may be 70+, but in my head I feel much younger!  Except for adding a signature, this piece is done.  


June 19, 2017

Full of myself...

I don't know if I dare admit that this is the beginning of a self-portrait.  (I may deny that once it's done!)  Kinda sorry I wore that blouse too - egad, what was I thinking?!

Charcoal and pencil sketch

underpainting (stage 1)

I did tell you that this is just the beginning, didn't I.... :-0

April 21, 2016

Twice as Nice...

This is my favorite photograph of my twin brother, Barney, and me.   When we were kids, money being tight, my mother made coats for each of us by cutting up my dad's old coat.  Don't you just love our hats!

I decided to make a journal page incorporating the image.



assorted ticket stubs, book pages, postage stamps, washi tape; acrylic paint, stenciling

hand carved circle stamp, script using dip pen

twins cut out of photograph; print on paper bag; heart drawn with 9XXB pencil

a final splatter of white paint and journal page now complete

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July 30, 2014

Mini Diva

This diva drives a mini - a Cooper Mini Clubman.  

Our new home has a two car garage - but a very tight fit.  It was necessary for us to trade one of our bigger cars in and buy something smaller.  I don't usually get too excited about a car.  My husband has always been the one to research a new car for us.  The Cooper Mini was my choice.  The model I chose is a little longer than the Mini Cooper.  It has a third door making access to the backseat easier.  I needed something with a big enough area in the back to accommodate the shipping tubes I use for my artwork.  I love it!





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September 24, 2013

All Packed Up and...

We were all packed and ready to go on our road trip.  Quick as a wink, things changed.  My husband had some health issues and we cancelled our trip.


Worse things have happened.  The good news is he's feeling better.  I know one day soon we will repack and be on the road!

"Canvas Grunged" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen.

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August 23, 2013

Watch this...

Somehow yesterday I misplaced my sports watch.  I don't normally wear a watch.  I do,  however, like to time my daily walks/run.  I keep track of my time - I know, I know - totally insane, but I do it anyway.

I found a Casio sports watch at Kohls today.  It was on sale plus I had a 15% additional off coupon - yippee!  No bells and whistles on this number - it tells me the time, date and it's a stopwatch - what more do I need - not a thing.


I'm quite certain I will now find my old watch...what do you think?

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June 30, 2013

From the Beginning...

I've told you about this book before.  Lark Crafts new book Art Quilt Portfolio "People & Portraits" by Martha Sielman.  It is wonderful - filled with eye candy.  If you have ever had the desire to make an art quilt depicting a person or people, this book is a must for your library.  Every page is filled with inspiration.  I'm one of the featured artists.  I'm still pinching myself - can it be true?!?!?

I began quilting in 1994 at the suggestion of my daughter, Jennifer.  She had made some quilts and thought I might enjoy making one too.  I knew how to sew - I decided to give it a try.  I had never made nor thought of making a quilt before.  I bought a book to learn the basics.

This is the first quilt I ever made.  Queen sized and made of upholstery fabrics - oh brother!  The pattern is called "Around the World."

I was on a roll.  I made bed quilts for everybody in my family - siblings, children, grandchildren, etc.

By 1999, I'd had my fill of bed quilts - I mean, how many beds does one have?!  I began to design my own wall hangings.  I made a number of abstract type wall hangings.

A Case of the Dizzies


It was time for me to express myself in another way...telling my story...I doubted anyone else would care, but for me it was therapeutic.   Menopause - at least one good thing came of it - this quilt.

 Mood Swings (2003) 

After that, I began telling my story in earnest.  I won't bore you with the details...you can go to my website to see more.  

This piece entitled "Should I?" is one of my favorites - mainly because Jennifer posed for me.  (I'm the figure in the background.)  We all have a "should I" story - you know, should I leave a job (or not), a relationship, a dwelling, you get the idea...

"Should I?" (2009)

along comes 2012 and I'm invited to be part of Lark Crafts publication "Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits."  It's a dream come true...I'm playing with the big kids now!


If you would like to win a copy of this fabulous book, leave a comment (with a valid email address).  I will draw a random winner on July 7, 2013.  Who knows - it could be YOU!  Good Luck.

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April 19, 2013

Opening Reception...

You are invited to the opening reception of my solo exhibition of art quilts on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2PM at Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Holzhauer Gallery, 100 College Blvd., Niceville, FL 32578. 

The exhibit runs April 21 - May 31, 2013.



April 11, 2013

Light and Shadows

Original photo taken in Nova Scotia.  The boardwalk led to the sea.  It was a glorious day for a walk.



"Blue Moon" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art


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Inspire Me Fridays

April 5, 2013

Collage...

One definition of collage is "a technique of composing a work of art by pasting on a single surface various materials not normally associated with one another..."

The background is one my own textures.  The individual components are comprised of clip art butterflies and a hand, assorted brushes, self-portrait, Photoshop Elements shapes.  Topped off with the "DreamWonder" texture.


"DreamWonder" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.


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March 22, 2013

kinfolk - cover girl

I heard about Kinfolk Magazine and had to have it.  Volume Seven arrived today.  This is a great magazine - filled with inspiration.

I loved the cover photo and thought I'd see if I could produce a picture anywhere close - not really - but it was fun trying nonetheless!

(Adding a gaussian blur sure helps one appear to have flawless skin - less wrinkled anyway!  This is a trick I learned from my gal pal Doris Day...remember her?)


"Vellum" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.

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March 15, 2013

portrait

A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant.  The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of a person...

Two original photos (a self-portrait and a vintage Desoto automobile) collaged together and topped with a delicious texture.  I love collecting photos of the vintage cars owned by Truly Nolan!


"Fabrique" texture courtesy of Pixel Dust Photo Art.