diane's blog

Boats near the Block Island Ferry Slip

2011-09-12T14:37:00.000-04:00

Just took some wonderful photos of boats in the harbor. We took the Block Island Ferry over for the weekend, recently. I think these are gritty yet beautiful.

Playing with Encaustic

2011-09-03T08:19:00.000-04:00

We've been recovering from Hurricane Irene. We were without electricity for about 3 days, but suffered no real damage. What a blessing!
Before the storm I had been reading a "how to" book, The Encaustic Workshop, by Patricia B. Seggebruch. This is a wonderful book about a method I have been so intrigued by. I began by reading it cover to cover. Patricia makes the process seem so easy. It really isn't complicated, but I am finding the wax clumping a bit. Perhaps I don't have it hot enough... I am using a crock pot, and I didn't splurge on the bee's wax. I will go ahead and take her advice and get a hot griddle to set the temperature correctly, and purchase some bee's wax (much more expensive than the alternative). Love the ability to lay in layers floating between wax. You can lay in paper, writing, and all kinds of goodies.... I found my muse! If only I could find a bit of time to play!!!!!

ARRG!

2011-07-29T10:30:00.001-04:00

Is anyone else out there in Blogsville having trouble with their site? I cannot seem to comment on anything without being put into a circle of being put back to the Google sign in menu. I sign in and it takes me back to what I was doing, ask me to type in the "secret word" and then blam! I am back to the Google sign in menu...AGAIN! Round and round I go..... And when I am signed in on my site, the top always says "sign in", as if i am signed off. ?????
My comments are also listed with an anonymous name rather than my name... and my reading list has my comments but none of my post's pictures are shown. Harumph!
Can anyone help?

Time with my friend, Phyllis

2011-07-28T11:15:00.000-04:00

I just got back home in CT from my old home in NY! One of my friends, Phyllis, is quite the crafting woman! She knits, sews, gardens, makes baskets, preserves fruits...well, she does it all! And she, unlike me, doesn't have 1,000's of unfinished projects hidden all over the house in closets and drawers. She starts and finishes her projects and finishes them like a pro! Impressive to a procrastinator like me!
ANYWAY.... she showed me this really neat blog with an ongoing project she is working on. What a wonderful thing it is to sit and talk "craft" with another woman who "gets your passion" This blog project is pretty cute. I thought I'd share it with you!

http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com/2011/07/12-of-hearts-bom-giveaway-and-to-sash.html

This blogger is creating little embroidered hearts, one for each month of the year to put together in Dec as a quilt...or what ever, I guess... Great idea! Here is a picture of this months heart; Isn't that pretty? You all have GOT to know that mine will not look that neat. Phyllis's was picture perfect!

Love you, Phyllis! Thanks for the inspiration!
D

Blue Flowers

2011-07-27T19:58:00.002-04:00

I know, I know, but I think he's so cute!

2011-07-27T19:32:00.000-04:00

Sunflowers in my Garden

2011-07-20T12:04:00.000-04:00

Sleeping like a baby

2011-07-07T14:33:00.000-04:00

...Wish I was....

I"ve Been Busy...Oh so Busy!

2011-06-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

This is my newest little

boy, Boone. He is

a very GOOD DOG!

Spring Violets

2011-05-27T08:48:00.000-04:00

Just a small sample of the beautiful violets blooming all over.

Spring Buds Blossom

2011-04-08T08:23:00.000-04:00

The tree branches are now blooming. The pear opened first with such pretty little white blossoms. The apple tree is getting ready to open, and the blooms appear pink! I am so happy I decided to try this. The trees I took the cuttings from are not at all this far along in their progress. The apple has no buds at all on it. The pear has very tiny buds, closed tightly.

Spring Buds Forced in a Glass Jar

2011-04-06T09:27:00.000-04:00

I am just eager for spring. I cut some branches from our apple and pear trees. I placed them into a glass jar with warm water and voila! BUDS. They look so pretty.

Finished Spring Quilt

2011-02-22T09:35:00.013-05:00

Here is the finished painted quilt.

I think I may print out the blank again

and re paint it in different colors.

Spring Fever Quilt

2011-02-21T10:06:00.001-05:00

You know, it snowed again today...only two inches, but honestly I'm getting a bit "over" the snow. I have some serious spring fever and decided why not make a "quilt" filled with birds, flowers, butterflies and other lovely springy things?
I decided to paint one. But now that I have it all drawn in I am not sure how to paint it...

Illustration Friday.... Layer

2011-02-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

As i said on my other blog...it's been so cold, and snowy, this was the first thing I thought of! Hope you are all nice and warm and getting ready for Spring.

Little Dragonfly

2011-02-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

I was messing around with some watercolor, photographed it and printed it. Then I just didn't know where to go from there... I used to paint a lot of dragonfly art for friends, but haven't for a long time.... so here is a little dragon fly, hovering around in the night sky.
We have enormous dragonflies here in Connecticut. My cat Lucy loves to lie low in the grass and wait for them to buzz by her. They seem to see her and come hover in for an inspection and then she jumps and catches them in her paws. I run up and make her release them, and they fly away a bit bent but otherwise alive! Too funny!

What a bird!

2011-02-10T07:38:00.000-05:00

I love seeing this Northern Flicker at the berry tree. I didn't alter this photo, I think he is perfect as is!

Darling little Chickadee

2011-02-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

I have to say, these little birds are quite adept at getting what they want even from the bigger birds at my feeder. I just think they are the most beautiful bird.

Brown bird

2011-01-26T12:29:00.001-05:00

This little boy has been busy at my window. I have no idea what he is. I have to look him up. I love the way his feathers blow around in the wind. He isn't afraid of me when I come near to photograph him like the Chickadee's are.

A little watercolored altered art

2011-01-19T21:58:00.000-05:00

Painted a watercolor, then photographed it. Took it all apart, altered each piece and then put it back together again like a little collage. It is actually 8x10.

Female Cardinal Trio

2011-01-18T09:01:00.007-05:00

I think she is as magnificent as the male, even though she lacks some of his extraordinary coloring. She gave me so many wonderful shots I made a little collage in her honor.

Blue Jay with seed

2011-01-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

This big boy was totally aware I was photographing him. He kept looking at the window I was in , hopping around looking in from different angles. He is totally in charge of the berry tree outside my window and all the little bird give way to him. Not surprising for his size. However, when my cat went out this morning, he was the only bird to fly away immediately. It was hilarious!

Sweet Little Bird

2011-01-15T21:01:00.005-05:00

What a darling little...sparrow I think? I have to look him up in a birding book. My friend, Susan, gave me one so I could identify all the bird that visit our home in CT. Although, the little rascals move too fast for me to identify normally. Maybe now that I am photographing them, I will be able to identify some. Anyway, this one was a cute little guy.

Today is Martin Luther King Day. My pastor read a large portion of a letter he wrote to other pastors while in prison. He was defending himself for his use of civil disobedience. He mentioned others who used this tactic to move authorities to change laws that were in some way unfair towards large portions of a particular population... I just marveled at this man's inner strength to fight against the authorities who were obviously wrong, and also to, at the same time, defend his actions to his own "friends." I think the later takes more courage sometimes.

A Black Bird in My Yard

2011-01-15T15:58:00.008-05:00

Birds in my back yard....I altered this photo, because I can't leave well enough alone. I am loving it in Connecticut, but no real time to play. Miss viewing all your wonderful Blogs.

Hammered tin bird

2010-09-29T15:06:00.007-04:00

Found this at a shop in New London. I know it's different, but that's what I loved about it! I thought it was quirky and fun and, well, it had a bird on it. So it has to be fabulous!

My husband walked by it for a week and didn't notice it. Actually, he also walked by me for a week and didn't noticed that I cut my hair...a lot.

Hmmm

Anyway, he finally noticed the bird and said, "Well, that's different!" Ha ha ha! That is man language for;

"Yuck!"

I love it anyway. I will be painting this room a beautiful warm color called Beach Walk by Behr. I think it will look wonderful.

Perhaps he will think my hair cut looks wonderful too. :O

We are all moved in

2010-09-28T20:17:00.005-04:00

Well, we are finally all moved in and I have to say, it is gorgeous here in southern CT. We moved in just before the season's first hurricane. Here is a picture of my son Ian watching the waves roll in the day before! The beach was gorgeous, all wave tossed and windy. The air was saturated with moisture and smelled all fresh and salty. Oh, have I missed the ocean.

My Neighbors clothes line

2010-05-10T18:44:00.003-04:00

My neighbor, soon to be not my neighbor since we are moving, recently had a clothes line installed. I thought the towels she hung out to dry looked so much like a painting. So I photographed them and played around with the image! I really loved the effects. Ahhh spring!

Last Crow Photo

2010-04-07T15:09:00.004-04:00

This is the last of the altered crow photos. I especially love the effects and colors of this one.

Little boat

2010-04-06T20:31:00.005-04:00

I am thinking of the ocean a lot lately. We are moving to a town very close to where I grew up in Rhode Island. I miss the smell of the ocean (not at low tide), and the sandy beaches and the little terns hiding in the foot print depressions in the sand, all facing into the wind. I am trying to be brave and not depressed over leaving a place I have grown to love.

Hope your day is filled with Joy!

2010-04-04T07:24:00.001-04:00

OMGosh!!!!!! Packing to Move is WORK!

2010-04-02T07:28:00.005-04:00

Well, yesterday I cleaned out all my art things...paints, canvases, yarn, beads, just mega loads of stuff from my "art room" and prepared it for our move. I am not kidding, I was amazed at how much stuff I had!!!! You know how you get inspired to do some craft/art project and go buy the stuff and maybe do a little project and have all this left over stuff? Rubber carving stamp materials, beads and threads, watercolor pads, paints, pastels, books, carving tools, neat shaped glass jars to hold water or whatever...man o man!
Hope I survive this! Anyone out there done this recently? I could use some hints, comfort, sage advise...
Please?
This is a little photo I altered. I love these birds. But I think I told you all that....a dozen times. :)

Altered Crow

2010-03-30T08:14:00.004-04:00

I love crows. Something about the way they hop around and relate to each other. I think they are amazing in their fortitude and cleverness.

Ok, well, except the way they can get into my garbage containers no matter WHAT means I come up with to secure them. You can see them laughing at my efforts to thwart them, in the large tree by my home...

We are moving!

2010-03-29T20:00:00.003-04:00

I've lived here in the Northern most part of New York for almost 22 years. And now my husband has gotten a new job. We are moving to the east coast of Connecticut for a new start. I am excited, scared, hopeful, nervous, but, sure it will all work out. Wish me luck!

Little Acrylic and Pastel Bird

2010-03-22T10:44:00.005-04:00

A little painting I am working on....

Old Crow Recolored

2010-03-20T10:08:00.004-04:00

This is an old watercolor I recolored. Love the way it came out! These crazy birds look at my garbage cans the same way each Friday.

Little blue and white "tile"

2010-03-19T22:55:00.006-04:00

This is just a tiny little watercolor that I played around with on my Photo Draw program. It is actually multicolored... These programs are just amazing!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T09:14:00.002-04:00

A little shamrock I painting on a scrap of watercolor paper. Happy Green Day to you all!

Illustration Friday...Subterranean

2010-03-16T18:18:00.003-04:00

Rats!

Dogwood tree watercolor

2010-03-15T08:19:00.009-04:00

I am loving painting trees right now...and a flowering tree is a thing of beauty!

This is my idea of a dogwood tree offering its blooms to any passersby.

I painted the tree and the background and then drew the flower. I then isolated the flowers and added them to the tree using Photo Draw. I love this old program.

You can change the original in so many neat ways. These may not look too clear here on my blog. The last one, in this series of three, is the original.

Stained Glass Altered Watercolor

2010-03-14T09:36:00.007-04:00

There is so much you can do with an old painting. I "cut" it up and placed it into small frames, all haphazard, and I really like the results. Of course I did this on the computer... But maybe, now that I see it, I will cut up the original and try it that way....

a little award

2010-03-14T07:00:00.012-04:00

Joanna has sent me this award. It is my first. Thank you, Joanna! (Not janet!). I really enjoy this woman's site.
So, now the rules state that I must post this award, and nominate 7 blogs I love. Then I have to supply a link to those favorite places I get inspired, and tell you 7 things about me.

Here are some of my favorite sites: These are truly talented and interesting women.

Raluca, Beth, Karen, Iris Z, Suki, Tif, Kirsty, and Ida . I really love to follow all of your blogs. You each inspire me by your words or your art or both.
Now, Seven Things About Me (or more than you ever wanted to know)

1. I live where it is very cold for a long time each year. (But shorts are over rated when you have less than ideal thighs. )

2. I love to play with all things art...you name it, I want to try it! I am often found at my local art store a mess of paint and pajamas, because I was overcome with the urge to try something I lack some supply for...I'm not exaggerating. (sometimes without a bra)

3. My housework can get neglected when I am playing. So at around 4ish, I run around like a mad woman cleaning, scrubbing, so it LOOKS like I was about this all day.

4. I have about 1,000,000 unfinished art projects, painting, embroideries, carved stamps, collages, all over the house. I counted. Can't seem to get them to look the way I want. Sometimes, I throw them out.

5. Nobody has ever bought any of my work...I don't sell it...but one of my biggest paintings somehow got hung in the big cancer center next to my house. My friend saw it and called me. Ha, makes me want to go check it out incognito!

6. I love God! Yes I do! Pray all the time that He would help me with ( #4 above) and for a lot of other things, and to thank Him for my life.

7. I have had some sorrows but more joys in my life of 44 years. And I wouldn't trade away any of those experiences. The joys put color in my life, the sorrows gave me understanding. I am well satisfied...well except for #4 above.

Wow! Did you get to the end? You must be drinking some strong coffee! Have a wonderful day. And check out my blog list above. They are really terrific!

Birdy Gardeners and Their Plantings

2010-03-13T10:20:00.005-05:00

I have these two little parakeets, Mung and Sammy. They sit by a sunny window and make quite a racket! All day...

When they are eating they like to fling their seeds all over creation! I have a small cactus plant near their cage and recently many little green things began to sprout out of the pot....hum? I can't wait to see what they will become... In the meantime I think the cactus looks hysterical on my...c l e a n staircase!

Altered Crow Photo

2010-03-11T07:10:00.008-05:00

I got some great photos yesterday on my walk. Among those were some wonderful crows that I photographed high up in a tree. My husband is letting me borrow a camera from his work (don't tell anybody)! What a powerful zoom it has. These birds were waaaay up there. Making quite a racket

Walking with my son

2010-03-10T09:08:00.007-05:00

I walked my youngest son to school this morning. He's 11, and so you can imagine his thrill at having mom walk him two blocks to school. I told him I needed some exercise and wanted to take some photos. He looked at me skeptically, and said, why don't you call one of your friends and go with them?" LOL...

So, getting my way, I trudged along with him camera banging against my stomach...which could use a little downsizing, and we had a really wonderful time. He talked, I listened. On the way home, I took some photos.

Now I love a pretty picket fence. How about you?

My Grandmother In Law

2010-03-09T07:06:00.009-05:00

I met my husband when I was 17. He was living with his grandparents, Joe and Mildred, in Lincoln, RI and going to college. Where I met him!

His grandmother was amazing but she didn't quite like me at that time. I couldn't blame her since I was an awful brat, and really didn't show her the respect she deserved. This past spring, May, she passed away at 85. She was the matriarch of a family with five daughters and too many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to list. I would be hard pressed to list her many talents and skills as well. Mother, athlete, cook...

This morning I was looking through some pictures on a disk, and was struck by her youth. Here she was in these old photos, younger than I am now, alive, full of dreams for her future...life is fleeting...

My oldest son told me about a site http://www.myparentswereawesome.com/ This is a site gathering old photos of parents...maybe I will post one. She was really like a mom to my husband at times...

Aren't all good grandmothers?

I like to believe by the time I was an older mother myself, she maybe looked upon me as a good wife and mother. One can only hope!

Illustration Friday... Brave

2010-03-08T13:49:00.002-05:00

Brave or foolish, it's hard to say!

Celebration of my first year post.

2010-03-07T17:29:00.007-05:00

Last year, Feb 27 was my very first post. I just realized it yesterday. Here is a little celebratory painting for that occasion! I'm a little late. But, anyone that knows me even a bit, will understand what a surprise it was for me to stick with anything for any length of time. The anniversary took me by surprise.

Thank you to all who follow and leave such wonderful and helpful comments. I do love them.

Warmest Regards (read: smooches and more smooches) to you all,

Diane

Vintage Bird Pictures

2010-03-06T08:51:00.000-05:00

Vintage...what is the definition of vintage anyway? Does it mean; old?
These bird prints are old so I suppose I can say they are vintage?

Sometimes, I feel vintage, but... I digress.

Well, these hung in my grandmother's house and my mom's as well, which adds to their charm over me.
They hang in my living room now and I love to just look at them. I cropped the living room picture to remove the dusty floor. What a novel concept in modern house work!

Eating Crow...

2010-03-03T09:43:00.009-05:00

My powers of perception are really quite dim. May I explain? This morning I was driving the kids to school and there were crows hanging around, as usual. Perhaps they are plotting something after my last post? Anyway, as I was looking at them it dawned on my brain, under the influence of a gallon sized cup of coffee, "Aiigh! That bird has a black beak!!!"

I was appalled to only just realized this obvious factoid. My previous painting...you know, the "seagull trying to be a crow" has a yellow schnoz. oops!

Really, it's just embarrassing. Sorry to all the crows out there who I misrepresented! This little doodle is for you. So, if you are plotting some revenge...please don't poop on my car...please?

Crow, in progress

2010-03-01T10:45:00.006-05:00

Just working on a watercolor of a crow. I do love these birds...except when they are opening my garbage containers and spreading the contents on the ground for all to see! I started with blue and layered over it with black...but after a few hours, the blue is coming through too much. Maybe I need to add another layer of black?

Oh well, so much to learn... I did scan it and play around a bit with it, but it's still too blue.

Illustration Friday Perspective

2010-02-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.

Well, maybe ignoring would be better than this...

I do love my cat!

Fabric as Stained Glass

2010-02-26T12:16:00.007-05:00

I took a portion of a previous post picture (of the quilt) and played with it on the computer. I pieced together a portion to make a larger picture and then had some fun in Photo Draw. I really liked the way it looked like a piece of stained glass.

This is the original photo. I cringe everytime I type in the subject PhotoDraw. My oldest son, who is graduating this year with a BFA and a degree in Graphic Arts, rolls his eyes and tells me I am using a dinosaur of a program. That I should have Photo Shop.... His voice is in my head...oh well.

Under a blanket of heavy snow...

2010-02-25T07:12:00.003-05:00

Despite all the snow that fell on my poor little gardens yesterday (6-9"), I am still dreaming of spring and gardening. I would love to have a fenced in front yard, with a garden and chickens roaming around... I know those aren't chickens in my drawing...but...that's the gist of my dream.

Spring Painting and a Snowstorm

2010-02-24T08:54:00.010-05:00

I started wishing for spring.
The weather has been unseasonably warm. Yesterday it was almost 40.
So I started on a drawing of a young girl, in a spring dress, dancing around a tree in blossom.
There's a bird flying high and a nest of eggs...

This morning, the schools were canceled because snow is falling in huge, heavy, clumping, globs!

But I love it! I got outside this morning, in my slippers and a house coat, and took photos of the bending trees

and found some silly sights.

Cathedral Window Quilt

2010-02-23T10:53:00.007-05:00

I played around with some gorgeous children's fabrics and made a tiny cathedral window quilt a while back. It's just been hanging around. I love how the colors shine through the white fabric.

I was way too impatient to do a full sized version of this quilt. I wanted to put it all together quickly so I could wash it and get that beautiful puckered look. You cannot believe how easy this project is!

It is mostly hand sewn. Mostly!

Luucy...I'm home!!

2010-02-22T10:05:00.011-05:00

This is Lucy my 8 year old cat. I didn't make the bed right away this morning and came home to find her burying her toys amidst the covers and blankets... yes, this is why mom tells us to make our beds right away.... She looked so cute that I took a chance to photograph her. Usually she resists this. The photos came out nice. So I put two, the original and one...you guessed it, enhanced.

illustration Friday...Propagate

2010-02-21T14:12:00.005-05:00

Propagation....ah, now that is a theme ripe with ideas!!!

My 40th Birthday Crown

2010-02-21T07:00:00.003-05:00

I turned 40 in October, 2005. I had undergone some major...things in the years previous to this event. Needless to say, as with all major life things I had come out forever changed.

I am the sister to two brothers, and the mother of four sons...so I decided to celebrate my girly-ness with my own crown.

All of the decorations came from a favorite childhood book that was old when I was born.

That's me, the little blockhead, to the right.

I added letters from my two grandfathers written to me shortly before they passes away. My Vavo' lived in Portugal, my Poppy, in RI. Grandfathers mean a lot to little girls!

I stumbled upon it yesterday, gathering dust on top of a tall book shelf. I had forgotten all about it...like we sometimes forget old memories.. I looked all over it, re-reading bits of old letters, pretty nursery rhymes and beautiful pictures from that old book... I thought I'd share it with you. Have you ever made yourself anything like this as a memorial to better times or old sweet memories?

Inspirational Fabrics Around the House

2010-02-20T10:00:00.017-05:00

I have to confess, going into a fabric store gets my blood flowing! Where else can you be inundated with gorgeous patterns, colors and works of art that you can put your hands all over?

I just love to wander around this huge fabric warehouse we have close to my home, and ogle at graphic patterns, floral beauties and discover little birds hidden away here and there!

Susan Sargent is one of my favorite designers. She is not shy of bold patterns or vivid color combinations. Just makes my creative juices flow!

I put her sunflower pattern in my kitchen and it always brings raves!

Do you get inspired by fabric to either paint your own patterned picture or maybe to sew? If you use a Photo Shop program, have you ever scanned in a fabric and played around with it?

Illustration Friday Adrift

2010-02-17T15:20:00.001-05:00

Little seedling adrift....

Butterfly for my friend

2010-02-16T07:40:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was my friend Becky's birthday. I painted her a watercolor of a butterfly escaping into the moonlit night from it's cocoon. She has recently escaped herself from a terrible situation and I thought it was appropriate. I had put a different verse on her picture, and liked this one for my post today!

I (of course) scanned it into the computer and played around with it, adding the verse.

Hope you have a wonderful day, and that the beauty of the world shines into your soul and inspires you to create some beautiful art of your own!

Birds and hearts watercolor original.

2010-02-15T11:32:00.002-05:00

This is a small part of the original watercolor. I love birds! Do you?

Hearts and Birds and Watercolors

2010-02-14T08:48:00.005-05:00

I love to make a little watercolor and then scan it into the computer and play around with the image. I multiplied the original bird and flowers, and then just added things, erased others, and manipulated the colors! Love love love to do this. What about you? Do you like to change your original pieces of art on the computer? The original is in white.

Sping on my mind bird collage

2010-02-11T13:21:00.003-05:00

Here's a little wishful thinking...longing for spring and clothes drying out on a line that aren't hauled in stiff as cardboard. Birds singing and warm breezes, leaves on trees and all the wonderful smells of the warm earth....

Bird watercolored and manipulated with Photo Draw...

2010-02-08T09:58:00.003-05:00

I painted up this bird a while ago. I was just playing with that whole Fraktur style...I scanned it into my Photo Draw program...I know, I know that program is old! But I swear I LOVE it. I am too busy to learn Photo shop. Anyway, I loved how this turned out. Do you like to take simple art projects of your own and play with them like this? I'd love to hear about them, and see what you're up to. If not, why not try it?

Carl Larsson prints.

2010-02-05T16:34:00.009-05:00

Beautiful sunny day here up North. Went for a long drive into the country with my friend, Susan. We stumbled upon some wonderful prints by Carl Larsson. One is of a barnyard, it is called "The Gate" and another is of a studio. I fell in love and bought them. Each one cost me $1. Yippie! I wanted to share them with you. I am going to go fish around on line and find out more about this artist. My friend knew exactly who it was before I even read the description! Maybe you all know who he is? I thought these watercolor illustrations were so beautiful, soft and detailed. There is even a station of the cross on the top of the studio wall print! My camera didn't take a very clear picture of these. Rats!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Small piece of a large painting

2010-02-02T10:09:00.005-05:00

This bird is just resting after a long cold, day.... This picture is a piece of a large painting that I have ...completed? Is anything I do ever done to completion? Probably not. What about you? Do you ever feel like any thing you paint is done, finished, perfect? I'd love to hear about what you do to finish something...and how you know it is...done!!!

February's first blog Let There Be Joy!!!

2010-02-01T09:43:00.008-05:00

This past year, I have just been so busy with painful things...troubled friends, grievous business, looming job loss, you know, things that press anxiety down on a heart. Life's yucky business! But , even though the yuck keeps me pretty worn out and uninspired to create, all around me lately, I see the beauty of nature. And it fills me with a greater joy than I get when i am inspired and paint up a little something that I actually like. I went skiing recently and it was a glorious day... the clear bright sky at the top of the local mountain here was one in a million. The trees, misshapen birches and pines, were covered with millions of diamonds glittering in the sun, and there was a vista miles and miles across the lakes and mountains of Vermont... The sky was this unspeakably gorgeous blue without a cloud and you could sense it's vast reaches...which made you breathless. The snow was white and blue and sparkling.

Life is good and difficult times can breed compassion and joy, instead of bitterness and depression. Here is a piece of a poem attached to a little watercolor I did, and then Photo shopped for fun ( i can never leave well enough alone!). It's written by Maltbie D. Babcock. In it's entirety:

The dark brown mould's upturned

By the sharp-pointed plow;

And I've a lesson learned.

My life is but a field,

Stretched out beneath God's sky,

some harvest rich to yield.

Where grows the golden grain?

Where faith? Where sympathy?

In a furrow cut by pain.

Little Bird and Flower Fraktur

2010-01-07T17:55:00.003-05:00

Drew and water colored this little picture before Thanksgiving. Love the color mix.

Christ for the Holidays

2010-01-02T16:19:00.004-05:00

I painted a tribute to Christ for a Christmas contest. The
contest was to create a work of art around the verse, Isa. 9:6
I did a collage. This is the painted portion that I cut out and
added to a Photo shopped image of some really great fabric that
I had hanging around.

Family reunion

2009-08-22T10:17:00.006-04:00

This is me and my boys at my husband's grandmother's wake. We traveled to RI and had 2 family reunions. My husband's and then my own. It is unusual to be all together anymore since my older boys are in college and my younger are still at home. This was just pure pleasure to be all together! My oldest is graduating from college with an art degree this year. I haven't been doing anything...

so uninspired :(

Narragansett Art Fair

2009-07-11T11:24:00.002-04:00

You can't imagine all the lovely pieces of art that were to be found strolling through the tents. All these wonderful artists exhibiting their work for all to see and comment on...SCARY!!!

Mike Bryce

2009-07-07T14:25:00.009-04:00

This is Mike Bryce, the artist of my newest (and only to date) piece of original art. I have purchased prints before, and LOVE them. I have a gorgeous mermaid print by Flor Larios titled "Venus Mermaid"

However...there is something really special in owning a piece of canvas that is an actual original painting...you can see brush strokes, pencil lines, drips and drops...yum! Don't I look happy!?

I asked Mike how he felt when he sold a canvas; if he was sad a bit to see them go. He told me that it was sad because he loves all his "ladies" (his mermaids). I told him that the one I bought would be taken care of and cherished.

And it will!

I have included a small picture of my brother's painting also by Mike that I stumbled upon a few days later at his house.

Isn't it gorgeous?

I bought a beautiful mermaid painting!

2009-07-06T13:16:00.003-04:00

I recently went on vacation to Rhode Island. While in Narragansett I stumbled upon a large outdoor art show (Narragansett Art Festival)! What a blast! The artist Mike Bryce was in attendance and lookie what I got!This beautiful painting is the cover of his new book. I bought another smaller painting for my son Connor and when I got to my sister in law's home, she had a tiny little mermaid painting from Mike as well! Love of mermaids just runs in the family I guess!

2009-07-06T13:01:00.008-04:00

...some details of this lovely painting....I adore the way he painted the noses on the starfish, the smiling seaguls and the flowing hair of this sweet creature.

I just love the loose quality of the pencil marks...still visible...

This is just a serene painting. I will post a picture of me with the artist if I can get it off my phone...I will also show my son's painting and the painting from my sister in law's home tomorrow. All on my naughty phone which is defying me!

I have really missed blogging!!!!!

Little Squigerine under the deep blue sea

2009-06-15T13:53:00.002-04:00

I thought my little copyright squid needed to be down deep in her element...Maybe this would be funnier if she was screaming with shock and surprise, trying to hide, as if a submarine just stumbled upon her...

Illustration Friday...unfold

2009-06-14T12:07:00.002-04:00

This little flower is unfolding from it's nighttime rest, in the light of a very full moon!

A little winter loving penguin

2009-06-05T14:01:00.005-04:00

Just a little drawing from a long time ago. I colored it up on PhotoDraw...I like her little skirt!

Portugal...The Azores Some additional photos.

2009-06-03T11:58:00.008-04:00

I thought the flowers and scenery were magnificent...everywhere you went on the island you could see flowers, stretches of gorgeous grass meadows and views of the ocean!

Illustration Friday...adapt

2009-06-01T11:59:00.003-04:00

..."Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can't I?"

Visiting some friends...

2009-05-24T14:59:00.010-04:00

I am in Massachusetts visiting some wonderful friends; Liz and Erik. Early this year they experienced an ice storm and my friend Liz took some amazing pictures. I just thought I'd share one.

What I loved about this photo was the green grass and blue sky opposed to the ice covered trees that look like glass! Amazing!

The pinwheel photo was taken during my visit. Liz has gorgeous gardens. Her young son added his own ornament to his Mom's design.

I thought this was so cute.

I'm just a busy Mom these days...

2009-05-19T07:13:00.008-04:00

I have to confess, I have been so busy...with my boys. It's either after,before, or during school activities...LOL!

Between moving my older sons back into our home from college, and getting my younger ones out to school, sports or extra curricular end of the year events...

I'm pooped!

I haven't drawn anything except a hot bath!

So I am just going to take a little blog break, and enjoy all the end of the year entertainment, and running around!

Who knows, I might just get some inspiration for a drawing!

Hope you are all well. Love to hear from you! See you in a week or two.

Love, Diane

Illustration Friday Parade

2009-05-11T12:46:00.002-04:00

Yipes! I have been so busy!!!

2009-05-07T18:56:00.004-04:00

I have just been so busy lately, with housework, sports, and school activities that I haven't posted much! I am working on a larger painting, and I really am liking it, only I cannot get a good photo of it since my camera...stinks! So until I can take a good picture, I will just show you a little watercolor I did a while back...

Here is the funny guy I created earlier. I used him on my Illustration Friday for impossible... I like this guy, he is so reminiscent of RI to me. He is going quahogging...but he isn't in too much of a hurry...

A little painting

2009-05-02T08:09:00.003-04:00

Just another little landscape exercise...this little birdy has visited this site before... But I love him!

I have been crazy busy!! Hope you are all doing well.

Illustration Friday...Theater

2009-04-29T08:36:00.002-04:00

Who hasn't had to don a silly costume and recite lines?

Something new...

2009-04-25T16:04:00.004-04:00

Ah yes, I am at it again. Gave myself a little project; paint three small connected paintings. Got them almost done...but trip, trip, trip at the finish line...

Anyway, what tripped me us was some idea swimming around in my head...and I just started painting away at some larger 36x36 " painting.

I've done the basic "thing" before, but I am trying it with different colors... We'll see if I finish this one. :) The colors are nicer in real life and a bit of the all around border is cut off.

I photoshoped the leaves in, they aren't painted in yet, and I might not...we'll see....

Creating a piece of art is such fun!!!!!!

Fraktur III incomplete...so far

2009-04-22T06:59:00.005-04:00

Once again I gave myself a little project; to paint up three little flowers. Two down and one to go almost at the finish line and...

Blam! The gesso is flying, staple guns going off, canvas's all over the dining room and I am painting up a storm of larger pictures!

I really don't know what it is with me that makes it so difficult to stay on task...

Well, I am still going to complete this last little flower today,(if it kills me :O) here it is so far... I primed the little canvas with black, chalk in the design and painted over in multiple layers...I touch up the black outline between the colors after I am done with the flower itself. You know, I really like this type of look, (fraktur) done in watercolors best.

I got a few comments on working with acrylics...honestly, I don't know if they are harder to work with than other mediums. It's been all I have used (besides watercolors and pastels) since they are affordable and require less drying time between layers... What do you all think? Do you like them? What do you prefer?

I would love to learn how to use oils...

Little Fraktur flower painting II

2009-04-19T08:36:00.009-04:00

This is the second little flower.

I tried to correct my misspellings of Fraktur...if you find any more Please let me know!

The flower left is the original, the one to the right is the altered version. When I first drew and painted these, I had done them in watercolors...they were so delicate and soft. This attribute is lost when I try to paint them onto the canvas in acrylics. Hmm, maybe I should do these all in watercolors.

Hope you all have a wonderful new week...

The first of three new little paintings...

2009-04-18T11:50:00.008-04:00

I love the "fraktur" look. You know, those beautiful flowers and animals etc that accompany those old drawn and colored works done in the 17 and 1800's. I read this book called; This Teaching I Present, by Hershey, and drew up quite a few of each. I use them periodically for other works, including portions of this blog.

ANYWAY...I am doing a series of little paintings of fraktur flowers...what fun! The one above is the original, the one to the right is the painting scanned and maniupulated with PhotoDraw with accented edges...I like them both.

I'm sure into orange, green and blue lately, huh?

Illustration Friday: Impossible

2009-04-17T20:37:00.007-04:00

In order to obtain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.

This weeks Illustration Friday offered this quote. I had already created this fellow, only he was walking on the beach carrying a bull rake, obviously going quahogging. When I got the Illustration Friday theme in my e-mail, I thought, what could be more appropriate then this fellow with a rather less than fabulous exterior, giving thought to attempting the absurd? Perhaps he is a man with a tremendously strong sense of self esteem.

Portugal...The Azores

2009-04-16T13:33:00.008-04:00

My mother came to visit me over the Easter holiday. We took out an old photo album of pictures from a 2004 trip

to the Azores, Portugal. This is where my mother grew up and immigrated at 18. I can't believe

it has been almost five years since that

trip. Here are some of my favorites.

Sing a song of sixpence...

2009-04-14T10:56:00.005-04:00

I was thinking about nursery rhymes and all the little images that pop into your head as you hear the words...

"four and twenty black birds baked in a pie!!!" Yuck!

Except, at the end, the birds began to sing! Hooray!

Illustration Friday ...Fleeting

2009-04-10T13:26:00.004-04:00

This weeks theme is fleeting. I thought of a few things...but all of them made me sad.

When this popped into my head it gave me a laugh...

We all need that!

Easter Joy!

2009-04-10T09:11:00.004-04:00

To my dear readers,

I realize that not all of you that read this blog are celebrating Easter, and peace to you!

However, this is a particularly special holiday for me. I have such wonderful memories of Easter, waking up with a basket of goodies by the bed, a special outfit for church, and the beautiful flowers; tulips, and little grape hyacinths blooming all around.

I can remember going to church, and coming home later to play with my toys. We went a few times to an Easter egg hunt held at a local school and my memories are vague yet I remember the fun of searching!

Now that I am older, the concept of Easter is one of joy and thankfulness, less of candy and new clothes... (ok, ok...excepting any type of chocolate goodie!)

But, as spring celebrates new birth for the earth with all those glorious blooms rising out of a "dead" garden, I see Easter as a celebration of new birth for my soul...

So here is my Easter egg, to the earth. Such a beautiful planet, such a wonderful piece of art given to all of us, I believe, by God to remind us that He is the consummate artist!

A very tiny painting.

2009-04-08T16:25:00.004-04:00

I was rummaging around the attic, where I threw all my art stuff a while ago. I found this tiny little canvas, it is 3"x 3". I thought that since I had such fun painting yesterday's little canvas, I would paint up this one too.

I am really enjoying painting over a very dark background.

In this case I painted the entire canvas black, including the sides, and then layered color on top.

It is actually a bit brighter in person. My scanner made it appear much darker.

A little painting

2009-04-07T07:21:00.005-04:00

I painted this yesterday, instead of working on the pattern...LOL I mean, why break from my usual pattern of doing things?!

1. Make a plan.

2. Get completely distracted by something else...

3. Forget original idea...

4. Do something totally different!

Oh, well...

Creating a repeating pattern...

2009-04-06T06:57:00.002-04:00

I love the idea of creating a repeating pattern on a stamp. I visited a blog archive at Design*Sponge and learned how to do this. She gives a beautiful example with terrific photos (she is quite talented!).

It is really quite fun and the resulting image matches up on all sides so you can just stamp away or...

You can create a full sized design to fill an entire sheet (8x10) of paper, and match up several sheets to perhaps line a book shelf or cover a larger object. I am going to take my uncolored fraktur design from Feb. and create a repeating pattern.

Well, that's the plan...today is going to be so busy and there are about 6 baskets of laundry to put away! :)

Illustration Friday

2009-04-04T09:49:00.005-04:00

My first attempt at Illustration Friday...Talisman In Irish tradition the Shamrock or Three-leaf Clover represents the Holy Trinity: one leaf for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. When a Shamrock is found with the fourth leaf, it represents God's Grace.
Well now, that's a talisman for me...grace...I need all I can get!!!

Happy Birthday to you ....

2009-04-04T07:59:00.002-04:00

Today is my second son, Erik's, birthday! He is away at college and I miss him! So here is a great big kiss and hug from your Mommy to you! And

Happy 20th birthday!

Where did the time go?