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Friday, July 23, 2010

Katniss And A New Journal Page...

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I have let summer take over...

Here is a new journal page I just finished. I experimented with using watercolors only. I really enjoyed the process and I think I will do more like this. The lyrics are from one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. You can catch their songs (and this one in particular) on the playlist on my sidebar.


Katniss is a piece I did a few weeks ago and realized I never posted her to my blog. I am reading the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. I just started the book, but from what I am told, it is a great read. The main character (Katniss) in the book is a warrior of sorts and I imagine this to be what she looks like.


Peace,
Shonna

Monday, July 5, 2010

Life Is Better When...

Another circle journal entry. This journal is titled "Life is Better When..."

Friday, June 25, 2010

Kids are Great!!

I have been having a great summer so far keeping my son very busy. I signed him up for day camp at our church and he is having a blast this week. Here are some pictures and also some commissions I have been working on. Do you have any plans this summer? I would love to hear about them.


Having fun learning soccer techniques.

Walking back to the worship center.


Waiting in line to play baseball.


Crazy Hat day (my son and I made it).




Crazy Hair Day


This little girl loves pink and purple, her cat and music.


This little boy loves baseball and hockey. I had a hard time trying to figure out how to incorporate those two sports in the painting, so I just made pennants.

This little girl loves pink and purple, her cat and stars.


Have a great one!!
Shonna

Friday, June 4, 2010

I've Been Crazy Busy!

I have been trying to make some positive changes in my life as far as my health is concerned. When I was in my late 20's, I was very in to going to the gym and working out and eating right. I would sometimes exercise 6 days a week. Life happened and I slowly got out of my "healthy" routine. I am not proud of it, but I believe it is never too late to change. For the past month I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week and I feel so much better. I have so much more energy and I just feel happier. Now I just need to start eating healthier (lol). I feel I am headed in the right direction.

I have also been working on some art commissions and projects. I am involved in a "circle" journal with a group of great women I met at Artfest. We each chose a theme for our art journal and are passing them around to each other. Each one of us will make a page and by the time we get our journal back, we will have a book of art by each woman in the group. I am so excited to see what these talented group of women are going to put in my book. My theme is "Life Lessons." I would like to know what each of these women have learned so far in their lives. I will eventually pass the journal on to my son where I hope he will gain some wisdom from our lives.


I received my first journal in the mail and the theme of this one is "Poems." I recently saw the movie "Bright Star." The movie is about famous young poet John Keats and his love affair with seamstress Fanny Brawne. The movie was beautiful and the poetry he wrote for Fanny was so inspiring to me. So, my journal entry was based on that love story. The poem was written by John Keats to Fanny.



And my baby boy graduated from pre-school. Here he is with his lovely teacher Miss Jill. This is Miss Jill's first graduating Pre Kindergarten class at this particular school, so I wanted to make her something special. I asked each kid in class to tell me what they loved about her and I made her a little scrapbook. I loved making the whole book, but I am particularly proud of the cover. I dyed the fabric and sewed the heart and other elements. I can't wait to incorporate more sewing in my artwork.










Have a great weekend!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

What's On my Desk?

I seem to have spurts of requests for custom artwork. I can go months without anyone asking me to paint something for them and then all of a sudden I will get tons of requests at once. Does that ever happen to you?


Here is what I am working on right now. I will try and take pictures of each step for the one on the right, but sometimes I get so wrapped up in painting that I forget to take pictures.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A New Painting Using Acrylics and Oil...yes you can do that!

I have been very inspired by artist Michael Shapcott and his awesome YouTube videos. I love how he uses paint to "tint" his subjects. He doesn't just slap on the paint. He uses very thinned out layers and He mixes acrylic paint with oil paint (yes, you read that right). You can mix the two only when you put oil on top of dried acrylic. So I decided to experiment with his process. This is what I came up with.


She is a little different, right? But, I kind of like her. My son really likes it and wants me to put it in his room (so that is what I will do). I named her "Courage" because it took some of that for me to be able to mix acrylic and oil (LOL).
Honestly, I'm not a fan of oil. The smell really grosses me out and with this particular process you have to use loads of linseed oil, which smells even worse. So, needless to say, I don't think I will be trying this process again. But, I had fun experimenting. I think I will try to get the same results (and I think I can) with acrylic or maybe even watercolor.
Experiment with new things and don't worry about the outcome. Just have fun with the process!
Thanks for stopping by.
Shonna

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Right now I am enjoying the beautiful flowers my husband bought me and the wonderful breakfast he made me. This is the beginning of a wonderful day.





Happy Mother's Day to all of you hard working ladies!!! It is the toughest, but most rewarding job, right?