Art Show - Senior Show - Watercolors

A bit of a different theme to my pieces for the Senior Show this year.  I usually submit photography but with a very short time line I decided to do some abstract watercolors.  

I taped down several pieces of 140lb watercolor paper to plastic boards and just applied color from my small watercolor palette.  I wanted quite a few so I could choose the best when it came to framing.

These dried over night and were completely flat when they were released from their tape the next day.

Title: Early Morning Light

Size: 11.00 x 14.00 inches

Medium: Watercolor

Mat: 11x14 Cream Double with 2 openings

Frame: 11x14 Metal Silver Brushed

The pieces were cut from one large piece to ensure that the lines in the pieces continued to flow across to the other opening.  Makes me think of sun over water.  I like that the right one is more blue than the left one.

 Title: Incoming Storm

Size: 8.25 x 10.25 inches

Medium: Watercolor

Mat: 8x10 White Archival Mat with smaller opening

Frame: 8x10 Metal Medium Grey wider profile

This piece with the very dark blue on top made me think of dark storm clouds.  The lines down on the left make me think of falling rain.  The red ground could be PEI or Arizona.

Title: Plum Hues

Size: 13.00 x 11.00 inches

Medium: Watercolor

Mat: 13x11 White Archival Single with 8x10 opening

Frame: Metal 13x11 Rose Gold / Copper 

This one is quite abstract.  It could be flowers and leaves.  The plum color matched the frame very well.  I like the way the colors mingled and created some darker hues in areas.

These have been submitted to the Senior Art Show being hosted by the Allied Arts Council at the Spruce Grove Gallery.  The reception will be held Saturday June 8th at 1pm.  If you can join us that would be wonderful.  There are over 60 entries in this show there is bound to be pieces for everyone.  

Come and enjoy the art and meet some of our artists.

12 Days of Advent

I created a smaller version of my Advent Calendar which may be more manageable for busy families.

You can start on the 1st of December and fit in the 12 days over the 24 days of Advent or you can start on December 12th and conclude on Christmas Day.

It features my photograph of Teddy and the small nativity taken for my photo calendar last year.  Teddy will be appealing to small children I expect.

It is packaged in a black metal frame which holds the 4x6 sheets.  The sheets can just be moved to the back as the days go by.

Art Exchange Submission - Barn Swallow

The gallery is holding a Miniatures show starting December 01, 2017.  Part of the show is an exchange with artists in Winnipeg.  We are sending fifteen pieces.

I chose my barn swallow photo printed in 5x7 inches. It was mounted on a white card.  I signed it with a black marker in the left bottom corner.  I added a navy mat.  It was framed in a matte silver metal frame with glass.

I am looking forward to what the Winnipeg artists are sending our way.

Baby Boy - Shower Gift - Yellow Duckie

I made this card for my nephew and his wife who had another baby boy recently.  This is #2.

I created a watercolor background with Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Faded Jeans, a bit of turquoise liquid acrylic ink and a couple of scribbles of Not Quite Navy watercolor crayon.  The color was applied to a acrylic sheet and spritzed with water.  I laid my 4x6 card stock into it and pulled it away.  It curled but when left to dry it flattened again.  Once dry, it was cut to 4.00 x 5.25 inches and adhered to the navy card front.

I found a clipart image of a yellow duckie which I printed and then cut with a smooth oval from the Spellbinder Nestabilities set.  I then cut a scalloped oval a medium blue card stock with the corresponding oval.  This was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I printed a greeting in navy and yellow and fussy cut the banner with scissors.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Books are my go to gift for babies.  I hope that books will always part of our culture.  I think parents reading to babies is valuable time spent.

You will notice a theme of yellow ducklings in this gift.

This is a great book with a nice plasticized cover so it can handle sticky fingers and it is easily wiped clean.

The illustration in the book is wonderful and the colors are lovely.

I chose the same duckling graphic for the frame for his room.  It contains the details of the day he was born.

It is a yellow good quality metal frame with a brilliant blue mat and a coordinating yellow mat.

I designed the information layer to fit in the 4.75 x 6 inch opening in the mat.  It was printed on white card stock and adhered behind the mat.

I hope it holds a place in his room for years to come.  I did similar item for his dad when he was born years ago.  It makes a nice keepsake.

Art Framed - Warm Owl

I framed one of my paper pieced owls which I created for the 2017 calendar.

I had to trim the art work a bit to keep the ratio of the shiny pale gold frame.  I found a piece of dark brown card stock onto which I mounted the art.  I then selected a piece of warm buttery yellow art paper to create the back ground layer. 
Mounting the art piece with googly eyes created a spacing issue inside the frame.  After trying several things with no success, I added 4 punched suns in the four corners of the brown square.  These were mounted with 3D foam tape in the same thickness as the eyes. 

The piece was then inserted into the frame as usual.  It seems to work quite well. 

The owl calendar has been popular this year so I hope the framed owl will also be popular.  It would work in several areas of decorating as well as a focal point in a space for one who just loved it!

Baby Boy - Customized Giraffe Frame

My sister requested a frame for her grandson with the colors grey and yellow.  I had a good quality metal frame in stock so I have put together a frame for her.  I made a similar one for my nephew's baby boy.
The frame is not standard size at 13.75"W x 10"T which meant cutting a custom mat.  I chose a medium grey linen card stock and cut it to size. I measured 1.5" from the edges and penciled in the hole on the back.  I cut it with an x-acto knife and metal edge ruler.  The opening is 10.75W x 7.00 T.
The letters were cut with the Cricut from the same card stock.  The cartridge I selected is Base Camp which provides a basic roman letter.  It is not mono spaced so more calculating had to be done to determine the size of the letters.  I cut the name at 2.25 inches. The date was cut at 1.75 inches.  I chose a piece of yellow card stock that matched the frame nicely and adhered behind the grey mat.  I then adhered the letters and numbers with quick dry adhesive which has a very small pointed applicator which works well for small pieces.
I found the giraffe graphic on CLKER.  I changed the colors to suit this project.  I decided to have a Dad, Mom and baby giraffe.  I placed those to leave room for the heart. I placed a line on the bottom to give the images context. I sized the image based on the space available in the middle and I color printed the central panel on a piece of vellum 4.25x 11 then clear embossed it. I punched the heart from the same card stock and adhered it.  This has adhesive behind it to stick it to the yellow card stock.  The ends were tucked under the grey mat and taped down.
The glass and backer were added and it was placed in the frame. It looks great!!!

I was asked to update the vellum.  This is the final version after a couple of versions.

Wedding Gift Frame

I created this frame as a wedding gift.  I started with a 7" black matte metal frame of good quality.  I painted a gradient watercolor background with FW Acrylic Artist Ink in 437 Purple Lake.  I added some Dr. Ph. Martin's Irridescent Silver Calligraphy ink.  These were painted onto a piece of watercolor paper. While I was at it, I applied some of these inks to a piece of textured card stock as I anticipated hearts for this project.
Once dry, I laid out the words in coordinating colors & fonts and printed it onto the background.  It contains the bride & groom's names and the date of the wedding.  I punched a heart from the textured card stock with the Stampin Up Sweetheart punch.  I punched another heart from silver non shed glitter paper.  This was all designed to fit in the 3x3 inch square opening in the middle of the 7 inch white mat.   I mounted the purple heart with 3D foam tape and the glitter one behind it.  I placed credits on purple card stock and inserted it at the back of the frame.  The glass was cleaned on both sides, the pieces were layered and inserted into the frame.

Card Display - Show

I needed a display to hold my cards at my show on Friday.  After looking at what I had at home I came up with this idea.
I designed it with a 12x12 metal square I bought at a scrapbooking garage sale a couple of years ago.  I expect it was designed to allow a person to layout their page before adhering it.  I painted it acrylic spray paint.  I taped a 6x6 inch clear square box together then cut it in half with an exacto knife to create 2 pockets to hold the cards. The pockets are held in place with a couple rare earth magnets on the bottom of the frame.  The metal frame is mounted on a large metal easel.  The bottom of the easel supports the pockets as well as they are filled and get heavier. I added a piece of card stock identifying me and my process of creating decorative paper. It is held to the metal frame with magnets hidden behind the cards.  The pockets are great because they hold cards tall or wide. 
Having them well displayed, I hope I sell a few during the evening. 

Chipboard Calendars

I'm working on product for my sale next month.  I have designed a 6x4 calendar featuring clear embossed vellum sentiments with a 2.5 x 3.5 inch calendar which I designed myself.  These elements are held in place with tiny black brad which repeats the black in the vellum.  I chose a piece of chipboard as the based onto which I adhered a piece of designer paper.  It is well presented in a black metal frame which will look terrific on a desk, file cabinet, or book shelf.
Check my calendars page for more detail.