Puparazzi

Let's just say I've been a bit busy...

The original and favorite Woody Woodpecker

This little buddy has been coming to the Pink-tipped Redbud tree outside my kitchen window for about 5 years. I am certain it is the very same bird, he even looks quite a lot older this year.  He first showed up young and vibrant working like a crazed jack-hammer to create a home for his family in our courtyard. 


This season and last his visits were fleeting SO, I was thrilled to have been at my sink when he arrived. 

This is one of those 'little-big-deals': he arrives, hops about on the branches, gives a few test pokes, circles the branch and quickly wings off but, this time, my camera was at the ready (as I was trying to photograph my art paintings)!   The reason he hasn't moved in for 2 seasons?  We had to remove the largest branch that had been his home the previous 3 seasons (insert sad face).  The very reason he liked it is what took it away: bugs!

I suspect he is somewhere nearby.

Photographing a finished Painting

sub-title: A whole new appreciation of photographers (upon failing at photo-capturing my finished artwork).

This appreciation is not wholly new because I realized a long time ago that I am not equipped OR good at it (if you are looking for a tutorial on 'how-to photograph your finished art', you have come to the wrong place).  I simply appreciate those artists who have taken on and mastered successfully photographing their own art; an art form of its own.

Believe me, I could present 3 dozen failed photographic attempts at capturing the size, texture, color, depth and 16 hours of work that went into creating this 48" x 48" abstract (acrylic) painting (propped up in front of a mounted quad panel piece). 

:

My lack of skill in photographing paintings is a key reason I really do not like to send 'previews' to people (in this case 1100 miles away). 

I can't even get a straight forward picture...and truly hope this picture is 100 times better in person than the reflective, static, plastic dull, glaring spectacle it appears to be in the photograph!

All this being said, I am determined to fix this.  So, watch for improvements, I welcome tips from my audience!


I'm throwing this one in to show how my attempt to present an artsy photograph of a couple of abstract studies...failed as well:

Steampunk Bird on Wheels

A couple years back I saw the work of an artist at a local art sales gallery who makes these little sculptural birds (some on actual wheels and he adorns them with metal and other 'found' items).  For the life of me I can not remember his name and need to look him up!  It will come to me though eventually (of course, I could call that gallery;  at some point I will update this post with his info!)

I did not purchase one of his bird sculptures but, was inspired to create a reminder of them!

I never really saw this as 'Steampunk' (Steam Punk?) until recently.  

Was thinking I should sell this but I can't quite let it go yet.  

It's 16 x 20" and bright and metallic and fun and swirly and makes me smile.  I actually glued on the feather and the button and little metal embellishment.

I will soon be using this image (maybe card sets?) in my etsy shop.

April ACEO calendar page

Spring ACEO series.  

The 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" bird and ribbon was inspired by the natural fibers in the hand-made art paper I found at the local supplier. Using corner-photo tabs I mounted it aside a calendar page for April on a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" card stock.

After selecting the paper to paint, I thought the fiber color blob in the upper left kinda looked like little chickadees when they hang upside down on a branch.  I'm always watching them in my yard so, I painted one of their own as a little spectator to their antics. He sits on a branch in the background behind an embellished painted ribbon sprinkled with micro-glitter.

APRIL and the calendar were typed on my vintage 'ROYAL Quiet De Luxe' typewriter (a treasured, mid century heirloom that once belonged to my Aunt Hannah; used in her roll as a staffer to a district congressman who later became a U.S. Senator) I'm not sure of it's age but certainly mid-century; and I don't know what I'll do when the ribbon runs dry but, in the meantime, it is good to go with plenty left on the roll!!

I just noticed I used the
lower case i instead of the 
upper case I...
no 1 offered on this old typewriter! 



find this and other months http://www.etsy.com/shop/rainheart

Sheep at home with a mountain view

It's spring and sunny here but, way colder than the 53 degrees on the thermometer...wind chill?  No, it's 'damp chill' out.  So, today was the perfect day to get painting early since it's too chilly to be in the garden.

I'd previously prepared this collage background so it was ready and simply waiting for the right day to finish off with a spring theme.  

The water running off the slope is frigid and the sheep still wear their shaggy coat.  Any day now they will be running from the farmers shears!  

In the meantime, aren't they lucky to have a home with a mountain view?

 

Whimsical Painted Dog Portrait

Our dogs are very funny so, a big whimsical Dog Portrait is in order!

Detail of 16 x 20" Collage, wrapped canvas @2013

         This is a famous Shiba Imu.   Hope she tickles your funny bone!

Next up is a super cute Beagle...

then a Chihuahua.. a German Shepard...a Border Collie...a Shepard mix...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125822407/your-dog-portrait-customized-made-to?

CLOWN ACEO

Lest we take ourselves too seriously (something I did for far too long) I have been throwing some mini-portraits of clowns to the wind in the form of ACEO.  

3" x 3" original acrylic on wrapped canvas frame

As I paint I imagine these clowns have worked very hard entertaining crowds of mildly disdaining people; maybe a too long parade or not enough money for the fare home and next thing you know, it's the morning after and they wake up in a bus station.  But are they discouraged?  No. The smile tells all...someone has actually dropped change in the hat and there is a photo-booth in the lobby....

                       These are in my Etsy shop (hence the necessary '@' symbol)


If this is your first encounter with ACEO here's the definition :
                         Art Cards Editions and Originals

These little treasures are a well established phenomenon in the 'artist community'.  They were developed by artists who traded or handed them out to fellow artists or clients as calling cards...original, memorable and the trend grew.  

ACEO has opened up a world of affordable art to artist-collectors and now just art lovers in general.  ACEO is perfect for the full audience of creators and collectors of mostly 'outsider' artwork.   

ACEO is open to your own interpretation and further definition; there is a blurry line these days between 'art' and 'craft' and that is much of what makes admiring ACEO so fun.

I have been creating a wide variety of ACEO for a while now...well before I knew there was a name for it and seemingly a whole community devoted to it!  

Spotting the Spotted Owl

 

As a deconstructor/reconstructor when I get lucky the re-purposed turns into something good looking, whimsical or even functionally satisfying

Put an Owl on it

The somewhat vintage fabric for this little skirt awaited an idea to bring it to a hanger as a finished fashion item.  In the Pacific Northwest you can't help but notice the 'put a bird on it' theme in many of the boutiques, so, I jumped on board with an old favorite, a spotted owl.

I decided to send this one out for sale and a kind shop keeper, a sweetheart really, with an eye for cool trends swept it up.  

I'm sure there's a more up to date name for it but I'll call it 'urban casual' style and I plan to create a few more items with my original owl design so, stay tuned!

Queen silhouette

It was a milking stool.  What?  Yeah, kind of outmoded but, whimsical none the less!

I added the queen's face in silhouette because it was right around the time of the Royal Wedding and a bit of Britannia whimsey was needed.  

It may be slightly inappropriate to set your bum on the queen's face if you don't have a sense of humor...

Sweet Lamb

Wood shims, paint and embellishments collide to create these two, sweet, wall hangings.   

Putting these together was so joyful (in my best buddy's studio with her making hers in a different color scheme right next to me).  

LOVE the results, especially the so, so so, sweet little lamb packaging graphic (I sure wish I had thought to make a copy and not used the original, alas, but that's what makes these wall hanging extra special...all the vintage touches!).  

Piled up vintage flower buttons and sewing treasures give them a charming theme, don't you think?

  available on etsy in the Rainheart shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rainheart

Amphibious Art

This sure is a one of a kind that took a 'whimsey' mood during the creative process!
 

This Creature is mermaid-ish (or is it Merman?) and Amphibious (the two characteristics are HUMAN & FISH (rather than Land and Sea)

The lovely natural Silk used for the body is the perfect 'muddy pond' color and hand sewn with glass beads.  Fin tail is a gorgeous, wavy, high fabric and embellishments are shiny and simply pulled from the stash, a bit of tulle, a bit of yarn, etc.

The face is watery, slime green, pond scum-ish with an expression that is Mona Lisa-esque don't you think?

It can be placed on a sofa, chair or table to greet quests or has a way to hang from a ceiling hook to seemingly float toward you!

Amaryllis in FULL bloom!

These made it into the pot a bit too late for the Christmas decor...wouldn't they look great in a big Cupid pot? 

The 3 large and healthy bulbs were a gift from my green thumb S-I-L.  Her yard in the Willamette Valley is GORGEOUS.

I planted them in a single pot December 18th I was a bit under pressure and over budget on holiday decor so, I didn't shop/buy new pots and they landed in the biggest pretty pot I had available without me going to the shed....I thought it could be big enough to squeeze them all in....slightly!

I have no idea how to keep these bulbs alive for next year; the producer is Hadeco (have not looked it up yet but I just noticed the web address on the label www.hadecoamaryllis.com !!)

I LOVE the names of the flowers: Wedding Dance, Razzle Dazzle and Ragtime which is the BIG double red flower.

If you know how to keep these alive for next year please feel free to leave a comment!  (Climate area 6)

Sunshine helps!

We are being fooled by a false SPRING!  Just on the heels of a cold spell; but that's okay, we'll take it!

 

Earring holder with vintage hardware

Saving every piece of hardware you see has it's down side...Hardware is heavy.  Hardware can come in dirty.  Hardware does not always 'speak to me'...

 BUT when it comes together it can be FABULOUS!

 A pretty finished back

PERFECT!  Exactly what I needed for the wire earrings!  And when I want I can flip it upside down, open the hinge and hang it on the wall!

Where 1 is good 2 is better!  Sprinkler flower faucet soooooo cute!

LUCKY DOG!

This came together for one Lucky Dog! Actually, that being said, two snuggle buddies will fit in it... 

Denim and studs create the style and hand painted bone accents attract the 'bad boy'...perfect for the Country Rock Star dog.

A set of BIG button feet, a bit of fringe, a bunch of rag torn roses, throw on a bling here and there and time to perch like you own the place! 

The denim mattress reverses to a sharp black and white. Comes with a bolster pillow and mini faux-fur accent pillow.

 

The Throne

  Here is the 'Throne' bed.  
It's a substantial piece of furniture with ultra suede and a French phrased upholstery panel.  The headboard is from an antique mirror frame, the mirror long gone, years ago.  I just knew I would use it some day!

 Rough translation thanx to Google translation: 'when an event is banal and an adventure breaks out, it is time to tell the story'.  

The Little Guy feels regal on this Throne!

Time to get off the Throne, neighbor Jake!

The little gold crown pillow has 3 vintage crystal buttons that bling in the sunshine!

Collections

I'm sure I'm not the only one to whom it seems there is always an event in the way of moving to the next big task.  Since Memorial Day I have said AFTER the rain stops and the 4th has come and gone I will reorganize the studio, garage and attic. 

(The no more excuses time has arrived!  Or has it? )

It's getting to the stash(es) of collections and materials piled up or tucked away for future art & craft that has become overwhelming.  I actually want and need to have the work space de-cluttered so I can move more freely as I get the dog beds made.  I do think less searching for the elements will help me, a lot!

I am distracted by the heat so I am working in the hot studio rather than purging the blistering attic.

So, as I take a break I visited Mamie Jane's blogspot and thought I would show one of my collections.  It happened during a bit of a re-do in thinking in how to use vertical air space; here is a stack of vintage tablecloths and a jar of creamers looking pretty on the kitchen display shelves.

Satisfied with myself having pulled things together and happy to repurpose the big glass cylinder previously for large flowers arrangements:

Creamers: they will be enjoyed on a vertical view!

The studio and garage and attic can wait for a cool down and I still made progress, right?

A real sparkler of a 4th

Our tradition of celebrating the 4th of July is both exhausting and exhilarating.  The dishes are finally clean and the yard once again bottle-cap and debris free.  

Without 'Picnic Style' we would be hungry!  Our being able to host these backyard parties depends on the older generation bringing the side dishes as the 21+ fill up the iced kiddy pool & coolers with beer!  

Even The Little Guy celebrates! He loves the flannel fabric on this Patriotic Pup Bed

 The tradition continues and the yard is in full bloom!  Of course, when we forget about all of the work and do it again next year the only suggestion to guests is likely to be the usual:

• Wander over to say 'hey' with a drink in your hand
• Wanna stay awhile? Bring a dish to share
• Want protein? The grill will be lit (and tended) throw it on, sit down and be served by the talents of the man of the yard! 

As hostess I wander and wander and enjoy all the conversation and activity. 

Every year on the days following as I load and reload my dishwasher I make a mental note: 

'At the end of the evening ask guests to take their side dishes with them, so, I don't have to remember who brought each container to return!'  Okay that's not the full truth...so I don't have to clean them!  

Maybe next year I'll say if you leave your Crate & Barrel casserole THANK YOU, I Love IT!

Maybe next year!