Painting Bliss

Giveaway Time! Marie the Owl

 

I am rescheduling Tutorial Thursday for tomorrow Friday March 2nd so that I can offer a giveaway from... ME! oh yeah!

It's been a long time now since I offered a giveaway... but it's time! with an impending spring on our doorstep and lot's of creativity coming out of these fingers I have offered a one of a kind giveaway to The Owl Club. You can visit my giveaway here to find out how you can win...

 

{{Marie the Marvelous Owl}}

Marie measures 3 inches tall and was created from a wooden egg... and then altered with an array of mixed medias. This one of a kind piece is bright and vibrant, oh and just plain SWEET! Marie is signed and titled on her bottom... lol not on her bottom... but on the bottom of her.

 

 

Marie promises to be a good little bird... not to take up too much room or beg too much for lollipops and candy... she has a bit of a sweet tooth.

Ooooh I do hope she goes to a good and kind home! Will it be yours? maybe!

p.s. the special someone that wins will get a little something Marie can't live without ;)

You can enter the giveaway until midnight on 7th March.  

Anyone can enter: international entrants welcome!

Welcome home Nikon Lense!!

 

 

Oh for over a month now it's been like walking around without a limb, without my Nikon that is. From carrying it everywhere to having to use my cell phone camera, it wasn't easy... but it's all fixed and I'm back in the groove!

We found out shortly after I wrote my Nikon has a boo boo post that my warranty was just over the 3 year mark. Soooo.... the responsibility of purchasing a new lens was all mine. Thanks to Ebay and getting something for less I was able to buy a new lens for half the price... an awesome thing for a starving artist.

I'm really excited to have my camera in working order...now I have the capability of taking a  qaulity photo, a way to list things in my Etsy shop, and the one thing I carry everywhere back (besides kids and cell phone hee hee). I haven't been able to show you the newest things I have been creating because I have been without a good way of photographing them.

So look forward to more work, more photos, and better photos! 

p.s. has anyone noticed the wider screen? I can also now post larger photos for you to see!

 

 

 

 

Somerset Dreaming

 

I have been blessed yet again with a publication in Somerset Studio Magazine.

Being accepted reassures me that I am on the right path in my life It encourages me to create. paint, and draw without end! It is such a pleasure to be featured next to other talented artists!

 

 

Below is the original which I scanned here at home. I really think their scan didn't pick up as many details or the correct colors, but that's ok! I'm there and thats what counts!

 

You can find The March-April issue of Somerset Studio in any local book or craft store come the 1st of March.  Thank you to those of you (you know who you are) who encourage me to succeed. Who offer me their kind words and assurance and kick my butt into gear when needed.

 

 

 

 

Motivational Monday - I saw Dream BIG!

 

I want today to introduce you to a new day on Paintingbliss... a day to motivate. A day to start your week. A day to inspire and encourage you to be a success. Welcome to Motivational Monday.

As you know, sometimes all I need to do is read some of these amazing, colorful, and inspirational prints to take me from not so inspired - to gotta get in my studio RIGHT NOW so today... I offer a round up of inspirational quotes to start off this week and every week from here on out.

Through discovering myself here on Paintingbliss and even more so as an artist... I have, and continue to come into contact with some amazing artists and people. I have found that part of my calling is to inspire and I find people frequently asking me, how I do it? what is my advice for them? well... my biggest advice is to and I quote Nike "Just do it!". Everyday I JUST DO IT. I am what I am because I don't allow fear, failure, or others negative ways to bring me down. Living positively is contagious. So live out loud my friends, live happily... motivate!

 

"Spanish Proverb" ~Handlettering Cite by Albee on Etsy

 

"Live Simply" Tranquility Prints - Etsy

 

"Walt Disney Inspirational Quote" Artistico on Etsy

 

"Dream Big" ~Little Places on Etsy ~ Sweet things for Home & Child

 

Take this day and make what you can of it... in fact make more of it than you think you can.

Make it BIGGER - BETTER - BOLDER!

The Art House - Cool Free Projects

 

The Art-House Co-op located in Brooklyn New York is a really cool organization that focuses on the visual arts. The Art-House is the place that offers The Sketchbook Project I so often speak of and participated in last year. I am participating again by the way! the theme I chose is "create and capture" (so many ideas brewing).

The Art-House Co-op has a bunch of free projects that anyone can take part in. The first being "Letters to Home".

 

"It's been awhile, and the house you grew up in is starting to wonder about you... If your childhood home could hear you, what would you say? It might have been an apartment in the big city, a farmhouse in the country, or a cabin in the woods — there's a place from your past that will stay with you forever. Letters to Home is a community art project that asks creative people like you to write a letter to your childhood home. Share an epic backyard adventure, ask a lingering question, or reveal a long-kept secret — we'll transform our storefront exhibition space into a mailbox from the past. Every letter will be added to the Digital Library and archived in a boxed anthology that will join us on the 2012 Sketchbook Project Tour."

I signed up for this last week and already recieved my pretty postcard in the mail.

There's a new free project every Wednesday and you can sign up on their website to receive emails for these projects. What a fun thing right? I like their different and innovative ideas that really get the artist community together... it's inspring.

I believe the more you can participate in as an artist, the better. I am on every bandwagon that I can catch. I like being part of things  and getting my work out and about for others to see.

I understand now - love for a bike

 

I understand now how men love their cars, their motorcycles, and their boats...

my whole life I looked at dudes like they were crazy... thinking how could they LOVE an automobile or bike? Well, I get it now... I completely get it; for I am in love with a bicycle. My bicycle <3

Almost a month ago now I drove upstate and saw on the way, my love... my bike... I have always wanted a vintage bike. For as long as I can remember I loved their smooth lines and superior design. When contemplating a bike I loved the new Schwinn's the most. The ones modeled after the vintage ones, all shiny and new... pink even! I thought about it, drooled over them in the stores... but never purchased one. Too expensive anyways, not to mention I just felt like someday a real one would come to me. And it did. Ask and you shall receive, remember?

On my way upstate I get off the highway half way through opting for winding country roads that have known me for 29 years. My whole life I have traveled these same roads, over and over again until  I could probably drive them with my eyes closed. I remember the first time I actually drove on these roads myself... no longer a child in the back seat (or passenger seat). It was surreal, but felt oh so natural. Every time I drive up to visit my family, no matter how many times I have seen a twist or turn... the same antique shop or diner... I see something new.

I saw two really cool things on this one particular day.

First I saw sculptures that were never there before! this is not a wonderful picture as I wanted it to be... as it is still mid winter and everything is drab; but you will get the idea. I fully plan on this spring, when everything is green... to visit these sculptures and take pictures of myself doing the same poses.

 

(these metal sculptures are upward of 10 feet tall each)

 

Then second thing I saw... a bicycle... love at first sight I tell you, love at first sight! Pitter patter my heart boomed and raced inside this bird cage chest. There it was, my bike! It was mid week when I took this trip and no antique shops are open during the week in these tiny one blink towns - but there it was, leaning up against a bush chained down. It was lovely. At this point I had no idea what kind of bike it was, what price it was, or if it would be there when I returned the following weekend... but I decided right then and there that if it was... I would stop and make it mine.

 

The next week came and passed and we packed up and took off for another trip on my familiar roads. It was there... waiting for me... and the little antique shop which was inside a white house (original door) was open... OPEN! I pulled over, smiling with excitement... after all, I had thought about it and talked about it all week. I stepped out of the car, pranced up the steps petting the dog that laid in the doorway on the way in. Behind a desk seated low, was a man probably in his 60's. Long hairwith ringlets at the end were tied back in a low ponytail. He was obviously an old hippie who loved to collect and pick and sell junk (NOT JUNK - TREASURE). I felt an instant bond with the man.  His seat must have been a stool for he sat so low, but when he stood was quite tall. I inquired about the bike and he said, "The bike was $80, I knocked it down to $60, but you can have it for $50"... and the sale was made. He held my bike until the next day for me, even bringing it in to clean it up (how kind!). He was so sweet and I caught him smiling to himself as we drove away with my love in the trunk. I think he was happy he sold it to me

(I plan on sending him a thank you note and picture of it once I have spruced her up)

My bike ended up being a 1964  Schwinn Typhoon! built in October of that year.

(She had a serial number!)

 

 

In my imagination I am a teenager in the year 1964. I have just purchased my first bike, saved up all year for it... back then it cost $39.95, which was a lot! while riding my bike I stop at the record store and buy The Beatles first album and I am eager to speed home on my red beauty to listen to " I wanna hold your hand" (which I hum while paying for the record).  Deeper still in my imagination this bike returns to me in my next life (this one), on the side of the road waiting... for me to notice it. We meet again and I understand love for the inanimate.

 

My Schwinn has everything original. She will be getting new tires, a replacement (but vintage) Schwinn badge to replace the missing one... and a back rack and front basket. I am so excited to love this bike in the way it is meant to be and once before was  loved. I will not alter it's paint or make it shiny again. I love it just the way it is. So yes, all you men out there... I get it. I truly get it, I love my bike (love love love)

 

I will share my bike with you once we put everything on her. I plan on riding her this spring wearing the cat's on bike's fabric I designed for this week's Spoonflower contest. If you would like to vote for it, I would truly appreciate your time. Vote here.

 

Enjoy your weekend, find time to relax and take a nap even!

Pen Pals are COOL

Pen Pals are COOL!

 

 

My friend Suki from The Owl Club and I are pen-pals and it's oh so cool! every 1st of the month we take some time to design a card, write a personal note, then send it across the ocean to each others waiting hands. My letter took much longer to arrive in England than hers did to me, but she finally recieved it and I'm so glad for I was afraid they were lost. This card is the first of many to come :)

 

 

Suki has this keen ability to reuse in ways I wouldn't think of and I love it! this lovely pink card is decorated with a paper bag! the kind that you would take home from say a small gift shop where each purchase is more like a gift that a bought item. I like the botanical leaf stamp she used and sweet punch cut stars that cascade across the note.

 

 

I don't know why but I really love this wee air mail sticker! I like the idea that my card flew to me across the sea!

 

 

What a fab little stamp sticker! so very foreign (Suki is from England). I am also in love with the tiny dotted scroll border that must have taken some time to create.

 

 

 

What an idea to just use half a sticker/cut out. The image on this half star provokes my imagination in so many ways. It reminds me of a vintage sewing needle pack I have from the 50's... I imagine a child on the other half being read the note the mom is holding.

 

 

And here it is all opened up for you to see! I can't wait until the first of March to send another letter! Doesn't it just inspire YOU to design your own card and surprise a friend!? Well? Have at it!

 

Would you just love to see the card I made for her? go ahead! click right here.

 

Tutorial Thursday! - Stamp Carving

 

p.s. you don't have to be truly talented ;)

 

Can I get a round of applause for Tutorial Thursday? welcome tutorial thursday! welcome! Ahhh... almost through the week and just enough time to run to the craft store so you are more than ready to get your craft on ;)

This weeks theme is... Stamps

(Great Etsy Tutorial on Carving Stamps... here)

4 tutorials for your 4th day of the week, as always please click on the picture to visit your tutorial.

 

{{Potato Stamp}}

 You can never go wrong with the reliable potato stamp!

 

 

{{ Homemade Stamp Roller}}

Never seen this one before, but really love it!  Also love that the flag banner! Gonna have to make one of these!

If you can't get or don't have a wooden roller (I don't) you can buy a new one at the craft store in the stamp carving dept. (bring a coupon)

 

 

 

{{Speedyball brand rubber stamp Carving}}

This is how I cut my own rubber stamps. My brand of choice is speedyball and I purchase their easy to carve pink blocks. I love carving, I find it so relaxing and enjoy the end product.

 

 

 

{{Wine Cork Alphabet Stamps}}

There just aren't enough hours in the day, cause I really wanna make these! not only would it be great for you, me, and whoever else... but it would be a fab project for little ones who are learning their letters and how to spell their names!

 

 

Hope you are feeling inspired to make some stamps now! bring the kiddies in on the fun if you have some! if not... steal some... NO I'M KIDDING (not responsible for your actions)... I re-word that... if you don't have any kiddies - act like one while you create some or all of these stamps.

Enjoy and Smile your day along :)

 

In Which I Write a Short Bio.. What a hard thing to do!

 

It should be easy to write about myself right? I mean, everyday I write and everyday I come up with plenty to say and talk about... but when someone asks me to write a short bio the cat instantly has my tongue. I write the first line and think to myself how dumb it sounds, delete it and write another... read that, and decide no that doesn't sound well either. I think I give myself a lot of pressure for coming up with the first sentence; cause the first sentence has to grasp you and make you want to read the rest. If it's boring well, then the rest will be boring right? Not necessarily, but knowone will know if your first sentence wasn't awesome.

I remember in school my english teacher said "Your reader has to be able to know what your writing about by only reading the first and last sentences. Humans being an inpatient species often only reads the first and last sentence of an article".

 

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THE ARTIST'S STATEMENT

" An artist's statement provides an insight into the artist's work and how it came about.

In short, an artist's statement is a brief summary of what an artist would say if they could explain their own work in person. It focuses on the present while providing as much information from the past as is relevant.

The best artist's statement is authentic and is written in the artist's own voice, although not always by the artist, and in language which is always simple and accessible."

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People are buying you as well as your art. You make your art yours because of your personality and who you are...a fantastic article about this here. (extremely helpful!)

The big difference between a personal bio and an Artists statement is that you write in the 1st person instead of the 3rd. It's more of a conversation with the public not blah blah blah she did this this and that. Remember, personalize personalize personalize and edit edit edit. The trick is to write a lot then edit it down to just stuff that really matters.

So... now that I know all this new info (brain overload) let's try this, shall we? I think so!

 

 

hee hee just kidding... or am I?? hmmm.... ;)

ok serious time... artists statement...

 

Hi! My name is Ashlie Blake, and I am a self-taught mixed media artist living in upstate New York. Working with paper, acrylic, and other various materials I create whimsical and dreamy pieces of art that often feature animals, landscapes, and girls. Loving interesting quotes, words or even song lyrics, I can't help but incorporate them into my work. I believe images paired with words increases the emotional response of the viewer as it does for me!

I have always been an artist, however my focus switched to mixed media art only two years ago. Up until then I believed a painting had to be a painting, a watercolor had to be a watercolor, and so on and so forth. I never felt comfortable with just one medium until I said, "Well, why can't I put them all together?"... and so I did!  Thence becoming what I am today.  From then it has been a journey of self-discovery, and I have enjoyed the ride!

Working in mixed media has allowed my imagination to reach new heights, and granted these hands the ability to produce a more mature form of art.

I share my art, thoughts, and life-observations daily on my blog aptly titled Paintingbliss. There I allow myself to be ME.  Any given day, whether I choose to make you laugh, smile, or look at life a little differently...I am looking to inspire. It warms my heart to share my work and to have others enjoy it. I understand that sharing my work increases my ability to be a successful working artist, and it brings me joy and everyday motivation.

Find me on my Blog, Facebook, Twitter, or just contact me by email.

 

So...did I leave anything out?  How's that?  What do you all think?

Enjoy your day, may you write your own bio... if not on paper then atleast for fun in your head!

 

Love Your Rubbish!

 

Today I am so pleased and excited to introduce to Suki from The Owl Club that you have read about in prior posts. She is a true talent at reuseing, reducing, and recycling...and I could think of no better guest topic for her than how she finds unique ways of reusing her "rubbish". This is the first guest I have ever had on Paintingbliss! so exciting! hope you enjoy this as much as I am/have :)

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When the lovely and talented Ashlie asked me to write a guest post, I couldn't have been more delighted! When she said she'd like me to write something on the creative reuse of "trash" I was jumping up and down! This is one of my favourite subjects :) Thanks for having me Ash!

 

So, I almost put "trash" in the title, but decided to stay true to my British English ;) Here we call it "rubbish" ‐ but whatever word you use for it, think twice what you throw out: it just might be the basis of something creative and wonderful! First up, some random general tips:

• save ribbons from gifts and clothing (you know, those useless bits of ribbon for keeping clothes on hangers) for re‐use in packaging, as taggies on baby toys or for decorating sewing projects.
• before you put something in the recycling, like an ugly envelope, chocolate box or gift box, open it out and use it as a template so you can make your own (from recycled materials, of course!)
• before throwing something out, type "DIY {insert item name here}" into google or pinterest ‐ you'll probably find some creative re‐uses that way!
• One word: PUNCHES ‐ buy a selection of tools to punch stars, hearts, circles etc. in different sizes and make almost any piece of paper into something pretty. It's the combination of randomness and regularity that makes it work.
• the sewing machine is your friend: zig‐zag stitching can transform old newspaper or magazines into pretty pouches to use as gift bags.
• Have some pretty files and folders to keep all your scraps in, that way they won't clutter up the house while they are waiting to be transformed...
• ... and on that note, don't forget to USE things, otherwise there's no point in saving them!
• some other things to reuse: pretty teabag packets (use as a wrapping and think how nice the contents will smell!), junk mail, sweet (aka candy) wrappers, tiny scraps of fabric, pieces of twine, safety pins, envelopes, grocery bags (any brown paper is useful!), spare buttons...

3 ways with Candy Wrappers:

1. Cute candy wrapper belts by Plum Pudding

2. Recycle your candy wrappers into beads and make jewellery! Courtesy of Tiffany Threadgold.

3. Make candy pinback badges! OK, so this does require some specialist equipment; this was one of the reasons I bought a badge‐maker, so that I could re‐use pretty scraps as decorative buttons. I wanted to share something I personally do a lot.

3 ways with Security Envelopes

You know, those envelopes that contain bank statements, utility bills etc. ‐ look inside and you'll find an array of adorable patterns put there to ensure no‐one can peek through at the contents. Take what you need for these projects and recycle the rest!

1. Punch out shapes, chain sew together and create pretty garlands, like this one by Lobster and Swan.

2. Make pretty new mini‐envelopes, like these ones which you can buy from Girlindustries, here.

3. They also make pretty gift wrapping for small items, like these soaps as wrapped by Felt and Wire. They look especially good with different patterns combined together and tied with a pretty ribbon.

3 ways with Fabric Scraps

1. I am definitely going to be making some of this pretty yo‐yo bobby pins by Little Miss Momma. You can find the tutorial here. You just need some pretty scraps, a sparkly button and a bobby pin "blank" and hey presto!

2. I made these pretty little brooches from tiny scraps of felt and fabric. I sewed circles of fabric in layers onto a circle of felt using spoke‐like stitches, finishing with some buttons or sequins. I sewed another circle of felt on the back to hide the stitches, pushing the tiniest bit of stuffing into the middle. Then I sewed on a brooch back, et voilà! The raw edges of fabric will fray prettily over time.

3. Making creatures out of fabric scraps is so much fun. You can stuff them with lavender and include a loop of ribbon or twine to make an unusual lavender sachet. You can find out more about this one, made entirely of recycled materials, in this post.

Et voilà, just a few ideas to get you loving your rubbish today and always! There's nothing more satisfying than knowing you have giving a bit of trash new life.
Have fun!