Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wall Flower Angels

I continue to enjoy show and tell in progress. Nothing changed there. After painting 3 inch little faces last week I was spiraled into the need to paint big and bright.
So on Sunday, I played a little game with myself.
And here is how I started. I confess that I knew I was going to paint three faces and did not want to paint the faces on the canvas.
Hence, the text.
Just being different.
And
I knew the dresses would be collage down the center.

So the game I played was to work on this canvas for 15 minutes and then go and clean or do laundry or put some of this stuff up or just anything that needed to be done.....
for 15 minutes.
Then back to the painting for 15 minutes.
Pretty tricky because at this stage, it needed to dry a bit.
I won't show the stack of laundry that I folded.
Then I came back and spent 15 minutes preparing wall paper for dresses.
I stenciled with doilies and stamped with homemade stamps.
Just random fun.
Just random with no thought except the snapdragon napkin would be incorporated in some way.
Then I spent 15 minutes organizing some of my stuff.
The Mr Police Person was watching and questioned if playing with my stuff counted.
Of course, it is something that needs to be done.
Paint sketching the faces.
I was challenged to use three different pallets of colors for my Wall Flower Angels.
Actually, I knew COLOR was going to be bright and vivid and many.
Do you see the hand that my muse snuck in?
Forget the game. It lasted about this long. Then I needed to stay with my angels.
When there is paint left on my palette, I usually remember to use it up on the canvas somewhere. Even though it will get covered later. It gives a nice starting layer.
I knew I was going to use the narrow strip of wallpaper.
So I painted the blue and used a stamp to add texture between the strips.
This is a close up showing the use of stamp to lift the paint from the wet blue and then stamp onto the canvas.
Making progress, but this is the point that I usually zone out and forget the camera.
Wall Flower Angels
16 X 20
************
I'm at home this morning but need to get ready to go.
So have a great day.
Expect it,
Sharon
PS.....do you see the snapdragon napkin? It is there but became insignificant. That napkin is a real challenge and I have a plan for it....but I'm out of time today.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Bird Box Watching


I just wanted to say have a nice weekend and share the Birdbox Show.
But you know I just can't stick that up without showing and telling something else. This is a desk-doodle. You might remember this convo we had about first draft doodles. That is what this is.
But I was trying to sketch her with her looking down...her head looking down. But I don't why I cropped off the top of her head and you can't see that more of her head would show and you would not be able to see nostril holes and maybe even her bottom lip would be barely showing. Oh well anyway, that is what I was trying to do. I didn't quiet accomplish it though.
Now do this. Hold your two thumbs up to the monitor and cover the little dark dots on each side of her lips. Happy. Sad. Happy. Sad. Did you do it?
Get the popcorn and enjoy my baby bird show. They might be gone this weekend. Not sure.

Expect a great weekend, (that means be prepared for it)
Sharon

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Splendor

I should have named this video series "Splendor". It's all here Part One and Two about applying napkins and ink jet transparency transfers.









Here is an excellent tutorial from last year to go along with this video tutorial.
The finished project inside.
This is the inside of the little 3 1/4 inch square sandwich board art shown yesterday.
I really enjoy doing these videos and I know you like them too.
But I will take a little break from the Flip.
So I can paint.
Expect it,
Sharon

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

To Emilie

......my anonymous commenter person. Thank you so much for your visits. I love that you come and visit and always tell me you've been here. As a matter of fact, I look forward to hearing from you. I look forward to your thoughts, your observations and apparent insight that you pass along to me about my art as it relates to your art. I also love hearing that you have seen my ladies as you are out and about in your town. I am charmed with your comments and have a fantasy of painting and making art together, as I know we would learn so much from each other. Thank you.


I promised a little art this week and here it is. It's just another face painted as I love to do without a sketch. I've used a board book to make a little "sandwich board" type painting that will sit nicely on a desk or shelf.


I will also have another two-part video this week that will incorporate my use of napkins and a transfer.....by request and I think you will like it.


I am home for now on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and trying to take advantage of being home; although, I haven't painted yet this morning as I thought I might. I must get a painting started that will keep me off the couch tonight. I really like to paint from start to finish in one sitting; however, those blocks of time elude me now. So, if I start something, I am so inspired to get back to it the first chance I have instead of planting myself on the couch.


Speaking of the couch, you may be interested is seeing what I have been doing on the couch on the few evenings that I manage to stay upright. The title is "Confusion".
Expect a new video this week,
Sharon


Monday, March 23, 2009

Hello Monday

New 5 x 7 Prints
I just made a Monday morning update to All Norah'S Art. These five 5 x 7 prints are available for the first time. They are from my Flesh color study journal and are favorites. Very affordable with mat included and ready to pop into an 8 x 10 frame. For a closer look at these beautiful prints, click on the link.



******************

So, how is your Monday shaping up? I had a nice but busy weekend and feel a little tired already. But I'm at this desk and thinking about what I'm going to paint when I get home.......I always have these thoughts until I get home and poop out.


I made a quick stop at a junk store Saturday when I had to come to town to mail some print orders and guess what I found? OK, I'll tell you. I found a plastic doilie-like rectangle place mat. It has great designs and I can't wait to use as stencil or mask. Oh wait......I'll go take a picture.



What did I tell you. It was my lucky day.

Expect it,

Sharon

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Part Four and Five

At last, the final two session of my Painting a Face videos. I painted her from start to finish in 46 minutes and I didn't stop the camera. I now know that editing youtubable (my word) segments would be easier if I had stopped the camera several times. I'm sorry that sometimes I seem to mumble. Crank up your sound. And sometimes I totally zone out especially in part five. Which, by the way, is when she really comes alive. I love that you are enjoying. I love to share and inspire.








She ended up like this and should be familiar to you. She left here as a piece of mail art in a most "stupendous" way.


More art this week.

Promise.

Expect it.

For real.

Video too.

Never made it to the think tank.

OK

Sharon

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Face Sketch - Part Three

Here is Part Three of more. I'm excited that I was able to post to youtube from home. Therefore, I will try to finish this up this weekend. There is more.

I have other things to show and tell and so maybe we will have a busy weekend here at All Norah'S Art.

I'm also thinking about spending a little while on my think tank. I miss it. I haven't been on it since this happened. My knee and rear-end finally feel OK. But I'm not going to do the whole nine-yards. Just the one house yard which shouldn't take too long. But first I get to paint because I'm itching to do that. So here I go.
Expect more face painting and thank you for your comments,
Sharon

Friday, March 20, 2009

Painting A Face Part Two

Thank you all so much for viewing my video. I just love hearing from you about it. So, here is more starting where part one left off.

The color that I'm using is Golden heavy body Transparent Red Iron Oxide and Titanium White. I am painting on cardboard that I have collaged papers on and added a light layer of gesso before painting.

Enjoy and expect part three. Wish me time to paint this weekend because I'm planning on it and you know I'll show you when I do.
Sharon

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Painting a Face Sketch

Actually, this is part of my first effort at movie making that I never showed. I am just now getting around to editing this video of me painting a face. I'm not really editing, just breaking it up into several parts. As you will see, I start the sketch with paint. I will have several segments to show. So, stay tuned.


Updating other news. My Internet service at home is finally up as of yesterday afternoon.

My Mother in law is settling in and having mostly good days and good nights although still confused a lot. All your words of encouragement, support and advise was so appreciated. Thank you. I was home until noon today and she is scrubbed and shined by me from top to toe.

My floors are blessed and my dinner is ready to put in the oven. I'm thinking I will maybe do a little painting tonight. I have an idea for inspiration but I will need to go get some fortune cookies first. Maybe I can do that on my way home.

Enough for now,
Expect another video shortly,
Sharon

Monday, March 16, 2009

Joy

I don't think I have ever shared "Joy" with you.
She is one of my favorites and I have the original.
She is now available as a 5 X 7 print and
will come with a cream colored mat ready
to pop into an 8 X 10 frame.
5 x 7 Prints with mat included.
Will fit standard 8 X 10 frame.

Check it out.

The first six who buy anything from my shop and come back to my comments and tell me you did will get:

A 5 x 5 print of "Giggle"

A beautiful Napkin for collage

An ink jet collage sheet of butterflies

and more

*********************************************************************

Hello, my name is Sharon and I'm addicted to blogging.

So, I have been at home a lot lately and without internet service. The first morning, I wasted (cleaning house). The second morning I decided I needed to rethink and regroup and reorganize my time. It occurred to me that I'm always fretting inside myself about not being at home and not having time at home to do what I want to do. The third day, I started working on prints that I wanted to offer in a 5 x 7 format. They are all beautiful and ready to ship because I expect that you will find one that you love. Also, my mission was to share in a very affordable way so I hope you will check out the new listings.

Expect love,

Sharon

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Too many Roosters

Good morning, (afternoon)
I have too many roosters! I happen to catch them preening and crowing early the other morning as I looked out my kitchen window and wanted to share.

I have a lot of news. Some of it more that you wish to know but it will explain my silence. Maybe. I'll be as brief as possible.

First of all, as of last Monday, my dear husband's 90 year old Mother is living with us. Actually, she lived alone much longer than she should have and so it's time. When you are 90 years old and find yourself away from home and familiar surroundings, you may become very disoriented. She has. Therefore, even though she had been living alone, we cannot leave her alone now. Our routine has changed. Some mornings, I'm staying with her and then come to the office and switch with my dh at noon. This means my blogging-from-the-desk time has been greatly diminished.

The other thing which should be temporary is MY INTERNET SERVICE AT HOME HAS CRASHED. Yes, this disturbs me and I was screaming indeed. It is the service not my computer and hopefully tomorrow, Monday, something will be done about that. In the meantime, because I am so addicted to emails, comments, and blogging, I am at the office on Sunday afternoon to catch up a little.

I will tell you that (without internet) my house is cleaner and I'm amazed at the time I have to do those things and obviously the time I have devoted to internet. But I don't care. I hope it gets fixed tomorrow. It makes me happy.

I won't manage to get around to say hi and thank you and see what your doing for a while but just know that I love hearing from all of you and it warms my heart to read from Kate and Aida that they have made Tree Flags. And hearing from Painter girl that she made the soup and her husband thought is might be the best she ever made....well I'm still smiling. I so appreciate ever single comment always always always. Especially now. If any of you have found yourself with a 90 year old mother in law.....any tips you have will be wonderful.

Expect a great week ahead,
Sharon

Hearts

We Heart potato soup

So, I don't go around looking for hearts. Sure I notice them but I'm not on the lookout for them. Really. Tonight we are having potato soup because we heart potato soup and it is raining and I just keep stuff on hand for such a soup when I haven't planned for any other thing. That would be tonight. I guess you couldn't say that I haven't planned because I'm planning it right now.

It is so delish that I thought I would share my concoction. Here is what I do:

I take a slab of sliced bacon and turn it on edge and slice through the slices about 1/4 inch apart and use about 2 inches off the slab of bacon. Are you confused? For me it is just the easiest way to dice some bacon for the pot. Throw the bacon in the pot on med heat. Dice 1/2 of a medium onion and throw into the pot of bacon cooking. Dice about 5 medium potatoes and throw them into the pot as you dice them. Each time you add a potato, stir the sizzling pot of bacon, onions, and potatoes. I like to cook the potatoes this way before adding the liquid. I think the potatoes absorb all the bacon and onion flavors. Add one can of chicken broth which is just enough to cover this amount of potatoes. I do not add water. Cover the pot and let them cook for 10 or 15 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Add one can of whole baby clams and one can of evaporated milk. Turn the heat down and then off as soon as the soup gets hot. Do not boil after adding the milk. Salt and pepper to taste.

And that's what were having.

Expect it to be delicious,

Sharon
PS this serves 2 fat people who eat a little more than they should

Monday, March 09, 2009

Tree Flags and Tree Spirits






What fun I had yesterday. Just sitting on the couch and coloring. Hope you enjoy a little video about the process.
Expect tree flags,
Sharon

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Stupendous

This is what I've been working on this weekend. It's gonna be stupendous.....I tell you. My self-challenge was to paint on top and yet around the design of napkins. And to paint quick faces. So that is what I've been doing. I just thought I'd show and tell this stage of my project. None are finished. And I know how you love to see a messy desk, sorry I think I cropped most of it out.


You may or may not have any idea how fun it is to get published. Let me tell you it is an artist high point. I'm just saying and speaking for myself.

This is the new/premier issue of Somerset Apprentice which I was so excited to have an article published in. Again, speaking for myself, I think Apprentice will become one of their best-selling magazines. I hope you get a chance to check it out. I promise you will not be disappointed. Everything about it is superb. Their layouts, the photography, and of course the how-to articles by the artist. I can't wait to try some of the new things gleaned from this issue.




Look for me starting on page 122. And
Expect more,
Sharon