Creative Pause

Am reorganizing my house to bring my art into the central part of my life.  My studio has always been on the peripheral edges of my home, banished in its messy exuberance to a spare room or verandah.  Now that my daughter has left home and taken the lounge and TV, I am left wondering why I even have a lounge room when I don't use it.  So I am setting up the old lounge area as my working (and one day, teaching) studio!  My old studio area will be used for storage.  Am also setting up a proper office area because I seem to spend a lot of time on the computer!

Creatively, I have been inspired recently by the US show, Face Off, highlighting special effects make up.  It has got me thinking about what is possible with art, and how I might go further along my journey.  I am starting to feel the 'weight' and 'tug' of inspiration dragging me towards dragons and dark fairytales.  I have been resisting, thinking noone but me would appreciate it.  But really, what am I an artist for if not to bring my own magic into the world.  I will go with it!

Some days I lose faith in my Etsy shop.  I have had it for six months now, playing with it every day.  I do love looking at other people's work and I find the supplies wonderful.  It has proven a beneficial resource for me, but not an income.  It is definitely disheartening not to sell anything at all....  But then I always told my children it is hard to be yourself when you stand alone, but you must be true to yourself and have courage.

So I will continue... :)  Art is my calling and I do it because I must.

Happy Day

A happy day today working on some pretty coasters and trinket boxes to sell.  When finished I will put them in my Etsy shop, Miss M Handmade. ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissMHandmade?ref=shop_name_search_sugg )

FINISHED!!

At last I have finished this painting!!!  I carefully (and patiently!) applied the silver leaf and outlined in black.  But it just didn't excite me until I had the inspiration to sketch in a background scene, using pencil, and blended it into the existing pattern.  The scene is Middle Eastern since the design elements lean toward the Islamic.

I love how the silver leaf catches the light and makes the composition sing!  Tomorrow I will spray fixative on the pencil to prevent smudging and varnish the silver to stop tarnish.

I love it now!  I am satisfied that I have done a good job :)

Floating Down the Creative Stream

The creative life is definitely not a straight road!  I have learnt to 'go with the flow' and see where it takes me... Recently I had a day out and went to the Queensland Museum.  Among many interesting items I saw this display of comical bird skeletons!  If skeletons can be delightful, these were!  They are from a bird called a Frogmouth, which has a large head in comparison to its body.  I  love how the museum designers have positioned these in lifelike poses.

I have been working on a number of projects at the same time.  The black and white painting is still waiting for the silver leafing to be completed.  Horatio Crow has a coat of black paint now but needs more, plus costuming and of course, in the middle of everything, I have followed another idea and begun another painting, and a new technique.  I love 'special effects'.... the possibilities are exciting.

 After applying a textural pattern, I sprayed on copper paint and then sponged green patina, creating verdigris.  It really looks like metal!

Horatio is such a funny character that I made some original drawings on cards with glimpses of his life!

Yet another project has been making 'dragon eye' brooches.... I adore these and think there could be many applications for these as jewellery and accessories!

I'm not worried by the diversity as I think it all comes from the same source.  I show up for work in the studio ... and magic happens!