Busy Busy!

In some ways having a deadline to work to can be motivating.  On the other hand, I find when I try to force a painting nothing good comes of it.  After some attempts at trying too hard, with poor results, I decided to relax and go with what I feel.  The result was a sweet little trinket box painting that just came into existence with ease.

I am going to list it on my Miss M Handpainted Etsy shop today!

I did finish the dragon stone I was sketching and I quite like it.  I tried a slightly different technique with this one and I think it gives a rather dramatic effect.

As well as painting, I am learning to sculpt and have made some resin jewellery.  I will start listing these items in Miss M Handmade.

  And lastly I have taken some photos of the completed Green Man Trinket Box and will list him in Miss M Handpainted .

Dragon stone

Began sketching this dragon on a river stone last night.  Sometimes I can actually see the beast in the rock.  A ridge will suggest a pelvic bone or a neck line.  It's pretty interesting!  I just need to emphasize what I already see!

Hope to have him finished by the weekend....  :)

Green Man emerges!

I think at this point I was quite worried that I wasn't going to be able to pull this off!

But I kept going and put in some blue shadowing.

As soon as I started painting twirly bits I knew it would be OK and the painting was saved!

Tada!  I like him now.  All I have to do tomorrow is finish the interior of the box and give it some varnish.

I am going to have my first stall at the Handmade Expo at Morayfield on Sunday 2 June.  Am quite nervous/ excited about it and am painting every day to prepare.

Green Man

This is the progress on the new box I am painting.  I love the concept of the Green Man, protector of the creatures of the forest.  I have seen many, many representations of him, but I tend to think of him as a warrior or rather wild spirit.  I wanted him to be expressive and good to look at.  Next I will tackle his oak leaf headdress.

My ZAZZLE shop

I have spent some time yesterday adding products to my Zazzle store.  All the artwork in the shop is my own creation!  When you order a product you get a high quality item and I get a 10% royalty.  Not much for me, but every little bit helps me live a life doing what  I am best at!!  It has always been my dream to see my work on many different items, and I would love to be a 'licensing' artist.  Until that happens this is my way of achieving my dream!!

The link for the bag is:

http://www.zazzle.com.au/customise_product_bags_for_laptop-256050763459557418

YOU CAN VISIT MY SHOP HERE:

http://www.zazzle.com.au/michelleandrewsart. 

Dragon Box for sale!

I have finished this lovely box and I adore it!!  The golden dragon glitters and the red border and sides almost glow!  I will be listing into my Etsy shop tonight....  $40 AUD and it's yours!  All original artwork, hand-painted and unique.

Love the deep glowing reds!

Inside the box is a paint effect loosely suggesting scaly skin.

     

Fire-breathing splendour!!

Such good news!

I have just found out that two of my original paintings have been accepted into the Finalist Exhibition of the Lethbridge Small Scale Art Awards for June 15!!!  Am VERY HAPPY!  Can't stop smiling!  The one above is called Warrior Poet, and that below is Sahra.  I will post the link to the on-line exhibition when it goes live next month...  :))

Dragon box...

Had the most wonderful day painting today!  A strong feeling of happiness and contentment... I love the colours of the box.  It's almost finished now!

Coming along nicely!

My dragon box progresses...

A Visit to Mum...

I usually go to visit my Mum, who lives about two hours drive away, every month.  Apart from gardening and chatting, I also like to have a project to do!  This visit's project was to plan and begin a dragon box...

I wanted to do a heraldric dragon and not a fantasy one, so I followed examples set out in my heraldry book, adding my own style.  He will be gold eventually, but I had to do an under-coat of red first.

The side of the lid will be checkered and the design on the sides was inspired by an Islamic border.

So far, so good!!