Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Off to see Baby Hope and the Gang!
Have a lovely week of creativity and inspiration and wonderful times with those you love! We'll see y'all soon!
Blessings,
Becky Schultea
Monday, September 24, 2007
Makeover Monday: Our Guest Bathroom
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsxMIZ9AFInTHc79zit1KoPs_mqTade67g9xMd3yTybN51ZjQypaN0t5AV9oUBKx9sDnHuo-4apmVhP6vtUzqsdrRfJOZrFTkMT0Y1vVdRKeSZSRkokF-vpWaxnDvR85EVULd/s400/bathroom_sampler.jpg)
This week I will feature the makeover of our guest bathroom. It already had good bones and some basics in place (like a good shower curtain), but just needed some accessorizing in the worst way. The BEST part about this makeover was the price tag - approximately $8.00!!! Practically free!! (I LOVE decorating on the cheap!!) I gathered up stuff from here and there around the house and from my craft supplies (see below) and went from there...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Zqp_bnj3UBZhMFYsixd8bgjxFId2a0Cox82iI7pL646kWJunClJKhzQou6ti5Uv8f3PdodUDSZS9B61Y_S7wi5tTIQsP5-2zVyoIL2v4XaGITvrLtJ40mO_sSrhL2HlxRGoz/s400/bathroom_supplies.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mzTN8aNberZxspRqreZTnKE0aDjBsIk07KVvIwkjJPFvwMwt_f4N1yuJpa76tE02R3nsD0cT6TK63Kyli3A4SDxSM0QoK5FvXwoSqvhPYRqWdYxM5do5u41PwbTdNxOc8Hux/s400/bathroom_before4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd8EnLD0WM_xf8n2CkIZ8yyF2jXAGLefpsPZLRberXhar4U0o80dJDDYZRKHSqxuf3CcZTFXZXsRoZQx7pDxeUJ2338oSyW9G1V1PcjTnHsogmvkeugfxEVZKNIUBNLfSJKSW/s400/bathroom_before1.jpg)
I should mention here that my sweet-handy-hubby saw this cabinet in the trash and rescued/re-purposed it for the bathroom1! It had 3 cabinet doors and a blond/light oak finish - he cut it down to 2 cabinets, painted it glossy white, and hung it there as you see it. A nice blank canvas ready for me to embellish...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR9GAn3O3HDvTmRQLQqr0r3v2cAkile0m4ccL9V1KN7QR0XVfeKOKeAHhhPnuIYhAPyjuPuFSbZM7IH8YDm7I_lWi3BlbqEO7jKKdgjgWpMARjrnDq_ZebgBBed2hFB8r40zM/s400/bathroom_after4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvR2Ta7uk34s_rdicH0xkcFw6VyMFFHThVemfG_WrU4nuiM0iOPyO3f7wBols1TeZVAF9AysScrzloWsn6bd7FlubkK408SZfm29dsmGwLajap8eE32Qa1CtxyB_e5GEhBvwp/s400/bathroom_after1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqODss2XKGQeUVxIs-p9e1BkzE4xvWa6A8s9zXzy5swZxIO0w-rStfH_YpBNW_rcyZsPGXv6i_62vbJOk2DwQ6S3NFhMjhAKyCxACI8YrgUVF-tT2vU-m6czXdZ0yssOt_pxFS/s400/bathroom_after12.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOKzG0ym445-ibNpPrvLZCEPzb3AAPHusKrsbIZJOQULo6PA2bXTqxNi4Z9Crcq7f2uHF4EbEY2oRrl-QqWUSXLq730a1RX-8m_30HPzCKirt3G3YTv5ENxp-uyx89S0F0Cj4/s400/bathroom_after11_painting+closeup.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-u-Cpx587hRCC2lyIjC2hfSgDvUbbpwgh18U3cwF6VyHEo_YU-l6NMqZ5868-FRPD4_F2gKv238POZPDgm7YIoBHQ6CnmB_ldJAVHWOi2pksRGXvyRnGROmfOWDV-_NUhdM4/s400/bathroom_after3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb0y3FULsR4Ag10TsaZtkmqOVQzwVRyEm9VSV5Df5teigq7Pdnbc8mN9ScPX-_SajXYYTluMOoRT4aeekW3z53PQo7VtxftjyCu-9UzCNhDTmesO-g6o1sbC7lgBXBf7CjLsR/s400/bathroom_after16.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLDfyX_ql2fZIJCJGusWyOXmZsYKZo0qLGy0nQ1L177TqYU93Ziq7TTaLtjp8iBT1OQ4kpHPLuPUVoZY97U-Rj8aEoM7FOFDFO0o_-rnXVPl5ha3qMIfEPg-iur2wV3gStbWB/s400/bathroom_before3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6C1oclg93Afu7nswit0FjHXIKzhVXWd-wfofVMGcpnc3YTrGHdqldc5inaXmlT1mI-dDzA3ZFE1USJ9M2EI0FLuDek2us76XbejZ5EQ7g0XBRxbUr81W0SlXdadpuewg9ahm/s400/bathroom_before2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSt0Y085dfX5sSN2MuZ3PCc4BJIX0tou7hL6CNZbwPy8PTvS1bZuP3avmm486vQCvCAb75u0fusogyx9h2FKRX4sJ5DVHYcpu12H3Ct_v7fvgl3O42GFD6_0TYdqh1jInPRZ1/s400/bathroom_after2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmPinem4xKNPQ-JnAqy8Xob_7QM7M5YbCMNHOC8iCrk3IFHA9dmqZDGE9Cn8ztv08muGGuVn-CO3AqDoSca_kDkYRtogUA25q87DmxD_n3oOgsy-vGkNyRbDPAG73RlAzrnx5/s400/bathroom_after5.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2KckmDWBgneGPjHy2p0SFe7CywfPUymWA8v1xS7DFA-735_p9cGQ6iopd3DAHhlrdE1lXj5VYLAW3r0MLGJdj9OX9z9OG_CgqFsm9q4EZjGcRNmWOqKeVOWGK_XDQY-BE_I1/s400/bathroom_after9.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TsHW874By5dGWvEQZIvoc6hSDI6A0jhELw1pKTmrc-VgsIQv29jFM08t6qA605d3MKJSd8k02EVIwuvKF5XfocpROzkPu6JwdOgpAd_PU5-XD4A6aSrakevm0DJH6ml2z-MV/s400/bathroom_after7.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_PHonN2qFWOkzw3LnxzCAOatU9Q7YhS-LgbSGCCmTDykcwJrxO2bDu4w12qMS7u59z78OBNGZbBUfq_XGGQZ-v7RpgdO4Ay-6OkYXBdf5nscLuRGguE6oLQ7ECPJ5RkF3MSn/s400/bathroom_after14.jpg)
I bought 2 sage green hand towels ($2.44 each at WalMart) to use in the space - one of which I draped over my existing pink towel on the towel rack - I tied it off with a 6 inch scrap of ribbon (it's just pinned in the back) to tie it all together. I put the other hand towel through the little towel ring by the sink and embellished it with a stuffed quilt heart I already had...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRHPR0OOthjO-HeLLCxNThoH_TVjBG2KhjQAdacRPhcpz2b4GhxuQmyewQ5Xy3U0e2Sw25FOLLpVN_0WN9NW1Umrw8GPsjgrD4cEGbILE3nE3dUSwePqw73DfatMbZDI5NPf_/s400/bathroom_after10.jpg)
Hubby and I finished off the rest of the room by hanging this china ivy platter above the door (china - its not just for the dining room anymore).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzllwa-5OTBkbEAr5UxXhzrw-voZ6LaO1kUvqUxcKd5IIz9oaJI3hD6JQ06F36Eafrv4n_YRRE3TKcCELfi2pJpn4qIzg0XKPYbzlSS_NVVvbzlypvrC6wJzT-q_dnCJIRtW7E/s400/bathroom_after6.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZD6Bxlt5jsBugR0JeZDtcm3DEpGq_1Bz51vb3hBhFlxu2qnjF7xxDl3mK1lMv2esOGTAR1ECnQ7_GJW7LCXc-x-9lRBcu67SCiK_CaaPUj_sAXN3oou3jqpiVUv5JY3hWIAZ/s400/bathroom_after13.jpg)
And one last little touch hung on the doorknob - a velvet pillow with ribbon embroidery given to me by a dear friend - with a nice thought that's a good promise to remember...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pa6xl7UMZiqUaNeBqGnFvgQMos5e0PXChb7qLAWxpyELXyCSacDB5L4ji25N8bBb_1fpZcLe_Af8QUSXf-PcjUnN3vEa85QSLhtnRdpCXP6RFIS5OMdWpABs52IbC74V0Qlu/s400/bathroom_after15.jpg)
Illustration Friday: Juggle
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Happy Fall Y'all!!
- A- Acorns, apples, apple cider, antique-hunting, azure-blue skies
- B- Bales of hay, beauty berries, baking goodies, Bible reading on the back porch
- C- Candy corn, caramel apples, corduroy, chili and cornbread, crisp cool air, cozy nights
- D- Daylight savings time ends, deer, ducks, dogs, dunking for apples, drawing outdoors, dancing in the moonlight
- E- Extraordinary sunrises and sunsets, easy-going Sundays, espresso, extra covers on the bed
- F- Fall leaves, fires in the fireplace, football, flannel shirts, funnel cakes, flea markets, furry critters
- G- Grapevines, gourds, garage sales, good hair days
- H- Hay rides, horseback riding, hot chocolate, harvest moons
- I- Iris bulbs, Irish coffee, Indian corn
- J- Jellies and jams, jackets, jerseys, jeans, junk stores
- K- Kids laughing, kittens scampering, Kettle corn
- L- Logs on the fire, leaf piles, layering, lounging at a lake house
- M- Movie nights, mochachinos, marshmallows roasting on an open fire, making memories
- N- Nibbling on nuts, nests, naps on nippy afternoons
- O- Owls, oatmeal for breakfast, oldies on the radio, open windows at night
- P- Piles of pumpkins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pretty flannel PJs, painting from nature
- Q- Quilts, quiet walks
- R- Riding a bike, raccoons, raking red leaves
- S- Sunflowers, scarecrows, s'mores, savory soups, school supplies, sweaters, star-gazing, state fairs, singing for no reason, snuggling on the sofa with my sweetie
- T- Tailgate parties, turtlenecks, tea for two, Thanksgiving, turkey and dressing
- U- long Underwear, undertaking new projects
- V- Vanilla extract, votive candles, voting
- W- Wheat, wagons, warm cinnamon rolls
- X- foXes, eXtra e-Bay boXes from Fed-eX
- Y- Yellow mums, yummy yams
- Z- fuZZy bunny slippers
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Illustration Friday: Wedding (part 2)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQv0m1_6UFhncERGhQKBhRRaQmABpWqRbHVRQFSn8kmzr35GzMnzYjsTI2lP85_VBNDujQ0H3dxBbzvTJ42EDNAK6gX0Wp-pLAUAALsITbCE8N-Zgs4qwz47tdqn-ySYY9l9H/s400/wedding_final.jpg)
And just for grins...
"A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he's finished." ~Zsa Zsa Gabor
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Illustration Friday: Wedding
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholXBbu8PejrbCrz3pFTOBau8GNr1iB3-Z8RrePGNqcC1RE-eH8KN0A4PTninntf_ltiCJQ073wKYD5KKW_E8YUkPn9Fw1wue3dX5ia5Im7B-65YtRc9Zb_lfFwy43IKRgx5BZ/s400/wedding_tshirts.jpg)
And now to go WAY BACK, just for fun, here is a wedding-themed illustration I did circa 1981 when I was working for Christian Enterprises, a Christian gift manufacturer:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc1drv2s10lKaFdarPwhw7JJ0StnIc3JqziesQBtdP3Yd8Hy04VjZPlFt6Y2EVWJnPwAh5iAX31ZN7WoR7qbw-mh84QAp1npmmDvz_o8GByrl_RQMlXqvrCiRjqhnx3uEbbrU/s400/wedding_old_scan.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tq1Oj_HAm6lcHF48xmFNUfrFbJotxPsCHc8zL-9C811Ez6LOQIMmZtvAA65N1nsLB05mwJ94_SbjBiVxttSikMZsLlBPKqAuIGjWUOyQgpYnXX3-kwrcfb_AfNvYIRVcccmr/s400/wedding_hands.jpg)
John & Becky Schultea
June 23rd, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Introducing Hope!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT40WW5FwovJsEONBC2DyPgY4O6mjSqf2BhLRWme4JTxzQKfSakMV6Ka2A7Ljnq2rlqSYNRICAfl9PdQu6qLMc9rXDbYAnaY_HXytNHYIJd4t2Fer7ThX1qhAkE8Mc_UIG4B2X/s400/hope_photo_final.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTionzK63MfNYEb-uS5rxUeujlTfoM87yIr_X8VVubOkA0XvcNxyqE6t-n9Og4xwsfglQ6ATeLmh94mRKZkvABG9DtKesEkxwrdQoCzh6FGwoi4z60i-nkJH0Ngc9ZqU4gIue2/s400/hope_cropped2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Mzxibc0d7NIo_HtWnMP5xsv0h4iWNcold-KwpuotWTK3VUzK7HvkrXq8TxsnV8LgMWbiHfRDV_Y9SbfwwBP1PpG9EnEAQXN0tL3OP9UQwhBK8NGs6AM1o80dOQ7Zng70ko3E/s400/hope_cropped1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCla9ENRXTn1qFwx72VH8LEAz3Tpt4xV2N8m3zfhZYGACrmAvOhcPb30Ze2sZsfldK8ZqkSkaN6QCM32MhFD1Hl7tTwpQP7AfC9HP8CGRTWHcuDvPcr18ATkUyDZpuP9uf5g0I/s400/grangers.jpg)
Here's a photo of Mommy Jill, Daddy Ryan and the big brothers taken at our wedding in June...good looking and very sweet family!
My dear hubby and I couldn't be more proud - can ya tell?? :o)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Contemplating Styles & Techniques
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_B6Vcxn1EfnCC0oQpuFWDizA1F-b9Pg4vbm1l-lhyZp3E6BddyUHAD35Xg4Rc80W8sCCi9cF4Z1VoN1Mq9rZfe-aXPp9W-dVu2VpUTJR0qCOwpjH2dvAQWHnqV8FsAPDELS1/s400/float.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeXjOj-2sMNAvGAme0uShE4TRZMkYy6YpAzc05Tfu24fqZ_XqqQYCBEoYxkR2IHi4A-Zm3tK2-N7wf-qMc6Y1MaWB4vFtLU8JALMcaYqbvC5fANJ4doLmGRvy59cq6E6gNf63/s400/bee_small.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJNl7yY5eytFFNzzxkOWtg2m_DfOnDkV-Qa4oWLqRHinoLOJRFGqSrZraGjO_29WNodo6zd_bCxls-MqDZv9PyGWtBvPep7G-rXXRhHj_5OoyyBJwY64ZdIAhy3nCrnpaMb_x/s400/bpencil_small.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt2EgsOzARk3zQniCQYkv8MFFw1aXirtw828wU_OVPIGv_Pa22AcGvQsXipu4TSaqZ6jiyAsrBWM74yh6yze-MRs3uwdNzBliWPxUS3CgFnvZU3cjervCzr28UBeZpzS_55eS/s400/carrot_small.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ciHktRa5pQSDHmcrTOVUBB6UVQsywWklUEgOEV1l2h53IXSfE7lLWVpnPAA_lrIJhAdIBSrJ5YyZhSAfUN62tYiFExEimqxFb-dni2lGOHpVaGZths1gqIz6JpdrkyyvHyZj/s400/grapes_small.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJscIUdkx_KlfR6erSJ_JuiRoxrf2BCYPUIONcp5mBnXcdXXItoX5-dR6yVS_VApJazOnQ3TYCPViPoZgU-8HeymTixASMboj7H_AO7BDXHSpABTXgiRRTV6CZe7xP1LAwlqn/s400/ladybug_small.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1Th9-iMac89O-39_Hou1Wq_xMsVcwvjvqGwCU0U2RiRk1Jt7Qugn0dtsq32wAkxI-y7ilv8vB7AtpYCg-SqMyfAKJQG6Wnyi2PLb4oGDxKKVrhgheqsmYf1QJbIEgm0Uk8qx/s400/cats.jpg)
IF submission for "Cats"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FanRgUC9XPIgM6LIZHrhUJcCtbSJfOH5Jc5BAnt2w2UQ52ri7meBCMgwGL2IGfssw1S5Tc6CJrisclmvetkFXH6C1lp4z_SRPTLJWFrRbKAJhk2TfumA9uTH41tzdxG_vn6E/s400/sea.jpg)
IF submission for "Sea"
The pros of this style/medium: 1) it's fairly unique, and 2) it's relatively quick and easy (and fun) to produce. The cons of this style/medium: 1) It's cutesy-ness limits it's appeal to the kid's market and maybe some parts of the women's/gift/craft market (but that's OK by me), and 2) it's"uniqueness" may somewhat limit it's wider appeal in general....hmmm. I have started doing some early experimentation with less cutesy - more modern "altered art" looking application of this technique - it's looking kinda promising...I hope to be able to share some finished pieces soon....stay tuned...
This was the staple for my artwork/illustration/product design since the early 80's when I first began my art career - to this day it is still more comfortable to me than digital, though the digital work is almost that comfortable to me now - (and the "undo" function is hard to resist!) My overall drawing style is what it is in all these pieces as well as my digital work -it's cute and whimsical and colorful. I have been heavily influenced by Mary Engelbreit over the years and still struggle to pull away from that and find my own voice - with varying degrees of success (You'll see black and white checks and dots showing up often :o)...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHSJniyvu-ASbQpiNYy9hRkqzCa7EJSp5Hb2ZbhoEjzB6KbYBc7-ABxDaAzxbRb3XWzMwGAH_DKXsmVbDKcUftAfVkHwR0Iwk3tCYQULiIvurHanjIPyXo2ykNHWHc9jekA_9/s400/wisdom_creation_final.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgUUBGs8QyVifNBfTrmgJ465N-SYeSvVmO6M8Ricvl8pRql9FIpP1PcTqMTqoLAOeBaaZh_d4YLw7vFNyjXK3fCSzjjKUnsmStgg1pg7KdOQFybGW3EPaXnlwqVZU2uHydQ_b/s400/sunny_full.jpg)
'95 concept for a Bunny series/greeting card line/whatever
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDP5-vwpg8qDCfEupD7WV6UK96HSw5vsn88YipGebF9gCGem79eIMgVEJ5jitehQMZDVJJxIIgljSX28P0V40CQZL_qkvUh9qztDN_beEPsEv7-5CARcur9PTmM8-BwQfu0fJ/s400/sportsmom_lg.jpg)
IF submission for "Sports"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiighlRJYrxRL_77HzcLKSYgln24t9_XCcE1QU5tBQSv4lpJA3ZlRhWDE6fsI3QxY9M7Ih657tjwKXttCv6n2FbNsSE4fTNGc9hssTc7cSkV6ESCXDHdOtSOS_kWM06JqEwLiDq/s400/morning_collage_corrected.jpg)
Personal illustration
Pros of this style/medium - 1) Marketability? - at least in the women's/gift/greeting card market it still seems to be the most accepted, and 2) I still have better overall control in this medium. Cons - it takes longer, requires more space and is more messy. All this really speaks more to the medium though - what I really may be getting at here is; am I drawing/painting the wrong stuff...? Should I be doing more work like this still life I did for an auction in '02 - more realistic subjects...??
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4ybx9uck1jwnkMfwaAwdnZXtPQnQv2Hq16mPHa3Kv4wizOgK3DxOkFmgBMimxAxxBHgLPHT_JAJ1dfLhzTsP8XqMtXOPlR0sJ277zOg9U43gCFI6JVKtF1W8IWUipF6Q1Iv9/s400/auction_painting.jpg)
Painting for auction - watercolor and colored pencil
Digital - Realistic/Painterly
Mixed in with the digital cut out style, I created some IF pieces using digital media (Painter v9 still), but doing more realistic renderings...like:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPLssMnBEpKBlYnehe9VLOADAfqR5nCeuoIpPMdk4tlWMU6lgkHrfPa0lP5SppEc0ir0u9cOIEPQVtS2hM4erU-DLBE3ANxwg1Q2k2CRsf6Za6rQlmwrjr68R0pr-EKTwcHdp/s400/broken2.jpg)
IF submission for "Broken"
IF submission for "Red"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3F7Sge6g5tRK_zbvUPi7cO98dLNT0jL4ijucxNPpg7cBCpIIVLFQMzNYqCEPap2mQ_ngwv6CawjxIYbZ71wPblMnzL3reVNiIHZznLaPXTlJv307hyphenhyphenP2a7UNk0ltzwkEgBUmI/s400/reflection3_sm.jpg)
IF Submission for "Reflection" & "Moon"
I have thoroughly enjoyed creating these more painterly pieces - they allowed me to stretch my realistic "muscles" that needed some workout - they did take a while longer however - but still not as long as a traditional media piece of similar complexity. I think there is much more for me to explore here - might be the "best of both worlds" in some ways - the use of digital media to produce more traditional subject matter...??
Misc. - Mixed Media
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5uQl6vJInzu8SSpT_iOjtEPFWYjo6jceI2Jad2RqHYTW_udFPHVJvtEFVegFRDTjTWarZMkaLPBOrSgUOEhq69OfNP3haMvtyc9j1TL676fxPq-z6Didw9exJRkyHQZPF3hs/s400/birdieswap_final.jpg)
Acrylic, colored pencil, ribbon, ric-rac, buttons and wire on cork board -
done as a swap with Holli Conger in '05
I LOVE doing this kind of piece - I love using fabrics, trims, etc. along with paint to make a textural collage-y treat - and there is even more that I would love to experiment with in this space (more "altered art" type of work - but with a bit of a whimsical twist). Here are a couple of artists that are doing this kind of work that I admire:
Holli Conger - "Junk-a-Doodles"
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So, perhaps the real question should be - what am I trying to do with my artwork - what are my goals - what do I want to accomplish...? Here are a few goals/ideas (by the way, my over-arching goal in all I set out to do is to glorify God and encourage and bring joy - that is the primary driver behind all of this) :
- Create licensed designs for calendars, greeting cards, gift books and other items for the stationery/gift markets (like, ME, Susan Branch, Susan Winget, Marjolein Bastin, Karla Dornacher, Debbie Mumm, etc)
- I'd love to illustrate for the children's market (books, educational materials) - like many of my heroes I've "met: through blogging and IF ( Paula Becker, Holli Conger, Roz Fulcher, Paige Keiser, Jenny B. Harris, and many, many more - sorry if I didn't list you)
- Create multi-media work for art shows
- Create work for family and friends and for my own home
- Continually hone my craft, expand and improve my technique, and learn new techniques...
Too broad...?? Too scattered...?? Should I select one or two and just focus on those...?? Can I dabble in all of them - if so, will that be all I ever do - dabble...?? Is that OK....?? Some of these are just rhetorical questions - some I think I know the answer to, some I really am struggling with...
It was good for me to write through this - I forget sometimes that one of the great benefits of blogging (or any kind of journal-keeping) is being able to clarify your thoughts and work out your dilemmas and challenges. Thanks for the opportunity to do just that - and as I said before, your comments are always welcome and greatly appreciated....