Kristin Dudish

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

xoxo

Love Notes (Worth Posting Again)!

2012-02-09T07:00:00.009-05:00

"you are beautiful just the way you are"

(Dressing Room Love)

The amazing Patience Salgado (a.k.a. "kindness girl") is at it again...

In honor of Valentine's Day, it is time to spread some love guerrilla goodness style!

Where would you put a love note?

I originally posted this downloadable sheet of blank love notes over the summer. To make it even easier to share the joy, I have created a pdf to download and print. (You can get it here.)

What are you waiting for?!?

Get out and spread some love!

Wheee!!!

Pinterest Love Part 1: "Recipes" for Artists

2012-02-07T07:00:00.008-05:00

I love pinterest... There are so many fun and useful things to discover! Today I would like to share some "recipes" for homemade art materials that I found while browsing:

(I haven't tried them yet, but they look great!)

Make your own watercolors!

(Details here.)

Homemade mod podge (matte & glossy versions)!

(Details here.)

Make your own chalkboard paint (in any color you choose)!

(Details here.)

Make alcohol inks using Rit powdered dye!

(Details here.)

Mix up a batch of paper mache clay!

(Details here.)

Whip up some air dry craft clay!

(Details here.)

If you haven't checked out pinterest yet, be sure to take a look. But beware... It's addictive!

(You can find me on pinterest here.)

I Needed This...

2012-01-31T09:09:00.002-05:00

This arrived in my inbox this morning and it was exactly what I needed. I thought it might be exactly what you need too...

Thank you Brave Girls Club.

(If you would like to receive "daily truths" directly to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

Update: (2/1/2012)
In case you needed another reason to visit the Brave Girls Club...
Here is the amazing message from my inbox this morning:

All I can say is, "wow".

This really helps.

A Blissful Paint Party Friday

2012-01-27T07:11:00.000-05:00

"follow your bliss." 6"x6" acrylic on paper

(text added in picnik)

I'm going to be honest, this week has been a mixed bag of emotions for me... I am in the thick of an online course that is opening my eyes to a whole new, revolutionary way of thinking about business. But, as exciting as that is, I also find myself spending many hours at Corky's bedside as she recovers from a stroke that waylaid the wonderful rehabilitation she had gone through previously. (She was supposed to be going home this week.)

I normally consider myself an optimistic, happy-go-lucky person, but I have to admit this latest emergent event threw me for a loop. What I have come to realize though, is that optimism is what has been getting me through this string of medical mishaps that started over the summer... It is a beacon of light as I cling to a raft of simple joys in a sea of troubled waters. I think that is why Liv Lane's latest feature and blog hop, "The Little Bliss List", really resonates with me, and why I feel like it is the perfect way to round out my week of focusing on kindness.

So, here it is... Things that are making me happy...

This week's "Little Bliss List":

1. The fantastic community over at Paint Party Friday... When EVA and I created it, we never dreamed that the response would be so great... Seeing the ever-increasing group of talented and diverse painters each week makes my heart sing!

2. Creating a "Take What You Need" pdf and sharing it in my last post... Thinking of all the kindness spreading far and wide makes me smile from ear-to-ear! (If you would like to download the pdf, you can get it here.)

3. The sound of squealing laughter as Tyler, Bob, and I ran from room to room "Scooby-Doo style".

4. A spur of the moment dinner with my boys that tasted like summer.

5. Finding a sweet spot on the street near the hospital so that I didn't have to use the ramp for one day. (This may seem kinda silly - but it made my day!)

More Kindness... Take What You Need

2012-01-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

I have been seeing these fliers popping up all over the internet! Since I love this idea so, so very much I decided to create one of my own...

I can't wait to print these out and post them all over town!

I have created a PDF file if you would like to download it and spread a little love too. (You can get it here.)

(And one more, just because it made me laugh!)

I Believe...

2012-01-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

(Sidewalk Love)

...In kindness.

Since my word of the year is "Believe", I thought it might be fun to create a new weekly series where I proclaim (in a post) something I believe in. What better way to start than with kindness?

It really seems like an obviously simple thing... And it is! Anyone can be kind - from easy acts like letting another driver merge or holding open a door, to a grand pre-meditated gesture - any kindness will do! It feels good for the giver and the receiver, but the greatest thing about it?

Kindness is contagious!

Sending you a great big smile...

Pass it on!

p.s. The very kind, and always inspirational Liv Lane, has started a new series (and future blog hop) called "The Little Bliss List" based on her word of the year ("Bliss"). Please be sure to check it out - I think it is a fabulous idea!

p.p.s. I'm curious... If you have a word of the year, how are you putting it into action?

Staying True To My 10 Year Old Self

2012-01-18T11:31:00.001-05:00

"Uh-Oh" 22"x28" mixed media on poster board

(A Drawing/Painting Created by Me at Age 10 or 11)

It's funny how much you can learn about yourself by looking at old drawings and paintings...

I created this drawing/painting for an "insect project" when I was 10 or 11 years old. I remember asking my art teacher, Mr. Voelpel, if it would be okay if I created my piece from the insect's perspective. Thankfully, Mr. Voelpel was an art teacher who believed in allowing his students to explore their creativity and develop their own artistic voices, so he said yes.

Looking at this picture, I can see themes that have carried all the way through to my artwork today...

I create art that is: whimsical, colorful, playful, humorous, and sometimes downright silly. Looking back, it seems to be hardwired into my DNA. That isn't to say that I don't also make "serious" art (believe me, I made more than my fair share of serious art in college). But, what I've come to realize, is that I am happiest and most fulfilled when I am creating from a place of joy.

I'm curious... What are you happiest creating? Has it always been that way?

What Lies Ahead...

2012-01-16T16:21:00.001-05:00

I started a new class today and I am bubbling over with

excitement and anticipation of things to come...

Stay tuned!

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Paint Party Friday (The 13th!)

2012-01-13T00:01:00.004-05:00

"Lucky" 15"x15" mixed media on plywood

Just popping in with a super-quick post of a super-quick painting, in honor of Friday the 13th!

(Not my usual style, I know... I just wanted to keep it fast and loose.)

I hope today brings you nothing but the best of luck...

Happy PPF!

A Gift From The Happy Shack!

2012-01-11T11:11:00.003-05:00

In the summer of 2010, just before I started blogging, I took Kelly Rae Roberts "Flying Lessons" e-course. I wrote about it here and interestingly enough, the word "Believe" (my word of the year) worked itself into that post very prominently.

I still stay in touch with the creative folks I 'met' during that course through facebook. In December we had a holiday swap and my gift exchange partner was Kelly Warren from Happy Shack Designs.

Kelly and I sent many emails back and forth getting to know each other better - it was so much fun! The surprise I received from her was so kind and generous... A mounted gerber daisy print (which is now prominently displayed in my studio), and a lovely handcrafted pendant created from the same photo. Gerber daisies are my absolute favorite flowers, so this amazingly thoughtful present was perfect!

December was the final month of a very long, tough year for me, but Kelly's wonderful gift was a beautiful bright spot... Thank you Kelly!

You can find these fantastic gifts (and lots of other fun photo goodness) in Kelly's etsy shop.

A Love-ly Treasury

2012-01-09T07:00:00.007-05:00

I just had to share this sweet, sweet treasury my "Peace On Earth" hand painted print was featured in... Love it.

(You can get a better look here.)

The First Paint Party Friday of 2012! Hooray!

2012-01-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

"Believe" (My Word of the Year)

This week I've been working on more hand painted prints for my shop...

"Irving"

"Henry and Luigi"

(This was originally created as a gift for Tyler's teacher.)

"Dancing Elephant Topiary"

I'm so excited to be back... painting, sharing, and seeing what all of you are up to!

Happy PPF!

I'm Back With Fresh Perspective For A New Year!

2012-01-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Believe.

When my dear friend Eva suggested that I choose a "Word of the Year", my first thought was "Health". (If you read my previous post you know why.) After giving it more thought, I came up with a new word... "Believe".

2011 was a year of (many) medical crises for my family, the worst of which was in August when my father-in-law almost died. At the time I couldn't write about it because my emotions were much too raw. But now, many months later, I am able to share with you how that time has changed my perspective...

Without sharing the gory details, I can simply say that he was laughing and joking over a family dinner one night, then the very next day he was in critical condition and a nurse was telling us to "prepare ourselves" because things were "very, very bad". It continued to be a roller coaster for the following month - one minute things were looking up, then the next minute things things were critical again.

During the hardest times, when things were bleak and I was at my saddest, I kept finding pennies wherever I went. I believed they were a sign that everything was going to be okay... And it was. My father-in-law's recovery and return to the kind, compassionate, strong man he was at the beginning of August is astonishing. He is a living miracle - all of his doctors and nurses have said so.

So, for 2012, my word is "Believe".

This year I am believing...

In miracles

In hard work and dedication

In hope and faith

In myself

In others

In big dreams

and

In endless possibilities.

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, creative, fun-filled, miraculous New Year!

Kristin

p.s. If you've chosen a "Word of the Year" I'd love to hear what it is!

Listening To The Universe...

2011-12-16T00:01:00.017-05:00

(Slow down.)

This week, Bob rushed my grandmother, Corky, to the emergency room. (For those of you who remember Effie, my other "trouble-making" grandmother, she is doing well and has assured me that she will do her best to keep the "mischief" to a minimum! Ha!)

Tuesday was spent in the hospital preparing Corky for emergency surgery. She is currently stable, but has a long road of recovery in front of her. As a result of the continued medical mayhem in my life (There have been five, yes five, family medical emergencies since June!), I have decided to take an official break from the blog. (You may have already noticed an unofficial slow down in the past few weeks.)

I will continue to help EVA over at the Paint Party Friday blog, but I will be taking a break here for the rest of December so that I can focus on family. I appreciate all of the kind comments, messages, and emails you have sent to me... Your continued support has helped me through some very difficult times.

I look forward to coming back in January to a new year with renewed energy, fresh inspiration, and endless possibilities!

Until then, I want to wish all of you (and your families)

A Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Kristin

Paint Party Friday... Hand Painted Prints

2011-12-09T00:01:00.019-05:00

"Heart In Hands: Love" (hand painted print)

I'd like to start this post with a great big "thank you"! I have definitely been feeling the love... Your emails, messages, and comments making sure that I'm okay mean more than you can possibly imagine! Please don't worry - Life is good... Crazy... But good.

"All Tied Up" (hand painted print)

Family fun, gift making, (and now jury duty) are keeping me busy... Very, very busy!

"Heart In Hands: Peace On Earth" (hand painted print)

In addition to holiday preparations, I have been working on adding some items to my very neglected shop. I am so excited about the hand painted prints I've been creating using a new (to me) technique...

The process?

I scan and laser print my original drawings onto 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. Then I hand paint the print using a combination of watercolors, acrylics, prismacolor pencils, graphite, and ink. I am thrilled with the results and tickled with the possibilities!

Custom "Heart In Hands" (hand painted prints)

Since this week's poll question over at Paint Party Friday is about gifts, I feel I would be remiss if I failed to mention what great gifts hand painted prints make (you can find them here)... Just sayin'.

Hee Hee

Happy PPF!

Please Excuse My Absence...

2011-12-06T07:00:00.006-05:00

I'm All "Tied Up"!

Savoring The Sweet (And Silly, Of Course!)

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Joy!

This time of year it is very easy to get caught up in the hustle, bustle, and downright craziness of the season. I am very fortunate to have a little boy who constantly reminds me to treasure everyday goodness...

"i love you and daddy"

I have discovered that guerrilla goodness starts at a very young age - I find fun notes from Tyler all over the house!

But just so you don't get the wrong idea and think that my life is sickeningly, syrupy sweet...

"who farted"

I also find my fair share of silly notes too!

"oh yeah" (note within a note)

No piece of paper is safe... If it is lying within the reach of a pen or pencil, a little nugget of five year old wisdom is sure to follow!

These merry little memos are wonderful reminders to slow down and appreciate the abundance of awesomeness that can be found in the simplicity of daily life.

So today I will end this post with a little note for you, dear friend...

Turkeys In Disguise

2011-11-22T22:17:00.001-05:00

Last week Tyler came home with a plain, black and white line drawing of a turkey and a homework assignment:

He needed to give "Tom the Turkey" a disguise to keep him from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. Well, since I love me some silly, I couldn't resist making some of my own...

I had lots of fun creating concealment, but my favorite disguise was...

Tyler's!

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Mom...

2011-11-20T11:01:00.001-05:00

I Love You.

xoxo

Honey

Paint Party Friday!

2011-11-18T00:01:00.018-05:00

(For hundreds of years people have pondered the Mona Lisa's expression... Could it be a "cat that ate the canary" look?)

Effie is doing much better (thank you for all of your well wishes!) and I'm excited to be back at Paint Party Friday! Wheee!

This week I was able to finish watching Amy's video and add paint, transfers, and colored pencil to the drawing that I started a couple of weekends ago. It was a lot of fun to create, but in the end I think I prefer the black and white version.

Have you taken any of Amy's free classes yet? They are so much fun! This Saturday Manon is teaching one. She also taught one last Friday that I can't wait to watch (because if you aren't able to watch them live, never fear... they record them)! Hooray! To watch previous classes and learn more about Manon's Saturday class, click here.

What Happened?!?

2011-11-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed that my AEDM posts came to an abrupt halt last week. The reason? Effie (my grandmother) went into the hospital. She is home now (and doing well), so I am back.

Because of lots of follow-up doctors' appointments and other "life stuff" I won't be posting every day, but I look forward to sharing my latest doodles with you... I have managed to squeeze in a bit of sketchbook time and I'm hoping to get back to a much more normal schedule soon!

AEDM: Day 8 (Creative Tuesday)

2011-11-08T19:00:00.012-05:00

The theme at over at the Creative Tuesdays blog this week is "Thank You". I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share a fun project I'm currently working on!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably already know that snails make an appearance in my art from time to time. (If you're new here - Welcome! I hope you take a look around and come back to visit often!)

In addition to my "thank you" snail at the top of this post, there is even more "snail mail" in the works...

These guys are heading to my shop... They'll be there soon!

AEDM: Day 7

2011-11-07T19:00:00.021-05:00

Click on image to view larger.

I'd like to start this post by thanking Tracey and Molly for giving me the "Tell Me About Yourself" award... Thank you both so much - I am very honored that you thought of me!

The first part of this award is to share 7 things about myself that you might not already know. Well, since I have been wanting to play along with Andrea's interview I thought I would answer those questions... It is actually 10 things, so I hope you don't mind!

(I really admired the creative way Molly shared information about herself, and I fell in love with Karen's artsy answers to Amy's interview questions. So, since I was feeling inspired, I created a page in my sketchbook that answers Andrea's questions. You can click on the image at the top of this post to see my answers, or you can just read them below.)

1. What should you be doing right now instead of sitting on the computer?

Cleaning my studio! (See question 2!)

2. What's the messiest area of your house? and dare you to show us...

My studio. If I don't clean it soon, the next time I venture in there I will most likely not come out! Pictures? I'll have to dig my camera out first! Ha!

3. 5 simple things that make you happy right now, above and beyond the obvious like your family and your health...

squeezy bear hugs

perfectly ripe avocadoes

smiles from strangers

great big belly laughs

an extra hour of sleep

4. When did you last cry?

By the time you read this, I will probably have already cried again! Ha! I cry a lot... I cry when I am happy, sad, scared, angry... You get the picture, I'm sure. The only thing I do more than cry? Laugh! I laugh

a lot!

5. Favorite book...

Impossible. Seriously. I loooove books... all kinds of books!

I could never choose a favorite.

6. How many pets...

I have 2 cats - Mona and Lisa.

7. 2 Goals... one huge and unrealistic one, and one achievable one...

I believe in dreaming big and I have been very fortunate to see seemingly unrealistic dreams become achievable ones!

My current goals involve art, kindness, and book ideas...

(I know it might seem like an elusive answer, but I am superstitious and I am scared of jinxing myself!)

8. 5 things in your purse besides money and a cell phone...

I don't carry a purse - I like to keep things in my pockets. Sometimes I carry a great big bag with my sketchbook, art supplies, and camera, though.

9. The emotion or feeling you hate the most...

Jealousy and the feeling of inadequacy that often accompanies it.

"Comparison is the thief of joy!"

-Dwight Edwards

10. If you could have 50 pounds of anything except money or gold what would you want?

I'd be very curious to see what 50 pounds of feathers would look like, but what I'd really love to have is 50 pounds of paint, or canvas, or pencils... 50 pounds of art supplies is as good as gold, as far as I'm concerned!

The second part of this award is to give it to 15 great blogs. Well, the truth is I read a lot of great blogs and I'd love to know more about all of them! So, if you're reading this and you'd like to play along please grab the award and leave your link in the comments so I can learn more about you! If you've already accepted this award from someone else, I'd love it if you would leave your link in the comments too! (It's not necessary to answer these specific questions, but if you'd like to you can find them here.)

AEDM: Day 6

2011-11-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

This is the pencil drawing that I started in my sketchbook while watching Amy's free live workshop today. I wasn't able to stay for the whole thing, so I didn't pull out my paints. This week I'll add color while I finish watching the video!

Stay tuned...

AEDM: Day 5

2011-11-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

Seize the fish... er, um... Day!

Image created on top of one of my free - no strings attached - downloadable collage papers.

(Get it here.)

AEDM: Day 4

2011-11-04T19:00:00.002-04:00

"Disco Chicken" (in color!)

"Art and Music" is the theme over at The Butterfly Effect this week. So naturally "Disco Chicken" is the first thing that popped into my head! Ha!

Well actually, I've had "Disco Chicken" swirling around in my head for over a year just waiting until the right time to present himself...

I've been thinking about "Disco Chicken" ever since I created my very first worksheet for Carla Sonheim's Silly 2 Class. I guess some ideas just take a while to marinate! (Pun intended, of course!)

Wishing you a far out, fab, and funky weekend...

Check ya later!

AEDM: Day 3

2011-11-03T23:15:00.000-04:00

"Amy Cat"

(a tribute to our teacher)

acrylics on a dryer sheet attached to cardstock

Today I had the pleasure of painting along with Amy as she taught another free live workshop... It was like a live virtual paint party! These workshops are a lot of fun and it is great to be painting and chatting with so many people I've met through blogging!

In addition to painting, today's workshop started with sewing. (Can you believe it Jenny?!? I actually sewed something! Sure it was just a little bit of a border, but it won't be long until I'm giving your fun elephant pattern a try!) I sewed a dryer sheet onto a piece of cardstock, then painted on that. I was originally going to sew a piece of fabric to the cardstock, but someone mentioned dryer sheets and I remembered that Becca uses dryer sheets in her art, so I thought I'd give it a try. (I discovered that dryer sheets take paint pretty well, but the constant perfumey smell made me a bit queasy and gave me a headache... Lesson learned.)

The topic of conversation over at the Paint Party Friday blog this week is about why we buy the art that we buy... I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some of the art that I have bought, been gifted, and won in giveaways. I have created a board on pinterest with some of the art that I have in my house. (If you'd like to see, click here.)

Are you on pinterest? My friend Robin invited me to join a awhile ago and I fiddled around a bit, but over the past couple of weeks I have become a bit of a pinterest addict! If you 're on pinterest let me know - I'd love to see what you're pinning!

AEDM: Day 2

2011-11-02T19:00:00.010-04:00

"Scary"

(mixed media on cardstock and matboard)

It's Day 2 of AEDM. Yesterday I shared the beginning of a honey badger collage... Today I finished it.

The original inspiration for this painting was Illustration Friday's "Scary" theme. On the outside, honey badgers are cute and innocent (even their name is sweet), but looks can be deceiving. According to The Guinness Book of World Records they are "the world's most fearless creatures"... They are ferocious!

What scares me? Things that aren't as they seem... Nastiness with an adorable exterior terrifies me.

I started this painting by using a collage technique Amy shared in her free workshop on Saturday. She is having another free live workshop tomorrow at 2pm CST and you're invited!

(Click here for more details!)

AEDM: Day 1

2011-11-01T19:00:00.006-04:00

Since today marks the beginning of Art Every Day Month, I thought I would share some beginnings from my day today...

A disco chicken, and...

A honey badger!

Stay tuned to see where these beginnings lead...

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T09:51:00.000-04:00

"Masquerade"

approximately 21"x27.5"

acrylic on fabric (attached to an old cupboard door)

You may remember the start of this painting from last week. (You can see the work in progress here). Well, she is finished just in time for the masquerade ball over at Inspiration Avenue!

And since a Sunday wouldn't be a Sunday without a visit to Sophia's blog, I've included the sketch that started it all....

It's time to celebrate Halloween so I'm heading over to my friend Natasha May's Party! Wheee!!!

Put on your costume, join in the fun, and...

Have a Happy Halloween!

Paint Party Friday (Week 33) + The Butterfly Effect = Surreal Art!

2011-10-28T00:01:00.006-04:00

"Cinderelephant"

approximately 21"x22"

acrylic on fabric (attached to an old cupboard door)

(Not the best photo - it's been dark and snowing!)

My inspiration for this week's PPF painting came from the surrealism theme over at The Butterfly Effect.

As I was thinking about that theme, I came across a sketchbook page I shared way back in February (you can see it here). The itty-bitty Cinderelephant at the bottom of that page led to a new stream of consciousness drawing...

Because there aren't many things more surreal than an elephant who prances around in glass slippers!

Creative Tuesday Challenge: Autumn or Fall... Whatever You Call It, It's Inspirational!

2011-10-25T07:00:00.085-04:00

Squirrel Love

It's been a while since I've been able to participate in Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday Challenge and I've missed it!

Autumn has caused the chipmunks and squirrels in my neighborhood to go into overdrive as they prepare for the Winter ahead. As a result, it seemed appropriate to post a little "squirrel love" for Creative Tuesday's Fall theme.

Please be sure to stop by the new Creative Tuesday blog to see all of the other Fun Fall Creations!

And...

Amy is offering a 'Free Live Video Workshop' tomorrow (October 26th) at 3pm (CST).

(Click here for more information.)

And...

The very creative Harmony from Feed Your Soul Art interviewed me. (You can read it here.)

And...

Well, nothing else. I'm just being silly...

Wishing you a very Creative Tuesday!

I'm A Lucky, Lucky Girl!

2011-10-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

"Tell Your Story (Words Like Feathers)"

by Sadee Schilling

I love getting fun mail! This weekend I received a wonderful package all the way from Germany!

"What was inside the wonderful package?", you may ask... It was a beautiful print by the kind, generous, and very talented Sadee Schilling!

When I saw her artwork online I thought, "Wow!".

Then, when I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on her blog I cheered, "Yippee!".

When her print arrived on Saturday I said to Bob, "Holy smoke! Look at how incredible this is!"

Please excuse the quality of the photo - it has been so rainy here.

(I just couldn't wait to share it with you!)

As soon as it arrived I was very anxious to hang it - I had the perfect spot! (A corner of my living room next to one of my bookshelves.) But... I had to stop and admire the quality of her print first - the paper it is printed on makes me swoon! I knew it was beautiful from seeing it online, but in person it is amazing!

Thank you Sadee!

To get an amazing print of your own (or for a fabulous gift), please visit Sadee's shop!

Sunday Sketches... Balance

2011-10-23T07:00:00.005-04:00

Just like this bear on a ball, I am looking for balance...

Since Tyler has started kindergarten, you would think it would be easier to "get it all done". But, greater amounts of time seem to lead to greater expectations... I still find myself struggling to find the balance between fun-family-and-friends-time, art-time, business-time, computer-time, and has-to-be-done-mundane-chore-time.

I would love to hear how you "find the time"... What are your tricks for finding balance?

And don't forget to stop by Sophia's blog to see how my Sunday Sketching buddies have been spending their time this week!

Paint Party Friday Meets The Butterfly Effect!

2011-10-21T00:01:00.076-04:00

A sneak peek at my work in progress.

One of the paintings I've been working on this week was inspired by the "masks" theme over at The Butterfly Effect.

The very first thing that popped into my head when I read the theme was "raccoon", my next thought was "masquerade ball". So I figured, "Hey, why not combine the two?" (It's probably not much of a shock since I seem to be a wee bit obsessed with creating anthropomorphic animals! Ha!)

This work in progress is approximately 21'' x 27.5". I started by attaching fabric to an old cabinet door (another shocker!), then painting on top of that...

Happy PPF!

and

Do You See What I See?

2011-10-19T07:00:00.014-04:00

This could be an average, ordinary photo of a local highway. Or it could be...

The photo of a snail about to cross the road. (I just hope he waits until traffic slows down!)

I saw this "snail tree" while driving on the highway a few weeks ago. My understanding husband, Bob, found a safe place I could take a photo of it... There's nothing like dragging my family into my crazy, right?!? Ha!

I will file this image away and someday it may become the subject of a drawing or painting because...

Inspiration is Everywhere!

Please join Inspiration Avenue as they celebrate 500+ "Fab Followers" and 3 years of sharing inspiration!

I Have An Adorable Admirer...

2011-10-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I should say my balloons have an adorable admirer...

Over the summer I posted this balloon paper as part of my CareFREE Friday series. Melanie wrote to me to let me know that her 3 year old son loved the paper so much he carried the printed version around with him. As you can imagine, a sheet of paper doesn't last long in the hands of a three year old and she kept having to print it out.

This past week, Melanie wrote to me again to let me know that Caleb still loved the balloons so much and she was printing so many copies because they were so well loved, that she decided to have him look at them online instead! (She even sent a photo of him admiring the balloons!)

Isn't he the cutest?!?

Thank you for sharing this with me Melanie and Caleb - Emails and comments like this make my days!

Sunday Sketches

2011-10-16T09:09:00.004-04:00

Today I am thinking about raccoons...

Please be sure to stop by Sophia's blog to see what my Sunday Sketching buddies are thinking about today!

Paint Party Friday... One Thing Leads To Another

2011-10-14T00:01:00.008-04:00

It was a school holiday on Monday, so I had the pleasure of painting with Tyler... Paint Party Live! Wheee!!!

We rolled out 100% recycled brown paper (they sell it at my local home improvement store in great big rolls). Then we went to town with acrylic paints and watercolor crayons! The end result? A gigantic 6ft. by 6ft. playful mess of goodness!!!

I thought that it would make terrific backgrounds, so with Tyler's blessing I cut it up. I took one of the pieces and attached it to a scrap piece of wood I had laying around.

In addition to the fun I had painting with T-man, I painted some quick watercolor poppies. On Tuesday, Tracey posted a pretty poppy post. (Say that ten times fast! Ha!) She mentioned a free online workshop offered by Studio Margot called The Poppy Spree. It sounded like fun so I thought I'd give it a try!

Ever since I saw this photo on Heather's blog, I've been itching to paint a small bouquet of flowers. This seemed like the perfect week to do it! I cut out the poppies I had painted for The Poppy Spree, attached them to the background I showed earlier in this post, then created a mixed media vase full of poppies.

Happy PPF!

Contraption

2011-10-12T07:00:00.003-04:00

When correcting a crocodile's crooked teeth,

braces become quite a

contraption.

The Post In Which I Tell You More Than You Ever Wanted To Know...

2011-10-10T08:48:00.004-04:00

About Me!

Amy over at butterscape recently set out on a quest to interview all of the readers of her blog. Well, since I'm a reader of her blog and I think it's a nifty idea, here is my interview:

1. what is your name and stuff? and any other good information. like bank account details.

My name is Kristin, but everyone in my family calls me Honey. (If you want to know why, you can read about it here.)

I live in Buffalo, New York with my husband (Bob), son (Tyler), and 2 cats (Mona and Lisa).

(I think I'll leave off my bank account information... Unless of course, you are part of a "Nigerian family of wealth" who is looking for an "overseas partner" to "transfer a large sum of money" to. Then please feel free to send me an email! Ha!)

2. what is super hot about you? <--- don't you Dare skip this one. answer it.

My moustache.

(Just look at the pic at the top of this post if you don't believe me!)

3. don't lie or cheat: what is under your couch right now?

A playing card and a sock.

4. when was the last time you shaved your legs?

Yesterday.

5. what did you have for breakfast?

A handful of cashews, a cherry cake doughnut, and water.

(Healthy, right?!?)

6. if you could choose a new name, what would you name yourself?

My mom wanted to name me Sunshine - I always thought that would have been cool.

7. have you ever had plastic surgery?

No. But... I have had a plastic surgeon put stitches in my face twice. The first time was when I accidentally got hit in the fivehead (my head is much too large to be a forehead) with a golf club while playing mini golf with friends my senior year in high school. The second time was after a freak rollerblading accident shortly before my wedding. (In addition to messing up my chin, I knocked my front teeth out!)

I am very, very accident prone.

8. are you afraid of the dark?

No. Not really. Well... maybe sometimes.

9. are you a hermit?

I am a seasonal hermit. Winters aren't fun where I live (at least I don't think so), so I tend to stay inside... a lot.

Hmmm... Maybe that's just hibernation...

10. why do you blog?

The connections. I have discovered an amazing community of creative folks who continually inspire me (and I have made some wonderful friends as a result).

The end.

Okay, your turn - grab the questions from Amy's post and have some fun... I'd love to read your answers too!

Inspiration Avenue + Sunday Sketches = Owlrageous Fun!

2011-10-09T09:25:00.002-04:00

Owlrageously Wise

10.5"x14.5"

mixed media on an old cupboard door

The theme this week at Inspiration Avenue is "owls" and I couldn't resist!

And* since it wouldn't be a Sunday without a sketch (or a visit to Sophia's blog)...

(The sketch that started it all.)

* And now for something completely unrelated to owls...

Since I've started sharing my writing publicly on this blog, I've noticed that I often have my high school English teacher's voice in my head. I have been plagued by the thought that every time I start my sentence with and or but the grammar police are going to show up at my door. This morning I decided that enough was enough and I looked it up. Imagine my delight at the following discovery:

"Contrary to what your high school English teacher told you, there's no reason not to begin a sentence with but or and; in fact, these words often make a sentence more forceful and graceful. They are almost always better than beginning with however or additionally. Beginning with but or and does make your writing less formal; — but worse things could happen to most writing than becoming less formal."
-Lynch Guide to Grammar and Style

Wishing you an Owlrageously fun Sunday!

Paint Party Friday... Work In Progress

2011-10-07T00:01:00.007-04:00

(A sneak peek at my most recent Work-In Progress!)

I also wanted to take this opportunity to answer a couple of questions posed by 2 lovely and talented ladies, Nicola and Kat, last week...

"Are they done in acrylic or oils (or watercolors or pastels)?"

Both, last week's paintings and this week's work in progress are done in acrylics. I always use floetrol mixed with my paint to increase it's blendability. I love oils, but I don't love the clean-up, so acrylics it is!

"What sort of board do you use to paint on?"

Last week's paintings were created on 12x12 gallery wrapped canvases that had been covered in decorative papers first. (You can see the backgrounds in this post.)

This week, I am painting on an old cupboard door that I sanded and covered with old book pages.

Be sure to stop back this weekend because this painting is for Inspiration Avenue's owl theme (which means I have to finish it by Sunday morning)!

Not All Bears...

2011-10-04T07:00:00.003-04:00

...Hibernate.

Sunday Sketches... For Sophia

2011-10-02T07:00:00.005-04:00

Love, peace, and great big hugs...

for Sophia.

Paint Party Friday... Gettin' Gritty Wit It!

2011-09-30T00:01:00.006-04:00

"Girl In A Feather Hat" 12x12 mixed media on canvas

You may recognize this painting from last week's work in progress. I am having so much fun with Gritty Jane's workshop, I started a couple more paintings (works in progress)...

I'm still adjusting to using Paynes Gray instead of Burnt Umber.

This one had a face painted in full color until the perfectionist that lives in my head took a closer look at her (and decided I needed to start from scratch)! Now it kind of reminds me of a Rene Magritte painting. Well, if my second attempt doesn't work out, I can always replace her face with an apple!

Speaking of apples...

While packing Tyler's lunch, I discovered this heart... Sweet, sweet apple love!

Sharing Some Inspiration...

2011-09-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

Obvious to you. Amazing to others. from Derek Sivers on Vimeo.

Wishing you an obviously amazing day!

Sunday Sketches... Girls In Hats

2011-09-25T08:45:00.001-04:00

For this week's Sunday Sketches I am sharing some mechanical pencil drawings from my sketchbook. They are preliminary sketches for a series of paintings I am currently working on. (You may recognize the girl at the top from Friday's post.)

Please be sure to stop by Sophia's blog to see what my Sunday Sketching friends have been up to this week!

Paint Party Friday... Work In Progress

2011-09-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

For this week's Paint Party Friday I am sharing a work in progress.

On Sunday I mentioned that I am taking Gritty Jane's Portraits and Papers class and this week was spent working on my lessons. I started by prepping six 12x12 canvases...

Then I started my underpainting...

It's so much fun to learn how other artists work! Gritty Jane works with Paynes Gray for her underpaintings and I normally use Burnt (or sometimes Raw) Umber as a base, so it feels a bit strange to be working with such cool tones.

You may also notice the beginnings of peacock feathers popping up around this portrait... After creating last week's painting I decided I wanted to play with plumage a little bit more!

Trying Out A Totally Terrific Tape Tutorial

2011-09-21T07:00:00.004-04:00

(I am a big fan of alliteration!)

I am also a fan of finding alternatives for pricey art supplies...

I have been fascinated by the washi tape craze, but have been discouraged by the cost. Lately I have seen "create your own tape" posts and videos popping up around the internet and I've been meaning to give it a try. When I saw that my friend Harmony (remember the coloring pages post?) had created a DIY artsy tape tutorial, it was the final push I needed! Yesterday, while waiting for another project to dry, I created a rainbow of decorative tape!

If you haven't visited the Feed Your Soul Art blog yet...

What are you waiting for?!?

hee hee

Seriously though, Harmony's site is jam packed with loads of inspiration and lots of step by step project ideas...

Enjoy!

The Latest Edition of Somerset Studio Magazine...

2011-09-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

September/October 2011

Has 2 of my (Hitchcock inspired) mixed media paintings in it!

pages 113 and 117

Thank you to the crew at Stampington & Company for including me in your beautiful magazine!

And a great big thanks to my friend, Roc, for the congratulatory email that let me know my paintings had been published!

Sunday Sketches... Blind Contour Portraits! Hooray!

2011-09-18T07:00:00.011-04:00

When I was in college, my favorite warm-up exercises were always the blind contour drawings. For my birthday (September 10th), I signed up for Gritty Jane's Portraits and Papers class and our first lesson included blind contour portraits! I forgot how much I love doing them! Wheee!!!

Don't forget to stop by Sophia's blog to see some serious Sunday Sketching sweetness!

Paint Party Friday... Playing with Someone Else's Paper!

2011-09-16T00:01:00.012-04:00

Last Friday, I am Rushmore shared a downloadable version of her painting in progress and invited us to play with it. I thought it was such a cool idea - How could I resist?!?

The image on the left is I am Rushmore's original background and the image on the right is what I "saw"... A peacock!

If you would like to play too, you can download I am Rushmore's background here.

(Don't forget to stop by the Paint Party Friday blog for more fun and inspiration!)

Collage Papers + Coloring Pages = Fun Fun Fun!

2011-09-14T07:00:00.003-04:00

Last week I mentioned my month long creative partnership with Harmony over at the Feed Your Soul Art blog. In addition to sharing lots of mixed media goodness and providing endless inspiration, Harmony has generously created some very fun (and free!) coloring pages for her readers to download and play with! I couldn't resist...

And in the spirit of artistic collaboration, I printed her coloring pages on top of my (free) collage papers before I added paint and colored pencil!

Do you want to play too?

To see all of Harmony's FREE coloring pages click here.

To view the full list of my FREE collage papers click here.

Have Fun!

The Best Note Ever!

2011-09-12T07:00:00.005-04:00

(Tyler loves you)

Yesterday, as I sat scanning my dove drawings into the computer, I listened to the joyful sounds of Tyler playing in the other room. After awhile the playful noises stopped, which made me curious

(and admittedly a little nervous)...

"T-man?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Writing you a note."

The next sound I heard was the sound of five year old footsteps fast approaching. Tyler appeared in the doorway with a smile on his face and an index card in his hand. I cried great big fat happy tears at his pure and simple goodness.

My sweet sweet boy,

Mama loves you too!

Sunday Sketches... 10 Years Remembered.

2011-09-11T11:11:00.002-04:00

This week's Sunday Sketches were inspired by September 11th 2001, the need for more freedom in my drawings, and the belief that art can be therapeutic.

Using Pablo Picasso's "Dove of Peace" drawings as further inspiration, I set a challenge for myself. I grabbed a stack of index cards and allowing myself only 10 - 15 seconds per drawing, I created my own doves of peace...

10 years, 10 doves of peace.

Sending out tender thoughts of love, peace, and healing to all those affected by 9/11.

Paint Party Friday... Lots of Leftovers

2011-09-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

In an attempt to loosen up a bit, I drew these flowers with my non-dominant hand... Fun, fun, fun!

This week I've been playing with the leftovers from the CareFREE Fridays! collage papers...

My messy work table and works in progress.

(The collaged circle is on the old cupboard door I mentioned last week.)

Lots and lots of leftovers!

Please be sure to stop by the Paint Party Friday blog to see what my friends have been up to this week.

5 Years Passes In The Blink Of An Eye

2011-09-07T09:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Tyler's first day of kindergarten... He was ready!

(Mama on the other hand... Not so much.)

Enjoy each and every day,

because time passes in the blink of an eye!

Sponsor Love... Feed Your Soul Art

2011-09-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

In an effort to spread some serious creative love, this month I am partnering with the very cool and always inspiring Feed Your Soul Art blog to boost the blogging goodness.

To kick off this month of fun and shared creativity, please let me introduce the very talented artist and generous soul behind Feed Your Soul Art...

Hello, I am Harmony, a mixed media artist, mom, and creator of the blog Feed Your Soul Art. I try to live each day as creatively as I possibly can, which usually involves a lot of playful messiness. My blog is a place where you can come and visit each day to get your daily dose of color, inspiration, and childlike play with all kinds of art mediums. I believe that creating from your heart should be a daily practice, and I try to share as much of my own process with you. I offer DIYs, techniques, inspiration, and share lots of fun stories about what it's like to try to run a business from my art while rocking this motherhood thing. Its a tricky balance, but I love everything about it. I'd adore to meet you, so please stop by and say hello.

Today is the final day of Harmony's Labor Day Sale in her etsy shop! She has lots of amazing handmade creations to choose from including original artwork, prints, journals and jewelry... Something for everyone!

(To be the first to find out about more Feed Your Soul Art fun you can also find her on facebook or follow her on twitter!)

Sunday Sketches... I'm Back!

2011-09-04T07:00:00.006-04:00

Well, it's been a roller coaster summer for me... I've had my share of fun, but I've also experienced some serious scares. Between CareFREE Fridays, Playing with Papers, and multiple family medical emergencies, my sketchbook has been feeling pretty neglected!

I am happy to say that I have picked up my pencils and pens and am ready to start sketching, doodling and drawing again. While creating this self-portrait, I realized just how rusty and out of practice I feel... Drawing is just like a muscle, and mine could definitely use a good stretch!

One of the things I have missed the most during my sketchless summer? My friends at Sunday Sketches! Please be sure to head over to Sophia's blog to see what they've been up to!

p.s. My sketchbook from the Sketchbook Project 2011 has been digitized - You can view it here!

Paint Party Friday... CareFREE Fridays! (and Playing with Papers) Wrap-Up

2011-09-02T00:01:00.003-04:00

For the past 9 Fridays I have offered FREE downloadable collage papers on my blog (no strings attached). In total I painted 48 (yep, 4 dozen!) papers for you to use in your art! If you missed any of the papers you can find them here.

In addition to the papers I created tutorials to go with each set of papers...

*You can see what I did with last weeks FREE collage papers here.*

(You can find the full list of past projects here.)

I have had lots of fun painting and playing with papers this summer, but now it's time to get back to my regular drawing and painting (I am ready, ready, ready)!

I already have an old cupboard door sanded and gessoed just waiting for a mixed media painting using the scraps from the papers I printed for my projects this summer... Stay tuned to see the results!

Please don't forget to stop by Paint Party Friday to see what sorts of painting goodness my friends have going on this week!

Playing with Papers: Love Notes

2011-08-30T23:01:00.008-04:00

For my final Playing with Papers, I wanted to create something that would be meaningful far beyond the walls of my studio, something that combines my passion for art with LOTS of kindness, and something that would be fun and easy to do...

I immediately thought of this post that was inspired by the amazingly enchanting Patience Salgado. Patience is the kindness girl behind "guerrilla goodness":

"So much kindness you just can't help but smile and cry happy tears at the sheer joy of it all. The best part? Being kind, purposefully kind, is really so simple. Anyone can do it!"

(Taken from my post last year)

(click to enlarge and print)

For this week's project, I started by using last Friday's "Paper Love" FREE collage papers to create a template of blank mini note cards. (Please feel free to use my template too!)

Then I cut out the cards, wrote words of encouragement, and headed out to spread the love around town...

In a dressing room,

In a library book about interviewing for a job,

In a friend's mailbox,

At a bus stop,

In the "self-help" section,

In the waiting room at the hospital,

And in the suitcase of my sweetie!

I am carrying the rest of the blank note cards that I printed with a pen at the ready - Opportunities to offer words of encouragement and share some kindness are everywhere!

Won't you join me for a little "guerrilla goodness"?!?

The Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

This summer I took part in the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap. Opening my mailbox was like Christmas, and this is why...

Wendy

There wasn't a last name, blog address, or website on this postcard... Wendy, If you read this - Thank You - Your beautiful flowers brightened my day (and purple is my favorite color!)

Karen at Giddy-up Let's Ride

Thank You Karen - I am absolutely amazed at the wonderful details in your colorful zentangle!

Carolyn at Digital Experiments by Carolyn

Thank You Carolyn - I am so fascinated by digital art and I am impressed by all of the layers and depth that you've incorporated into your art (I love the dragonflies)!

Niki at The Vintage Artist

Thank You Niki - Your lovely postcard with it's inspirational message arrived at just the right time (and I am a big, BIG fan of hearts in art!)

Maria ("Rinda") at Gallo Organico

Thank You Rinda - I was so happy to discover your vibrant "Wings" collage in my mailbox! I agree that "art is an adventure that never ends" - this swap is proof of that.

Kat (Our Hostess with the Mostess!)

from The Kat Eye View of the World

Thank You Kat - Your beautiful photos always bring a smile to my face! I had so much fun participating in your swap and I appreciate all the hard work you have put into it!

Since I believe that there is nothing quite like "snail mail"...

Here is the postcard I sent for the swap!

I was so inspired by The Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap that I am currently working on a "snail mail" series of postcards for my etsy shop... Stay tuned!

Paint Party Friday & The Final CareFREE Fridays! Paper Love

2011-08-26T00:01:00.005-04:00

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the final edition of CareFREE Fridays!

Every Friday during the summer I have shared collage papers that I painted during the week. The papers are available to you for FREE to use in your artwork. You can print them out immediately or you can save them to your computer for future use. The only rule: Have fun!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

"Paper Love"

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here.*

Today's papers make a total of 48 FREE papers!

(If you have missed any, you can find a list of the papers and project ideas to go with them here.)

Playing with Papers: An Ornament

2011-08-23T07:00:00.006-04:00

Last Friday, I shared "Mosaic Madness" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays! (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.) For this week's Playing with Papers I created an ornament for all seasons...

I started this project with a wooden heart that I purchased from my local craft store, then printed out the red and light blue mosaic papers on cardstock. (I printed the light blue on both sides of the paper.)

I painted the wooden heart red, cut out 2 wings from the double-sided light blue mosaic paper and 2 hearts from the red mosaic paper. (I used the wooden heart as a template and traced it.)

I glued one of the paper hearts to the front of the wooden heart using mod podge. Then I attached the wings to the back. After the wings were in place, I glued the second heart on top of them.

I gave both sides of the heart and wings a coat of mod podge to seal them.

When the mod podge was thoroughly dry, I applied paper glaze to each of the individual squares on the heart to add dimension. (I started with the back side and let it dry overnight, then I did the front.)

After the heart was completely dry, I added an 18 gauge wire that I curved into a spiral hanger.

The final step was adding a ribbon to the hanger.

The result? An ornament that is pretty enough to display all year long!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own.

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made. (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

The very talented Heather Foust is guest curator over at the Cresendoh blog this week, and I am honored to be one of her featured artists! Please be sure to stop by!

Paint Party Friday and the 8th CareFREE Fridays! Mosaic Madness

2011-08-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the eighth edition of CareFREE Fridays!

Every Friday during the summer I will share collage papers that I have painted during the week. The papers are available to you for FREE to use in your artwork. You can print them out immediately or you can save them to your computer for future use. The only rule: Have fun!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

"Mosaic Madness"

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here."

Playing with Papers: Scrabble Tile Necklaces

2011-08-16T23:30:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, I shared "Feelin' Groovy" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays! (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.) For this week's Playing with Papers I created wearable art... Scrabble tile necklaces!

I started by cropping my papers using Picnik, then printing them to fit the scrabble tiles. (I used my printer's contact sheet setting.)

Next I cut out and glued my paper to the scrabble tile using Mod Podge. (I also brushed a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the image to seal it.)

I added paper glaze to give the tile dimension.

Then I attached a jewelry bail to the back of each tile using E-6000.

The final step was adding the chains...

Now I have a couple of totally fun & far out necklaces!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own.

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made. (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

Paint Party Friday and the 7th CareFREE Fridays! Feelin' Groovy

2011-08-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the seventh edition of CareFREE Fridays!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

This week I had lots of fun painting "Feelin' Groovy" papers...

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here.*