Art Rocks

Special request?....................

Happy Weekend Everyone!

This is a photo of a journal page that I've recently created.  I happened to share this with someone and the person asked me if I could possibly transfer this piece to a large canvas.  I had to think about it for awhile as I haven't created a commissioned piece in a very long time. In the past, it's always been a bit difficult, for me, to do a commissioned request and in particular to try to duplicate.

I call this "Ode to St. Bernadette".   It apparently has significant meaning for the person who asked me to do this on a large canvas.  

After much contemplation, I have decided to do it and I will keep you updated with the final result.  My vision for the larger canvas is to work on fabric with joint compound and apply it to the canvas - we shall see :)   I will try not to pressure myself to thinking I have to duplicate this page exactly.  The most important focus of this piece is St. Bernadette herself. 

Since this request, I've done a little research on St. Bernadette and it's quite fascinating learning about her journey.  I'll share more, on that with you, once I complete the canvas.

In line with this, I will be taking a bit of a Blog break to work on this.  I'll be back upon its completion.

In meantime, stay well and happy.  Enjoy your weekend and have a safe week ahead.

Love, Marilyn xxoo

Garden Song

I'm sharing some journal pages, with you, that I created, recently, with a little help from my Jane Davenport stencil, some cool foam stamps, flower stencils with joint compound, acrylics, stamping and collage.  A garden theme came to mind seeing all the flowers popping up in my neighborhood. We're really experiencing a nice Spring.  It's probably one of the nicest that I can remember.

Hoping you all are enjoying your weekend and wish you a safe and happy week ahead.

Love yas....................Marilyn

Fairies in My Garden

Here are photos of two journal pages I recently created.  I'm still loving working in my Dylusions journal enjoying the 9 x 12 surface.  The paper can take anything you offer it!  There must be 6 layers on these pages including tissue paper, gesso, acrylics, collage, stamping, etc.  The pages continue to lie flat - can you tell I really like this journal? :)

The top photo is my own image and in the bottom photo I used a Suzi Blu stamp; she just makes me think of a little fairy buzzing around in a garden.

Our weather, here, has been gorgeous all week with bright sun and very comfortable temps.  Our forecast is for this pattern to continue well into the coming week :)   What a gift!

Hoping you are experiencing lots of sunshine where you are! Enjoy the moments of your weekend.

Stay safe and well....................Love, Marilyn

Life is the art................

These are photos of a spread I worked on a couple of weeks ago.   I just added some finishing touches.  I do that often....I go back in my journals and decide to add more to what I've already done. How about you? 

We're finally turning the corner, here, with our weather.  Spring is upon us and things are really popping.  The past few days, we've been waking up to sunshine - really uplifting!

I hope you're all experiencing calmness, good health, and lots of sunshine!

Love to all..................Marilyn xxoo

Art is therapy

This has been a rough week for us all in mind and heart.  My prayers and deep, compassionate thoughts go out to the victims and families of two devastating tragedies that occurred this week.  First the Boston Marathon bombings and then the Texas explosion. I feel we were all left feeling so vulnerable with heavy hearts.

I found myself almost paralyzed with these feelings.  My eyes and mind needed a rest from all the graphic photos on the news even though I found myself tuning in, occasionally, to keep up-to-date with findings.  

As in the past, when tragedy strikes, I knew, at some point, I had to turn to a peaceful place that could offer me some comfort and a brief distraction.  Therefore, I turned to my art table and created these journal pages.  After all....it's okay to have our eyes and minds taken away, for a little while, from the shock of such tragic news that we are bombarded with.

Hoping you and yours are having some peaceful moments, this weekend, and your week ahead keeps you safe.

I will end this post with the definition of peace:

Peace (pes) n. 1.a. A state of tranquility or quiet. b. A treaty or agreement ending hostilities. 2. A state of harmony, as between persons or nations. 3. Freedom from disquieting feelings and thoughts: serenity. - peace 'ful adj.

Love - Marilyn xxoo 

 

Thoughts of Spring

These are photos of a journal spread I recently created.  I guess this reflects our weather, here, lately.  It's been a roller coaster of a couple sunny days with mild temps then turning to cold, rain, hail, and even snow in the hill towns.  Everyones' thoughts are of Spring days. When I think about it, actually, living in the Northeast, here, we should be used to long winters and iffy Springs.  My feeling is it really doesn't "pop" here until May and then we go into instant heat.

So with all of this in mind I decided to create a "Thoughts of Spring" theme in one of my journals.  

I hope you've all had a good week and this weekend will bring you some relaxation, art time, and spring thoughts to all.

Enjoy the moments and have a safe and happy week ahead.

Love - Marilyn xxoo 

Whispers

These are photos of my recent art in my 9 x 12 Dylusion's journal.  I used Jane Davenport stencils and love these.  One is a side portrait and the other is a frontal view - really cool!  It's interesting how, depending on what you do with them, can result in different expressions each time.

The last photo is the whole spread and I wanted this to represent my "inner child" whispering in my ear as I create.  I even included some of Sophia's (my grand daughter) art in this spread.

Spring is inching its way here - day by day we are getting warmer temps, more people out walking, kids out bicycling and skateboarding.  It's nice to wake up to sunshine and birds chirping :)

Wishing you all sunny days!          Love yas - Marilyn xxoo

The Dream Fairy.......

This is a photo of more of my a la Mindy Lacefield class play.   I call this the Dream Fairy as, to me, this character looks like she's definitely in a dream-like state :)

I wanted her to be dreaming of positive thoughts and reflections; Spring is always a good time for this even in our conscious thoughts.

For a bit of difference, I chose to have the Dream Fairy's dress to hang off the journal page; you can't see it in this photo but it really extends quite a ways down the page.  I like that as when the journal is closed, I can see the part of the dress.  I will be doing this more in future.  I feel it really makes the characters come alive.

I am wishing you all a very peaceful and joyful weekend.  For all, of you, who celebrate Easter, may your traditions offer you comfort and smiles.

Much love............................Marilyn xxoo

"Free Spirit" art..................

I recently treated myself to a Mindy Lacefield online class. This is one of my works from the class.  She really helped me get in touch with my inner child in terms of trying to have more fun sketching, doodling, writing my own words, painting; also taking the fear out of re-working things.  I learned how to paint around negative spaces of shapes that I created that turn into a really alive background combined with some chaotic areas and also making way for calming areas in a background.

The balloons in the upper left-hand corner are actually paint skins that I am also learning to make use of in my art.  Fun!

If you have time, check out her link above.  Her class offerings are wonderful and just viewing her artwork with her incredible characters are worth the visit.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend.  Spring has not sprung yet, here, and we are all trying to be patient awaiting its arrival.

Thank you for stopping by here!

Love yas...............................Marilyn xxoo

Sophia's art :)

Watercolor with string prints

Background resist with white crayon and watercolor

Puff ball patchwork collage

I thought I'd share Sophia's art, with you, from her art classes.   So far, she's had three lessons and I just love sharing this creative time with her each week.  There are normally 6-8 other children in the group; ages from 3-4. 

What I like is that the instructors always present an art project around a book that is read first.   The first photo was just a warm-up exercise for the first class.  The second photo of Sophia's art reflects a Dr. Suess story of juggling ten apples on top of a head.   Each student had their picture taken and then collaged against a background of watercolor with a white crayon resist.

The third piece reflects a story of Elmer the patchwork elephant.  This was a great exercise in color identification as well as eye-hand coordination.

As part of the classes, we are given a portfolio book to keep the childrens' artwork in.  Sophia is already very proud of her book!  :)   So is "Gwamma".  

This quality time is precious and we always tie lunch into the day before class!

Hope you all had a good weekend!  Have a healthy and safe week ahead.

It sounds as if we're in for a winter storm tomorrow to start Spring!!  Oh well; it won't last and hopefully this is the last roar of the lion :)

Love yas...............................Marilyn xxoo