Art House

This is my entry for this week's Three Muses theme -"Doorway". Part tribute to Frida Kahlo and her love of color  and bold expressions- a bit ahead of her time.  Peeking from a studio doorway beckoning new creations and inspirations to a new generation of Artists.  She always inspires me.....  Frida "paper doll" image from ArtChix, doors and grungyart splatters from Tangie Baxter (at Scrapbookgraphics) and other imagery from Holliewoood at Deviantart.

Autumn Faerie

Ah.....Autumn.  Absolutely my favorite season. The rich colors , the late afternoon light, the sense of  nature at its peak soothe my soul and for some reason stimulate my creativity. A time of enjoying the harvest and beginning to look inward set the stage for daydreaming and fantasy. Spring and summer are all a bustle and busy with life; where Fall tends to slow down and release.  This summer has been crazy for me work wise and personally, and now and I just want to retreat into quieter times and reflection.  Autumn is the theme this week at The Three Muses challenge group and I had to play with this whimsical collage. Imagery from Dover books, Rosey Posey and  Tangie Baxter at Scrapbookgraphics, Holliewood and Finecrafted Designs at Deviant Art.

Words Of Wisdom

The theme at the Three Muses this week is "Words". In creating this piece I got to thinking about how important words are. How many times I wish that I had chosen my words more carefully.  I wish I could take some back. We are not all sages or wise owls but if only we could speak  from our hearts , less from our minds and with  more care.
 Imagery for this digital collage  is from Artchix, Christine Rennee, Tim Holtz art papers and Lorie Davison.

Melancholy

This is my entry for The Three Muses challenge "Window".  As late Summer rolls into Fall a sense of melancholy or  longing often takes place. Observing the change of light and seasonal change is a time of daydreams and  rememberance of days past.  I am already sensing a bit of early Autumn here in California (kind of still waiting for summer in a way) - it has been unseasonally cool.  Imagery used in this digital collage is from Dover books, Finecrafted Designs and Holliewood at Deviant Art. Artistic leaf brush from Photoshop.

Oceania

This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week "Maps".  Thoughts of world travel and the mystery of the unkown has I believe always been a part of Women's dreams and yearnings but was not always available if practical in the past. Ties to family and "duty" came first in many women's lives and their  imaginings of experiencing the world were put on hold due to fear and suppression from men.  This digital collage speaks to those moments of daydreams and wanderings.  Imagery from Dover books, Rosey Posey and Rebecca McMeen at scrapbookgraphics all blended and layered in Photoshop Elements.

Dark Mother

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week "Faces". Dark and  mysterious , this lovely face from E-vint.com evokes someone from a  vintage Gothic novel . Other imagery from Lorie Davison at scrapbookgraphics all blended and layered in Photoshop.

Realm Of Possibilities

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week where the theme is "Flight". Dreams do take flight in the realm of possiblities (and a little Photoshop), where all things imaginable can happen!  Imagery credits for this digital collage go to Rosey Posey, Christine Rennee,   Beth Rimmer and  Holliewood at Deviant scrap.com.  Dream on!

Archangel

This is my entry for this week's Theme Thursday challenge "Wings".  Background is from a new set of artist papers (Donna Estabrooks) angel image from Dover, and script from Rebecca McMeen all painted and overlayed in photoshop.

Heartland

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week "Stars and Stripes".

Don't we all feel a little like the woman in this image sometimes? This wonderul image of Grant Wood's "American Gothic" sums up alot of what many of us feel about promises, expectations and yes, disillusionment.  I put a rainbow in the background of this rural scene to represent our dreams, aspirations and hopes of a bright future and  greener pastures. These dreams are all possible too with hard work, common sense and stability which this heartland couple represent.  We have freedom but nothing comes free. We have to work for it, save and be in the moment but have our thoughts  and goals rooted in the future as well.  My family were all farmers, common sense kind of people, who laid down roots; uncertain yet determined to make it in this vast country and leave the door open to future prosperity for on-going generations.  As we are well into this 4th of July weekend we honor our independence and know that we each have the ability,  if we are willing, to obtain our heartland promise. 
Imagery from Dover books, Holliewood and Finecrafted designs  (Deviantart ).

Cote d' Azure

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge where the theme this week is (Beaches). This digital collage is composed of  various vintage posters (graphic 45) along with elements from Finecrafted designs, Google and artistic brushes in Photoshop.

Parchment Notes

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week where the theme is "Insects". I was playing around with alot of color but decided that I really like the clean black and white study for a sense of detail and field note sketchiness for this digital collage.

Birds Of Paradise

Well I had a lot of fun with Toucans and rainforest creatures in these pieces for the Three Muses this week where the theme is "Exotic Birds". I just asked my husband which one he liked best to post and he liked them both so here they are. (He said the top piece would make a great cocktail napkin)- so much for the home critic! Imagery credits go to Beth Rimmer designs and Holliewood at deviant scraps. Tree frog and Toucans were googled. Face image from Dover and background layers of vintage botanica.

Celestial

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week where the theme is "Stars". I took the "Heavenly Body" approach with a cosmic star walker amidst the swirl of the comos. Imagery credits go to Dover, Finecrafted Designs, Holliewood and artistic filters and brushes in Photoshop.

Winesong

This is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week where the theme is The Written Word.  The image is from Dover and the written word is inspired by a most beautiful love "Poem" or song from the Old Testament/ Torah. Roses from Holliewood at Deviant art and gradient and soft light filters added for depth and age.

Art and Illumination

"Wings " is the theme at the Take A Word challenge this week and I was inspired by label art in making this digital collage. I love old Botanica and the art of illuminated lettering (Celtic) in this case and combined the two here.  Imagery from Dover ,Graphics 45 and Christine Renee.

The Gift

This is my entry for the Collage Obsession challenge "Mermaid". Couldn't help myself from creating a piece with one of my favorite themes. Imagery from Dover, Finecrafted Designs and lots of painting and effects in Photoshop. I learned how to use the Clone Stamp tool in a class that I took recently and it really came into use in this collage. Fun stuff!

Violets are Blue

This is my digital journal style entry for this week's Three Muses theme which is the color "Blue". A soft, peaceful and sometimes melancholy color I used blue here to evoke a sense of quiet longing and sense of poetic loss. Imagery from Finecrafted designs and Holliewood at Deviant Art, Dover books, and google.

Bee-mused

Feeling whimsical and in the Zetti mode for this week's theme at Take A Word challenge. I always struggle a bit with Zetti but as I look back on the pieces that I have made they do embody their own style and are consistent in how I interpret them. It is interesting to step outside of yourself and view the collection of art you have made and be objective about it. "Everyone else's" art sometimes seems to look so much better and unique and (why didn't I think of that ?) often comes to mind. I can't think of a better forum than an art blog to really take a look at where you were, where you are now and be inspired to go where you can go in the future. Imagery from Dover, and Rebecca McMeen at scrapbookgraphics.

Haiku

Gold woman vibrant

in your song of surrender
give nothing away.

Emotions abstract
bending shadows of the heart
threads of silk on fire.

Whispered wings hover
breathless until tomorrow
love's own haiku.

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge where the theme is"Oriental". Geisha images from Dover blended with one of my own backgrounds and other background image from Lorie Davison at scrapbookgraphics.

Beginnings

This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge "Garden" theme. A little bit of Eden  amidst a sphere untouched and  new. Imagery from Finecrafted and Holliewood at Deviant Art . Blogger lost my first posting of this so thanks to those of you who commented already!

Street Diva

Mona is keeping an eye on the neighborhood in this whimsical collage for the The Three Muses this week where the theme is to "Alter Mona". Imagery credits for this urban graffiti piece go to Google, Dover, Christine Renee, Digital Whisper freebie and Rebecca McMeen. Mona Rules!

Rites of May

May is upon us and she ushers in a season of beauty and appreciation of the sensual and colorful. Beltaine in the celtic tradition welcomed the beginning of summer gaiety and abundance ; the celebration of fertility and a time of coming together to share and enjoy renewal.

The imagery used in this collage comes from Luna Girl ( wonderful vintage image of Cleo de Merode), Lorie Davison, Holliewood at Deviant Art and artist papers blended for the background. I was inspired to create this piece as I flipped over all of my calendars; marvelling at how fast the days goes by and how each day seems so full yet so fleeting....

Postal Notes

The theme at the Three Muses this week is "Mail Art" one of my favorite themes. This collage is a little bit postcard, a little bit art envelope with imagery from Christine Renee, Rebecca Mc Meen and some digital play with cut outs and postal elements in Photoshop.

Wild Stallion

This is my entry for this week's Theme Thursday challenge "Animal". Old world imagery and text from wikimedia, art papers and elements from Rosey Posey.

Giselle

This is my entry for the Sunday Postcard Art Challenge this week where the theme is "Dance". This beautiful vintage dancer was found on Google and I added soft text, filters and scanned imagery from Graphics 45 and Holliewood at Deviant Scraps for the feel and look of an antique card.

Old Lace

" Victorian Elegance" is the theme at the Three Muses challenge this week. Old lace and linens and attention to beautiful detail embody the Victorian age for me. When I was younger I used to love to peruse my copies of "Victoria" magazine; lost in the lush and mesmerizing array of abundance and rich decorative ornamentation. I still love the influence but have found it hard to incorporate into my lifestyle now where I enjoy simpler, less distracted surroundings. This collage tries to present elegant imagery but with a clean and more refined beauty. Imagery credits go to e-vint.com, scrapbookgraphics, Holliewood at deviant Scraps and personal floral photos.

Curiosities

This is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week "Steampunkerie". Always a curious theme full of odd mechanical imagery mixed with vintage/oldworld influence, designed to spark the imagination. Credits for this collage go to Sherrie JD & Rosey Posey at Scrapbookgraphics, and Finecrafted Designs & Holliewood at Deviantartscraps.

April's Bloom

This is my entry for this week's theme at Take a Word challenge "Bloom". This piece just grew and grew with multiple layers of a little steampunk (Rosey Posey) , vintage imagery (Dover) and background from Lorie Davison at deviant art scraps.

Fair Maiden Postcard

I had some fun with one of my favorite Fair Maiden images from Dover books -(Raphael's Lady with a Unicorn) for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week. Back ground from scrapbookgraphics, various artist papers, postal stamps and imagery from Rosey Posey.

Emerald Star

"Green" is the inspiration for this week's Take A Word challenge. The hills around my home are indeed turning green after tons of rain this winter and it is a welcome sight. Signs of Spring always bring enchantment and faery lore to the surface for me and this collage represents the magical elements in the deep woods and ponds at this time of year.

Natural History

This is my entry for the Take a Word challenge this week where the theme is "Bird Life". I love pouring through vintage botanical and bird illustrations and decided to create my own collaged "color plate" to represent bird life and habit . Most bird books now are beautifully photographed but I really enjoy vintage Audubon and in this case M. Catesby (1679-1749) paintings with their beautiful stylized detail and color. Other imagery credits for this piece go to , scrapbookgraphics, artist papers from K & Company, vintage stamps and zoological text.

Exotica

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge where the theme is "Exotic'. To me exotic is a collaboration of color, pattern, texture and of course flora and fauna. Scenes from far away places that depict a different way of life and people of different cultures and philosophies open our eyes to all that is amazing and inspirational. Imagery credits go to Dover, Christine Rennee and background is my own from vintage botanical prints.

Timescape

Lately I've been feeling a bit like this fellow with the presence of time and clocks everywhere; reminding me how little I have of it, how fast it is going by and how I am running out of it. Work has been crazy and I've been so busy trying to get all of my tax work done. Ugh!

I know time is what we perceive and in essence there IS time for everything, but where I get into trouble is balancing time with the things I want to do (make art) and the things I don't want to do (bookwork and property management). So I put down the spreadsheets and made this piece for the challenge at the Three Muses this week where the theme is Time and how we would like to express it.

Imagery credits go to Graphics 45, Holliewood at deviant artscraps, Tim Holtz artist papers.

First Blush

I bud forth delights like the vine,
my blossoms become fruit, fair and rich.
I am the mother of fair love, and of fear,
and of knowledge, and of holy hope.
In me is all grace of the way and of the truth,
in me is all hope of life and of virtue.

Come to me, you yearning ones, and be filled,
for my speech is sweeter than honey,
my inheritance better than honey and the honeycomb.
........Ecclesiastes 24:23-31


This is my entry for this week's Take A Word challenge where the theme is "Romance". Ah what a romantic week this has been in blogland! Lots of pink, lots of hearts, lots of poetry. Hope this can last all year!
Imagery credits go to Dover, Google images, Finecrafted designs, Holliewood at Deviantartscraps and my own digital background papers.

Two Hearts

This is my entry for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge where the theme is 'Hearts" and appropriately so for Valentine's Day. Imagery is from Dover, Holliewood at Deviantartscraps, postal clippings and heart doilies all blended and layered in Photoshop.

Twilight Tales

This is my entry for this week's Take a Word challenge "Blackbird". My bird of choice is the Crow- cousin to Raven and quite the storyteller and trickster. Crow is often a dream symbol both day and night for me, and represents the guardian of the threshold of passing from the old to the new; bringing change but teaching us to not take the change so seriously as to miss its lessons. Imagery from Finecrafted designs, the vintage moth, and Digital whisper.

Love Poems and New Blog

This is my entry for the new 100 Themes Challenge at digital-whisper blog! I have created a new blog 100 themes art journal to feature the digital work that is inspired by the different themes given to be completed over the course of this year. We may complete the challenges in any order. This is for theme #2 "Love". I thought with Valentines' coming this would be quite appropriate. Imagery from (Dover), assorted art papers and elements from (Finecrafted) digital designs.

Gypsy Flower

This is my entry for the Take a Word challenge this week where the theme is "Vintage". I created the above collage from my collection of vintage images (this one from Magic Moonlight) overlayed onto a digital fabric background (from scrapbookgraphics). I added botanical imagery and script and then printed the collage from Photoshop out onto organza fabric (fabric-backed printer sheets from Jacquard). This gave me inspiration for a new Journal which I have entitled "Pilgrimage". I hope to fill its pages with other collage and mixed paper and fabric ephemera all using vintage photography as a base for story and inspiration. The journal I found a few years ago at Cost Plus and I gave it a bit of a tea-stained wash and then added leather, dried flowers, beads and silver embellishments.

Freya's Return

In Fall Freya left us
travelling southward.
Now she returns again,
bringing soft words.

Out of her golden hair
spring flowers fall
tumbling like melodies,
sounding the call.
------Scandinavian song

After a couple of beautiful sunny days here I am beginning to feel the whispers of Spring emerging. This is that turning point in mid-winter when we are getting a little tired of the dark, the cold, the gray. This is when we need to listen and look for small signs of the muse awakening. If you stay open to the sights and sounds around you ; you will find her. Follow her when you do!

Quiescent

In continuing in the botanical mode I played around last night with a beautiful vintage image here from E-vint.com and overlayed some personal floral photos to create this collage. Reducing the opacity and blending the imagery added a lot of depth and a painterly texture to the original photo.

Flora and Fauna

This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week where the theme is "Botanical". I created the background to this piece from vintage botanical clippings and text from the Hortus Eystettensis. I cropped, colored and layered flower faeries and frog from a beautiful new set of artist papers from Graphics 45 to create a fun enchanted garden setting. Soft and pin light filters were added in Photoshop.

Inner Landscape

The theme at The Three Muses this week (Artist Of Choice) is a theme I could go on all year for inspiration - my list is endless! But time after time I come back to Frida Kahlo; her story expressed through her art encompassing both the beauty and darkness of her days. As a (woman) artist she broke through barriers largely dominated by men and was not afraid to tell her story through often shocking and somewhat morbid themes- but she did so with honesty and heart. I admire her ability to show the darker side (something I need to work on in my art) without fear of criticism or rejection. I also find it fascinating that a large amount of her paintings are self portraits- perhaps her searching the inner landscape for both her beauty and shortcomings. Truly an eye-opening artist. This piece is a collage of images from (google, Holliewood at deviant art and Frida's journal clippings.

Ode To Spring

We have had a couple of lovely sunny days here and I found myself longing for Spring! This is my entry for the Take A Word challenge this week where the theme is "Butterflies". I used a lovely image from Dover and altered her with the Fresco filter for a painterly look. I digitally colored her eyes, florals and skin tones. Butterflies are from Holliewood at Deviantart.

Birds Of A Feather

This is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week "Nature's Creatures". I created the digital background out of several layers of blended artist papers (Mara Johnson- Creative imaginations) and imagery from Holliewood at deviantartscraps. Soft light filters and digital painting in Photoshop. Too fun!

Beauty

The Beauty
you craved in
things was
always my
face seen
through a veil.

Turn Around.

See now where
Beauty comes
from.
....Rumi



A powerful word Beauty. Its definition is of course different for everyone. Artists share their visions. Nature stuns us. A kind word or gesture completes us. It's all in how we perceive Beauty that matters and gives the word its meaning. Beauty likes to hide and we need to seek it out. All of our senses detect beauty and are often left abandoned in its wake. As they say ,try to find a little beauty each day- that's my goal for this year.
This is my entry for the Take A Word Challenge this week. Imagery credits go to Dover, Holliewood at Deviantart scraps, assorted artist papers.

Imaginarium

Yesterday I celebrated my 56th birthday! It was a beautiful clear day and I got to spend it creating some art, taking a walk with the dog and a lovely dinner out with Hubby in the evening. A perfect day. I treated myself to a new digital kit from Finecrafted at the Deviantart Store and made this digital collage. Quite a watery wonderland for a Capricorn (earth sign) but had fun with the new imagery.

The Zetti Garden

I wanted to start off the New Year in full color and fantasy ( despite the dreadful winter weather we are having of late). Stuck inside all day but had fun with this "Zetti" piece for the upcoming Take A Word Challenge. Zetti style is always a challenge for me but I do enjoy it and try to let go a bit. One of the many things that I would like to try to do more of this year is to really branch out into some new directions in digital art and revisit some old (sewing and journal work) art room projects as well. The artroom projects take longer but are satisfying in a very tactile way and I like getting my hands messy a bit!

The imagery credits for this piece go to Dover books, graphic 45 art papers and Holliewood at deviant art . Artistic filters and digital painting in Photoshop.