Watercolors

My teacher chose three of my watercolor pieces to be shown in the open house of the college I am attending. They are juried by other teachers for final selection, so I won't know for sure till next week. It is still an honor and quite exciting! He chose my cliff and the leaf also is black and white (not shown).
The chosen are as follows:

Speaking of watercolors, I sent one to my mom for Mother's  Day and am dying to find out if she likes it. One more week!

Literacy Murals

I was asked to brainstorm ideas to present to the staff for multiple Literacy advocating murals for around the school. I have been slowly collecting ideas for this reason. I would like to put them in kid friendly language to help them advocate for themselves. The list of reasons to read that I would love to be able to incorporate is as follows:

•I read for entertainment.

•I read to escape.

•I read to explore/visit new places.

•I read to relax.

•I read to learn.

•I read to meet new people and make new friends.

•I read to travel.

•I read to build my vocabulary

•I read to build my self-esteem.

•I read to improve my concentration and focus.

•I read to help my creativity and imagination.

•I read to ignite my brain.

•I read to improve my writing. (brings out the writer in me)

•I read to solve a mystery.

•I read to laugh.

•I read because I am curious.

•I read to feed my brain.

Caravan Obsession

Last summer my grandfather and I had a lengthy discussion concerning old caravans such as the Airstream. Since this time my love and lust for them have only grown. I love their shape and quaint size. They are like a floating bubble of exploration, possibility, and of days gone by. A traveling home with an ever changing landscape sounds like such a romantic fantasy. This first one looks like it was made for me. It clearly has my name written all over it!

1957 Sprite Caravan

Pysanky Eggs

In the spirit of Easter egg decorating, I wanted to share Ukrainian Pysanky eggs. I have a close family friend who introduced me to these and who used to make them. I love their delicate intricacy and I am in awe of the incredible detail work on something so tiny. The process in creating them is a multi-step process of wax designs and layers of dying.

Friday Morning Inspiration

 Found via valentinadesign

Commissioned Piece

Although I am weary of copying others art work at this time it is paying the bills. I was asked to make Georgia O'Keeffe's Poppies for a friend of mine. I don't know if I'll ever be satisfied with the results. I have made a ton more changes based on and since this photo. So here is a progress picture.    

Kitchen Collage

As you know, I have been having way too much fun decorating my kitchen lately. I have recently gotten back into mixed media and collage in an effort to be loosen my kung-fu grip with creating art. I am also into whimsical creations and an innocence I feel I have lost. I am in the process of another painting, but thought you would like to see my first attempt.

Inspiration and Self-Exploration

As I have said before, this blog is to help me with exploring my art and inspiration. This morning I began digging through boxes of old sketchbooks trying to find myself and find where I had lost site of who I was artistically. Before I was inundated with images from the internet, I used to have my own original thoughts. Due to my numerous and eclectic jobs after Art school I rarely had a chance to create. Then came the time I became a teacher and god bless summer vacation! I began painting again, but soon found an incredible artist Audrey Kawasaki. She mesmerized me and I began to copy her work in an effort to master her style and technique. I learned a lot about light and shadow I never knew before. I continue to love her work, but I am not her. I am desperate to find a way to express myself through my art again. Feeling lost, empty, and mute isn't helping me. So, I am starting from ground zero and going back to my roots.

Watercolors

I am taking a watercolor class right now. I am obligated to to maintain my licensure as a teacher, but have fallen in love with it. I thought I'd share some of my favorite pieces. I have a Mother's Day gift waiting to be mailed and will post it after it has been received. I am proud of my progress, but feel more work needs to be done before I feel completely comfortable with this medium. After my final portfolio review at the end of the semester I will be selling them. Please let me know if you are interested. You can email me at constantly.connieart@gmail.com.

Bathroom Update

I woke up early this morning with a mission to beautify my bathroom. From what I envisioned and the end result are quite different, but I thoroughly enjoy how it evolved an unfolded to create an incredibly uplifting and refreshing bathroom. Santa gave me a Black & Decker Bullseye for Christmas and I have been chomping at the bit for just the right project to use. For those of you who don't know what this is it is a stud sensor and auto leveling laser all-in-one! I highly recommend it. As you can see, I am on a turquoise kick. It is the same paint as my kitchen; Valspar, Sea Lily and Behr Swiss Coffee. I was too excited not to share a progress photo. I have to do a second coat on some of the walls and detail work. The art work in the photo was printed from the Free Downloads that I mentioned in a recent post from Indie Fixx. I am completely obsessed with Cori Dantini's work as of late.

My favorite thing to do it go to Goodwill or a similar store and buy up their frames and then repaint them to my liking. Now I have to figure out what kind of flooring to install. Hmmm. 

Mural Update

I know it has been awhile since I have posted, but I am now on Spring Break and able to focus on some cleaning, reorganizing, and decorating. I have had an incredibly productive day! After painting my kitchen a while back, I was trying to fool myself into thinking that the mural was a cohesive transition from kitchen to living room. Instead, it had become the ugly step child I couldn't bear to look at. First thing this morning I decided to take the plunge and test out a theory. If it didn't work I'd simple paint over it. I think the update works and is a nice change from the drab muted colors of the original. Here is the update to the mural. Let me know what you think.

Free Prints from Indie Fixx!

Check out Feed Your Soul for cool prints by Indie artists. Jen Wallace of Indie Fixx states that she started this site because she feels that art feeds the soul and in these economic times art is not necessary for survival. I couldn't agree more! I printed the print below for my kitchen and two other prints for my bathroom I'm in the middle of re-doing. There is a new print monthly so make sure to check back in. Enjoy!

Bathroom Inspiration

Button Love

Have I mentioned my love of buttons? I love buttons! They are so simple, but the perfect accessory
detail to an outfit. I've always wanted a pair of sailor pants and have yet to find a pair that fits me
correctly. *Sigh*

image by Simply Hue Design

Jadite

I am in love with Jadeite! Especially now that I have redone my kitchen. I have been prowling Etsy in search of something I can't live without. I like the mint jadeite the best of the variations in color. I love the creamy look it has.

For more information concerning the history please refer to this Do-it-101.com.

Productivity check list

Just found this at You Are My Fave. It is more like a way to procrastinate than a way to be productive which makes it that much funnier. Items she listed to the checklist are ones I totally agree with, such as evening out a row of brownies and wearing the same pair of pants for a week. The real book can be found at the The Regional Assembly of Text for $6.oo.

I have to confess to doing such things as:

~teach yourself to hula hoop
~clip coupons for others
~reorganize sock drawer by style and color

Oh Happy Days!

I just bought myself a big girl camera and have been experimenting with it on and off since yesterday. The best lighting in my house it from 2-4pm and since I just woke up from a lovely nap to find this to be the case I had to take advantage. Here is a picture of my house taken with my new camera. I love the clarity and the fact that it takes photos that are true to color. If I am going to start my own business selling my art, it was time to get a good camera! It is a dream come true. I have always wanted one, but was scared that it was out of my league. I plan on surviving off of knowledgeable friends till I can enroll in a photography class. The drawings in front of the fireplace were done by a friend in college. The paintings in the shot are ones I made based on Audrey Kawasaki's art. As mentioned in an earlier post she is my muse and teacher. I have been learning her technique by trying to duplicate her work for my house. If you are interested in my art please contact me at constantly.connieart.@gmail.com.

Strong Bad Emails

Happy hour discussion yesterday brought up the topic of the Homestar Runner website. One of my favorite parts of the site are the Strong Bad emails section. I love the humor and occasional song that accompanies the short cartoon. If you love geeky references and innocent humor, you'll love this site. There are so many hidden treasures and cool things within. One of my favorites that never cease to make me laugh is Shape Shifter. Let the hilarity ensue!

Kitchen Colors

I love the color combination of light blue with red. I wanted to share this quaint picture of a dining room utilizing those colors. I also like the arrangement of plates, especially the clock mixed in.

Found at Apartment Therapy house tour.