Christmas 2015 0n Tybee Island GA !!

Yes, we are spending 3 months on beautiful Tybee Island GA ! We have learned, in this first month, how to "do the dance" in the small space that is our motor home.  It is working out just great!  I am producing some really nice art work on the picnic table outside our front door and have connected with some wonderful artists in the Tybee Art Association.
Here are some photographs of how we spent our Christmas day. A picnic on the beach sounded like a really good way!

It was foggy but warm. Ya gotta love those hats!

This was our dining area.

  

The tide was way out.

Ummm.....that was not coffee in that thermos! Note: my Santa hat has a tiara on it. ( of course)

Smoked turkey, cheese and spinach on ciabatta buns.....cherry cordials....:)

Where have I been????

Dear faithful readers, 
It has been a long and very full 3 months.  I have been creating a lot!  But, shamefully, not posting the results.  I will try to do better (grin).
Here are 2 photos of a new size I am experimenting with.  This painting is 9.5 inches by 46 inches and is stretched canvas.  This size has such potential! It would fit perfectly on a wall between a door and window, or when painted in landscape, would look wonderful over a doorway.  The size was inspired by a wonderful artist named Helvi Smith.  Do Google her work!
I plan to do more of these!

                  oops!  the upper left corner is in the shade.

 

The process of reworking the past .....

That sounds like a really heavy  title for this post but it really is not all that deep.  Several years ago I spent months painting a large body of abstract pieces.  I learned about color and design, about the many ways to move paint around on a large canvas and I loved it all!

Now, I am looking at these pieces, and I am seeing more possibilities.  I am seeing these abstracts as new and exciting backgrounds for new and exciting images.

This piece was titled " Ocean Portal" and measures 24 " X  48".  It is presented in landscape form.

Now I have created an image on this "new" background and I am loving the result.

May I present:                           

" Working Lunch"

24" X 48" acrylic and marker on gallery wrapped canvas

with a metallic gold finishing glaze

 

 " Working Lunch" - < detail >

 

" Working Lunch " - < detail >

Upcycled wood cigar boxes .....

Well, these were a lot of fun!  I had 3 cigar boxes that were wood and brown and uninspiring!  Time to repurpose them into something lovely, right? 
They are all wood.  I removed labels and sanded them down. I used acrylic paints, gold gilding wax, wood knobs for "feet", photographs of art taken from a very old book, gold metallic glaze and finally an acrylic sealer.  There were a LOT of steps involved, along with overnight drying times for several of the applications, so this has been going on for a few weeks. 
 Finally I glued black felt to the bottom inside of each box.  They  are signed and dated on the outside bottom. Today they are finished!  Enjoy!

The weekend in my sketchbook .....

This past weekend was for sketching, and my sketchbook was with me constantly.  Here you will see the three renderings  that kept me entertained.  In my defence, my daughter gave me a robotic floor cleaner for Mother's Day ( good daughter) , so I sketched while I "cleaned the floors".  It was really hard work!

 

" Museum Bug in a Dress"

6" X 9" watercolor and calligraphy pen 

 " TV Golf"

6" X 9" watercolor with ink journaling

 

 

" Three Flowers"

6" X 9"

watercolor and calligraphy ink pen

 



The Purple " Elephant" Chair ......

 

I found this rush seat chair at a local upcycle shop.  It is a nice size and very sturdy construction and the seat was in perfect condition!  I began by spray painting it all over with a gloss purple, and loved it already.

I found a copyright free image of an elephant, a black and white rendering with lots of fancy detail.  I printed it off, colored it in with watercolor pencils and sprayed it with a fixative to keep it from smearing.  I added two embossed wood corner pieces on the back for texture and interest. 

 

Then I just started adding colors and shapes until it was all covered.  The last step was to  paint it all over with a gold metallic
glaze.

 

 

 This glaze gives the chair a soft glow and mutes all the bright colors to a wonderful patina.  When you see it in the light it really glows. 

 

I encourage you to find an old chair and have some fun with it!
  Go do it!

The " Paris Box of Secrets" .......

I am continuing to experiment with upcycling wood furniture and accessories.  I found this sweet wooden box at my favorite upcycle shop and was sure I could make something fabulous out of it.  Originally it was a pale green with a  strawberry decal on the lid.

  Not so any more!

" Paris Box of Secrets"

9 X 9  and 7 inches tall

 The images are attached with wall paper paste and the entire box is painted a silver acrylic.

The inside bottom is covered with black felt.

I added the embossed wood accents and the entire piece is finished with a gold metallic glaze.

Signed and dated.

The Antique Medicine Cabinet .....

I found this antique, ( circa. 1910)  in-wall, wood medicine cabinet in a shop in Tulsa OK, about 40 years ago.  I could never find the right place to use it, even after several moves, but loved it and continued to move it from place to place.  Now, it has a  new life ! 
 
After a good cleaning and sanding, I have applied acrylic paints, fabric flowers, gilding wax, small wood accent pieces and several coats of poly acrylic sealer.  I retained the original hardware, even thought it is a little wonky.
Good news!  I remembered to take a "before" photograph!

 

 I'm not sure what my next project will be.  The good news is, I think Spring is here which means I can work outside! See you soon!

The " Garden Love" chair......

This project has been a work in progress for several weeks and today it is finished!  I had no idea how many "paintable" surfaces there were on a chair.  I started by purchasing a yard of upholstery fabric (which was 50 % off). Using this as my color pallet, I painted the chair with flowers, checks, squiggles, and of course, dots.  I do love it! The chair itself was destined to be sent to a thrift store until I took another look at it.  It is very sturdy, well made and will make a nice occasional chair. 
I encourage you to look around your house.  Maybe you have a chair sitting in a corner, looking sad and unappreciated.  Make it pretty!

I need more furniture to paint!

Yes, I have run out of small pieces of furniture to paint.  But, I have still been busy.  I have painted two old wooden trays with metal handles.  I do wish I had taken some "before" photographs!  I have to say these are much easier to wield  around on my work table than a bench or a chair !
Presenting the "accessories" part of my painted offerings :

" Pears"

serving tray - 12" X 18" - wood with metal handles

acrylics, fabric, poly sealer

 



 " Pears" -

 

 

" Three Friends"

 serving tray

10 " X 16" - wood with metal handles

acrylics, fabric, poly sealer

 

" Three Friends" -

 

I need more furniture and I need more trays to paint.  And, I REALLY need it to stop snowing so I can go out and find those treasures that await me.

Stay tuned!

While waiting for paint to dry .......

I guess I could clean up my studio, or dust something, or wash something, but, seriously, that never works out! 
Yesterday I pulled out a few of my ongoing project paintings; " 100 Faces".   They are now greeting cards!  This was an easy project thanks to my trusty HP scanner/printer.  I love that machine!

" Seven Friends" Bench ....

This bench top measures 12" X 40" and is embellished with acrylics and fabric. The rest of this week will be devoted to making sure all these recent pieces are fully sealed.  I might have to take a break until I find more sad furniture to paint!