The bridge is done

I've worked on this painting for a long time. It started out in my mind as something that would be a face, but the difficulties and series of unexpected results in the early stages of preparing the canvas made me feel as if it had to become a cityscape of sorts. Inspired by one of photographs, and just pushed on by a emotional color choice, I finally finished this mixed media piece.
It took long, and I struggled through much of it, and had some great learning experiences because of it, but I'm just glad it's done.

















I'm still not very much in love with it. What do you think?

I can handle any criticism, or praise you send my way.

the man behind the music

A good friend had a birthday about a month ago. I told him that for his birthday, I would be giving him a "glaucia original." This is what I came up with
Kareem is the music leader at our church, among many other things. But more than that, he loves music, he inspires others to love music. He will give guitars to anyone who wants to learn, and he will teach them the basics. He loves to support all musicians and artist in general, and I feel like he's one of my biggest "fans" and supporters. He really is the man behind the music and that is what inspired this piece. Pictured are just some of the instruments he plays.
I hope that he'll enjoy this piece, and that I can be as generous and inspiring with my talents, as he is with his.
8"x 8" mixed media, on wood fiber board

September ATCs

This was a first. I just recently learned what an ATC is (Artist Trading Cards) and although artists have been exchanging these for some time, this is my first time even making one. I made 3 by the end.
I listen to a wonderful podcast called Creative Mom Podcast. If you are creative and have kids in your life, even if you're not a mom, you will enjoy listening!
It was thru this podcast that I first considered making some atcs. The artist/moms that listen to Amy have formed a community and often exchange their latest artwork and comments at flickr, and they exchange atcs as well.
So I decided to try it this month for the first time. The theme, for the atc's was "signs". Here are the 3 ideas that came to mind when I read the theme. Tomorrow I will mail out one of these to the person who is to receive one from me. I'm looking forward to receiving someone else's work soon!
All in all, I had fun doing these, cause since they are small, it didn't take me long, and it does wonders for the sense of accomplishment!
For me, the thought process was that I need to be reminded, possibly with signs to "make more art".

prom

Another mixed media piece.
This time, I added texture to the gesso, as well as did the transfer method straight to the acrylic gesso, and it worked pretty well.
It'a also got collage elements.
It's been really fun experimenting with all these different techniques.
6"x6" on canvas

dania

Yay! I finished another mixed media piece.
Again, it was experimental, and full of learning.
This one includes a photocopy transfer, drawing/writing and collage, as well as painting. It includes a bit of a background technique I read about in Claudine Helmuth's book which includes the use of vaseline. I don't think it worked like it was meant to work, but in either case I like the way it turned out, considerin how much learning went into it.
6"x6" canvas
Any thoughts, or advice? I look forward to comments!

danielle

The first of a series of mixed media collages, after having found some great older photos from my husband's family.
6"x6" canvas

Crown of thorns

This week I had an unlikely opportunity to do something unexpected. I was asked by Graffiti 2's director, Andrew Mann, to put together a visual for the Lord's Supper multi-sensory experience he was planning for this sunday. It was to be some sort of a picture with the focus on the crown of thorns, and the "man of sorrows".
Even though it was wednesday, and we needed this to be done by sunday morning, I decided to make a painting. It seemed a fitting project, and just up my alley.
I wanted to make sure I delivered something that would fit with the request which had been presented to me and that the painting would be a blessing to the people that saw it, and that it would draw them closer to God. All I know is that it caused me to pray more as I painted. And that in and of itself was a good thing for me.
As far as the outcome, I will probably never know of when and how it might have blessed anyone, but I know it blessed me and brought me joy in the process.
It's approximately 11x7 inches. It's a mixed media piece, which is one of my first. A mix of watercolor and acrylic, along with collage, and the use of design for the fonts.
So you can click on the picture above to see it bigger.
Let me know what you think.

two cups

Today, we celebrated a wonderful friend's birthday. She turns 50this week. Happy Birthday, Susan!!
We all contributed to a book full of flat gifts, and at her husband's request, I made the painting to the right for her.
We have coffee together on a weekly basis, and so this was a natural first thought.
It was a lot of fun to do, in that it was the first watercolor painting I've done in a long time. It was also the first painting I've done in my "new" studio, which isn't all finished, but it's starting to take shape.
I'm very excited about the prospect of what getting back to painting might mean for me.
Please leave me your comments, constructive criticisms or just say hello.

8 1/2 x 11 on 140lb. watercolor paper