Holidays and Toy Trains

Toy Train

With the holidays upon us, I find myself busy, completing tasks and not knowing they were complete until I go back to do them. Too much on my mind...need to remember to breathe and step back to see all the Magic of Christmas!

 

Speaking of Christmas Magic...Last night I was thrilled seeing some new lite Christmas decorations in a neighborhood while dropping off one of my son's friends that I missed his street! Ahahahahaha! We all had a wonderful laugh! It was great to hear teen boys laugh!

This ATC was created for the ATC_Fun(Yahoo group)'s Lottery for December 2014: Travel.

I thought I still had to work on this ATC but it was waiting to be trimmed only after the glitter dried! I was however behind in the two homemade Christmas cards for my Grandchildren. Hope to finish the last one today to drop it off at the Post Office ASAP!

May you all have a wonderful and safe holiday...Merry Christmas to those that celebrate!

Friday Morning Sketch 12/12/2014

Untitled
~Charcoal on newsprint

I'm missing something. Well, it feels like I am. I haven't been able to hide in my studio to actually sketch 'out of the blue'. It seems that I've been stuck on collaging, postcards and ATC's. I really can't think of anything in a messy studio. So I stepped out...on a small table with just some rolled up newsprint I had from one of my classes, a charcoal pencil, my kneaded eraser and my favorite tool...my fingers.

Flowers with petals have been one of my favorite to draw or include in my artwork. It keeps my memory attached to the warmth of spring and summer days. The SUNFLOWER...

My fingers are cold, and my lap needing a blanket...If I was alone, I'd pack up and leave for warmer climate...with just a small suitcase of necessary art supplies. Yeah-yeah-yeah! Who am I kidding?!?! I'm a chicken! My name says it all...Nydia...'child of the nest'...I'd have to pack my nest too! Ahahahaha!

I love my family and could never leave their side! I would have to beg for them to accompany me!

Hoping everyone's holidays are sweet for them...Merry Christmas everyone!

All about the experiments!

Moon ATC and Envelope Mingle

Fireflies dancing in the moonlight.

 

This dark envelope is on it's way to Canada to a recipient of a Yahoo group called ATC_Fun. Not my usual type of work as I love to use very bright and lively colors. 

 

The backgrounds of both are black gesso. The tall grass and lightening bugs are tissue paper. I was so surprised to the way the gesso reacted to the surface of the envelope especially. It has a glossy effect.  Because of the lighting from the room, you can't see the glitter gel pen around the edge of the lightening bugs' glow.

I will consider this experiment somewhat of an oops as is not what I expected. Now that it's on it's way home, I see more possibilities that I could have done with it before mailing it forward....

Brrrr...Maybe another flower will help!

ATC - Nature Secrets

 

It's a cold rainy day today! Thought I would warm up with another sunflower trading card. It was made for the WTA(win them all) swap on Paper_Traders, Yahoo group. The background was gifted to me by one of it's members. I believe she did it with alcohol inks. The flower and words were done on deli-paper.

My Godson the Young Marine Cadet

Happy Birthday!

He's not only my GODson but my nephew too. There's something special about his face that makes me want to draw him. 

I had to give him a special birthday card this year(again!) The card is about 4x6. His envelope was a quick pen & ink of this same image.

Fighting the Blues

Sunflower 2014

Winter is around the corner and the forecast calls for snow showers this weekend. While admiring the beautiful colors of the Fall leaves, my struggle with the Blues begin. 

 

I find myself drawing more and more sunflowers to lift my spirits. This was a quick ATC that I scraped up and gave it away as a surprise raffle at one of my community meetings.

 

The sunflower and leaves are drawn on deli-paper. The background was part of a larger mixed media board that I had worked on previously. It contains fragments of printed tissue papers I made, scraps from cutouts, stampings, acrylic paint and some stenciling.

The winner of the raffle was tickled pink and will be searching for a small frame for it.

Sweet taste of Art...

Bird ATC Mingle with Envelope...

Even though I haven't posted in a while, I am creating in the mist of life events. The Yahoo! Group: ATC_Fun, has these swaps as one on one's, in which the artist creates an ATC and decorates an envelope(does not have to match). The participant gets two pieces of art for the price of one.

These ATC Mingles are themed. I have participated in almost all of them. I am currently working on an 'Under the Sea' ATC Mingle as well! 

Best Bus Driver Ever 2013-2014

Best Bus Driver Ever 2013-2014

 

Mixed medium on a 4 3/4" x 6" wood 

I had to make something to show appreciation to my son's bus driver of 2 1/2 years. She is the best one I have ever met. She has a great rapport with the high school students. Engages them in friendly conversation....always welcoming them onto the bus with a cheery Good Morning etc...

Tree ATC and envelope swap

My latest swap at ATC_Fun on Yahoo was to create an ATC with a tree on it to send to my given partner in the group in a decorated envelope. The envelope did not have to be the same so I added a drawing of a dragonfly that was done on tissue paper and adhered it with gel medium.

A few of my friends at ATC gifted me punchenella pieces. I am beside myself as I have not found them in the stores! I can't stop playing with them! I am so grateful!

The ATC and envie have been sent to it's new owner in Oklahoma...

Sunny Disposition

Sunny Disposition

An ATC for trade on FIneArtsATC(Yahoo group) . Done in the Prismacolor Markers my husband found in a small flea market and surprised me. He had no idea what he brought me...they were brand new and juicy! A set of 24!!! What stumped him was that the seller told him they were worth over $100 for a set of 24...I had to show him the online stores...

I also used white paint maker and a touch of graphite.

February 2014 ATC's on ATC_Fun

 Evelyn's 02/03/2014

 

 

 Lucie's 02/07/2014

Mary's 02/17/2014

February was strictly ATC's for the members that joined the Birthday group on ATC_Fun on Yahoo. I hope Mary does not see this as hers had not gone in the mail yet...

January 2014 Birthday Greetings on ATC_Fun

 A Birthday Postcard for Pauline 01/09/2014

A Birthday ATC for Jan C 01/18/2014

I have joined the Birthday group on ATC_Fun on Yahoo. The purpose is to send some type of Birthday Greeting, regular birthday card or something handmade. Pauline received a birthday postcard in England from me while Jan in West Virginia  received a collaged ATC...