ATC - We Three Kings

"Whenever I feel the terrible need of..religion...I paint the Stars." ~Van Gogh

This Artist Traded Card has been uploaded for trade on the Yahoo Group I have been a member of since August. It is a mixed medium card that includes watercolor, markers, pen & ink and gel pens...and a tiny bit of white out. The watercolor backdrop did not appreciate the Pentel Markers and pilled the watercolor paper a little.

The Puerto Rican Culture used to exchange gifts only on January 6th but celebrated with food, music and friendship in the past. As generations grew up, the custom changed a bit in some families. I am drawn to images and stories of the Three Kings.

Some tell the story of a forth King that never made it to Baby Jesus with the three others. he was so generous that he kept stopping to help along the trip...a Good Samaritan. A wonderful story for many...

Christmas Season ATC's

Under The Mistletoe

Under the Mistletoe II

Purple Puffs

                                                     Purple Puff

                                                     Purple Puff II

ATC's both different mixed mediums created on excess paint and marker on blank newsprint paper. Purple Puff II has a thin coating of gesso to mute the background with some journalling. Each different yet with the same subject which was held in one hand as the other drew it onto the surface. I used gel pens on both but notice the difference on the gesso. Both ATC's will be traded on FineArtsATC Yahoo! Group.

ATC - The Blizzard

ATC - The Blizzard
Flair Pen and Gesso

Experimenting:    Using gesso to give texture to the ATC 'over' the artwork instead of acrylic paint....

American Born

ATC - American Born
Flair Marker on Acrylic background

Being true to yourself, living your life according to your God given gifts is one of the most fulfilling rewards I could have ever hoped for. The rooster is one of my favorite subjects to place on the blank canvas. I can be in a rut, a place where I feel stuck and with an object in my hand, a pen, a pencil, a paint brush, I can slip out of the abyss. With just a few scratches or strokes on the article in front of me, the transformation is visible.

The background of this ATC was created a few months ago...yet today, my feathered friend appeared.

Art a Lie?

"Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth”
-Pablo Picasso

ATC:  Indian Corn traded on FineArtsATC
          Prismacolor Pencils and graphite

What could Picasso be speaking of? Art, a lie? One that would make us realize the truth? With the sense of sight, and the gift of color, an artist may transform a blank canvas into a sight of beauty or a vision of something familiar. Truth can be sought in it's hidden form as an image by the transformation. An artist can make his or her subject abstract and trick or tease the viewer. Or by an image without lines and only color. There are so many perspectives and/or interpretations of a painting. Causing many opinions, many articles, many books...so is the lie caused by the artist himself or the viewer, lost in the image?

ATC:  Fall Fantasy
          Prismacolor Pencil

ATC - Jack's Tree

Jack's Tree
Mixed Medium

Fall colors painted on a bible page with Gel Pens are used in this Art Trading Card. The leaves in Connecticut are just changing into beautiful hues of yellow, orange and reds. Make it a point to stop each day to appreciate this season. Before you know it, all the leaves will be gone and winter will be upon us. Of course, it is a beautiful season, but not my favorite! I am already yearning for Spring!