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!

Faith

Faith
Inchy
Mixed Medium

Faith was created while thinking of it's definition per Merriam-Webster:  

1

a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty

b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions

2

a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

3

: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>

— on faith

: without question <took everything he said on faith>

Since I was attaching it to the back of a postcard, I was thinking of the third meaning. I exchange postcards with a Facebook friend and fellow artist with an encouraging method. We exchange with inspiration from our faith. Our hope is that the articles will touch and bless each person that handles our correspondence, spiritually without their knowledge.  They are sent with prayers and encouragement not only to each receiver but also all eyes and hands that become a part of this transaction.

This is my favorite task with my lovely friend, Elizabeth. After placing my postcard in the mailbox, my mind begins it's ritual of thinking what the next scripture and/or design will be. This helps as one more reason to keep my eyes on what is most important in my life, my faith in God and His Son, Jesus.

Inchy - Birdhouse

One would think that when you are creating small works of art in the form of ATC's/ACEO's, you would naturally move to a bigger venue. Nah...not me...I started working on Inchies(1 x 1 inch) works of art while waiting for my art card to dry or develop another idea(taking a break to go back to it with a new thought). These are so much fun! I love working with my scraps and even layer them whenever possible.

So here I find myself, practically not tossing anything away. I am saving more even smaller pieces of scrap for another inchy project. So instead, I keep pre-cut inchies nearby and begin the layering in order to 'not save' as much junk! Am I making any sense?

My work space has all these little projects, drying from the glue, glitter and/or paint all around. When I first sit at my favorite seat, I begin the fun task of checking out the tiny projects previously worked on. I cut off all excess edges, and play with them, contemplating what next...