Getting Ready for the New Year

Getting ready for 2009 which looks to be an exciting year for art and my art groups! Look for exciting things happening in the Latest Trends and Arttechniques!
Working on our second volume of the Latest Trends book series is keeping me busy.
I hope to have some time to play with more of my Layers of Colors stamps also.
In Arttechniques, I need to make 75 Winter-themed Skinny Book pages. Of course I had to sign up for all 3 groups of 25!! I may use this quote from Albert Camus (one of my favorite quotes):
"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."
Albert Camus
And 120 pages for our second mammoth fat Book swap on techniques- this time with a recycled emphasis.
Wishing you and yours a blessed New Year filled with good things!

Ready for Christmas??

Hope you all are nearly ready for Christmas. Did a lot of wrapping today; raking leaves before another rain storm comes in, and working off Christmas goodie calories by doing cardio and weights at the gym. If any of you are contemplating joining a gym in the new year, I highly recommend it. The endorphins that flow when you exercise really make you feel energetic and happy!! I also recommend working out with a personal trainer who will hold you accountable and keep you progressing. Off of my soapbox now..... :)
We are planning on lots of great activities and swaps in the Latest Trends and Arttechniques yahoo groups. There is also an ATC group connected to Arttechniques that always needs more ATC swappers! If you haven't joined them, do so, and be a part of great camaraderie and encouragement for your artistic journey. Links are on the side bar of this blog. Be sure to also check out, http://www.thelatesttrendsinmixedmediaart.com/. We will be starting a monthly newsletter in January.
I am currently working on page layouts for the second volume of the Latest Trends book series. Lots more fun projects from Cindy, Lesley and I, along with fantastic projects from contributing artists as well.

Thanks Michi for the Blog Award!

Michi (rhymes with peachy!), nominated me for the Marie Antoinette Real Person Award, so I am going to award some fellow bloggers the same award. Michi is a FANTASTIC stamp artist in southern CA, and a genuinely nice person! Check out her blog at: www.michirhymeswithpeachy.blogspot.com.
My nominees are:
www.cynthiapowell.blogspot.com
www.flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com
www.mystoryart.com
www.stephaniechavez.com
www.breadandcircuses.typepad.com
www.theartfulmama.blogspot.com
www.thelastdoordownthehall.blogspot.com

Holiday Banner

Just wanted to say I used the December Premiere digital graphics from www.scrappersguide.com for my Christmas banner. I am still practicing on my Photoshop program so that I can make Volume 2 of The Latest Trends in Mixed Media Art even more fantastic than the first volume! Digital graphics are such fun to play around with. Will post more practice pieces as I get the time to create them.

DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE LATEST TRENDS BOOK ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST!

Visons of Christmas

Visions of Christmas

Sharing some photos from my tree this year. Enjoy!

Fred Mullett Play Day

Susan and I had a Fred Mullett (brand name of stamp line) Day today. Susan had taken a workshop from him and she showed me how to do a couple of his techniques. (The butterfly tag is NOT a FM stamp). We struggled a bit with the bleaching, because my bleach was a gel bleach, and it must have been several years old and had lost some of its oomph! I had better luck with the watercolor and over-stamping technique, but, I still need to practice and practice! Susan made some beautiful pieces. She has a really cool shrimp stamp of Fred's and her page of shrimp turned out wonderfully! Susan and I always have fun together, yet, she is getting to be an expensive friend! :) She told me that Fred was having a blow-out sale on his unmounted stamps, and to go to his site right away and order before they all sold out! (http://www.fredmullett.com/). I ended up ordering all of the sets he had left (won't say how many!) His stamps are based on his own nature prints, mostly plants and fish.

Thanks, Susan, for a fun, albeit expensive day!!

Christmas Ornaments

Here a few ornaments made with Layers of color stamps. (www.layersofcolor.com) These were such fun! I got the idea from Patty S's blog, the Magpie's Nest. I stamped onto ivory cardstock with Black Staz-On ink, and then colored with colored pencils. I ran a 20 guage wire through holes made with a Japanese screw punch, and added some beads. I smashed the coiled wire with a hammer on a metal block. I have added glitter to the ornaments, but, not sure if the pics show it up too well. It's time to get into the Christmas spirit!

ATC using Layers of Color Stamps

I am having such a fun time using the Layers of Color stamps to create some projects. This ATC was made with a leftover piece of bristol board that was made from Susan Chong's saran wrap technique done with acrylic paint and spray mists. (Check out the Arttechniques Yahoo group or Susan's blog; Artsymama for details). The vintage image is from one of many vintage image CDs I have; found the scalloped border and thought it was perfect for the word, "Fleur." I thought it needed a little sparkle so added a small rhinestone to her hair. Love those tiny rhinestones!

Sorry for mistake

I had put a song on my playlist that I thought was one thing, but turned out to be something awful. My apologies if anyone heard it. I was shocked!

Arttechniques Fall Skinny Book

Here are some photos of the next swap that has gone on at Arttechniques Yahoo group. This is our Fall Skinny Book. 25 members participated; 1 page is missing (still in the mail!). After finishing the huge fat book swap with 120 participants, 25 was a piece of cake! I was able to sort the pages in my sewing room and leave the envelopes in there, so the living area of my house is swap-free! Now to tackle the Winter skinny book with 50 swappers! But, it isn't due until the end of January. Whew!!

Wallhanging Using Layers of Color Stamps

Here is a wallhanging I have made using Layers of Colors Stamps. I started with a canvas board, which I covered with an altered magazine page someone had sent me. I used Golden liquid acrylics in Transparent Yellow Oxide and Quinacridone Crimson for glazes. I also used stamps on the background and gesso. I was sent some pages from an antique Latin Bible, so used those to add interest to the background, and also as a background for the 4 Stampbord focal pieces. I used Ranger Antique Linen distress ink (one of my absolutely favorite inks), on the page pieces. I finished the project by adding a strip of vintage lace, and attaching two metal pieces for hanging. Using copper chain-by-the-foot (found at a local bead shop) for the hanger, I added copper wire with a few beads and other findings for the finishing touch. For stamping on the antique pages, I found that brayering Golden's Carbon Black liquid acrylic onto a printing block worked best. I then dipped the stamp into the paint, did some practice stamping so as to know exactly how much paint to have on the stamp, and stamped. Susan Chong gave me that tip because Staz-on ink pulled the paper off when I tried to lift the stamp off of the stampbord piece. I am not a rubber stamper of great experience, but this was a fun project to make. Thanks Laura, for the fun stamp designs from Layers of Color (www.layersofcolor.com).

Fall Skinny Book Pages

Here are pictures of the pages I made for the Fall Skinny Book for Arttechniques. The top picture also shows some of the backs. No matter how I load pictures, the ones I want at the bottom are always at the top! Grrr.....

Fat Book Craziness!

As you can see from the pictures below, my house has been a crazy place the last couple of weeks! Boxes and envelopes are everywhere, but we have 118 of the 120 pages in, and the last two in the mail. We needed a few angel swappers to fill in at the last minute, but, for the most part, this swap has had amazingly great participation! The theme is "Art Techniques", and it is for the Arttechniques yahoo group. From as far away as Cyprus, and New Zealand, pages represent almost every corner of the globe. It has been an overwhelmingly incredible project to be a part of. My husband hasn't gone too nuts over living in what seems to be a PO station, but I am sure we will both be happy when all of the boxes hit the mail! At least until I have to organize the 25 member Fall Skinny Book pages! 25 will seem simple! Thanks to all who are a part of Arttechniques. You all make it one of the best mixed media groups on the web!

120 Page Fat Book Sorting Day #1

Here are some photos taken on day #1 of sorting the 120 pages for the Arttechniques Fat Book swap. The pictures were to have been in the opposite order, but you get the idea! Roberta and Susan made the day a lot of fun! Thanks to both of you!

Layers of Color Design Team

I am excited! I was just approved as a new member of the Layers of Color Mixed Media/Fiber Arts Design Team! Check out http://www.layersofcolor.com/. We will be collaborating on mixed media art pieces using the fun rubber stamps from Layers of Color. Thanks, Laura, for the invite!

Harvest Fair Entry for 2008

This is my entry for this year's Harvest Fair Art Show. It is a mixed media piece entitled, "Grapes Aglow." There are some hot foil accents as well as some foil under the painted grapes. I also used cheesecloth, Cran D'Ache, and acrylic paints. The painting is 16" x 16". I WON A 4TH PLACE RIBBON FOR THIS PIECE!

Full Moon Over Avila Beach

We enjoyed watching the full moon for several nights while in Avila Beach. The light upon the waves was beautiful!

Avila Beach, CA

Here is the first of several photos I will post from my recent vacation. Avila Beach is a small town south of San Luis Obispo. We love it here!

Book Available on Amazon!!

Our book is now available on Amazon.com. It lists Elizabeth Dawson as the author (I guess they choose by alphabet!). Go to www.amazon.com and type in the book title, Exploring the Latest Trends in Mixed Media Arts.

NEW RELEASE AND SNEAK PEEK AT A PROJECT!

The new release: "Exploring the Latest Trends in Mixed Media Arts-Projects & Techniques" has 47 projects including never before seen assemblages, collages, jewelry, unique embellishments, sandbags and wearables. There are 28 techniques that teach you with easy to followstep by step instructions, how to create: fused paper fabric, stamping with molding paste, using inks with decoupage medium, alternative stamping ideas, wicking, acrylic paper mache', laminating & tumbled glass to name but a few. This 91 page, full-color book is crammed full of ideas, tips, alternatives and basic instructions. It is availableon-line at: http;//createspace.com/3346325A wonderful addition to your private library!

The photo is of

my assemblage, entitled- "Windows on the Past."

My Book Is Finally Available to Buy!! Yippee!!!

I want to announce (finally!) that our book is available for purchase. You can go to: www.createspace.com/3346325 to order your copy. We are excited for this first volume in what we hope to be a series of books. We are currently working on Volume 2 which we hope to have published by late spring of '09.
I haven't posted a lot of art lately since my book projects need to be kept under wraps. I am also working on a jewelry book and really enjoying coming up with unique jewelry designs.

Life's a Journey

Another collage made on Photoshop. This woman just looked like she was ready for an adventure on the road less travelled. The graphics are from www.cottagearts.com. They have great graphics at reasonable prices.

Proof is Here!

Cindy received the proof for our book today! Just needs a couple of edits and then we will be selling it. So exciting! Who knew my art journey would take me down this road??

Enjoying a Lovely Summer Day

Foggy until around noon today. Living only about 30-40 minutes from the coast gives us some foggy mornings. But this afternoon is beautiful, not hot or cold- just right! I took a few photos in my garden. Too cool to read in the hammock today, though! The hammock hangs between two tall redwood trees in one of my yard's corners.

More Experimenting with Photoshop

Played around with Photoshop again today. Used a dover image and some more Cottage Arts digital graphics.

Red ATC Swap

We are doing a color series in Arttechniquesatcs. This month's color is RED. Here are the four ATCs I made for the swap.

More Photoshop Experiments

I took a few photos in my garden today and played around with a couple of the photos that I took. The rose is a 4th of July Rose, and the purple is a Clematis.

Color Principles Workshop

Using exercises learned when I took a Color class at our local JC by Lisa Beerntsen, I am conducting a two-month Color Principles Workshop for Arttechniques and The Artists Circle yahoo art groups. I found the class I took to be so very beneficial. Hope the participants feel the same when they are done!

Adobe Photoshop Digital Collage Practice

My goal this summer is to gain a better understanding and ability in using Adobe Photoshop. Here is a collage I put together using lots of different elements and brushes. Fun to do! And with Adobe Illustrator, I was able to copy my font for the tag and make the capital F & S much more ornate with Illustrator's "glyphs" palette.
Celebrating 32 years of marriage today! Went and had a pedicure at the Coldwater Creek Spa; true luxury! Dan is going to have his first session with my trainer at 24 Hour Fitness. What better way to celebrate 32 years but with a commitment to get in shape and hopefully stay healthy for another 32!!

Simple Treasures

I have sent a few pieces to Simple Treasures in Jefferson City, TN. These are my first consignment art pieces, so we will see how well they do. Jill Lester is part of a community renovating their old downtown. You can find out more at: http://simpletreasures.faithweb.com.

A Call for Art

“A Call for Art”

Whether you are a professional artist or a new emerging artist, we would like to invite you to submit one or more jewelry projects to be considered for a future publication! You must live in the USA and be over 18. Please contact me at: sherresartzone@yahoo.com for more information. Thanks!

Adobe Photoshop Exercise

I have been practicing with Adobe Photoshop using The Scrapper's Guide DVD. Her instructions are real easy to follow. This was fun to create. I used a vintage photo I accumulated from somewhere, and then used the great graphics that Cottage Arts has for download. There is so much to learn with Photoshop. So many secrets of manipulation! The DVD I am using is very helpful.