Re-working Old Pieces

I've decided to enter a few of my pieces of art into a local exhibition in February; I've never done this before so I'm not totally sure what I'm doing or whether my stuff is good enough!
I've chosen three of the paintings I did a while ago with Suzi Blu (I did two of her workshops). This one was part of the 'Piety and Passion' class (Tudor/Elizabethan influences). I spent yesterday making a few changes as I was never keen on her hair (see below).

I also changed her skin colour and dress...I'm happier with her now. I love her skinny neck and long face :-) This is a mixed media piece really, as all the embellishments are real.

Before

Then I spent some time improving Maria's nose and lips.....

 ...I always thought she looked a bit snarly.

Before

Finally I worked on Luana  - my alter-ego ;-) I tried to improve her nose as well, as it looked rather like an onion before.

Before

I couldn't do anything about her over-sized eyes....but I'm happier with her now.

I'm also going to enter my Gritty Jane doll, the Stef Francis piece and one of my fabric weavings. Fingers crossed they're accepted......

Another Version

I played around with my painting using Photoshop........I think it might be an improvement :-)

Born to Reign

Well I think she's finished.......but its hard to be sure. Anyway, this is lesson one and its loosely based on Princess Elizabeth. I can see now that the eyes are too dark and the hairline is a bit odd.........maybe I'll have to fiddle some more :-)

Some Kind of Progress......

Just thought I'd show you how she's coming along.....still lots to do. I need to make some shabby embellishments for the lower part.

Another sketch (waiting for wood...I keep reminding DH :-)
And whilst I'm on the subject of drawings.....have you seen the new 50p bags in Sainsbury's; rather lovely don't you think? Very strong too, they should last a long time.

Let it snow......

Well I hope everyone is coping ok with the snow...wherever you are in the world (ok; so not my friends in Australia!) I thought we were having a snowy time in England until I saw Patty's photos here - all I can say is WOW!!!! Too deep to even make snow angels!
Talking of which....my current favourite album is Tori Amos's 'Midwinter graces' - have a listen to 'Snow Angel', then search for 'Pink and Glitter', 'A Silent Night With You' and 'What Child, Nowell'......just wonderful. What a voice she has......



There are so many art projects I want to get started on - but for the past couple of weeks I've only managed to make felt flowers .......
.....but after Christmas I will be doing DJ Pettitt's digital art/Photoshop workshop and I CAN'T WAIT!! Click on the picture if you want to take a look.
And I have also subscribed to Suzi Blu's Angel Workshop...so excited about that as well. Again, you can click on the picture to find out more.
Hopefully I can get back to regular posts in January. Mum is getting stronger and will soon be able to manage on her own (thanks for all your good wishes BTW).
So till then.........

Merry Christmas
Happy New Year

to all my wonderful blogging friends.
I wish you love, peace and joy..........

Maria

Here's my completed piece on wood following SuziBlu's week 4 class. We used modelling paste to create an aged effect....I think I've discovered a new love! I can't wait to start another one....

Here's the progression.
And the finished piece. At least I think its finished.....it's really hard to know.What's interesting is as soon as you put a photo on your blog you can see all the faults. I can now see that her nose is a bit wonky and her lips aren't symmetrical........but I quite like that.
Some close ups.....

Take Time........

I spent today doing a mixed-media piece in my new Moleskine journal. This is a double page spread, 8" x 10".
I tore a previously drawn face from my sketchbook and stuck it down along with some torn tissue, text and painted text (made by Patty and used to wrap one of the gifts she sent me).
Then I added paint, stamps, words, ribbon etc.
Close-ups.......

The words say...... 'Take time each day to sit quietly and listen'. They are from a lovely painting Sesga sent to me a long time ago, so I hope she won't mind me borrowing them.

This is stage one of my next project. I drew the face on cartridge paper, tore it out and stuck it down onto wood.
Its going to have a lot of paint, crayons, ink and modelling paste added to it. It will possibly become Mary....like SuziBlu's example.
I hope I don't spoil her!

Luana

This is my first attempt at a portrait/journal page. It almost ended up in the bin a few times....but I got there. (Thank goodness for gesso.)
She started off just as a face without much character but gradually developed into my alter-ego. She is Luana...warrior queen.... lol!!! (I found the name that was the most like mine - and it actually means warrior.)
Luana is strong, independent, daring, brave....all the things I'd like to be.

At the bottom it says.... Alter-ego: second self, a part of a person's personality which is in marked contrast with his or her regular personality.
(Please click on the pictures)
I used ....... pencil crayons, acrylic paint, Lumiere paint, gold lace, German scrap, black (Pitt) pen, a gemstone, gold pen, sequin scrap, leaf stamps, gel medium and gilding flakes.
Maybe I'll go and start another one whilst I'm in the mood.......

A Busy Week.....

I'm still practising my drawing.....this is number 8..... but tomorrow I must move on to adding paint and embellishments - I'm lagging behind. (Go and see Lynn's lovely piece and you'll see what I should be doing!
I've had a busy week; it all started on Wednesday when DH and I went to Birmingham on the train (an event in itself!)
First stop was for coffee..... (it seemed a shame to disturb this)

...then we visited the Museum and Art Gallery.....
...where we had arranged to meet Rosie and her husband.

There was a special Edward Burne-Jones exhibition on (The Perseus Collection) which was a lovely surprise.

After all that the four of us had lunch in an Italian restaurant, where Rosie gave me a gorgeous present she'd made for my birthday (plus a fabulous art book.... Collaborative Art Journals). Lucky me!!

It was my birthday yesterday and this is my "official birthday portrait" taken by my personal photographer, lol !!! Please don't click on it to get a better view of the wrinkles and baggy eyes.

5, 6 and 7....

Here are my last three attempts before we start using colour. I've just downloaded the new videos....so I'd better go and get started!
Many thanks to all of you who have left such positive comments - they mean a lot. xx

....And Four

I think thats it for today.... shame I didn't start this one lower down the page!! Hopefully there's an improvement from number one....

Practice Piece Number Three

Another Suzi Blu Workshop

Last year I did the SuziBlu 'Les Petits Dolls' workshop and loved it.....so when I saw she was going to run another portrait class, but this time with more realistic-looking faces, I thought I'd join in the fun again. Above is my second attempt at a face (first attempt is at the bottom of this post). The workshop is called The Goddess and the Poet; the idea being that we shall use the images in a journal and write poetry as well. This should be hilarious - I'm rubbish at poetry!!
Below is our first piece of homework - cross-hatching with a pencil with the intention of creating shadows and spheres.

Second assignment.......drawing eyes, noses and mouths. I'm getting there! (Slowly)

Then the final instruction was to put it all together and create a face, just using a pencil. This is my first attempt and the face is too long and out of proportion. For my second attempt (at the top) I printed out the grid that Suzi gave us and measured out the proportions properly. Can't wait for the next set of instructions.....