The Dream of Spring

No matter how many canvases I paint, or collages I create, I still always love to come back to my love of digital art. It is such a wonderful way to blend the old and the new…the vintage with the modern. Here, I used an old postcard found at an antique shop as my focal image. I layered many more images over the top, and layered that image, on top of one of my paintings…just to get the dreamy effect of “The Dream of Spring”. This digital art print is now available in an 8 x 10 inch double mat, in my online shop.

It is summer time here, and in the heatwave of the week, I really am dreaming of spring, and it’s cooler temperatures! In the meantime, the A/C is running, and I am in the midst of creating art for family, for friends, for you. Acrylics, watercolors, collage…they have all been on my art desk recently. And I am loving every minute of it.

How is the weather in your little corner of the world?

 

canvas and paint

The last few months, I’ve been inspired to paint people and places. Different things inspire me…from art teachers I’ve had the privilege to learn from, to blog communities where traveling the globe from your own arm chair provides scenes to paint, to art magazine challenges, to new color palettes I want to try. Here are some of my new paintings…

Intentions – 11 x 14 inch mixed media original on canvas board

My True Self – 11 x 14 mixed media original on canvas board

The Bicycle – 8 x 10 inch acrylic painting on canvas

Just Outside of Town – 11 x 14 inch acrylic painting on canvas

This is new for me, to paint landscapes of places around the world. These two landscapes were inspired by Google maps, scenes around the Czech Republic. I am really enjoying the serene quality of painting the outdoors, small glimpses of beautiful places around our globe. It’s a great way to “see” the world, without a passport. I have a feeling, I’ll be traveling like this more often!

All these pieces are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

 

Remembering Egypt

I was thrilled, when Barbara from Indie Smiles, asked if she could used my altered photograph above, titled “Silent Witness” in a slideshow on her website. It’s a website that does its best to promote independent artists from all over the world. Seeing this photograph, reminds me of my travel adventures of just six months ago…where I was able to see this amazing structure, Khafre’s Pyramid, with my own eyes. It’s something I won’t soon forget.

Both of these images were taken with my Japanese digital camera, called the Harinezumi…or Zumi for short. I love the vintage feel of the photos, and of course, love to add my own touches to them when I come home from my travels. Both of these prints, “Silent Witness” and “The Journey” can be found in my Etsy shop.

 

Colors and Textures

I’ve been exploring colors lately 

and bold and brilliant swirls 

 a feeling of free flowing art 

 

These are just a few of the new things now in my Etsy shop. There are prints of the above paintings, as well as new  mixed media paintings and assemblage. And now, until the 2nd of June…there is a SPRING INTO SUMMER sale! Thirty eight pieces of art, from canvas art to prints to mini canvas collages are on sale! You can find them in the Summer Sale folder.It’s been a busy Spring so far…but a lot of fun for me. Hopefully yours has been full of good things too!

 

Stories in Assemblage

Sometimes I like to revisit art pieces from the past, and add things to them…as ideas strike me. In the case of these two miniature drawer assemblage art pieces…all they needed was a little vintage “bling” to get them to the next level.

You already know how I love to create stories with collage and digital art…but to work in three dimensional pieces makes me oh-so-happy. “An Old Fashioned Girl” was inspired by a book from Louisa May Alcott . There are portions of the story from a vintage book included in this piece, as well as vintage ephemera, buttons, and lace that take you back to 1870, a time of simplicity…when country girl, Polly, falls in love with her true love, Tom.

“Heroine of the Story” is also a miniature drawer assemblage, but instead of glass pebbles as the footing for this piece, there is a vintage book cover, adorned with a fabric leaf border, that ties in the muted green colors captured in this piece. A vintage watch glass casing, as well as vintage buttons, a rusty thread spool, and  lace…all bring life to an imagined story recreated here.

I am happy to say that both pieces are now available for purchase on my Etsy shop.

I look forward to creating more art stories in 3D.

 

And they lived happily ever after

…or so the story goes.

Yes, I have been involved with fairy tales this last month…remembering stories heard and read a long long time ago. It’s been a challenge to take such well loved and well known characters, and try to make them my own…at least on canvas.

Once Upon a Time…

the beginning of the story. Here, a fairy tale princess from my imagination…though I have an idea of which one of the Grimm Brothers’ creations she might be…do you?

There is a mixture of media here…from acrylic paints, to water soluble pastel crayons, to pens of all kinds, colored pencils, and yes, even a bit of collage. Oh, and there is a silk leaf garland, to complete her storybook look.

I love the dreamy look in her eyes…she knows her prince will come.

 

The Fairest of Them All

Here is another fairy tale princess, a bit more recognizable, with black hair, fair skin, and red ribbon. I had a great time creating the backdrop for her…the castle on the hill. I’ve always dreamed of living in a castle…what little girl hasn’t???

I love combining my trusty acrylics and pencils and pens, with the unexpected texture of real lace…check out her little collar! She is a confident princess, knowing her story is fixed…she’ll live happily ever after…after all.

Both pieces are my newest additions to my Etsy shop. I’ve had so much fun with these adorable characters…I just may continue with the fairy tale theme!

 

From Paintings to Pendants

I’ve been drawing and painting up a storm this past month, and loving every minute of it! As you know, I’ve enjoyed drawing and painting faces for a while now…but the love for it has really taken hold of me lately, and I find myself wanting to paint all the time now. It’s a good thing, to find a “new love”, isn’t it?

So, here is my newest obsession creation…painting on the inside of vintage book covers. Yes, it truly combines my two great loves…vintage books, which I have been collecting for a while now, AND portrait painting. These were both inspired by vintage photographs…which I also collect. These can both be found in my Etsy shop…ready for a new home.

Another piece of news from my Etsy shop…my wearable art, such as my postage stamp and vintage map pendants, will no longer be available for purchase after February 28th. This is to make room for newer art pieces, more portraits, more digital art. So, take a look if you would like…you just might find a one-of-a-kind art pendant just for you! If you haven’t taken a look at Etsy lately, you are in for a treat! I am constantly inspired by the artists that create imaginative and beautiful art!

Here are just a few of my favorite things!

Lantern Dancers

Dreams of Summer

Spring Green

Swing

 

What’s new for 2010???

I am back from a month of travel adventure…and renewed and energized to start this new decade with new art! There is no way you can travel across the globe, and remain unaltered…the experiences we had, the places we saw, the people we interacted with…all of that has left a deep impression on my heart. Travel has always inspired me, from the time I was a little girl, and this trip was no different…from the colorful streets of Barcelona, where Picasso once roamed, to the ancient structures of the pyramids of Giza…I’ve seen beauty in so many things. Between my husband and I, we took three cameras, and tried to capture the essence of the places we saw through the viewfinder. 

My goal for this year, is to be able to share those experiences with you…through my art. These are just a few of the things I’ve been working on for 2010… 

  

These are just a few of the new digital prints in my shop. I’ll be adding more as the week goes on. I would love it if you took a look…after all, it is so much nicer to share an adventure with friends! 

http://www.ArtcyLucy.etsy.com

 

a colorful year

The year is winding down…can you feel it? A definite feel in the air, seasons changing, leaves falling rapidly, quick rainstorms come in with thunder…and there is a change. I can feel it in more ways than one. I look back on the year, and see how far I’ve come in many ways…new opportunities to sell my art, connections with other artists have had a deep effect on me, as well as workshops that infuse me with energy to create with more confidence, to try things in my art…to not be afraid of change.

As the year ends, I am even more enamored with drawing and painting faces, more than ever before. I’m trying more sketchiness, more color, unexpected little changes, wispy designs, and words…all these are flowing in and out of my work, while I get a feel for what I want to pursue. I have a feeling 2010 will be a year of more portrait art, more collage, more sketching, a lot more photography…which brings more digital art. I have a feeling I will be creating less jewelry, and I will try to stretch myself to create L A R G E R. I have canvases in the art room, begging to be splashed with paint…and that’s what I’m going to do.

My Etsy shop did pretty well this year, and I have enjoyed creating art for others to enjoy. I’ve even done some custom work for others, which makes me feel very good. Art is such a personal thing, but when others enjoy it, it brings me joy. And seeing my work in the homes of friends, family, and customers…just makes me smile.

I’ll be taking off most of December, for some rest and relaxtion…and rejuvenation…so, the last day the Etsy shop will be open this year, is December 1st. But it will reopen in January, and hopefully bursting with new creations…and don’t be surprised if you see a few changes.

True life is lived when tiny changes occur. ~Leo Tolstoy

See you next year!

 

Black and White

Long before mixed media art captured my heart, I had a deep love for photography. With the invention of digital cameras, came a new love…a love of manipulating photographs…a form of altering nature with the use of a computer. I quickly fell in love with this, and it has become one of my greatest  joys in the last 5 years. This is a much safer way to manipulate photographs, instead of working in a dark room, where the chemicals are NOT so good for your respiratory system (among other things!). I don’t mess with film anymore, and though the processing was fun while it lasted, digital creativity has taken it’s place.

And while you see a lot of my digital collages are uber-colorful, I still have a sweet spot in my heart for black and white photography. These photographs were taken in color, in my backyard, using my Canon digital camera. With digital software, I was able to make the image into a negative, then manipulate it to look much like high contrast black and white photography…all without the chemicals. I recently bought some black mats, and have been having fun getting these ready to share with a friend, as a housewarming gift. While I was at it, I added a few of these to my Etsy shop. There are three black and white digital photos, matted, and ready to be popped into a frame of your choice. www.ArtcyLucy.etsy.com

Though it is late autumn where I live, and the sunflowers are long gone…this is a great way for me to remember the graceful beauty of summer flowers.