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!

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.

There is something so relaxing, about putting paint to canvas. There are times that I don’t even know where a certain painting will take me. Sometimes, I have no idea how it will end up…only that the process of it all is something that I long to do.

When I started these canvases months ago…they were headed in a direction I wasn’t too pleased about. So I let them sit a while. About six months. Being re-energized after some really creative workshops last month, I decided to bring out the paint once again…to re-visit these canvases, to see where else they could take me. This time, I liked where the process lead me…with the help of some texturing, and marking pens and pencils, these two pieces were what emerged…and I LOVE them both!

“Her Poetic Soul” and “Strength” are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop. I’ll be taking most of December off, to unwind, to create, to spend quality time with my loved one. It’s a much needed rest after a very busy year. I’ve learned a lot this year, and as you can see from the art I share here…there has been a little stretching of the artistic wings too…exploring where I want to go with my art. I get this way at every year end…looking back at what I’ve accomplished, and seeing what direction I want to take in the future. I guess I am still mulling it over…and will probably take the month of December to explore that a bit further.

I’ll keep you posted though…as you are along for the ride too…as the artistic journey continues….

If you have been a regular visitor to my blog, you know that I have a fascination with creating stories with collage…especially using vintage elements in my art. So, it should come as no surprise to you, that some of my newest Etsy additions are vintage mixed media art pieces…from this one…The Subject of a Portrait, to my beeswax collages.

This one is special to me though…because I’ve used some personal elements in this art piece, such as a copy of my great great grandmother’s census record…her name was Mary…Mary Caroline to be exact. So, to create a story about this girl, and to include personal items that mean something to me, just makes this art adventure of mine a real joy.

I guess art came into my life first, as a child, but almost at the same time, so did poetry…then a teller of stories I became…then a photographer…then a genealogist…poetry came back…then back to creating art…a full circle. Mixed Media art, gives me the label I need to combine all those elements that I love into my art.

Personal art…art with a little heart, and a little soul.

My newest Etsy additions can be found at http://www.ArtcyLucy.etsy.com

By now, you all know that I have a strong love for all things vintage, right? The photographs that I can look through for (literally) hours at antique stores, old postcards, aged lace, vintage buttons…I LOVE it all, and have for a very long time, even before discovering “mixed media” or “altered art”. So imagine my glee (can I use that word? I LOVE that word!) ok…my glee, when I found out that I could combine all these “old” things that I love to collect, to create a little story…after all, I am a storyteller too!

These are two little altered Bingo card collages, using a few of my favorite things. They are so much fun to create, especially when I add little bits of things to them, like lace, buttons, an unexpected blue butterfly in the corner, subtle handwriting, or a tidbit from a dictionary page. I am constantly snipping little words that I find, and Well-Tempered, seemed to fit her beautifully framed face…don’t you think???

Both of these vintage lovelies, are my newest additions to the little ArtcyLucy shop.

You will find a few more things that I have added lately, such as some new digital art pieces, and some miniature canvas art. I would be so honored if you took a look! I’ve been working hard to make it a nice little online boutique…complete with a variety of original and unique art. And I have to tell you this secret….I am LOVING having a little spot to share my art!

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower. ~ Author unknown (but wise, nonetheless)

…so does hope. ~ Lady Bird Johnson

Is that why I plant sunflowers every year? For hope?

I love watching them grow from seeds…maybe it has to do with hope…hope for growth, hope for beauty. Once they are fully grown, and bloomed into beautiful and strong sunflowers…I love to take photographs of them…as you can see, they are a constant theme of my digital art!

I never tire of their beauty, and I never tire of playing around with these images, digitally layering them, and adding intense colors and textures,  to make these flowers just pop! The bright white mats help too…a crisp border to showcase the brilliant colors of flowers.

My little backyard sunflowers of the summer, are now just fragile remnants, swaying in the strong breezes of this stormy October day. But not long ago, they were standing tall, in full bloom, and shining brightly against the brilliant blue sky.

Even though I am a lover of Autumn breezes, and cool winter days…my favorite days of summer (when I am not in the A/C) is spending time photographing my flowers. I’ve had some wonderful feedback from others that have seen my sunflower digital art in person. And let me tell you…it feels SO good, to know that others “ooh and ahh” over the images that I have fallen in love with!

All these digital art prints are now available in my Etsy shop. Make sure to check out the “Digital Collage” section. Do you see a print you like, but wish it were in another color? My sister has purple in her home, so I altered the Night Flower (in Magenta), into a deeper purple to match her decor. So, if you see something you like, but would like it altered to fit your home, or a friend’s home, just email me at ArtcyLucy@aol.com …I LOVE to make people happy with my digital art!

Only six more months till I plant a new batch of sunflower seeds…soon flowers will be blooming once again.

GO!!!

Art Now for Autism is just about ready to launch their annual exhibit! I am so excited to be participating in this again. I am proud of the work that Claudine does, to support families that are dealing with autism on a daily basis. And I am proud of the artists who have stepped up to donate their art for this special cause.

Won’t you take a look at the exhibit? Only one more day of the preview, and the sale starts first thing on Monday. My original painting, Hope, will be for sale, and all proceeds go to the Art Now for Autism charity. It is a small way for me to help with a huge problem that so many families face.

I love the piece so much, that I have made prints of it, and will be offering them on my Etsy shop this week.

Another way to help with Art Now for Autism, is to buy one of their specialty items on their Cafe Press site. There you will see a few artists who have donated their designs for t-shirts, tote bags, journals, mouse pads…and yes, even doggie shirts! Here are a few of my designs for this year.

So, what are you waiting for? Meet me over at the exhibit! It’s sure to be fun!

…makes perfect sense to me! It’s my way of combining lovely images from the past, into modern digital art. I am so happy to be offering more of my digital collages in my Etsy shop. These are a few of my favorites…a bit dreamy, elegant, and a little romantic.

In a few of these images, such as the one titled, The Dreamer, I was able to incorporate some of my own photography…such as the lovely niche found in an ancient wall of Pompeii. I love how those old stones give the digital art such texture…places for saturated color to really make an impression.

As you might guess, I have a great love for digital art. I love composing it, playing with it, layering images upon images, colors upon colors, to see what surprises they yield. And almost always, I am surprised, and grateful…because technology really works in harmony with my love for all things vintage.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. ~John Lennon

I’ve been working in “small mode” for a while now, in my art. Little game piece pendants and mini canvas art is fun to make…but I have to tell you, working in a larger format for my latest mixed media painting…was VERY nice!

“In Love” is the name of my newest artwork. It is created on an 11 x 14 inch canvas board, and includes a mixture of all things I love…acrylic paint, papers, vintage text, and a bit of handwritten thoughts as well. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this painting, and I love the peaceful quality of her face…serene, contemplative, and maybe even a little mysterious…a modern day Mona Lisa smile.

“In Love” is now available in my Etsy shop.

If you have any questions about this artwork, or any of my pieces, please feel free to email me at ArtcyLucy@aol.com. I welcome questions, comments, ideas, and even suggestions!

Sometimes, it is fun to work in small format…art that you can hold in your hand, or tuck on the small shelf, or to wrap in a small box for a friend. There is just something too cute…about miniature art.

I’ve loved drawing faces since I was a kid, but this year especially, I have enjoyed painting mixed media face portraits. And I am very pleased to be able to share this series of 6 mini canvases in my Etsy shop!

These little mixed media collages have a little of everything on their small 3 x 3 inch surface…from pencil, pens, markers, paints, and collage elements. They are all in mauve and rose hues, perfect for Autumn. And they each have their own little word…an endearing quality, attached to them. They would looked perfect on a tiny easel, in a little frame, or hung on the wall, as is.  The sides of the canvas are painted, so there is no need for a frame, unless you wanted one.

Isn’t there room for a little more “Lovely” …”Beautiful”… “Happiness”… in your life?