Just little bits of Art....

....and when I say "little", I mean tiny...haha!
I've been trying something new and working really, really small.

Here's an example:

 

That's a dime next to that pendant.  The painted rectangle is just 1 cm x 1.5 cm.  ( Or roughly 3/8 x 5/8 inches.

Can you see the lovely iridescent medium shimmering on the feather?

 

Since these tiny art pieces are original, one-of-a kind creations, I wanted to make them into special jewelry.  I am using bits of broken, vintage necklaces and adding new and pre-owned components to make wonderful pieces that are unlike anything I've made before.

 

 

They come with coordinating earrings, as well....

 

 

I've painted 7 in all. Here's the 2nd one:

 

 

This is just 1.5 cm in diameter.  Acrylic paint with a Diamond Glaze coat on top.

 

 

The pearls and sweet carved rose beads are vintage.

 

 

I'm really taking my time and going through my stash thoroughly for each little mini painting. I took a quick snapshot of a small portion of my desk.  It looks like a bead store burped up on my table :)

 

 

I'll share the others with you as soon as they are done.

I hope they become beloved treasures for art and jewelry lovers alike :)

 

I'll be spending tomorrow re-vamping my store for the winter Holidays.  I'm offering $10 DOLLARS OFF all orders over $50 with code OVERFIFTYISNIFTY. This coupon code is valid until December 15, 2013.

 

Make your Christmas List and pop on over....perhaps there's a few treasures there to help :)

Thank you so much for coming here time and time again to check in with me.

As blogging becomes less and less popular, I understand how amazing it is that you come by for a visit...and I appreciate it!

 

Back to the beads and pliers....

 

Many hugs,

Cam

A Zebra and a Deer Walk onto a Blog....

I've been trying to stick to a weekly schedule now that I'm trying to fit more on my plate.  Tuesdays have become my painting day and Wednesday my blogging day.

I worked 2 hours on a piece last night that I disliked so much, I gessoed over it and made a new background.  Usually I can salvage a piece, but this one just wasn't heading where I wanted it to go.
It was getting very late, but I didn't want to be empty-handed for blogging today :)

So I pulled out those 2 mini canvas panels I had left and looked for some animals to paint.

A zebra trotted over first.
This one is called "Polka Dots and Stripes"

 

I've never painted a zebra before.  It was fun!  Especially since there was no way to make a mistake on the stripes.  They are not symmetrical or perfect.  Great for me....my paintings never are :)

 

 

Then there is this guy....

 

 

"Love You Deerly"

Hee hee....I just love stupid humor like that ;)

 

 

They are available in Ye Olde Etsy Shoppe if you have a shilling to spend :)

 

Also, the wonderful Sharon at Plumrose Lane who designed my Blog Badge for me, is having to change where her work is stored.  I have new code now for my badge, so if you have been a Sweetie that has me on your sidebar, I kindly (and gratefully) ask you to delete the old and copy the new....now on my sidebar to the right.

Thank you so much for your support and friendship...and to Sharon for making a beautiful Badge!

 

Off I go to make dinner now....I've had chicken in the fridge for 3 days.  Probably cuz I have no designated "cooking" day and frequently choose to go out instead....haha!

 

Love you all, dearly,

Cam

 

Meowy and Bright

This is a post I have long been promising to not only my daughter...but a few artist friends, as well....So I'm pleased to finally be able to show you a small (albeit important :D) part of our house!

When we did our final walk thru last October before being able to call this house our own....the room that would be Maggie's looked like this...

Yes, it was blue...which just happens to be Maggie's favorite color...but with that long hallway and dark walls...it felt so cave-like.

The one window in the room was covered in blinds...which blocked light and her pretty view.  And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I absolutely hate cleaning the dust that accumulates on those things!

So after some pondering on Maggie's part about what kind of room she wanted (it was either going to be an undersea/dolphin theme or cats)  she chose the latter...which also was her birthday theme this year....go figure :)

And the project began!

It all started, if you remember, with this fabric...

Maggie picked it out herself :)

We painted the walls a buttery yellow to match, took off the blinds and let some light in!

We used her Birthday sign on her door....and I painted a square of magnetic paint on her closet doors to provide a fun area to display her art and other treasures....

That cute kitty on the right is by a talented friend Shayla Fish.  She made it for Maggie specifically...so sweet!  It matches the room so perfectly, too :)

The area to the left now serves as a great art gallery wall. She has quite a collection of original art in this little room...

The white cat is "A Little Birdie Told Me" by a wonderful artist named Carole at Ladybug Art Studio.  She loves cats and nature and has just the right shop to find affordable originals. She's a really nice person, too....and agreed to trade this and another piece for some owl stuffies I made :)

The black framed art are some little watercolor and ink cats I painted long ago...

That painting of the 2 cats is a favorite of Maggie's.  It is a portrait of our own 2 feline girls done by the incredible Lauren of Fair Rosamund.  

Oh, and I LOVE these shelves from Ikea.  We got them on sale for $20 bucks a piece!

They hold her aquarium and various collections.  My friend, Marty, gifted us that sleeping kitty figurine she scored during one of her many flea market excursions :)

We got Maggie a new bed at Ikea while we were there, too....a full!  Definately larger than what I originally envisioned, but....when you find something at a great price (the frame was $49 dollars!) you gotta jump! Now there is room for everyone on the bed, me, Daddy and Mags...when we read at night :)

The rug is so fun, I couldn't pass it up....from Kohl's.

That banner is made from calendar pages that I got at the dollar store.....another leftover from her birthday party.  The tuxedo cat painting, "Waiting" is also by Carole.  I made the pillow to match the curtains....the felt cat was taken off the shirt I made for her birthday outfit...

I think I made them a bit too long....but I'm too lazy to take them off and start again. 

There are 2 more cat paintings on this wall...

I did these....definately not my usual style....but I was trying to match the colors of the room and fill up some space.  Maggie likes that one is looking up and one is looking down :)

Sugar...

...and Spice.

Beacause we know that is what all little girls are made of ;D

Now, on to the undersea/dolphin themed bathroom!

Thanks for taking this little tour with me....and a big hugs to all the artists who helped make my Pumpkin Noodle's room a happy place to be a kid!

All my best,

Cameron

Oldies, but Goodies

Hi Everyone!

Do you have old artwork of yours around your house?  Stuff that you created that's really not worthy of selling...but too nice to throw away?   Maybe they tell a little story that you are reminded of when you find them again?

I was looking thru my dusty portfolio just now....and ran across this....

I drew this in Prismacolor Pencil and ink back in 2005.... I called it "Contemplation".
I had not really worked solely in colored pencils before this drawing....and haven't done any after, either...haha!

This was also the year I had this brilliant plan to paint 12 new pieces and make a calendar of my art for Christmas gifts...

Unfortunately, this idea is still on my to do list...lol!  But, I did manage to paint this with the idea of it being April's image....

watercolor on paper, 2005

...and then, there's this piece...done 16 years ago! (I was 16 years old at the time)...Wow, that seems like such a long time ago....and yet, I can still remember sitting at the kitchen table after everyone else was asleep with my art supplies scattered around me, drawing this....
Not much has changed :)

It was a gift for my grandparents one year for Christmas....my grandpa loved birds...

I look at this piece and it reminds me, not only of them, but of the young girl I was once...the girl who wanted nothing more than to be an artist when she grew up!
I'm still working on both :D

pastel on paper, 1989

Hope you all have the things you love scattered about you today!!!
Hugs,
Cameron

My New Neighborhood!

Hello to all you Lovely Friends!  Hope your weekend was a good one!

I stayed up a little late on Saturday to paint, among other things...and was able to finish this! 

Welcome to "Cozy Street" :) 11x14 inch Mixed Media on Canvas.

This was soooo much fun to do!  I really enjoyed decorating the 4 little houses, playing around with each one to give them a personality of their own :)  I can definately see more of these "neighborhoods" in my future!

 I incorporated more crackle glaze into the mix (which I really like the look of)!

...And this time, I added a few more personal touches... These 2 little kitties in front are modeled after my own fluffy duo....1 black and 1 calico :) 

I did an old post about them here.

I used a page from an old dictionary for this door and one roof...the definition of Home...

Can you see, also, I used beads as the doorknobs.  I like the dimension and inviting feeling the little knobs give....like there would be tiny furniture and the smell of cinnamon coffee cake wafting thru the house if only you could just turn that little knob and go in :)

....And this house is number 502...the same address of my childhood home...where all cozy memories begin!  My Dad's parents first resided in the home, and my parents still live there today.  It is the hub where everyone meets and chats and mingles, where cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. run around and play...

I felt it necessary to pay homage to my true "first home" while on the cusp of moving into our own :)

Love ya' Mom & Dad!!!

I have put this piece in my shop, fyi ;oD

...And this, my Friends....is my new acquisition!! Isn't she so pretty!

My talented Blog Buddy, Theresa MacNaughton at Fairie Moon Creations

knew I was drooling over her and offered to do a trade (I just love trades....everybody wins!) She makes gorgeous jewelry and does wonders with yarn, by the way....you might want to check her out if you're not lucky enough to know her already :)

I sent her Mushroom Cap Cottage, and I received this beautiful piece entitled, "Every Girl is a Princess".  I adore that title, too! Thanks, Theresa!  I will treasure her :oD

I hope to be back soon, but I fear my posts will begin to slow as we gear up to start the moving process....

You won't forget about me, right?!  Okay, good.... :)

Hugs all around,

Cameron

House Painting

Hello, My friends!  Thanks again for coming back to visit!

 It seems in light of the new home prospect, houses are finding their way into my creations, too!

This is my latest Mixed Media piece....do you like it?

8x10 inches on canvas.....kinda cute...kinda cozy :)

I love all the texture and pattern I get with this style...gives a lot of fun visual interest.

That's an actual button for the doorknob....just makes you want to go in, huh?

Mushroom Cap Cottage is in my shop waiting for a new neighborhood to move to :)

On my art table sits more little houses in the works....

Which reminds me....did I forget to show you guys this?!  Shame on me!!

Isn't it adorable!  This is the piece I received from Micki Wilde at The Secret Hermit in exchange for the frog and squirrel stuffies I made a few months back! 

I have it hanging near my art desk....

I love that she used pages from Goldilocks and the 3 Bears to make it! So cute!!

Nice to have talented friends!  I'm always up for a trade if anyone is interested!

Anyway...just a quick post today to give you a looksie at what's been on my mind....heehee!

Hugs to you all!

Cam