More Little Bits.....

I just finished 2 more of the mini painting necklaces....

I'm enjoying mixing different components from different sources.  I even went through my own jewelry box to see what unworn treasures could be brought back to life :)

This pretty necklace is called, "Flight"

Teeny and unique :)

This is my favorite so far.  The chain draping was a new thing for me.  I just love how it looks....reminds me of a Gypsy Princess.

I call this one, "Beauty"

 

The center abalone piece is from an earring my grandma had among her things.  The large round beads are made of carved cinnabar.  They've been in my stash for years and have just now found a purpose.

 

Remember these little paintings are just 1 cm x 1.5 cm in size... created with acrylic paints and ink on canvas paper and sealed with Diamond Glaze.  Can you see the hints of iridescence on his neck?

 

My daughter has claimed 1 of the paintings for her own ( a starfish) so I just have a toadstool and wolf & moon pendants left to bead. They are listed in the shop as soon as they are made, so please take a peek, if you like :)  

 

Speaking of my Darling Daughter, she was a sugar skull girl for Halloween this year.

This is how she went to school yesterday.  We didn't paint her face white....just painted the eyes and used temporary tattoos for the rest.

 

 

Here is the nighttime version.

 

 

It always makes a kid (and a mom) feel proud to get lots of compliments.  

Her costume was a big hit :)

 

I hope you all enjoyed your festivities, too!

 

One last thing I'll leave you with before I go.  Maggie's jack-o-lantern this year!

 

A 2-faced cat with 3 ears!

 

 

She conceptualized and designed this creepy creation all on her own.

Makes a Halloween-loving Mama's heart pitter patter with pride....haha!

Can't wait to see what she thinks of next year :)

 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Candy corn kisses,

Cam

 

That Dead Feeling Continues.....

Day of the Dead, actually :)

I just love painting these girls! They are macabre in their skeletal make-up....but still so bright and beautiful.  I love the flowers and the colors....it is so fun to paint them!

I tried something different from canvas this time.  I thought I'd use some chipboard shapes I bought a while back to make ornaments for the occasion.

 

They can be hung on your altar, a Halloween tree ( I always wanted one of those) or on your walls all year round.

 

I used bits of old and new jewelry pieces to dangle below.  This enamel butterfly was an old pendant that belonged to my Grandma years ago.

The sentiment translates to, "Never Forgotten".

 

 

The flowers are cut from vintage greeting cards.  This one says," Eternal Love".

 

 

I don't know if you remember when Amy showed some of us how to sew fabric onto watercolor paper and use that to paint on?  The original post is HERE.

 

Well, I had a 9 inch square sewn and waiting for ages for the right inspiration to come along.

This is what it became :)

 

 

 

See, color and more color! Love it!

Her message says, "I will never forget you" (thanks for the letter tiles, Micki!)

 

Making the fabric flowers for her hair reminded me that I had some flower brooches in the shop that could use a photo redo.

Maggie helped me :)

 

 

I think they definitely look more attractive now :P

 

I'm trying to keep the Halloween coming, though I know Christmas is at my door getting ready to ring the bell......"Hold on, hold on, I'll be there in a minute!"

 

My Friend, Magaly is having lots of dark, Hallow's Eve fun over at her Blog if you are craving more!

Go visit for a spell...okay, okay...that's an old one...but she is a witch...so it's true!

 

Hugs and happy memories,

Cam

Lost Soul *UPDATED*

Well, though that is the title of my latest piece....it's really about how I've been feeling lately.
I've been in a bit of a funk.....
...but, finishing this piece has helped.

Amazing, isn't it...what slapping a bit of paint down on something can do for your mental state :)

I know it's been a while since I've been here.  I've felt very guilty about not making the time I used to for blogging.  Part of the funk I've found myself in....

 

...but, that will have to wait for another time.

I'll show you this piece, but my scanner wasn't big enough to capture the whole thing.  I'll take photos on Sunday and list her in the shop. *SEE NEW PHOTOS BELOW*

This is "Lost Soul".  Her arm is tattooed 'Alma En Pena' which is the Spanish translation.

 

She is 9 x 12 inches

 

I used molding paste on the flowers.   I love that stuff!  It really gives it phenomenal texture in person!

 

She is now in the Shop :)

 

Oh....and hey!

 

Carmen is having a Secret Santa over at her Blog.  Go read about it HERE and sign up....I did! The best part is stalking is highly encouraged and expected....heehee!  It's lifting my spirits already!

 

Please have a great weekend!

I've missed you guys!

 

Keep the paint flying,

Cam

My Art is Deadly

.....in a good way!

Day of the Dead, that is! 
I was in the mood to paint some calavera catrinas girls this week.  After lots of controlled lines and small details on the mermaids I've been doing lately, I felt like splashing a little paint around!

Here's the Series all together.....

 

Each is a 6 x 6 inch gallery wrapped canvas.

 

 

This is "A Flower for the Dead"

 

 

I  used vintage dictionary pages on them and incorporated the defined word into their names.

 

 

This is "Lost in a Memory"

 

 

 

....and this is "Eyes that Haunt"

 

 

I wanted her to look a little spectral with her sheer veil and thin features....but then have these big, captivating eyes....

 

 

Of course, her word is "Haunt"

 

 

Hope these get you in a spooky kinda mood ;P

 

Oh, but wait, I almost forgot to show you something new I'm trying out! 

 

....bookmarks!

 

 

 

What do you think?

 

I think these would make great teacher gifts, a cute way to dress up a gift bag or a wonderful companion to a bookstore gift card.

 

I've updated the shop to include these new offerings :)

 

Hope you are having a creative weekend!

Lotsa Hugs!

 

Cameron

Bringing the Dead to Life

Hello all my Wonderful Bloggy Buddies!

I'm so happy to be able to post here twice in one week!  It's all this cool weather...it just perks me right up :D

With Halloween looming in the air, I was enjoying some wonderful images of skeletons and spooky decor online, when I came across photos of Dia de los Muertos....sugar skulls, bright painted faces, colorful flowers.....a reminder to recognize and celebrate our loved ones past and present.

I was overcome to try Day of the Dead inspired art of my own....and...

I even rembered to take a few in progress shots :)
I started with some quick notes of what characterizes the style....

So, I chose 2 prepared 5 x 7 inch canvases and sketched faces on them...

First with pastel, then more detailed with pencil.

Once I refined their faces, I painted them white and sketched on the patterns they would have adorn their faces.

It's so amazing to me how I can just freehand a face shape, eyes, nose, etc, not purposely trying to make them alike or different........but end up with them having distinct faces from eachother...

I was laughing a bit here that they resembled those masks the wrestlers wear on tv :D

All finished up...

Flowers in their hair...

"Dulce" has such soft eyes and a gentle expression....perhaps missing a cherished one she lost?

From the side...

....and this is "Rosa".

Her more rounded eyes have a direct gaze....

She just plucked that rose from her Abuela's garden before joining the festivities.  A rose as pretty as her name....

I enjoyed this so much!  It was so much fun to dress these girls up....almost like I was playing in make-up in front of the mirror...heehee!

I hope you like them, too!  If you like them A LOT...they are in my Etsy shop ;P

Hold the memories of your loved ones close...and hold your living ones closer.  Tell them how much they mean to you.  Say "I love you" at a time when they least expect it.  Life is for the living...

and for Loving (imagine a heart icon here since I don't know how to do that...haha)

I love you guys,

Cameron