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

From the Archives

Hello All!

I've got a rare treat for you today!  A little looksie into the Archives of my old Handmade Card Biz I owned a decade (WOW, a decade!) ago :) I didn't even know (or just plain forgot) these existed!

You see....as most of you already know.....I've been running Bare Bones computer-wise for a few months now....no access to Desktop, External Hardrives, USB Port, Scanner, Printer.....Nuttin....not even sound!  While this makes sharing and uploading pics of new work challenging, it hasn't been impossible.  I type all the content of my posts here at home, snap the photos, etc. then I take them to my Parents' house.  My Dad puts them on his computer for me, and I transfer them to the post from there.  It works....but I don't get to manipulate my photos, so my camera skills have been tested, too!

Anyways....while I was there yesterday, I was looking for copies of my work in his files to use on another website...when....lo and behold.....

I stumbled across these! What a blast from the past! Thank goodness parents think all their kid's stuff is worth keeping...haha!

I handwrote all that Japanese in the background! No, I don't know how to speak it.....I copied it. But my Grandmother was Japanese...my Middle name is Shizuko, which was her name. Just a little tidbit about me :)

I started making handmade cards 11 years ago at my kitchen table. I was working as a waitress back then, and I'd load the cards up into a basket and show my regular customers my creations....

I called my biz Art 2 Heart.

I've always loved sets of things......separate pieces that belong together.

Here is my first Shell Set painted in watercolor. My gosh, how could I forget these!

These Swan Cards blew me away! I vaguely remember doing these...but, if my Dad hadn't insisted  on scanning every piece I've ever done....then these would have still been lost in the dark recesses of that peanut I call a brain, too...lol!

This next one is my favorite in this set <3

And here's 2 more for fun!

Oh, and matching envelopes! I think they make such a nice statement that can make the Receiver smile even before it's opened...and ties everything together :)

Hope you enjoyed these...I know I did.  A trip down crafting memory lane has been a nice way to gain new ideas from old projects...and takes the pressure off not having anything more recent to share...haha!

Of course...it can make one feel a little OLD, uggh...

What's lying around in your archives?

Smiles :)

Cam

Leopards and...Mermaids!

Hey Everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend! 

Ours was busy with birthday planning and celebrating.  My daughter's Jungle-themed Birthday Party was great fun (once the stress subsided)! We held it at a park near a lake and playground, had a craft and scavenger hunt for the kids, treat bags filled with inflatable animal shaped balls, stickers, stampers, etc...... but, by far, the hit of the event was the ....

.....Facepainting!

Good growl, there, Leopard Girl!


My daughter's best friend has this really amazing Grandma (she has 3, actually, but I'm just talking about one of them today :)....Lilly.  Remember Lilly? I've mentioned her before in this former blog post. She offered her services to us as a gift.... and, boy, was it ever!

She is extraordinarily talented.... The kids...and the adults, just adored being transformed!

She single-handedly turned a nice party into a FANTASTIC one!!  Thank you so much Lilly....your kindness is beyond words...your gifts beyond measure :)

Can you tell she matched the make-up to this little girl's shirt?!

After all the birthday hoopla....I needed to decompress a little...
I got those Gypsy Girls matted and put in my shop....

I added rub-ons to the corners of the outer mat....

Here I used sturdy patterned paper to create inner mats to allow it to fit an 11 x 14 mat with an 8 x 10 opening.  I love the marrakeshy feel to the pattern. In person, the green really compliments her eyes!

I also found a swapping site called   http://www.swap-bot.com/
Anyone out there participated in any swaps hosted here?  I'm in such a swappy/tradey mood these days after the great experience I had with Lauren at Fair Rosamund. I decided to look for more opportunities to create and keep fun things coming in the mail! So, I signed up for a few swaps....

One is for a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch Artist Trading Card (ATC) featuring a Mermaid Theme..... I've never painted ATC's before, but since working in a smaller format worked so well with the Gypsies, I decided to give going even smaller a try....

....And I worked on 3 at the same time!

....took about 4 hours to complete them...but they're done....and the swap isn't til June :)

Here's "Daydreamer"

"Starfish are a Girls' Best Friend"

...and "See Siren"

All watercolor and ink with irridescent pigmnets added here and there and white gel pen to highlight.

I don't know if I'll do more of these.....they are a bit too small for my liking.  My hands have gotten a bit more shakey since going into massage 6 years ago, so some of the detail work was challenging :)

I definately want to offer the 2 that I don't choose for the swap, in my Shop...any requests?

As always, thank you for stopping by....Your visits make me smile! (much like the thrill of eating the last bit of cake right out of the box!)

Great Big Hugs,
Cameron

P.S. I have a huge project I've commited to that I can't wait to reveal!  Cross your fingers for me that it all goes as planned :)

Be talkin to you again soon ;-P

Life of a Gypsy

Hello Everyone...

I hope your weekend went smashingly!  I spent my Mother's Day at the Renaissance Faire.  My family and I have made it a tradition to go once (sometimes twice) a year!  It's so much fun to get dressed up... This is what I wore to last years Faire.

I went as a Gypsy this year....

Such fun are all the wondrous wares that are offered...

And all the other costumes, as well....

My Dad's the photographer...never without his camera at any and all family functions!

This is my Mom.  Behind her you can see my Bro in his leather jerkin and wolf pelt!

Every year.....It's just a nice way to spend a day together :) This is from last year. Isn't my Mom's mask so pretty?!....oh and that giant is one of the locals...no relation as you can tell from our height!

I really love the exotic jewelry and personality of the other gypsy/bellydance/middle-eastern inspired girls...

It seems they also inspired some new art!  After receiving my lovely new 5 x7 inch painting from Lauren at Fair Rosamund (I know I already showed it to you, but it's so cute, I'll show you again....heehee)

...I decided I really liked that format and wanted to try painting in that size too.  But the only paper I have is a watercolor block in 11 x 14 inches.  Yes, I could take a sheet off, measure it, cut it down, tape it to a board and then get started.....or.....I could divide the page into two 5 x 7 inch rectangles and take advantage of it being on a block.  Of course, I decided this would be the fastest method (because if I don't paint while I'm in the mood, it will pass....and that little spark of inspiration will be filed away in that cluttered brain of mine...til who knows when it will come back! :)  And then I decided to be a little crazy and work on 2 paintings side by side simultaneously!

Y'know, it worked out quite well!  When I applied a wash or worked on an area of one, I could work on the other while it dried!  Plus, if I was mixing up a batch of flesh tone paint, I could use it for both paintings!  I'm thinking that this may be the way to go.  It minimizes down time and the extra work involved in mixing certain colors....

Here's the finished products! Both are watercolor and ink with a touch of irridescent gold pigment.

I'm just now thinking of names as I write this....

What do you think of  "Desert Eyes" as her name. She went over the 5 x 7 template and measures about 7 x 8 instead...oops :) The gold shimmer is in her eyes and ring.

...And how about "Gypsy Girl" (okay, so this name's not so inventive..) or "Fairest Gypsy" ?

Whatever the case, she is 5 x 7 with the gold shimmering on her forehead coins.

Oh, and thank you to all of you who chimed in about my dilema with renewing my online gallery and the possibility of switching to Etsy, etc.....

Well, I've decided to let the online gallery lapse and fall away into cyberspace history.  I've also just bit the bullet and upgraded my Artfire shop.  So now, I have a nice list of categories for those who are looking for something specifically, plus, I can now offer free gifts, promotions, coupons, etc.  I also have more control over the look of my shop, so I switched to new colors that go better with my new banner.

Hop over there if you have a sec :)

I listed some new cards...

A Grab Bag of Assorted Tags (we all saw that one coming, huh...lol)

And a print of one of my Original Watercolors you may have seen before "Vamp Chick" just to get her out into view.... Someone out there might be looking for a blond vampire portrait sporting an ankh tattoo...you never know.....haha!

I appreciate you coming by for a visit.... now I'm off to finish up last minute stuff for my daughter's birthday party on Sunday. I haven't done much since I mailed off the invitations.  Um, yes, I am starting to freak out a little!  At least it's at a park this year and I won't have to do the "company's coming" scrubbing on Saturday!

Happiness all around,
Cameron

...And the Moon, too

To behold a night where the stars stretch as far as the eyes can see, from horizon line to infinity, clustered into groups of varying sizes....

To imagine that sailors in times past, navigated murky waters by looking to the Heavens, never alone...

To understand the majesty and magic of what ancient peoples must have seen long ago, before electricity dimmed them from our view...

To know that they are out there, even when there seems to be nothing but black....

In admiration of the twinkling wonders in the universe, here is:

"She was the Stars"

Sparkling and glinting...wishing and conjuring....creating and contemplating...

May the stars be above your head,

a sweet dream wait for you in bed,

may your heart be light

your passions take flight

And moonbeams shine wherever you tread...