Rusty

Hello My Friends!

I don't know why I'm having such a difficult time getting back into a routine after the Holidays.  I'm trying not to be too hard on myself or carry around guilt about unwritten posts and unfinished ( or even started, for that matter ) projects.
Perhaps easing into it all again is best for now.....like 2013 is a vast pool of possibilities...and I'm standing on the edge working up the momentum to dive in.....
I have a feeling that once I'm completely drenched in it, I'm not going to want to get out :)

There is a lot of excitement in the air and I've been giving some thought to a Word for the Year.  Other Bloggers and Creatives have been choosing a special word to help them focus on their goals ahead.  I've never felt that one was necessary in previous years, but this time, there has been one that has surfaced and presented itself on more than one occasion. 
...and when I ponder it....it feels right :)

My word is....Intuition.

I want to listen to it more, trust my inner whisperings and believe that there is a purpose and path I naturally know how to get to....if only I would get out of my own way.
I tend to worry too much about what others think I should be doing or overthink things to the point of procrastinating.  I want to take a little less head out of my decisions and put in more heart....more soul.

Something my soul has long wanted to do is take Art Classes.....I'm finally listening!
I will turn 40 in April and asked my Hubby to make my Christmas and Birthday presents be a big Art Conference in May.  My Mom and I signed up for 5 classes over 4 days.  I couldn't be more excited!!  Perhaps some of you are planning to be there?  Please let me know if you are....we could have lunch or dinner together if we're not in the same classes :)

You can find out all about it here :
Create Art Workshops

I'm also proud to say I finally finished a painting sitting on the sidelines.  Remember this fox on my desk back in October?

 

Well, here he is with his rusty coat on :)

 

 

He makes me want to do some more classic, simple animal portraits.

 

 

He is in my shop if there are any fox lovers out there :)

 

Well, My Dears....this post has felt really nice to write.....I think I just dipped my toe in and am finding the water just right :)

 

Love to you all,

Cameron

What's on my Work Desk?

Wow!  In 3 years of Blogging, this will be the first time I've participated in Stamping Ground's cool little Link up!  It's fun to see what other people's work spaces look like...and since I actually have something in progress on it, I thought I'd join in :)

Now, I know that I said I was going to do something Halloweeny....being that I was weary of painting Mermaids and all...but, when I sat down to paint, there was not a witch or pumpkin in sight...haha!

 

In fact, I started pulling out some already started projects that I've been storing.  I had 2 chunky canvases with papers already layered on them....so, I chose my palette, added more backgrounds, and sketched out my subjects....first in pencil, then in ink.... 

 

 

This is the one still in progress...

 

This is the one I finished this morning.

 

 

I love how the fox will be red/orange and the background green...and this one is the opposite. 

Last night, I was able to finish this piece that I sketched out last summer.

 

 

If I had 2 kids, I'd keep this one...haha! 

I know there is an owl-lovin' Mama somewhere with 2 kids that will click with this piece!  I'm hoping they will find eachother one day :)

 

Well, thanks so much for coming by to see what I've been up to!  I know I'll be having a date with a Fox tonight...and not my Hubby, either...heehee!

(Anyone else get such enjoyment out of silly little puns and sayings as I do?...it's childish, I know, but I refuse to grow up!)

 

Have a looksie at the other workdesks today and see what magic is in the middle of being made :D

 

Warm regards (cuz it's friggin' hot here today...oh, and because I like you so much, of course!),

Cameron

Doodle Who?

Hi Guys!
Just finished this an hour ago to join fellow Butterfliers in this week's theme of Doodles.
It's a great theme....an easy theme...and yet, I'm here again at the last minute!

So, without further ado.....here is my offering:

Sharpie and watercolor pencils with a touch of white gel pen and acrylic spots.  I really think something like these would make such pretty bookmarks :)

Fun stuff :)

Y'know, I've been using Sharpies quite a bit lately....to outline details (like in her hair) in the Daydream piece I shared with you a couple posts ago.

...and to make my lines more visible for painting over...like in this work in progress...

I hope to have her done this weekend to share with you early next week!

Also, I'll be putting up Lesson #3 in Carla Sonheim's Drawing Lab next week which just so happens to be titled "My Pet Project" and has you doing quick gesture drawings of your pets.  Perfectly coincides with Butterfly Effect's theme of Pets!  

What a nice co-inky-dink ;P

One last thing!  My friend, Heather, just opened a new Etsy store and is having a little giveaway to celebrate!

It would be grand if you could pop in and wish her luck :)

Have the bestest weekend everyone!

Hugs all around,

Cameron

Happy and Sad

Hiya Blog Buddies!

Okay, so on the heels of my Unfinished Projects rant...I'm thrilled (the Happy part of the Blog Title) to be able to cross an old one off the list.....a painting started in one media and finished in a bevy of others. Just 1 year and 5 months in the making....haha!

So I'm going to ask you to do something I rarely do....please, if you don't mind *bats eyelashes*

I really can't start this post properly without a little background first...and to do that, I'd like you to read a post from March 2010.....

I promise it will make the reveal that much grander...or so I hope :P
Okay, so go here....pretty please....and come right back!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yay! Now that you're back,
I can explain that I took that painting and cut the girl and the cat away from the background....and adhered her to an 11 x 14 inch canvas.

I re-worked all the watermedia in acrylics and after months of it lying around in that state...

I sat her down in front of me last night.  All was going well, when I added those big gothilicious eyelashes to her....and she instantly looked sad to me....
I was drawn now into a more personal moment than just a girl and her cat....

It was then that I added the tears....that was also when the background demanded them too.
(The sad part of the Blog Title)

I'm not sure why she is crying....but the powerful witch she is, made the sky weep with her.

The thing that really makes this piece look amazing is that I used clear glossy accents to her lashes, the cat's eyes and the streams down her face.  It gives such a neat quality to the otherwise matte finish of it....

Now how about help with a name? 

 Usually this is the part I love most, but I haven't been able to come up with anything that conveys the feeling I'm going for.....

~Y'know, like the feeling of having your world crumbling around you, but there is that one special being that can immediately make things better......

~A knowing that "this too shall pass"......

~That feeling as a kid of telling your pets your innermost secrets and believing that they were the only ones who really understood you...

Anyone have a title that says all that?! Haha!  Love to hear your ideas :)

~~Update~~ Thanks to you all for your suggestions....I think I'll call her:

"Eyes to the Soul"

I'm sooooo ready for Autumn...and pumpkins and more black cats!

Thanks so much for sticking with me to the end!

*secret handshake*

Cameron

Suffering from Unfinished Project Syndrome!

How does time go by so fast?
One minute, I'm having a wonderful Summer....reading an actual book (haven't had time for one of those in ages!) and sightseeing with my family....

The next, I'm ushering my child out the door, arms flailing out like a rubber octopus grabbing for keys, sunglasses, purse, lunch, backpack, sunscreen, that thing I needed to return at the store....etc!

I'm nagging my poor Husband to get up on the roof and wield a brush in one hand and paint can in the other while balancing on our sloped tiles (We got notice from our HOA before we left for vacation to repaint our shutters...and he won't let me do it).

I'm looking at a stack of fabric that no matter how much I wish, won't turn itself into a set of curtains and cute, little pillows...

I'm busy.....like...always doing something...busy....
But, nothing seems to be getting done.
I have grand plans to unveil dazzling  "after" photos of all our efforts around here.
Truly...

Like, our yard.

I've started planting some pots....but, I can't put them where I want them to go until we get the rest of the yard done (including grass....we got notice for that, too)....

That dirt under the pot is my lawn :)

Halloween is on it's way!  I got an early start this year.....

With this cute door hanger...

That needs to be sewn shut and have it's ribbon hanger added with ghost button accents.

....and I'm attempting a felt monster for the first time. 

Though, right now he has no arms, legs or filling....haha!

I have been spending my free time recently getting ready for my SIL's Baby Shower this weekend.

It is monkey themed...these are the prize bags.

I wanted each to be slightly different.  I did these all with just circle punches (and a hand drawn oval template). 

 I think they turned out nicely :)

I still consider this an unfinished project, though....lots of tags, favors, decorating and table signs still to make.....busy, busy!

There are more incomplete wonders here....many, many more.....but, if I keep dwelling on them, nothing will ever get done...haha!

What's been keeping you busy?

Until later, My Pretties...

Cameron