Doodle Doodle Do

Hello, My Friends!

I wanted to pop in and share some doodles with you from my assignment for the next 21 Secrets Workshop I'm taking.  It's called "Draw Happy" by Jane Davenport.  She is incredibly talented.  I think you'd be doing your eyes a favor by checking out her work :)

Anyhoo, the very first thing she showed us was her little formula for the way she doodles faces.  After watching the video, I immediately grabbed the closest piece of paper I could find...and drew this...
The face is based on her method...the rest is mine...

She asks us to embrace the mess, not be afraid of mistakes....and just keep drawing....

Because the Muse, she claims, only finds us while in the midst of creating!

I love that :D

So, I found a piece of bristol paper (since I don't own a journal...haha!) and decided I'd try a few more faces and see what else decided to show up...

Well, I didn't have trouble filling the page...haha! 

I forgot how freeing it can be to just sit and draw for drawing's sake....like when you were a child.  You weren't thinking about selling stuff or what others might think of it...you did it just for you!

It was interesting, though....I thought it was all random at first....and then realized that what was coming out was a bit deeper...

You see, today is my birthday.  I've been wrestling with nagging thoughts about my future...

Aging... I'm quite certain I'll be dressing up in silly costumes til I'm 90...though I might not fit into the same ones :D

My purpose....will it ever be fully realized?

The feeling of losing my vitality... (What happened to the Sex Kitten and....Oh no, who let all the sparkles out of the box so soon?!)

Saying goodbye to my Youth, when being dark and brooding was cool....

...And just feeling kinda blah, in general....I usually LOVE my birthday....look forward to it!

This was the first time ever, that while walking downstairs, thinking about what I was going to pack for Maggie's lunch...I saw a note from my Husband wishing me a Happy Day... that I remembered it was my birthday!! 

Yep, I knew it was coming, but it didn't even cross my mind....then again, I knew today was Trash Day, too...and I totally forgot to put that out, too...haha!

My Hubby wanted to take me out for a nice dinner, I asked to go to Del Taco instead and use the rest of the money to get art supplies...heehee!  It really is the gift that keeps on giving :)

Thanks for taking a peek!

I'll be back with more soon...

Luv ya' and...thanks for the kind ear,

Cam



A Day at the Fair - The Renaissance Faire, that is...

Gramercy for joining me here, Dear Maidens and Knights!

As quite a few of you already know, my family and I visit the Renaissance Faire every year.  We dress up and enjoy the sights and sounds of a time long past.  You can read last year's post here.

But this year was extra special because my daughter, Maggie, joined us for the first time!  I think I was way more excited than she....this meant I could dress BOTH of us...haha!  I just love to wear fun costumes :)

I gave her a couple options....peasant girl....pirate...gypsy.....and told her whatever she, chose I would be, too.

Here's my darling girl in her Gypsy Best!

I got the top and vest at the Thrift Store...the rest I put together with items from my Cosume Bins (yes, I have more than one...heehee)...and the feathered hairpiece I made the night before with silk flowers, feathers, a gold coin charm and hot glue.

My Mom and Dad were both searching for the perfect hats to compliment their garb this year.

This was a contender.

But this was the winner....

This is the hat my dad found.....his solemn face is supposed to be him "in character" :)

My Girl had a full day of adventures!  She rode a Flying Dragon......

She and our other kid companions saw Jack Sparrow (a good lookalike, anyways)....

She marveled at a huge puppet in one of the parades....

She procured a weapon and vanquished a giant :)

We had a wonderful time together!  So much so, she says she wants to go next year....

I can't wait to see what costume she chooses next time...heehee! 

I hope you all enjoyed time with your families this weekend, too!

All my best to you Lords and Ladies....

Cameron



Painting with Soul

I'm excited to say, Dear Ones, that I've completed my first course at 21 Secrets!

I decided that I would take Tamara Laporte's (from Willowing) Collage, Paint and Soul class.  She has such a loose and effortless style that combines quotes, words and whimsy...along with a healthy dose of introspection...something I've felt really drawn to lately...

She told us to find connection with this piece by writing directly on the paper, any thoughts, issues or affirmations important at the time...  In the past, I may have skipped this step entirely, especially since it will be covered up anyways...but I wanted to take the time to do things "right".  I needed to do this, to not only get the most from this course, but to charge this piece with a bit more emotion than my usual creations.
(Don't worry, I don't expect you to read it :D  I just wanted to prove that I did it...haha!)

We were then told to incorporate an animal that held some special meaning pertaining to our journaling.  Because my words spoke of being genuine, questioning the legacy I'm leaving behind for my daughter and filling myself up with light in all aspects of living, I chose the Crow.

The Crow/Raven wisdom includes:

~Rebirth without Fear

~Comfort with Self

~Eloquence

~Ability to find Light in the Darkness....among other wonderful things.  Without getting too mystical on ya', I'll just say that Crows are clever and beautiful birds...not a bad choice when wanting to emphasize positive changes :)

Tam's art includes quotes, handwritten organically around the page to pull the whole theme together and give greater depth and strength to the piece.  This is also new for me...I almost chose not to write on it, I liked it so much just as it was...but, deciding at the beginning that I was going to stay true to the instruction...I went for it!

...I'm really happy with it!  Tam's way of working flows so naturally...I still over-thought and over-complicated what should have been simpler...but it is something I will definately try again! 

BTW, she is on 11x14 inch watercolor paper.

I'm finally able to join the festivities at Paint Party Fridays, for once ( I rarely post on Fridays)...so please pop on over there to see how others are putting paint to good use! 

Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you guys?  I hope that you are all giving me that embarrassed little shoulder shrug that kids give parents when asked if they know how much they are loved :) ...and just in case there are a few of you out there who are sure I couldn't be talking to them...I am! 

Really and for truly,

Cam

Random Bits

Hello my Dears!
Just a simple post filled with random goodness! 

We put a beautiful creation in our bouganvillea today.....you can't see it, but she decorated the inside for the birds to enjoy, too...
...and just in case they didn't know it was for them...she labeled it...haha!

We sat on the porch and admired the happy flowers....

I've decided a pot filled to the brim with pansies is going to always be a Spring tradition!

I love having them by the front door welcoming me home ;)

Those flowers smell so wonderful when you walk by them....

The roses are in full bloom now, too :)

Hope you've been enjoying random bits of pleasure, too!  You deserve it!!
Love ya' guys,
Cameron

Believing

Hello Fellow Blog Friends!

The word of my trading ways has been spreading, it seems....this time to beautiful New Zealand!

I was introduced to dear Joyce van der Lely during the OWOH event...funny that we've never met before, since we've now seen how many mutual circles we travel in...haha!  Lucky for me, she invited me to do a swap with her...

She named a few favorite pieces of mine...saying that Jewel of the Forest (the uni on the sidebar), was by far the leader....since he has gone to live in the UK and settling in quite nicely there, I might add....I decided to paint something special...just for her :o)

I don't usually spend a lot of time sketching in advance, but this being just my 2nd unicorn, I wanted to practice a bit...

I chose a prepared canvas (when I say prepared, I mean that I paint the canvas, then layer with patterned papers, then paint again...to obtain my working surface) and sketched out my design.  Something new I tried this time was outlining in prismacolor pencil before painting...I usually just use pencil lines as a guide.

I stamped the background and tried the "drip" method...both new techniques to me, as well!

I layered acrylics and prismacolors and oil pastels to create him....

...and used irridescent medium on his magical horn...

I decided to make his eyes blue.  I'm so glad I did! They are my absolute favorite part of the painting!!

I've named this piece "Believe"
8x10 on canvas

I'm just so pleased with this elegant creature...I truly hope you love him, Joyce!  Thank you for letting me introduce him to you, and everyone else, right here...right now...heehee!

I've put him in the Print Shop just in case his eyes have captured you too :) 

All my best,

Cameron

California Dreaming

Okay, I know the last thing some of you want to hear about is snow...haha!

...and I debated whether to even post this...but since, I'm working more on my daughter's Birthday preparations (I know it's not til May, but when you get the brilliant idea to make everything from invites to cupcake toppers by hand...you gotta start early...lol!) I don't have much else to share with you.....yet!

But, it was such a sweet gesture on the part of my Hubby and Little Girl...I thought I'd share nonetheless....

It's warm here in Southern California....everyone knows that, but for those of you still in snow, I envy the gradualness of your upcoming warmth....we had to drive with the A/C on in the car today cuz it was too darn hot for open windows....in March!  We stopped for smoothies and skipped the park.....and just hid in the house the rest of the afternoon.  We're in for a scorching Summer :(

But anyways...what I wanted to show you was this!

An itty bitty snowman made from 2 bags of snow my family brought back for me from their trip to the mountains....  They said there wasn't much left up there....probably mostly gone now....

...but I thought it was sweet of them to think of me....especially since we make an effort to go see snow maybe once every couple years....and I chose to skip it this year.

This poor little guy was melting even before he was finished....

So if you are dreaming of warm days like we're experiencing here.....just remember, that while we're breaking a sweat just breathing....we'll be dreaming of where you live :D

Thinking about you all....warmly :)
Cameron

Little Pink Houses for You and Me

Hi There, Sweet Friends!

I'm so excited about this post!  As, you know....I adore doing trades....it's so fun to fall head over heels for something and be able to acquire it with something else you made...

The wonderful and talented (and newly engaged!) Lauren at Fair Rosamund and I have done a trade like that before where I became the proud owner of this adorable piece entitled "The Strange Garden".

Her style is so different then mine....and that's what I love!  I couldn't paint like her if I tried...the whimsy just flows from her brush!

...and so, for this trade, we took it up a notch...heehee!

She fell in love with my "Cozy Street" painting a while back...and so, with that as inspiration, she asked me to do a painting of a pink house for her...no parameters....just 8 x 10...and PINK :)

Well, with that kind of freedom, how could I go wrong?!  I just really wanted to incorporate things that she adores and personalize it for her :)

I know she enjoys Nature and butterflies....

...pretty flowers, of course....

...and, it had to be all about LOVE!  The perfection of a heart full to overflowing and a Special Someone to spill it all over!  So...lots of hearts....lots of Love....lots of Pink...haha!

Lauren, this is your painting, My Dear!  "Love Lives Here"
I hope it's everything you wanted and more :)

I had so much fun making this Garden Cottage....Thank you, Lauren!
But I didn't stop at one!  Lauren's came out so cute, I made another.....

This one is "Home Sweet Home"...all about the playfulness of togetherness and what it means to "make" a home together....

We all know the house is just 4 walls....it's what you do there that makes the memories fond :)

....like sharing a bench in a garden you planted together....

...or flying kites side by side....

I feel so much emotion stir up from these little paintings!  I wish a long marriage for you, Lauren, stuffed full with Life's best and brightest gifts :)

"Home Sweet Home" is avail here and as a print here....

Lauren is doing a special request painting for me in return that I'm giddy with excitement about...and I haven't even seen it yet...haha!!  She is so nice....please poke around her shop...you'll see why I (and so many others) are fans of her wonderful work :)

*UPDATE* I have now seen the adorable commission painting she did for me and am one cloud 9!!!  It is so perfect!!! Yay!*
Have a fantastic weekend...fill it with memories!
Sending you all the warm and fuzzies....with a decidedly pinky hue :)
XO, Cameron

P.S. I also made cards...heehee!  They are avail here :)  Okay, one more hug...and I'll go :D