Wednesday, September 10, 2014

CAED Day 7: The Art Of Painting



I had a different post planned for today but then last night I found myself over-thinking some things that were out of my control and I realized that the only way I was going to get out of my head was to paint.  So to spite the fact that it was after midnight and there were DIY shows waiting for me on my DVR and my art studio wasn't perfectly tidy, I did just that.

The next thing I knew it was almost six in the morning and all my worries were gone and the dreams they had been obscuring were ready and waiting to lull me to sleep.



This afternoon when I woke up I had that same thought I often have after a night or day spent painting, "why don't I do that more often?"  However, at the same time I wonder if that would steal the magic away from the experience for me.  Somehow I think that while painting every day would make me a better painter, painting only when I really need to makes me a better, or at least a happier person.  Hopefully someday I will find the time to test that theory.

 In the meantime, here's a photo of my mostly finished (I may or may not work on it a little more at some point), latest painting:


"The Dust Of Dreams" Acrylic on 11 x 14 canvas






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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

CAED Day 6: The Art Of Zazzling

I love to Zazzle. :) 

 I spent most of my day yesterday working on a new butterfly photography calendar for my Time To See shop on Zazzle.com.  I work on my Zazzle shops almost every day and it is a big part of my creative process.  In fact, Zazzle was very instrumental in my decision to begin working for my muse on a full time basis several years ago.

 Ever since I sold my first print on Zazzle, it has not only been a source of income but also of inspiration.  It has given me a platform for expressing myself artistically and has challenged me to grow personally as well as professionally.  Plus, I have met a lot of kind and talented people through the Zazzle community.

 And, as if that wasn't enough to be grateful for, it gives me more motivation to chase butterflies and chase my dreams.  So, thank you Zazzle for enabling me to create art every day.

Eye Opener Print
Eye Opener Print by Victoreeah
Look at more Digital Posters at zazzle



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Monday, September 8, 2014

CAED Day 5: The Art Of Football Sunday

Football Sunday is the one day I can put my feet up and relax

Sometimes my muse and I need some time apart, a day for me to put all of my various creative projects out of my mind and just relax.  This is why I am grateful for Football Sundays.  NFL Football is one of the few things that can lure my thoughts away from all of my crazy ideas for awhile.

However, being me, there are a few details I have to see to before I can really chill out.  For one thing I have to make sure everyone is wearing the proper attire, including and especially Elvis.


The King in his Ravens attire

Also, there has to be snacks.  For this past Sunday I made my creamy guacamole dip.  Here's my super simple recipe for it: mash up a couple of avocados with a fork, add half a can or more of diced tomatoes with green chilies and a couple dollops of Greek yogurt, stir it all together and voila!

Ingredients for my super easy creamy guacamole dip

Creamy guacamole and chips, the perfect Football Sunday snack

 Of course, the day might have been a little more enjoyable if my team hadn't lost but any day I get to spend relaxing with my husband and our cats is a winning day for me!

My cats are my role models in laziness
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Friday, September 5, 2014

CAED Day 4: The Art Of Fall Flowers

Fall Flowers Ready To Roll

 Yesterday Hippie and I went to one of our favorite places, the plant nursery, and accomplished the impossible task of picking out just a few fall plants among all the lovely flowers they had.  That adventure took so long that I didn't get around to planting any of them until Today.  In fact, I still have more planting to do but already I am excited by how these beauties have re-energized our fading Summer landscape and reawakened me to all the creative possibilities of our yard and gardens.

 Here's more photos of our Autumnal additions:


Fall Flower Picnic

Pansies

Pansies and our rustic "shutters" (actually our old garden gate).

Asters and Pansies add more color to the back of my garden shed

Asters

Another view of the shed












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Thursday, September 4, 2014

CAED Day 3: The Art Of Using A Staple Gun

My staple gun and my fabric stash

I am not an expert at anything.  However, if my muse requires it, I am often able to muster up or acquire enough skill to do whatever needs to be done to realize her vision.  That is unless it involves baking or sewing.

 The baking thing is not a big deal but my lack of sewing skills can be frustrating at times.  You see, I happen to love fabric.  I could spend hours in a fabric store (and have), finding inspiration among all that color, pattern and texture.  But I have accepted that I will never be capable of making custom slipcovers or drapes or Halloween costumes for my cats (fortunately for them) or anything that involves a sewing machine.

 This is why I'm grateful for the existence of fabric glue, fusable fabric tape (even though that requires me to iron) and that most wonderful invention we call the staple gun.

 I took advantage of the latter yesterday to update a pair of thrift store chairs. Here's the before picture:

My thrift store chairs before

As you can see the seats were in desperate need of recovering but I was in no hurry to do it until my muse and I came across the perfect fabric recently.  Here's what they look like now:

Thrift Store Chairs After

A closer look

 I like them so much better now.  Thank you staple gun!

 Note: This was my #3 of my Top Ten Posts of 2014.  Click here to see more of my no sew fabric projects.



Red Cardinal, Gray Day Photography
Red Cardinal, Gray Day Photography by time2see
Find more Bird lover Cards at Zazzle
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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

CAED Day 2: The Art Of Hand Lettering

Yesterday's creative project was this week's chalkboard reminder

 Since creating the chalkboard wall in my art studio, I have been writing weekly quotes, affirmations or reminders on the area above my sink.  Most of the time I just scribble something hastily in my own handwriting but every now and then I make the extra effort to practice some hand lettering like I did yesterday.


My love for typography became obvious at an early age when I borrowed a book called 101 Alphabets from my older sister just to look at all the pretty letters in it.  Now, even though there are a gazillion fonts on the internet, I still tend to use my old, beat up copy of this book as a reference when I do my chalkboard lettering.


Of course my letters never look exactly like the ones in the book just like all my finished creative projects never end up looking exactly like I initially envision them.  Instead they are always a little more imperfect which I think makes them just a little bit better.

 Note: This was #6 of my Top Ten Posts of 2014.  Click here to see another hand lettering project.




Art Fairies: Art Is Magic Cards
Art Fairies: Art Is Magic Cards by Victoriart
Look at other Artist Cards at zazzle.com


Art Fairy Inital: A Personalized Necklace
Art Fairy Inital: A Personalized Necklace by Victoriart
Shop for Artist Necklaces online at Zazzle.com

Art Fairy Inital: Z Key Chain
Art Fairy Inital: Z Key Chain by Victoriart
Look at other Artist Keychains at zazzle.com
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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

CAED Day 1: The Art Of Tiling

I painted this mural in our kitchen as a "temporary" backsplash more than 7 years ago

Every time I finish a tile project, I always say the same thing: I am never tiling again!  And yet, when I finally found the perfect tile for our kitchen backsplash, I decided I couldn't justify paying someone to install it when I was perfectly capable of doing the job myself.  So this past weekend that's exactly what I did.

 Actually, I first attempted this project a few weeks ago, it didn't go so well.  I put up some tile and then left the room for a minute and when I came back the tile was no longer on the wall.


Turns out I made a slight miscalculation when mixing the mortar.  It wasn't my best moment but after a glass of wine (or two) I reached the conclusion that it was a lucky mistake.  I wasn't happy with the way the tile was laying on our textured plaster walls anyway, so this was my chance to correct that.
Kitchen Demolition

 So for the next few weekends Hippie helped me demo the plaster and replace it with nice clean, smooth drywall.  
I did a happy dance when we finally finished installing the drywall!

Finally, I was able to install my lovely travertine stone and glass mosaic tile (I used premixed mortar this time).  It wasn't easy and it's not perfect but, after all the time and effort I put into it, my new kitchen backsplash is a work of art to me.
After: A permanent backsplash
A closer look

 Oh, and by the way, I am never tiling again! :)

Create Art Every Day
Create Art Every Day by Victoriart
Browse Typography Tiles online at Zazzle.com



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