Namaste - Paper Mache Heart

Hi everybody!  I'm back with another paper mache heart.  I've actually had this one here partially done for months.  So I decided that it was time to finish her up.  She is done in the same colors of my last two pieces for the same reason, to finish up the paint I had out.

I'm calling this one Namaste because of the mandala inspired background.

I was really inspired by the beautiful mandala designs all over Pinterest so I just started doodling.  I also did a little stamping to help fill the background.

I did all of the doodling freehand using a Faber-Castell Pitt Pen and then painted them in and highlighted using a white Sign pen.

I chose not to prime my flowers so the colors are muted by the dark background.

I think that keeping the color toned down really helps her stay the focal image even though there is a lot going on in the background.

She was drawn a long time ago so instead of starting all over, I decided to just go with it and paint her in.

Even the back got a coat of paint ;D

When I look at her "Namaste" instantly comes to mind but I decided not to write it on there.  What do you think, should I add some words or leave it the way it is?  Let me know your thoughts!!

Thank you for stopping by & have a beautiful, peaceful day!!

Friends

Hey there sweet bloggie friends!!  I hope you are all doing fantastic :D  I've been busy trying to get ready for upcoming shows.  So today I wanna share a new mini tabletop canvas that I completed last week.  This is a tiny 3x3 canvas in a tabletop frame.

This design was completely driven by the large canvas I was working on.  I used the leftover paints from "Amelita".

The blue is from her dress and the red from her lips.

I used a rubon from my stash for the flourishes, birds and sentiment.  The white dots were done with my favorite Signo pen.  I highly recommend this pen!!  You can buy it here: PWP.

I did an outdoor market on Saturday, here's a look at my set up :D  Well friends I'll let you get on with your day, thanks so much for stopping by!!

Hugs, have a beautiful day!!

Bloom Where You're Planted - Art Journal

I'm back with more art journaling!!  I'm working on coloring in all those sketches I did awhile back and this is actually the first one of the batch.  I sketched her, doodled all the background and the flowers during one of the shows I did last month.  The show was a bit slow in the morning but picked up in the afternoon.  Anyway, I did this very loosely not worrying about it being perfect at all.

These pages were already stained with inks when I started drawing on them.  In fact most of the pages in my art journal already have stamps, inks, molding paste and paint already on them when I start.

This is the original sketch that I shared on Facebook.  Do you follow my FB page?  I share a lot of work in progress and daily happenings there.  Here is the link in case you'd like to check it out: FB Page.  It's also the best way to ask me questions.

This is a progress pic I shared on FB when I started working on it last night.

I used Golden and Liquitex acrylics to paint her in.  She looks Eastern European to me.  What do you think?

I think this side of the spread is my fav.  I actually struggled with it so it has many, many layers of paint and molding paste.  In the end, it all works so well together to create a cheerful scene.

It's kinda funny because the left side is so bright and cheerful but she looks kinda serious to me.  Very interesting.......I'm sure there is some good psychoanalysis that can me done here, lol.

Well that's it for today!!  I have a couple more unfinished sketches in my art journal so I'll try to get them finished up so I can share.  Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a little piece of your day with me.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!

Magenta Mask

Hello friends!!  I'm back to working on my Day of the Dead masks :D  I have to warn you, you're gonna see a lot of these along with Halloween projects for the next couple of months.  They happen to be some of my very favorite kind of projects to do so I hope you don't mind.

When I start one of these masks, I always start with the eyes and I wanted to use a really fun bright color palette for the this one.  So I reached for my favorite gouache magenta and Liquitex soft body acrylic in soft blue.

I went completely freehand on this one, no stamps.  I just try and keep things as symmetrical as possible.  I think that's really key in these Dia De Los Muertos designs.

I use Signo pens to highlight my designs.

I used sheer ribbon and white grommets on this one.  

I haven't decided if I'm going to take this down to Homestead or add it to my Etsy shop.  What do you think?  Are you guys interested in any of the masks I've made so far?  The first one with the winged heart is already spoken for but let me know if you'd like me to add this one or the one with the butterfly masked to my Etsy shop.  I'd really love your feedback.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a beautiful day, Adios!!

First Dia De Los Muertos skull of the season!!

Hi everyone!!  I just finished my very first skull of the season and I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.   So I'm very excited to share it with and see what you think:

This is a paper mache mask that measures 8 x 5 1/2".  

I started out with this retired Paper Wings Productions heart stamp then added the beautiful wings.  The wings have been in my stash for a very long time so I don't remember who they're from, sorry.  The winged heart set the tone for the rest of the skull and my color choices.

I added the flowers around the eyes, the nose and mouth freehand.  All of the paints I used are Liquitex soft body acrylics.

The rest of the flowers are from Paper Wings Productions' Flower Power stamp set.  As I mentioned the other day, this stamp set has quickly become one of my favorites.

I used distress markers for shading and a Uniball Signo pen to outline the images.  I also added Stickles to the wings for a little sparkle.

One down, a gazillion to go, lol!  Let me know what you think!!  Thank you so much for stopping by today.  

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL INSPIRED DAY!!!

Daisy - Paper Mache Heart

Happy Friday Everyone, we made it to the weekend!!  I hope you had a great week and are gonna have an even better weekend with your loved ones.  I'll be out at the SoFlo Market on Saturday so if you're in my area, come on down, I'd love to meet ya!  

Now let me introduce you to my friend Daisy.  She is a fun loving girl that always looks on the bright side of life.  I'm not to sure about her choice in lipstick though, I may have to talk to her about that.  What do you think, do you like her lip color?

I really like her hairstyle, I need to wear my hair like that one of these days!

My favorite black Signo pen ran out on me when I was working on this one.  I had to use my Faber-Castell brush tip pen so I ended up with bolder outlines on my accent flowers.

 I think this heart is so fun with its bright color palette.  Daisy makes me smile :D    Here she is hanging out with a couple of her girlfriends waiting to go to the market:

Well friends, thanks so much for joining me today!  Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Fiesta flowers

Did you guys get a chance to check out my altered train case yesterday?  Here's the link in case you missed it: Mixed Media Monday.  Today I'm featuring the same PWP Mixed Media kit but I'm only using the stamp set which can also be purchased separately HERE.   

This is an 8x8 canvas called "Fiesta Flowers".  Here in San Antonio we just kicked off our two week long Fiesta celebration and bright beautiful colors like these can be seen through out our lovely city.  If you'd like to find out more, visit http://www.fiesta-sa.org/ for all the details.

I was inspired by these beautiful stain glass windows in the Royal Melange stamp set.  They reminded me of flowers and so these beautiful blossomed right before my eyes.

I started out with my favorite light blue soft body acrylic then stamped the medallions onto the canvas and drew the flowers around them.

The flowers are colored in with a mixture of acrylic and gouache paints.  Then I stamped the medallions again on the cardstock included in the April Mixed Media kit, fussy cut and embellished with paint and a white gel pen. 

I randomly stamp some of the other stamps in the set and doodled around the edges.

Did you all notice anything different on this painting?!..................No words!!  At the SoFlo Market, one of the other artisans suggested that I do some paintings with no words to reach a larger market so I thought it was worth a try.  So what do you think?!  Do you like sentiments on my work, prefer them without or are indifferent?  I'd love to hear from you so please share your thoughts.

I've entered this project is the Simon Says Stamp and Show - Color Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful, inspired & colorful day!!!

VIVA FIESTA!!

Trust - Mixed Media Paper Mache Heart

Wow, it's Wednesday already?!  Yikes, the week is flying by!!  I hope you all are having a wonderful week so far.  As I mentioned yesterday, I had a chance to work on another paper mache heart over the weekend.  So this makes II in my Heart Series:

My inspiration for this heart came from another project I've done recently.  (I'll share that one soon)

I started by layering book text, then adding fluid acrylics and 3-D Enamel flourishes.  I really love adding them to my projects ;D

Next I drew and painted her in.  I really had fun creating all those beautiful curls.  It's funny because when I draw a person my husband always asks "who is that".  I don't draw with anyone in mind but I do add a couple of my features.  So all of my "ladies" will always have a mole under their nose and full lips like me. ;D (granted I make their lips much larger, lol).

I've been in need of some meditation lately so her closed eyes and the sentiment I chose reflect that.  My work is always a reflection of who I am, what I'm feeling and the colors of my soul at the time.

I hope you liked the second installment of this series.  If you missed the first one, you can check it out HERE.  I'm entering this project in the Simon Says Stamp & Show - Absolutely Anything Goes Challenge.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your sweet comments!  May your day be beautiful and filled with inspiration!!

Art Journal - I am.....

Thank you all for your sweet comments on yesterday's post, "Love Birds".  I'm so glad you all liked it and enjoyed seeing it come together.  Today I finished up an art journal page that I started over the weekend.  This page is the very first page of my Donna Downey Inspiration Journal.  As you can probably tell from my page I was needing some reminders and what better way to start the journal right....

This actually started out with some left over molding paste from a stencil, Postbox Red Dylusions and some gold paint.  You can see what it looked like on my FB page: HERE.

I did a little more stenciling, inking and highlighting while I thought about what I wanted this page to be and say.  Then it hit me "I choose to be happy" like in Rihanna's song.

So with my favorite Signo pens I started adding my lettering and did some doodling.

I actually stamped this on the inclusion back in December and it ended up working great for this page.  All this has is some over spray from the other page, some inking and the journaling.

I even added little hearts to the doodling down the seam :D  Thanks for stopping by today.  I truly appreciate every visit and comment.  Have a Beautiful Day!!!