Handi-capable

I don't know why, but I seem to be about the most accident prone person I know.


I slipped and fell in my kitchen, breaking a bone in my arm. Who would think that such a little break would result in such a large cast! Of course it's my right arm - and yes, I am right-handed!
Over the last couple of weeks I have gotten quite good at typing with one hand, and my writing is 'almost' legible now! Sadly though, not so good with a paintbrush. As you can imagine, it is making this creative very irritable, having lost the ability to paint, or work on my functional art!


I am able to be out and about for short periods of time before it starts swelling and causing me grief again. On this day, my son and I went to the Michigan Renaissance Festival for a couple of hours. Still new to the cast experience at that point, I didn't check before we left to see if I could actually get my sweatshirt on over the cast. HA! Live and learn!


Yesterday, my son and I took our dog Casey to one of the local parks here in Genesee County. Richfield Park is really quite pretty, and very big, bordering both sides of the Flint River. It's a wonderful hidden gem in this horribly depressed area. We'll be heading back in the coming weeks to catch the autumn colors. 

Five more days....and this big cast will be removed, and replaced with a shorter one - and, my thumb will be released!  Woo hoo! I can't wait!!

Art in the Park

Happy customer purchasing the three-legged table at Swartz Creek Art in the Park.

This past Saturday was Swartz Creek's Art in the Park. What a beautiful day it was! This is probably one of the best little juried art fairs in this area. Of all the shows I have been in, this one is my favorite. The organizers really treat the artists well here - from their "drive up" check in, many volunteers helping set up your tent - to an endless array of home made baked treats and fresh veggies, tent sitters stopping by frequently offering water or a break - yes, this fair is definitely the best. There was a constant stream of people coming by, so I'm afraid I only got one photo all day long. But, I suppose that's a good thing! And, not only did I do well, but my son made and sold gourd birdhouses and got himself a tidy little bit of cash in his pocket as well!  All in all - a very successful day for us both! 

Landscape Pastels

I am sponsoring a page on Fine Art America for Landscape Pastels. 
Please come and see!


landscape pastels>

It's Art - Waiting to Happen

Recycled - Repurposed - New Life - Functional "Green" Art 

I know some people are embarrassed when I stop along the curb and grab some oddball thing or another as we are driving along. And dumpsters....ooooh dumpsters! I love going to construction sites, because all that junk in the dumpster you see? A lot of it is really useful stuff!  It's not junk I tell you - it's art, waiting to happen!


Not only do I keep my eyes scanning the curbs for a good find, but I also frequent the thrift stores. I look for stuff that is old and tired, but still has some life in it. Maybe not the same life it once lived, maybe it's got a new life waiting. It may be waiting to become loved once again, rather than be discarded or tossed to a landfill.


I really need a shop with some good wood tools - saws, drill presses, etc. I have so many ideas for things, that my mind is overflowing. And it kills me to pass something by, simply because I don't have the necessary tools to bring my vision to life.


For now, thought I'd show you a tired little table I picked up for a few bucks. Actually, it doesn't look all that tired anymore. It took a little elbow grease to remove it's former self, and then some creativity added to it - and what once was destined for a landfill, will soon (hopefully) be a treasured item for someone's home.


This photo shows it still in pieces - it's presently receiving multiple coats of satin polyurethane. I'll try and post another when it's done and ready for sale.

The Guitar Player

I having been working on another small work of art - and while I didn't quite think it was done - I posted it on my facebook page to get some reaction. Perhaps to see what others thought it needed. I had the picture in my cellphone, and showed it to a few people at work yesterday. Coolest thing happened. Someone said - "oh - it's done! Put your signature on it and I will buy it."  :)  Wow - way to make my day!


So here it is - the same "WIP" (blurry pic from my cellphone) that seemed to have touched someone enough to want it for their mantle.

"The Guitar Player"

4" x 6"

SOLD

104.7 The Fish Celebrate Freedom Opening Act Contest

Please listen to this video on You Tube.
If Pastor Ben could win the opening act at the Celebrate Freedom Atlanta, he will also win cash for his new church.
Pastor Ben used to be our Praise and Worship Leader at The Freedom Center, where I attend church. He left us to move to an under priveleged area of Georgia, where he started his own church.

Please - listen to this gifted man.

Want to win one of these stickers?

Here's how to do it:
Become a fan of my page on facebook. http://facebook.com/artalamode
Share my page with your friends by reposting on your facebook page, website or blog
Leave a comment on my page with a link to where you have it posted.
(Comment here too!)


The first FIVE will receive a window sticker for free (sorry - US only)


You will need to provide me with your mailing address if you're one of the first five.


These are available for purchase for $5.00 
tax, s/h included

Marketing

Testing out a new option that Fine Art America has provided for us -

I'm sponsoring this page:

angel art

Hope it works!

The Artist

I am an artist

I am a creator of ideas, swimming in a sparkling sea of imagination

A magician of sorts, turning thoughts of wonderment into pieces of originality.



Each creation showcases my own personal journey.

my worries, dreams and ambitions

Everything I love and everything I fear.



All that I was yesterday and all that I'll be tomorrow

is neatly contained in my glorious creations.



When you glance over my work, you are catching a glimpse

of my soul, for part of me is in each stroke I create.



I march to the beat of God

wildly dancing to His rhythm.



Passion runs through my veins as

emotions are fuel from my craft.



Certain paintings I keep to myself

others to my family first

Then I'll share with the world.



I am a creative beacon

shining Gods Light brightly , for all the universe

to see.



I am all these things and more

rolled into one amazingly

talented

unique

Artist.

Donald Joseph Pavlica

Leon Bruce Mitchell

Untitled

I find the most difficult part of painting is actually coming up with a title. Sometimes the finished product inspires the title instantly. Other times, like now... I'm at a loss. So for now, we will simply call this Untitled.

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. I wish I wasn't so far away from my dad. It's been increasingly more difficult for me to be so far away from my parents. It never bothered me when I was young. Now I find it very discomforting. I miss my parents. For anyone who has family nearby, I can only hope you are thankful and don't take each other for granted. It would be so great if I could pop in to see my folks every once in a while. Share a meal. Say "I love you" face to face. 
I just did a little painting full of sunshine on this spectacular day. Very similar to another I did a few weeks back. This one I call "Oh Sunny Day"


4" x 6"
Soft Pastel
$45.00 matted and framed

Sunflowers

This coming Saturday, I will be in the Flint Art Fair. I wanted to create a new piece just for this show, and while wandering around in Wet Canvas I ran across this image for inspiration. 




14 x 11 Soft Pastel
110.00

Vortex

All I can say is... wish I was there.






3.5" x 3.5"
Soft Pastel
$45.00

Mourning's Mate

Life is never dull around here. That much I can say for sure. The other day we were in that horrible state. The next day when I came home from work, the lawn and trimming was done. My son helped me all evening long digging up our front yard for some new landscaping, and helped me make a nice rock border. He was back to the great kid I know.


So - I thought "Mourning in May" needed a mate.


And here it is.


Yes, life is good.

Mourning in May

A Bipolar Moment

Last night I sat at my desk listening to my son screaming from the other room. I started praying for his healing, but in doing so the tears began to flow. Enough already - we've endured enough. I'VE endured enough! God, please give me a break. I'm tired ... just so tired. Through my tears I saw a photograph poking out from a stack of papers ... so I got my pastels out and within an hour this appeared.

Thank you Father, for giving me that break and peace I so desperately needed.

I call this Mourning in May.



Soft Pastel
4 1/2" x 10"

New Season

It's a new season - and I'm not talking about Spring. This is a new season of my life. It's been rough going for the last few years. But now - I am renewed. This is my new season.

I just moved recently and haven't painted anything for months. Today though - I felt a new energy inside me and so I dug around through a file folder I keep of beautiful pictures and pieces of art that give me inspiration. I was stopped by a painting that I had saved from another artist. It was this painting that motivated me to get out my pastels and play in the dust.

This is my interpretation of Kit Mahoney's painting. No - it's not for sale. (sorry)

I call this one "New Season"

10 x 8

Soft Pastels

Angel in Pastel

I was supposed to be cleaning. I have to dig through 11+ years of stuff that has accumulated in this house since my son and I moved in. And I need to pack it all up and get ready to move. I knew I should NOT have gone into my studio. Before I knew it, I had picked up some pastels and blurred out a landscape I started months ago - and began laying down color over color. Time totally escaped me - and two (or was it 3?) hours later, this appeared on the easel in front of me.

This is my first abstract angel in soft pastels.

Where did the time go?

As always, there seems to be a hole in time beginning the week prior to Thanksgiving up through New Years. My lapse in time actually began in October. I can't believe it's already January. So much has been going on, that I (sadly) haven't had the time to devote to this blog like I should. Back in October, my son and I traveled to Ocala, FL for their art festival. It was really fun being involved in a festival out of state, not to mention the largest I've ever been in. I haven't been totally non-productive. God put on my heart to try something new and different. I found myself splashing paint on canvas and angels have emerged. These were painted back in November and December. With the holidays, I didn't have much time to paint. But now... I need to get back after it. After all.. in only a few months it will be art festival season once again. Need to build up that inventory!

Abstract to Expessionist, her passion spills to the community

Abstract to Expessionist, her passion spills to the community

Posted using ShareThis

Blue Solitude

I was talking with a friend about being lonely. It was a natural that I chose this particular scene to paint after our conversation. I would much rather be alone in this place of solitude, then continue going on in life lonely. In painting this scene I am reminded how awesome our God is, and what a remarkable artist He is.

10 x 8 Pastel 125.00

I would like to thank Peter Bowers for graciously allowing me to use his image for inspiration for this piece. Please visit this amazing photographer at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_fabulous/.