Art Post Cards

I  am making cards for my Etsy shop.  I would like your opinion on which ones are your favorites.  If you wouldn't mind, take a look at my Etsy shop and let me know which prints you like best.  Just leave a comment on this post.

Sorry, I can't post any photos on my blog due to the blogger/google/Internet Explorer problem that is still not fixed.


I would like to send one to you too.  If you would like one, sign up on my email contact list.

Just send me a message and your address (your address will remain confidential ).


denisemulligan17 @yahoo.com


Also, why not be featured this Saturday on my "Saturday Showcase"  These brave women did...Clare from http://clarehudsonreed.blogspot.com/, Chaska from http://www.artalchemystudio.com/ , and Jan ofhttp://www.zenjan.etsy.com/ 

Internet blues...

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented on my posts in the past two days.  I went around the paint party unable to comment back.  I had a devil of a time trying to post my Saturday post.  I feel bad about Clare who I featured as Saturday's showcase artist because I'm sure many people couldn't comment as well.  Let's hope Explorer can fix the problem soon.
Denni

SATURDAY SHOWCASE

Hey Everybody!

I'm very excited for today's featured artist.   Her name is Clare Hudson Reed and she resides the town of Pietermaritzburg in South Africa!

http://clarehudsonreed.blogspot.com/

She says that its about a 45 minutes drive inland from Durban.  She was born in the amazing city of Cape Town!

South Africa, for me it sounds so exotic...of course because I live in the U.S. and it is so far away.  I've always felt a strong affinity with Africa, the culture, the beautiful landscapes.   Mostly though because I love animals and well where else can you find wandering Elephants, Zebra's and Lions.  My favorite movie is Out Of Africa with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.  I also dreamed of being like  Diane Fossey studying Gorilla's in the mist.

Any way, I digress,  enough about me...back to Clare and her fabulous artwork.
Here's what Clare says about her work.:

I have been on an existential expedition most of my life, in fact there isn’t really a time that I can remember where I wasn’t asking of the heavens, what does life mean, what is my purpose, who or what guides it all? I also, cannot remember a time when I didn’t want to create. I can’t help but think if somehow the two are not intertwined, connected somehow. My art often depicts my questionings; I like to call my art ‘soul crafting’.

During the hot summer months, when I can’t remember what it is to feel cold - I move outside and work on our back porch.

I’m really lucky and have my own studio space in the house – it opens up onto the back porch, I have an inside – outside studio.

My first love is fibre art – I love working with fabric, dying fabric, making small stitches on the material, little marks that hold secret meanings, twisting and cutting – it takes time to make a quilt or art dress. I try not to hold too tightly to an outcome but attempt to allow the piece to be what it needs to be. It is here that I examine the layers that make up my experiences, I try to make sense of it all and I have fun.

 

I love painting my girls – it took a long time to recognize them. Finally, after a lot of work they came to stay, I’m enjoying the process of getting to know them. They are special to me because they help me to tell my stories, the give me courage to speak, to explore what it is to be on this journey – called life.

Love your soulcraft Clare!  What beautiful pieces you have and the quilting and dresses are amazing!

Thank you so very much for participating on my Saturday Showcase!
And please forgive me but just a couple more photos of African wildlife.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

ARE YOU CREATING OR PROCRASTINATING? FIND YOUR ARTIST SELF (Part Two)

There are so many excuses why not to make art.  It's easy to settle down on the couch after work and watch television.  Hours later, you're now into Law and Order.  What happened?  Where did the time go?
 Take back your time!  You are the one in control.  You manage your time, time doesn't manage you.

Photo of Painting I'm working on.

Day 1

Day 2.  My painting "Warm Pear" by Denise Mulligan  from online art class with Dan Edmonson

I decided I didn't want to die without anyone knowing the real me.  We all have a limited time here on earth.  Do you want to be remembered as a great housekeeper?  I can do things I enjoy and still be a good mother.





For example, I have a great friend, whom I love, she is a great cook, housekeeper and mother.  She gives endlessly to everyone else.

  Rarely, does she give anything to herself.  She never does what she loves. She does what she feels others want her to do.  She feels guilty if she takes any time for herself.

 I tell you this because, being around her makes me feel like I should be doing more.  It makes me feel guilty, a little bit like I'm wrong in living the way I live.  When I start comparing myself to her, it makes me feel selfish.



REALIZATION:
Thinking about how my friend is also made me realize that when I do what I want, it frees other women to do what they want.  Some women have no problem doing what they wish.  This post is not for you.  It's for those women who like me, have a sense of not being good enough.  If we are not taking care of everyone else, we don't exist.



I set myself free...



 TIP:
Keep your art out and set up.   Set up your easel or craft table.  Keep your supplies handy.  If your art is available, you're more likely to make art. 

 It's possible.  Just do it!

 If you have toddlers, of course it's harder.  You may be better off taking a class or having a seperate room for art.

Get Organized
Be creative in how you organize your supplies:

I have art materials stashed in the draws of our entertainment center, on a table next to the couch, in an antique trunk in the living room. 

I have an artist box filled with all my oil paints and brushes that can be transferred easily to any place I decide to set up.

Keep a sketch book next to your couch so that you can sketch while watching T.V. 

Keep a tiny sketch book in your bag.  When your waiting for your kids in Karate class or at soccer,  you can draw something, write something, sort something out.

YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD, TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

YOU ARE WORTH IT

Don't hide your creative self...

Make your life a life worth living...

It's time to take back your life...go make something!  





GIVEAWAY WINNER AND MORE AWESOME MAIL SWAPS ARRIVED!

What a wonderful surprise!  I love getting REAL MAIL, as in the post office kind.  These beautiful DAY OF THE DEAD DOTEE DOLLS showed up this morning from Palma's swap on the NEEDLE QUEEN'S group at MILLIANDE'S ART COMMUNITY FOR WOMEN.



Palma sent a card with her beautiful artwork on the cover!


The first Dotee out (all the way from Australia), is by Monika. 

This dotee holds a fabulous surprise inside





 
 

Second one out is by Gina with a wonderful tiny little dotee!  I love miniatures!

Last but not least, is a dotee made by Liz

A fantastic Sugar Skull Dotee

The dotee's flew in from the lovely Palma who resides in Italy!

Thank you Palma for such a fun art swap!

Thank you to Liz, Monika and Gina for these gorgeous dolls.  You all do such lovely work and I am hanging them up right away!

And for one more surprise....the winner of my giveaway is ...

Pam I will email you to get your address so that I can send you my art prints.

Thank you everyone who commented...I will be hosting another giveaway soon.



Artist's Don't Remain Trapped, Dig Deep Into Your Artist Self (Part One)

I am a creative person who loved to paint as a kid.  In high school I wanted to be an artist as a profession, but was discouraged.  In college, I took a couple of art classes just for fun.  After I had children, I had no time to create when they were babies.  Do you have a similar story?  You feel like an artist, you used to be an artist but your life is too busy?

Maybe, like me you have struggled to find time to create because you have a "real job".

I'm going to encourage you to join me on the journey to find our ARTIST selves.



  Last year I decided to once and for all, let myself be who I was meant to be...An Artist.

  HOW TO BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF:

• CHALLENGE YOURSELF (I'm giving myself permission to make art without guilt).
• MAKE ART A PRIORITY (I am a priority, if I am miserable my family and friends will suffer.  It's like how they say if your in an airplane, take the oxygen mask for yourself first and then put it on your children)
• TAKE A CLASS (There are so many good one's online.There are DVDs, adult education or the library).
• BUY A SKETCHBOOK AND ACTUALLY MAKE MARKS IN IT.
• MAKE A SPECIAL TIME OF DAY JUST FOR ART.  This is a hard one I know!

Figure out what are your true priorities...Mine are me and my family. That's it in a nutshell. I make sure kids are fed, nurtured and clean (mostly).  My husband and I have time together.  We have family time.  All the rest can fall down below the list and switched around as needed.

Household things:   I only do the most important.

• Laundry (First on my list because we all need to go out into the world with at least some clean underwear and socks)
• Bathrooms (Second only because I really can't tolerate germs or bad smells).
• Kitchen (I like to cook and I'm a germaphobe)
• Everything else can get done a little at a time (Do I need to repeat myself)?

I'd love it if you left a comment.  You can follow this blog by email, just add your name to "subscribe by email" in the upper right hand corner of this post.  Or just bookmark this blog to your favorites bar.  Be sure to stop by again.  

Look at what came in the mail!

Okay, I admit I got these in the mail a few days ago and I've been so busy that I haven't had time to post them.  


Sorry, Mary! 


 I just adore them and they needed a special post so it took some time.

Aren't they beautiful!  I just love them.   What a nice surprise.  She put so much work into them.


They are wrapped in metal tape and the bird shape is etched out.  My photo's don't do them justice (I only have point and shoot camera).

There are tiny surprises in each one...

A clothes pin, little books and cut out's of old fashioned ladies.  All are adorable.

I love these bottle top necklaces too...

Tiny birds and gems!  

I was like a little girl again...getting excited over my new little treasures!

She put so much effort into these tiny boxes.

So unique and very special, I'm so happy with them!

To see more of Mary's work...visit her blog http://tincantart.blogspot.com/

 

If you like art and crafts, subscribe to have my blog delivered to your inbox.  The email subscription box is in the upper right hand corner of the post.

I'd love to get to know you!  Come back again for a visit and leave a comment.  I'll be sure to visit you at your blog.

SECRET LIVES OF ARTIST'S

Today is Saturday Showcase (secret lives of artist's) and a GIVEAWAY!

I'm very happy to share today's featured artist Chaska Peacock!
http://www.artalchemystudio.com/

She is an artist whom I've met through the Creative Soul forum for artist's.
I'm inspired by Chaska's shrine's, assemblage, dolls and collage artwork.

Chaska writes:


As much as possible, I allow my unconscious to be in charge, and when it is a truly unconscious process, I am surprised by what I see at the end. Those are also the pieces
which I believe to be my best.

 

Sometimes, I am particularly taken by a particular element in my stash of odds & ends. This element dictates my choice of size and color of the box. Each raw wood box requires many coats of spray paint with sanding in between. After this prep, I glue the centerpiece element I've chosen inside the box and the rest just "comes", either immediately or not until the next day. If I become stalled at any time, or find myself analyzing my work, I lay it aside until the next day or even the day after.

Sometimes I can finish a work quickly, but other times, it takes weeks because I am looking for spontaneity and serendipity...with as much of my unconscious involved as possible.

http://www.artalchemystudio.com/

Thank you Chaska, it has been a pleasure to see your work and to present it here.


This post today has even more goodies for you...MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

Today is my 100th post so I am giving away some prints of my collage art to one person chosen randomly.

Just leave a comment and tell me what is your favorite medium of art...as in painting, drawing, collage, assemblage etc.  I will choose a winner at random and post the winner here on Thursday of next week.

Make sure to leave an email address for me to contact you if you are not on blogger or don't have a website.