New App. for playing with photos

I just added Pixlr-o-matic to my I-phone and computer.  It is a free app for photo effects.  Where you make your photo's look vintage, artsy, framed...etc.

It's a lot of fun.  Boring paintings can be made fresh. Bad color shots can be brightened or darkened.

Fun frames can be added as well.

Here, the photo is very pink and bluish tinted.  Not so great.

 Adding Pixlr didn't make it great but I think livened up a poor shot.

Warmer colors and black frame gave this photo a bit of interest.

What I like most about this app. is changing my artwork.  Bright ones can go black and white or any color change you like.  Plus there lot's of vintage and interesting frames to choose from.

Here is my original painting.

Colorful and bright was my intention.

The new adjusted version of this photo is muted and interesting to me as well.

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The same here in this painting, brights are wonderful and vivid...

But the dark and sketchy version makes this painting mysterious.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.  Have fun!

I'm linking this post to Just Journals, check it out!

How To Keep It Creative Everyday

Keep your supplies handy and you'll be inspired to pick up that sketchbook.

Here is the box of supplies I keep next to where I sit when watching t.v. with my family.

I'm not too interested in television but that way I can sit and talk and  be with them.

1. Keep a Mixed Media Sketchbook.  They have thick paper that hold layers of paint and markers.
2. A box of organized markers, pens, paints- Just a small one in same location.
3. Spray water bottle, regular bottled water and brushes.  If the mood strikes to paint and watercolor.
4. Small table with wheels. I have this crappy little table, I found.  No worries for spills.  It's ugly and gets rolled around where needed and stashes easily in the closet.  T.V. trays, laptop/book desks that sit right on your lap work well so that I can paint right in my sketchbook. 
5. Always have paper towels and baby wipes ready. 
6. Couch covers are necessity in my home.  Kids, dog, cat and me, well, they're just a necessity.  I have two pairs that get washed and rotated all them the time.  Keeps couches fresh and clean.

The box of supplies may look ugly for company, but keeps your supplies all together.   Keeping all in one box makes it easy to move to the closet.

When supplies are ready to go, no preparations to make, it's easy to begin your creative life.

Keep it simple, do what you love, do it now! 

Have a look at the other artists linking to Creative Everyday.

How To Live A Creative Life

How to live a creative life?  Just begin.  

Expect a creative life and magically it becomes one.  Once you begin an inner momentum takes over.  Just like the seed that lies dormant and one day sprouts, grows and becomes so strong it can break through parched soil even cracks of cement.

Worldly chaos or focused creating, that is our choice.  There is a beauty in simply doing.

Accepting thoughts of  yourself as artist, gives rise to a life rich in creativity. 

There is something profound in the simplicity of making art. 

Just a doodle can lead you down a path of exploration to more fun, more creative expression.

My tiny spiral index card deck that I take wherever I go.  For doodling "in the moment".

How many paintings do you plan to make this year?  Or do you even have an amount?


When you have an ailment that hinders what you love to do (my ailment is arthritis) you become thankful for every moment that you are pain-free.


I'm just happy to be creating.  To be involved in the doing.  I embrace and love every moment that I am allowed this most precious gift.    


I hope you embrace the gift you've been given.

Just sketching around by denni mulligan

Also linking to Artists in Blogland


I would love it if you leave a comment, I'll be sure to visit you on your blog or website.  While your here why don't you bookmark this blog so you remember where I am and visit my newer posts.  See you soon in the comment section.

Rockin the Paint!

NYC Rockin New Year's Eve party got nothing on us.  The Mulligan's reaching new levels of  Tom Foolery, stayed up to 1AM.  Champagne, artery clogging snacks, noise makers keeping crabby neighbors upset all night, we partied til the last chip and dip consumed.

Bleary eyed, my kids reaching new levels of crazy counted down to 2012.  I wasn't helping the situation by spiking their sparkling cider.(KIDDING!)


This New Year's Day (while your riffling through drawers for those pajama jeans), husband snoring softly in front of football, kids glassy eyed from sugary goodness and pigs in blankets, why not take an aspirin and sneak away to create?

I need recovery from the 9 day school vacation.  I'm pulling out the art stash ( as soon as I skip over my first resolution..exercising).  I'm going to drip, splash, swoosh and mop, with a paint brush of course.  Or, I may sit aimlessly, staring for hours out the window.  It's great for a headache.

Inspired by thinking of a cold winter's night, sitting by a cozy fireplace (we only have a candle place)   I made this painting.

Winter Fire by Denise Mulligan

Hope your recovery goes well today and you 
start forgetting all those resolutions you never intended on keeping.  ;) 

Keep the new year opened, fresh, filled with possibilities rather than rigid goal setting.  Unless you're  OCD and your enjoy that kind of stuff.


                              HAPPY 2012 To One and All!