Black Friday Etsy Art Sale is Here!

I just activated my coupon code... What the heck...what's one more day ;D

WHIMSYBLACKFRIDAY     This will give you 15% off now till through Cyber Monday!

You can use this coupon code on all of my original art & prints :)

Enjoy! & have a most magical & blessed Thanksgiving :)

Tis the season to create!!

Hugs
Joanna
xoxo

Black Friday Art Sale!

Where has the time gone?! Thanksgiving is just around the corner & that means... Black Friday Sales! I for one love to shop on Black Friday... I think however this year, I'm going to offer up some really special offers in my etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/ABitofWhimsyArt and spend the day with Etsy!

Stay tuned, because I'm going to announce a special coupon for %15 off all of my artwork. This will run from Black Friday all the way through Cyber Monday :) But, if you convo me & tell me that you're one of my special blogging friends, I'll be more than happy to offer free shipping world wide as well :)

I also wanted to come on here & blog a bit about Hurricane Sandy, but it's too depressing.  I just wanted to point out that I do have a few prints in my shop where I'm donating 100% of the proceeds to the red cross.

I want to wish anyone of my friends on the East coast who might have been effected by Sandy that you stay warm & stay strong!!

Joanna
xo

What's New?

So much going on...(sounds weird saying that just now, it's such a bad habit of mine, that when ever anyone asks "what's new?", my response is always "nothing").  I've never liked talking about myself, my shyness I suppose, or perhaps the people pleaser in me that constantly wants to make other people feel important. It's weird coming on here, something about typing I suppose is freeing, I feel like I could say what ever is on my mind.  The kids are back in school now & I have time now to draw, which is funny because I've been working non stop through the summer.  It's not the same though, I like to throw myself 100% into my art, & it's it bit hard to do when you've got little ones around needing your attention. Mixed emotions though, because now here I am talking about them, miss them terribly!

I don't know where to start... Here is "My Protector"... He's just got those eyes that tell me he'll always be there looking over me. (I really need to start framing my work and actually get it up on the walls, so many pieces I'm afraid are starting to pile up around the house, I think they deserve more).




Here is a piece that I did for a lovely women who rescues Cocker Spaniels... The names below represent the three pups that really have touched her life, & are angels to her.




& Here is my "Little Braveheart"... be brave little one, she represents the little voice inside my head that picks me up when I am down.




Thanks for looking... till next time... hugs & kisses...

"The Beauty Within"

I'm so excited to share my newest girl! I've called this piece "The Beauty Within". I struggled with naming her for a while... I knew she was beautiful & that she might represent someone or some emotion that is unattainable... like a beauty that only exists in fairy tales...that she's the furthest thing from reality. These were my thoughts during the whole process. I was thinking of even giving her just any old pretty name.

BUT then of course the light bulb went off, lol. I realized that we all have it in us to *be* her... (silly me) it's the simplicity of kindness & love that we can experience & that shines through... to be kind & generous... so it is a selfless beauty that she possesses that exists within us all.. These thoughts are as old as dirt, but I'm a true believer that it doesn't matter what a person looks like on the outside, your "beauty within" is what makes you truly beautiful!  Sorry, my art makes my sappy!!




I hope you like her! Cheers :) Joanna xo

Fine Arts Festival 2012

Well, the day had come & God blessed us with beautiful weather!! I'm so lucky because this fair is local.. I've never traveled to do fairs before. Well, this was my second year at this one & what a marvelous day it was! Last year it rained all day, bleck!

So, here are some pics from the big day... I'm afraid most of the pics are of the crazy kiddoes and not so much of my art. 









It wasn't till after uploading these that I reallized that I didn't have a shot of the whole tent. To the right of "Grace" on the opposite side, sat "Summer". They looked so nice at the entrance... & to my surprise "Summer" made it to the winner's circle & got an Honorable Mention! I can't even tell you how incredibly excited I was! If anyone know's me... I don't have to go into how *insecure* I am, especially when it comes to my art. AND especially anyone who remembers that I barely even dabbled into colors at all, not since "The Summer of Color" over at Kristin's last year.




So, all in all, it was really a lovely day, my mom & sister stopped by for support. I couldn't ask for a better day. Darling daughter kept referring the day to as it being "mommy's special day" :)

Now... I must move along and blog about some of my new art!! Yikes, never enough time in the day!! xo

"Grace"

Meet "Grace". I've done other pieces since "I Feel You", & will get to blogging about them soon....lol, I've found a moment to breathe right now & figured I would share my newest favorite!! I'm excited to share her, I recently told someone, that I rarely know what my pieces will look like once I start them. For example with her, I knew her hair would be red & the moment the brush hit the paper, I knew her hair would be in this style. Her face came last, and it wasn't until she was nearly competed that I knew her name would be "Grace". So here you have her.



I had an art fair this past weekend that I would love to share as well... this was only my second art fair that I've done, & it's because it's nice and close to home & the kiddies came along for the day! Those pics have yet to be uploaded, so till next time!

Keep creating! xo

"I Feel You"

Where do I start with this piece... ? Lets just say that I've never been sicker... (still sick, cough cough) with pneumonia that is, and still couldn't keep from wanting to work on this piece.  I even took a short trip (earlier this month) and all that I could think about was this drawing, this angel... and the story behind her.

I was commissioned to do a heartfelt piece not so long ago and created "Surrender"... I was approached again by him, but this time he was ready to share his oh so painful story... For this piece he wanted me to have creative control, to draw a picture... this time having the story of his life poured into one of my faeries. 

I've never been so inspired and touched during a piece before... how blessed & honored I was to create her.  She spoke to me, she said "I Feel You"...

A Darling Portrait

OK I was just complaining to myself that it's been forever since my last blog post... so, here I am making some time to, as what a better reason than to talk about the most darling little girl that I completed a few weeks ago! How sweet is she?! Oh if you could just see her picture she's an absolute angel... I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do her justice. I had the honor of doing her picture after her mom explained there were many generations of art & creativity that runs in the family. So I was just tickled pink to do this for her & her family :)



In the mean time... I hope everyone had a marvelous & blessed Easter! 

Oh Fred wanted to say hi & Happy Easter as well! :)

"Surrender"

I wish you all could have seen the drawing in it's original state, I'm afraid the scan just doesn't do this piece any justice... This was a commission, if you recall my piece called "Heartbroken". A most wonderful person fell in love with her, but wanted me to create a very special piece similar that they could call their very own.... So, here I've created "Surrender". She's tried to be brave, but the pain & sorrow was just too much to bear. All she could do is succumb to the agony & surrender all of her emotions. She is captured in that very moment for all time.

Summer ~

I am so incredibly excited to introduce to you my "Summer" ! I have to say I've had favorites before (I know I say that with every new piece) But seriously... I love love love her! :) I still can't believe that I'm using color, tons of it & she's a stunning 11" X 15" .




Again, I've been sooo busy! I barely have a moment to come on here & talk about her. I've since been working a two amazing commissions... so as soon as they are complete perhaps I'll have some time to come on here & see what every one's been up to!

Oh, I've named her "Summer" because when I look at her I see an ocean breeze, I think of running barefoot in the grass on a hot summer day... let the air of her whisk you off through the clouds towards the sun... I wish I was better with words, but she warms my heart, as the sun does, on a summer day with not a care in the world...

Cheers ! xoxo

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Oh my goodness...I think I'm going to do hair in water color from now on! I borrowed a sheet of watercolor paper from Maddie, pulled out a few old watercolor pencils & went to town :)

So much fun actually that I started another piece that I'm so excited about...she's going to be called "Summer" & can not wait to share her.

Here is "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder" I keep hearing this in the *art* world...& the phrase came to mind after creating her & showing her to Darling husband after he replied..."pink hair, really?"

"Young at Heart"

A portrait like no other... I was overjoyed to get a request to do a portrait from someone for her very special friend who has an upcoming birthday. She asked if I can do not just any old portrait, but a fantasy one, like my girls I create. I can't tell you how happy that made me because it's the magic and the fantasy that is at the heart of all my drawings :)

Here is a girl who has a passion for all things magical... I called this piece "Young at Heart" as I wanted to capture her spirit on paper... that no matter how much time goes by, the butterflies and everything that makes her young and free will always be there, captured in this artwork forever.

What fun I had on this project, & dealing with this client was quite the Kindred Spirit herself! 

Where to Start?

I've said it before, but I'll say it again...You can just pinch me...so that I know I'm not dreaming! I've been sooo busy I've barely had time to come on here and talk about my artwork let alone visit everyone to see what my lovelies have been up to!

I'm so incredibly happy to report that "Pure" & "Forget Me Not" were sold as a pair :D  I was really hoping that they would stay together...my heart is happy knowing that they will forever be enjoyed as a pair :)

What's next... I created of all things, a lion for a lovely women from Australia who went to South Africa on Holiday and wanted me to recreate one of her pictures... How incredibly inspiring! Here he is, just completed today.





Here is "My Secret Garden" She was a work in progress which seems like took forever, & I still don't think she's finished. But I really like her so never the less, here she is.



"Hurting" She was a work in progress for a while as well...what's the name Heather? She had a name for all of the unfinished projects laying around the house...that's how I've been feeling lately!




There's more but I just don't have the time, lol! I have to make dinner, the kiddies will be home soon from CCD... The house is sooo neglected too, I don't even want to look in the laundry room!! xoxo

"Forget Me Not"

Gosh so much to blog about & not enough time...I've still yet to blog about the little girls monograms that I've completed af few weeks ago.... & there's another piece that I finally completed, she was one of those works that I kept going back & for with... & a logo for all things, a boy scouts camp! It's really a wonderful piece that I can't wait to share.  Like I said, busy !!!

But here I'm going to blog about "Forget Me Not".  She was completed right after I did "Pure".  I felt like she needed a companion. I loved her from the moment the pencil hit the paper till completion of the piece...it's just one of those times when you start a piece of art & then from start to finish with no problems, no issues, she just appeared, done, like magic !



I hope to visit everyone really very soon...inspiration is everywhere ! xoxo

A Most Cherished Work of Art :)

Last night, as I was so wrapped up with etsy stuff & blogging & other things on the computer, my baby brought me this picture she drew at school (she's 6 & still my baby, lol)... She's always drawing me pictures of course & between her & her brother, I'm really running out of room to put them all! But this one, oh my goodness, in every sense of the phrase...truly "touched my heart!"

So naturally, I want to share it with all of you :) I've always said, it's the *meaning* behind a drawing or painting that makes a work of art truly special....

Cheers for a most wonderful & magical weekend!

xoxo

~ Wall Flower ~

I had to say goodbye to my * Wall Flower * yesterday. If you remember, I did her as a piece during our fabulous "Summer of Color" with our wonderful Kristin.. This was, (I think for the second week) "Green".

I've talked about it on here before, but as you all know, I very rarely add, if not ever used to add color to my drawings.  So needless to say that  the summer of color was truly a challenge, yet so very inspirational to me! So many wonderful artists & now proud to call *friend* really truly inspired me to invite color into my drawings. & now I can proudly say, that I love color & welcome it with open arms...

So anyway, here she is....my * Wall Flower * I really can't believe that she's gone. It's one thing doing commissioned work, you're creating it for that special someone.  But this was different, that special someone was *me*... & all of you too, for all you inspired me during this past summer. So I dedicate this post to all the magical people who have supported my art since starting this little venture of mine...  You have to believe in the magic, & all your dreams will come true.

~ Pure ~

She's done and I've called her simply "Pure" as when I look at her, I see all that is good and pure in the world. I'm in love with her... I think I have a new favorite piece :)



OH & she's listed in my shop, just today! xo