More Coffee Stainning

Ok, now that I've determined that Yes, coffee is a medium... (obviously, amongst other things like tea and wine (thanks Tammie ;))

I have fallen in love with the way coffee looks on paper. It gives the drawing such warmth, but mostly darkness... I like the dark tones that it gives that raw look & emotion that I feel when I use it. I think bringing something new to my art.... I hope you can "feel" a bit as I did when creating them...

She's called "Neglect" ...... not in the way you would right away think.  Not neglected by anyone particular.  It's the fact *she* neglects herself... You see she's always had an overwhelming feeling of low self worth... As if she doesn't "deserve" to be taken care of... she neglects her physical appearance as well as her health and emotional being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is simply "Want" She always has a look of *want* in her eyes... constantly wanting to be loved, to be cared for, appreciated...



 



Is Coffee a Medium?

Just one of the many questions I often ask myself in regards to my art, still feeling like a person who is "impersonating" an artist. I only started using watercolors within the past few years... So the idea of picking up a paint brush at all is still very foreign to me. 

It was my first piece here "Imagine" where I incorporated the greens using watercolor. After finishing her I was left feeling like she needed something else... My thoughts were to incorporate some subtle browns... Having no brown watercolors, I started to think "aha, tea staining, I've heard of that before". Long story short, there were no tea bags in the house either... & being in the moment of creating brewed a cup of coffee & well here you have it. My first pieces using "coffee staining" so whether or not it is an appropriate *art medium*, here I sit still pondering that question...






This was my second attempt... wanting to use more... so, meet my newest favorite piece. She doesn't have a name.... To my surprise she sold less than a day after completing her & listing her in my shop. So now I look at her on my screen thinking... "You weren't mine to begin with... that's why I didn't name you"





Thanks for looking. I really need to blog more! As in all of my recent posts... there just simply isn't enough time in a day!


Wishing all a very magical New Year :)

xo

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"...