Christmas Tree Art

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches…

That’s because of all the Art on them. Yes, I said art. No I haven’t had too much eggnog. :P

The Christmas tree is the ultimate expression of oneself, just like art. That’s why no Christmas tree is the same. When I decorate my Christmas tree, it’s just like when I sit down to paint. The tree is my canvas and the ornaments are my brush. Each piece makes the whole picture and when I’m done its art. Even if it’s lop-sided and there are too many of the same color glass balls hanging together, it’s still my masterpiece. It’s not art that only one person can make, everyone is a Christmas tree artist. Merry Christmas!

Classic Thanksgiving Turkey Art

I traced my hand and made a turkey with it today. As I put the little triangle on the thumb to make the beak I remembered making hand turkeys as a child. How clever the person who first traced their hand to make an animal must have been. It always came out looking just like the gobbler no matter how bad you were at drawing. Now, as I look at the awkward misshapen creation, I wonder if people would still eat turkey if it really looked like this… Probably. As strange as the hand turkeys may come out, I’m thankful that all children have a built in turkey stencil.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Computer Art is still Art.

When people ask me what medium I use to color my art, I usually answer Photoshop or MS paint. At this response they normally give me a look like my art has lost some value because it’s not done with watercolors or acrylics. I have tried so many different mediums including watercolors, color pencils, markers, and for me the one I like best for coloring is the computer. I don’t get mad at those people though, it seems to me if you aren’t impressed with art created on the computer, it’s because you don’t know all that goes into it. So I’d like to explain how my drawings are made.

First I start with a pencil and a piece of paper as most artists do. After I’ve drawn the picture, I ink it to keep it from being too light when I scan it onto the computer. Now it’s time to add color, and this is where the computer comes in. After deciding what colors my picture will have, I blend the colors. It’s much like you would with a paintbrush only a lot less clean up. I add and take colors using the color index until I create the desired color.

I then add my color to the picture. I make a base color, (a darker shade of the chosen color). I fill in the area with the base making sure to get every small detail by zooming in to color it. It’s not just a matter of clicking the icon, I use the mouse like a brush as I add the different colors. I then color over it with the chosen color, carefully leaving any areas I wish to be shaded open for the base to show through. Then starting with the chosen color, I readjust it to make highlights or shadows on my picture. Each small color difference is a result of adjusting and readjusting to get the precise color I want. True, I don’t have paint all over my face and clothes when I am finished, but I believe the end result is just as colorful and valuable as watercolors, and certainly as much hard work.

How to blacken a Myxie in 3 hrs or less...

It wasn’t my intention to make the clay faerie into charcoal, but that’s what happens when you don’t set a timer and then you leave.

Myxies are cute little faerie-like creatures that I have created. They are small with big pointed ears and large black eyes.

I was so very excited when I found a new clay to make my sculpting easier. I’ve always used self-hardening clay but it’s not as good for small details. The new clay would have to be baked, 30 minutes per inch thick. Myxies are only about a 3^rd of an inch thick so they would only take about 20 minutes. I finished a few Myxies, and was pleased with how cute they had turned out. Now time to bake them.

Placing them in the oven, I set the knob to 275 degrees, and then sat down to watch a movie while I waited.

Then I forgot them... which is not uncommon with me. I have to leave post-it notes all over my house to remind me of things I need to do, but I figured it was only 20 minutes, who could forget in that short of time.

After the movie was over I was hungry, so off I go to Kystals for some little burgers. When I came back home I smelt burning. Then I remembered! I rushed over to the oven and jerked open the door. My little clay Myxies were now little burn victims. The 20 minutes I was to cook them had turned into 3 hrs, and the consequences were graphic. The larger Myxies had crumbled under the weight of their charred limbs. Only one, the smallest, had stayed intact. An even black covered her entire body and I thought “I might be able to use her still”.

As I mourned for the Myxies that were lost I got to work on the survivor, making her silver wings and giving her hair. Even though, In the end the black Myxie turned out very dark yet cute, now I always set a timer while baking my sculptures, and I don’t leave the house.

The Creation of a Myxie

I decided to start sculpting. I made some marionettes a while back, and thought I’d try my luck with figurines.

First I start with the head. The head, in my opinion is the most difficult (with exception to the hands). It has the most detail and is essential to making any sculpture complete, unless you’re sculpting the Nike of Samothrace.

I thought a cute, original feature to the figurines would be to make very large ears. In many of my sketches I give my characters large ears. I think it’s cute and unique (I could be wrong, probably not though :P ) Then after the head is done the body is next. I make the limbs and slap those suckers on in whatever position suits me at the moment. Then comes the hands. Grrrr I’ve always had issues with hands, as a child whenever I drew a picture I would have the person with their hands behind them or in their pockets. Yes, I know it’s kinda like cheating, but all artists do it, why do you think the Venus De Milo had no arms? Because they fell off? No he just couldn’t sculpt hands.

After numerous trial and error and plenty of profanity, the hands are on and its time to paint. Painting on canvas can be a chore for me, but painting figurines is right up my alley. Now it is painted and I’ve given it hair and colorful plastic wings... I LOVE COLORING!

All that is left is to name my creation. Well since the sculpture is obviously a pixie it needs to be along those lines. Also since my artwork collection is called Mystic Reflections, I figured something to connect it to that would be good. So I came up with Myxies. See its Mystic plus pixie, its perfect! :)

Welcome To My Blog!

This is a lovely little blog where you can come to share your love of art.

I love making art and I always enjoy sharing ideas with other artists. So please come here if I can give you any advice about the things I've learned, and maybe I can learn from you as well!

If you have any specific questions that I can help with, please do not hesitate to send me an email. I would love to hear from you! :)