New works to share.

'The Room'  8x10"

I think this work has been my favorite to work on thus far.  Due to the detailed nature of this picture, I had to take it on in sections - small works within the larger work - or I became easily overwhelmed.  Likewise, I found myself needing to take breaks from working on the wallpaper because it was so extremely time consuming.  My brain would literally  tire out at times and I would just have to set it aside and work on something else of a more simple design.  Near the end, I had a quilling tool break and become unusable and misplaced my back-up, so I stepped back in time and completed the work using finger rolling.  I love the result.  There are sections with almost non-existent centers and then others with larger open coils.  The picture itself is only 8 x 10" but took a whopping 85 hours to complete.  Every inch was time consuming, challenging, and extremely pleasurable.  I am enjoying the more detailed pictures and will continue to push myself in this direction.  I am already plotting my next picture and hope to get rolling soon.

This little butterfly was created for the digital design only.  I isolated it using my computer and then printed out dozens of copies on temporary tattoo paper.  My daughter and I cut them up and applied them to all the little kids who visited my booth at the last Waikiki Art Fest.  I made robots for the boys.  It was a hit.  

This untitled work was a commissioned piece.  It measures in at 5x7" and resides now in Alaska.

'Lady Longboards'  16x20"

I began this piece in October, right after I arrived in Oahu.  It has taken me a long time to complete.  It's size is large, but I have found that my interest is taking me in a new direction of more detailed work and I found the shading aspect of this work daunting.  I love the effect, but I need to do it in stages.  I remember the same feeling when I used to spend my free time knitting.  Whenever it was time to stockinette stick, my eyes would glaze over and I would begin dreaming of new projects to tackle.  This was much the same.  I have completed a good 20 pictures since the beginning of this one.  I would bring my boarders out each festival weekend and chip away at a new area.  Finally the end was reached and I am really happy with the end result.  I love how  it begins in grey scale and enhances in color.  

The Bride.

I belong to quite a few different art and quilling groups, both online and off, but my favorite one at the moment is Craftster.  There are so many incredibly talented and inspiring people on there that post pictures of their ideas and projects.  They also hold different challenges and swaps which I adore.  I love swapping.  I do personal swaps at festivals and such all of the time and some of the most amazing art I own was acquired in this manor.  My new obsession in the world of swaps however is one that I  was introduced to recently: Art Trading Cards (ATC).  I posted previously about a card that I created (the robot) and I am back to share my latest with you today.  The thing I love about doing ATC swaps is that the person you are swapping with dictates the subject matter based on their personal preferences.  These likes and dislikes are usually quite different from my own which pushes my brain.  I am creating a work with another person in mind while keeping to my artistic methods and creativity.  The same is done when I do most commission work, but the ATC cards have the added element of being extremely tiny. A finished piece must measure in at 2.5 x 3.5 inches in total.  Which when you are used to working with much more space, is a great challenge.  I love it.  Troy has imposed a limit as to how many swaps I am allowed to participate in at any given time (they take a lot of time and I do create such work as a living normally) but I am embracing it.  The swaps seem to give me the feeling I used to have when I was more craft, less art.  I don't know why, but it is nice to step back once in awhile.  I also get beautiful little cards of art in the mail themed on MY preferences, which is simply amazing.

Shannon's Perfect Tree

Here is the third piece I have completed for the friend of mine who has started a collection.  It was inspired by a photo he sent me of a tree that his wife loves in Michigan.  The kids call it 'Mom's Perfect Tree'.

Newly finished commissioned work - 'Lily'

I was commissioned by an old friend to do two pictures for him and his wife. They bought a small piece from me a few months back and are now starting to collect. They want all three pieces to be nature in theme and be bright and bold. The first work they bought from me was a 5 x 7" retro flower picture that I often do variations of because they are so popular. This go round they requested a 6 x 8" and an 8 x 10". The 6 x 8 was left entirely up to me. The following pictures are of what I came up with. I just finished last night. I am pretty happy with the finished effect. I used all of the colors that I used in their previous picture plus many additional. I plan on incorporating this element in the third as well. The couple plan on hanging their collection as a grouping - and while they will all be different in subject and perhaps even stylistically, there will at least be a little similarity amongst them all. I have sent off photos to him but have year to hear back as to whether or not he likes the work. I hope it is a yes... then I can get started on the next one :)

Here is a photo of the picture I made that inspired the first work the couple commissioned from me: