Marbled Paintings

I've been experimenting with a new technique I am really excited about!  These are acrylic paintings on stretched canvas.  3 canvases are tiny (6 by 6 inches) and one is 20 by 20 inches.  Can you tell which are which?

Photographing Home Decor

With my photos, I usually just show the good stuff, but today I want to show you my process in how I get to that good point.

Here is where I started.  I like to take lots and lots of shots (pictured below are just a few from the whole shoot).  I look at the images on the screen of my camera.  Sometimes a great composition in real life, doesn't look the same on the screen. From the photo below, you can see there is a lot that needs done composition-wise.

I pulled in closer and added the bird.

We're getting closer.  I removed the bird and the map, and put the plant back on the books.

I moved the plant back, and added the map back in (the map adds a nice layer, and height).  This photo has layers, texture, color, a focal point and contrast.  This is the final, and I love the end result.

Winter Wonderland

I spent Christmas back where I grew up.  I forgot how amazing it is when the frost covers everything.  It was so beautiful!  This isn't snow on the trees, it's hoarfrost.  It sticks around in the early morning, until the sun hits it, then it all disappears.  

These fun shots were worth my frosty fingers.

Elf's Snowman

I have a bad case of Elf-on-the-shelf-itis.  I actually came up with this idea in my sleep.

Ever wonder where those socks go missing?  Our elf rolled up these sock balls, and even used lint for the eyes and buttons.

Merry Christmas!

Watercoloring with the Kids

 Yesterday we spent some time experimenting with watercolors.  Here are the gems of what we turned out.  I may or may not have enhanced these on the computer.  Too bad these cool effects are most easily achieved on a small painting.  I would love to see these huge!

So, this one was mine

Jenna's Painting

Adam's painting and close ups

Katie's Painting

 Just look at them go!

Winter Landscape 2

Here we go again.  This is acrylic on board, 19.5 inches square.

Detail shots:

 Here it is on display.  Ooo-la-la!

Also, yesterday Jenna and Katie made these cute houses (they even cleaned up after themselves).  They came up with the idea and did this all on their own.  Cute creative kids.

Doodling at the Dentist

I had some extra time to kill while at the dentist with Katie.  Here are my Christmas (mostly) doodles:

And here is what our elf was up to:

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Mini Me Doll House Dolls

Here are three of my lovely children- in their doll house doll forms.  I started working on these while Adam was in the Hospital for chemotherapy.  It was easy for me to get wrapped up in this project, and helped pass the time eaiser (a  three night stay).

For their dolls, I used actual clippings from my girls hair.  We left Adam bald for now.  He'll get some hair when the real Adam gets hair.

Jenna Adam and Katie

Jenna and Katie each helped me in designing their dresses.  Jenna wanted something more simple, Katie wanted all the bells and whistles (of course), and her favorite colors teal and white.

They also picked the hairstyles they wanted.

The dolls are made from polymer clay, paint, paper, lace, thread, hair and resin.

Adam and Katie with their dolls

Shouldn't be much longer until they both get hair!

You can go here to see my tiny doll house food, and here to see more doll house views.