How I made "On My Way" painting

I just collected my painting from framing and thought of sharing my process of making it. You may be that lucky person who is able to paint straight out of imagination, but I am not one of those. I need reference images for every part of the way, or I am not usually succeeding in anything decent. Below are pictures I used, to arrive at my composition, colors and patters. Most of them I usually google, by typing words "pictures of wing", "pictures of patterns", "pictures of pathway". Here we go:

I used this reference for a model's face, hand a overall pose. I like it that it looked as if I could put something in her hand.

I thought of various options and liked this compas. It was added as collage and lightly overpainted.

I collaged this bird and heavily overpainted it. This image is from Graphics Fairy - free vintage images to use.

The wing was also collaged, made larger and overpainted. From Graphics Fairy.

This napkin from my collection was collaged at the bottom of her dress, and also overpainted.

I used this photo of G.Newton "Golden Path" for reference of my background. I collect many images of pathways for my art reference.

Dress pattern over the napkin.

Arch on top.

Flowers at the bottom.

Basically, I used to really get stuck with my paintings lacking interest, complexity and detail, until I started using references. If you experience the same problem, than it may be the way to go for you. In the end, you don't copy anyone's art, but make it your own.

Index Card Challenge - Week 1

I made 6 cards for the 1st week of ICAD Challenge, held by Daisy Yellow. It was lots of fun to follow prompts of this week: wallpaper, zebra, crown, candy-land, calligraphy, recycle or re-purpose, faux stitching. I had concern working on such cheap thin surface, but it actually worked out better than I expected, it does buckle a bit, but after putting it under weight - it straighten up again. It does lifts pressure off you when working on cheap paper, you just don't worry whether it will work or not - my main fear when I start an artwork on fancy surface. Initially I thought this challenge will just force me to practice art more, but it added additional benefit: I arrived at her compositions for larger paintings, and I didn't expect that. I highly recommend participating in the challenge - it does a lot for creativity. Calligraphy & Recycled Envelopes:

Faux Stitching & Wallpaper mixed with Zebra:

Candyland & Crown (I'd love to move these into larger artworks):

Wall of Fame in my Studio

The artists’ community on Facebook is remarkable. The support and encouragement you get is priceless. Recent workshop of Misty Mawn, held in January 2013 was a huge hit, probably 300 people participated, may be more, and it's still running. Facebook group is still going and I love seeing all the fabulous artwork there. I've exchanged cards with many artists, and what I received I recently posted on my window wall in the Studio. Thank you so much everyone for your generous original artworks.

Upcoming Index Card challenge on Daisy Yellow blog

I am excited to participate on this upcoming Index Card art challenge on Daisy Yellow Blog.  It starts this Friday – 1^st of June, but you can dive in any time later. You need to buy a pack of lined Index Cards, 3”X5” or 4”X6”, and create art on one card for 2 months (61 days – 61 cards). There will be optional themes given for each day. The idea is to keep making art, every day, in a simple, affordable, stress free way. Just doodling or complex art – no rules.

Here are my cards, already waiting to be explored and altered into endless possibilities. Such fun!

ATCs – my new artistic endeavour

I’ve heard about ATCs, but never really knew what it is, until Irene Raphael contacted me in February 2013 with an offer to join international group of 7 people and swap them every second month. I am always excited like a child about every new artistic opportunity, so I dived in, although working on such small scale (2.5”X3.5”!) was kind of scary thing to do. But I must say I really am in love with ATCs after making few of them. Our admin  - talented artist John Arbuckle, gives us a theme as a starting point. April theme was History, on which I did a series of Frida Kahlo ATCs, and June theme was Idioms – boy did I have fun with this one. My April History Theme. These were done as transfers on canvas, that was glued to the paper to make it sturdy. On top of the trasfers I collaged paper napkins with acrylic gel medium:

My June ATCs on theme "Idioms":

Left to right top to bottom: Get yourself in her shoes, It's a small world, Off the record, Get yourself in her shoes, Greening the mind, It takes two to tango.

Left to right top to bottom: Once in a blue moon, Feeling blue, There is something fishy about her, Out of the blue, Once in a blue moon, There is something fishy about her.

Left to right top to bottom: Start from scratch, In the heart of the moment, Start from scratch, On cloud nine, A bird in a hand better than two in the bush, In the heart of the moment, It takes two to tango, Walk the extra mile, Rise and shine.

Left to right top to bottom: 5 of them are "She is a flower-child", last one is "Once in a blue moon".

Additional ATCs that I made for swap on Trodden Path, with theme "Winged Children":