Fire and Ice Face

So, I've been working and lost my muse for a while.  Seems that is happening alot lately.  I am seriously always trying to get something done, but never in the art department.  I made this ATC a while ago and am now just getting around to posting it.  The really funny thing is that I can't bare to give it up for trading.

I love the porcelain masks with the different pictures painted on them and that is what inspired this particular piece of art.  I think I might just keep creating ATCs with more like this and then I won't feel so guilty about trading one.

Day 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, & 103 ATCs

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 Day 98

 Day 99

 Day 100

 Day 101

 Day 102

Day 103

I haven't been in the blogging mood or really in any type of motivated mood in over a week.  So, when my friend came over for our play date, I was somewhat motivated and made 3 cards and did some work in my art journal.  Here are my artist trading cards for days 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, & 103.

These cards have all been included over at 2010 Project 365 on Naked Heart Arts Studio blog.

Day 97 - Flower Person

This is another card I did for a "Flower People" Swap.  Again, I did 3 main cards and then 1 for the hostess of the swap.  This was actually a fun swap.

I watercolored the background, drew the girl, collaged some paper, and then used markers to outline.  This was alot of work, but the 4 cards turned out rather well.

This is Day 96's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 95 - Peacock

I am an avid bird watcher and love birds.  There are ugly birds, pretty birds, small birds, and large birds.  I sat on my front porch and watched a Red Robin trying to get the seeds on a bird feeder I put up this year that doesn't really have anything for the birds to perch on.

Last year my mom bought me the bird feeder for my birthday, but I didn't even think about it having something for the birds to perch on.  The Red Robin finally figured out how to sit on it to get a few seeds and then took it back to its partner that was sitting on a nearby tree stump.

I thought to myself, "where there is a will, there is a way"!

This is Day 95's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 94 - Bunny 004

I participated in a "Bunches of Bunnies" swap this week and this is one of the four that I did!  It was pretty funny how the bunnies got smaller as I got down to the 4th one.  This is the first bunny I did, which took up most of the card.  I was excited to join this swap as I love bunnies and was reminded of how much my 14 year old loves them too.  She still has her "first" bunny from her "first" Easter.

That poor bunny is now tattered, naked, and looking pretty rough, but she will not throw it away.  When she was 2 she pretty much chewed apart the straw hat the bunny once had.  When we first bought the bunny it was so cute and had the cutest little dress.  After the dress was "done" my mom made like 2 outfits for it, but now that is gone too.

This is Day 94's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 87 - Santa Fe Adobe

I miss the desert and found a tiny picture of some Adobe houses and decided to blow it up and add some baskets and peppers with mountains.

This is Day 87's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 77 - Chihuahua with Sunglasses

This is a hand drawn artist trading card I made of a Chihuahua with sunglasses.

This is Day 77's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 76 - Robot

I am just trying to get caught up here and won't be actually posting anything "text" wise as I am currently taking care of a sick kid.

This is Day 76's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 74 - Male Superior Fairy Wren

This is a drawing of a Male Superior Fairy Wren.  I love the colors of this cute little bird.  Any Female Superior Fairy Wren would be lucky to have this guy!!

When I was looking for larger "Public Domain" photos to draw from I ran across this website called "Cool Melbourne" that had the following statement to make about nature:

"When we talk about wildlife we’re talking about all of the mammals, birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, sponges, jellyfish and bacteria: we’re talking about all the walking, flying, hopping, swimming, slithering and squirming creatures that make up the wonderful mix of creatures that we share our planet with." (Our Environment - Wildlife, 2010)

"Can you even begin to imagine if they weren’t here with us, if we had only human companions on our planet?" (Our Environment - Wildlife, 2010)

To read more about what Cool Melbourne has to say about wildlife, the environment, and more visit their website!

This is Day 74's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Reference:

Our Environment - Wildlife. (2010). Retrieved March 17, 2010, from Cool Melbourne: http://www.coolmelbourne.org/our-environment/wildlife/?page=2

Day 73 - McCaw Parrot

This is an original drawing done by me of a McCaw.  Such wonderful and intelligent birds.

This is Day 73's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 72 - Garden Gnome

The legend of the Garden Gnome is not only mythological, but dates back centuries.  Earlier illustrations depict a twisted looking little old man with a long white beard.  They were even thought to look like little deformed dwarfs due to their small stature.

In Germany, gnomes were often depicted as miners. This is due to a theory that these miners, of small stature, came from the island of Crete around 1,500 BC to dig for gold and silver in parts of Europe, including southeast Germany, which may have led to the mining dwarf legend. These little people were often featured in German fairy tales, such as those told by the Brothers Grimm, and dwarf figurines were thought to bring good fortune to a home if placed in the house or garden which is why they were adopted by so many German homes.

Did you know that the pointed red hat that is often seen on garden gnomes today was formerly a depiction of the hat that was initially worn by the miners in the mountains of south-east Germany?

We don’t regard them as highly as they were historically.  The “painted” garden gnome originally came about in Germany towards the end of the 19th century when there was a large ceramic industry producing household and garden ornaments. Gnomes were extremely popular and many manufacturers started exporting large quantities around the world.

The image of the Garden Gnome did not change until 1937 with the Walt Disney Production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.  This film was based on the original Brothers Grimm tale of “Little Snow White”.  

At around the war between 1939 and 1945 is when production resumed of Garden Gnomes continued, but the image changed as well as the color.  The colors were brighter and looked more cheerful.

It was around 1960 that Garden Gnomes started being manufactured out of plastic somewhere in Germany. Now they were not only shatterproof, but weatherproof as well.  In no time at all the Garden Gnome was back on track as becoming a popular addition to household gardens everywhere.

This is Day 72's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 71 - Lucky Dragonflies ATC

This is a hand drawn artist trading card (ATC) that I did with pencil and marker.  While I like paper collaging my art passion is really watercolor and drawing.  I think I've gotten better at drawing and are actually seeing things in terms of shapes and lines instead of what is just there.

When I say that I mean this: A face is not just a face to me anymore rather an arrangement of lines, curves, and shapes.  If I draw according to this I notice that what I am drawing turns out better than if I just try to draw "what I see".

My other passion, one of many, are butterflies and dragonflies, so I really enjoyed making this card.

This is Day 71's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 70 - Lucky Steve The Leprechaun

This is just Lucky Steve! I felt it only appropriate to draw something for St. Patrick's Day since it is next week. The leprechaun is considered a mythological creature that appeared for centuries in Irish Folklore.

The Irish-American viewed the leprechaun much differently than how the traditional Irish viewed them.The Irish-American leprechaun is more of a silly made up person, while the Irish leprechaun is based on traditional folklore that goes back to the Celtic period. The Irish-American leprechaun was actually taken from cartoons that were used against the Irish and not at all based on the actual tradition. This includes the pug nose, batted hat, and fist in the air. The traditional Irish leprechaun was based on actual folklore of spirits that could be angered if one went near certain sacred places. I was used a method of controlling people and their behaviors. It was a way setting boundaries for Irish societies.

To see a video about the leprechaun and other Irish traditions visit the History channel.

This is Day 70's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 61 - Funky Shoes

I LOVE shoes and am absolutely NOT telling how many pairs I own.  I also love drawing shoes so this artist trading card (ATC) was a cinch.  This ATC is an original pencil drawing by me and colored in with markers.  I have to at least 6 pair of Birkenstocks and just recently realized that there is a book regarding these very fine shoes called The Birkenstock Name in History.  They are comfortable and you pay for quality that lasts a lot longer than anything found at any "cheap" shoe store.

My favorite pair are my black open toes with red roses on them!

This is Day 61's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 60 - Smoky

This is a kitty that I painted with watercolors.   I love watercolors but am not sure I will ever really get the hang of it.  My favorite medium to use is markers!!  

Wow, I went over to "Shabby Blogs" to look at their really cool backgrounds and I forgot what I was originally doing.  You have to check their blog out as well.

This is Day 60's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 58 - Gray & Turquoise Kitty

Who says kitties have to be drawn and colored in their original shades of color?  Not me! My daughter was drawing cats tonight and asked me if I could draw a cat that she found in a magazine.  I started drawing the kitty and then asked myself what it would look like in different colors.  I definitely like the gray and turquoise and thought it turned out rather interesting.  

I am going to be practicing drawing cats more as I am totally in love with them.  Since we have 3 cats, they may end up being my live models!!  

I recently reviewed a video I saw from an amazing artist that uses layers to draw the details of cats and hope to use her techniques for drawing cats more realistic to their true colors.

This is Day 58's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 57 - Mr. Wizard

This is a wizard that I drew with triangle shapes.  While exploring new options for things to draw I often reference a book of shapes that I own.  I think the hardest part for me with drawing is coming up with things to draw.  I am currently unemployed, but my days are filled with cooking, cleaning, laundry, and kids!  Who would have thought staying at home would result in ample work with little time for anything else!! LOL

This is Day 57's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 56 - Greek Lady 0001

Well I'm not really sure what to say here.  So, this is Day 56's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.