Give Away: Set of Ten Snowman Blank Art Cards

Come on over to Helix Elemental's Art Spot and check out the GIVEAWAY! A set of 10 snowman cards. For those of you who are familiar with my work..you may remember the snowman art from last year. Well they have been well received and they're back! Come on over and find out how you can enter the drawing to be held Dec. 13, 2009.

Find Out How to Enter the Drawing HERE!

2010 Collaborative Folks Art Calender

Announcing 2010 Collaborative Folks Art Calender featuring 12 frameable images (including Mother and Daughter - October)by 12 Folk Artists (including me..yay). Thanks to Ann Gardner for putting this project together.

The calenders are available at Just Us Folks at Etsy.

Just Us Folks A Collaborative Folks Project is a grassroots publishing company. Ann Gardner and her husband Aaron
have brought folk art from all over the world together in one place.

Ann says, "We love to make calenders and cards out of wonderful art while avoiding the commercial look.  There are tons of over polished calenders an malls and stores everytwhere.  These are unique. Each one of our Art Calenders is printed when ordered, hand cut, and hand packaged with lots of lovely goodness.  You'll see...Just order one.http://www.etsy.com/shop/justusfolks

Johann Kisses Julia Original Painting

A few months ago I found some vintage sheet music written for women's voices. It was a song about a heroic but mischeivous young man courting  a girl by stealing kisses. Then giving her flowers.  It was sweet and funny and it inspired the painting on the left. "Johann Kisses Julia" is collage, acrylic and oil pastel on an upcycled canvas covered board. 

It sold rather quickly at the Farmer's Market during this past summer. I had no sooner sold it than I had another inquiry about that same painting. So I decided to try the same painting again.  The second "Johann Kisses Julia" (right, below) has the familiar English folk song "Early One Morning" on vintage sheet music, collage papers, acrylic and canvas on hardboard background.  I was also able to make prints from this one.

I actually like the first one best but because of the paper creases in the face of both Johann and Julia I was unable to get good prints.

The second original painting and prints are both available in my Etsy shop.

Mother and Daughter:

I just finished this painting for Amber and Serenity.  I hope they like it.  It is painted on 8" x 10" gallery wrapped canvas using layers of different papers and texts, acrylic, and colored pencil. I was happy with the end result.  It is loosely based on some royalty free clip art that I found in a Dover book of Women. But, I have successfully made it my own and live guilt free.

Snegurochka: The Snow Maiden

Just Finished this painting "Snegurochka: The Snow Maiden" inspired by a Russian folktale about a old couple who had no children. They watched other children play with great longing. One day they decided to make a snow child. They formed her with snow balls and gave her lovely features. They were so impressed with their creation they wished that it was a real girl. Next thing you know, the snow sculpture comes to life and lovingly introduces herself to her new parents.  Snegurochka was a delightful child. Everyone loved her but she preferred to be outside and didn't like to come indoors where it was warm.  When Spring came she came to her parents in tears and said she had to go away for a while to the land of the North where it was always cold and snowy.  They were so upset the slammed the door and trapped her inside. She melted away in less than an hour. They wept and wept over the loss of their beautiful daughter.  When Winter came again, there was a knock on the door and to their amazement their loving daughter stood there before them. They had a joyous celebration. After that they were not so sad when Spring came because they know their daughter would return in the Winter and she did for many happy years to come.

This painting is acrylic and oil pastel on 8 x 10" gallery wrapped canvas. Prints are available in my etsy shop as well as the original painting.  The prints come in two versions. One is cooler and closer to the orignal and the other is warmer with more intense warm colors. I would be interested in knowing which of the two you all like best. Please feel free to post a comment letting me know.

Hand Painted Pendants

During the summer I painted some 1.5" square wood pieces on both sides, drilled a hole and strung 'em up with ball chain. Amazingly enough, most of them have sold during this summers Arts and Crafts Market.  I do have a few left though and plan to start listing them in my etsy shop.  I suppose I could take custom requests but I'm not sure yet how my time availability is going to land.  My husband is now working full time on his Jewlery http://www.helixelemental.etsy.com/ and this is good... However, things are still uncertain enough that I may have to go back to work full time at my regular day job rather than the part time hours that I currently work.  I hope I don't have to do this but..we'll see how things go.

Jackie: Wil-o-the-Wisp

Just in time for Halloween, my final attempt at capturing the "spirit", I now introduce to you...(drum roll please) Jackie!  Wil-o-the-wisp. She is painted on an up-cycled canvas covered board..previously a hand painted serving tray. She is often referred to as a ghostly light, a mischeivous spirit, a sprite, but she is the one who lights your jack-o-lantern on halloween night. She is painted using acrylic and oil pastel. She has big hair because she is charged with static electricity and her wings beat her hair into their own wing shape when she flies.  She lives in the swamp because she loves swamp creatures. Also it's a great place to play tricks on unsuspecting wanderers who bravely venture into her beloved play ground.

Both the original and art prints are available in my etsy store.