Thursday, September 23, 2010

I'm Moving To Wisconsin!!

Finally, I can explain why I've been a little anti-social in blog land lately. We are moving to Wisconsin next month and I wasn't absolutely sure of it until today. My husbands work is re-locating us. So from Georgia to Wisconsin here we come!! In the next four weeks I will doing the Art Festival, packing my house, looking for a house and registering my girls in a new school. Lot's to do(O:

I will be checking in every now and then but will be back in Blogland once I'm settled sometime in November. Once we are settled in our new home I plan to get my Pen-tastic Portrait business going strong. Until next time.............

Have a wonderful October!! See you soon(O:

My New Blog!!


Thanks to the help and inspiration of my blog friends I've decided to start a new blog "Pen-tastic Portraits" dedicated to my Custom Portraits. The time has come where I need to kick start the business side of being an artist and try to start making a living. I thought this new blog would be a more direct source for my followers and client to view my latest Pen-tastic Portraits.

A special thanks goes to Creative Carmelina for helping me with the catchy name(O: & Julie for inspiring the idea for a separate blog.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

John Lennon Portrait



I want to thank everyone for such amazing encouragement with my Portraits!! Literally all I did yesterday was work on John Lennon and I finished him at about 11:00 last night. I would love to have a collection of these for the art festival & of course this had to be a last minute thought so I certainly have my work cut out for me. They are so much fun to create and it's amazing how much I can think about things while I'm doodling. Have an artsy day everyone!!
Both the original and Prints are available now in my Etsy Shop!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Mona Lisa Portrait



Over the weekend I completed this Portrait of "Mona Lisa". I tried to do an entire portrait without any daisies....... I can't believe I did it!! I feel confident I will be able to achieve a masculine illustration of boys and men now too(O: This original is available now in my Etsy Shop it's also available in a Print too!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sunday Sketches












Welcome to Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia at Blue Chair Diary. For more Sunday Sketches check out Sophia's blog!

The top photo here is an example I created of my dogs "Paisley & Stella" for my students. We are working on Pet Collages this month and I'm so proud of their progress with this project. These next few photos are of my students hard at work all spread out on my dining room table last Friday afternoon.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

"Rebecca" Daisy Doodle Portrait complete




This image is of me back when I lived in England, I think I was 5 years old. I thought it would be fun to go back in time this week.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

"Toby, Chloe & Izzy B" Intricate Portrait complete!




I just couldn't put my pens down, here it is. I wanted to show you the before and after.
When I look at a photo, I look at the shadows. Instead of trying to draw the faces I focus more on the shadows so each shadow can be blocked of as if it were a mosaic. I mark a light X in the ares that are black because the black areas are important as they give the images their shape. Once I draw out the image I look and my new handy dandy book of patterns (that I will continue to add to THANKS to Eden for inspiring me!!) and decide on 3 or 4 different patterns to use throughout the portrait. This way I find the portrait flows better and is more visually pleasing. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE detail and busy, intricate designs so this allows me to do that without overwhelming the piece. When I choose the patterns I want to use I put them in order from dark to light and then begin filling in the shadows accordingly. I've decided I like the way lips look with the stipple effect because the shading on lips really brings the portrait to life. The eyes as well only I like to use my flowers usually around the pupil. The last thing I like to do is take a pencil and do some light shading withing some of the patterns. I find that this adds contour where it's needed.

There you have it "My Personal Process" of creating these portraits. I'm trying to think of a name for the kind of portraits I'm doing. I would love to market myself as a custom portrait designer and I need a really cool catchy name. I'm a starving artist and I really want to jump start this. Any suggestions on a name for this type of portrait?

Daisy Doodle Portraits
Intricate Patterned Portraits
Portraits by Rebecca
Archival Ink Portraits

Hmmmmmmm.......

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A "Daisy Doodle Portrait" in the making!!


This "Daisy Doodle Portrait" is of my nieces Toby, Chole & Izzy B. I hope to finish this piece tomorrow. I decided to focus on just a handful of patterns to make the three of them in this portrait flow. I'm happy with it so far. Stay tuned I will post the fished piece tomorrow(O:

Quilted Zentangle by Pat Ferguson


Is this incredible or what!! This is a quilted square by Pat Ferguson. Just click on her name to see more of her work. I look at this and think of all the possibilities for those that have talent with a needle and thread. I'm hooked on tangles, I just can't seem to get enough.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

"Keeping Track Of My Doodle Designs"





I've decided to document my patterns in a journal so I can have them to refer back to. Some will be my own designs and some will be patterns I've seen around the world. I'm not sure why I've not done this before but I think it will be such a helpful tool to have. I have a few photos above of the first few patterns that have been officially documented and also photos of my completed portraits. I did add the black in the background to my family portrait and I'm happy I did. I do believe it pops off the page having that contrast.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Zentangled Family Portrait


I feel like I've been a million miles away. I promise to reconnect with all my blog friends once the October Art Festival is over. I'm just nervous because it's my first one. I've had Art Shows every year for years but they have always been held in my home where it doesn't rain. I've never displayed at a festival. The only difference really is that I may have weather to deal with which is the one thing that makes me nervous. Any who...sorry to babble!! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend(O:

Here is a photo of my family portrait that I've been working on for the past few days. I think I'll make the background solid black so the portrait will pop. I'm not sure if I have it in me but I would love to Zentangle each letter in the alphabet. That may be a project in my future(O: Happy Monday!!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

"Mary Jane"







Here's a look at "Mary Jane". I just have a few areas to fill before she's complete. The pens I'm using for these black and white pieces are Micron Archival Ink 005, Micron Archival Ink 01, Black Sharpies both fine and regular tips and Sanford uni-ball fine tip pens. My favorite pen is the Micron 005 because the tip is so fine, it's perfect for those tiny detailed Zentangles.

The last photo here is the finished piece from yesterday.

After following the progress of Julie's family portraits from My Good Babushka, she has been such an inspiration to me I've decided to do a family portrait of my own. I plan to do mine in black and white with Zentangles galore. If you haven't seen Julies blog you much check it out. She has so much talent, I look at Julies paintings and think of the master's!!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

"A Real Man"





Good morning!!! This is a journal page that's still in progress. I heard this quote the other day and LOVED it!!! I'm not sure who's it is, I'll try to find out.

"A real man doesn't love a million women. A real man loves one woman in a million ways."

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Black Eyed Suzie Koozie's


Available Now in My Etsy Shop(O:

"Black Eyed Suzie Koozie's"




I'm back after a wonderful weekend(O: Thanks for all the sweet comments from last weeks frazzled moment of mine!! I been getting organized and just finished the new product I was talking about. The line of daisydolls have now been transformed into Koozies!! "Black Eyed Suzie Koozie's"

I thought this would be a fun addition to my display next month. I hope everyone had a great long weekend!!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

I'm Feeling "STRESSED"!


I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, there is just so much going on right now!! Between my Art show, the girls at school = lot's of homework, soccer practices, music lessons, teaching art classes and a few other things I'm sure I'll mention soon, I feel a little "stressed".

Did you know that "STRESSED" spelled backwards is DESSERTS(o: I'm going to take a few days to get things in order. Maybe I'll have a few cups of tea and some sweet "DESSERTS" to calm me down as well. I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!! I'll be back on Tuesday(O:

My New Studio

My New Studio
It may be pink but it's no longer the closet under the stairs(O:

Happy Valentines Day!!

Happy Valentines Day!!
These are little Valentines Mice made out of little white stones. I stuck felt hearts on them and then embelished them with bows and eyes. This is a fun Valentines Day craft for my daughter's second grade class!

Art Doll Prints

Available Now!!!

India

Meet India, she is such a treasure! I made from a tea cup I brought back from India last year. She sits 6 1/2 inches tall. The base she sits on is a beautiful square plate I found in Crate & Barrel that matched the tea cup perfectly. India has been embellished with fabrics I also brought back with me. Her hair is a combination of wool and acrylic fibers and she is jeweled with brass accents. India has henna patterns on the souls of her feet and around the tops of her arms and sits in this peaceful position as she meditates. She's waiting to sit in your home and bring you peace.

India Prays

India Prays
Art Doll

Art Doll Mable

Art Doll Mable
Meet Mable, she's trying her best to keep her skin glowing. She believes in nourishing her body from the inside out but once a week a good facial mask and cucumbers on her eyes make all the difference in the world. She stand 8 inches tall and would love to sit on the side of your tub or on your dresser. She could spend hours in the bathroom! * Mable is an original one of a kind decorative Art Doll and not meant to be played with as a toy.