Eight Years Later

I am making coloring pages for general entertainment. Coloring Pages

The Altered Book Obsession Continues

Katharine Hepburn's autobiography "Me"

I textured the book cover with Golden Brand Heavy Gel Matte, then painted it red and antiqued it with black. Then drew on the "M" and painted that with Black and then Iridescent Gold Deep. All Golden products. I haven't finished the spine yet. That is next.

A few other books done recently.

A Few More Gilded Books

The hunchback goes formal

From this mass produced and well used cover

to

this swirly number. The running guy is happier don't you think? Just seems to have more of a spring to his step.

Cinderella Books, Which Makes Me the Fairy Godmother

So, I've done a few more books since my last post. I finished the two that I had bought specifically to paint on and so I looked around at my own books thinking... "hmmm" and found a few that needed a little sprucing up. I am very happy with the results and have a bunch of ideas for more of them. I have a few books from the early 1900's and really like the color designs embossed onto the covers. I also saw one the other day that had the cover illustrated in just gold so there are many avenues to explore. Tell me what you think. Maybe I should do a workshop? Think anyone would sign up?

Painted or Altered Book

Final version of the first painted book... I think...

More gilding

I have added more to the book from the last post and started a couple of others.

Gilded books, mine that is.

From this...


To this...

I like fancy books but I can't afford to buy any at this time so I thought I would make my own. I bought an older book for a couple of dollars that looked like it needed a little face lift and here it is. From rags to riches in one afternoon. I don't think I am done yet though... it still needs a little more... something...

The sun, trees, houses and the letter N

Three ACEO Topiaries that go together

In my opinion. I really like the curly branch thing. Now I have to decide if it is time to move on to something else... what do you think? More topiaries or a new subject?

Wooden Cross ACEO

Another recent ACEO.

A Forest of Topiaries

Here is a group of the topiaries I have been working on. A couple of them don't have the background finished yet but I thought I would include them anyway. Funny how I have been working so hard to get good pictures of the gold and now I just take a silly group picture and the gold shows up perfectly! I will get the rest of them up on Etsy soon.

Couple 'o Christmas Trees

Snowman Topiary

ACEO Topiary Number Three

Here is the next one but I am going to have to wait for the sun to come up (assuming it shows itself tomorrow) to take a photo of it on the easel.

Another Crooked Topiary

I kind of think of them as Bonsai Topiaries. =) See how the photograph does not show the gold like the photo in the last post? I need tips here. Feel free to post your ideas. Same materials and size as the last one.

It is a Topiary Kind of Thing

This is the latest thing I am obsessing about. As I posted earlier, I am doing a bunch of topiary ACEO's. I have always loved topiaries and now putting this iridescent gold behind them I am really loving it! As you can see from the scan, if you look straight on, it just looks like a kind of a bluey grey. But when you tilt the artwork it shines gold. There are a bunch more coming that I will post, maybe later today or tomorrow and I have a bunch in the pencil sketch stage right now. The really difficult thing is getting a good photo of the gold part shining. It usually just washes out so you can't tell what it is. Then when I finally got a good shot of it shimmering, the rest of the picture is way too dark! If anyone has any good tips on how to shoot reflective serfaces like this I would be very interested. It is painted with acrylics (Golden Brand of course) and Micron pen for the outline. The dimensions are 2.5 x 3.5 of course.

New Cafe Press Store! Come Look!

This is the greatest thing! See the new link over on the right that says, "Come visit my store on Cafe Press" ?? Well, you should go check it out. You can buy all sorts of great products, like the clock above, with my artwork on it. Mugs, cards, stickers, t-shirts, mousepads, posters, and many more products. And I am not even done yet. I am hoping to put up more images and some calendars in the next few days so check back to see what is new. Just in time for Christmas shopping! =)

Topiaries in Progress

These are the latest ACEOs that I am working on. I love topiaries and they seem to eventually work their way into everything I do. They are not finished yet... I am thinking of doing some kind of swirly background with iridescent paint kind of like the holly posted earlier but I also like them just as they are. Opinions anyone?

Siamese Eyes

Another ACEO that I started a few weeks ago but was unsure how to finish it. I am happy with the results and it is for sale in my Etsy store. It is done with acrylic paint, gouache and Micron pen on Bristol board. Dimensions are (of course) 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Christmas ACEO, Shiny, of course!

My latest ACEO done with iridescent acrylic paint on Bristol board. Kind of looks like brocade fabric to me. It is for sale in my Etsy store.

Brought to you by the letter H

ACEO size letter H. Done with a Micron pen (can you tell I like Micron pens?) watercolor, and acrylic gold paint on Bristol board. It is up in my Etsy store if you are interested in purchasing it. 2.5 x 3.5 inches of course.

Nouveau Swirls

ACEO in ball point pen.

Gold, ACEO's and Icons

Some of the latest to come out of my studio. As hard as I try I just can't seem to stay away from shiny glittery things for long. =) I really like Golden's iridescent series of acrylic paints. I am not sure where the idea came from to add gold to these cards but once I had done it, it made me think of Russian religious icons.