Open For Business!!

Finally! After months of planning and testing and researching and procrastination my Etsy store is finally open!!  I'm kind of excited and full of nervous energy right now.  Can you tell?

I'm starting with a relatively small selection but will be adding more soon.  I still have a lot to learn and would love any advice from those of you who have been doing this for awhile.

Speaking of business, I have a new section in my blog list that contains some really inspiring websites about running an art business and living up to your full potential.  Check them out if you have some time!

I'd also like to thank you all again for inspiring and encouraging me all this time.  I couldn't have done this without you!

XOXO

I Did It!!

I completed my very first ever art journal page!  This was the first week of Tangie Baxter's Art Journal Caravan and one of our prompts was to pick one word to define our upcoming year.  I chose the word "Believe".

Originally, I was planning to do this by hand.  I had my nice Moleskin journal all ready and the pieces were cut out but then I decided it was going to take too long because I had to wait for paint to dry and I really wanted to get it done before the next assignment is given tomorrow.  So, I decided to do it digitally instead.  I still plan to make a handmade version as well so I guess you could say this is my rough draft.

The funny thing is that this ended up taking probably the same amount of time because I spent forever messing around with photoshop brushes so I could get the look I wanted.  I was trying to make it look as authentic as possible without using a premade paper.  I wanted it to look painted.  I was only partially successful.  I managed to get the first layer down and looking pretty good but then anything I put on top looked weird.  I think I just need to spend a day really playing with all the brushes and figuring out what they do.

So, one layer of paint is mine and the rest is from several kits by Holliewood Studios.  Hollie's papers rock!  I hope I'll be able make something like them someday.

My goal with this page was to remind myself to think positively and not worry so much.  I don't know about you, but I occasionally get bogged down by all those negative voices in my head.  Ok, ok, actually it happens a lot,  especially now that I'm starting a new chapter in my life.  Just between you and me... it can be a little scary.

Believing Is Seeing

I believe...

I will be successful

It's ok to make mistakes

There is nothing to be afraid of

I am good enough

I deserve to be happy

I will make my dreams come true

I can do it

Anything is possible

Believe in Magic

Believe in yourself

She stood on the edge... and she unfurled her wings

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that it has only been a year since I made my very first blog post.  What a year it's been, creatively speaking.  It was a year of change and growth and challenges but what I treasure the most are the friendships I've made along the way.  I would like to thank you all for reading my ramblings and taking the time to comment.  It has meant more to me than I can put into words. Thank you!!

I have many exciting things planned for 2011.  You have probably already noticed the change in my blog design.  It was prompted by the launch of my brand new website.  Yay!  I'd love it if you'd take a look and let me know what you think.  Just click the "website" button at the top of my blog. 

I will also be opening up my first Etsy store in the next few weeks.  I'll keep you posted! :-D

And, I've decided to jump on Tangie Baxter's Art Journal Caravan.  I've never done any art journaling before so it's a little scary but I'm up for the challenge.  I think it will be good for me.

Whew, it's going to be a busy year!

Please see my Flickr page for credits

What Is Old Is New Again

Hi!  Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post.  I'm sorry for being away for so long but this time of year is always really tough on me and I've had to take some time to regroup and find my center again.  Now that things are settling down I'm feeling much better and I've missed you guys. :-)  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I'd like to share with you something fun I've been working on today.  A few weeks ago my trusted old printer finally gave up the ghost and after a lot of research I finally have a shiny new Canon Pixma MG8120.  If you're looking for a high quality mid-priced multifunction printer/copier/scanner I highly recomend it. 

One of the things that really sold me on this particular printer was its ability to scan negatives and slides.  You see, before I started doing digital art I studied photography.  This was way back in the days of film and I have boxes of negatives and slides that have been gathering dust for, oh, about 20 years now.  Today I started scanning.

What is so exciting for me is that now, with the help of my computer, I can take some of the negatives that I had previously rejected because of bad lighting or bad backgrounds and give them new life.  Take this image for example:
This is a shot I took of my brother about 18 years ago.  The image on the left is straight out of the scanner.  I loved this portrait for its composition and especially for his expression but it is full of technical errors.  Besides being old and discolored, his face is way too dark and could that sky be any more boring?  I don't think so.  I won't even mention the giant piece of wood jabbing him in the head.  But, hey, I was still learning so I made a mental note to work on my lighting skills and pay more attention to the background in the future and I threw it in the reject pile and moved on.

But now that I have new skills (and a new film scanner) I have finally been able to create the image the way I had imagined it all those years ago. I love you Photoshop!! :-)

A big Thank You to lrargerich @ Flickr for the sky

Ode To A Muse

I am beyond excited to tell you about the new kit, Ode To A Muse, by Holliewood Studios and Finecrafted Designs!  Two of my favorite designers have joined forces to pay homage to one of my idols, and theirs, Maggie Taylor.

If you are not already familiar with Maggie's work you can take a look at her website here.  Her images are poetic, surreal and astonishingly beautiful. 

Thank you Hollie and Evelyn!!  I had so much fun playing with this kit!!

Happy Halloween!!

Please see my Flickr page for credits

It's That Time Of The Year

There are some people who LIVE for Christmas.  Me?  I live for Halloween.  I know, what a surprise.

I have been so excited working with all the new kits coming out of DeviantScrap in celebration of this most wonderful holiday.  If you love Halloween as much as I do, take a few minutes and check out Welcome To My Nightmare and Haute Halloween by Holliewood Studios, Good Evening by Finecrafted Designs, and One Ghostly Night and Halloween Word Art by TotallyWild Dezinez.

Here are a few images that I've been working on.  As usual, please see my Flickr page for full credits.