Witchetty

Oops.....a little editing was required.

After having my new banner up for a week and proudly showing everyone I know a little blooper was detected. A friend of mine came over for a coffee and a catch up the other morning and I enthusiastically showed her my new look blog. After a few minutes she did what I had failed to do....read the text in the castle on the banner.

Now this was part of a page that I chose randomly from an old novel with not much attention to detail:

Yikes....the word condom appears 3 times in the space of the doorway. Oh dear....some swift editing was required and I am just thankful that nobody bought it yet from Etsy to hang in their child's room...not a surprise a want to give my customers.

Anyway....what is happening in the studio at the moment. I am actually working on creating some ACEO's for my etsy store. The theme this week for Monday Artday is Supernatural so I am using that as inspiration to create some little characters for original OOAK ACEO's. Hopefully I will have them in store by Monday.

Have a great day

xx Bee

Illustration Friday - Baby

This weeks topic for Illustration Friday is Baby, so I used the opportunity to get CUTE!! This little illustration was created with acrylics on scrapbooking paper (it is so nice to use the mountains of pretty paper I have in my art room for something).

I will admit to having a major paper fettish and I just can't get enough of it. The advantage to that is that I can ALWAYS find the perfect piece of paper for any project at a moments notice which is great for when inspiration hits late at night.

She is available now in my Etsy store.

Inspire Me Thursday - Orange and Purple

This weeks prompt for Inspire Me Thursday was - Orange and Purple. I spent yesterday starting this painting while my family went to the football. Normally it is something that we do as a family but I just knew in my heart that I needed a day to myself to replenish my spirit. I am so glad that I listened to my inner voice as I feel there is something quite heavenely and spiritual about this painting. Perhaps I was channeling some of my grief and was feeling more connected to the universe.

I really wanted to create a piece that celebrates the inner self...that all powerful spirit that drives us to be who we are...uniquely individual.

UPDATE: This painting has sold to someone in my neighbourhood.

I am back

My Nanna's funeral was on Tuesday and we are all back at work and school. It is still going to take some time to accept the fact that she has gone but I do have the comfort of knowing that she is at peace and I have a life time of beautiful memories.

So today was a rainy day here and it was the perfect opportunity to get back into my studio and do some painting. I forgot how theraputic it can be to lose yourself in the creative process and I finished my painting that I intend to use as the new banner for my blog. Here she is:

No matter what life throws at you...remember to always BELIEVE in Magic! She is available in my Etsy Store

xx Bee

A Time to say Goodbye

My darling Nanna passed away this moring at 1.30am, surrounded by her children. I had stayed until a few hours before she left, but in the end I think she would have wanted it that way. She had held on for so long and surprised most of the nursing staff with her strength. I believe she was waiting for us to have the strength to let her go.

It never surprises me how the universe sends us what we need at just the right time. While looking at a favourite blog this morning, I found this beautiful animation. It says everything that I just can't at the moment.

I would like to thank everyone for their kind comments and prayers. I will be back to blogging in a week or two when I am feeling more myself.

xx Bee

A prayer for Jeanie Doll

My beautiful and strong grandmother was taken to hospital on Sunday morning and is fighting to stay with us, a fight that she is losing. This is a post that I have been avoiding making for the past few days as I cling to the hope that she will come through this and perhaps if I don't write these words it won't be true.

My grandmother is a fiery, spirited and funny women...mother to three, grandmother to seven and great grandmother to 10. Her body is slowly shutting down and we are now saying our goodbyes and trying to comfort her in her last hours. Please say a prayer that she will find peace and feel no pain.

I will be away from my blog for a while as I need to be with my family at this time. If you need to contact me, please feel free to send an email and I will reply as soon as possible.

xx Bee

Inspire Me Thursday - Door - WIP

Ok, this week I am going to have to post a Work In Progress as I have the flu and the chances of me getting this painting finished in time is very slim.

This is actually an artpiece that I am working on for my new blog banner. I want to create something more 'Witchetty' and this is one section of the piece. I created the tower using pages from a second hand book, as I like the idea of a doorway that you can step through and into a fairytale. As you can see there is still a long way to go until it is completed, but I thought it might be fun to follow a piece of work through the various stages until it is complete.

Ok....my warm bed is calling for me.

xx Bee

Monday Artday - Sleep

This is a little 8" x 10" mixed media on canvas that I created for Monday Artday prompt sleep.  It is painted with acrylics and embellished with paper flowers and I added a little button flower pot to give it a bit of bling!

She is actually based on a little drawing I did over a year ago for IF - Camoflague. Take a look:

Available now in my Etsy store.

Bee xx

Card, glorious card!

As a child I loved the school storage cupboard, nothing was so wonderful as being allowed to go into the cupboard with all of the beautiful, new coloured card stacked neatly in every possible colour imaginable. I still love stationary and art supply stores and shopping for the beginning of the school year gives me a buzz. So, for the past few days I have been busy experimenting with coloured card and reproductions of my paintings. I love the results and they look really fresh and vibrant in real life.

This actually came from frustration with the process of selling cards online through one of the larger greeting card companies. Each card had to be approved and I had no way of controlling the quality of the product being offered. After 3 weeks I realized that this wasn't the direction I want my art business to take and I really need a plan.

So prints are now available in my store and over the next few weeks I will be adding bookmarks, cards and ACEO's as well. I will also be working behind the scenes on developing my brand and packaging and hopefully give my blog a face lift.

I am really excited to have a plan in place to help my business grow and even dispite the 12 hour days I have been working to get everything done, it is just so rewarding.

Monday Artday - Tropical Jungle

Acrylic on wrapped canvas 8" x 10"

The topic this week for Monday Artday is Tropical Jungle. This is my entry titled 'Taking Flight".

I based this painting on a little drawing I did about a year ago when I first started trying my hand at some art. I wanted to get the carefree and fun sense of completely letting yourself go and feel free in the moment. It is also really exciting to remind myself how far I have come wtih my art and what a wonderful journey it has been.

Available in my Etsy store.

xx Bee