What's on my Digital Easel

Love Spell Number 9

I was at a loss for what to draw and just started scribbling loops and lines.  As I was looking at the shapes, I started erasing away lines and the Goblin idea formed up.   I wanted it to be cute, fun and not realistic and lineart fit that bill.  Except, I've never done lineart before and that was quite the adventure for me.  Learned a lot that will be applied to the next one.   I didn't think I'd like this style, but I do. A lot.

Hope he makes you smile and let's hope his spell works out for him.

Love Spell Number 9 - Process

Getting into digital art after a long break and painting with traditional media.  Really loving being able to use my Wacom now (old PC couldn't run it).  This is my process, sorry I got into coloring and forgot to take screenshots of that part.  This started from a scribble.

Goldfish Original Acrylic Painting 6x6 Daily Painting

A Goldfish is a symbol for abundance and prosperity and a popular symbol in China. To keep a lose style but mimmick the shimmering and translucency many layers with thin glazes of black, violet, deep blue, red and yellow were used.  I love aquariums and watching fish.  My favorites are the brightly colored ones like goldfish.  The way they shimmer and swim.

This a slightly textured painting. The fishes gills, body and background. Has some raised texture, I applied golden medium with a brush before I began painting.

Media: Artist grade acrylics on gessoed masonite (hardboard). Signed on back with date.

Size: 6x6 inch square, 3/8th of inch thick.

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop HERE .  I also accept amazon payments now for those that prefer not to use paypal.

My entry in the Nasa Contest made it to the Finals WOOT

I am so excited, my oil painting entry "The Little Astronaut" to the Nasa Space art contest on Etsy made it to the finals in the 2D Original Art category.  Thanks to everyone who voted in the semi-finals.   Wish me luck :D TO see all the finalists in each category go HERE

December Free Art Giveaway

Decembers Art giveaway is a MATTED 8x10 inch  print of my acrylic penguins painting "Chicks Dig the Tux" and a scrabble tile pendant  from my Etsy shop of the winners choice.  The print size is 5x7 in the 8x10 white mat, foamcore board and sleeve.

 This giveaway is open to everyone! Feel free to share the link.  Winner will be announced on January 2nd, 2011 on this blog and my facebook fan page


To Enter just reply to this post with your answer to this question:

"One of the the best Christmas gifts I ever got was ________!"

Handmade cards and hugs from my kids! is my answer :)

Entries:

Cyndi
Denise
MyWaterColorDreams
Chantal
Lorenda

Novembers Art Giveaway Winner is...

Beth G.


Beth's name was drawn from the hat by my daughter.  Beth won the November Art Print Giveaway of Delphinus.  Congratulations!

Decembers giveaway will be posted on facebook and here.

Free Art Print Giveaway for my Facebook Fans & Blog Followers

Don't forget to enter the free giveaway only 3 days left.  Info and enter on my blog post HERE  or scroll down two posts.  Just comment on that post for entry, that easy :D

Thanksgiving

 19 yrs ago my son died in my arms on Thanksgiving day. He was 5 1/2 months old and had been healthy.  He just stopped breathing.  Thankfully the police were able to revive him 15 minutes later. Had we taken naps and were not waiting on more family to arrive we'd have never known he stopped breathing. 


It would turn out to be the result of RSV virus, associated with crib death. From that point on he spent 2 weeks in intensive care and batteries of tests.  He suffered from asthma growing up as a result but grew to be a fine young man who graduated high school this year.


We don't celebrate the pilgrims, we celebrate life on Thanksgiving. I am so Thankful for the blessings we have, my children and family. Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.


Travis we are so proud of you and your decision to serve in the military.  We look forward to your return home and sure will miss you tomorrow.

Semi Finalist in Nasa Art Contest on Etsy

I'm so excited my painting made it to the semi-finalist rounds on the Nasa Space:Craft Art contest on Etsy. The story:
Since the contest was supposed to be art craft and Nasa related I came up with this.

"The Little Astronaut"
11x14 inch original water mixable oil painting on stretched canvas. This painting is not for sale, it is a contest entry.

This is a painting of father and son and the cardboard & tape spaceship they crafted. The little astronaut is flying a kite of stars. 

Nasa seems to bring out the child in most, at least it does for me. Nasa and the space program are the result of dreams, inspiration and making the impossible possible. Through Nasa we all get to touch the stars. 

I remember building rocket ships and wanting to be an astronaut as a child. Sitting out with a telescope at night in awe.

If you'd like to vote here is the link:

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=118

Free Art Print Giveaway for my Facebook Fans, Buyers & Blog Followers

I sincerely appreciate everyones interest and/or purchases of my artwork.  Art is something meant to be shared and enjoyed.  To say Thank You,  I'm going to start doing a monthly art giveaway for my Facebook fans & Blog followers.  If your not a fan already you can find my page at  www.facebook.com/bkellyart

The Prize:
An 8x10 Print of my Delphinus artwork for the dolphin lovers.  This will fit and 8x10 frame or an 11x14 with a mat very nicely. Printed with 1/4 inch white border for framing.

The Rules:

This giveaway is for my art page Facebook Fans, Customers &  Blog followers.  If your a facebook fan please make sure to list your facebook name :D

It's easy to enter just comment on this post with your favorite thing(s) about November, Fall or Thanksgiving.

You can share this contest if you like but it's not a requirement nor is becoming a fan of my facebook page.

The print is yours to keep or gift to someone else.

Each person that comments on this post will be entered in the drawing.  My daughter Chelsea will draw the names from a hat and the winner will be announced on December 1st, 2010.  I will contact the winner for shipping address information.

Since I asked everyone else, here is my answer as well.  My favorite part about November is Fall and Thanksgiving.  The trees are such brilliant fiery colors of red, green and gold.  The riverbanks and treetops look like lapping flames in the wind.  One last beautiful show before winter arrives.  Thanksgiving because it's about family.  19 yrs ago my son died in my arms, after 15 minutes the Police were finally able to revive him.  We feel so blessed and realize how fragile life is and how fast a moment can change.  He is a healthy, active, bright and funny young man.  

Entries so far:

Tonia 

Alyson 

Steve

Brian

Fernie

Beth

At Day's End - Daily Painting 8x8 Acrylic

Something more on the whimsical side.  Two birds sitting in a tree at days end, enjoying the last bits of sunlight.  This is acrylic on gesso primed hardboard panel.  The size is 8x8 inches and 3/8th inch thick.  This painting is for sale in my etsy shop.
Thanks for looking!

Update: Original has been sold, prints only are available in my Etsy shop.

SOLD

Together - Two Cherries in Oil

I recently got some water mixable oils and finally had a chance to try them out.  We are remodeling the house and I didn't want any dust settling in a drying with the paint.  This is a small 6x6 inch oil painting on a Raymar Plein Air Canvas panel.  I'm using Artisan Water Miscable Oil Paint (Winsor & Newton).

It is up for sale on eBay HERE

Stylish Blogger Award

Thank you Patty, Nana Poppins for honoring me with the Stylish Blogger Award.

Rules for accepting this award are:

1.  Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2.  Share 7 things about yourself.

3.  Pass this on to 15 other great bloggers you recently discovered.

4.  Contact the selected bloggers and tell them about their awards.

So 7 things about myself...

1. I am a mother of three wonderful children.
2. I have an amazing fiance'
3. I am an artist.  I love to draw, paint, play video games with the kids and go Jeep 4-wheeling.
4. I am a terrible procrastinator.
5. I love music that is classical, rock, pop, metal and grunge but do not enjoy rap or country.
6. I am a very proud Navy mom.
7. I am very (overly) critical of my artwork and trying to relax more lol.

So there you have it..a little about me. 

Here are the blogs I enjoy:

Elaine Magliacane Journal

THE ART OF RESCUE

TeachKidsArt

MERMAID'S PALETTE

ruthsimplelife

The Feathered Nest

Jim's Watercolor Digest

Graphic design by Tara

the art and tree chatter of aquariann

A Trio of Boys

Angie's Pieces of Flair

Art by Ruth Sagrario Macotela

Busy Working Mama

Create With Joy

Gina Lee Kim

What It's Like To Know A Veteran

My daughter Chelsea brought this home today.  This was her essay for school.  It made me cry, I am so proud of her and my sons, the relationship and respect they have for one another.  Chelsea's Grandfather's on both sides served in the Navy, her dad served Naval Reserves in Iraq, her uncle was serving in the Marine corp. in Iraq and was killed in action. Her oldest brother is currently deployed and the other older brother enlisting.  

Chelsea's was voted as one of the best essays for her grade and got to read it aloud to the school assembly and veterans that were there for it.  There was one for 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

November 3rd, 2010

Coolidge Middle School

What It's Like To Know A Veteran

     A lot of people would say a veteran is someone that has served in the military or is serving right now.  If you asked me what a veteran is I would say part of my life.  It doesn't mean that I'm one it means people around or close to me are.  I have many family members in the military.  I know how it feels when someone goes to boot camp and graduates from it, most importantly when you get to see them again.

   I know all of those feeling.  The biggest thing about being in the military is going to another country and risking your life.  Veterans are the non-fiction version superhero in a comic book.  When they come home is one of the best times in a veteran's life.  My brother Travis R. Fletcher is one of those men or women out there serving for their country.

     Every time he got to come home he would us that the worst part was being away from family.  Travis was supposed to come home for his 21st birthday but he was deployed to Pakistan for 10 months.  Some times we'll hear from him and we'll send him care packages.  It's funny because Halloween just passed and he got a snickers but it wasn't like a snickers he'd ever had before.

     Everyday I'll think of my brother.  I think back to the days when Travis and our family had met the chief.  The chief told him what it would be like and what he would be risking.  Then I'll think even further back when we were younger and got into a lot of arguments and now he's one of my heroes.  It's only been one or two months since he's been deployed.  It feels like he's been gone a whole year even though he'll only be gone for 10 months.  I love my brother and hope him and everyone on his ship and that is serving right now to have a safe eight months.

     When they get home their family and friends will be waiting with love and open arms.  A lot of families will share some tears of joy.  Even more families will let them know how proud they are of them.  So if you have a loved one in the military you the feeling's like I do.