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.

New Scrabble Tile Wearable Art Pendants

I finished making and listed in my Etsy shop some new upcycled scrabble tile pendant - necklaces. All are from prints of my original paintings.

Being a Navy Mom Pride & Worry

I am a very proud Navy Mom. I was blessed with 3 beautiful children inside and out. My oldest son Travis, enlisted last year, and was in boot camp a month later. It was hard not being able to sit on the patio with him and chat about his day. He's always liked to be home and surrounded by family, I was surprised by his decision. He did "ask" me, I already knew he'd made up his mind and was just seeking my approval.

When he said the recruiter was going to come over, I told him just let the recruiter know I don't want smoke blown up my ***. I support the decision I don't need to be "sold". He'd already warned the recruiter so that was nice. Thank you Chief Malinowsky for being honest and direct. My grandfather was career Navy, my father was law enforcement, I was federal Homeland Security for awhile. I guess it's in the blood, protecting others.

December 2009 was his Naval Bootcamp graduation, he got to come home for 5 days before heading to Pensicola, FL for A-school. He was next able to come home on liberty for what ended up being a day and half because storms cancelled flights in. He was supposed to be coming home in September for 2 weeks leave before they deployed. His birthday is the 24th of this month, we'd be celebrating 21 years.

The ship he is on, USS Kearsarge LHD-3 deployed early to give aid in Pakistan on a humanitarian mission. This is our first deployment. We didn't have time to go out to visit him in Norfolk nor was he able to come home prior. A week later I couldn't sleep and a text message arrived around 5am...Mom I didn't want to wake you up so I'm sending this, we're leaving port in the next couple hours, tell everyone I love them and see you when I get back... I called him immediately to let him know how proud I was, how much we loved him and how much we'd miss him.

I Love my children to no end. They changed my life forever in so many good ways. It was so hard to not be able to hug him and say goodbye in person. It's been difficult to know he'd be heading to the Middle East but now that he's actually over where so many families have lost loved ones it's even more difficult.

When the ship went into River City, I, the family, his fiance' nearly lost our minds. Not knowing the Navy's lingo for the operation status and knowing what we did about it our hearts sank. I didn't sleep for 2 days, and sadly was between thoughts of he's just fine and maybe I should mentally prepare for the worst. I fully supported his decision to join, he'd thought about it for a long time. He didn't just jump in. My second son is wanting to enlist, and I'll support his decision as well.

It's funny how your heart can be so full of pride but at the same time worry and terror. It's a real war, our children, our husbands, wives, fathers, daughters, sisters, brothers are dying over there still. We lost a nephew to the war in March of 2007, Staff Sergeant Dustin M. Gould combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. My heart breaks when I hear friends who's children who are serving are under attack or haven't heard from them, I never fully understood that initial panic, that is until we had no contact with our son and no idea if he was ok or not.

I'm proud of all the men and women serving our country, they weren't drafted. These heroes enlisted on their own. While many of us may not agree with what's going on in the east, most can agree being attacked on American land on 9/11 and trying to stop terrorists from doing something like that again is a worthy cause and reason. They aren't dying in vain, they are dying for our country, for a reason they believe in...to end terrorism. For the families behind these heroes I am grateful for the support you gave them and that we have such fine people serving our Country.

God Bless America politics aside, and those who have and continue to fight to protect her. Travis, wherever you are, we love and miss you and hope to see you home very soon. I know it's a few days away but Happy Birthday, 21 years ago you changed my life and perspectives for the better and 21 years later your still changing my life. I worry but you know me, I love you!

Fair Seas and Following Winds, come back home safe Sailor! That's an order :D

Bless those I know over as well and their families...The Csordas, The Johnson's, The Wynn's, The Krieger's, The Thompson's, The Godsey's, The Schildman's. My thoughts, prayers and gratitude are with all of you and your sons & daughters serving.

Angels amongst us

The world can be a very ugly place. It's so often few and far between you find genuine good hearted, generous, giving people who care. Yesterday we'd been spreading the word about Devin, who is paralyzed from the neck down needing a new mouse. Today the entire amount needed was met and the family is able to purchase a new mouse and Devin has his connection to his family, friends and the outside world back.

Thank you and God bless you, each and every one of you who spread the word, asked how to help and donated. There are people who still care. That wonderful family now has one less worry.

Thank you again!

Let's get Devin reconnected

Update! A donation was made and Devin is able to get his new mouse. Thanks so much to everyone for spreading the word and your help!


Hi friends,


Normally I'd never ask anything like this.  Shelly & Steve Johnson's son Devin could use our help.  Devin has been  paralyzed from the neck down for the last 5 years, after being shot in the neck.  Devin lives in another state for care, unfortunately this means he's away from his family.  Devin uses the internet to connect with family, friends, the outside world.  Devin Johnson is a wonderful young man, look at that smile in the photo.  The special mouse he uses is also shown.

This week unfortunately Devin lost his connection to the outside world  when his special computer mouse broke.  It isn't  just any old computer mouse, he uses a special mouse called a Quadjoy with a $800 price tag.  Insurance doesn't cover replacement or repair.

For those of you that went to HS with Steve or Shelly, you know what great people they were and still are.  Please, let's help reconnect Devin.

If you'd like to help donate to a fund to get Devin a new mouse use the payapal button below.  Donations will go directly  his parents Steve & Shelly Johnson so that they may purchase the new mouse for Devin.  Any amount helps, even as little as a dollar.


Thank you for your generosity on behalf of Shelly, Steve, Devin and myself.  If you don't use paypal and would rather help in other means please contact me here or facebook.  I'll keep this post updated with total donation amounts and remove the button once the amount needed is met.

God Bless America!

Most of us were witness to this catastrophic event in American History,   I don't have the words that would do any justice.  I do however remember 9/11 like it was yesterday.  My heartfelt thanks and prayers go those who lost loved ones in that attack and in the war since. God bless America, those who have given their lives to protect her, those who are serving her now.