Check this out for a winter pick-me-up - an art video on YouTube from EBSQart.com, the world's largest online working artists' group. This month's featured gallery is "Still Life". It's a treat, you'll see lots of</b> CoLoR! </b>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H71lK1ajg3Y

I'm very honored that my 2009 peace dove Christmas card is featured on EBSQ's blog main page today December 26, 2009.



MeRrY ChRiStMaS all!

:)

PS REMINDER: If you'd like to see a lot of other cool art and writing, scroll up on this page to my "friends" link.

MeRrY ChRiStMaS, bloggers!

Here's my annual hand-made Christmas card. Watercolor and ink background, pen on vellum dove, hand-cut dove, all on Ultra Premium photo paper. It is so expensive to make these that I think I'll have them printed next year.

I have two extra cards that I'm saving out in case anyone reading this would like to trade hand-made christmas cards with me. Just leave a comment and we can contact each other and make the trade.

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY,
Annie






And here are two shots showing how they were made:






© 2009

Here's a link to artist Amanda's Etsy store. I love Amanda's work, her nature paintings are beautiful. Her paintings of beach stones look so real they make me feel like I have my toes in Lake Michigan and am wandering along the beach.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/naturescharms.


~H~a~p~p~y~   ~H~a~l~l~o~w~e~e~n~y~!~

I'm happy to say that the children's book we've all been been working on for author Kathryn Seifert has arrived. "Penelope The Adventures of a Penny" now has it's own Amazon page and we'd appreciate your checking it out. Just put Penelope the Adventures of a Penny in your Amazon search (under "title") and it will come up (let me know if it doesn't). And here is the link under CreateSpace.com:

https://createspace.com/3372879

 

Here's the write-up from the back jacket which will tell you all about Penelope the penny:

"Penelope takes readers on her many adventures. She begins at the Denver Mint and ends in a boy's soft pocket. Along her journey, she meets other coins who share some of their experiences also. They realize that each of them has their own unique value. Readers of all ages will enjoy experiencing all that Penelope does, and will wonder where she could be right now!"

This is the second book I've illustrated and I long to do more. 

Got a good idea for a children's book? Of course you do! Contact me
I'm your illustrator :)
amarmur@verizon.net

 

We all value your feedback very much, so let us know what you think of Penelope. I'll pass comments on to the author Kathryn and co-illustrator Sally

 

Talk 2 U,

Annie
 

Note that all work on this site, including this book, is © Copyright protected

 

It was pretty exciting to get this box of my copies:
 

　

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With Donna R's kind permission, here is an icon that I painted in her icon painting class, summer 2009. I'm happy with the way it turned out.
 

Another view...

 

 

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I just wanted to remind any art lovers out there to be sure to check out my "friends" link (above) where you'll see a lot of fellow artists post their work and their musings.

I finally got the large pink cuff bracelet done. Whew! I started it in April (see post below). I'm calculating that it took about 30 +- hours to complete. I'm not that slow about every project, but well, summer happened in the meantime and there were places to go and people to see, so I've finally gotten it done now. This looks equally good with jeans or with dressier clothes. I finally found a way to put to use some of grannie's buttons :)

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted any art on my art blog. I've been busy, good busy, art busy. Here are a couple of pages of my illustrations from a children's book that I've been working on for an author*. The author has done an excellent job writing this book and I think kid's will love it. We've been working out all the many finishing-up details for the printer, then the book will be for sale. I'll post the link for it here when we get it.

This is the second children's book I've had the priviledge and joy of illustrating. Illustrating kid's books is so much fun and so satisfying that  I constantly crave doing more. I really enjoy tweaking and changing my paintings to fit the author's vision of what they want the pages to look like. It's like solving a visual puzzle, very satisfying.  

So, have you got any ideas for a good children's book? Of course you do! I'm your illustrator :) Just drop me an e-mail.


This is the illustration for page 6. And below is for page 11, those are things found in a kid's pocket, wad of gum, straw wrapper, etc.


I'm hoping we'll be able to go up to see the ArtPrize contest and see who's art won the $250,000 prize. There were many other cash prizes too. It's the biggest art prize in history and it's very cool that it happened in Michigan. I'll post photos when we get back.
C U :)

*All art and photos on this blog are copyrighted.

Cluck.... CLUCK... bwawk... bwawk... BWOK...

LITTLE MISS CLUCKY is wishing you a HAPPY EASTER!

Clucky is an original Michigan artist made needle felted pin cushion made by artist Jeanne Harlan. Check out little Miss Clucky's matching umbrella, so chic! (get it, pun, pun)

Jeanne's beautiful work is in her Etsy shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5185661 

When you go to her shop, you'll see a link to her website, and from there to her Ebay store where she sells her Prittens, a unique needle felted hand-made kitty. Her Prittens are highly collected on Ebay and always generate a smokin' bidding war. She also selling beginner felting kits on Etsy if you'd like to give it a try.  



MADE IN MICHIGAN by a MICHIGAN resident artist

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Ahoy there, maties! Pirate's treasure!

Here's my latest project - a gaudy beaded cuff bracelet using some of grannie's vintage buttons. It's gaudy with a capital G, right up my gaudy beady baubley shiney glittery trinkety alley.  I love stuff that looks like pirate's booty, straight from a treasure chest. I'll post progress shots in the future.

The short form:
First we made a free-form armature out of wire and then beat it with a hammer to harden it. When this is all finished, we will bend it into a cuff.



A closer look at the armature.



Then we began stringing beads on a thinner wire in a free-form way. Also adding grannie's buttons and some new buttons too. The deco unique gold button with the slits near the top is one I played with when I was a kid. I'm adding more of those as they are a favorite. It's nice to finally have a use for grannie's buttons and get them out of their storage box in the closet and onto my wrist where I can enjoy them.



Here are the many different types and sizes of beads that I used. Don't let the bags of beads at the top throw you. Those are way overkill to be used for future projects. This actually takes less beads than you think because the vintage buttons and charms take up a lot of space. But it is a loaded bracelet so there are many layers to this. If you are used to simple bead jewelry with just a few main beads, this ain't it. It's obsessive, but I like obsessive :) Most artists and creative types are pack-rats and I'm no exception. Anything shiney or interesting attracts us so we all have massive amounts of "trinkets" stored away.




There's the short version. I'll post more as things progress.

Annie

Hi bloggers!

I haven't been around for awhile because I have something up my artistic little sleeve :)  I'll be posting about it here in the near future.

Here's a link to a bracelet I've entered in the EBSQ "Encircled" art exhibit.

http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/cmd_199_Exhibition_Entries_2_0_T.htm

Don't forget that patron accounts are free at EBSQart.com... and if you sign up for a patron account, you can vote on the entry of your choice. Preferably mine!

Daily plug: If you're reading this blog, I probably don't have to remind you that selling art is the only way that artists get to keep on being artists. It would be a dreary dull world without CoLoR and art. Go to an art fair, gallery, farmers market or street fair and support your local artists. Check out the gorgeous jewelry in the show above - guaranteed that you will want something. Or at least be inspired to make your own.

Keep on painting!

Here's a link to some awesome sidewalk art. Check it out, it's amazing:

http://villageofjoy.com/amazing-3d-sidewalk-art/

Hello Friends:

I like a good inspiring quote, motto, saying, Bible quotation, wisdom from a stranger or friend, you name it, if it inspires me or instructs me, it gets typed up, printed out, taped to the top of my monitor so I can see it every day. Wisdom from strangers is the one that is most amazing to me. Since I'm an observer and appreciator of people and out there looking for it, I find it. I keep my eyes open too, because there's a lot of negative stuff out there that gets passed off for wisdom, and it ain't.
There is a quote by Shaw that goes something like this... a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world isn't devoted to making you happy. Rick and I quote it to each other when we get whiney or complainy and it usually makes us laugh when we see ourselves in it - even though we don't want to! I'll be posting these here from time to time. Be glad that you are alive. You can quote me on that :)

Here's a link to the complete quote is you'd like to read it. You'll see that Shaw is an almost endless source of quotes:

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/George_Bernard_Shaw/61

http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/cmd_192_Exhibition_Entries.htm

I was really honored that my little Peace Dove folded embellished paper ornie (see two posts below) won a Patron's Choice award in the EBSQ "Deck the Halls" hand-made Christmas ornament show. I think the link above will take you right to the show. There are a lot of gorgeous hand-made ornaments made by really talented artists in this show, so I was doubly honored. 

Plug: Don't forget to buy art from real live working American artists. Of course in my humble opinion art isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. But in these complex times, buying a piece of art might mean the difference between an artist continuing to work or not being able to work. There are some steal-of-a-deal's out there if you like art, especially in the small or miniature or jewelry categories. Also in the art cards (ACEO)* categories which fit inside a baseball card sleeve and are a hot collectible on Ebay. Check Ebay or Etsy or EBSQ and hunt for bargains - I know you will find them!

New Pres: Only 11 more days till our bright shiney new President takes over! :) :) :) I hope you pick an inauguration party to go to on the 20th. As of right now, there are two to choose from around here and we're hoping to hit one of them.

Positive Spin: As the hysteria about the year 2012 gets closer, I've heard two new unique opinions from friends on this subject. One was: It will usher in a new era where we all will become agents for positive change in our world. Emphasis on the positive. I liked that. The second was: Not to look at 2012 as a negative event, but just as a "change" event. Change could mean a "good" change, not a bad change as many people are postulating. It gave me food for positive thought. How 'bout you?

Pax,
Annie
P.S. Since you hear me talking about ACEO's or art cards so much, I am posting a picture of what they actually are. They are 2.5" x 3.5" works of art and can be collected in a small space. Please pardon my ratty notebook that I keep them in, I need a new one badly. The example is that you can collect a lot of beautiful art and keep it in a tiny space:





Those are baseball card sleeves. The beautiful squash print that you see on the left was painted by artist Becki B. (Contact me when you see something you like and I'll put you in touch with the artist).
Here's an actual art card or ACEO that I made. They usually come on flat paper or canvas but can be made out of anything, even sculpture, pottery or clay! I usually mount my on heavy mounting board and coat them with thick protective finishes. This one has been SOLD. It's a photo of an echinacea in my backyard. Flower photo: me. Seed for echinacea: Thanks go to Becky H. :)



There now, you have all the info you need to start your own ACEO art card collection :) Remember the three EEE's: Search EBSQ, Ebay and Etsy.

Yay! My lino block print entitled "Mercury's Wings" won a runner up in the EBSQart.com printmaking challenge themed "Mythology". Here is the link to the public part of EBSQ's forums where you can see all the entries. There is so much good talent on EBSQ that I feel it's quite an honor to win a place. Mine is the 5th one down:

http://www.ebsqart.com/forum/Printmaking_Challenge_Entries!/m_214146/tm.htm

Wow, only a few more days until Christmas! We are wishing you all a

~M~E~R~R~Y~  ~C~H~R~I~S~T~M~A~S~

Hi Everyone:

Here's my "Snow Globe" ACEO Art Card entry into the Theme Week contest on Ebay. There are a lot of very cool art cards listed, all featuring snow globes, so just put "ACEO TW" in your Ebay search to see them all (leave off the quotes when you put it in your search). This is a unique card - it was chosen to be on the main page of EBSQart.com for the whole month of December last year.

This is a first ediition giclee print #1 of 5 prints.

Art cards are tiny little works of art on Ebay by a bunch of very talented artists. Very affordable and the same size as a baseball card, 2.5" x 3.5", meaning you can collect lots of them and store them in baseball card collector sleeves. Great for a small space!

"Christmas Snow Globe"



Happy Holidays,
Annie

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT O!!!

Mysterious and creepy mushroom for Halloweenie....




... and the last of the summer color....

"Morning Glory"




Hope you had a good Halloween. The best costume I saw was a teeny tiny blue fairy all decked out with little mesh wings.

Annie


© 2008 Annie M-M!