It's raining today.....

...a California Sunset

(photograph and water colour)

Owl Print (Rough Draft)

The past few years I have been placing owl things around my home; due to the current "owl fad" this has made it easier.  But I am also now incorporating owls into my art.  I am doing this out of a sense of homesickness.  My Dad collected owl figurines since before I was born.  My sisters and I would always get him owls as presents (from all over the world too).  His collection is vast and every time I would visit him at work when I was little I would be fascinated with the world of owls adorning his desk, shelves, cabinets, walls, and even on his door.  I can not think about my Dad without thinking about owls, so having owls in my home and in my art, makes me feel closer to my parents even though we live so far apart.

Woodpecker

Snow and Seashells

Added a touch of California to my studio window for winter.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

We were able to trim the tree last night, which is always fun.  But unfortunately my copies of The Year Without a Santa Claus and the Muppet's Christmas Carol are at my parents house, so I will only be able to watch Black Adder's Christmas Carol this season. (My husband will miss out on rolling his eyes at me as I do the Heat and Snow Miser dance.)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

 (yes, this is our tree; the Deciduous look is so less messy)

Sketch Book Update:  Today I glued pages together to make them more sturdy for my collages.  The Sketch Book is looking a bit more loved and used.  Now I just need to get it looking less blank.  Only three weeks left.

Cardinal

This is a cardinal I did today to celebrate starting graduate school at University of Louisville.

Go Cards!

(water colour & ink on paper, 

with part of my acceptance letter as it's wing)

My Short Hiatus

I've been caught up in finals week so that is why I haven't been posting.  But posting will resume in a couple days.  Thanks for the patience.

Beginnings of a Sketchbook

Below are some pictures I took during one of my walks last week.  Now I just need to turn them into art for my sketchbook.  I am interested to see how they evolve because for the moment I am stuck and not quite sure which direction to follow.  Maybe the best first step would be to clean my desk so that I can use it.

Paper Owl

Last night I tried experimenting with paper cut-outs.  I concluded from the experiment that it is very time consuming and that I am the type of person who has to stop constantly to look for the tiny piece of paper I just dropped.  This experiment might not be repeated.

Popcorn and Horror Movies

Happy Halloween!

Rooted Faerie

a faerie to tend our new home

Studio Relocation and New Project

This weekend I am moving my studio from Mellwood to my new home now that I will have space for it.  I am so excited because this will lead to greater productivity.  I get most of my ideas at night sipping on my cup of tea and it has been so hard not having my desk and supplies at home.  Because of this move, I will be posting more frequently from now on;  at least twice a week if not more.

Also, I am starting my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project this weekend since most of my boxes have been unpacked.  (See icon on the right.)  My theme is "Down the Street."  I will be doing art based on whatever tickles my interest within walking distance of my home; this will be art and exercise all in one project (preparing myself for holiday cookies and other yummies).  I will be posting the pages as I complete them.

Check back on Sunday for new work.
-Elissa

ARTfordable Show at LVAC

I will be part of an art show ARTfordable

art by local artists for under $50

Friday, October 15, 2010, 6-10pm

Saturday, October 16, 2010, 1-6pm

LVAC

2932 Cleveland Blvd

Louisville, KY 40206

(unfortunatly I won't be able to attend,

but stop by to see the great local art)

Sail Boat

photograph and water colour

Playing Around Part Two

I took a picture the scuffed-up photo of a tree (blue version of the one previously posted) and manipulated the colours.

This is one of the manipulations.

Mellwood Art Fair

The Mellwood Art Fair is this Saturday and Sunday (11th & 12th).

If you are in Louisville, come check out hundreds of local and regional artists.  Including me; Studio 263 in the B Building.

Stop by and see my new work.

http://www.mellwoodartcenter.com/

photograph of Rocky Mountains with water colour wash

New Stuff

These are some of my seasonal art pieces.  

acrylic, paper and wildflowers

Playing Around

These new pieces are not part of my seasonal art experiments, but evolved from messing around with my sister during summer vacation

scuffed-up photograph with water colour

 mixed media collage

DragonFly

water colour and acrylic with bark

Seasonal Art

My favorite restaurants have menus based on local seasonal food.  So I thought why not experiment in local seasonal art.  I have been collecting leaves, bark, wild flowers and dead insects to as inspirational mediums.

Birch Leaves:  I do not know what the cause is, but the result looks like delicate lace.

Cicadas:  Every morning I find the remains from the night's cicada molting around the base of trees.  I have also found a few still attached to the trees.

Before a Thunderstorm

After a Thunderstorm

Today's Inspiration

What do you see at your local garden shop?

digital image, no enhancement

A Stray Thunderstorm

Trees

Watercolour and Ink on Bristol paper

Petrified

The Petrified Forest is amazing (especially if you are into rocks like I am).  The colours and patterns of the wood are beautiful.

Below is one of the pictures I took.

The top picture is not enhanced.  The bottom picture is enhanced.

The enhanced picture represents the images from my memory.  It was so colourful; that is what I remember most.

Escape

This is my submission to the Heine Brothers Coffee burlap sac contest.

The coffee beans have escaped.

Update:

I did not win the contest, but Escape (along with the other burlap sac artwork) is on display through June at the Gardner Lane Heine Brothers.  Stop by to see all the great work.

Cactus Eye

What a cactus sees through its hundred year old arms.

Koi Pond

A different view of things can open a world of imagination.

Seeds