tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64762227876303219782024-02-07T05:42:08.160-06:00Linda Mahoney ArtLinda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-75467735947844979962018-04-10T15:05:00.001-05:002018-04-10T15:05:29.523-05:00Bright Beach Fabric<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Still doing occasional fabric designs which I upload to Spoonflower. Most recently I designed a pattern I called Bright Beach. I needed extra throw pillows to brighten up a beach condo that has dark brown furniture. (I dream of turquoise, but until then...)<br />
I had already made some pillow covers using the wonderful P. Kaufman fabric with an orange background, but alas it is no longer in production. So...I decided to design something that would coordinate and came up with this:<br />
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Which is available on Spoonflower <a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/designs/7392357-bright-beach-by-mahoneybee" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
I used the Lightweight Cotton Twill and just love the fabric. Here's how the pillows turned out:<br />
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They don't look as vibrant in the photo as they do in real life, but I was very pleased with the results.<br />
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Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-46079138230324312032014-04-22T20:26:00.002-05:002014-04-22T20:26:38.777-05:00Back to the Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After way too long, I decided it is time to reconnect with my blogging. I made a decision to "retire" from commissions and free-lance artwork and spend more time doing artwork that I want to do - on my own terms. (I'm weak and still get talked into doing a few commissions...) I spent 2 weeks cleaning out and reorganizing in my artroom/storage area. There is still much to do, but the improvement was phenomenal. I mixed up a DIY version of chalk paint to redo an old, beat up bookcase. I went to<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome" target="_blank"> Spoonflower</a> and realized that wallpaper is available. I also caught up on messages that were at least a year old. I purchased my design - Butterfly Meadow - in wallpaper and used it to line the back of the bookcase. <br />
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What a HUGE improvement.<br />
The recipe that I used for the<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: cyan;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">chalk paint</span></span></b></span> worked great, required no priming and covered really well:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup flat latex paint </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 Tbs plaster of Paris</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 Tbs water</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix the plaster of Paris and water into a smooth paste</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> & add to the paint. Stir well. Paint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's it! Easy peasy! </span></div>
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Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-48832066178322720262012-06-12T08:57:00.000-05:002012-06-12T08:57:23.666-05:00Tomorrow is the Last Day to Vote in the Fabric8 Design Contest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the Fabric8 design contest sponsored by Spoonflower and Robert Kaufman. I am so excited my Butterflygarden collection has made it to the finals! If you don't mind taking the time to vote for my collection (or one of the others), you may go <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters/new?contest_id=145" target="_blank">here </a>to do so. </h3>
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Learning to do fabric repeats has been a steep learning curve for me, but I'm getting the hang of it. I guess my background in graphic arts is coming to the foreground as I have found I really, really enjoy doing surface design. <br />
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</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-50961239057415889442012-05-29T14:13:00.001-05:002012-05-29T14:13:41.840-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is the <a href="http://blog.spoonflower.com/2012/05/fabric8-finalist-profile-linda-mahoney.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SpoonflowerBlog+%28Spoonflower+blog%29" target="_blank">link</a> to my profile for the Fabric8 Finalists in the contest sponsored by Spoonflower and Robert Kaufman. Voting will begin June 7th and I will post a link to the voting location here. I'm working, working, working to come up with the 7 additional fabric designs to compliment the Butterfly Garden entry. Tiring but very fun and addictive! Keep your fingers crossed and send me inspirational and encouraging thoughts, please!<br />
Best, Linda<br />
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</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-9601574525272153802012-05-21T07:57:00.000-05:002012-05-21T08:11:33.008-05:00Fabric Design - Trials & Tribulations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Butterfly Garden - fat quarter</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Wowee Zowee!</em></strong></span> I can't believe it. I have wanted to design fabric or try my hand at other surface designs (wallpaper, giftwrap, etc.) but, I have been struggling with seamless repeats for patterns. My original art education did not include computers and that has been a learn-on-the-fly experience for me.<br />
I have been aware of <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/" target="_blank">Spoonflower</a> for about a year. They provide beautiful fabrics by fantastic independent designers and you can upload your own designs to be printed as well. The site includes designing tools and lots of friendly online and other assistance. Spoonflower sponsors weekly design contests and I thought that I would enter one about a year ago. (I have found that competitions are good for my productivity. The deadlines and parameters help me stay on track despite my natural ADD tendencies to fly off in a million directions.) Well, after numerous attempts to create a design and have it duplicate without looking like it was a creation from my tie-dye 60's I gave up in despair. <br />
Still, I love beautiful fabrics and longed to create a design I liked. I periodically perused the fabulous designs and contests and voted for my favorites several times. Recently, I noticed a contest they were sponsoring in conjunction with <a href="http://www.robertkaufman.com/" target="_blank">Robert Kaufman</a> fabrics. The contest, entitled <a href="http://www.fabric8contest.com/submissions-are-open.html" target="_blank">Fabric8</a> had a theme of watercolor with pen and ink. My mind began to swirl with ideas.<br />
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Two years ago, I took my sister to Fredericksburg, TX so that we could see the abundant bluebonnet display that year. We drove along the reknown Willow City Loop outside of Fredericksburg to take in the wildflowers dotting the countryside and then went to the <a href="http://www.wildseedfarms.com/" target="_blank">Wildseed Farm</a>. At the Wildseed Farm, rows and rows of colorful poppies danced in the wind. We also went into the butterfly house where the beautiful butterflies perched everywhere - including on us. My sister was terminally ill with cancer and that was our last trip together. <br />
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I used reference photos that I had taken from that trip to create a loose watercolor painting of poppies and bluebonnets with a few other wildflowers and butterflies sprinkles about. I used a very fine pen to sketch in some of the flowers for added definition. Then, I scanned the painting into my computer and selected and rearranged parts for my final image. After that came the repeated online tutorials and experimenting and hours of attempts to arrive at one simple design. With a "no guts, no glory" attitude, I bravely stuck my little design in the contest.<br />
A week or so later, I received an email telling me that my entry had made it to the top 100 out of the 750 or so entered in the contest. I was quite surprised and pleased. The next level was to narrow the entries to the Final 8. I was totally humbled and delighted to learn that my Butterfly Garden design had made it through! There were so many amazing designs and beautiful entries that had made me think, "I wish I could do THAT!" or "I LOVE that". I also know the despondency of having your entry rejected and wish I could give a hug to each of the entrants who were feeling that disappointment. My message to you, is "Don't Give Up!". Believe me, I've been there plenty of times. <br />
For the next level of the contest, I must create 7 additional designs to coordinate with the original Butterfly Garden design. I am taking more tutorials and gettng a whole new on-the-fly education in this pattern and repeat stuff. It is taking hours and hours and the learning curve is steep, but I am determined. Even if my final results are less than spectacular, I will be learning techniques that I can apply to my future work. Besides, despite the hard work and cramped neck muscles, I have found I really love the combination of art and design.<br />
For making it to the top 8, I have been rewarded with $150 in credit at Spoonflower. I received a test swatch of my fabric this weekend, and even though I designed it myself, I have to say- I Love it! <br />
I will be posting a link for the final voting - which begins June 6 - and my coordinating designs in the near future. Wish me luck, please!<br />
All the best, Linda</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-63782029734648496832012-05-17T17:13:00.000-05:002012-05-17T17:13:23.679-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yea!!! I was thrilled to receive word today that I've been juried into the Art & Conservation 2013 Our Hidden Treasures event. Through a lottery I have been assigned to a ranch in Comfort, TX where I will visit 2 - 3 times over the next 12 months for reference material in creating artwork for the 2013 event. <br />
I am really looking forward to participating in this. I love nature - and of course, art - and the combination of the two helps preserve what is so difficult to preserve.<br />
I used my "Beauty Beneath" colored pencil painting which is based on the cypress trees from Camp Verde to apply for inclusion. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcibolo.org%2Fnode%2F1795&h=qAQEqwjsR" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcibolo.org%2Fnode%2F1795&h=qAQEqwjsR</a><br />
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</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-29095560579904504022012-03-25T08:06:00.000-05:002012-03-25T08:06:16.838-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fun with zentangle-inspired images continues. I created this little 4.5x6.5 piece with colored ink. I can't resist experimenting with new materials and ideas. I completed a larger colored pencil piece yesterday that is unusable. I will post it as a "learn from your mistakes" item later.<br />
Have a blessed Sunday!<br />
All the best - Linda<br />
</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-43161048553028611572012-03-20T09:10:00.000-05:002012-03-20T09:10:07.887-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I continue to find zentangle-inspired images relaxing and fun! There are many sites on the web where you can find ideas for designs to incorporate into your doodling. I like to work on these while my hubby is driving - though unexpected bumps result in a few squiggles here and there. I've begun including color in the images and like how it pops. I hope to get more sophitiscated in the use of the doodles and size of the marks to help create depth and shading within the images. <br />
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Update on the artwork in the previous post: "Wrong Turn" - is SOLD. Prints may be available at a later date.<br />
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All the Best - Linda</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-88898008913643723422012-03-19T08:52:00.000-05:002012-03-19T08:52:06.116-05:00Wrong Turn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here's a colored pencil painting that I finished yesterday. It's 22"x16" on Stonehenge. This past summer an artist friend commented to me, "You like art that tells a story." I had never thought of that before, but perhaps I do. I very much enjoy doing representational still lifes and landscapes, but I suppose when I do something that is totally created from my imagination, it does tell a story. I often have the title of a piece in mind before I start on it, so I guess that figures in, too. This one is titled "Wrong Turn".</div>
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Sometimes purchasers want to know what I was thinking when I created a certain piece. I don't mind sharing, but I prefer for the viewer to have their own story. If I tell them mine first, I feel it limits what it can be for them. Most of us have made a wrong turn or two in our lives, and I hope that idea doesn't cramp your story when you consider this image.</div>
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</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-63292499606300247612012-03-11T20:51:00.000-05:002012-03-11T20:51:06.754-05:00It's an abalone shell...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI41Dv3g_XL-ARKwFwmLMXu-FpAAy2UcUr66MluzAtLzx8twsERTBGRGA3QjbvVaaDhcsCkeVfQWBhcoa3K1hMgAc74Ufuc0R0PM1lf7vTLZJRqSfrv_r3bUpszKLDFMWjJEqRxsZCH33m/s1600/still+life+w+seashellsforinternet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI41Dv3g_XL-ARKwFwmLMXu-FpAAy2UcUr66MluzAtLzx8twsERTBGRGA3QjbvVaaDhcsCkeVfQWBhcoa3K1hMgAc74Ufuc0R0PM1lf7vTLZJRqSfrv_r3bUpszKLDFMWjJEqRxsZCH33m/s320/still+life+w+seashellsforinternet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the finished (I think) artwork with the abalone shell that I was working on in the previous post. It was a lot of fun to do and I'm already off on my next colored pencil painting. I hope to have it finished by the end of this month so that I can enter two of them for the jury process of the Colored Pencil International exhibit. Only one piece per artist can be selected, but I figure having two will double my chances to get in. I would really like for that to happen so that I can get my 10-year merit status. Back to the drawing board...</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-74182762771062400532012-03-04T08:39:00.000-06:002012-03-04T08:39:56.990-06:00What is it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This doesn't look like anything more than a bunch of squiggles, right? When you look up close, even the most realistic renderings can look very abstract. I have to remind myself, as I do my students, to "draw what you see, not what you think you know". We all develop some kind of preconceived ideas of how things should look from a very early age. To accurately reproduce what we see, it is helpful to shift away from naming the object or thinking about what it is. Focusing in on small areas and duplicating what we see rather than what it is helps to make the shift. This is a small area - about 4" square from a 16 x 22 image. It's <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-colored-pencils/" target="_blank">Prismacolor</a> pencil on <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/stonehenge-paper/" target="_blank">Stonehenge paper</a>. I hope to finish it within the next couple of weeks and will share the whole image here. </div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-9663838379173814042012-02-20T10:39:00.000-06:002012-02-20T10:39:55.295-06:00Zentangle, Zendoodle...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Zentangle -</span></strong> In the latest issue of CPSA's "To the Point", Verna Curnow presented an article on zentangle or zendoodle. An artform where repetitive patterns or shapes are used to create a meditative image. Easily seduced to try something new with art, I began my patterns with ink pen in hand. I used archival Pitt pens and made my image on Stonehenge paper. I have to admit it was time consuming, but thoroughly enjoyable. I titled this little piece "Edge of Entanglement". It's on an 8 x 6 sheet of Stonehenge paper. It's something I could work on between other projects with very little needed for materials. I did some of it while riding in the car and had to stay away from the finer lines while bumping along in the Mustang. Seems those sports suspensions are not built for smoothness. LOL! Now I'm thinking of doing a whole art journal in this style. Wonder if I can stick with something that long...Anyone can do this type of art and it if doodling is something you do, why not turn it into art? Here's a link to a <a href="http://www.zentangle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=111" target="_blank">site</a> that will provide you with more information and references. To your doodling! Linda</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-40112477093059555262012-02-13T07:44:00.000-06:002012-02-13T07:44:48.272-06:00Colored Pencil Treasures - coming soon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am so very honored to have my artwork included in Ann Kullberg's "Colored Pencil Treasures" book. My work appears on page 34 as seen in the previews here <a href="http://www.annkullberg.com/cptreasures_2.php" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.annkullberg.com/cptreasures_2.php</a><br />
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This is the third book that includes colored pencil artwork that I have created. I continue to work on improving my skills in fine art and to promote colored pencil as a viable medium for creating fine art. </div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-9015350291719983382012-02-02T07:19:00.006-06:002012-02-02T07:58:30.540-06:00Keep Trying!<div><div>I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted on this blog and vow to be much more attentive to this in the coming year. </div><div>Just this week I helped judge artwork at the local junior livestock and homemaking show. It was interesting and inspiring to see such wonderful work being created by local children ages 6 - 12. I was moved by the ability of so many of them and encouraged by the interest of all of them. We were instructed to make comments on each judging sheet. As a sometimes instructor of adults who have shared their childhood experiences with me, I strived to find positive comments for every piece and to frame negatives and suggestions in a constructive manner. </div><div>I thought about abandoning my blog as it takes time away from other things I might like to do a little more. But then, I thought about how easy it is to give up on things and that's what so many kids do even though there was something they longed to communicate. So, my message to myself and to you is:</div><div>Keep trying! Every time you work on something - you learn something. I'm an artist, teach occasionally, and am always saddened and astouneded to meet people whose work was harshly criticized as a child. There are so many different types and styles of artwork that is pleasing to viewers of varying tastes, that I believe everyone can create art that communicates at some level. You might consider looking through books - and free, online information - about design and color. I find it very helpful to read and look at the work of other artists whose artwork I admire. Don't forget to check your public library for books and videos on art and artists. As long as you are finding some enjoyment and learning, you are succeeding! Only the most extraordinary artists created great art as they began their journey and many of those weren't recognized until their journey in this world had ended.</div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-23584394515425179182011-01-11T08:37:00.003-06:002011-01-11T08:47:54.181-06:00Painting BIG Flowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzq-LMunK2bqffme5UDhj9RukftWkWtRK6DPkwqzPoVabrU-6qGiR-qI4d6bf_9rxq1p1wobGVKfTs8VQISu4X1dhAf02R1DZpa5ZzsbCWdFNbod1IAHMcdZwh9hb_JZW-ys0TpqFc6Pz/s1600/lo+res.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 390px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560939120249614242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzq-LMunK2bqffme5UDhj9RukftWkWtRK6DPkwqzPoVabrU-6qGiR-qI4d6bf_9rxq1p1wobGVKfTs8VQISu4X1dhAf02R1DZpa5ZzsbCWdFNbod1IAHMcdZwh9hb_JZW-ys0TpqFc6Pz/s400/lo+res.jpg" /></a><br /><div>As I began to write this post, I realized that the previous 2 entries featured shades of pink and this one will, too. Maybe time to come up with a different pallette? I keep struggling with the need to create a body of work. My ADD-addled brain has me hopping from one "great" idea to another despite my concerted efforts to stay on track. I began a colored pencil painting but the new box of open acrylics kept calling my name. I've been interested in trying the "open" formulation of acrylics for some time now and I finally succumed to the siren call. I have also been wanting to paint flowers in a larger than life format, so this rose is 18"x18" and I really enjoyed doing it. While painting this rose, Frances Ince Erdmann came to mind as she grew beautiful roses and even worked with a rose supplier (Jackson Perkins?) on their hybrid line. She was a generous friend and fun person who was also a victim of cancer. I've named this painting "Remembering Frances" in her honor. </div><div> I tried to capture the feeling of the light coming through the petals from behind. I still believe that acrylics have a harsher finish than oils and I'm not sure I wouldn't be happier with the results. The last time I tried the water miscible oils I was put off by the consistency, but I'm thinking the right mediums might solve that problem. Bottom line, I still haven't found my holy grail but keep searching.</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-17652785873830505842010-09-24T08:47:00.003-05:002010-09-24T09:01:32.180-05:00Paint whatever comes your way<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z63db8rFj-4oi1v5HBfikEcucurgFE-x74LwMStgO2PJp1VkvLpOUsq6IP8Cy3qVFZly7qfMntkVuB1jcg059Uy2IKSGC4IEvDKPdj02QEopneFBwfupApOiwL4Aub6896ofbcolbT2a/s1600/chest1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520479145973996946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z63db8rFj-4oi1v5HBfikEcucurgFE-x74LwMStgO2PJp1VkvLpOUsq6IP8Cy3qVFZly7qfMntkVuB1jcg059Uy2IKSGC4IEvDKPdj02QEopneFBwfupApOiwL4Aub6896ofbcolbT2a/s400/chest1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This chest belonged to my husband's sister, who I never got to meet. It was then used by his daughter Liane and ultimately ended up in storage. I decided it would make a great project for Liane's daughter, Kamrynn, and set about changing it from the basic <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthefrenchprovincialfurniture.com%2Flinda-mahoneys-french-provincial-makeover&h=e21af">French Provencial </a>white to something with a little more character. Previous makeovers of this type have included a set of cabinet doors when we added a cabinet unit to an older house and were not able to match the existing cabinets, and a large wooden floor lamp. I'll post photos of the other two mentioned projects in the near future. The chest and lamp were inspired by the ever colorful and whimsical styles of Mackenzie-Childs. I find their work especially delightful for the child in us all.</div><br /><div>Happy creating! </div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-78603028925365690442010-08-16T08:51:00.005-05:002010-08-16T08:57:52.554-05:00Pretty in Pink - Party Dress<div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506006056371298338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzhS8ghbknqAPoyTu0k0yFPVH4hKXEw2ojSISQUX-9eqj75_x1PdztLWtUPWpiGmRM7oMW68AhjMl9BduCPZNp_OlduebaxQq_e7KAx4vQhW0OjRaFx0p8mgIPdf3abKhWA0T52IQ8_uo/s400/in+the+pink+7x5.jpg" /> This past week was spent in the cool mountain village of Cloudcroft, NM where I taught a class in collage.So much has happened since my last post. Some of it has been fabulous: I have a fantastic daughter-in-law! Some of it tragic: my daughter-in-law's father, who was also a personal friend, passed away in the early morning hours on the day of the wedding. Also, my baby sister is now home with hospice as she continues to battle damned cancer. Life happens and we deal with it.<br /><div> Collage is a welcome respite from the world of reality. It is a break from the tedious detailed work I usually do. I believe the freedom of it is what has made it a unanimous first choice for my students.I'm posting a collage that I completed as a demonstration for the students which includes 3-d elements. It's a cheerful party dress that will be inserted in a shadowbox frame. </div><div> The dress is made up of paper elements layered and bent to contribute to the form. The wood panel support was covered with a portion of a McCall's dress pattern and then stenciled over with a diamond design. I think a series of these dresses would make a really fun wall grouping.</div><div></div><div> Enjoy every day that comes your way, don't waste precious time and stay in the moment as much as possible!</div><div> All the best, Linda</div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-30240976233295833192010-06-22T07:36:00.014-05:002010-06-22T08:58:00.815-05:00Combining Photos for a PortraitThough my website, I was contacted by a lady who asked if I could do a portrait of her daughter along with her daughter's pets. She has 3 dogs and a beloved turtle and wanted to have them all included in the portrait. We discussed sizes and agreed that a 22 x 16 would be large enough to incorporate all the subjects and include enough detail to make each recognizable. Also, with a 4" mat, the fnished portrait would easily fit into a 30x24 standard sized frame. We discussed pastel and colored pencil as the preferred mediums for completing the portrait. When I learned that they wanted to carry the portrait with them on a plane where they would travel to visit the final recipient, I suggested colored pencil as the more portable of the two. The client was already leaning toward the colored pencil from reviewing portraits on my website. We discussed the setting for the portrait and a natural, outdoor setting seemed well suited for the inclusion of the pets. The client lives in a beautiful, wooded area and requested including the trees in the background. I agreed to travel to their home to take photographs of each of the dogs, the turtle, and most importantly, the little girl.<br /><br /><div><div>Realizing it would be extremely difficult to pose them all at the same time, I focused on trying to capture each of them separately and made notes regarding personal characteristics and expressions. It was rather sunny and warm and I knew that the shadows would be harsh and I would have to soften the shading when doing the final artwork. After returning home, I went through the photographs and emailed samples for the client to select and also rough images of various poses for the group. Using Photoshop, I cut and pasted various poses of the little girl and each of her pets. I emailed the rough compositions to the client to solicit her preferences. The first two images below were sent as the intial suggestions for a composition incorporating all the elements.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485592404566853970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ySsEZKugxhSYKY_tGhVYmpAgFcDd2E2t7x46RWjRDt_UITuy-1UMPTPpiDSl_g-5OWk7tKG0Ns39yV2Vodmxnw8akQi3ZTTPqj7ilALtbUYOlk0A3AWZd8vrhdUILR9usSb7p-krAsy7/s400/compositions.jpg" /> The client responded that she preferred the vertical format, but requested that the dogs be facing forward. The third composition above was the result of those revisions.<br /><br /><div>The facial expression in this photo was selected as best representative of Holly. To have her incorporated with the 3 dogs, I turned her body more forward and changed the arms to hold the turtle more centered.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSlDdpSweUajzfT3u3Izul3WtX1D4if3-uQVhBRZuNbObK0h2FWPcjE-FKqLRKq-XVUiaHU-OVwgwS8X9eZpm_vawD1ouNqYS96BBa-E-DBgHVddDKhrrF91gJtTO7fKefmAupngNMXlY/s1600/holly.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485588116755865074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSlDdpSweUajzfT3u3Izul3WtX1D4if3-uQVhBRZuNbObK0h2FWPcjE-FKqLRKq-XVUiaHU-OVwgwS8X9eZpm_vawD1ouNqYS96BBa-E-DBgHVddDKhrrF91gJtTO7fKefmAupngNMXlY/s400/holly.jpg" /></a> Bob was cooperative and easy to photograph. I think he likes posing.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485587595314410066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd409N7MamnUY7ZJ7lhekhNoFyGKqjq7J41hN4-thlbd__8r5XqOnKcjaMDbdQn_6tp8j4iOd8ehG3Kk8KUpQ3TvLAq1u4nvW0bdGwzqacSBWjXzLDH60O3rilD8hg1BQZ0fYQJCY3_gv/s400/turtle.jpg" /></div><br /><div><br /><div> Max wasn't especially interested in having his portrait done. The client noted that his usual facial expression included his tongue hanging out on his left side. She also asked that he be looking up or forward instead of to the side. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485594934619994210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOl1xVloFT5UnntWeyGCl4T4tb51dCx-as_-Wd-9oAzpaxHDhmhJRClSCe4YFQ3pP5HpC-zyBSkIbBE6typ5alYIuBvT24SyGbmLPUoOVgACuM3zj9hlcQCaYA-yiGJdwIsU55X_JacPK/s400/pug.jpg" />Unfortunately, Dusty was not looking forward in any of the photographs I had taken. I wanted to be sure to capture his unique markings, so I consulted the photos that I had taken and referred to a photo I found online of a black and tan dachshund facing forward for a reference in drawing the shape of his head from a face-forward position.<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe-XMCzGXmBNE5U1ebs-6VbZCPXb4fVF-hkWY-Un1UQCyH0uw_UHeHctSde8Lt_D512ZhnCHjvNNWLP7NI85b9yHpaW6ZvwQx7swGAg1w4JDPTA3vrG7CRDfA9HrK7hXc1Spme5e2kK9N/s1600/dusty.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485585676166667250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe-XMCzGXmBNE5U1ebs-6VbZCPXb4fVF-hkWY-Un1UQCyH0uw_UHeHctSde8Lt_D512ZhnCHjvNNWLP7NI85b9yHpaW6ZvwQx7swGAg1w4JDPTA3vrG7CRDfA9HrK7hXc1Spme5e2kK9N/s400/dusty.jpg" /></a> I was fortunate to get a shot of Bea that did not require modifications. I eliminated the leash attached to her collar, but otherwise, she was good-to-go.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw7cGyzAMxskada0f0sFuEOx-EJ22HlgozjJ4H2ErFSfUAY9fZj5WYHTqZy1iiVjyJ4VfFxIlwQVJaUXq0oVAj9T1LaT4dXG5HfiUngg0a38pPAEO3CIKq2opph686tSssoLoicaor_yC/s1600/Bea.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485585292375249954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw7cGyzAMxskada0f0sFuEOx-EJ22HlgozjJ4H2ErFSfUAY9fZj5WYHTqZy1iiVjyJ4VfFxIlwQVJaUXq0oVAj9T1LaT4dXG5HfiUngg0a38pPAEO3CIKq2opph686tSssoLoicaor_yC/s320/Bea.jpg" /></a> The final portrait: Holly & Friends, colored pencil, 22x16<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlYhEe5seP9KpZHDNEzUoehgQPR5QCe71kkQqePsp3V3IDTD1yn_8c9q5ri9z3G3kgZ07BgyR9SJ65K0IEBBrSon6Np7S-OSWPKbNdZMIEozI99oZ6D6MyFZkrweH3zXm-2g63QRGl5F8/s1600/holly+%26+friends+email.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485584959335639122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlYhEe5seP9KpZHDNEzUoehgQPR5QCe71kkQqePsp3V3IDTD1yn_8c9q5ri9z3G3kgZ07BgyR9SJ65K0IEBBrSon6Np7S-OSWPKbNdZMIEozI99oZ6D6MyFZkrweH3zXm-2g63QRGl5F8/s400/holly+%26+friends+email.jpg" /></a> The client expressed her satisfaction with the final portrait and I had the pleasure of knowing that special memories had been captured and recorded. Hopefully, the good times will live on through my artwork.<br /><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-36187394806064864772010-06-10T20:50:00.003-05:002010-06-10T21:01:06.395-05:00Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0oLyYbLy70YSXfnDk_hGx1puOEr_wRvHDN7kgW7o_Rp7vl7qfp9RROcCBR-XDCS6hxUJTpEbMxeCBujGPIbviHELB4gcaeEoxsGubTxBENqku-Lm171XCUetqPIc0LFr2ofItBF16wPd/s1600/forest+stream.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481329495742253026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0oLyYbLy70YSXfnDk_hGx1puOEr_wRvHDN7kgW7o_Rp7vl7qfp9RROcCBR-XDCS6hxUJTpEbMxeCBujGPIbviHELB4gcaeEoxsGubTxBENqku-Lm171XCUetqPIc0LFr2ofItBF16wPd/s320/forest+stream.jpg" /></a><br /><div>That may not be the exact quote from John Lennon, but close enough.</div><br /><div>We expected to be back in Cloudcroft today, but that is not the way things have gone. We are moving up a wedding between my son and his fiance by several months and are waiting on the date. My sister is struggling with cancer and is not feeling well.</div><br /><div>I have a painting on the easel and am trying gilding for the first time. I'm using imitation for this first piece. I can't see using gold or silver until I am sure I can apply it competently. A botanical drawing of a rose that is almost completed is awaiting my return to Cloudcroft. I put it aside to complete the portrait I was commissioned to do. I'll post them here later.</div><br /><div>For now, I'm sharing an acrylic painting based on a quiet pool and stream I photographed in Tennessee a couple of years ago. </div><br /><div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-1885187189515277182010-05-11T06:44:00.003-05:002010-05-11T06:50:56.515-05:00Painting my Face<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhQuDFGE0AMPWNoRkhyphenhyphen92IdWyBhlEwalN3obsIej76wIkOlpUNtHQLCoQYyujkYrDCtQNweNrcOvc4dO0oMJFU72gCAPqGTKuRJAvUUclRviJwfrDdlC8AQsR1gNMeKMMzfK3pL40Bu0l/s1600/painting+my+face.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469977211699788642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhQuDFGE0AMPWNoRkhyphenhyphen92IdWyBhlEwalN3obsIej76wIkOlpUNtHQLCoQYyujkYrDCtQNweNrcOvc4dO0oMJFU72gCAPqGTKuRJAvUUclRviJwfrDdlC8AQsR1gNMeKMMzfK3pL40Bu0l/s320/painting+my+face.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> "Painting my Face" 10x14 Colored Pencil</span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">The idea for this painting has been percolating for several years. I wonder if artists are better at applying their makeup or not. And what if you could just repaint the parts that you didn't like? Then again, that could be a disaster. For a long time I thought I should get a model for this design. I pondered how I might set it up - with the model's face reflected in a mirror, or the model facing the viewer with a mirror in her hand, or... I finally just used the digital camera with the timer setting. I don't particularly like doing self-portraits, but the model is always handy and the fee is affordable.<br /></div><div align="center"></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-87470923681074545422010-05-09T07:35:00.008-05:002010-05-09T08:09:45.228-05:00It's Just the Judge's Preference<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6O3Y7prnhSfYBwpW9WYqw3Bts9rpY_79kUScXy49iWx6cDEW90nC9_vYNMEfcdLQL4C13aE4FA-hrfaXbxvLz4ftmUr83Lq4FSm9zXuixGXzosbSZDDWfxYghhfyGtuacioyuhliKImVp/s1600/am+classics.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469248309450887890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6O3Y7prnhSfYBwpW9WYqw3Bts9rpY_79kUScXy49iWx6cDEW90nC9_vYNMEfcdLQL4C13aE4FA-hrfaXbxvLz4ftmUr83Lq4FSm9zXuixGXzosbSZDDWfxYghhfyGtuacioyuhliKImVp/s320/am+classics.jpg" /></a> Entering juried competitions is a tricky thing. After all, the selections are purely the preference of the person(s) viewing the artwork. The art juror brings to the table their own personal likes and dislikes. No matter how hard you try to be objective, if you really don't like something, it's bound to play into your choices.<br />For some reason I can't explain, I recoiled at the sight of tattoos as a child. I have worked hard to overcome that as they have become more mainstream, but the point is, I have to work at it. Given the choice between a natural beauty and an artificially adorned one, I would tend to gravitate to the former. That is a bias that I have and the point is, most everyone has predilections they consciously or subconsciously carry with them.<br />The judges for art events bring their own inclinations - consciously or not - to their judgments. I like all different kinds of art, but may not be able to appreciate certain types to the degree someone else might. In addition, it is the judge's responsibility to create an exhibition that is varied and interesting. If a large percentage of entries are similar in subject, it makes the competition in that genre more difficult.<br />When I created my still life painting, "American Classics", I thought it was one of my better colored pencil paintings. I also realized that there would be an abundance of still life entries with flowers and fruit, making it more difficult to stand out in a large field of similar entries. I had wanted to do something a little more "out-of -the-box" and have been doing quite a bit of free-lance illustrating recently, so I came up with the concept of "In Search of Rousseau". I believe that the piece shows more imagination and creativity than the still life painting. However, I believe that the technical skill used in the still life painting was of a higher level.<br />There have been years when I have entered 2 paintings and neither was selected for inclusion. The first year I entered the Colored Pencil Society of America's International Exhibition, I sent 1 submission. (Entrants are allowed to submit up to 2 images for consideration with no more than 1 entry being eligible for inclusion.) At that point, I was entirely self-taught in colored pencil<br />and was totally naive about the level of competition. My piece was included and I was thrilled. If it hadn't been juried in, I might never have entered again.<br />I am writing this blog to let other artists know how wrong-headed that would have been. In another year among other entries or with a differen juror, that piece could have easily been rejected. It was a still life of fruit and might have been one too many to make the cut that year. Just remind yourself that the variables are many and keep trying to do your best work. The decision to include or exclude your entry, is no more than the preference of the judge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNuc-Mp4_0qaadKtLz3CG1pE4onBWS-mOizu8voz8zAD3sp89ZQnrLq-ivZL5nedeYdESa_OUoPZiiRkGZo-qevTpak7dmKs9JjBSoL5Iq59g6ILb1NziFtE8oVRCiBDNzHK0ShY9EiaS/s1600/in+search+of+rousseau.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469248190635386242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNuc-Mp4_0qaadKtLz3CG1pE4onBWS-mOizu8voz8zAD3sp89ZQnrLq-ivZL5nedeYdESa_OUoPZiiRkGZo-qevTpak7dmKs9JjBSoL5Iq59g6ILb1NziFtE8oVRCiBDNzHK0ShY9EiaS/s320/in+search+of+rousseau.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-10222880765137234652010-04-27T08:08:00.003-05:002010-04-27T08:13:08.570-05:00In Search of Rousseau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2m2ZhQ165kgMPGS6a63V7SpmPKQ45YlnnpNHBOn-834IiGlqSOGZOIQL6rE51btXgo55t6itayG2W9mzuypnFmsILCbnz1fjvDfhOatkKCqVlveCAQ0vOUEvd8UZsL-apE6vo4tQaHoH/s1600/InSearchOfRousseau+web.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464804472556889458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2m2ZhQ165kgMPGS6a63V7SpmPKQ45YlnnpNHBOn-834IiGlqSOGZOIQL6rE51btXgo55t6itayG2W9mzuypnFmsILCbnz1fjvDfhOatkKCqVlveCAQ0vOUEvd8UZsL-apE6vo4tQaHoH/s320/InSearchOfRousseau+web.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">"In Search of Rousseau" 18x24 Colored Pencil on Sanded Panel</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><div align="left"><br />This colored pencil painting which I completed a few months ago has been juried into the 18th annual <a href="http://cpsa.org/">CPSA International Exhibit</a>. It was done as an homage to Henri Rousseau. For those of you who might not be familiar with the artist Rousseau, he began painting in his 40's in the time of Matisse. He was inspired by the exotic plants he saw at the Paris botanical gardens and by photos from books about Africa. He felt he had stepped into a dream when in the presence of the strange and beautiful plants and sought to project the mood to his paintings. Rousseau painted in a primitive, naive manner that was ridiculed by other artists - though it is thought he was not aware of their disdain for his paintings. His work was later held in higher regard and Picasso supposedly rescued one of his paintings from a street vendor who was selling it as a canvas that could be reused by artists seeking inexpensive painting supplies.<br />My painting depicts a fancy lady - to represent the Paris elite - on a quest through a primitive, naive jungle landscape in search of the artist Rousseau. A composite of Rousseau images follows. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CfrjpQQisxlGavYaIba6in1hUfBaxXWSWWS4b38EFoAF6oQ6-fnVFmSblDSqcyZEOALgPUxekgVDszNt2NexJASZKeFcTc2HsTKjjeUKgSPM0cYcPBr-hJBWqB8LQqO_U5Vu8FlJjFK4/s1600/rousseau+composite.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464803698350686578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CfrjpQQisxlGavYaIba6in1hUfBaxXWSWWS4b38EFoAF6oQ6-fnVFmSblDSqcyZEOALgPUxekgVDszNt2NexJASZKeFcTc2HsTKjjeUKgSPM0cYcPBr-hJBWqB8LQqO_U5Vu8FlJjFK4/s320/rousseau+composite.jpg" /></a> In my next blog, I will compare the painting that got selected for the exhibit and the painting that didn't, and a little about art competitions.</div><br /><div><span style="color:#33ccff;"><span style="color:#000000;">All the best,</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>Linda</em></span></span><br /><br /><div></div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-26874042815612889392010-03-21T07:51:00.002-05:002010-03-21T08:07:20.151-05:00Angel of Peace Paper Painting Collage<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451069184949886242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ll_8sK1XGJnO3nRsLfsHU8OmRUOtU8lRqR0Iy7p-_h17zlrLJT0omt8mBKc3WGoFh3uC5BDaM3wVVWmQQnGuVg8Ngq1lZmnJq2WbZ2IVnVpPGSaukO4mghx2_GaR7zoxhBIQprbCRkWN/s320/angel+of+peace.jpg" />I took a break from the colored pencil paintings I am working on to create a 20x16 collage on a birch panel. I used some highly textured papers on the dove and wings of the angel. I had purchased some handpainted papers from an artist in Florida recently who was trying to raise money to help a friend avoid bankruptcy and I was able to incorporate some of the papers from that purchase. I wasn't happy with the hair on the angel and ended up using papers from a magazine and like the mixture of patterns I found. There are handpainted pages from the Bible worked into the collage in many places. Actually, there were even more of them on the wings of the angel, but I thought the color too dark and ended up covering them with thick, handmade paper. The next photo is a closeup of the detail.<br />I have two colored pencil paintings I hope to finish by the end of the month so that I can enter them to the jury for the annual international colored pencil exhibit. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiVt0ZW4E0c4JuEUXPOJK8-m0QRhtWrS-zNAocaNLLg3YoAfd0CV-BmGazyx1ldBoyrmcEa0lXCrpcOJ0_AkIH-_IaktYlvnbh1A5-v-eyH37sPIQaa8kJijvOeGuHdgoMBKlv-dKclrL/s1600-h/angel+of+peace+detail.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451069623083443090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiVt0ZW4E0c4JuEUXPOJK8-m0QRhtWrS-zNAocaNLLg3YoAfd0CV-BmGazyx1ldBoyrmcEa0lXCrpcOJ0_AkIH-_IaktYlvnbh1A5-v-eyH37sPIQaa8kJijvOeGuHdgoMBKlv-dKclrL/s320/angel+of+peace+detail.jpg" /></a> Peace & grace, Linda<br /><div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-37059991771754800652010-03-17T07:14:00.006-05:002010-03-17T07:38:29.600-05:00More Collages Across the Atlantic<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><em>"Hands across the water, heads across the sky..." Paul McCartney</em></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg99OCnj13EG7Joe5MyAr9GmYQuZXpVzOulKxkCTFoNIjFt8X2L9ryfOoAe08nXyPX0FueYQZ6geDUGzxzsksP0ZUvk5rB8Rb1VTC7MF1a2JwKUqOGaZF-zFICRUcmMX8jJNoqSn7kxAD/s1600-h/DSCI0016.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449576369032090018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg99OCnj13EG7Joe5MyAr9GmYQuZXpVzOulKxkCTFoNIjFt8X2L9ryfOoAe08nXyPX0FueYQZ6geDUGzxzsksP0ZUvk5rB8Rb1VTC7MF1a2JwKUqOGaZF-zFICRUcmMX8jJNoqSn7kxAD/s320/DSCI0016.JPG" /></a> Continuing with collages from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1045051432">Joanne Cole's</a> students in Great Britain:<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjSsppV8mrpk6yH5om4OSfSK7kUxAtVsXeindG1C9KvZ2Hj18MesC2eSDcMXxXXMCtHbcVcuKONobS0r-KWyPk9dPN2CHSfJJT43LVZ31dtq4THtoRO-Zg7vSK5EcfwyOFn47Sjyba5_m/s1600-h/DSCI0014.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449576127121184242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjSsppV8mrpk6yH5om4OSfSK7kUxAtVsXeindG1C9KvZ2Hj18MesC2eSDcMXxXXMCtHbcVcuKONobS0r-KWyPk9dPN2CHSfJJT43LVZ31dtq4THtoRO-Zg7vSK5EcfwyOFn47Sjyba5_m/s320/DSCI0014.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc8s6nOYf05pRR1JL4t7o_3ovT2TrCn1dayQl1OMn3KW8nrrRwzjtIEpnSfDRiyJziFXf_twr5gDONyaHmcRmUKE0F6rclGygu07xU-yPTKGtqUT4TWJLMI2lvY9mFWpj8LZzfsdkMUMg/s1600-h/DSCI0011.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449575933014411234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc8s6nOYf05pRR1JL4t7o_3ovT2TrCn1dayQl1OMn3KW8nrrRwzjtIEpnSfDRiyJziFXf_twr5gDONyaHmcRmUKE0F6rclGygu07xU-yPTKGtqUT4TWJLMI2lvY9mFWpj8LZzfsdkMUMg/s320/DSCI0011.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_UOP2XbOoujJu-wM4yXoNzhK0774S9kYXG-CGCNRxsaYS2tP3OKyVCxlEtEhSXQxfGPHy0PUfqZobcO5dOk508XSeu8H3Dn-fF2WKUjMKuKEGgO8WU62hKSxBq5PnaVhfjRNhRWy3Vsx/s1600-h/DSCI0010%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449575688255834466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_UOP2XbOoujJu-wM4yXoNzhK0774S9kYXG-CGCNRxsaYS2tP3OKyVCxlEtEhSXQxfGPHy0PUfqZobcO5dOk508XSeu8H3Dn-fF2WKUjMKuKEGgO8WU62hKSxBq5PnaVhfjRNhRWy3Vsx/s320/DSCI0010%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aijJtcoytTZIqDE-z1ijQpddhzFsftfw7Z7RzNpF0Fsj9UtQzA3R594Dnxm8LajZN9A3fef7TgQtEDFR9SVQHZxMYH_58gEi6aT1G3lFLk8uUMcg39rYGR1aokKv81swzdRqcspGsrrF/s1600-h/DSCI0009+sundae.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449575441440732642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aijJtcoytTZIqDE-z1ijQpddhzFsftfw7Z7RzNpF0Fsj9UtQzA3R594Dnxm8LajZN9A3fef7TgQtEDFR9SVQHZxMYH_58gEi6aT1G3lFLk8uUMcg39rYGR1aokKv81swzdRqcspGsrrF/s320/DSCI0009+sundae.JPG" /></a></div><div>These delectable creations make me smile and I hope the students had as much fun making them as I've had looking at them! Isn't it amazing to see how different people interpret the same theme? Ice cream sundae collages - in all shapes and colors of the rainbow! Thanks so much for sharing, Joanne!</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#333333;">I just finished a new collage painting yesterday and will post it later. For now, it's clean up the mess I made while doing it and then back to the drawing board - literally. I intend to complete 2 colored pencil paintings by the end of this month to enter the annual international CPSA juried exhibit. The one I'm working on now is on sanded panel and is a homage to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Rousseau"><span style="color:#333333;">Henri Rousseau</span></a><span style="color:#333333;">. I need to have it finished by the end of this week to have time to finish the traditional still life that is in the very beginning stages...<br /></span><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6476222787630321978.post-68152285887943019592010-02-11T06:40:00.011-06:002010-02-11T07:14:53.706-06:00Ice Cream Across the Atlantic<div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHZ0AwZnmEZWNRlfqxCizOCJe9jK6pa-lFbcD6NjGTwYiWMPVi2Gwi0YnUgEhayKzaTe2GvlMa5bYK3vPySKlOw1zTP2qn-s_QcwP4BxrndcbOy3HkONYh_YL2pDtaz5uBHlkraVRZFYX/s1600-h/DSCI0008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436969374957716482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHZ0AwZnmEZWNRlfqxCizOCJe9jK6pa-lFbcD6NjGTwYiWMPVi2Gwi0YnUgEhayKzaTe2GvlMa5bYK3vPySKlOw1zTP2qn-s_QcwP4BxrndcbOy3HkONYh_YL2pDtaz5uBHlkraVRZFYX/s200/DSCI0008.JPG" /></a> Last year I completed 2 ice cream cone collages and posted the process on this blog. Since then, I was contacted by Joanne Cole in Bristol, England. She is a school art teacher and her students were beginning an assignment using collage to create ice cream sundaes. She was asking permission to use my collages and information with her students. I readily agreed and asked that she send photos of her students' work. I emailed photos of the different stages on the ice cream cone collages I had done. I had posted them here previously, but for some reason, several of the photos couldn't be viewed later on. Today, I am sharing with you a photo of my new international friend, Jo<br /></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436968893697379138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uPtXoPkLe3X7mg6cL41Gd0s6bku0DilYEhiPxqVVs4AI12flAJuRckVOTY2yyEBMeJk90S9GOuSKaMsne_It_3k6ISAiujbYFyo0Qncw76nwDXy7_JG9DYGRzHIqJneTz8Z3jFgfk1dH/s320/n1045051432_143772_3063.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>and the work of her younger students.<br /><div><div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436970254320555586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMw344jKo_fsEaaNDyrOqshj6Q7yhQWRcJdWFYuBJuoorGX-BUSXADqrXIzfx3s_JT42nUhk6Yv3P2FfIIAD8nzBL3IsU9eGW-k63vJRSh9hL52sRKCMW8tgoyFb2PgLO7qckfILCSS8XJ/s320/DSCI0009.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436971183032115250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbb6ey9tecik7wpCIXdY3zbElozifGlTQJJrjJCgfDQDaRb-d6yzRPCPor2-h24wi4qoM_DQ6adCKaRxeReOa_DHhhmOEWr9vlSb4vxIYfQfN_O3VyUQQEB7q1rSu7olCWN-49FnRJHSq/s320/DSCI0012.JPG" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa6isKuxmfr5taEiM3q0AvCh0GoiO0v5Zdy7L8GlCPaVGyDW4xT8xDpZ6dP-L-jbH63fx1lKcbo_rpHeHR0eTE-F3vQdldWnRLHGfWkveQQOv2rPU0U4Ynd8UVXdlfuljIH2_X72icBOg/s1600-h/DSCI0020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436972884991359762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa6isKuxmfr5taEiM3q0AvCh0GoiO0v5Zdy7L8GlCPaVGyDW4xT8xDpZ6dP-L-jbH63fx1lKcbo_rpHeHR0eTE-F3vQdldWnRLHGfWkveQQOv2rPU0U4Ynd8UVXdlfuljIH2_X72icBOg/s320/DSCI0020.JPG" /></a><br /><div>This first set of collages was done by 11 year olds with the main focus on tone. On my next blog post I will show the sundaes done by the older students, so stay tuned!</div><div>It is such fun that the internet enables us to connect with people of similar interests all over the world. Enjoy!</div><div>All the best - Linda</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Linda Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100267200988186118noreply@blogger.com1