Adornment and bling

My SiStars in the color of Woman teacher training are working on their Artist Archetype paintings, their TalisWomen, and such beauty is arising!! Two years ago, as I painted Songs of Light, I was drawn to experiment with materials, as Artists love Bling!

I was already drawn to interference paint, which looked so fun and shimmery on the little bottles. What was it? How could I use it? I watched tutorials, and began painting orbs, streaks in my lady's hair, eye shadow, ... rather than paint, interference consists of fine mica flakes, suspended in medium. It refracts light, adding mystique and mystery! I love it! Shimmer and shine! 

Icaricia Butterfly Queen has blue and violet eye shadow, 

Icaricia

and in her fringe, plus copper metallic paint. She has more interference on her wings and orbs. It tends to be thick, so just use a drop or two, and experiment with adding it to paint or mixing with medium. Remember to wait till you're almost finished to use it.

My TalisWoman wanted even more bling, and I turned to "gold" metallic leaf. I'd used this on canvas the summer before (Sekhmet) and was eager to try it on the smooth wood. I enjoyed This tutorial by Star Wars artist Terese Nielsen, both the content, and seeing her amazing studio! And I loved watching her save the little scraps of leaf she brushed off! 

Songs of Light

The leaf takes time and a steady hand, but the effect is well worth it! For her veil, I mixed titanium white with satin medium, and applied with a sponge brush. This is a great technique for veils, steam, smoke... you can wipe off a bit for a more sheer look, or add faint lines for folds and swirls. 

What are some of your favorite tips for adornment?
Happy Paint Party Friday & 3 Muses Challenge: A touch of Red (in the lips!)

Red Thread Circling 'round

Story Cards

Yesterday marked the first of our monthly Red Thread Circles, & the second offering in Currents Gallery 'Back Door Studio.' My co-hort Sepha & I held held space for 4 beloveds, saying prayers for women around the world in honor of International Women's day next week. Each of us made 2-4 story cards, using tempera, colored & inktense pencils, pens & markers. 

Two of the women had been with us mid February to paint our Queens, & we are thoroughly enjoying utilizing this dedicated Art space! 

Queen class - D & Sepha

 We are planning a couple of offerings each month, and Sepha is enrolled in Color of Woman, 2016. 

Next up: Winged One, March 11 & 12
Have you dreams you wish to manifest? What wings can you give them?
In Winged One, explore giving your dreams wings to fly. We'll use active imagination and Intentional Creativity to find tools to identify old patterns holding you back, and new ways to bring your dreams alive.

Icaricia Butterfly on Camas

What wings does your dreamer have? Multicolored butterfly wings? Shimmery dragonfly wings? Or the soft down of feathers? Iridescent? Whisper soft? A slip of mist?

I invite you to consider this question - what dreams do YOU wish to manifest? What will give your dream wings?

Happy Paint Party Friday!!   


 

Trees on display & a YES!

"Trees" - Currents Gallery

  Happy Year of the Sheep!

The year is off to a good start, with two of my pieces on display at Currents Gallery in their TREES show! The show runs through mid March, & both pieces are for sale.

Bhodi Tree Buddha - acrylic on canvas

Bhodi Tree Buddha was inspired by a photo of a buddha head carved into a bhodi tree ... wow! I love this little piece. 
12 x 12", Golden Acrylic on Canvas

The second piece, Quickbeam, is a vignette of a section of 'Gaia,' that I painted in Jassy Watson's e-course - LOVED working with Jassy, who lives in Australia! 

Lovers of the Lord of the Rings (especially the books) will remember the 'Hasty' Ent Quickbeam, who loved the Rowan trees which once graced his part of the forest. He befriended the hobbits Merry & Pippen as they came through the Forest of Fanghorn, after escaping capture ... I wished the second movie had featured more of their adventures, & less war, .... 

Quickbeam - acrylic on canvas 10 x 10"

I have a small show (5 paintings) up at a nearby shop, Inner Oasis, more Musings! The shop is about a block from the gallery, at 448 NE 3rd street.

Pieces include a couple from the previous show, Yarrow Rose & She stands between the Worlds, plus the butterfly queen Icaricia, & Spirit Dancer.

Pieces on my easel include my Legendary Self & the Queen of the Cosmos, from Shiloh Sophia's teachings. 

And ... drum roll, I decided to take the plunge, & said YES to Color of Woman 2015 Teacher Training!! YIKES!! .... exciting & overwhelming, all at once! Am I shaking in my boots? YES!! .... & excited to be on board! 

Quickbeam & friends

I was happy to see a couple of pieces by my friend Cherilyn SunRidge in the Currents show - one hung just above Quickbeam!! & isn't this felted tree lady wonderful? 

What's on your easel? 
Happy Paint Party Friday!!

Butterfly Dreams!

When I lived in community (Breitenbush Hot Springs), one of my favorite 'good night' blessings was 'Butterfly Dreams!' 

Wash & blocking

A couple of weeks ago, someone mentioned loving the colour Violet Oxide, & I decided to use that in my next wash .... My friend Leonard picked up a couple of canvases (22 x 28") when they were on sale at his campus bookstore, so I used one of those.  

When I was playing with paint on canvas, I found I had swirled butterfly wings ... what next?
A butterfly lady, of course! I played with lavender for her face, & for 'hair,' little spiky streeks ... antenae, and of course the wings

Fender's Blue female

As I was admiring some other lovely Ladies, I began thinking about her, that brownish violet in the wash, and realized she was a Blue - & 'not just any blue, but Fender Blue!' (Icaricia icaricaroides fenderi) As a kid, I always loved seeing a cloud of little blue butterflies fluttering above a puddle. 

 The Fender blue is specific to the Willamette Valley, was named for my father-in law in 1931, by his friend & fellow 'buterfly collector' Ralph Macy. By the end of that decade, it was thought to be extinct. Then, few years after his passing, it was rediscovered! (1989) Now a number of little 'sanctuaries' have been set up - scotch broom & blackberries mowed, & their host plant, the Kincaid lupin & favorite nectar mallows encouraged ... & the blues have returned to the valley & coast! 

Icaricia, Butterfly Queen

The males are Lôvélÿ soft blue, females tan...
So I added fringe on the edges of Her wings, (and marveled I'd already used that for "hair"!), stripes of pearl paint on her antenna, and a bit more adornment, ... a few orbs....




Icaricia, Butterfly Queen invites us to STOP and enjoy the flowers!

Their fragrances, their bright joyful colours!
Enjoy them ALL! 

Icaricia

Have favorites! 
Cut back invasive species & Plant those native to your area - see who comes to enjoy them!!
It's up to you to enjoy & nurture the garden of life!


Happy Paint Party Friday!