"Owlie" Ties for 2nd Place in NIbblefest

It's been quite a long while since I've placed in the Nibblefest Art Contest, so it was a very nice surprise indeed to discover my "Owlie" entry tied for Second this month.  What a hoot (pun intended) --- here's a big shout out of thanks to all my lovely bidders and supporters -- I truly appreciate it!

"Owlie" ties for Second Place

"RedWood" for the 'Artists for a Cure' Community Art Show

Tonight marks the inaugural opening of a local art show, called 'Artists for a Cure', which its organizers are hoping to make an annual event.  Artists here in my locality were invited to contribute works of art, with all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life of Champaign County".   As a cancer 'Survivor' myself (happily in remission and aiming to stay that way) I was glad to donate.   My offering for the show is entitled 'RedWood' -- a piece I painted back in late 2011 (click to read the background story behind this painting)....:

"RedWood" (8.5 x 10.5) painted on a support I created myself from an old frame

"RedWood", my contribution to the 'Artists for a Cure' local art show

Locals interested in seeing this piece in person make their way over to the Indi-Go Art Gallery, where the show will run through the weekend.   The opening is tonight -- come enjoy snacks and live music and support a great cause....!

My April Nibblefest Art Contest entry (theme: TREES): Meet "Owlie"

It's Nibblefest Art Contest week!   We're smack in the middle of it.

As usual Nibblefest began on the 20th.  With April's theme being 'Trees', I composed a blog post for the Nibblefest blog in order to introduce this month's theme, featuring some lovely Tree-inspired art by lots of Nibblefest Artists (including an older piece of my own).  I then entered myself on the 20th with the following:

"Owlie"  8.5 x 5 acrylic on found, old wood

 CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK

Long time readers may recall I've painted a version of 'Owlie' before, back in 2012, when I participated in the very first internet-wide  '29 Faces' Art Blog Challenge.  I was working on a project at the time by which I was painting 'guest' entries into the personal art journals of my private art students.  Just as a lark, in one of the journals I whipped up a funny-looking-yet-charismatic, anthropomorphic owl/human hybrid:

'Owlie' as I painted in my student's art journal

I recall being tickled with how he (she???) turned out, and have wanted to experiment with "Owlie" further ever since.  With a theme like this month's 'Trees', I figured I finally had my chance. 

(And be forewarned -- I'm rather partial to this wee creature, so it's probably not the last you've seen of little "Owlie")....:

:

The following is my auction description:

"Owlie" My entry for the month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (~the theme for April being 'TREES') is an original acrylic painting on an 8.5" x 5" found, thin segment of found wood.

Painted in acrylics and featuring a wee and mysteriously winsome nocturnal creature, tree-dwelling and perched upon a branch on a chilly, moonlit evening, "Owlie" is signed, sealed and ready to hang....

.....................

To see ALL the great 'Mushroom'-themed Nibblefest Art Contest entries this month
(with each starting at just .99 cents!),
just click here....

"Aretha's Mockingbird", my March Nibblefest entry and tribute to Aretha Franklin

 

Today, March 25th, marks a very special anniversary.  It's Aretha Franklin's 71st birthday today --  Happy Birthday, Ms. Aretha F....!

View from the side showing painted edges

It also just happens to be Nibblefest Art Contest week (which started 5 days ago, on the 20th).  The theme this month is 'Nursery Rhymes', with the above painting, a little tribute to the venerable Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, as my March entry.  So how did I manage to tie Aretha Franklin into a theme like 'Nursery Rhymes'......?  The following is my auction description:

(Click for Auction Link)

..........

"Aretha's Mockingbird"

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (~the theme for March being 'Nursery Rhymes') is a 5-Day auction for an original acrylic painting on an 8.5 x 5 wooden plaque, with painted sides.   "Aretha's Mockingbird"  features a tribute portrait of the singer Aretha Franklin, and is signed and ready to hang.  

"Aretha's Mockingbird", an 8.5 x 5 painted wood plaque

Regular bidders know I often look toward musical influences for inspiration when casting about for my monthly Nibblefest theme ideas.  Reflecting upon 'Nursery Rhymes' this month had me recalling the favorites of my children, which I must have repeated a thousand times over to them through the years at naps and bedtime.  My daughter's favorite was "Hush Li'l Baby" (which she referred to as "Mockybird").  

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird."

And now I have a confession to make.  Sadly, I've no talent for singing.  Lacking range, vocal strength or tone, I nonetheless never let that keep me from performing a veritable concert every night for my appreciative children when tucking them into bed. I gave it my best, but still I always had a secret longing for the beautiful singing voice I never had.  Which brings me to...Aretha Franklin.  Now there's a woman who can sing (and how!).  Aretha covered "The Mockingbird Song" back in 1965 -- to be sure a jazzed up version of the rhyme I sang to my kids, but still clearly based on the old folk original.  My entry this month is a 60's-era portrait of Aretha Franklin, a tribute to our reigning 'Queen of Soul'.....

..............

 To see ALL the great 'Mushroom'-themed Nibblefest Art Contest entries this month
(with each starting at just .99 cents!),
just click here....

Entry for Nibblefest's February Theme 'Domestic Animals'

I did it....!

My February 2013 Nibblefest Art Contest Entry (8 x 6)

I got my Nibblefest Art Contest entry finished in time yesterday, and was able to upload and enter it into the contest last night as a 5 Day listing.  So glad the rules allow for some wiggle room, because sometimes you just need it....

 Auction Link HERE 

Speaking of 'wiggle', I think it's pretty clear the subject matter of my entry this time around -- not a lot of need for lengthy descriptions!  Though I will say, as usual, when this month's theme "Domestic Animals" didn't conjure up a lot of promising ideas for me otherwise, I went looking to my usual 'musical influences' default fall-back.  "Domestic Animals" made me naturally think of 'dogs'...... -- so, just how many 'dog' references can you think of in popular music?    Probably a good many, but the very first one to come to my mind was the classic early rock ditty, "Hound Dog".   Besides, I've been fishing for an excuse to paint Elvis -- always fun to tackle those much beloved, iconic historical faces.  And ayway I figure one just can't go wrong with The King.....

The following is my auction description:

"Ain't Nothin' But...."

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (~the theme for February being 'Domestic Animals') is a 5-Day auction for an original acrylic painting on an 8 x 6 found, flat wooden plaque.  "Aint Nothin' But...." is signed and ready to hang.

..........

Regular bidders will know I love looking toward musical influences for inspiration when casting about for monthly Nibblefest theme ideas.  Reflecting upon "Domestic Animals" this month made me think of 'dogs'.  'Dogs' made me think of 'hounds'.  And 'hounds' naturally made me think of.... ELVIS!   (Really, how could I resist...???)

...........

Note that this also officially constitutes my Faces #13 and #14 of the '29 Faces' Challenge  -- never mind that I have fallen so hopelessly behind by now, I'm still aiming to catch up.  Or try to at least......!

EBSQ's 'Art of the Day'

Another lovely surprise this morning -- again a piece of mine is being featured as EBSQ's 'Art of the Day'!  The theme this week for their 'Art of the Day' series is "Let's Eat" -- as such I'm thrilled that my painting, "Tom's Diner", with its coffee-swilling, people-watching cafe customer, apparently fits the bill.  Like I always say (and I do mean always) being chosen 'Art of the Day' always feels a little bit like being 'Queen of the Day' -- thanks so much, EBSQ....! 

A screenshot of today's EBSQ's front page, with my 'Tom's Diner' in the upper left corner

"Tom's Diner" was my Nibblefest Art Contest entry,  way back in August, when the monthly theme was 'Coffee': 

Side View of "Tom's Diner"

Now all these months later, we've arrived at yet another Nibblefest, but without me in it.  As I mentioned in my previous post, thanks to being recently sick I missed the the official start two days ago, on the 20th.  With everything going I on, I initially figured I could just sit this month out.  After all, it's been a long time since a month has gone by without me participating -- no harm in a break every now and then.   However, typical me, when I tuned in and saw all the  lovely 'Domestic Animals' art entries (to see them all click here), it felt like I was missing out on all the fun.   So, not one to be left out, I'm working madly this afternoon on a 'Domestic Animals'-themed painting I can enter into the Contest tonight for a 5 Day auction.  Hopefully I can get complete it in time -- stay tuned....!

Sick.....

.....and how.   

I've been waylaid by The Flu since last week, and ay carumba, has it ever been a doozy.  Fevers, chills, aches/pains, dizzy spells, congestion, the works....!  Fortunately though I see light at the end of the tunnel (and without too many spots before my eyes now, thank goodness) in that I can actually sit upright today for extended periods of time, so I guess that's progress.  Unfortunately it does however now mean I have fallen crazy behind in pretty much all areas of life.  It's amazing how just a few consecutive days of unplanned (and unwanted) 'rest' can throw everything out of whack!  I'm so woefully backlogged with the '29 Faces' Challenge by this point I'm wondering how I can ever catch up -- not to mention my beloved Nibblefest Art Contest starting tomorrow, the 20th (February's theme: 'Domestic Animals').  I haven't missed a month of the Contest in a very long time, but sadly this is one I might have to sit out.   Oh well, whatever the case, it's very good to be back among the land of the living again -- very grateful for that and for my good health in general!  Something I never want to take for granted.

Thanks so much everyone for all the comments and positive feedback that I've been receiving, I really and truly appreciate it!  Good luck with all your Faces, everyone -- hopefully I'll be returning soon to my regularly-scheduled 'same old, same old' routine, including more Faces of my own.....