'29 Faces May': Day 1, 'An ACEO Portrait of Julia Butterfly Hill"

My entry for the ACEO Theme Week Art Contest (click here for auction link)

The above is my official FIRST Face of '29 Faces May Challenge' (with 28 more Faces to go). It also happens to be my entry into this month's ACEO Theme Week art contest (a themed contest specifically for ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals), that begins the 1st of every month).  

The theme for this month's ACEO Theme Week is 'Butterflies'.  Well?  Knowing that I needed to come up with a face for the challenge today, plus the fact it happened to be the start of the Contest, it seemed only natural to combine the two (I think I did the same thing in the last '29 Faces' challenge).  Practical, right?  So all day (while I was out and about most of the day) I contemplated faces..., and butterflies.  I thought about Butterflies with Faces, and about Faces with Butterflies, and any manner of possible combinations.  But nothing really grabbed me...., that is until the name "Julia Butterfly Hill" popped into my head.  As you might recall, she was the famous protester that sat in a California Redwood tree for two years back in the '90's, in order to protect it from being cut down by loggers. I have visited the Giant Redwoods -- they are AMAZING.  So once that idea came to mind I knew exactly what I wanted to do -- a tribute portrait.....

The following is my entry description

"A Portrait of Julia Butterfly Hill"

 

My ACEO (2.5 x 3.5) entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week art contest (May's theme being 'Butterflies'), features a lovely tribute portrait of the famous environmental activist, Julia Butterfly Hill....

I admit I took liberties with this month's "Butterfly' theme, but it was Julia Butterfly Hill that came to mind when reflecting upon 'Butterflies'.  As a young woman in the late '90's, Julia Butterfly Hill performed an act of civil disobedience by sitting in an ancient California Redwood tree for just over 2 years, in order to protect it from loggers.  Her effort was successful, and she finally climbed down after it was formally agreed upon that the tree, which she named 'Luna', would not be logged....

''29 Faces' Challenge, Day 6: ACEO 'Happy Apple'

ACEO:  'Happy Apple'

Day 6 of the '29 Faces' Challenge already, and things are sailing along.  It was a busy one for me today on my end however, and so I needed something relatively simple to work on, and to post about.  I chose an old ACEO that I had started a long time ago, but never got around to finishing (do you sense a trend here or what?).  

As I recall, this was originally to be an entry into the monthly ACEO 'Theme Week' art contest, the theme being 'Anthropomorphic  Plants'.  Well I love me some anthropomorphic anything, but as a long-time vegetarian I confess I've always adored little faces on veggies and fruits -- so, that is what I based my three contest entries on.   His two companion ACEO entries I managed to complete and enter on time, but the clock ran out on this little fella....and then I just never got around to working on him again.  Until tonight that is.  And..., I'm happy to declare him done.  Done done done!   Yay!   (and please note he looks WAY better in person -- the lighting in my house is really ghastly at night and no good whatsoever for taking pics....)....

'ACEO Theme Week' Contest, and '29 Faces' Challenge

'The White Witch of Narnia",
for ACEO Theme Week (click for auction link).

It's the 1st of February! Which is likely significant for any number of reasons (day before Groundhog's Day perhaps?), but at least two of them would be: (1.) it's the start of the monthly 'ACEO Theme Week' art contest, and (2.) it's the first day of the '29 Faces' art blog challenge. And because I wanted to participate in both events, being the practical sort, the logical thing for me was to combine the two. The contest theme this month is 'Winter Wonderland', therefore my entry features both 'Winter', and...a 'Face', choosing as I did to feature the "White Witch' of the chilly, wintry Narnia. In any case, this, my first Face of the challenge, was my project for the day.  The following is my auction description:

~"The White Witch of Narnia"~

My entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week (TW) Contest is doing 'double duty' for me. While I had an aceo to do for this contest, I also needed to create a 'face' for an art blog challenge I'm participating in, called '29 Faces' (a Face for every day in February. See my blog for more info). Overlapping these two goals, my entry features the evil and vain 'White Witch' of Narnia, who has cast a spell of perpetual Winter and eternal snow upon that magical land.....

The tale of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set during WWII, therefore my White Witch reflects the era, looking like a 1940's Glamour Girl. She sports an icicle tiara, and holds between her gloved fingers her preferred object of bribery, a piece of the sticky-sweet confection, Turkish Delight.....




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ACEO, "Bossy Blossom", Nomination for 'Most Unique' Award

"Bossy Blossom"

It was a nice surprise to learn that the second of my two ACEO entries into this month's ACEO Group 'Theme Week' art contest, the theme for May being 'Flowers', has been nominated by my peers for the 'Most Unique' award! Good luck to all my fellow nominees...voting is happening now -- Fingers crossed!

ACEO Group Theme Week Contest, for May

My ACEO painting, "Frida's Flora' (click for auction listing)

Here we have my ACEO entry for the monthly ACEO Group 'Theme Week' Art Contest, the theme for May being 'Flowers'. With a theme such as that (and so suitable for this time of year --- ahhhh, Spring! Finally!), I had to think of a person who surely adored flowers in all their forms and glory just as much as I do. "Frida's Flora' features that ever-inspiring and passionately iconic artist, with flowers in her trademark uniquely-dressed hair....

ACEO Theme Week Art Contest for April

ACEO: 'Welcome to Narnia' (click for auction link)


My entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week Art Contest, the theme for April being 'Doorways'. It's titled 'Welcome to Narnia', and features that magical old Wardrobe, with wee, little 'doors' that actually 'open' to reveal the white, wintry world of Narnia beyond...!:





Behold, Narnia -- Complete With Beckoning Lamppost...!


I was a hopeless bookworm as a child. There was little I adored more than devouring tall stacks of books checked out from the library, reading for hours at a strestch in pleasant, peaceful solitude (often in my own treehouse). As such I can well recall plowing through the "Chronicles of Narnia" series, by C.S. Lewis, in pretty short order, somewhere around the 6th grade. 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' was my favorite -- with the idea of the old cupboard in the big rambling house offering a portal into a fantastical land of talking animals, a wicked ice queen, and perpetual Winter (and yes, I have seen the films -- but still prefer the books!) piquing my youthful imagination. I suppose that's why the idea for this entry popped into my head as it did, and turned out to be so effortless to execute (even though ACEO's can be pretty small to work with ;-). In any case, I was very glad I managed to participate in the ACEO Theme Week contest this time around -- since I got busy and missed last month's TW deadline (Theme Week always beginning the first of every month)....

So it's Been Awhile....

...but I'm still here...!

In any case, as usual, much going on Chez Patience -- still however I did manage to find the chance to squeeze in a little painting for the ACEO Group's monthly Theme Week contest on Ebay, the theme for October being 'Autumn Leaves'. Well, what with Autumn being my favorite season and all I could hardly let this one pass me by -- so the following is my contest entry:

"Autumn Sprite ACEO"
(click here for auction link)

For those not in the know: Aceo's (or Art Cards, Editions and Originals) are small works of art that always come 2.5" x 3.5" (the same size as standard sports trading cards). Aceo's are fun to gather and trade and make lovely gifts. They allow for the collecting of original artwork to be accessible and affordable to anyone......

It's suppose it is kind of funny that my art lately seems to be running the gamut anywhere from 10 foot tall sculptures, to wee paintings a mere few inches by a few inches -- but there you go. Can't say I don't care for variety at any rate...! ;-)

ACEO May TW Nomination

ACEO Theme Week: "Jack-in-the-Pulpit"

Another of my entries into this month's Ebay ACEO Group's Theme Week art contest, that began back on May 1st, the theme being 'Wildflowers'. Jack in the Pulpit are among my most favorite of the woodland wildflowers, and here we see the supercilious 'Jack' as he assembles his forest congregation, and they all give him their full attention while he addresses them from his lofty 'bully-pulpit'...

I was most delighted to have found out this morning that 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit' has been nominated for this month's "People's Choice" Award (linked here for any who may be members) -- fun times indeed, and many thanks to any and all who may have nominated me...!

ACEO May 'Theme Week': "Wildflowers"

"A Trio of Trillium"
(click for auction)

It's been busy around here, but I managed to squeeze in a few entries into this month's ACEO Theme Week (starting on May 1). Well, with a theme like "Wildflowers", how could I possibly resist....?

I've always adored all flowers, but have a particular soft spot for the wild and native ones. I've planted a number of native varieties in my yard, both sun and shade loving -- including Prairie Trillium, which I have nurtured in my shaded, 'woodland' style garden for many years. A real Beauty, it's blooming for me finally -- a true achievement, for as I understand, it takes a full seven years of maturity before setting it's first blossom!

'People's Choice'

Hooray! I just found out my little ACEO, 'Foretold' (image below), that I entered into the ACEO Art group's monthly Theme Week contest for April (April's theme being 'Cards'), was voted by my peers as the "People's Choice" winner! As my especial prize, I get to use my fancy little jpeg award above in future contest entry/auction descriptions. What a lovely surprise -- I am thrilled!

ACEO: "Foretold" (for 'Cards' Theme Week)

Ebay ACEO April Theme Week: "Cards"

ACEO: "Foretold"
Adorned in her most colorful, bejeweled silk finery, and holding the tools of her trade, her cherished Tarot, she sizes up her next customer. Will it be YOU...?
(click for auction link)

Today marks the final one for this month's Ebay ACEO Group "Theme Week" contest, with most auctions ending throughout the course of the day. April's theme was "Cards" -- a particularly open-ended subject, as can be demonstrated by the wide diversity of entries this month and all the many interpretations and conceptualizations of the 'Cards' theme, as can be seen here ( --though note, many of the entries/auctions have already ended). I confess I had to think on it for awhile myself -- I mean just what does the word 'Cards' conjure up for folks? Children's games...greetings...fortune telling...gambling...? Whatever the case it's all fascinating, and a lot of fun to participate this month...

The theme for next month's ebay ACEO 'Theme Week' (beginning May 1st) is to be 'Wildflowers'. And with all the many gorgeous and very much welcomed spring blossoms popping up in my yard at the moment (a goodly portion of which are native to our local area), inspiration certainly ought not be lacking....

Happy April Fool's

"ACEO: Frown of a Clown" on Ebay

Here we are, at the 1st of April. The day finds me with several creative irons in the fire (and hopefully not too Foolish for doing so) -- one of them a large (literally!) commission I recently received, which has been taking up much of my time and thought and energy recently (and which I will discuss here in more detail at a later juncture). In contrast, I've also created three very small pieces, ACEOs, in time for ebay's ACEO Theme Week, a monthly themed art contest that begins on the 1st of every month (as in, Today!)....

I do so enjoy participating in these little challenges, Nibblefest and ACEO Theme Week -- I appreciate that there is already a format all in place in which to dabble and 'play', and it's always a hoot coming up with concepts relating to the various themes. Decent brain exercise. And while I'm still relatively new to the whole ACEO scene, I think I'm catching on....