First Place for Poe in June's Nibblefest Art Contest....

Yay!  My Poe-inspired piece, 'The Raven', has won First Place for June's Nibblefest Art Contest!  I do believe this is a first for me (if I remember correctly I've won Second and Third place in the past, but never 1st).....and I'm thrilled!  Thanks so much, Nibblefest Art Contest! (click here to see NFAC's Facebook Fan Page)......

Nibblefest Art Contest: 'MoonShadow' wins 3rd Place....!

"MoonShadow" places Third in Nibblefest...!

Good news!  Just found out  my entry, "MoonShadow", won Third Place in February's Nibblefest Art Contest -- hooray, I'm thrilled....!   Thanks, Nibblefest!  (See Nibblefest's Facebook Fan Page here)

Day 20 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: another entry for the Nibblefest Art Contest, '"Moonlight Sonata (Piano Recital)" ACEO

Day 20 of the '29 Faces in February' art blog Challenge!  And, I'm happy to say that with this posting I will be officially and properly caught up...!  My Face-du-jour, an ACEO, is actually another entry  painted today for the Nibblefest Art Contest (along with my other entry, 'MoonShadow'), the theme being 'Moonlight'.  

Like my other entry, I followed along again with the musical concept regarding the theme.  Thinking as I did of my mental of list of favourite songs with the words 'moon' or 'moonlight' in the titles or lyrics, one of the first things to pop into mind was, of course, Beethoven's beautifully haunting piece of piano music, "Moonlight Sonata".  The thought of piano music however, also happened to conjure up memories of my own piano days, when I took private lessons from the age of 7 to 14. While I do adore music, I freely admit I haven't much talent for playing it myself.  It didn't help matters I'm sure that I despised practising, but even worse to me  than that were the annual mandatory  piano recitals that, as a shy kid, I dreaded so very much.  I reflected a little bit on all of this as I painted my ACEO today:

"Moonlight Sonata (Piano Recital)", an original ACEO

 CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LINK

My Auction Description:

One of my entries for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (the theme for February being 'Moonlight') is an ACEO featuring a young woman, dutifully playing Beethoven's beautiful 'Moonlight Sonata' on the piano during her music recital, as she steals a nervous glance at her assembled audience.

 I very much enjoyed this month's Nibblefest theme.  Being as that I love to listen to music as I paint, the theme of 'Moonlight' brought to mind all my many favourite songs that have the word 'moon' or 'moonlight' in their titles or lyrics.  One of the first songs to pop into my head was Beethoven's haunting melody, "Moonlight Sonata'.  Now, I have a confessions to make.  As much as I personally love music?  I was a terrible music student, having taken piano lessons for 7 years in my youth.  I hated to practice, and I especially loathed, loathed, LOATHED the annual piano recitals I was required to do.  They felt like sheer torture to a shy person like myself...!  My ACEO here reflects a little bit of those ever-lovely ancient memories...."

(For those unfamiliar with Nibblefest -- it is a friendly, monthly, themed art contest on Ebay that always begins of the first of every month, with all entries beginning with a starting bid of just .99 cents.  Fun times!)

Nibblefest Art Contest: My Entry, 'MoonShadow'....

"MoonShadow",  3.5" x 8" acrylic painting on vellum that has been permanently mounted to a section of reclaimed wooden board.

The Nibblefest Art Contest began tonight!  I was able to get two entries completed for it, including this one that I blogged about this morning, my 'MoonShadow'.....

**CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LINK**

My auction description:

"....I very much enjoyed this month's Nibblfest theme.  Being as that I love to listen to music as I paint, the theme of "Moonlight' brought to mind all my many favourite songs that have the word 'moon' or 'moonlight' in their titles or lyrics.  One of those tunes has always been "Moon Shadow", by Cat Stevens.  I have many fond memories of my older siblings playing it at home when I was growing up.  With its simple, cheerful melody and optimistic lyrics, it's a song that stuck with me all these many years, and one that I often sang aloud to my own children...."

(For those unfamiliar with Nibblefest -- it is a friendly, monthly, themed art contest on Ebay that always begins of the first of every month, with all entries beginning with a starting bid of just .99 cents.  Fun times!)

'Day 19' of the '29 Faces' Challenge: A painting entitled, 'Moonshadow'.....

Yesterday was Day 19 of the '29 Faces in February' art blog Challenge.  I was up into the wee hours last night and didn't quite get my blog entry written before I was too tired to continue, and so I'm planning to post twice today, now with my Day 19 Face, and later on this evening with my Day 20 Face...

My studio time yesterday was spent working on my  entries for the Nibblefest Art Contest (NfAC)  , which starts today  (which I find really sort of mind-boggling because I can hardly believe an entire month  has gone by already since the last one (January's theme being 'Letters/Symbols/Numbers', which I wrote about here and here)..).

Any long-time reader will know that I love me some art Themes.   Ever the theme-enthusiast, for some reason I find working within the parameters of themes gives my creativity a little extra spark.  I can almost always manage to find inspiration in any given theme (almost!), no matter how broad or obtuse -- though I dare say the NFAC theme for this month, 'Moonlight', was probably one of the easier to work with.  I mean who doesn't love the Moon....?

So not only is the moon one of my favourite subject matters, but I was also able to use the theme of 'Moonlight' to channel into another of my favoured artistic obsessions, that being  the personal interpretation of songs and song lyrics.  My musical tastes can only be described as eclectic, but I do love listening to music very much, especially while working.  For this month's NFAC theme, I reflected upon my vast mental list of Favourite Songs containing the word 'moon' or 'moonlight' in their titles or lyrics, and conjured up so many at first it wasn't easy to whittle them down to just three.  I even had a couple of false starts, and switched songs a time or two.   But finally I came up with this:

"Moonshadow":  Acrylics on vellum mounted onto a reclaimed 3.5" x 8" wooden board

I've always loved the song, 'Moon Shadow',  by Cat Stevens, having as I do very fond childhood memories of my older siblings playing his albums.  With its simple, cheerful melody and optimistic lyrics, it's a song that has stuck with me all these long years, and one that I often sung aloud to my own children when they were small....

I had to quit working last night before I thought I was quite finished.  My plan was to give the background a bit of color today -- but looking at it this morning with fresh, rested eyes, I'm actually rather liking the understated simplicity of it.  Kind of like the song....

Day 15 of the '29 Faces' Challenge -- 'Gibson Girl' on a Painted Rock....

It's Day 15 of the '29 Faces' in February Challenge!  Which means once I hit the 'publish' button for this post, we will officially be over the challenge half-way hump, with progressively fewer 'Faces' ahead of me than behind.  Wooh!  But it does still mean another fourteen consecutive daily Face projects yet to come however, determined as I am to stick with it all and see it through to the end.... 

Up to this point it feels as though I've been mostly playing things by ear with my Faces, kind of working on random projects willy-nilly as I've felt like it -- but it certainly wouldn't hurt to actually properly plan things either.  Looking ahead, I realise there are several art deadlines fast approaching that probably ought to be receiving my attention.  One is the upcoming Nibblefest Art Contest (Nibblefest F.B. Fan Page here,  Nibblefest Blog here) with longtime readers knowing it's an event I like to regularly participate in.  For anyone unfamiliar, the Nibblefest Art Contest is a themed event hosted via ebay (Nibblefest ebay group here), which begins the 20th of every month.  The themes are broad and the entries (up to three per contestant) can be of any medium -- the primary ironclad rule of the contest is that all auctions must begin with a starting bid of .99 cents. Admittedly that can feel a little risky at times -- as such it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me, the contest is a hoot because I always so enjoy working with the Themes.  This month should be no exception, because the theme, "Moonlight", has to be one of my favourites.  As much as I love anthropomorphic 'Hearts', I probably  adore anthropomorphic 'Moons' all the more (if my 'Bloo Moon' Painted Rock, my 'Myrtle Moon' WIP Doll, plus this as examples are any indication) -- therefore I can totally see once again combining 'Moons' with 'Faces' for the contest AND challenge, and 'killing two birds with one stone' again while I'm at it (something to mull over anyway -- I have until this coming Monday, the 20th, to figure it out)....

Now, speaking of 'stones', this brings me to today's featured Face, happy as I am to announce another finished project, and yet another painted rock figurine at that.   As with the others, she was begun aeons ago (literally, if you consider Mother Nature's role in the matter!), so I'm terribly happy to finally declare her 'Finis!'.... 

 Meet "The Gibson Girl"....

'The Gibson Girl', with her upswept hairdo and poofy sleeves, her pet dove perched on her hands and cuddled under her chin

Photographed with a penny for size reference

This rock had lots of rough texture to work with, still, her features have always been very apparent to me

Her dove's wings are outstretched and framing her lovely face.

 

Good Buddies.

 Charles Dana Gibson was a victorian-era illustrator who, through his extensive body of work, influenced an entire generation as to his idealised image of feminine beauty that became popularly known as  'The Gibson Girl".  My own little lady here, with her upswept hairdo, serene expression and big, poofy sleeves, recalls to my mind these once-ubiquitous, vintage 'Gibson Girls' of yore, hence her title....

My usual little blurbie about my painted rocks:

...Typically, a rock... is just a rock. But sometimes, when luck smiles upon me, very special ones reveal themselves. Then I 'see' rock people, little figures hidden within the naturally formed bumps, corners and crevices of ordinary stones -- Nature's very own sculpture. With the help of a bit of paint, I enjoy 'liberating' these unique wee folk for others to enjoy as well.....  

 (To see more of my painted rocks, click on the 'Painted Rocks' label for this post -- as well as visiting my Painted Rock Gallery on EBSQ)....

Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Still Life'....

"Green Pear" for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (click for auction link)....

My entry for the October 2011 Nibblefest Art Contest (the theme this month being 'Still Life') features a single green pear rendered upon an 'upcycled', 3.5 x 4.5 wooden plaque. In addition to the vintage second-hand frames I tend to hoard (as mentioned in my previous blog entry), I also possess a collection of small wooden plaques that I've acquired second-hand through various means. To prepare these old plaques for painting I sand them and then cover them with overlapping scraps of paper in order to build up and create a new and textured surface upon which to paint (the textured surface lending depth and dimension to my paintings)...

I feel good about giving these old, unwanted items, typically headed for the landfill by the time they cross my path, second life in the creation of original art....

RedWood - by Patience for the 11th annual "Ripped Off" EBSQ Art Exhibit

'RedWood', my 2nd entry into EBSQ's 'Ripped Off' exhibit

I was able to finish and upload this 'Ripped Off" EBSQ show entry this past weekend -- a fun project and very enjoyable for the opportunity to partner up with my buddy, Tina Calderin. (Thanks, Tina!)...

RedWood - by Patience from Ripped Off 11 art exhibit (click link for more info)....

Side View, demonstrating the painted frame....

My "RIPPED OFF"  inspiration:  "Wood Nymph", by Tina Cart

My accompanying artist's statement:

My partner for my second entry into this year's RIPPED-OFF exhibit was the wonderful pastel artist and painter, Tina Calderin, of GalleryT....

So many lovely pieces to choose from in Tina's EBSQ portfolio, but I finally decided upon her painting, 'Wood Nymph', to RIP, attracted as I was to her flowing, flaming hair and captivating blue eyes, but also to the intriguing way in which Tina painted a floral arched 'frame' as part of her painting's background...

I have recently begun painting almost exclusively on supports I create myself utilizing the old, salvaged wooden picture frames that cross my path from time to time (usually for free). I feel good about giving these unwanted homeless items a second life, not only because trees were cut down at some point to produce them, but also because by the time I get my hands on them they are usually destined for the landfill. The process of recycling these vintage frames into painting supports/canvases is a lengthy one, typically involving stabilizing the frames (which can be quite rickety), cutting thick paperboard to fit, securing it all and pasting and building up a painting surface with layers of overlapping scraps of paper. The end effect is a highly textured surface that adds dimension and depth to my paintings, complete with a built-in frame (onto which I often extend my painted images, incorporating the frames into the overall piece) into one cohesive, ready-to-hang whole....

Interpreting Tina's 'Wood Nymph', I used one of these hand-constructed, repuposed framed painting supports as my canvas, concentrating on her subject's beautiful hair color, cascading waves and serene expression, while including my own version of a painted floral frame using the same hues as Tina's (including her bold red background).....

September Nibblefest Art Contest: "Ode To Blue"

"Blue Moon Guardian", my 9" x 12' original entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest



What a week! We've had contractors crawling around here for days doing extensive and much-needed insulation work on our ramshackle, century-old home. Lots of noise, fuss and muss, inside AND out -- though all of it should prove very worthwhile once we start seeing what we hope will be significantly lower energy/heating bills this winter, brrrrr. It's always been so bone-chillingly frigid in here during the cold months that I suppose I'll only truly believe it when I actually see it (and FEEL it!). Which ought not be too long now, hard as it is to believe that we are actually at the official first day of Autumn....

Something else that we are currently at right now, is yet another round of the fun and fabulous Nibblefest Art Contest...! The theme for September is 'Ode to Blue'. Well, needless to say, I adore the color blue, so in spite of all the commotion around here I did manage to come up with a NFAC entry. I was in the mood to do something whimsical and fun -- plus for once I actually entered a larger painting this time around, as opposed to my customary ACEO's (click for link to my entry auction)...

My auction description:

A tribute to one of my favorite colors, this unframed ORIGINAL was painted in acrylics on 9" x 12" canvas sheet, and features a lovely whimsical creature, perched on a branch and cuddling her infant under the watchful, trustworthy gaze of a friendly and smiling, blue crescent Moon....

For further information regarding the Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC), I highly recommend reading this really good blog post about it, hot off the Wordpress press as written by my friend and fellow artist/blogger/Nibbler, Sherry Skey (check it out here)....

Happy Nibbling, Everyone...!

.

The Nibblefest Art Contest Rolls Around Again....

An ACEO entitled, 'Catch a Falling Star', the theme for July being "Imaginary Creatures' (click for auction link)...



Nibblefest Time! For those not in the know, the Nibblefest Art Contest (or, NFAC) is a fun and friendly, themed monthly art competition, hosted via ebay. All entries must pertain to the theme somehow, AND be listed with a starting bid of .99 cents. My entry for this month is an ACEO featuring a young woman who, to her surprise and delight, has been lucky enough to catch a fallen star.... (To see all of this month's lovely themed Nibblefest entries, click here)...

'Frida Bohemia'

'Longings from Beyond', my entry into the Bohemia Beer 'Kahlo Challenge'....


Yet another art contest!

Guess I've been on a bit of a contest roll lately, but I can't help it -- I do so adore participating in these things. I just find the deadlines and the general structure of competitions and shows so personally helpful and inspiring. Well, provided that there is at least a somewhat motivating theme or prospectus to work off of that is. But even still I'm really not that fussy, and am usually willing to try my hand at just about anything. Thus you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled across the 'Kahlo Challenge' as sponsored by Bohemia Beer, what with its particularly personally appealing theme (I mean Frida! Kahlo!). From the moment I heard about it, it felt like something that I could really sink my teeth into -- so how could I possibly resist?

The point of this challenge was to take inspiration from the artwork by the great Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo (without violating copyright!), all while incorporating positive reflections and imagery of the Bohemian Beer brand. Yes, very commercial in nature -- but all just part o' the fun....

My accompanying artist statement:

For my entry, I found myself inspired by Frida Kahlo's many iconic and enigmatic self-portraits. Painted on an 18" x 24" salvaged vintage canvas panel I prepared and hand-embellished with layers of paper for maximum texture and effect, I set about to create a personal tribute portrait of the Lady herself. One of Mexico's most esteemed daughters, she wears the colors of the Mexican flag. Her jewelery reflects the rich amber tones of the brewed beverage. The offering of fruit below the portrait is a nod to Frida's work in the still life genre -- I included watermelon, as well as a lemon, to reflect both the sweet and bitter nature of Frida's troubled yet full and passionate life. Included is an opulent rendering of a bottle of delectable Bohemia Beer, so appealing and refreshing in appearance it has caught even Frida's eye...!

Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC): 'City Music'

My NFAC aceo entry, 'City Music'....(clicky)


The 20th of the month was several days ago, and that can only mean one thing...: The Nibblefest Art Contest!

It's amazing just how quickly this monthly event can roll around, and May was no exception. Although I can't really say the contest sneaked (snuck?) up on me this time (as usually happens), since I was fully aware of the loooooming deadline. It wasn't so much 'sneaky' this time around, as much as it was 'tricksy'. The theme for this month, 'Village or Townscape', really had me dragging my feet for the longest time. I just didn't think I was particularly inspired (blah), and in fact was rather tempted to possibly just sit this one out. That is, until I finally forced myself to settle down at the 11th hour and come up with Something, when to my surprise an idea just sort of painted itself as I reflected upon town/city life.....

The following is my listing description:

"This ACEO entry for May's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (the theme being 'Village or Townscape') features a busker on a bridge, with the view of a cityscape behind her.....

Having lived in the megalopolis of Chicago for several years, one of the things I remember fondly about city life were the snatches of music I would encounter in the subway or on the sidewalks by the buskers -- those street musicians known for setting up little corners for themselves and performing for donations by passersby. The music was always something I could appreciate, especially upon negotiating my way home from a long day of work downtown -- and I always tried to give a little something in return, if even only a few pieces of change from deep within my pockets....".

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 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)....

A Little Halloween Cheer....

ACEO: "Black Cat"
(click for auction link)


I have always adored this time of year. The month of October with its crisp weather and seasonal transitions never fails to perk me up. Never mind that it also means frosty mornings and shorter days and that old man Winter is right around the corner -- nah, never mind that! Instead, I prefer to focus on the apples, the pumpkins, the leaves, the colors, the cider, the glittery, blue-sky sunlight PLUS that indescribable Autumny 'feeling' in the air that makes this season so special....

Not to mention the annual festive fun that is Halloween to look forward to (and in already less than two weeks!). It's often easy, amid the general busy-ness that is Fall around here, for it to sneak up on me, Halloween -- happily there are groups like SEHA (Society of Eclectic Halloween Artists) to add to the inspiration. The SEHA Theme Challenge this month (the most fitting month of all of course) was 'Trick or Treat', and as such I was able to come up with and list several ACEO entries, the above included. Happy Halloween!

I'm a Winner...!

Hooray! So very excited -- I've been privileged to win, by random selection, a prize in the new Ehag's Emporium recent blog giveaway....!

I will be sent a little Halloween Box, in the shape of a sculpted black cat, by the artist Candy, of Howling Moon Designs. It can be seen here.

Thanks so much, Candy...!

EBSQ Permanent Account

I'm so excited!

After being a member of the EBSQ online artist community for some time now (6 or so years I'm thinking?), the other day, as part of a Voter's Documentation Photography Challenge hosted by the site (and involving the photograph in my previous entry), I won a permanent EBSQ lifetime account: http://tinyurl.com/5rrvpx . This means a personal savings in membership fees, especially over the long term (and note that the lifetime membership account option normally costs $650!). It's been a few days now, but just thinking about it still puts a grin on my face...!

Thanks EBSQ....!!!

Burgh Baby: Remember 9/11

A fellow blogger (Burgh Baby) in Pittsburgh is raising money in order to contribute to the 9/11 'Flight 93' tribute fund -- the crash site for which has yet to have constructed a permanent memorial:

Burgh Baby: Remember 9/11

In order to help raise money, she's sponsoring a fun contest with oodles of prizes (one of which I've entered for myself -- a lifetime membership to EBSQ) .