Monday, December 30, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - New Year

 
"I believe the children are our future,
Teach them well and let them lead the way.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier.
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be".

Lyrics from "The Greatest Love of All" - music by Michael Masser and lyrics by Linda Creed.
 
The beautiful photo is from a collection put together by BW Sarudy - "It's about time".  I coloured it from original black and white.  Elements and backgrounds by Rosey Posey of Scrapbookgraphics.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - Mail Art - Art Envelope

Background and Zetti frame by Fiddlette.  Lady, balloons, airmail bird and stamp by me.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Seasons Greetings

Compliments of the Season to Blog friends everywhere!!
My snow people were painted by me and given a vintage touch.  Background by Createwings Designs.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - White Space

Thanks to Bev for encouraging us to try our hands at artwork where less is more.   I have used a watercolour painting of my own with added elements by Rosey Posey at Scrapbookgraphics.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - MALE OF THE SPECIES

This week our theme word is MALE.  I am addicted to collage and beautiful old paintings and enjoy combining these things in my artwork.  The man with the flute is from a wonderful Flickr free-to-use website featuring hundreds of fabulous pieces of art.  Frame, fruit and background from Itkupilli. Various bits and pieces in collage.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - Africa




I took inspiration from African folk art but this is 100% my own work painted by mouse in ArtRage software.  Thanks to Ann for a challenging challenge.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - ANGELS

This week the theme word is ANGELS.  I painted the angel (including crown) and the frame is by Studio Girls at Scrapbookgraphics.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - Art Journal Page Affirmation


This week our challenge is to design an art journal page containing an affirmation which is a positive quotation about any subject - life, art, nature - anything you like.   Have fun!!
The image is from an old painting found at Wikimedia Commons, papers by Rosey Posey and Elements by Create Wings Designs.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - TWO

This week our theme word is TWO.  The background is from Lorie Davison, word overlays by Lauren Bavin and the beautiful little girls come from Flickr free-to-use  from many years ago.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Sunday Postcard Art - Advent


Thanks to the ladies at Sunday Postcard Art for a great challenge.  I'm not sure where the image came from.  It was black and white.  I have coloured and altered it.  Candle by Irene Alexeeva and window frame and frosting are from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Altered Playing Cards

Thanks to Bev for a great challenging challenge!!  The background is a ripped out page from an old dictionary, coloured and altered.  The chair, vintage playing cards and scattered "suits" are from Irene Alexeeva.  I painted the face and cut a dress from the old cards.  Lower half of the lady from an image from Tumblefish.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Vintage

This week at TAW the look is "vintage".  The image is from the late Suzee Que at Flickr.  Other papers and elements from Rosey Posey at Scrapbookgraphics.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sunday Postcard Art - The Gibson Girls



A great challenge this week.  The Gibson drawings are exquisite.  I have used an original Gibson drawing with background and elements by Rosey Posey.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Gone with the Wind

Steampunk Stephanie couldn't rely on her metalware to keep her grounded when the tornado hit!!
Lady, altered, from Finecrafted Designs.  Background by Lorie Davison and assorted elements from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics and JenU Designs.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Feathered Friends

Keyboard and blackbird from Google Images.  Other elements from Lily Designs at After Five Designs.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - Footprints

Thanks to Ann for her footprints challenge this week.  I have used Ann's footprints template in my picture. The paper doll (greatly altered) is by Joanne Brisebois, Oscraps.  I made a "tiara" and wings from the footprints (altered) and I guess the footprints "walking all over me" are actually JUMPING as they are close together.  Background and gesso by Rosey Posey.  PS brushes also used.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - BALLOONS

This week our theme word is BALLOONS.  I have used hot air balloons in a different way.  Background by Lorie Davison, images by Hidden Vintage Studio and balloon from Google Images.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - GRUNGE/PRINT BACKGROUND

I have created two pictures this week, both in the grunge/print theme but with subtle differences.  Here I have used cut and pasted newsprint background with film strip by Joanne Brisebois, googled photo of Charlie Chaplin converted into a digital stamp with lots of grungy brushes.
Here I scanned a page from an old dictionary, added some grunge and made an altered image from an old photo and converted a ballerina picture into a silhouette.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Hearts

My Queen of Hearts is made from lots of bits and pieces.  I started with a paper doll by Joanne Brisebois and a heart painted by me.  A playing card overlay was added to the pieces of newsprint, the spray of hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades and the crown are from Irene Alexeeva.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Red, white and black

I'm not sure if redheads have more fun but I needed a title for my painting.  All my own work.  Digitally painted in ArtRage software.  (We have been looking at abstract art at our Flickr challenge, Digitalmania, and I enjoy the freedom of creating a bit of nonsense and calling it abstract!!)

Monday, October 28, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Green and Purple

The image was originally a black and photo in a collection of vintage photographs from e-vint.com.  Background a blend of grunge, colour and metallic dot spray.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

The lady on Cloud Nine is from e-vint.com (coloured and altered).  The background, clouds, stars, moon and "pendant" are all by Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - ORANGE


Googled tulips and sheet music.  Orange lady by me except for the body template from e-vint.com.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Bottles and Jars

Thanks to Ann for a challenging challenge!!  Frame from Big Girls Studio at Scrapbookgraphics, jar by Maya, park bench and net - Googled, "pixies" - image from the late Suzee Que at Flickr, body altered greatly by me.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Creepy

This witchy collage was created from a collection of images and other bits and pieces too numerous to mention except that the witches' hats are from Irene Alexeeva.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sunday Postcard Art - Unlucky 13

Gertie knew when she entered the Witches' Broomstick Race wearing the Unlucky Thirteen label that things would go wrong - and they did!  From that day she was known as "the witch who fell to earth".  (They don't make broomsticks like they used to).
Original postcard by me.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Take a Word Challenge

I call this picture "isolated showers".  Background Catherine Designs, weather elements SussiM, window frame JenU Designs, old, unidentified vintage picture over-painted by me.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Australia!


I am very honoured that my BFF, Bev, has paid a tribute to me in the challenge this week, choosing a theme that is all-things Australian.  Fifteen years ago I was introduced to the world of personal computers  but there wasn't much happening in those days.  Bev and I found each other on a penpal website and we "clicked" because we are alike in so many ways.  Our thought processes always seem to be on the same wavelength. Bev discovered the joys of the beginnings of digital art and she introduced me to them.  We helped each other to find software and to learn as much as we could about this new medium.  We've come a long way since then!  Thankyou, Bev.  You are a legend.

The beautiful face of a young aboriginal woman and the cave painting overlay on her face were found on Google. The aboriginal culture is an ancient one.  The presence of aborigines in the continent is believed to go back more than 40,000 years.  Cave paintings tell the stories.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Three!

Thanks to Bev for reminding us just how long the Three Muses Challenge has been trundling along.  In the four and a half years of its existence we have all made many friends and we have learned so much from each other.  It is always amazing to me how original the work is with no pieces alike.  I love the fact that we have artists of so many different styles and mediums.  As mainly a digital dabbler, I admire the work of our mixed media and stamping members and I am greatly influenced by it.  Three Muses is about telling stories in a pictorial way, hence the picture above.  A big thankyou to all those who have made it so successful and long-lasting.

Background a combination of papers from Christina Renee and Rosey Posey.  Vintage images from Hidden Vintage, books Googled.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Blue

Thanks to Ann for this week's challenge, BLUE!!  The "invisible" girl is from Paper Whimsy, the background sky is from Google Images and the border is by Big Girls at Scrapbookgraphics.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Altered Art


Thanks to Judy for giving us a fresh, new theme and a wonderful inspirational artpiece!!  My "world" is made from various art creations from my files.  The lady is from e-vint.com and the background by Irene Alexeeva.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Mail Art

All my own work except cat (Irene Alexeeva), house (Fiddlette) and Googled picture for stamp.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - MUSIC

This week the challenge theme at the Three Muses is MUSIC.  The image of the boy is a Terri Kahrs freebie and the background is made up of a lot of thises and thatses.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - SHOWBIZ

I chose Charlie Chaplin as the subject for my challenge picture.  Image Googled, film strip and background by Irene Alexeeva and the camera and spool are from Kubivet.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - CHILDHOOD


Yes, when I am searching for vintage images I have to look no further than photo albums featuring ME.  I was 18 months old when this picture was taken.
Background Vera Lim.  Bird Lauren Bavin.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Tagalong Challenge - Birds

A cut and paste lady, birds and word overlay by Creative Wings.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Eyes

I hope my late aunt would forgive me for using her photograph in this way.  I have given her a "perm" and added new eyes and mouth, not to mention a few splotches.  Background by Itkupilli.  Thanks to Bev for a great challenge.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Tagalong Challenge - Vintage Tag

Congratulations to Mandy on the opening of her new challenge, Tagalong.  We have seen a lot of challenges come and go and it is so good to see a new one because we really need challenges to learn new tricks and improve our artwork, not to mention having somewhere to post it and finding many friends along the way.
This week's challenge has a vintage flavour. The image above is from Paper Whimsy. The background by Manu and background to tag by Rosey Posey.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The Three Muses Challenge - Artist Affirmation


"If we allow the realities of life to steal our imagination, we might find ourselves living in a world without dreams" (Nan Witcomb).
This week Bill is asking us to illustrate what art means to us.  For me it is an escape from reality at least for brief moments.  Many thanks to Bill for giving us something to ponder on.

I have taken one of my collages featuring my own artwork  and added an "artist".  The ragged hearts and background papers are by Catherine Designs at After Five Designs and the lady is from e-vint.com (photo coloured from original black and white).

Monday, August 26, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - TIME

This week our theme word is TIME.  The vintage image is from e-vint.com and she has been coloured.  The chair and background are from Lorie Davison, the overlay frame from Vera Lim and the clock from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday Postcard Art - Secret Garden

Many thanks to Victoria for a great challenge and a superb inspirational sample picture.  Wow!!  Here is my take on altering the Mucha picture.  Background, blue flowers and chaise longue by Lorie Davison, paper flowers Birgit Kerr.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Steampunk

I have given this vintage lady (from E-vint.com) a steamunk chapeau using all manner of metalwork from Finecrafted Designs, Marta van Eck and Maya at Scrapbookgraphics. Brooch from Lorie Davison.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Take a Word - Warm Colours

I borrowed Mae West's face and an old photo of four bathing beauties in black and white.  I coloured them and added some blingy overpainting.  Background, frame and flowers by Lauren Bavin.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Script

The wonder of art is being able to let one's hair down and enjoy moments of silliness by altering a famous painting.  Mona was Googled, overpainting by me, bits and pieces by Rosey Posey.  Thanks to Ann for a great challenge.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Wild Animals

Well, a lion is a wild animal, although this one looks pretty friendly.  Thanks to Anni for a great challenge.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - GEOMETRICS

Thanks to Bev for an interesting and different challenge.  I have used an image from e-vint.com, coloured and overpainted.  The background is by Ztampf and a Photoshop brush provides the geometric lines.  (Many circles to be found!!)

Monday, August 5, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - Dark

Couldn't resist having some fun with Edgar and his raven friend.  Image of Edgar Allan Poe from Google Images (coloured and overpainted).  Background Irene Alexeeva.  Raven from my stash of blackbirds.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Three Muses Challenge - Hello Sailor - Birth of the Swimsuit

This week's challenge is wide-ranging but all to do with the sea and its creatures.  I have stolen Botticelli's beautiful "Birth of Venus" to show the development of the swimsuit.  Picture Googled and overpainted by me.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Take a Word Challenge - PINK - Pretty in Pink


This week our theme is the colour pink.  I have used a vintage face as a template for shape and placement of features which I have altered, overpainting and adding "hair".  I also painted the dress.