Fuck The Limits, week one

I have neglected my blog posts for the last few weeks. January is Fuck the Limits month, where every day artists participating make art of any kind and share it with each other. Here are a few of my visual art pieces from week one:

Print making ideas - Pastels

I have been saving ideas over the paSt few months that I would like to turn into fabric printing designs. HerE Are Some Of the pastels. Which is your favorite?

1- Oh My Stars

2- Lovely in Pastels

3- Bow Ties and Butterflies

4- Elephants on Parade

5 - Two Faces

6 - Graphic Details

7 - Triplets

8 - Celtic Links

9 - Citrus Sparks

10 - Peachy Keenan

11 - Ember Glow

12 - Quiltey Pleasures

Transgender Awareness

A Day of Remembrance - 11-4-13

Every year on or around November 20th, people come together in their respective cities to remember those lost to anti-Transgender violence. It is a powerful event, full of emotion. But there is so much more about being Trans* or gender variant than danger and fear. 

There are amazing things which have been done and are being done by people who are simply being themselves no matter what society, friends, family, etc. may have to say in support or against doing so. In the coming weeks I plan to spot light a Transgender or Gender Variant artist.  I'll call it Trans* Tuesdays if you will. Today I thought I would celebrate November, Trans* Awareness month with this blog entry and by sharing some of my own Trans* related art. 

From Within - 11-5-13

Please feel free to respectfully ask anything and if I do not have an answer, I will be sure to point you in the direction of someone who does.  In the mean time I hope you enjoy this selection of Trans*  related art that I have been making recently. There are other pieces in this theme from my past work, and I will share them at a later date.

Please be respectful. Real people with real feelings read my blog. I will not hesitate to delete harassing, hateful, or bigoted comments. Discussion, education, and questions are always welcome as is anything positive, empowering and uplifting. Be well, and happy Trans* Awareness month!

Come Together for November - 11-5-13

The Mirror has Two Faces-Balance

Freedom Monster - 11-4-1

Today has been a busy and productive yet reactive day. I may have pushed myself a bit harder than I should. Lately I have been feeling a need for a time of restoration and renewal. At some point I may need to have a time of silence. But for today was about facing pain and healing through art, dealing with various doctors, and helping in various ways with online planning and networking behind the scenes of a variety of projects.

I feel the need to have an assistant who can help me keep track and take care of the nitty gritty while I am allowed to focus on my art, but at this point I am not able to pay someone a salary. I will be starting A self driven e-course soon about running a home business in a way that its more conducive to my sensibilities, yet successful. So although I completed several of the items on my to do list today, I feel a bit behind and as if I was spinning my wheels.

Double Edged - 10-29-13

There must be a way for artists to give tiMe to our creations without letting the business side completely fall by the way side. One can not always be filling orders without losing some amount of the inspiration that makes the art flow. There must be balance. I am still finding my stride. Bit by bit I will lean How to live within my visit body's limitations and thrive.

This is my ultimate goal and calling: to empower myself and others through art and creativity.

Two Faced - 10-30-13

Other than my meandering thoughts, I am sharing with you today mirrored art. These were freehand drawings, which I photographed, digitally mirrored, and then edited for texture and color in  Pixlr on my Droid X. They are each part of a different series, which will appear here in the future. 

Truth and Consequences, Balance - 10-28-13

Effervescence, Within - 10-22-13

Day of the Dead

Dead Druid Doug - 11-1-10

Dia de los Muertos is a mexican holiday which I admire in which we celebrate the lives of those we have lost. Day of the Dead is one of my favorite holidays because it gives a chance to remember those who have come before us, to celebrate what they brought  into the world, and to enjoy their memories, but I am usually able to be more positive about it than on some other days on which we remember the dead.

DotD Profile Picture - 11-2-13

It always does my heart good to erect an altar or even just to visit one. we stopped into the avondale festivities and I made myself a mask.

Here is some of my day of the dead art, including a self portrait from a few years back.  Do you participate? How so? What are your favorite memories of Day of the Dead? Please feel free to share your own art or photos in the comments section.

Father Bane O'Humanity - 11-1-11

Remember - 11-2-13

completed mask 11-2-13

At Avondale Day of the Dead - 11-2-13

Halloween - Don't Piss Off The Fae

The Sidhe See - 10-31-13

Happy Halloween!  Had fun with a mixture of costumes, lighting, photography, Mandalas, digital manipulation, layers and the idea "Don't piss off the fairies"

I hope you enjoy, which of these is your favorite?

What did you do for Halloween?  Did it include fun with art? Please share in the comments section! I love when people interact with my blog posts, I don't get out much, so interaction online helps keep me feeling social, upbeat and positive!

Dood Where's My Face - 10-31-13

Don't Piss Off the Faeries - 10-31-13

The Eyes Have It - 10-31-13

Mandali Fae - 10-31-13

Sad Face - 10-31-13

"Effervescence" Series, Part 1

Effervescent 10-21-13

Yesterday, while dealing with a bit of a reaction I chose to relax by sketching in my art journal about the word "effervescent". This word was suggested by a friend from a group of artists I love, "FTL". I have found it quite inspiring.

I also wrote to acrylicpix for a photo consultation to see if they can help me print some of my work onto acrylic that I can mount on light boxes. I am eagerly awaiting their reply.

Last but not least, I researched various ways to design my own fabric designs besides batik and screen printing, both of which I do enjoy, but which will not work for all my purposes. A friend recommended spoon flower  and I am checking it out for possibly making Masto Maybelle themed epi holsters and masks.

The Picnic - 10-21-13

Today I woke at 4am as per usual for this week, but this time no construction, and no major mast cell craziness.  I took advantage of the daylight without construction dust to put some work in on my current watercolor and ink project. But more on that in a future blog entry.

Officiate - 10-21-13

I also put more time in working on these before anyone else was up around the house. I am enjoying "Effervescence" and am very happy with the results thus far.  I foresee wood block prints and fabric art in this theme some day. In the mean time I hope you enjoy the digital versions. Too many came to me to include in one post, so I will post the others separately.

Flow - 10-22-13 (miss dated on pic)

This series started as a sketch in my art journal, then I took as picture using my Droid,  edited that in various in phone applications, and whalla! I feel strongly that this series has more in it's future. I really enjoy this mixture of free flowing drawings which I then photograph and digitally alter. I also am working on a larger format watercolor using a similar method of Zentangle inspired freehand. I use the Zentangle model of one stroke at a time, remembering to breathe, and there are no mistakes. It has allowed me to tap into my intuition, and really let the art flow be it mandalas, freehand doodles, or something entirely different.

I, Eye - 10-22-13

The Circle - 10-22-13

Celtic Dreams Series

Celtic Dreams

Recently I have taken to photographing pieces I am working on, or pages from my art therapy journal and digitally editing them on my phone. It is beyond phone art and just as relaxing as simply doodling on my phone. The first of the Celtic dream series was a freehand drawing I made over 3 days in my art therapy sketchbook. I then photographed it with my Droid X and edited it in various apps adding color, shape and texture. Celtic Forest was made by taking a picture of Celtic Dreams and morphing it in various phone apps until it reached the look I wanted, and I loved it so much I started making an entire Celtic Dreams series which you can now see here. Prints for sale soon.

Drum Circle 10-22-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Celtic Bells 10-22-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Autumnal Equinox 10-21-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Last Burn 10-21-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Scry 10-21-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Faery Circle 10-20-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Feelin Buggy - 10-19-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink

Celtic Bird 10-18-13 Digitally Altered Photograph of Freehand Ink