NELVIA'SART.COM

Sheila, I hope you don't mind but I got this idea from your post.  I have been wanting to learn about some design programs so that I can use it on this site and also try to put together a newsletter.  After taking a look at what is out there I decided to go with canva.com.  They offer a multitude of design options and guess what, it is free.  Since I am not the worlds most techie person I need something that is pretty intuitive and this fills that bill. It always interests me as I am trying to figure out what subject people like, what I should paint, what my style is, all those tough questions.  I can make spreadsheets where I track views and comments, etc, but at the end of the day it just doesn't put it together in a way that makes sense to me.  Duh!!  We are artists, you know visual people.  So hoping this is a step on my way to figuring out what people like about what I or don't do. Thanks much for stopping by and taking a look.

Day 30 Day 1 Finally it is Day 30 and it is over.  Apologize for the long post, but it is a bit of a recap. I must say that I am glad that I participated and as always I think I learned a lot and certainly had some fun doing this.   I said never again, but like childbirth, I am already thinking about doing it in September, but in a different way.   Maybe not so many pictures, not the full 30, or taking longer with each one to get higher quality pieces.  But it is really fun to see what others are producing and you can't help but get inspired.   Sorry, blogger is having some formatting issues here because I put these two pictures together. I didn't intend to do a lot of domestic cats this time, but ended up doing 7 and found them to be very interesting subjects.  I posted the first and the last days work of the challenge, maybe not fair to compare as they are two different media, but I think I...

Oh yeah, we are close, I can almost see the end in sight.  DAY 29  Just going to have to do one more day and then it is all over but the shouting and resuming normal things.  I think I might do the end collage this time as it may tell me something, especially if I overlay the views/reactions on top of it.  The house is jumping for joy as it will actually get cleaned - well, maybe, let's not get too excited.  I also have been working on a commission and am about half way completed.  The challenge actually has worked to an advantage as I haven't been stressing over it too much.  Fighting with it I have, but think I might be back under control somewhat now.  Since it is a gift I can't show it until April. Actually I have learned so much during this challenge and somehow they always free me up to play and explore.  I have also found a new site for pastels and, since I am studying seriously with them again, I might actually sign up to take the...

Day 30 Day 1 Ok, I blew it, you will see this again as somehow it published without  me!!   Check out the real day 30 for my final recaps. This is the last day and yes, I am doing the "happy dance".  I am glad I did the challenge, and did all 30 days this time and already it's like having a baby, I am thinking about the next one.  However, I am not sure I will actively participate, might just watch, or just do a couple of days.  Who knows, got months now to recover.  Off now to start my daily chore lists so I can get back to normalcy.

Just 2 more days of the challenge and I am looking forward to having more time to spend on these prints and using different papers.  From what I can tell at this early stage it really is important to have a smoother paper, at least for the overpainting.  Here is a go at a botanical print of flowers I have tried to grow, unsuccessfully, the Chinese Lanterns.  You can see with the acrylics, applied as a watercolor-type wash, that the texture shows through.  I wanted more of the background to show through the lantern that is pretty decomposed, but it didn't some out as I wanted - it really needed darker under color, but you live and learn. Just a note, I really didn't have a lot of spamming during this challenge until the other day.  Then I got hit with domain2008.com - according to google DON'T HIT THEM, as they truly are someone who is trying to get you to respond.  I am not really sure how all these things work - thankfully my blog isn't big enough to a...

                                                         Ah, You're Leaving Me                                                                     12"x12"                                                                       Pastel Just 3 more days - I'm not doing this again in September, I don't care how  much I think I should!!  I am going to sit back and enjoy all the art the other crazy people are making. This is one of the photos I found when I was looking for references for yesterday...

Well usually I write down when I see photos that I want to use in future paintings, didn't in this case and it took me as long to find the references as it did to paint the study.  Good news is that I did find some really good additional photos that I want to do.  And yes, I did make sure that I put them into my spreadsheet for easy finding. These subjects are from two wonderful photographers, at PMP, gemgirlwv and Laura Heineken.  I am not sure that it will stay a beach scene, but maybe.   This is on Artagain paper and is a combo of pan, regular and pencil pastels for the details and small places.  This is only 6"x8".   thanks much for stopping by to take a look