In Search of Mermaids

Good morning my artsy friends!  I was inspired to take a trip to the ocean this last week to go in search of mermaids.  I know there are mermaids by the Oregon coast and I just needed a little sign to spur on my creativity for this week's SOC journal page.

As I began my journey in Bandon, I was lucky enough to meet a talking Raven.  She pointed me in the direction of a mermaid beach after sharing her enchanted adventures with me.

So off I went...

Right away I spotted the place where a mermaid would come ashore to visit her lover that waited in the moonlight...

    
Enchanted, I walked on...

As I searched along the tide line for mermaid baubles I heard a musical tinkling laugh coming from behind.  As I whirled around I heard a splash and there amongst the pebbles and shell bits was a giant heart inscribed in the sand.  Oh, Raven was so right about a mermaid being here!  I think that she must have flown down  and whispered in her ear that I was coming!

One last gaze out to sea as the pelicans flew by and it was time to go.

I can't wait to return again for more clues and inspiration for my mermaid paintings and journal spreads!

So keep those eyes wide open while you pick the paint off your nail polish, you just might see evidence of an enchanted creature too!

Forever in art,

Jessi  

Week Three Summer of Color

Hi all you peeps out in artland! I am running soooo late on my Summer of Color entry this week and I apologize.  I still have not been around to everybody yet from last week. 

Things have been a little critical in taking care of Mom lately.  So many etras, the Dr. and tests at the hospital... She is doing pretty well through it all.

So on to my entry.  My interpretation of this weeks ice cream flavor of Baseball nut is very loose.  Vanilla ice cream with blackberry swirl and cashews.  I was at a loss and not feeling very creative so my entry is a mermaid girlie face with piercing eyes.  She just came out of my pencil one night very late...

Next weeks color is Strawberry Lemonade and I hope I can be a little more creative with that one!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!  Thank you for all your comments and staying loyal even though I've not made it around to everyone yet.

Forever in art,

Jessi

Summer of Enchantment continues at SOC2

It is week two of the Summer of Color 2 challenge!  I had some difficulty finishing everything I wanted to share.  So, to start off here is a mermaid journal spread.  Our prompt is Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I know it doesn't match as good as it could.  The fairy I am working on is a better prompt match but she isn't finished yet.

Mermie isn't as green as I would like her to be for this challenge. The camera didn't pick up the green tones as well for some reason but I was pleased with her Summer vibe.

      

Out of focus but just showing her irridesence... She is so sparkly in person.

So she's more mint than chocolate chip that's for sure, lol.  My fairy is taking a lot more time than I thought she would so I will have to share her later on.

I hope you are all enjoying the outstanding creativity that is being shared through this blog hop.  I know I am!

It might take me a while to visit you all as I am taking care of my Mother right now.  She is feeling better so I 'm hoping to have more time to spend with Summer of Color 2 in the future.

Keep your art journal or papers and supplies close at hand to catch all the enchanted creativity coming your way.  I'm afraid I have collected stuff all around my magic chair again to have it all close at hand, lol.  There are so many wonderful vibes out there just waiting to inspire us!

Thank you all for coming by and leaving your sweet comments.  It means more to me than you know!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Fantasy for the Soul

Hellooo, Hellooo! I'm here in blogland to share a little art, life and beauty with you all..

Since my last post it has been raining almost non stop. Monday we were blessed with half of a day of beautiful sun so I jumped in the truck and headed to the nursery for some new things for the garden.  Two rose bushes, a jasmine and honeysuckle vine later, I was a happy girl! Of course it hasn't stopped raining long enough to plant them but I hear the weekend will be lovely.  I can't wait!

So while the thunder storms raged on, I cuddled in my magic chair with some chamomile tea and dreamed of Mermaids on sunny beaches and flower faeries in the gardens and forests...

It makes me happy to think of such fae things - there is enough harsh reality out there so why not indulge in a little fantasy for the soul?

Siren of Mystery

Today the coast is supposed to be clear of the storms so I am going to joy ride to Bandon by the Sea to do a little book shopping and maybe even Coos Bay to visit my friendly art store there.  I'm hoping there will be sun breaks so I can snap a few photos for you!

Jasper went to the vet again yesterday for his eye and got a big shot. He is feeling so much better today I feel o.k. to leave him outside while I go and play!

So adios amigo , I'm off... Don't forget to feed your soul with a little fantasy or two... or three...

Forever in art,

Jessica (JessiVille)



In search of Mystical Mermaids

Good Saturday morning, my artistic beauties!  I've been busy in the studio and in my magic chair again this week.  We had 3 beautiful sunny days and now we are back to gray and rain.  It's o.k. though, I have finally seen the light of Spring and it is beautiful.  Of course now I'm pushing for Summer and warmth!

As some of you may have heard, Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle has posted a wonderful blog party for this Summer set to start on June 6th.  It's called "The Summer of Color" and I can't wait!   It's all about color with a new one chosen each week to prompt our artistic creations.  Well, you know I'm all about color so I will be participating enthusiastically!  Check out the blinking blog button at the left of my blog and pop on over there see the whole playful story!

As I began to long for the warmer days of Summer, I doodled up a mermaid girlie face from my imagination to share this week...

 Mystical Mermaid - enhanced

I would like to swim in a warm ocean along with her.  I'm sure she has some mystical secrets she would whisper in the currents...I must get closer and turn my ear her way...

Other artistic bumblings included the beginnings of a journal page...

The background was so heavily painted with acrylics and such that it was very hard to get my letters straight.  This was done on a crinkly brown paper grocery bag - that didn't help the lettering process either!  Not sure what else I will add to this yet.

I hope you all have fun finding your colorful art bliss this week.  I know I will!  Ooh I just peeked outside and I think my dark purple lilacs are starting to bloom.  Pics next week!

Music in the studio this week was the radio - lazy I know!

Forever in art,

Jessica

Princess of Tides Revealed!

Hello my fellow bloggers and followers!  Well, she's finally finished!  I will probably add a few more details but for now she is done.  I will be posting her on the Willowing Ning site as well for Tam's M3 class.  I know I've been seriously behind, heck, the class is over now and I still haven't started the fairy and unicorn painting(s)!

  The Princess of Tides

The lighting was horrible but I did the best I could.  She is much better "in person".

Here is a shot of her with a little less light shining on the metallics and mica flakes.

I think I'm going to be taking a break from these more detailed paintings and do some doodling and fun paint splashing in the studio next.  I still haven't put my recycled journal together yet so I will probably work a little on that too.

I will be making my short trip to So. California for my Dr.'s appts. in April and I am planning to do some gorilla art and possibly some graffiti as well.  Shhh, it's a secret - more on that later!

I will be posting again this weekend so meantime keep that pencil, pen, marker, brush or glue stick moving!

Forever in art, Jessica

Happy Spring!

Hello and Happy Spring!  It has not been very spring-like here but at least some of the trees are starting to bloom.  This will be a short post and may seem like a repeat 'cuz I haven't not been doing much recently.  I'm just hanging out with my kitty and puppy and trying to relax after the last 2 harrowing months and doing my P.T. for my injuries.

                           
A photo of the cherry plum tree again for Spring...

I am still limited on my typing and my art in the studio due to my hand and back.  Here is a recent progress photo of the Princess of Tides - slow going but another layer has been added to her.

The colors are not coming out quite right in the photo.  The background is an intense aqua green-blue with many layers and glazes.  The moon is pearlized and so are some of the layers of scales on her tail.  This piece is turning out to be a lot of work!  I will work on smoothing out her skin and adding her brows and more shading to her face along with more detail on her hands etc. Then her fins and finally her hair.  Still a long ways to go!

This piece is all about building with many layers.  I've used mostly white acrylic with the golden fluids for pigment color and some caran d'ache crayons and a lot of golden's clear acrylic glaze in satin finish.  The golden fluids are expensive but I use only tiny amounts along with the heavy-bodied acrylics so they last forever.  Oh, and have I mentioned I hate working on the wood?  As I wrestle with the awkward size, the sharp corners scratch my arms over and over.

I will take a break now from the typing and steam my yummy organic baby asparagus I got at my new favorite store in Eugene, Market of Choice.  It's a Spring-like thing to do...still too early here to buy flowers to plant.

Thank you all for your fun and lovely comments and chattiness!  I love it!

So, even though it may be raining, snowing or gray outside, you can always follow my lead by breaking out that wonderful bright color and painting something for Spring!

See you soon my little art fairies (and mermaids of course)!   Jessica

Mermaids and Sanity

Hello from my little insane asylum!  Boy, do I have cabin fever to the point of insanity.  I'm starting to feel a bit better and I finally was able to get into the studio long enough to do a little background work on my Princess of Tides.  I used a bit of sea sponge to apply layers of glaze to the water and the moon.  I can't wait to be able to get "in the zone" with her and really make some progress!

I completed another mermaid drawing while relaxing in the evenings... These little drawings really have been helping me from going completely insane. It is so relaxing to scribble a little here and there. Keeping my connection to art is absolutely necessary for my sanity. It's my life's blood!

Crazy things just keep on happening here. We had freak hail and tornado like winds yesterday - the worst we've had so far, and I lost a bit of my roof. Pieces of it were in my front yard and in the street. Hopefully they are coming to fix it this afternoon. We lost power during the onslaught and it was so dark out that there was nothing I could do but cuddle up by my little fireplace and wait out the storm. My kitty and puppy dog were so scared - I just tried to comfort them. It was over in a few hours. Another storm is coming in overnight and I'm hoping the roof holds.

I got a nice photo of my cherry plum tree blossoms before the wind hit... It was sunny and I was on the way to the store when the storm came in like a roaring demon.  Very bazaar!

  
I've got to go now and drive into Roseburg to do some banking and check on my parents.  My Dad is doing better and we are hopeful for more time with him!  When I get back I will do a little more on my Mermaid Princess. Yay!  I'm in zee mood for art!  Heck, I'm always in the mood for art!!!

As I work on her today, I will remember those in Japan who so need love and support through this horrific tragedy that has befallen them.  It's a little strange that I am working on my mermaid while remembering the tsunami's destruction.  Maybe I can think of her bringing soothing peace to the ocean and to those who are so devastated...

Until next time, keep the pencil and brush moving!

Forever in art,  Jessica



Flipping My Mermaid Tail

Howdy, howdy! I'm on the mermaid trail, flipping my mermaid tail...  Here's my latest sketch.  I've done her in pencil and charcoal on yummy thick grey 100% cotton rag paper.

Since my big mermaid painting is coming along so slowly (due to the wood absorbing the color too much even with the coat of gesso), I feel the need to keep the spirit of the mermaid alive.  I think I will do another mermaid sketch this week as well.  I'm still a bit uncomfortable in the studio due to my injuries from the auto accident so the sketching keeps me happy.

You know I like being able to sit in my big chair and putz on my sketching and doodling in the evenings.  I might even try a "Froud" fairy or two or the unicorn Tam wanted us to start last week...

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give me such wonderful encouraging comments on my last posts!  I LOVE going and seeing what everyone else is doing on their blogs too - such creative juice flowing out there!

It's raining cats and dogs outside today - wish it was raining men...hallelujah!!!

Forever in art, Jessica

P.S.  I hope the mermaid boobies don't give me a "R" rating! LOL!

The Princess of Tides

Hellooo, hellooo!  It's just me from my fantasy world of fairies, goddesses, angels, and mermaids!  My creative juices are really flowing today and I can't wait to get back into the studio.  

I have finished the sketch of my mermaid for Tam's M3 class.  She is on wood and will be finished off with a coat of beeswax (hopefully).  The size is 12" x 24".  I can't wait to start laying in the color and experience her playful vibe as she develops!

  
I have already named her, she is "the Princess of Tides"...  We were supposed to be using inspiration from Chagall but since he doesn't really inspire me, I'm off doing my own thing...  I am very excited about this mermaid.  It's my chance to try a little of my own technique and to use some fun products like the mica flakes from Golden.  I might add a bit of gold or silver leaf too.  I'm just going to go with the flow and see where it leads.

I finished my Mucha angel spread for Sharon L.  She is doing very well after her surgery and is looking forward to a healthy and speedy recovery!

I just added a bit of detail to her halo and finished off the background.  This photo doesn't show the writing, it was only penciled in at this point, but you can get the idea...

We had quite a bit of snow for us this last week.  This year is weird with the weather again.  I guess all of the U.S. has been experiencing unusual conditions.  Here is a photo of one of my garden ornaments... It was already melting off by the time I took this.  Beware the Ides of March - in like a lion...

So my Dears, stay warm and comfy and let the mermaids and fairies inspire you to create!  I can feel the fairies dancing about today, it's just so sparkly in here!!!

Forever in art,

Jessica