Down The Rabbit Hole...

"Carried Away" oil on Birch 2011 11x14
"Moving Day" oil on canvas board 5x7
"Me and My Shadow" oil on canvas 18x24


These are the pieces I have completed recently while learning to paint in oil. I have a feeling this is going to be a really fun year...

The treasury thing...

So I got featured in this treasury, called I'VE GOT A SECRET. Also featured in this treasury, called WELL, WELL, WELLL...AND this one, about BIRDS.

I also managed to curate one, ZOLTAR SAYS...something about a dark winged bird...

Treasuries rock. Off to make art...

Awesome finds in broken books...

I really hit the jackpot yesterday with the torn up old books I found! One of them is just too precious to deconstruct, even though it is a mess. It is the Junior Instructor, from 1918, a homeschool book. Hilarious. The others have spurred a new batch of birdies in my etsy store. One is a book filled with Kanji, (if you know which language, PLEASE let me know!) one is a text on learning shorthand and this one is from a book about musical composition.

Off to do some more ink work and painting!

I Wish I could Fly...

This is an experiment for me, inspired by something I saw on the web somewhere late at night-(I really need to take notes! If I find the amazing artwork that got me thinking about trying this, I'll post the link, promise!) I made a design in watercolor paint, folded the paper to create the inkblot and then I used what I saw in it to guide my drawing in ink. This was a TON of fun, and I will definitely be doing more of these Rorschach paintings. If you love it, you can buy it HERE. :D

Psychoanalysis welcome!

If you go to sleep in the sky, you will wake up cousin to the birds...

I'm having WAY too much fun digitally coloring my drawings...

Just to be able to say, "Yes, I can do something similar with brown/green/puce instead...no problem!" I LOVE it. Hope you do too. :D

crawling out of my cozy cave i find...

I have a horrific sore throat this morning. Bleagh. Time for a giant cup of echinacea tea with a big 'ol teaspoon of honey. I think I will still list something new today for sale on Etsy. Because I'm just that stubborn...

As I'm watching the sun creep over the hills here I am SO thankful we live in natural surroundings. The quality of light reminds me of a walk along the Canal Saint Martin though...*sigh* I did love Paris...

That certain something....

Today I'm working on trying to figure out what people want from my deadpan illustrations so I can come up with some more lines that people will like. Is it the bold colors? The simple lines of the birds themselves? The look in their eyes? I'm really not sure what exactly makes them a hit. The one pictured here is a new listing I just put on www.deadpanalley.etsy.com . I hope you like it! Feedback is always welcome!

Better a handful of dry dates and content with that, than to own the gate of peacocks and be kicked in the eye by a brooding camel...

I got the day off with my husband! Yay! We worked all day of course, but we did it TOGETHER. Kris cut me a bunch of mounting stock for my illustrations, and is almost finished knitting me a soft, silky, cranberry scarf. :D I made and posted 2 new pieces in my Etsy store, www.deadpanalley.etsy.com I also packaged and mailed out some Etsy orders and did some research online.
We went out to lunch at our favorite Chinese place and now we are listening to "Moon Over Morocco", (one of my favorite radio serials) while we work on various things.

It is incredibly windy outside but the fire is starting to make it rather cozy in here.

Life is good.

Yes, indeed.

DeadpanAlley Originals for a...song. *cough*