Fishy Fun

Hello Friends,

I hope it is as beautiful where you are as it is here!

I've been spending a lot of time outdoors getting the gardens in shape but I managed to finish a couple of paper fish this week. Even with the boy's home for spring break!

Here is the first one...

I picked up this tray a Goodwill for a few dollars.

I love the idea of doing my paintings on recycled items.

It just makes it more fun and interesting to me.

Here is a pic of the detail in the fish.

This is a fun one that I did on a piece of scrap wood.

I also added some gold thumb tacks for a little "bling."

I"m thinking of doing a few more fish and then I'll add them to my shop.

It's been a long time since I have added anything new to the poor old Etsy shop.

Hopefully that will change!

Enjoy your day:)

Finding Inspiration.

Hello Friends,

I always hear people talk about where they go to get inspired.

They go to museums, take long walks, watch really bad reality tv.

Just kidding, I really don't recommend reality tv for inspiration. 

I really don't know where it comes from for me. 

It's a struggle for me most of the time and I know it's because I am always looking for

 an amazing idea instead of just going with the ok ones.  

Sometimes I see things that are inspiring but they don't fit with the frame of mind I'm in at the time.

I get an idea in my head and I think and think and think way before I ever get to the actual painting.

I try and picture exactly how it will look at the end and then sometimes I'm disappointed when the finished piece doesn't turn out quite right. 

2012 is going to be the year of change for me.

I'm going to embrace the OCD in me and just let myself be the artist I was meant to be.

I'm not going to worry that it takes me two weeks to do a painting that should probably take me a few days. That being said, I AM going to try and relax a little and leave some room for imperfection.

Stop thinking so much and just enjoy the experience.

I received this sweet little box of French chocolates in my stocking this Christmas.

How cute are they????

Ever since I made this guy

I have been wanting to do a series of fish.

So between the red of the Sardine can and the yummy gold and blue in the fish,

I came up with this...

I originally thought I would just do the cut paper fish and then paint the curtain but I am a sucker for shadowboxes so I created the curtain frame to go around the canvas.

The fish took me hours!

He's made from itty bitty circles punched from various vintage and craft papers.

That's where the OCD comes into play.

So thanks to the inspiring gift of chocolate sardines, a new series has come to life. 

Yay for inspiration in unexpected places!

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It's on the right, under my little tea time picture:)