Turkey Craft

So, Jacob enlisted me in decorating a couple of cans for a lesson he was doing on the cost analysis of metal cans. (fancy- I know!) So, at first I thought I'd just make some funny labels to glue over the soup cans, but after browsing through some ideas, I decided to blow this project up and make turkeys out of the cans. The funny thing about them is that someone could used these as nameholders for Thanksgiving dinner if they wanted to be really campy.

Anyway, the assemble was pretty easy. I covered the cans with paper from a grocery bag. I created a spine on the bag so that different feathers could be glued to the back. I created a construction paper face, hands, and feet. Voila! Gobble Gobble. Pretty cute, eh?

hipstamatic adventures

One of the fun things about my iPhone is the hipstamatic application on it. You can play with different films, lenses, and effects. And, when you are in a pinch and want to capture something, I think it does a fine job creating artfully delightful pictures. Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I took a road trip to Austin. Below are a sampling of my favorite hipstamatic shots!


We took a short hike through some of Pedernales Falls State Park, and this is a photo overlooking a pond where people could fish and sit. It was nice to sit down and just relax for a bit.


On another part of our walk, we came up to the river and I loved looking at the long tree roots dipping into the water. It was very fun to play this particular lens and get the glowing effects of the sunshine.



At some point, we decided to look down into one of the cavernous rock formations near the water. This is just a shot of our shadows.



And finally, one cool thing about this app is that the effects can make things look pretty old. Here's a shot of an antique car that we found in the parking lot.

Sometimes, you don't need to have anything really spectacular to be creative. You just have to have an eye for looking about beautiful things. I encourage you to go on a walk sometime and snap away. You'll be amazed at how refreshing this activity can really be.

pleasant little doses of art

The weather outside is getting much better! Cooler temps is always inspiring for new adventures. I have been motiviated by the Artist's Way book and the Art Every Day Blog lately. I also like how other artists have done smaller projects so they are not overwhelmed by the challenge of being creative.

The above photo is an assignment that I was given in the Artist's Way to have a sign that says, "Treating myself like a precious object will make me strong." It's a good reminder that creativity, happiness, and love start with yourself. If you don't look after yourself, you will never be empowered to take care of others. Also, investing in self-love is a signal to others how you want to be treated.


The photo above is a simple painting of my watercolor pencils. They are portable, colorful and easy to work with when I'm crunched for time. It's a reminder that our creativity is a luxury we must indulge in often. I look forward to more artful times in the studio in the coming days. Can't wait for Thanksgiving Break!

Pearl

On our recent trip to the country, I decided to spend a couple hours on our balcony at the B&B and draw a bit. While Jacob graded papers, I became fascinated by the Pearl sign next door. The warehouse that the B&B now owned was formerly used for storage for the Pearl Beer company based in San Antonio. I liked the font and the blazing red. I continued drawing and painting downstairs in the owners living room. They were such a sweet couple! And, they were kind enough to let us watch the UT game (ugh!) while we hung out and did more work.

I am pretty happy with the end result, and I think it will look very sharp inside a frame in the near future. It is a very nice reminder of our lovely weekend in the country.

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

I think one of the best motivators for my artwork is when the projects are for someone. I was out of the office sick with a stiff neck on Monday, and I was starting to get cabin fever after going to my acupuncture visit. So, I called up a good friend of mine and we hung out at Path of Tea. While sipping tea, she asked me about gifts for Jacob since his birthday was coming up and the holidays are just around the corner. It dawned on me that I wasn't going to be able to paint a nice picture because of my bum neck. But, my friend suggested that we go browse through Paper Source.

That place is like crack to me. But, I found this $8 sheet of Japanese paper. It was thick, rough and had a beautiful gold design of waves crashing. It was my inspiration to make something with Japanese inspired prints. It was pretty nice since we celebrated his birthday by watching the Wild Ocean IMAX film and then eating sushi with 14 of our closest friends. I went to Texas Art Supply and Melissa and I picked out some fun supplies- cool stickers, more oragami paper, and paints.

We drove up to the studio and worked for three hours straight. There is something special about doing creative work. I think my mind needs that type of challenge just like our bodies need to go on workouts! It was so fun listening to music, talking, and working away. I found a nice frame at Pier One and I was so excited that I had to give him his present the night before. He loved it, and thought it was just so cute!

Artful Creations

So, this is my newest blog focused on art and creativity. The "artfullyluxe" is a reminder that being crafty, creative, and artistic is a luxury. If we don't create the space for our creativity, that energy dies out and is unfulfilled. Like any other muscle in our body, being creative is something that must be exercised.