New works in progress and some good news

Along with my new short stylish haircut comes a new me…a me that is full of confidence, no longer afraid to put myself and my art out there. Okay, I don’t if I would go that far, but I did finally approach a little coffee shop in Greenwood about the prospect of displaying some of my work. It was a bold move on my part, and to my amazement they said yes! So, in either April or May my work will be displayed in public for the first time ever (and hopefully not the last). More to follow…



On another note…I started 3 8”x10” canvases a couple days ago. I’m revisiting some of the ideas I had quite awhile ago, but adding new twists. These pieces will include short sayings…small pieces of advice, and may be turned into pendants eventually??? I’m experimenting more with colors (it’s so hard for me to leave behind my favorite cool colors…greens, violets and BLUES!), but I’m trying. Look, I even used a little yellow (which was difficult)…lol! I’m also attempting to use up my piles of scrapbook paper. At this rate, the scrapbook paper in my house should only outlast me by about 100 years or so.

So stay tuned for further developments…

A new do

Well...I did it again. I cut off my long hair to donate to Locks of Love, where it will be used to make hairpieces for children. This is my third hair donation...I grow my hair out for a couple year, then I go and get it chopped off. This time I got rid of about 12 inches, and it feels like at least 5 lbs.

Ella took this picture of me and my new do. I think she has photography in her future...she told me that we needed to adjust the lighting in the room, so her shot wouldn't be too dark...lol.

~Alisa

Abandoned

Abandoned, 8"x8" mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas

As part of my resolution for the New Year, I decided that I wanted to make meaningful art...and I'm happy to say that I've stuck with that resolution thus far. Yep, I know it's only mid-January :)

Neglected, 5"x7" mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas

My second collection of 2009 is called, "Abandoned". It's dark, it's deep, and I'm really happy with the way it has turned out thus far. I'm thinking of adding a few larger pieces if I get a chance - I'm just not quite ready to move on.

Empty, 2.5"x3.5" mixed media ACEO on watercolor paper

Isolated, 8"x10" mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas

The collection currently consists of an 8"x10" canvas, two 8"x8" canvases, two 5"x7" canvases and two art cards (2.5"x3.5" pieces on watercolor paper). The sides of the canvases are painted black, so there is no need for a frame.

Unloved, 8"x8" mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas

This work was created out of a desire to bring what many would consider an eye-sore to the forefront and make it the subject of a piece of art. These buildings must have been important and loved at some point in the past. They have stories to tell, even if the physical building no longer exists. I want the viewer to stop and wonder about those stories, as I often do when I see these places and images. If you look closely, the many layers that exist under the surface begin to emerge.

Deserted, 5"x7" mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas

I can’t really explain why I feel such a connection and sense of wonder with these old and often crumbling places. Maybe it’s the tangible connection with a past that often seems so distant. In our rapidly changing world with our constant need to “modernize” everything from computers to household appliances, the fact that these places still exist gives evidence to the fact that we want and need something to hold onto…something to link us with the past and with history…something to link us to those people who’ve come before – possibly so we don’t feel so alone.

Ignored, 2.5"x3.5" mixed media ACEO on watercolor paper

~Alisa

Giveaway winner

The winner of my very first ever blog giveaway is…the wonderfully talented mixed media artist, Lorraine R....also known as
Glimmering Prize!

Congrats Lorraine!

And thank you to everyone for the wonderful comments and for participating in the first of many giveaways.

~Alisa

Pretty Little Pendant hits 100!!!

In honor of the 100th sale in my etsy shop, I’ve decided to have my first ever blog giveaway. The winner will get a print of my signature piece, Embrace Your Inner Child and a soldered pendant called Three Friends.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment. I’ll draw a winner randomly on Saturday, January 17.

Believe it or not, Embrace your Inner Child was one of the very first mixed media pieces that I ever made. Although my style has changed a little since then, I still absolutely love that piece and the sentiment.

The image on the print measure 4”x6” and the paper measures 5”x7” and was professionally printed on archival photo paper.

Three Friends was a small piece I made from a vintage photo of my grandma. She has tons of old photos at her house and was enthusiastic about the prospect of someone actually using them. So, she let me pick and choose which images I wanted. This image was one of them.

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive of my art and etsy shop in 2007 and 2008. Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous 2009!

~Alisa

Kitty Marie is home!!!!

My darling little indoor kitty, Kitty Marie had been gone for 9 days...since Christmas Day, actually. We put up posters, climbed fences to look in neighbors garages and sheds, followed false leads and never even found a clue as to her whereabouts. I had all but given up hope of ever finding her again...she's older, declawed, small and well...a little princess kitty. No way would she be able to defend herself against racoon or the 10 or so outdoor cats that live nearby. Yep...I had pretty much written her off as a lost cause when hubby walked in with her in his arms last night.

He had gone out to his car and heard a little meow as he closed the door to the house. He turned and saw her head under his car, so he quickly unlocked and opened the door to the house. When he turned around, she was right at his feet!

We are so excited to have her back. She seems to be just fine, her old normal self...just hungry and a little weak. Her long hair was not wet or matted and there wasn't any sign of an injury. We still can't figure out where she could have been for 9 whole days, but the important thing is that she is back now.

Thank you to everyone for the positive thoughts and prayers...and a special thank you to the two neighbor boys who kept us updated on any possible leads and crawled under cars to apprehend strange cats!

~Alisa

A new year, a new direction

Flowers

5x7" on gallery wrapped canvas

Do you ever just kind of feel stuck in a rut? The month of December was just kind of blah for me artistically…I needed to change things up a bit and with the new year dawning, what better time than the present to try something new. Ok, I admit that my attention span is really short…I’m always wanting to try something new. I don’t quite know if I feel the need to jump from one thing to the next to keep me fresh or if I’m just suffering from ADD…lol. I’d like to incorporate more painting in my pieces, use up some of the HUNDREDS of scrapbook papers that I have taking up space and really focus on creating meaningful art. I don’t really care how many pieces I sell…as long as the art is meaningful for me, that is enough (ok, a few sales to support my habit would be nice).

Two Flowers

ACEO 2.5x3.5" on heavy watercolor paper

Another of my goals for 2009 is to approach some local venues about displaying my art. I’ve had my eye on a little neighborhood coffee shop for quite some time, but didn’t feel like my vintage look would be a good fit there. Now, with the new direction that my art is going, I feel like I’m ready to put myself out there. Instead of working on one piece at a time, I’m following the advice of others (*wink, wink* to Jodi aka sweetrepeatstudio) and working on a grouping of 4-5 pieces in various sizes to form a cohesive collection. That way, even if my pieces never leave my house I can display them in small collections on my own walls.

Three Flowers

ACEO 2.5x3.5" on heavy watercolor paper

I’ve got plans to finish up 3 more pieces in this collection then start some pieces in black and white, similar to my self-portrait...so stay tuned!

I can’t wait to see the direction my art takes…I look forward to the journey!

~Alisa

Happy New Year

Happy 2009! David and I went over to my mom and dad's house last night to spend some time with Annie, Luis and the boys who are leaving today for their home in Florida. I so enjoyed spending the last two weeks together. It's hard having my one and only sister live so far away. Living in Florida is one thing...I've got relatives that live near Sarasota and it's only a 15 hour drive...but my sis lives in the Keys which is basically a 24 hour drive from Indianapolis, Indiana. So, of course I tried my best to talk her into moving back to Indiana (yet again), so we'll see how that goes. I just don't know how she could turn down cold winters and snow for 80 degree winter weather and year-round sunshine. Maybe some day she'll change her mind.

I made this piece into a soldered pendant for my sis for Christmas. Aren't her boys adorable?

I did a small canvas yesterday...the last of 2008. It's a bit darker than my normal work, but I've just felt so lost lately with all the stress of the holidays, missing kitty and the general winter blues. So, while I was in the shower yesterday (a great place to think, btw...lol), I realized that I should use art to get some of my the thoughts and feelings out (I normally just bottle everything up inside) and start the healing process.




So here is the result. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it...David likes it but says it's kind of scary. He took the photo of me and said it looked like a mugshot...which is exactly the look I was going for. Believe it or not, creating it has made me feel so much better.



Hope you have a wonderful 2009!


~Alisa