Inspiration Ave Challenge

Inspiration Avenue's Team Challenge this week is Faces  

and the timing couldn't be any better!

Just over a month ago I rediscovered

the satisfaction one can get from creating faces

when I participated in the 29 Faces Challenge Sept 2013.

From my first awkward drawings to 

modern stylized digital faces, 

it was a terrific growing experience.

One face, that at first I thought was too depressing, grew on me

to such an extent that I have just made it my new profile pic.

It began like this

Then I played around with it

(I think this is really cool)

and becausse I love color, played around some more

and more

I see so many possibilities with this face that I

made a rubber stamp of it to use in my mixed media work.

 My lino block skills are quite rusty and

 the image isn't as perfect as I wanted.

Note: technically this isn't a "lino block" as I did this in rubber;
However when I am able to get more supplies
I will attempt another go at it.

Thank you to Maggie  
& Inspiration Avenue for this weeks challenge!

Mini Autumn Swap

What is a mini Autumn Swap you may ask?

Well it involves mini art in the format of ACEOs.

ACEOs aka ATCs are Artist Trading Cards

and measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

They can be in any medium any style the only rule is the size.

Well the ACEO team from etsy was holding a swap.

It was real simple - theme,  Autumn

& we exchange with just one person!

I was really blessed to get Lee of Watercolors or Else !

She sent me not one, but two beautiful aceo's

and they arrived in a handpainted card!

All are most certainly frame worthy!!

I love the tree and the shadow under the leaves - gorgeous!

My offerings weren't nearly so grand -

a collage made using handmade artisan papers, 

"an Autumn Day" is from an old vintage book,

and a genuine maple leaf I saved from last autumn.

this I did in water colors

 and I enclosed them in a collaged note card

So thank you very much Lee for being so generous

with your beautiful art

and thanks to the ACEO etsy team for holding this swap!!

the final face!

 What an awesome experience the 29 Faces challenge has been!

 At the beginning I felt a bit discouraged
 thinking it was way over my head;
but my fellow artists kindly encouraged me to continue.
It was creatively stimulating seeing all the
unique  faces and styles of art while stretching my wings.
But I think my favorite part was
connecting with other artists through our blogs!
.........
Well without further delay on to the final face!

For quite awhile I wanted to attempt a self portrait
but I also wanted to incorporate my artwork within
it & digital photography seemed to be a way of doing that.
A portion of one of my  abstract collages
 is seen in the foreground .

Thank you so much Alaya for hosting this challenge &
to each and every visitor for every encouraging word.
 I hope we stay in touch through our blogs!!

a single bloom

The SoArtful's  current challenge a minimalist single flower.

This is the first time I have entered

one of their art challenges. 

I enjoyed it & hope to do more of them!

.....

This one began as a photo of

a rose in our garden.

It was loaded with sharp thorns but 

it's fragrance was oh so sweet!

and then there's this one

created with the digital tool, Scribbler

Why not check out SoArtful & have some artsy fun?! :D

http://www.jeanette-soartfulchallenges.blogspot.com/

One day left in 29!

Well here it is day 28 of the 

29 Faces September 2013 Art Challenge!

Last night I spent a couple of hours trying to create 

one of those cool faces that my friend

Karla of Poetic Postcards makes.

Alas, it was not to be.

So I did what I love and

created another face with Scribbler Too.

and for those following 29 Faces, 

you know how much i love color 

so.....

 

and....

and

Number 27 of 29Faces

Only two more faces to go and 

the 29 Faces Challenge will be finished.

For number 27 I did something

different....  minimalist & rather depressing

just 3 left!

Here we are at number 26 of 29 Faces!

Originally  I had Scribbler wings but

thought Butterfly wings added a whimsical touch

29 Faces - day 25

OK i confess!

 i'm cheating on this

i did this about a week ago

for a new profile pic

but today was a bit of a rough day

so i'm using this as the face for day 25

29 Faces Challenge

Face 24

Back to Scribbler today!

and of course I had to add color
but i couldn't decide which one i liked the best
so here are both versions with color

29 Faces #23

For a blue Monday, here's a sketch.

She is done in pen and marker 

& the background, digital.

I'm not too crazy about this