Thursday, February 28, 2013

Somerset Studio is in the house!

My second submission to Somerset arrived yesterday in the mail!

They had chosen, "She let her dreams take flight" but somehow, the instructions included with it were for the other canvas I submitted titled, "She built her wings." An easy mistake, I hadn't even realized HOW close in titles they were. Since chances are, Somerset Studio will want to make a correction to include the instructions at a later date, I am attaching a photo of the canvas they gave you instructions for! Does that make any sense? I hope so!

So, here is a photo, as well as the full instructions to create this 8x8 canvas...

 
 
Materials
  • Paints by Americana: Calypso Blue, Royal Fuschia, Lamp Black, Light buttermilk, Desert Turquoise and Celery Green
  • Handmade stencil for a piece of scrapbook paper, for background
  • Birdcage,  from a chipboard album. (Used as a stencil on black scrapbook paper)
  • Various floral rub-ons
  • Tim Holtz tissue tape “imagination”
  • Bird was used from an online printable
  • Mod Podge
  • Sponge brushes
  • Various paintbrushes
  • Typed out words on copy paper
  • Sharpie black pen
Instructions:
1.       Paint the entire canvas Calypso Blue. Include the sides of the canvas as well.
2.       Use a swirly stencil overlay and sponge paint  with desert turquoise paint  (in the bottom left corner)
3.       Cut out the bird from the paper, and paint the bird with desert turquoise paint.
4.       Use modpodge to glue down the bird onto the canvas.
5.       Dab the fuschia paint around the bird with a sponge brush.
6.       Trace and cut out birdcage from black paper.  Before placing it on the canvas, use a dry
paintbrush and add definition to the birdcage with a Light Buttermilk paint.
7.       Take a thin paintbrush and edge the birdcage in black paint too.
8.       Use modpodge to adhere the birdcage to the canvas.
9.       Apply the tissue tape onto the birdcage.
10.   Take your rub-ons, and add them onto the birdcage, and canvas corners.
11.   Cut out your wording from the copy paper and edge with black sharpie pen.
12.   Paint the large wording on the canvas where desired.
13.   Place typed words, and modpodge them down to canvas, over the rub-ons.
14.   Add some definition to the bird, by adding details with black paint, and sharpie pen.
15.   Dry brush the tissue tape with celery green paint.
16.   Take a thin paintbrush and paint green on some of the rub-on leaves to add color. Edge the rub-on flowers with fuschia paint for definition.
 
Feel free to leave  a comment if you have any questions~
Keep Creating,
~Monica
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, February 22, 2013

It's here...

     My first published artwork in a magazine has arrived! It's been placed in Somerset Apprentice, and I could not be more thrilled, even though I have known for months about it's arrival. Because magazines work so far ahead, this artwork was submitted back at the end of last summer. I feel so honored to be amongst so many fabulous mixed media artists in this magazine. The Spring 2013 Issue is available on newstands within the next week or so. 

Psst...I just confirmed my second piece of artwork to be featured this Spring as well, but I'll post about that at a later date...

Keep Creating~
Monica

Monday, February 11, 2013

"Do what you do..."

A funny way to start a blog post, isn't it? "Do what you do", "Do your thing" and "I trust it'll look great" are just a few of the responses I've gotten when I have been requested to do a custom canvas for someone. I thought I'd share about a few of the originals I've done for customers in the past...

Because pictures always tell the best story, I'll post a few to share:
 
 
This was done for a friend to submit into a silent auction to be sold.
She gave me the quote she wanted, and an idea of colors. Beiges, greens and soft colors.
 
 
Custom order request: Quote from another one of my designs. 11x14 with pastel colors, and shipped within a few days for Mothers Day. The Mom loved it and even sent me a thank you! So sweet
 
 
This was donated by my business, The Artsy Girl Studio for a fundraising event I am a part of, called Survivor Crop  It ended up being won by a staff member of Susan G. Komen and is now hanging in their San Diego offices.
 
 
This was my most recent custom order. I posted on my Facebook page about it, but did not give the details. This artwork has extra special things in it, that were requested by the customer. She knew what quote she wanted, she knew the colors, and even knew the type of flower she wanted. The symbol, down in the right hand corner represents someone who is on to the road to recovery with an eating disorder. I was honored to create a piece of artwork that will inspire her to stay on her path to recovery. A very special piece.
 
If you ever have a special request for something custom, feel free to contact me via my Etsy shop
or email me at artsygirlstudio@gmail.com
 
Have a great week!
~Monica