What a Long Time

Sorry it has been so long since I  have last written on here! I have not given up even though for the last few weeks, I have been nonexistent to the cyberworld. Wow! It is so hard to get going again. A few weeks feels like eternity on here. I have been very busy painting a house, and not mine. 2200 sq. feet plus ceilings. Let me just say, I feel for the professional painters who do it everyday. That is definitely not for me!

My oldest Hayden, has just started preschool from 9-1 and although I thought her absence would alllow a lot of free time for working, I have found a new relationship with my one year old who wants more Mommy time since big sis is at school. I work when I can, but I don't want to miss my special time with my girls as they magically grow before me in what seems like a day. Hayden has started dance two weeks ago, and I think I will find myself being that Mommy caravan like my Mom back in the day.  Hayden loves dance and counts the days until she gets to go back.

Hayden's first day of dance with her custom dance bag made from ConCon.

As for me, I have not worked on anything creative in a couple of weeks. I find myself itching to be creative again and yet hesitant to begin. The top pic is an illustration I began for the Creative Color Challenge but didn't quite finish. I will repost again finished at a later time. Thank you for sticking with me as I wade through my journey.

I have never stated my goals here and will do so in one of the next couple of posts.  One goal now added is to maintain my presence.

The Lemonade Girls

Lemonade Girls by kmcclay with bubblesunderthemoon. Available soon on my etsy shop: www.bubblesunderthemoon.etsy.com

I just signed up for the Creative Color Challenge hosted by Louise Gale. The challenge is for the month of August to make a new piece of art each week with the given color plus white and black and shades. Last week's color was yellow. YELLOW! Not one of my favorite colors! After lingering over what to do until Wednesday, I decided to make a lemonade stand with my girls. My last post of Pinkalicious probably inspired me in this direction also. After working on this off and on, but more off than on, chasing my girls around, I created this in about 2 nights. I was pretty proud because I can put off details of a digital drawing for more than a week or so. This challenge is showing me I can create in a given time period. Also, I am expanding my thought process in my subject matter, not having to fret about what color to use. The monochromatic color scheme seems to free me in some way. Weird, huh?

This week's color is raspberry red. Right now I am thinking of creating a pattern about LOVE. How do little girls perceive love? Roses are red... or Mommy and Daddy sitting in a tree.. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Hopefully, I will create something cool, but my motivation has slacked for the last week or so. We'll soon see.

Pinkalicious!!!!!!! by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

I have been delaying writing in my blog lately and I am sorry for that! Sometimes those negative thoughts creep back in and tell me no one wants to read about my life, about what I think. I don't travel very often, so a travel blog is out of the question unless you consider going to the grocery store, or the doctor's very exciting; I know I don't. My house hasn't been touched in the design sense for years, unless you consider spilled juice and smashed cookie crumbs Art Noveau. So, I am very truly sorry but that's how I have been feeling lately.

I took the girls to the bookstore today because it is way too hot outside to play. Hayden found two Pinkalicious books she doesn't have yet, so we just had to get them. After getting them home,  I thought this would be something cool to share on my blog. I truly love Victoria Kann's illustration style and how she uses collage into her books.

all illustrations by Victoria Kann

I love how she uses the doily background for her dress, the handwriting for the building's texture, and the sheet music for the leaves. It is the little touches that draw me in.

If you are unfamiliar with the Pinkalicious series and like these images, I would suggest getting a peek at them at a bookstore. Although the two small books we just bought Tickled Pink and the Pink Drink are not as strong in their compositions as the original Pinkalicious, they are very similar in overall look and feel. Victoria Kann, I truly am a huge fan!

 

Sold     Squares and Circles 

I totally forgot to post the finished piece. I have been trying to work on my art this week but so far have been unsuccessful. Tonight looked like a good night for art and then our refrigerator stopped working. I am trying really hard to get going. Hopefully soon!