My own biggest collector...

Princess Me ATC 2016

I may have mentioned this in my blog sometime ago but I'll mention it again since I'm rather irregular when it comes to maintaining this site, I'm my own biggest collector.  It frustrates me that I have no collectors but I'll be brief on my current ventures.

After a few short years of working at McDonald's, I resigned to take care of my kids while my husband trained for his new position and we tried to sell our house.  After just over six months, we have an accepted offer and our waiting on the buyers final financial commitment.  Meanwhile, we found a house closer to where my husband works and the sellers have accepted our offer.  Here's the tricky part.  Life doesn't always follow along smoothly so instead, we are closing on our house in 25 days but can't close on our new house until June 1st.  Don't worry though.  We have a place that we will rent for the month or so in between.

Plywood cow for June Dairy Days

So that helps to explain most of my absence but not all.  I entered a couple of call to artist and helped out family with another cow pictured on the  (not the Fiberglas cows thankfully). I still create numerous artist trading cards (ATC) and have a stack of 280 or more thus the reason for my blog title.  The small format is convenient for me and sometimes my kids are interested in working with me.  Small works of art is pretty popular all over the art world and not just the 4x6 format.  I have done some research on inchies and twinchies (http://www.inchiearts.com/).  The research can consume whatever time I have left over in a day.

 
 Greenville, North Carolina Call to Artist Submission

So please enjoy my latest creations. I used acrylic paint on the plywood cow, collage on the art submission I posted, and paint chips for the opening ATC.  Below is another ATC achievement done in permanent and felt tip markers.  Always find a way to do what you love.

Butterfly ATC 2016

 ~Just Julie

Rock the art...

Pop music has often been a muse for artists and I'm no exception.  When I can't think of something to draw, I think of a song I like or listen to music.  The following is more about the title of the songs than the music themselves.  Pretty Purple Top Hat is indie music and very unfamiliar with me but I liked the title.  Red, Red Wine and Blue Suede Shoes often get stuck in my head.  The purpose of the mixed media art that follows was more to keep me making things.

Please enjoy, follow my blog, and check out my links.

Red, Red Wine

Pretty Purple Top Hat

Blue Suede Shoes

30 day drawing challenge revisited.

Here's a few more drawings from my drawing challenge a couple years ago.  I forgot to publish this stuff.

Mail Me Some Art...

I found this great blog called Mail Me Some Art.  The swaps seem fun and I was able to create two for the Monochromatic Postcard Swap.

For those who stumble upon this blog, mail art is a pretty popular way to share and collect art.  And monochromatic simply means "one color."

I'm ready to mail out my postcards for the art swap.  I picked red for one using the lyrics from Kellie Pickler's "Red High Heels" song.  For my second, I picked yellow using "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weanie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini."  Finally, I just had a blast creating them.

Red High Heels Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Marker, Pastel

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Marker

Sea Turtle Mail Art and a Zazzling Experience

It's been over a year since I've posted anything here.  This hasn't been by choice but more because life just happened.

I've been trying to update my artwork and find venues to showcase it.  Most of the art I've been creating is just to keep me making something.  I have other ideas but I just need to sit down, do some sketches, and create the final product.  For now, I'm sharing what I have been doing.

First, I'm designing on Zazzle.  I started this sometime ago but now I'm pulling images I created from my past, updating them, and putting them on products. Take look, like the products, and purchase if you choose to at Ohbyoh.  I enjoy it and will continue to update my stores.

Second, I'm still selling on eBay.  I think I've sold over ten of my artist cards.  Choosing categories for my work can be tricky since many items fit in more than one category; causing me to experiment with different listing categories if I sell "like" items.  I took a break from Christmas until the beginning of this month so that I could regroup and focus on my family.  I was also working on the Zazzle designs.  Any interest in my eBay items can follow ohbyohdesigns and check back periodically for new work.

Finally, I'm working on postcards for exhibition and trading.  Not as easy as I thought it was going to be but I can happily send the first one through the mail tomorrow.  Turquoise is a blog that is sharing all postcards sent.  There's no entry fee other than postage.  Feel free to browse the beautiful creations already submitted and see more information on Facebook at Turquoise: Mail Art Call. While your at it; take a look at the coordinator's art work, Mori Art: Moo.  The following is my sea turtle submission for this wonderful experience.  It turned into more a challenge than I had figured.  Time to mail it out.

Sea Turtle In Progress  I was frustrated with the texture and trying to get it right.

Sea Turtle in Turquoise I finished this just moments ago.  Done in watercolors, permanent markers, and pastels. Ready for postage.

Zentangle Hiatus

I find it next to impossible to write about my artwork lately.  My personal touch is absent from my drawings as I just draw to relieve stress.  Case in point the pictured angels with a Zentangle, doodle or pattern.  These don't have significant meaning or purpose as I found myself meditating as I drew them.  

I feel the goal I have for them will have more meaning than the drawings themselves.  My hope is to sell them and offer a portion of the sales to a charitable cause.  What charitable cause has yet to be determined.  I just need some think time so that I can create more and find the right audience for these.  

I wish to share my process as this project evolves.  For now, enjoy the art.

Continuing 30 Day Art is Life...

Breakfast

Every morning, I get up and often have cereal.  Without eating, my stomach feels queesey and I get really snippy with my kids.  The challenge for this day was to draw out breakfast so I poured my milk  in a glass and drew what I saw quickly.  Then I dumped that milk into the bowl and chowed down like I hadn't eaten in years.

A Room

This challenge said that I had to draw a room.  I often sit in our dining room since it's where my family eats, plays board games, and socializes.  This was the most interesting areas of the room to draw.

Leaf

I was stuck on what to draw for nature.  This took a little bit of research on my part until I stumbled on a photo of a leaf showing the greatest detail of the veins.  I drew many of the largest vein and Zentangled the smaller veins.

Michael

The challenge for this day was to draw a portrait of someone and my son was perfect for this task.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize that my daughter would feel a little slighted.  More on my daughter is to come in the following posts.  I dearly love each of my children and strive for fairness even when it comes to drawing them.

Bag

This challenge simply stated, "a bag."  My first instinct was to grab a purse and draw it.  However, I saw a brown paper bag when I rummage for a purse small enough to put on my lap.  I liked the wrinkles and it brought back fond memories of drawing paper bags in college.  The paper bag won the right to sit for my drawing.

More 30 Day Art is Life

Daisy

The challenge was to draw a flower and I chose a daisy that my daughter had picked for me.

Jacket

 I like the folds that denim makes so I drew my son's jean jacket.

Something in Water

 I couldn't think of something cool for this challenge so I just drew what I had in the kitchen.

My Loves

 I wanted to capture the personalities of my family without drawing their faces.  Robbie wears a Cubs hat all the time.  Mike likes to dress up as the Green Power Ranger.  Will is usually in a bucket hat.  And Elizabeth has my curly hair.

Blanket

The challenge was to draw fabric and I just drew my son's blanket since it fold like fabric.

Art is Life 30 Day Challenge

What's on the Table?

 Our salt grinder was on the table and I drew it quick.  I like the form and notice now some of my errors in drawing it.  Artists do tend to be self-critical though.

Buffy

 This drawing challenge was to draw a pet.  I don't have a pet but my parents have two cats and I drew one of them.  They call her Buffy.

William

 I had a close-up photo of my youngest and since my kids drive me, I felt it appropriate to draw one of them for the inspiration drawing, round two.

Recliner

 I don't sleep in this chair if I can help it but I do spend a ton of time resting in this chair.

Great Artists

Yes, they do Picasso.  You were a wise artist.

The Last of the First Drawing Challenge...

My Loves

I couldn't pick just one love so I drew my husband and son, Will.  Then, I wrote their names and my other two childrens' names.  Our children are our pride and joy.

Scenery

 We spend summers at my in-laws' cabin and I drew the beach for the scenery challenge.

Something Orange

I loathe balloons but find the form of a balloon interesting.  For something orange, I drew this.

A Banner

To celebrate the last day, I drew a banner to myself congratulating myself.  Yay, me.

Next five in the 30 day drawing challenge.

Robbie and Me

 The day that the challenge to draw a couple came, I took a picture of Robbie and me.  He wasn't too cooperative about it but I managed to edit and add a little something special around us.

Inspiration

 I was stuck on what to draw for my inspiration so I just wrote words that all started with "F."  Drawing off-off-the-cuff isn't easy these days because I'm always pressed for time. These words represent what I usually draw.

Turning Point

 Truly, a turning point in my life was when I became a mom.  I no longer had extra time to work on art, my career, and my house.  But I feel I have a wealth more inspiration that I did before children.

Mermaids

 One day, I could draw anything and since my daughter loves mermaids, I spent that day drawing my own version of a mermaid.  She loves it and wanted to keep it.

Niagara Falls

I have big plans to visit Niagara Falls with my family when Will is a little older.  I've never seen it and since living in Wisconsin allows an easy road trip, that's where I would like to go.

30 day drawing challenges the needs and wants.

Something I Miss

 I never thought that I had spare time when I was childless; but looking back on it, I had more time on my hands.  Now, I beg for that kind of time.  Staying up until two in the morning was nothing then and now it's agonizing since my kids get up in the morning.  I love my kids, I just wish for a day or two a year where I didn't have to be wrapped up in their needs and wants.

Something I Need

 The day I drew this, we were out of milk and it's not easy just hopping in the car to go get milk when I have to pack three children up to go anywhere.  I called Robbie and asked him to pick some up on the way home.

Something I don't like.

 At first, I wanted to draw a cigarette since I despise Robbie's smoking. But I truly loathe not knowing what will happen next.  I maybe unorganized most of the time but I like a fool proof plan for my life, especially when it affects my kids.

Something New

 Robbie bought a new glove and set it beside me to draw when this challenge came.  I didn't mind drawing it but I'm not sure that I'd draw a baseball glove again.

Something I Want

I still haven't figured out how to use my talents to support my family.  This continues to be a work in progress.