2016

People love to say, "See you next year" to you especially this week.  So to hop on that bandwagon, this is my last post for the year 2015.  Like last week, I am not going to write out a long blog since most people are enjoying their time off with family.  I wanted to take a minute to wish each and every one of my readers a Happy New Year.  I hope your new year is filled with joy and love, family and friends, happy moments and not many sad moments.  Last year for us was a special one.  Our son has brought so much joy to our lives we have nothing to complain about.  I do not want to focus on the sad times of last year but the good times.  We were so blessed to spend time with family as much as we did.  I can only pray that this coming year is just as special.  We have big plans for the new year, like many people do when the former year is ending.  I pray that all your plans come true for you!  So, to stay on trend, I'll see you all next year!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week with their families and friends celebrating such a special time of year.  I do not have my usual long blog for you today.  I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!  I will share a neat video my husband shared with me last night of some watercolor paintings.  Enjoy!!!

Gingerbread Houses

Merry Christmas!!!  As I bake cookies, I figured I would take a break and write my blog for this week.  What cookies are you making this year?  Or are you like I am every year or so and just wait for someone else to bake some amazing cookies for you to eat?  Either way, we all end up having a sweet tooth for all the goodies that are made this time of year.  I am trying something new this year....pizzelles.  They are an Italian cookie that basically looks like a flat waffle cone.  You need a iron to make them, similar to a waffle iron, which I got as an early Christmas gift.  I'll see if I can do them justice.

Since we are talking about baking......lets talk gingerbread houses!  A fun tradition that most families have each year is decorating gingerbread houses.  Growing up, my family really didn't partake in this tradition but I thought maybe I can start it with my little family.  We took our son to make one in town a few weeks ago and he seemed to like it.  He especially liked destroying the house when he was done decorating.  So since I am new to the game, I bought a gingerbread house kit for us to do at home.  Hopefully, we will get going on it soon but until then, let's look at some really amazing houses other people have created.

Amazing right!?  I can promise you mine will not hold a candle to these.  But I plan on trying my best and most importantly, having a good time.  This is meant to be fun and to create wonderful lasting memories with your families.  So have fun and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Paint

I hope that everyone is having a great Christmas season!  As the special day gets closer, more and more traditions will be had and fun by all!  I hope you are enjoying your time with family and friends this time of year.

So, as promised, lets talk art.  Well, paint that is.  I am going to be talking about four different kinds of paint.  All are kinds I have used and I will give you my personal opinion on each.  Let's get educated!

Watercolor: In the 1400's, watercolor paints and painting started to move Westward and began to become popular in Europe.  Artists had their own recipes for creating their paint which they kept very secretive.  As time went by, more and more people started using the paint and manufactures were making it more accessible.  By 1835, it was easy to access and provided in ceramic pans in the form of a cake, similar to how we find watercolor paint today.  After the industrial revolution, the colors were created brighter and more vibrant which made the look of paintings change. By 1856, watercolor paints were made to be provided for classrooms worldwide.  Bringing it to the point we know it today.

-I have used watercolor a few times but it takes a certain techique to control the water and paint to create the desired image.  I love the look of watercolor paintings, the delicate and soft look is very beautiful.  One day, I hope to use watercolor more.  Go out and buy a small kit in the children's craft section at your local store to get started before you move up to the more advanced kits you can find at an art supply store.

Source: here

Tempera: Tempera paint or otherwise known as egg tempera have been around as long ago as ancient Egypt.  The paint was mixed with some sort of pigment and a water-soluble binder, one being egg.  Egg tempera paintings are long lasting and we can still find paintings well preserved from centuries ago.  In the 1400s, with the popularity of oil paint, tempera painting almost fell off the map.  In the 1900s, egg tempera painting started to make a comeback in America with universities teaching the techinque and paint to their students.  We might think of tempera paint as a poster paint found in the craft section of most stores.  They no longer use egg as a binder but a binder is still used to make the paint water-soluble.

-I have only used tempera paint as a poster paint and never the egg tempera kind.  I personally do not like the chalk-like look it has whether it have egg or not.  But if that is the look you like, keep using it and do not let this paint die away again.

Source: here

Acrylic: In the 1940's, acrylic paint came on the scene.  It is widely popular for most artists but never will be as popular as oil paint.  Since acrylics have been around for such a short period, we have benefited from more vibrant colors provided in easy to use tubes.  Acrylic like the other two above paints, is water-soluble and can be mixed with oil paint and used as a glaze.

-I personally love acrylic paint.  It is not my favorite but it is cheap and easy to use.  You can use it in large projects and small.  I like that it is thick and can be layered to build texture onto a canvas or board.  It is fast drying so it makes layering much easier.  Acrylic is easy to find at any art supply store but quality does match the price.

Source: here

Oil: The origin of oil paint is unknown but the earliest known use of it was in the 11th century which is not making it the oldest paint I have talked about today.  Oil paint is made up of three things, pigment, binder, and thinner.  The pigment is what gives the paint it's color. The binder is what holds the paint together like egg was for tempera. Finally, the thinner is what thins the paint out so it is easier to apply with a brush.  Unlike the other paints I have described above, oil paint dries by oxidation.  This means that the paint reacts with the air which slowly allows it to harden.  Most art restorers would claim that an oil painting is not fully dry for 50 years.

-Oil paint is by far my favorite paint to work with.  The pigments you have are so rich, no other paint can compare.  The downside to oil paint is the cost, proper space to use it, and decomposing of paint.  Oil paint is a lot more expensive because of the pigments used and the binders to go with it.  When you buy oil paint you can not just buy the paint and have all you need.  You need a thinner and a way to clean the brush.  I used odorless Mineral Spirits to keep my brushes clean.  Even when you rinse your brush in that, you still need a strong soap to cut any remaining paint in the brush.  Also because you are using products that give off a fume, you need a space with good ventilation, which I do not currently have.  Decomposing of the paint is also a problem.  You can rinse your brush in a sink, only after you have cleaned it in a contained container with the mineral spirits. (I would recommend using gloves when painting and cleaning due to the toxic chemicals used.)  When you need to dispose of the mineral spirits you need to find a local toxic waste site to have them properly take can of the leftovers.  It is a lot of work but once you use oil paint, it all becomes worth it.  I love this paint and I hope I did not scare you away from ever using it.  Let me share with you a painting of mine I used oil paint with:

Source: here

A Constant

Now try all these paints and make your own opinion based off how you like the paint.  My opinions are just that, mine, so do not decide based off what I have told you.

The above painting was created using acrylic and oil paint with pumice gel to give extra texture.  The painting is for sale in my Etsy shop which you can find here.  This painting is worth more due to the materials used to make it.  I built the stretcher myself and stretched the canvas as well.  The frame built around the painting is also done by me as well.  So as always friends, keep being the best artist you can be!

Black Friday

Have you been keeping taps on my Etsy shop?  Because Black Friday deals are here and here to stay!  So get your shopping done now with some original Brenna Dailey art!  Click the link below to see the 20% off discounted prices!  Prices have already been reduced for your convenience, original price will be in the description below the image.  If you know me personally and have questions regarding price, delivery, or anything else, message me or contact me.  I will do my best to help.

My Etsy Shop

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, and food.  Now that the meal is over, Christmas is here!  Decorations are up, and shopping has begun.  I just love buying gifts for people, it makes me so happy to know that my family and friends will receive a gift that was well thought out and carefully selected.  But, we often forget what the true meaning of this year is all about.  When we are fighting the crowds in the stores or fighting the always tangled Christmas lights, the true meaning is forgotten.  Christmas began 2000 years ago in a tiny manger.  A child was born who re-wrote history for all mankind.  Remember that Jesus is the reason for us to celebrate.  Spend time with your family this year, and create memories that will last a lifetime.  And of course, celebrate the birth of our Savior!  Here is it well explained in the movie, "Charlie Brown Christmas".

Sorry to not post any art related info this week.  I will come back next week with a helpful tip for your holiday decorating and art-related projects.  Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!!

Food and Thankfulness

Since Thanksgiving is just two days away and we all have food on the brain, lets just talk food.

This year Thanksgiving falls on my husband and I's 4 year wedding anniversary.  Once I saw that, I told my husband I am not cooking....at all.  He told me he wasn't either.  Well, what are we to do when pretty much everywhere is closed.  We had BBQ at our wedding so my husband is going to throw a rack of ribs in the crock pot and slow cook them for us to eat.  He claims that still means he isn't cooking, but well that sounds like cooking to me.  I'm not complaining and am looking forward to the wonderful non-traditional meal we are having this Thursday.

Do you have any non-traditional food at your thanksgiving feast?  I would love to hear what you have and the story behind it.  Every family has different traditions and memories and all are fun to share.  So have a Happy Thanksgiving and do not forget to give thanks for all the many blessings you have.  Let me share with you all the things I am thankful for this year as I finish my short blog post this week.

I am thankful for:
1. God, He has given me all that I have, am, and will be
2. Jesus, my Savior, my redeemer, my payment so I may have eternal life in Heaven.
3. My husband, for four wonderful years of marriage, full of challenges and joy (more joy then anything).
4. My son, the joy he brings me everyday and answer to many prayers.
5. My family, the support and love they give each and everyday.
6. My health, a true gift of God that I may breathe and live without pain.
7. A warm home, when so many do not have one, I am thankful that I was blessed enough to have one.
8. My silly dog, for bringing me comfort and playfulness.
9. My friends, for being the support and friendship every person needs.
10. The gift of art, I was blessed with a gift and I pray that I can help others with it.

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! 

*Black Friday Deals coming in my Etsy shop this Friday! Stay tuned in*

Photo Editting

Happy Fall Y'all!  I hope your home is just as lovely as ever with all the leaves changing.  Thanksgiving is on the horizon and boy oh boy is their cooking to be done!  Thanksgiving is sometimes glossed over by Christmas but no worries, that food will find it's way to your table I am sure!

This past weekend we went with some friends to take family pictures for upcoming Christmas cards.  It was a lot of fun!  Taking pictures of little ones can be difficult, so my motto is, take a million and you have a good chance of finding one good one to keep.  We did just about that, we took 300+ pictures and I managed to find a few to work with.  I wanted to share how I edited them in hopes that will give you ideas of how to edit photos.

First, let me start with the editing software I used....an online website.  HERE is the website I used.  It is similar to Photoshop but not completely.  If you have Photoshop or Lightroom (my preferred photo editing software) you are already one step ahead of me.  Let's talk about photos now-a-days. They are usually look over exposed and bright.  I am finding that to be the trend of photos today and I do not think they are bad just the current trend.  I personally like my photos to be rich with color.  Heavily saturated to experience every color present in the photo.  So when I edit, I find myself adjusting the saturation more then the white balance or lightness settings.  Here are a before and after of my editing:

Before

After

You can tell that the original image was darker due to the outside lighting so, of course, I wanted to brighten that up.  I like to avoid filters that Photoshop offers.  Such as, sepia, black and white, or old photo.  I go straight for the sliding options under hue and saturation or brightness and contrast.  This gives you the opportunity to adjust it perfectly to your liking or what is best for the photo.  But, I have to always remind myself to not get too carried away with the contrast slider....because it can really ruin the colors in your image.

So, take a photo you have and go to Photoshop or Lightroom, if you do not have that software use the link I provided above and experiment.  The best way to learn is just messing around on the computer a little bit.  Make your photos something special and remember to be the best artist you can be!!!

Carve a Pumpkin

How was everyone's Halloween?  I hope it was fun and a safe time.  Now that Halloween is over, most people gloss right over Thanksgiving and move straight on to Christmas. I will try my best to behave myself and wait until after Thanksgiving to put up decorations.  I usually try and wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start that process.  This year, Thanksgiving happens to land on my husband and I's 4th wedding anniversary.  I told him I was not cooking a big meal this year since it's just us three and our anniversary.  So, the wonderful man he is, is going to cook BBQ for us since we had BBQ at our wedding.  That's what happens when you are born and raised and married in the great state of Texas, have BBQ at your wedding!

Anyways....back to pumpkins.  This year we carved our pumpkins the day of Halloween since it landed on a Saturday.  My husband carved his usual jack-o-lantern and I found a last minute idea minutes before we started carving.  Not my best work, but something different.  The picture is not the best....take a look:

If you can't tell (which lets face it that's a bad picture) It is fireflies in a jar and some flying around it. 

Now that you have seen my not well planned out, bad picture, poorly carved pumpkin....let's look at some good ones.

Pretty cool and well done huh?  I guess my lesson learned is to start planning for next year now.  The key to good pumpkin carving is the use of negative and positive space.  You have to think about when the candle within is lit, that the orange parts will look black.  The yellow rind will be yellow.  And the completely cut out parts will be white. The main part of pumpkin carving is to control the light and use it to create you image.  It might take some trial and error but you can make some amazing pumpkin carvings too.  So, start planning for next year with me and let's see what we come up with.  So like always, be the best artist you can be!!

Paint a Pumpkin Part 2

Last week I shared my painted pumpkins.  This week, I wanted to share some more that I found of other people's painted pumpkins. I hope you had the chance to paint some or now that Halloween is getting even closer, carve your pumpkins.

Here are a few cool looking pumpkins I found online:

They look pretty cool!  Some very simple and some detailed.  Have you painted any pumpkins yet?  If so please share, I would love to see your creations!  

This Saturday I will be carving my pumpkins and can not come up with any ideas for what to do.  Any suggestions?  I might just try it and share on here what I did.  

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Paint a Pumpkin

Happy Harvest everyone!  When you live in Kansas, the harvest time really is a serious thing.  Crops are being harvested for the season and farmers are getting ready for the winter coming our way.

Traditionally, we carve pumpkins this time of year.  But, with Halloween still two weeks away, carving now, might be too early.  So why not paint the pumpkin first?  I was asked to paint some pumpkins for our church and I thought I would share them with you to help you get some inspiration for your own painted pumpkins.

Recognize these rather, well known characters?  The pumpkins are the perfect shape and size to be a minion.  

Do not get me wrong...I still plan on carving a pumpkin, its a tradition!  And when you are a prize winning pumpkin carver (brag alert!) then you can imagine, I've got to still carve.  But, like I said before, it's still kind of early to carve so PAINT!  This year, our son picked out a little pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.  It really is too small to carve so we are going to let him paint it.  Then, my husband and I will carve the big ones while our son gets to play with the pumpkin guts.  Since, Halloween is on a Saturday this year, we are planning to make a whole day of fun.  So, I would like to inspire you to have a full day of traditions and fun with your family while still being creative.  So, as usual, keep being the best artist you can be!  

HELLO! ARE YOU THERE?!

I'm here, I'm here!  I promise I did not abandon you or my blog!  It has been awhile, hasn't it?  My goodness my life has been go, go, go for the last four weeks I'm so exhausted!  But have no fear, Brenna Dailey is HERE!  (Yes, that was ridiculous but hey so am I!)

With all these holidays on the horizon, I have a lot of fun things to share with you.  Once the spooky holiday gets closer we will share more spooky and fun things to do.  But, today, I have a fun art project you can try with your kids or friends or just by yourself to get those artistic juices flowing!

This activity can be done indoors or out, I chose to work indoors because my project for next week is being worked on in my backyard and I want to keep it a secret for now.  This activity will require you to reach deep within your mind of imagination to create fun things with everyday objects.  I work better with some visuals before I explain any further to better get my point across....

"A Keurig That Makes Treats, Not Just Coffee"

"Party Ball"

"Scolding or Frigid Thermostat" 

See what I mean about imagination?!  Now go out with a piece of paper and a pencil or pen and find something ordinary, like a Keurig maker or even just a ball and make it something fun.  What do you wish it could do or be?  What do you feel like it is most of the time and want to draw it how it truly is...like my thermostat.  Please share what you have done in the comments below or with me personally.  This activity will help you practice your drawing skills while using your imagination at the same time.  It is a great practice for future Halloween creativity or Christmas decor or just to brush up on those art skills OR just for FUN!!  So remember, to be the best artist you can be and get out there and create!!

Do not forget....Christmas is on it's way and shopping has started.  Need an idea for a gift?  Check out my Etsy shop for some great art for your friends and family....HERE!

Art in Nature

Their is a wonderful thing happening now.  Fall.  This was always my mother's favorite time of year until recently, it is becoming mine too.  Maybe it has to do with getting married in the fall or that I live in a place where their is a fall.  Either way, both are amazing reasons to love this time of year.  So, pull out those wonderful decorations because fall is the only season that the decorations can stay up the longest.

I had a wonderful weekend.  My town holds a huge bluegrass festival and I finally went to it with a friend.  I really enjoy the music so the festival just made it that much more exciting.  Then, my friend and I took my son to a wildlife park for him to interact with some amazing animals.  A weekend full of great things in this wonderful fall-like weather.

I like to introduce you to new artist I stumble across now and then and today, I have a new one for you.  Jason deCaires Taylor is a sculptor who likes to place his sculptures in the ocean.  Seems like a silly thing to think of, no one can see them. But, yet he places them there so you have to actively seek them.  A clever thing to do to draw appeal.  His art is made of non-hazardous material that welcomes coral to grow.  Taylor believes that the ocean does not get as much credit as it deserves and wanted to place his art there so, people will explore the ocean to find it.  We as people sometimes forget the wonders the ocean can hold.  On land, beauty is so much easier to reach that we spend most of our time enjoying what is easily attained.  If exploring under the waves was easier, then I like to imagine more people would travel to see the beauty it keeps.  Enjoy this artist's work and maybe before it gets too cold, explore the world underneath the water.

To see more of this artist's work, click HERE

Topiary

Before I write my blog, I wanted to tell you why I did not post one last week.  Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and a friend cut a dying tree down in our backyard.  Our internet cable was under it and when they cut a branch it fell on the cable.  We lost our internet and could not get it fixed until the next Friday.  So that is why I was without a post last week, no internet!

A few months ago, I was out of town for a funeral.  My grandfather died.  He was the only grandfather I ever knew and he was also the last of my grandparents to pass.  It was a sad time but, I am glad he got to meet my son, his only great-grandchild before he died.  My grandfather was a giving man who worked hard.  He was a veteran from WWII.  But, the one thing I know he was well known for was his green-thumb.  He had a beautiful yard that he kept in tip-top shape.  He would visit his son's homes and inspect their yards as if he was a judge from a topiary contest.  My father took the most liking to his father's work and has been teaching me some of the family techniques of yard work.  I know I am no where near to my grandfather's skills but, it is nice to know that it runs in my blood.

A few weeks ago I found an article of some of the most magnificent topiary gardens from around the world and I could not help but think of my grandfather.  These gardens are where my grandfather would have dreamed to work, live, and grow old.  To say my grandfather was not an artist would be a lie, he used hedge clippers and pruning sheers to sculpt the perfect bush.  Please take a look at these wonderful gardens.  Not all artists have to use a brush.  So remember to be the best artist you can be!

Topiary Gardens

Galleries

Being an artist is a lot of fun.  You get to create something new and show the world what is inside your mind with just a few strokes of a paint brush.  It might seem like artists do not know a lot about the business world and all the countless details that go with it, but we need to know more then you think.  If you are an artist, you want to show your work or even make money.  It is foolish to say that artists only do what they do to make a statement.  But, artists are like everyone else, trying to make a living by selling something that they are good at doing.  Most artists can try and sell by themselves (which is what I am trying to do) or they use a gallery.  This is when business talk comes into play.

I have been in a gallery.  It was for a short time.  I found myself spending more money then I was making to people who knew nothing about business.  I will admit, I am not as business savvy as the CEO of some big corporation, nor do I ever want to be, but I do know a little thing or two about money.  I have bills, I have a family, and I have a budget to keep to like most people.  When I was in the gallery, I found myself surrounded by artists who tried to run a business and ended up loosing money instead of making money.  So, what I did was leave, I could not afford to spend money to be in a gallery that never promoted my art so, I could sell it in order to afford to stay.

The advice that was given to me about galleries is to shop around.  (I did not have this option in my town) You want to find a gallery that works for you and helps you sell your artwork.  I was also told to never pay more then 40% to the gallery for your art sales.  Understand galleries do need to make money but so do the artists who are trying to make a living.  I encourage you to be in a gallery, a good gallery, that works hard to help you become more well known.  A gallery that finds collectors to buy your work so you can continue to afford to make more artwork.

Here is the debate....galleries are not making much money so they are charging artists more and more money to have their artwork there.  I understand that a gallery is a business and their money comes strictly from sales and donors.  But artists need to make money too.  That is the dilemma.  I read an article going back and forth about this debate.  Saying the usual cost for an artist is 50/50 (more then the advice I was given).  Galleries are wanting to charge more and artists do not want to pay more because they can not afford too.  This debate does not just happen in the art world, but everywhere as all businesses struggle to thrive.  I encourage you to read the article, if you have time because it is long.  Make up your own mind on the topic.  You may think, forget ever being in a gallery, I'll sell my art on my own.  Here is my advice because I am someone who tries to do just that, it is hard.  I do not sell nearly as much as I would like to make this a regular business.  Social media is not an easy thing to do on your own.  Galleries do have some great use if you find a good one.  Consider all your options and good luck.  Being an artist is fun but can be stressful if you want to make money doing it.  I hope this helps you be the best artist you can be!

Here is the article: CLICK ME!

Want to see where I sell my art? Or try and sell my art?  Click HERE to see!

Back to School

If you like most of America, has started back to school, I wish you or your children a good school year.  The first few days are always stressful getting back into the rhythm of getting up and going to school.  As a child, I always loved going back to school but with a little bit of anxiety about new friends and new teachers.  School always came at just the right time when you have gotten all you could out of summer.  Today, I do not have a long blog for you because most of you are ready to rest after a long day of work or school.  So, I will leave you with this....try and leave a note in your child's lunch, a doodle, a joke, or whatever fits you and your child's relationship.  Let them open their lunch to find something fun from their parents.  Maybe even use that napkin as your daily drawing exercise.  They will enjoy it and you can keep drawing to keep your skills fresh.  Below I have a link to an artist I stumbled across who does food art.  I am currently following her on Instagram to see her newest food-related artwork.  Enjoy!

Learn more HERE

Drawing Exercise

Every person who has taken an art class knows that the teacher usually has you do some sort of exercise to master your drawing ability.  Of course, we all know that some people are better then others at this skill.  I am not the best when it comes to some of the exercises so bare with my drawings as I walk you through the different ways to practice and master your drawing skills.

First, let me start with the object I chose to draw.  A pineapple candle.  In college, my roommate and I picked this up at a garage sale because we read somewhere that the pineapple is the symbol of "hospitality".  So we knew that our home needed a pineapple to show our guests we were hospitable.  Years later, I have the pineapple candle in my home.

Blind Contour Drawing: 

drawing without ever looking at the paper you are drawing on.  This was the first of my drawing exercises today I wanted to show you.  This is the one I hated the most doing but it really challenges your hand-eye coordination.  You have to really think as you explore the object with your eyes and translate that onto the page.  Below is my attempt at this exercise after many years of avoiding ever doing it.  

Timed Gesture Drawing:

 a gesture drawing is completed quickly in timed intervals (20, 30, 60 seconds) using fast, expressive lines.  In order to do this, you need to break down the object into basic forms to capture it quickly onto your paper.  Below are my timed gesture drawings with the time I did to create them.  

I clearly moved quickly to get as much of the object on the page as possible.  

In this one, I thought I would have more time then I clearly did and focused more on the top.

Upset about the previous drawing I spent more time on the bottom then the top but managed to get more of the pineapple then before.

Continuous Line Drawing: 

when you never lift the drawing instrument from the paper.  So, you must continuously be moving the pencil from one part of the drawing to the next without lifting it.  This creates darker images unless you lighten your pressure on the pencil.  This I found hard mostly because I have been using dry erase board and marker for this exercise.  This one is good to help you really explore the object and understand it's shape in relation to itself.  Helping with proportions along the way.

Contour Drawing:

 shows outlines, shapes and edges of a scene, but omits fine detail. The best way to describe this technique is think of cartoons and how they only have the outlines of the character.  This one was hard for me because I wanted to add more detail but had to stop myself.  You want to show the basic shape of the object.

I hope you enjoyed this post and hope you will try some of these drawing exercises at home with an object in your home.  Maybe even get more daring and use a person to be your drawing subject.  This is a fun way to exercise and master your drawing skills.  The more you practice the better you will become.  As always I am here to help you be the best artist you can be!  Have fun drawing!

Reference for this blog: link

Art History

There is no doubt that art has been around for a long time.  When words were not an option, pictures were the earliest way to communicate by leaving a symbol/image for others to see.  One of the first drawings was a cave drawing left several thousands of years ago.  From primitive artwork to the complex work we have now has taken thousands of years and a lot of learning.

When we create artwork now, whether we know it or not, it has come from previous education.  There is nothing that has not already been photographed or drawn.  We can not keep repeating the same thing over and over again without learning a lesson from the previous image or work.  Everyone has drawn a flower, but how can you make it different from other people's flowers?  That is the challenge here, to take something ordinary and make it extraordinary.  But in order to do that, we must have complete knowledge of our past and history in art.  So below I have given you links to different timelines in art history.  Study them, and learn so you can continue to be the best artist you can be because without knowledge of history, how could we learn?

Timeline ONE

Timeline TWO

Timeline THREE

Create

It is good to be home.  I was unable to write a post last week because I was out of town for a funeral.  When I wrote my last blog I did not know that later that day my grandfather would die.  A few days after that my son and I were off with my parents and sister to go to his funeral.  Unable to write any updates I have been busy handling family matters.  We returned home Friday afternoon tired and missing my husband very much.  I have not prepared like I would normally for my blog this week.  So all I have to say today is to try and find some time and create something....anything.  We are all creative, just in different ways so create something.  Hopefully, I can find the time to sew and create something with the pile of fabric I have been collecting.  It isn't my usual go to but, I want to get the things on my to-do list done.  So, go and create.  Have fun!  And remember to be the best artist you can be!

Sculpture

How have you been?  I am starting to get sad that summer is coming to an end BUT I am SOOOOO ready for cooler weather!  Either way...I better not make this a long blog, a storm is rolling in and in case the power goes out, I better have the computer off.

I am no where near a sculptor...I can't look at a giant block of marble and see something in it other then a block of marble.  Sculptors have always amazed me at the way they can make something out of a 3-D object.  I really never took any classes on the skill so I really do not know how they construct their art.  I do love admiring their work and so when I stumbled upon this article I enjoyed looking at the unique sculptures from around the world.  I hope you enjoy them too!  Here is the link:

Click ME!

Here is an image of my favorite one from the article:

Hippo Sculptures in Taipei, Taiwan

I hope you enjoy!  And remember to be the best artist you can be!

Do not forget to check on my Etsy Shop HERE

Legos

I want to apologize for posting a day late.  Yesterday, I went about my day as usual and then later in the day I realized it was Tuesday.  My week has been so off!  Anyways, here is my blog post for the week!

We have been wanting to take our son to Lego Land in Kansas City sometime this summer but can not seem to pick a good date to go.  One of the many things I was excited about having a kid was being able to do "kid" things without looking like some creepy adult.  Now, I get to do all the fun things kids do with my son.  He enjoys himself and so do I.  I can not wait to go to Lego Land with him later this summer and he doesn't know it yet...but he will love it too!

Artists use nearly everything they can get their hands on to create art.  So why not legos?  You know that when you were growing up you tried to make cool things out of your legos.  Artists have taken it to new heights.  Below are a few images I found just on Google of lego art.

Now, go pull out your legos and let your inner kid play!  Make something fun and new! Please share your creations in the comments below.  Thanks for reading today and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Passion

Today we are going to talk about more personal matters in relation to art.  So please listen and be inspired to find the passion that drives your own artwork.

Everyone has a talent, a gift but what we choose to do with it is up to us.  My gift is my artwork.  So I have enjoyed using it to deliver a certain message or meaning.  Artists who are fueled by something that means a lot to them use their artwork to be their voice on the matter.  Sometimes it might be something you personally disagree with or might even have the same passion for, this is why art so influential.  Today I want to share with you my passion, what drives me, what stirs up my heart enough to share my opinion and hopefully make a difference.

If you have read my profile you know, that I am a Bible believing Christian.  I have used artwork in the past to express what that means to me.  Now that I am at home raising my child I feel like I need to still do something to show my passion.  Raising my child is what my job is now, and I love every moment of it.  I started this blog to try and use my computer, my window to the world to still get my opinion out while still using art along the way.

Yesterday, I posted a photo of a painting I did on my personal facebook page to invite my friends to critique it, like I talked about in my previous post.  My friends were wonderful and gave their insight to what they thought of the painting.  I gave no information about it.  Here is the painting:

Now, let me tell you what this painting is of....this painting is inspired by the stretch marks I have as a result of my pregnancy with my son.  That knowledge might make you see it differently, may even cringe at the thought.  That is why I wanted to hear the opinions of my friends before they knew what it was. 

Why did I do this? What are my intentions?  Well, as a Christian, I am very much AGAINST abortion.  I hate the thought, my heart literally aches at the thought of killing a child.  When I look at my son, I can not imagine someone with a tool ripping him limb from limb inside my womb where he would be safe while he screams.  Even typing that brings tears to my eyes.  I can say all I want on social media about how much I hate abortion but what am I doing to help women who feel like they have no other option?  As I mentioned above, this is my time to raise my son so how do I give time to helping women and raising my son?  My art.  This is my proposal to the women out there who want to help.  Send me pictures of your stretch marks and the only person who will know who's is who's will be me.  I will paint them into something beautiful like the painting above and sell the paintings.  Every painting will be $50 and 50% will go to a pro-life organization or clinic.  The more I sell the higher that percentage will be because I could afford to give more.  My husband and I have donated some here and there to a local clinic that helps women find better, life saving options for their future child, financially, emotionally and medically.  

If you trust me to do this for you and women and future children please join me in the journey.  All who donate a picture, I will give you a print of the final painting for free.  Please send the images to my email brennad429@gmail.com and I will do my best to help how I can using a gift God gave me. 

Why stretch marks?  Because as women we are hard on ourselves and others about our bodies during and after pregnancy.  I want to show you that those stretch marks are things of beauty.  They are a badge of honor for carrying your precious child for 9 months.  I know that all mothers would have a million stretch marks if it means having their wonderful child so why not be proud of them?  I want to help mothers feel beautiful while at the same time helping mothers who need help.  

Part of this is help from you to get the word out there.  I can not donate if the paintings do not sell.  So spread the word so people buy as many as possible so we can donate as much as possible.

So, will you join me?

What is your passion?  How can you use your art to show it?  Please share in the comments below.  And remember to be the best artist you can be.

Critique

This summer has been so full of fun and things to do, it has been wonderful.  We didn't make any big plans for the summer so we have just found things around town to do with our son.  Every morning we try and do something together and nearly every evening as well.  I love having a child so we can do so many wonderful adventures together.  So little makes him happy and it is truly a blessing.

Now, back to the art talk.  I have been thinking about a new series of work to do for some time.  I won't tell you anything about it until I am ready.  But, part of me thinks it will be my best work yet if I can manage to complete it.  When studying art, part of the process of learning and growing are class critiques.  I have sat through many.  Some ranging from screaming matches to beneficial commentary.

A Critique when defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary means: a careful judgement in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art).

Before you ever take part in a Critique, you must be open to someone disagreeing with you or even someone not liking what you have done.  I feel like this has helped me grow personally and helps me be more willing to listen to other's opinions.  Hearing other people's comments on your artwork can help you learn how to become a better artist.  Other artists help point out things based on their own education.  Such as art history, design, and/or composition. People who are not artist give opinions based off what they might like, which this can be helpful if you are trying to reach a certain audience.  I have had people tell me to completely re-do my work or even that they just didn't like it.  Those comments can be hard to take if you put a lot of time and emotion into a piece of artwork.  But in the end, when I re-created something, I have been happier every time.  Critiques are something in my opinion should be done several times while you are creating the artwork so you can change things as you go in case it needs it.  During a proper Critique you sit around the artwork you are talking about and let many people communicate about it.  Have them talk to the artist so they know what your intention was and if they received it.  Sometimes this can take hours or seconds.  It depends really on the audience.  So, if you are brave enough and want honest opinions, invite your friends to critique your artwork.  You might find, that it helps you grow as an artist.

The reason for this topic this week is if it works out...I hope you ask you to Critique my artwork.  But the difference is, I want to see what you think before I reveal what it is about. So we will see how it goes!  This is if I manage to get it done by next Tuesday...no promises.

So, remember to be the best artist you can be!

FASHION!

Fashion....not one of my strong points but a great subject.  I am no fashionista...especially as I sit here and write this post in a t-shirt and shorts.  But like most girls...I have big dreams of a wardrobe that is fabulous.  I would love to wear a cute retro dress everyday with my hair all done perfectly.  But the problem is...where would I go all dressed up?  And I do not think those stunning dresses would look great covered with food or snot or whatever my son decides to throw all over me that day.  There is also the point of money...who can really afford a wardrobe like that unless you are a designer yourself.  I have made a few of my own clothes but clothes are just not my medium when it comes to creativity.  Which that brings me to my point today....art and fashion.

Obviously this is an art blog...so you were probably wondering why I was talking about fashion but see how I brought the whole thing back around?  Clever huh?  This week I was cruising through the internet looking for a topic to cover for my blog and saw how fashion designers took famous artwork and had it inspire their designs.  How fun would that be to break down a painting into something new.  Almost like the food art we talked about in the past.  Here are some images of the clothes with the artwork that inspired them:

Shiatzy Chen + Irises in Monet's Garden by Claude Monet

Alexander McQueen + Red Roses, Close-Up by Jonathan Knowles

Allude + Autumn Rhythm by Jackson Pollock 

Now, I am pretty clueless when it comes to names in fashion but I think these people who re-created the paintings are big.  I'm sure someone somewhere is thinking I am ridiculous for saying that but this is just not my area of expertise.  Either way, I thought you would enjoy learning something new and interesting.  I hope you enjoy!  Here is the link to view the rest of the images:

Click HERE to see more!

And remember to be the best artist you can be!

Photo Transfer

Today was a fun morning.  I had some friends over and we created some Father's Day crafts for the men in our lives who whether they are the father to our child or not, mean a lot to us.  It was a mess but, fun with all the kids running around.

I wanted to give you an idea for something else you can do for your fathers or for your home.  You will need some supplies but all are available at your local craft/art supply store.

You will need:
-Acrylic gel medium
-a canvas or wood panel
-a laser printed image of your choosing.  (you can print on a laser jet printer at your local library using their copier)
-wash cloth
-water
-paint brush or foam brush

What you will do is take a black and white image and transfer it to a hard surface.  I learned how to do this in my photo/paint class.  It was a way to learn how to use a photograph we took in a painting. Here are the images of how to do it step by step.  This project needs time to dry in between so depending on your day and how humid it is, it might take two days.

Step One: Get your supplies ready.  (supplies listed above).  I used Matte finish since I usually do not like my projects to be shiny.  You can purchase a smaller amount at your local craft/art supply store

Step Two: Coat your surface with the Medium.  Coat only where you want your image.  You do not need to coat the whole canvas like I did, unless you have a large image.  I used a wood board but this project is possible on canvas as well.  

Step Three: Cut out your image so you do not have too much excess paper. 

Step Four: Put your image on the wet medium covered surface.  If you have an image with words make sure you printed it out backwards so when applied to the surface it reads correctly.  Make sure the image is on well and as many air bubbles are worked out.  I used the handle of my scissors to help work the air bubbles out.

Step Five: After the medium dries, dip your wash cloth in water and wet the image.  Now slowly start rubbing off the paper.  This part might take the longest but once the paper is off the finished product is awesome!

TA-DA! your finished image!!! The paper is gone and the ink from the image is now on your surface.  I hope you enjoyed this little project.  I know this is all over Pintrest right now and for good reason.  It is fun and a way to make artwork for your home or for others.  

Have fun creating and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Food Two

Last week I told you about playing with your food.  Well, this week I played with my food to re-create one of my many favorite paintings.  With it being so warm outside, staying inside, playing with food just sounded like a good option.  I hope y'all have had the chance to play with your food to create something fun.  Please share in the comments below anything you might have done.

Today, I took one of my many favorite Vincent Van Gogh paintings and made it into food.

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

Here is the food version....now remember it does not have to look identical, just close enough to look like the artwork you are re-creating.

Close but not very close.  I used a few different kinds of food, I do not think I would eat this.  I used: coffee grounds, cocoa powder, green onions, blueberries, and green tea.  I placed a napkin on my plate to start because I do not own any white plates.  I spread the coffee for my dirt.  Then, I sprinkled cocoa powder over that to add a variety of color.  I then tore up some green onions and placed them on top of the dirt.  Next, I cut up some blueberries to create my irises.  I added more cocoa powder above the blueberries.  Finally, I sprinkled the green tea on the rest to fill in the space.  I was hoping it would actually be green since it is called green tea but it worked well enough.  

Now your turn!  Show us some of your creations and have fun!  When you re-create artwork you learn so much about the original piece.  You have to break it down and study it to know what to do to re-create it.  When you do that, you get the chance to really study the artwork and appreciate it so much more!  Have fun creating and remember to be the best artist you can be!

Food

If anyone out there likes to garden, this is the time of year for it!  My plants are just getting started and hopefully I will have a good crop of veggies this year.  If you are in a more southern time zone then I, you might already have food ready to pick and enjoy.  We love eating fresh food this time of year, outside in the nice weather.  The last day of May we needed a jacket but today is nice and sunny so maybe some fun outside time is in order.

Playing with our food has started as early as we were allowed to eat solids.  I know...my son loves playing with his food and throwing it all over the place.  But what if we took it to the next level...made art out of our food.  Bakers do it with fancy and elaborate cakes.  What if we re-created artwork using food?  Well, this artist did and took playing with her food to the next level.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch

"Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh

From the Movie "Up!"

Looks like fun!  So I have another fun project for you.  Find a famous painting you like or even a movie and re-create it in food.  You will have fun playing with your food again I'm sure!  Also do not forget about the other project I gave you for this summer, re-create a famous artwork as a photograph.  Read more about it in my blog post here. I will post mine soon.

To see more food art....you can see them here. 

Have a fun summer and remember...be the best artist you can be!

Rain

If you are anything like where I live...you are flooded with water too.  The rain has been coming and coming....and coming!  Today, luckily we have had some sun so I am hoping that it will dry up the puddles that seem to be everywhere.  I hope you are staying safe where you are and if possible...dry too.

This weather has given me inspiration this week for the theme of my post.  How to draw a rain drop.  Now, I am using another blog as my source of pictures and information.  I have found this blog not as detailed as I would like so I will use their pictures with my explanation.

The materials she used were chalk, charcoal, and a stump.  A stump is a blending tool that is made up of tightly rolled paper.  It helps you blend when drawing.  It is better then your finger because it doesn't contain the oils your fingers do.  

Here is her step by step process of drawing a water droplet.  The problem is she didn't add any details so I will walk you through it.  

1. Draw a circle, no need for it to be perfect because not all water drops are.

2. Add black using your charcoal do one side.  Decide before you start this where your light source is.  If the sun is on the right side (like in the image) add the shadow on the left.

3. Now using your chalk, add the white.  Like I said before, if your sun is on the right, that is where your light is coming from so add it on the right.

4. This step is to help start making your droplet seem round and raised off the page.  So add a little sliver of white on top of the black.

5. Now we need to make the drop look like it is on top of the paper, making it look more 3D.  Add a little black on the outside of the circle to make it looked raised.

6. Final step is to help make the water look see-threw like water is.  We want to see the light shining through it.  So add a tiny bit of white on top of the black you added in step 5.  

Through out the process, make sure you blended with the stump tool.  

I hope your rain droplet looks good and real!  Now go out and find the many water drops and practice drawing them.  Have fun and remember to be the best artist you can be!