BUMSTIX

Barn1

2008-03-17T14:18:00.002-04:00

I love old barns. I painted this to be kinda broody, maybe after a rain. When it comes from the imagination, there is no right or wrong. this is 36 x 24 acrylic on canvas.

2008

2008-03-17T14:04:00.002-04:00

Well, It's been over a year since I last blogged. Many times my husband and I say that we're both "great starters but poor finishers", which seems to be the case in the blogasphere as well. I'll try to do better!

From Dana To Me

2006-12-02T19:39:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted anything from Dana lately, but she made this awesome tote bag for me recently. We just picked out the fabric from her sewing room, I told her the approximate dimesions I wanted, and she made it! Just like that...poof...it was done...and without the first sign of a pattern. Awesome!

Coming Soon...One for Dana

2006-12-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

She wants a tryptic (3 canvasses making one painting) for Christmas. We discussed colors like: sand, tan, camel, chocolate brown, and maybe turquoise. She is going to use the colors from the painting(s) to then redecorate her bedroom. Now that is an honor for an artist...the painting as an inspiration for the whole room! Thanks Dana!

She wants the mood of the painting(s) to be calm, serene, relaxing and tranquil. I interpreted this to mean almost sancuary-like. I'm thinking of naming it Tranquility Triage, not Trio, but Triage...another word for ER. Get it?

And Finally...Beneath The Surface

2006-12-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

A while back I received a request to paint a fish for a young boy. It took me a good bit of research and "thinking time" to try to paint a fish that was somewhat lively and had some color to it, yet still resembled the fish the boy is accustomed to catching. So, after layers and layers of paints, glazes, and even a little glitter dust, I am finally finished! I named it "Beneath The Surface" because that is what I tried to capture. It's extremely difficult to photograph because of all the built-in shine the painting has, hopefully resembling the shimmer of water. Anyway, I hope he likes it! 16" x 20" acrylics on canvas.

Frenzied

2006-12-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

Frenzied is acrylics on 20" x 24" canvas. Almost tribal looking, don't you think?

Split Decision

2006-12-02T14:21:00.000-05:00

Split Decision is on two 16 x 20 canvanses. Acrylics. One of my favorites. I chose to offset the canvases from each other when hanging on the wall for a little more interest.

Some paintings to come

2006-11-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

I have some new paintings that I will be posting soon: "Split Decision", "Frenzied", and "Beneath The Surface".

The Flow

2006-07-07T14:36:00.000-04:00

The Flow is actually
(2) 14 x 11 abstract paintings that make up one piece. Lots of depth in the cool-tone colors and lots of movement indicated by the flow of the paint.

You can see more details of each in the photos below.

A Fish?

2006-07-06T19:23:00.000-04:00

I have had a request to paint a fish for a young boy. He loves to fish and apparently is very good at it, especially for his age. Here's my dilemma: Perhaps he would prefer a very realistic fish that looks like a close-up photograph of a fish that he caught or would like to catch, with every scale defined and every detail perfectly in place, but that's not how I like to paint. Immediately, I think...fish...hmmm...how can I make it different, unique, and stylized? Where's the twist, the umph, the pizazz? How will this fish be different from all other fishes out there? I think of the brightly colored tropical fish in coral reefs, or even in aquariums, I think of colorful swordfish and the whole world of deep-sea fishing, but I don't think of just a plain old gray fish with a white belly and a black eye, or at least I try not to. I think of swirls representing water. I think of brush strokes that give the fish movement and personality. So, here I must find a happy medium that will satisfy both the boy and myself. Wish me luck!

Entangled

2006-07-02T19:38:00.000-04:00

"Entangled" is my favorite to date. It has a lot of graphics influence in it, which makes perfect sense since that is my profession.
I love the gorgeous autumnal colors. They make my heart sing!

Unexpected

2006-07-02T19:26:00.000-04:00

"Unexpected" is just ocean and sky. Vast, simplistic, and a little scary.
But then...
There's lotus flowers and lilly pads! Definitely a fresh-water pond item. A nice little unexpected surprise and something to make you say, "hmmmm?"

The Grind

2006-07-02T19:15:00.000-04:00

The Grind is a mixed media piece. I used different colors of regular old beans and a broken plate.

Had lots of fun with this one!
I love the
way the background resembles
old worn paint on a barn door!

I have new things to post, I promise!

2006-07-01T22:02:00.000-04:00

Been too busy to take the pics and post' em! I have new paintings finished: "Unexpected", "The Grind", "Entangled" --my favorite to date, and "The Flow". I have two more in the works. Completed another couple of different type artsy projects that I may post, as well. I simply have been unable to get around to taking the pics and doing the posting. Perhaps next week will be a good time. Hope so. See you soon!

Facade

2006-06-01T13:46:00.000-04:00

My newest painting, Facade (fa sod), defined by Webster as "a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect" was inspired by a person who continuously projects a facade as part of their very existence.

It's kinda that old "what you see
AIN'T what you get" deal. The
flowers represent the pretty
facade; the background
represents something
very different.

Genesis

2006-05-27T10:49:00.000-04:00

Genesis. A new creation; a new beginning. 16 x 20, Acrylics and Glazes on canvas.

Detail of Genesis at its center.

All in the Spirit of A Woman 1 series

2006-05-18T14:56:00.000-04:00

Here are all 6 women in the series as I imagine them displayed in a facility that provides services that nutures, inspires, empowers, or encourages women.

Series of A Woman 1, Dawn

2006-05-18T12:13:00.000-04:00

Finally! Here is Dawn, the final of six in the Spirit of A Woman 1 series. I had Dawn just an hour away from completion for several weeks, but I just never could find the hour to work on her. Acrylic on canvas 11 x 14.

Look for the "artist's point of view" regarding the series soon. Also I am working on implementing a view of all six paintings at once...so they can be seen together as they were intended.

I am looking forward to moving on to my next paint endeavors. I have 3 in the works and one that needs to go from my mind's eye to canvas...quickly before I forget it!

Series: Spirit of A Woman I, Crystal

2006-04-21T12:55:00.000-04:00

This is Crystal. She is the fifth in a series of six. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Series: Spirit of A Woman 1, OPAL

2006-04-11T13:04:00.000-04:00

Opal is the fourth in a series of six. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Asheville NC Artist

2006-04-08T14:05:00.000-04:00

I ran across this artist's sites today. I found them inpirational.
Between The Lines and
Through the Fears

Series: Spirt of A Woman I, May

2006-04-06T10:06:00.000-04:00

Here's May.
C'mon, you know we're not all happy, excited, bubbly, ALL the time!
I'm almost finished with the other 3. Wouldn't these be great in a place that caters to, or nutures, cares for, celebrates, or empowers women? MAY is the third painting in a series of 6. The next 3...Crystal, Opal and Dawn are coming soon. As I have said before, this is just a tribute to women and their attributes. These are just in-my-head and are not portraits of real people.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I, JUNE

2006-03-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

Here's June and a detail of June. 11 x 14 on canvas.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I, AUTUMN

2006-03-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

Here's Autumn and a detail of Autumn. 11 x 14 Acrylic on canvas.

Series: Spirit Of A Woman I

2006-03-08T12:26:00.000-05:00

I've got six paintings going at once. (That's the way I like it best.) I have been inspired by some women lately and I thought I would try to capture the essence of women on canvas. Basically, in this first series, each painting will be named a woman's name that is also an object, an emotion, or something else other than a woman's name. You know, like Rose or Daisy or Ruby or Hope or Joy? Women's names, but also something else. My intention is to capture a feeling through the painting that is also part of a woman's characteristics. We'll see how it goes. No pics to post yet, but hopefully over the weekend.

For Sarah's Birthday

2006-02-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

Big, new painting for my granddaughter Sarah. She's turning 9 years old this week, and I thought she might want something with lots of color and impact. It's like a poster, only more permanent and more personalized. Hope she likes it! Acrylic on canvas. 24 x 30.

"Scream"

2006-02-21T20:01:00.000-05:00

A new abstract painting. 16 x 20. Acrylic on canvas. The photos shows a pinkish-purple color but actually it is a brownish-burgandy color. The two dark brown streaks in the painting are done with texture paint. Olive greens, creams, tans, rusts, browns, burgandy-browns. See detail below.

Trepidations

2006-02-15T11:44:00.000-05:00

A new painting "TREPIDATIONS" Acrylic on canvas. 16 x 20. See detail views below:

31 Summers... It's hot!!

2006-02-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

Hot, New, Fresh!31 Summers and her blog! Dana's Blog

31 Summers

2006-02-06T12:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, the name for Dana Marie Designs has been changed to the more catchy 31 Summers! Check out her online shop
31 Summers and her blog! Dana's Blogs

DANA MARIE DESIGNS

2006-02-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

Dana has opened her online store! We're so proud! Visit it NOW! Dana Marie Designs Online Shop

Purses, Pocketbooks, Fashion Accessories

2006-01-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

These are some examples of purses my oldest daughter makes (ok, technically she is my step-daughter). She even makes her own patterns!

More from my family!

2006-01-13T13:28:00.000-05:00

I have to smile when I look at this whimsical Santa my SIL made (right). I feel just like he looks, lots of times!

A reader pillow by my SIL (left). It has a hard bottom and could be used, not just for reading, but anything that a lapdesk would come in handy. The picture does not capture the lovely vintage fabrics like seeing it in-person does.

The Rest Of The Story

2006-01-03T22:24:00.000-05:00

I designed the Camo Boot Christmas Stockings as something unique and different. My mother in-law made 3 of them for me to give as Christmas presents to the three brothers who own and operate our local "country store". They hung the stockings, the only three of their kind in the world, as far as I know, up in their store and several people not only commented enthusiastically about them, but inquired about purchasing them. It really created a big "buzz" in our little community. One of the brothers asked me to make him a wholesale price, which I did. My mother in-law and I were off the fabric store again! This time we (mostly she) made 15 stockings. Understand, it is now after Christmas and into the first week of the new year. When I took 'em to the store, the brother changed his mind about the wholesale thing, but he did offer to put them in the store and let me display them there. Today, I made hang tags and tied them on the stockings. Now if the 50 or so people who wanted them before Christmas, actually wanted them enough to buy them AFTER Christmas remains to be seen. 15 takers? We'll see!

BUMSTIX is launching!

2006-01-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

I have a terrifically talented family. We are dabbling in finding out how much public interest we can generate from our handcrafted items. Let us know what you think. mailto:lisa@arisepublicationspecialists.com

Our first official product is a novelty item for the hunters in your life. It is an original design and locally handcrafted. It is shaped like a real boot, is made of quilted camoflouge and lined with hunter orange. The tops are designed to look like real skins/hides.