By Popular Demand!

Several of you asked for it...

 and it is my great pleasure to respond by showing you...

for the first time on this blog...

or anywhere else for that matter...

Some of my wonderful husband, Alvin Spicuzza's paintings!

This one fascinates me... It is done with alcohol inks on Yupo paper. The figure is a result of Alvin using a permanent black fine point Sharpie to outline some of the naturally occurring shapes created by manipulating the ink flow while the painting was still wet. That's what makes this art form so much fun, you never know what might show up.
He named this painting "The Dark Crystal" after a movie we saw a long time ago in which the characters were actually puppets created by Jim Henson of Muppet fame.

As you can see, Alvin leans toward abstracts. This one is entitled "Artifact".

There is one more of his that I absolutely love, but you'll have to wait to see it unless you come to The Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur Street in New Orleans. We are both participating in an art exhibition being held there during the month of September.
So, if you are in the French Quarter next month, stop in and check it out!

A New Experiment in Art!

I'm finally trying to get back to blogging after quite some time. I've been pursuing my art career trying to learn more about the ins and outs of art as a business and I must say, it's a never-ending learning experience! I've also been dabbling in other mediums in addition to watercolors (which are still my favorite I think). My husband Alvin and I took a workshop on alcohol inks through the Jefferson Art Guild that we joined last year and it was great fun. It really teaches you to relax and not try so hard to control every little detail of a painting. See attached for some examples:

 

I call this one "Taming the Beast" because the image looks to me like a figure in the lower right corner holding a rope tied to some sort of giant mythical flying creature.

 

 

 

In addition to the inks I experimented by adding some sugar crystals at the lower right corner of this one.

 

So far I think this is my favorite. I call this one "The Juggler" since it looks to me like someone with arms raised to a variety of objects circling the central figure.

 





 

These were all created using various colors of acrylic paint or ink dropped onto Yupo paper that was either dry or wet with 91% rubbing alcohol and then manipulating the paint/ink by tilting the paper or adding additional drops of alcohol through a straw to create bulls-eye effects. I also created what looks like winged creatures by blowing air through a straw at the still wet circles of paint.

 

The key is to let your imagination run wild and experiment. This is what I call serendipity art! 

 

 

Latest Art - ACEO

This is my latest endeavor, an ACEO, which stands for Art Card Editions and Originals. They are miniature pieces of art always measuring 2.5"x3.5". They are considered very collectible and are often traded like baseball cards. I was inspired by a photo I saw on a Pinterest board I follow by Maryann Rizzo called "People of the World". I call this painting "The Mother" because her care-worn face and blue head-covering immediately reminded me of Mary. Since it is the Christmas season she spoke to me.
She is an original watercolor painted on deckle-edged 140 lb cold-press watercolor paper.
You can see the original inspiration photo on My Pinterest board "Painting Subjects"
Let me know what you think.
Enjoy.

Back to the Future - part 2

I'm kind of hooked on Louis Armstrong as a painting subject at the moment so here is a second watercolor that I just finished.

What do you think?

Back to the Future with Louis Armstrong

Hello again,

I've titled this latest post "Back to the Future..." because it marks my return to pursuing a future career in some sort of artistic endeavor. I have just begun the fall session of watercolor classes through our local Parks and Recreation department in Jefferson Parish Louisiana and I am inspired once again!
The following pictures are steps in my painting of of our first class subject - Louis Armstong. My husband, Alvin, thinks I should consider doing a series of well-known local musicians.
Hmmm... might be interesting.

What do you think?

                              

1. Work in progress with copy of painting subject provided in class:



 

 

 

 

2. Closeup of work in progress:

 

 

3. Finished painting matted:

Finished painting with copy of original photo I found online later:









A beautiful source of inspiration

Well, I have to admit I've been a little preoccupied lately but, with good reason.

Our first grandbaby has arrived!
Julia Carman made her debut on May 20th and she is the most beautiful baby I have ever had the good fortune to meet (I'm not prejudiced I swear).
Of course I cannot claim any resposibiityfor her genes as her beautiful mama is my step-daughter (the "daughter of my heart"). Nevertheless, I was inspired to paint a photo of her, a day old, sleeping peacefully in her PawPaw's arms.
PawPaw Alvin says " its like being able to hold my daughter again after all these years".

Of course I have't done her justice so I'll add the photo I used for inspiration so you'll see what I mean.

Who wouldn't be inspired by such a miracle?

Finding some focus in the Kaleidoscope

I know I've been remiss in posting to my blog for the past month but with a good excuse. I've been immersed in the world of watercolor painting. I just started my second class session through the local parks and recreation dept. and I've also been exploring the Wetcanvas website for all things artistic. A lot of their forums offer monthly projects in which you can participate and hone your skills.
This month I am participating in a miniatures project which calls for submission of your work  based on a selection of reference photos provided. The choice of medium used (watercolor, oil, acrylic) is left to each artist. Below are my first three attempts all using watercolor pencils and a #1 brush on 140lb cold press paper. Finished sizes are 2.5"x3.5".

They are based on reference photos provided as follows:

1. Red Icelandic Poppy 6 bt Stephie20
2. Old farm gatepost by ICanDoIt
3. Fisgard_Lighthouse by Pippen

The worldwide community I'm finding on this website is truly inspiring. You should visit!

www.wetcanvas.com

A Good Resource for Artists

I seem to be on a roll with my watercolor painting lately so I've been searching the internet for how-to info about watercolor painting and ran across this website www.wetcanvas.com.
It's a great site for artists that has tutorials, forums, resource guides, etc in almost any medium .
Check it out.

Longue Vue Magnolia

Here's my latest watercolor entitled "Longue Vue Magnolia" since that's where I took the original photograph.

I think I'd like to dedicate it to my mother, who was quite the "southern magnolia" herself and who would have celebrated her 90th birthday today were she still here

 with us today.

 She's the one who inspired a love of beautiful art and gardens in me.

Here's to you, Mom!

Completed Painting Projects 1

Okay, so here is the first of several watercolors that I have completed. I feel like a first-grader rushing home to proudly show off my masterful scribblings to a hopefully receptive audience.

Its amazing what a simple mat and frame purchased from the local craft store can do to elevate one's efforts to the status of "art".

This is my first completed efffort copied and enlarged from a photo of an existing painting.

My painting is double-matted in soft greens and mounted in a 16"x20" frame

.

This next watercolor entitled "Easter Liliies" is based on a photograph I took while visiting the Long Vue Gardens here in New Orleans, La.

This painting is double-matted in cream tones and mounted in a 14"x 18" gold-tone wood frame.

This last one is a study of a birch tree based on a tecnique I found on Youtube. It is simply matted in a dark blue 8"x10" mat.

 I'm really having fun with this and I think all-in-all they're not too bad for a beginner who has never taken an art class before now.

Let me know what you think.

Should I sign up for the next class session?

And Another Thought...

I think I need to add to the sub-title of my blog. It should probably read "Scattered Thoughts- In Pursuit of Creative Focus or My Version of Attention Deficit Disorder".

Seriously, I can't seem to settle on just one project at a time. Is this normal? I mean, I haven't finished my watercolor painting but I've been distracted by the need to work with my polymer clay again. I haven't really touched it much since we moved to Florida in 1995 but now that we're back home in New Orleans I've been itching to get to it again along with several other projects I have in mind.

Anyway, here is my progress on the poly clay front:

What do you think?

Refinements- The Second Step

Worked some more on my first watercolor in class yesterday...

The First Attempt - Baby Steps

Okay, I've jumped in with both feet so here is my first attempt at Watercolor Painting. I didn't know until I got to class and the teacher explained that watercolor is the most difficult medium to learn. I mean, isn't that little tin of dry paint colors one of the first art supplies you dabble in as a kid? Who knew?!

Anyway, its very interesting and fun to learn some of the methods behind the madness and I refuse to be discouraged, I intend to approach it with child-like wonder and see where it takes me.

First we started with a photocopy of a picture

Then we inserted the picture into a sleeve protector marked with a graph of 1" squares

Next we drew a light outline of the picture onto newsprint paper scaled to 2" squares in order to enlarge the picture. 

Then the enlarged picture is transfered to watercolor paper by using a piece of graphite paper under the newsprint and  tracing the enlarged drawing with a pencil

So here you can see the progression. The painting part is the most difficult for me because I never really had a good art class in school so I'm stumbling my way through learning about shading and how to blend colors to create a dimensional picture.
It really is fun though,

Here is the rest of my progress

Like I said... Baby steps...

Inspiration and motivation.

This is why you keep trying

Jeffrey Lloyd Dever - Edensong Revisited

T

The First Step

"Every journey begins with the first step". How many times have we all heard that? Why is it often such a hard one to take? Doubts and insecurities always seem to hold me back.
Well, I am finally going to close my eyes and take that first step. a "leap of faith" if you will. I'm 58 years old and I guess its finally time to decide what I want to be when I grow up and I at least know I want to be creative. I want to find my inspiration, my focus. So here I go, taking my first step. I've signed up for a watercolor class through our local Parks and Recreation department.
I'm nervous, curious and very happy to be starting my journey.
Stay tuned...

A Lovely Afternoon

I just spent a lovely afternoon talking to a fellow Etsy shop owner who had purchased a set of Marghab linen placemats and napkins from my shop "Inmymotherscloset" She was so gracious and so knowledgeable about the linens and their care. I delivered her purchase personally once I realized we lived less than 20 minutes from each other! That's the great thing about selling through Etsy, you meet such interesting people.

Be sure and check out Robin's shop "Nolacottage" on Etsy for some lovely vintage linens www.etsy.com/shop/Nolacottage

Wow! So this is a blog...
Actually my first (I feel like such a virgin) so be gentle with me kind readers.

My name is Katie and I am a relatively new Etsy shop owner.  I'd learned some time ago about Etsy as an online venue for handmade items. As you may notice, the title of my blog is "Scattered Thoughts" which accurately describes my world at the moment. The problem is that I am interested in so many different crafts that I find I have trouble focusing on one long enough to really get my creative juces flowing.
Fortunately, Etsy is also a great venue for Vintage items (anything at least 20 years old) and I am the lucky recipiant of a lot of beautiful vintage fashion and home decor collected by my mother and grandmother over the years. Much as I love it all I have finally accepted the fact that I don't have room to keep it all so I must pick and choose what to keep and what to pass on for others to enjoy. I hope you'll visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Inmymotherscloset and tell me what you think.

I'm not sure how this blog will evolve but I'm sure it will as I take this journey of self-discovery and search for my creative focus.

Thanks for listening,
Katie