BLOOMIN' PEARS --TODAY'S PAINTING!!

I am soooooo loving this wood. This is 12 x 12 x 3/4 inches on birch plywood. Acrylics--Golden's, tissue paper glued down for texture, black gesso. It's perfectly square--just took a crooked picture.

Live Artfully!!

~~Suzan~~

WE DRESS AS PEARS--PAINTING ON WOOD! FEATURED ON CREATED BY HAND!!

SOLD! Thank you!!

WOOOHOOOO!!!!! This is my latest painting. Yesterday, I decided that I wanted some wood to paint on, and so off to Home Depot, I went. I bought a 4 foot x 8 foot sheet of birch plywood (3/4"), and they cut it for me in 12"x12" panels. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I LOVE PAINTING ON IT!!!! I may never paint on canvas again! The wood is so strong, and textural, and smooth all at the same time. I painted it on both sides and around the edges with a black gesso, and then just started painting. It's great, great, great!!!! LOVEEEE IT!!! We also went to the back, and dug through their scrap pile, and got a TON of little pieces (approx. 4 x 4) for FREE. My little paintings sold like hotcakes Saturday, so I need to do about 20 of them a week!

The Chattanooga Market has really gotten me excited about art again! The artist market that I was previously going to was NOTHING like this wonderful new place. I never made the kind of money that I made on Saturday, the people are nicer, and generally it's a better atmosphere! Also, it's harder to leave your booth, so I am not off wasting my money buying someone else's stuff.

On the blog-front--Nancy at CREATED BY HAND was wonderful and featured me on her blog!! Thank you so much Nancy!!! Hop over there, and check out her blog, she has some really good artist on there!!

Well..back to the art room. Got an outdoor sidewalk art sale on Friday night to get ready for..(and Saturday down on our town square, and back to the Art Market on Sunday)..

Live Artfully!!
~~Suzan~~

CHATTANOOGA MARKET PICTURES--GREAT DAY!!

This is Nature Boy--he put on his "mean redneck face" for you all..LOL..he's so silly!!

My booth...you all know what everything looks like!

HELLO!! WOW!! Yesterday was a blast! The Chattanooga Market is so cool!! We set up, and I remembered to take some pictures before the crowds came in, but then completely forgot about the camera..so these are all pre-opening.

Just my typical stuff..I sold a lot!! I was extremely happy with how it went, and had fun in the process. Across from us was this old truck that made Kettle Corn, and omgggg --IT WAS DELICIOUS!! We had access to fudge, ice-cream, and kettle corn within a few steps of our booth. It was pure heaven!! There were a lot of artist there, everything from blown glass to handmade furniture, food vendors, and fresh produce everywhere!

I cannot wait to return next weekend!

Live Artfully!

~~Suzan~~

FOLK ART ANGELS -- 12 MORE HOURS and AN EARLY ARTISTIC MEMORY

The one above is my favorite so far. She is Crystal. The Ice Princess.

Bad picture--that is a black crow on her dress. Her name is Lucy.

Can't remember this one's name.

Nor this one's.

I named this one (above) Elisa..after my childhood/life-long friend. The one that recently contacted me. The one that became an art teacher!!! WWOOOHOOOO!!

I can't remember this one's name either. They are all packed up, or I would go look. But, that's what I have been doing for the last couple of days.

I had a long-time friend contact me recently, and she had me thinking about my childhood, and the art that I use to create--(which was a gazillion times better than the stuff I do now, in my humble opinion)...and I thought back to when I was about 8 years old. I may have been younger, but I know it was during the "horrible salad bowl hair-do" stage of my life, and thankfully, by the time I was 9 or so, my hair had grown out, and my grandmother (who raised me), had stopped her revengeful chasing of my head with that damn salad bowl. (I think to this day, this woman had it out for me...). Anyhow--I specifically remember a picture of a horse. This picture stays in my mind, because upon burying my wonderful grandfather 25 years later.. we found this picture amongst a ton of others that I had previously drawn, glued or colored. This horse was top quality hand drawn, perfectly shaded, meticulous in every way. It was a perfect rendition of a beautiful animal. My family thought that I was a savant, I'm sure!! They must have KNOWN that I was magically gifted beyond anything that was ever imagined. The other part of this memory is that my then "partner-in-crime" (my grandfather) had bought me a HUGE pack of tracing paper one of our trips to the store. I could trace like no other. Then a teacher at school (I carried my tracing paper everywhere, it never left my side) showed me that if I scribbled on the back of the tracing paper, that I could Trace, Scribble and TRANSFER...and POOF!! I would have a perfect drawing on paper..LOL...silly family..they never knew.

Ok..enough of my childhood mentally deranged memories...I have exactly 11 hours and 45 minutes until my alarm clock goes off, and I shower, and go to the BIG SHOW. I am surprisingly very, very calm. I am still painting, and working on stuff, getting ready. Though --FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ENTIRE LIFE--I DID NOT procrastinate myself into a TIZZY...I have slowly, but surely doing bit by bit, and now really all that is left is minor, insignificant stuff. So..I am ON MY WAY!!

Live Artfully!

Suzan

REVISION and TWO NEW PAINTINGS

Here's 2 more--I revised the little girl. I am not extremely happy with her, but I do see progress..lol..The middle one isn't all that great--blame Simon Baker for it..because I was watching him, and not really painting..just kind of doodling with paint. The first one is one of my faves..I just like his drab expression. He looks better in real life.

I am getting nervous. The "show"..or Art Market is Sunday..and I have never done anything so big..on top of that..my husband is being a naysayer about the amount of stuff that I expect to put in the car. I am fully sure that we can carry it all--he wants to take the big truck. I hate the big truck..it bounces, and jars you around, and you feel like you are on an African Safari. It's too manly man for me. (No CD player--and I can't drive for 2 hours and depend on the radio, I would lose all sanity!!) I say tie the crap to the roof, and let's travel!

Also, one of my high school friends contacted me through Facebook--I am so excited and want to call her. But, she has a job, and would probably not appreciate being woke up at 1:30 am to talk about our past..LOL..She has become not only an artist, but also an art teacher..so, I am very excited to talk to her.

Well...I am going to force myself to go to sleep..even though I could probably just stay awake until Sunday..LOL..I hope I have enough stuff, and we will do a trial run on the set up before we go (I will take pictures, and get your opinions beforehand)...

That's all for now!
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

NEW PAINTING!!

Busy, busy--Another little painting this morning..just working away as fast as possible!!
~~Suzan~~

SIX LITTLE PAINTINGS

Well..this is what I did yesterday. They are small..and have 3 nails each sticking out of them..I am truely loving painting on wood. It's wonderful!! I had never done a lot of painting on wood, but now, I may give up canvas all together..hehehe.

Ok..gotta get to work!
Live Artfully!!
~~suzan~~

FOLK ART ANGELS

These are so much fun to make!! I love making them!! Live Artfully!! ~~Suzan~~

Please take a moment and remember JoAnna and her husband!! Every little bit helps! Thank you!!

UGLY GIRL--NEW PAINTING

I just couldn't make this girl pretty...LOL..the background is an old newpaper picture, and a sewing pattern. She has a collaged dress, hand-painted face, and the numbers are metal (painted black)...they kind of stand out a bit from the canvas).

Please don't forget to scroll down, and DONATE. Thank you!! Hugs to you all!
Suzan

A FOLK ART ANGEL

This is something totally new to me, but I have been wanting to make an angel for a long time. It's all hand-painted. I wasn't completely happy with the face, but I will work on them. Live Artfully! ~~Suzan~~

ANOTHER PAINTING!

I really liked the way this painting turned out. The dog was FUN to paint..heheheh.

Live Artfully!

~~Suzan~~

I STRUGGLED ALL DAY..sigh...

This is a 9 x 12 inch painting on stretched canvas. I literally struggled with this all day, but did manage to finish it, and 2 other backgrounds...
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

CAPTIVE -- AN ART DOLL

This dollie was made with a vintage green glass (glows under a black light!), a vintage "made in Japan" little ceramic doll, some vintage goggles, an antique key, and other things. The little girl under the glass is holding a key that has the definition of key on it. (She isn't warpy --that's the glass) The base is covered in old print, and aged. Stands about 11 inches tall.
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

THE ARTIST--AN ART DOLL

I have been SO busy!! I completed this doll last night. She's made from an old medicine bottle, bullet casings, and a metal round part from a very, very old cash register.

The words on her are "Artistry" and then the definition of ART.

On the home front--well, I have been working night and day to get ready for opening day of the new Market that I am going to. I had to tag everything, make sure it was all signed, finish bottoms of things. I have been working on Paper Clay, Art Dolls, Paintings, etc. I am aiming for about 125 pieces to take with me, plus 100 prints, plus 200 dominoes. I have 100 dominoes done, but have to hand draw on about a hundred before the 26th. I am swamped (with utter happiness and bliss), and hope to get all done. I have 11 days to go.

Last night--I started 4 art dolls, and finished this one..One of the art dolls is going to be awesome. I used a vintage green vaseline ice-cream glass as it's dress. Wait until you see it!!

Well..gotta get busy--time's a'wastin.

Live Artfully!

~~Suzan~~

A CHALLENGE FOR YOU!!

OOOhhh...boy!! I can see you all running pell mell to see what my challenge is..hehehehe. I put my new favorite song over there in the left hand column..and the challenge is---listen to the song, and sit perfectly still. DO NOT MOVE. No head-swaying, NO hand tapping, NO living room pole dancing...LOL..just sit perfectly still. I don't think it can be done (unless of course, if you are in complete shock that I have a rap song playing on my blog--hehehe..). I love this song!! It's by a man/group named FLO RIDA...and he is from FLORIDA..Yeah!! FLORidA!!(where I am originally from)...Heard this on American Idol tonight--Hope you like it!
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

Wow!! This whole entire week has been one cyclonic blur!! Did you miss me? Besides having to keep Petey the Wonderdog inside all week-and listening to his constant whining (which has driven me to the brink of murderous insanity), we have been on the road.

Friday night I did an out of town show. It was FABULOUS!! Very short, and VERY financially SWEET!! We drove 3 hours to get there, set up, sold for 4 hours, and drove 3 hours home. The show was GREAT!! I loved the people, and one woman actually SQUEALED when I told her that I was published in ART JOURNALING..LOL..that was quite funny, in a cute way!! We had a blast! I also booked a class for May to teach art journaling. That was cool! We did run into a little problem--they placed me in a regular's spot, and when the regular showed up--well..he pitched a little fit. Little fits don't bother me..I had an email on hand stating where I was suppose to set up, so -- not my problem! I cannot wait to go back there though!! The dominoes actually sold like hotcakes, so..I do have to restock those this week!!

Then on Saturday morning, after about 4 hours sleep, we went to our local town's little trade day/flea market--but after trying to function for about an hour--we closed up shop and went home. I didn't even want to deal with it.

Sunday morning, we had to go back out of town to a NEW VENDOR meeting. The art market that I had applied for--is HUGE. It's held every Sunday, and they said that a bad day is 5,000 people. Can you Imagine??? OMG..It's going to ROCK!! I cannot wait until it starts. I didn't know if I had been juried in or not, but we were required to go to the meeting "just in case"..while I was there, the woman told me that I had been approved!! WHOOOHOOOOO!! I am so, so, so excited!!!

Monday morning, I got up and hit the road again..this time only to buy groceries, and things we will need for the artist market. I am having to do a full display tent, even though the market is indoors, they will still let us put our tent inside--so, I have been working out a very colorful, very appealing decor for it. It's going to look great (hopefully!!). This meant buying new display stands, sides for the tent (I got the most beautiful gauzy curtains--in hot pink, turquoise, yellow and lime green for the sides), new tablecloths, etc..plus, I am having to make tags to hang on everything..I will take a ton of pics at the first show!!

Then yesterday--I left the house in search of a new vehicle..LOL..I am thinking either a Honda Element, or a Ford Flex..but the Flex's are so new, that there are no "previously owned" ones yet. I am absolutely IN LOVE with them though..(not too keen on owning a FORD, but Nature Boy seems excited about it..LOL), my other option will be a van (yuck!), but we have to have a practical vehicle if we are going to be lugging tents, metal walls, and artwork all over the place.

Today, I am going to sit down, and figure out what shows I want to do. I can do that now, that I am committed to the artist market, and know what days are free this year..and then, I am going to work. I need to stay in the studio all week...LOL..that's about it...Live Artfully!! ~~Suzan~~

THE RETURN OF PETEY THE WONDERDOG -- THE WHOLE STORY

Pushmi-pullyu (adopted character from Dr. Doolittle books)

List of Characters:

1. Nature Boy

2. Me

3. Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog

4. Pushmi-pullyu (see picture above)

5. Cletus (the younger stupid bystander dog)

6. Miss Harlot Hottie Pants (the female dog--the SAME female dog that stole the little toy from our yard and ran so happily down the street with Nature Boy chasing her a few weeks ago..)

Ok..Last night I went to bed at 8:30- 9pm..and around 11, I thought that I heard Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog outside, and went running to see if it was him. It was not. So, I couldn't go back to sleep..and sat up all night long, worrying about him. At 7 AM this morning, I finally drifted off to sleep. Around 10-ish..Nature Boy woke me up. I was tired, stressed, and Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog had not yet come home. I started crying. Nature Boy jumped into action--the man cannot stand to see me cry....and OFF he went..jumping on his magnificent white stead, and riding away into the sunset ( a little creative embellishment here--it was actually a Nature Boy All Terrain Vehicle in hunter green.) A few minutes went by, and Nature Boy returned, saying that he had found Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog, and he was in Miss Harlot Hottie Pant's yard, behind a fence. "Did you bring him home?" I asked him. I was told that he had tried to open the gate, but that Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog had GROWLED at him. I then told Nature Boy that I would go get him, and we jumped into the car and drove down there. I took a very large mallet with me--NOW knowing that Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog was ALIVE and WELL, I was just plain MAD! I get there, and there's Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog and Miss Harlot HOTTIE PANTS, but they are trying to FOOL me, and are dressed in the disguise of the evil Pushmi-Pullyu (pronounced push me pull you). (Trying to be very nice here--about the state that my dog was in )..Anyway--that just made me madder. The Harlot Hottie Pants had turned my dog into a crazed maniac..and wouldn't let him go...so, I decided--FINE..She can have him!! Let him STAY there, and I went home. A little later, after many diabolical thoughts, I decided to go get him AGAIN. Even if I had to bring them home in the Pushmi-Pullyu disguise--that dog was coming home. So, Nature Boy and I jumped in the car again, and sped off......(crazy driving music inserted here)...and we drove about a block and a half, and there was MISS HARLOT HOTTIE PANTS and CLETUS. Cletus has confused me through this whole week..because CLETUS is always with Miss Harlot Hottie Pants, but he's like her brother, or best friend..but he is a male dog too. Maybe he's young, and doesn't know WHAT TO DO, but he has been by her side all week. They are strolling down the road, just smelling the flowers, and going here, and going there...but NO Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog..my husband just happened to glance over..and there is Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog behind ANOTHER fence, in a DIFFERENT yard..looking like a very happy drunken idiot. He's just sitting in the corner..like he can't get out.. IT's a country fence with post, and wire stapled to it..and you can just pull it loose. So, Nature Boy grabs the leash and hooks ole Petey the Whooped Wonderdog on it, and goes to pull the fence loose, and it isn't even attached to the post. It is just sitting there...LOL..the silly dog could have just walked out, but because Miss Harlot Hottie Pants took his brains earlier..he thought he was penned in..LOL LOL..anyway..Nature Boy had to drag Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog home. I mean drag him..FINALLY..we got him into the house, and he starts his crazy whining, and crying, and rolling on the floor..(thinking this will drive me insane as usual, and I will put him OUTSIDE, where he can escape AGAIN. NOT. This isn't going to happen until Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog becomes the feminine, not so male doggie at Dr. Dog's Snipping the Thing Off Clinic on Tuesday.. LOL..but, the whining and crying is DRIVING me INSANE. It's a high pitched manic whine..and I HATE IT...So.. I fix his little world. Yes, Necessity is the Mother of INVENTION..uh huh..I take the Extra Strength Febreeze Pet and Carpet deodorizer in the 20 gallon spray bottle, and I start spraying. I sprayed Petey the Big Boy on the Block Alpha Wonderdog's corner, his bed, the kitchen floor (which I had just mopped--so, now I have to do it AGAIN)..I sprayed the living room floor, the porch, the outside doggie bedding, the steps...and the whole time, I am on the phone with the vet, trying to get some serious doggies tranquilizers for him until Tuesday...and a miracle happens...Petey quiets down, and becomes very relaxed..and in less than 5 minutes--he's sound asleep. It's working..YEAH FEBREEZE!!!GO!! So, all night when there is an utterance of a whine, I re-spray, and my perfect, wonderful dog is back home..and he's quiet..and sweet..and Miss Harlot Hottie Pants is a distant, happy memory of his reckless past.

Live Artfully!

~~Suzan~~

(this post is further evidence that I REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE..hehehe)

PETEY'S IS HOME!!!

NOT BY HIS CHOICE..story later..I am about to pass out from exhaustion!! Thank you for all of your thoughts!!!

PETEY THE WONDERDOG RAN AWAY

He's been gone at least 11 hours..he left us for a little girl doggie in heat. Please pray for his safe, healthy, and HAPPY return. Thank you--Suzan