HAPPY HAPPY HUMP DAY!!

Whew!! Hello!! I have been a bit busy this week, and finally got out of my "couch potato" mode..This is some of what I have done..there are more--but, several of the pictures did not turn out. This first one is about 8 x 10 on wood.

This is a cut-out of a fish that Nature Boy cut out for me.

This painting is on that glued together kind of board..I don't know what they call it, but I like the texture that it produced. It's about 11 x 11.

This is done on a 12 x 12 piece of birch. It's very bright in real, and has a lot of depth. I used a ton of plaster on this, painted the different layers, and then sanded it off for the effect. Then I coated it with a glossy varnish. It's really cool up close.

This is a cut-out..with doll arms attached. She was fun to do!!

This one is a house shape piece about 10 x 10.

And THIS is my WORK IN PROGRESS!! I am loving this piece! It's titled " EAT YOUR VEGGIES BEFORE THEY EAT YOU."

I think that I have 4 others, but I will show them later. I have been wonderfully productive this week, and it's only Wednesday!!!WHOOHHOOOOO..

Now..onto more stuff. I am sorry if the story about killing the rattlesnake bothered anyone. Someone emailed me, and said that they were no longer following my art, because I needlessly killed a rattlesnake. Well, for ONE...my husband killed it, not me. TWO... it was on our street, where we have many small children that play regularly outside, and Third..IT WAS A RATTLESNAKE FOR GOD'S SAKE! It wasn't like the innocent black snake that we smooshed with a bathroom plunger two years ago..LOL LOL LOL (LAUGHING OUT LOUD)..Anyway...

On with the work..back to the art room...I made clay heads this morning, so I can do some assemblage dolls. Hugs..and Live Artfully.

Suzan--wife of the evil rattlesnake slayer.

A COUCH POTATO WEEK!!!

Hello!! Did you all think that I had disappeared?? I have had a busy first half of the week, and a lazy second half..Let's go back to Saturday. I had to go to the store, and as I was driving down our road, there was a HUGE rattlesnake. (Relative to the Alabama Anaconda that lives in our woods)..so, I turned the car around, and went and got Nature Boy to kill the rattler. He grabbed his elephant gun, and his older brother, and off the two of them went to shoot the snake. Luckily, the snake had just eaten some huge animal and was moving slow, but the brothers got to it when it's body was still out of the weeds, but couldn't see it's head. One snake + two country-raised men + an elephant gun =annihilation. LOL..they got out of the truck, and started shooting..LOL..it's so strange to me to live somewhere where a gun going off isn't even noticed. No one even lifts an eyebrow at two grown men outside in the middle of the road, shooting a shotgun...crazy if you ask me.

Then on Sunday, Nature Boy and I went to the Chattanooga Market to sell our art, and we had a FULL booth!! It looked SO GOOD!!! We did really great there, had fun, met some new people, bought veggies, and came home...I have been asleep since then. I can't seem to wake up. I have been "piddling", but nothing serious. I did get 4 angels, 4 folk art crosses, 6 small abstracts, and these two paintings done, plus I reworked a 12 x 12 painting, and made it different...but that's not a lot.The one with the moon guy is a rework..remember that I painted the moon guy, and could not decide what do with it?? Well..I finally got around to re-doing it...and I kind of like how it came out.

Well..that's about it..just a boring week..relaxing, sleeping, and watching a mother bird sit on her eggs daily. Waiting for the babies to hatch out...not a bad week after all...Live Artfully!!~~Suzan~~

TWO ASSEMBLAGE PIECES--MIXED MEDIA

The large one with the blue box is not put together yet. This is just a preliminary layout. The bottom one is finished, and hanging already. I have all this stuff layed out on my art table, and it's like putting together puzzles...having a blast!!

Suzan

OOOOhhhhh .. I FORGOT ONE!!!

I forgot that this one was drying. Finished it last night too!

THE REST OF YESTERDAY'S WORK!

This is the rest of what I accomplished yesterday. I got 3 more little paintings done, and another art doll finished. The doll is built into a lantern...it was great fun to make!!

Well..I am down to having two days left to work this week..gotta get busy!!

Live Artfully!

Suzan

NATURE BOY'S BOTS

Aren't they wonderful????? I love them..Click to enlarge. The second one has a robot dog even...LOL..

ANOTHER...

SLAPPING SOME PAINT ON WOOD...

"THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE--AREN'T "THINGS"'--(quote stuck in my head this morning)

Good Happy Morning!! I got up this morning, and while watching Nash Bridges (LOVEEEE DON JOHNSON)...I painted 3 of my little paintings on wood. In the hour that the show was on, I got all of these done. I just slapped the paint on, really not thinking much at all. Maybe if I thought about every little brushstroke--I could have done better...but maybe not.

Last night, this new show came on ..it was called The Philanthropist. I started watching it, while sitting and working on art dolls, and it had a pretty good story line--and a cute guy-lead character. I had seen him before--and couldn't place him..it was literally driving me insane. I thought and thought and thought about it. Then it hit me. He was the same actor that played King Edward in the movie "A Knight's Tale". I liked him in that movie, and now, I guess I have yet ANOTHER silly tv show to watch. If you get a chance, watch the show--it looks like it may turn out to be a good one!!

Nothing much else is happening--Nature Boy is building Robots, and making wood backgrounds for some new assemblage pieces, and I am working fervently to get pieces for this week's art market. I like having to get a certain number of pieces for an event, and Thank the Good Lord Above, that so far, I am able to work, and keep up. A lot of artist have trouble doing a show or two, and I am fortunate to be able to do a "show" EVERY WEEK. That's what I am grateful for today!!
I hope you all have a creative, happy day!
~~Suzan~~

NEWEST ART DOLL ASSEMBLAGE PIECE!!

Made with an old tin can, a print of one of my collages, metal mesh, old book pages, hand painted linen, a light socket part, and old watch, a metal bracelet, a tin candle holder, and a doll. The doll is completely repainted-- the entire piece is sealed. Skirt wraps around "scene".

Whew..this was WORK!!..I am very happy at how it is coming along though..

Live Artfully!

Suzan

ASSEMBLAGE ART DOLL -- 3RD PIECE TODAY!! WOHOOHOOOO!!

omg!! This picture DOES NOT do the doll justice!! It is so bright!! I will have to take another picture in the morning for you all, but it is finished. I just have to sign it, tag it, and pack it up!!..VERY VERY GOOD DAY!!!!
Suzan

ASSEMBLAGE PIECE #2 -- FIRST CLASS MALE

Here's my second piece for today. It's titled "First Class Male". It's about 14 inches tall, and about 9 inches wide.

Oh Yeah..and in the Assemblage piece below, inside the box is an antique leather child's shoe. You really can't see it. I have changed it a little bit, added some red highlights, so I will post another picture of it later.

Suzan

ART DOLL ASSEMBLAGE #1 COMPLETED AND NATURE BOY'S BIRD BOT

Good Afternoon!! Nature Boy and I have been busy, busy, busy this morning. He created a bird bot. A robot bird. It is AWESOME!! The bird stands about 15 inches high, and is made of wood, plastic, metal, and a bunch of other stuff.



This is my assemblage piece. I used a very old doll head, which I painted, and then distressed, and old found objects. It is titled "Daddy Left When I was 8".Close Up of inside.

Well..working on another piece--so, I am going to run back to the studio.

Live Artfully, and be happy!~~Suzan~~

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR...

I have been trying something new for the last few months, and I try to find something new to be thankful for EVERY DAY... So, today, I am thankful that I am not a cyst-infested, untalented, beady-eyed, lime-green, warthog. LOL..Hahhaha..Ok..that made me laugh!! Time for bed. The market was good today, the summer season has set in, and it's a bit slower, but by no means dead...People are coming, and buying. There is so many talented artist there, I wish you all could come see. I have to get up early tomorrow, because I have devised a plan of action. I hope you all like what is coming up this week ahead. I promise it's going to be different. I am actually allowing Nature Boy into my studio...so that he too can work...(though he hasn't been informed yet.) The thing that I am REALLY thankful for is the ability to produce the amount of work that I produce, and to be able to regularly sell that work. Thank you to all the people that came out and bought my art today!!! I appreciate you!
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

A FEW PAINTINGS FOR MARKET TOMORROW!!

The fly guy above and the horse below are 12 x 12 on wood. I collaged the fly, and painted his head on...the horse one started out as a field of flowers...go figure...

This is a close up of the fly guy above...

This is called the Juggler, he's 7 x 12 inches on wood.

The chicken is also 7 x 12 on wood.

That's all..I have to get ready for bed!! 4AM comes early tomorrow! Live Artfully!

PUTTING MY PRIORITIES IN ORDER

Well...this morning, like every morning for the past few months, I got up, and hopped on Facebook, and preceeded to play at least 4 games on there. I had a farm to tend to, a Mafia to run, and a house to decorate...Well, NO MORE. After 2 1/2 hours of my life being wasted on mindless games--I deleted them all. I whine constantly about not having time to DO what I need to do, and I whine constantly that I cannot keep up with my sales, and replace my art...but, then I spend 3 hours (at least) a day, playing games. On top of blogging, Flickr, Ning Networking, etc..etc..So, honestly let's say 5 hours a day is spent on the computer. Three of those hours are not constructive..so, that's 90 wasted hours a month..I could produce A LOT of paintings in 90 hours. Maybe I could even find time to journal again, and have some fun with my art!! So, goodbye Facebook games...hello free time to work on art!!
Live Artfully!
Suzan

TWO MORE MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE PAINTINGS!!

Woohhooooo..on a roll...got 10 dolls that I am working on, then switching to painting..

Live Artfully!

Suzan

MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE PAINTING 12 X 12

Well..well..well... It has been a long time since I actually cut something out of a book and glued anything down. It felt like putting on an old pair of shoes, you know the kind where the toe has a hole in it, and the sole flaps when you walk--but you wear them around the house anyway..heehehhehe..anyway..it was relaxing to do a mixed media piece.

When I was doing strictly mixed media, I didn't feel whole, and certainly had a hard time calling myself an artist. My first year, when I did strictly collage--I just called myself a "creative gluer"..I am not saying this to insult anyone--this is just how I felt about MYSELF. But, I have some road miles in the painting department now, and this piece just happened today.

I also got 11 dolls glued together for altered art dolls. They are all large pieces, and will give my booth some substance and variety. I will start painting on those tomorrow...so, we'll see how it goes..

Well..back to work. Suzan

WOOHOOOOOO!! SLOW DAY AT MARKET!!!

Good Morning!! I had my worse week ever at the Chattanooga Market! I am SO happy--please don't get me wrong--I love my customers, and am very appreciative of my customers and sales, but I needed a little break to play catch up!! I didn't sell very many things at all, so this week, I can add a boat-load of more stuff, and then I'll be FULL, FULL, FULL again!! It has been stressing me out that so much was gone, and I couldn't catch up--but, now I have a whole week to add to what I did last week! I am also looking at this week as "the calm before the storm"...LOL..I still had a blast at the market, and did my weekly fresh veggie shopping..I am seriously loving the produce there, and buying it fresh every week. Nature Boy and I are eating healthy, and loving it!!! The people at this market are so friendly, and it's like a big family. It's not at all like the unfriendly Art Market in Huntsville that I was doing.

SHE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING (my daughter) has 10 more months of school!! WOOOHOOO!! I am watching the little ticker daily at the top of my blog--pretty soon it'll be down to a single digit, then it'll be time for her to graduate!! Soooooooooooooo PROUD of her!!

Petey the Wonderdog update! Petey is spoiled rotten, and now thinks he's strictly an inside dog. (Remember that he use to NOT even stick his nose in the front door because he was afraid of carpet, or something)..WELL..TIMES HAVE CHANGED...NOW...it takes a bulldozer to get his azz out of in front of the A.C., and out of the house. He wants to go out there and do his business, and then EXPECTS to be let right back in...LOL..it is such a happy, welcome change from the dog that was afraid to come in. So, for all of you Petey people out there--he's fine and fat and happy!!

Well..that's all today! I am on my way to the art room to work. I am excited that I can do some art dolls, and dominoes today!! Hugs!
Live Artfully!!
Suzan

MORE MORE MORE!!!! READY FOR SUNDAY'S MARKET!! (ALMOST)

Good Morning!! I am getting ready for the Chattanooga Market this week..here are some more of the paintings that I have finished. I am literally working night and day to play catch up, and hopefully build up some inventory. Today--I am going to make Assemblage Dolls, and I think that I got 15 paintings total so far--big ones, not tiny ones..so my booth will look FULL. I haven't even stopped to breath. This week has been crazy, insane with the amount of work that I have been doing....we figured it up yesterday..and we only have 26 more weeks until the market ends for the season..LOL..I am probably going to be tied up in a straight jacket, and will be sitting there drooling on myself before it's all over!! But, I am loving it. I don't think that I have ever been happier, or more productive!

Petey the Wonderdog and Nature Boy send you their hellos!! I have to get back to work. Live Artfully!

Suzan

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!

Sorry..I can't believe it's Wednesday--I have been painting day and night. The Chattanooga Market was slower this week, but I still held my own!! I am now down to 15 dominoes, and 33 pieces of art. I have painted these--and I think 9 more..having gotta them all photographed..too busy working. Have a happy week!!

Live Artfully!!
Suzan

ADDIE--SATURDAY PAINTING

Well, tomorrow is the Market, and I am busy painting feverishly, trying to build up some inventory. I have spent the week working on a very large painting, and have neglected my little ones...so, this is one of five that I have done today. I like her. I called her "Addie".
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~

FINISHED!!

SOLD--THANK YOU SANDY!!

Well..it's finished. I am afraid to keep working on her...so we'll say it's done!

live artfully!

suzan

THE GREAT MASTERS OF ITALIAN ART AND ME..LOL..WORK IN PROGRESS

Today, I did some much needed responsible things around the house. So did Nature Boy. He got the job of cleaning the computer room, and found a HUGE book that I had bought sometime last year (I think)...anyway..I bought it, and never saw it again...TYPICAL of my book-eating house!! It regularly eats books that I KNOW I OWN..and sometimes the house hides them for MONTHS..LOL..

This book is called The Great Masters of Italian Art. It's a huge coffee table edition, with beautiful close ups of some awesome paintings!! The picture on the left is on the cover. I have spent a good 3-4 hours staring at this book today. All the detail, and intricate painting, it just fascinates me. Tonight, I decided to TRY to paint from it. So..I sat the book on my art table, and put a block of wood next to it, and started painting. (I rarely draw first with a pencil, but I did use a small paintbrush to "draw" it out). This is as far as I've gotten. I haven't started working on the flesh tones yet, but just the highlights and shadows. Just thought I would show you a work in progress. I might have to stop for the night, and do a few pieces that are faster...but, I thought this was cool in how it's turning out so far.

Live Artfully!

Suzan

I NEED AN HONEST OPINION!! TWO NEW PIECES!

Good Morning!! I need your opinion (an honest one!)..because I don't want to go any further without positive or negative feedback. The top piece is painted on a small clipboard, and I need your opinion of it. Not WHAT is painted, but the CLIPBOARD factor. I thought I would do these clipboards with little paintings on them, and sell them for $10 at the Market on Sundays..but, do you think that people will like them. My idea is that they are actually hung instead of used as clipboards. Bad idea or Good idea??? Please let me know--no matter what you say--you won't hurt my feelings!! I promise!! The words on this one say "The grave is so deep and so concluding. He was my first friend, and I could not stop my tears."

The bottom one is acrylics on wood.

This weekend was the end of a period in my life--I will no longer be selling antiques and collectibles on our town square once a month-and I certainly won't be taking my art there to sell. (Not to be confused with the Sunday Art Market). On Saturday, we sat up on our town square for their monthly trade day, got there at 5am, stayed until 3pm, and I made a little less than $100..and all of that was on dominoes. (GOD BLESS THOSE LITTLE DOMINOES!!) Speaking of dominoes--I HAVE to make some TODAY. I am down to about 10 of them..so sometime in the next 4 days, I have to whip up about 100 or more of them..LOL.. good thing that I am not drowning in things "that need to be done"..or I'd be in trouble..heheheh. Yeah right...I AM DROWNING!! Someone throw me a life jacket here!! I have to finish TWO- 4 foot paintings, do a couple of dolls, make some more paintings, I am DROWNINGGGGGGGGGGG...LOL..And I have NEVER been HAPPIER in my whole life!!! I have hardly anything left TO sell, and it just feeds me. Thank you Lord!

Have a Happy day!!

suzan

TWO PAINTINGS--PROTOTYPE FOR HUGE PAINTING!!

Good Morning!! Well..I have been creating like crazy this week. Last night, I was just simply tired of painting, and slowed down a bit. I was not really thinking at this point..and I painted the first one, then I "piddled around" and completed the second one..LOL...it's like I can't stop painting..crazy...

This lady from the Art Market wanted a 30 x 48 painting, and I am working on that, but when I finished the first painting shown here, I hung it in the living room, and went outside to smoke--I always do that with paintings, because I can see how it looks from a distance. When I stepped outside, I thought--"OMG!! That REALLY needs to be on a HUGE panel." --- So, I have decided to use it as a "prototype" to a 30 x 48 incher..it's MUCH brighter in person, and I think that it'll really get people's attention in my booth. Then I started thinking that I need about 6 HUGE paintings to hang around my booth for art shows later this year. I might fall in loveeeeeeeeee with painting that big--though I have to admit--it's seriously intimidating. It's almost as large as a door. I seriously could barely fit the panels in my car.

Oh well..time's a wasting..back to work...Hugs!!
Suzan

A FABULOUS WEEKEND!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!

Hello!! Well..I had a FABULOUS, WONDERFUL weekend!! Saturday, I taught an art journaling class to a group of ladies in Tennessee. I went to their house, and they had fixed the most amazing lunch EVER!! There was homemade cheesecake, homemade brownies, cupcakes, fruit salads, bean salad, copper pennies (one of my favorite recipes in the world!It's marinated carrots), chicken salad..I felt like I was eating in Paula Dean's kitchen. But, I am not sure that Paula could have cooked this good..heheheh..on top of all the food--the woman who hosted the class in her house, had antiques in every nook and cranny. I was in HEAVEN. I could have spent all day just looking at the beautiful things in her house. OMG!! They were unbelievable!! I don't think that I have EVER seen so many top quality antiques in one place before (and this includes the thousands of antique stores that I have been in). After we all ate lunch, we gathered around a large table and I taught the class. I feel like I should have paid these women!!! LOL..it was so much fun, and I really needed to get away, and relax for the day!!! Thank you ALL!! I truely enjoyed it, and hope to see you in Florence on the 5th!!

Well, after coming home from the class, I stayed up about an hour and a half, and at 7:30pm--I went to bed. (This is SO UNHEARD of for me!). But, I slept like a rock until 3:30am, and woke up feeling like a new person!! I have changed so many things about my life, that I think my health is getting exceedingly better every day! I have cut out a great deal of junk, sugar, and am finally losing a little weight--from working in the studio for hours, and hours, and not stuffing my face all the time!! I have also been taking vitamins, and Airborne, and drinking a lot of water..it is really paying off!! I have felt FANTASTIC for a while now! Anyway--I got up at 3:30, and at 5am, Nature Boy and I headed to the Chattanooga Market to sell art. This place TOTALLY ROCKS!! I love, love, love it!!

We set up our booth, which we are getting faster at doing, and I went around and bought all of my fresh produce for the week. One of the reasons that I love going to this market is they have all of this wonderful fresh produce..and I can do my shopping for the week, and sell my art at the same time. This week the market's theme was BBQ. They had a BBQ cook-off, and the crowds were UNREAL. There must have been a gazillion people there this weekend. I did real well in sells, and at the end of the day, I was extremely happy...THEN..THEN..this woman walked up to my booth..and BOUGHT NOT ONE, NOT TWO...but FOUR of my art dolls!!!!!!!! I almost fainted!!! She couldn't decide which one she wanted, and bought ALL four!!! OMG!!! Those were my high-end items, and I am scurrying already to replace them. Luckily, I have 3 more in the works...

I really seriously don't know how I am going to keep up with my sales. I have prints, and they sell well, but I am having to do about 20-30 NEW pieces a week!! I didn't even get all of my stuff photographed and put on here last week. It's crazy!!! Thank you Lord Above!! I am also down to about 20 dominoes. I started 5 weeks ago with about 150...those little things sell like hotcakes.

This week's agenda is packed!! I have to do some more art dolls, at least 5 angels, 5 assemblage dolls, THREE LARGE PAINTINGS!!( A woman wanted a specific size), some more little wood block paintings, and AT LEAST 50 dominoes...Clone me PLEASE!!!!!!! On that note--I have to get busy!!

I did the painting above last night. It is 12 x 12 on Birch Plywood, acrylics. He looks tired..I must have painted what I felt last night..heheheh... Hugs to you all!
Live Artfully!
~~Suzan~~