New Little Sisters and New Media Combinations

I love to be inspired to combine media in new ways.  I recently took a workshop with artist Kate Thompson (via the Jeanne Oliver site).  Highly recommended! Kate is gracious and generous and her techniques are lovely.

Since, I've been madly combining watercolors (an old, trusted friend) with charcoal (we've had a few dates - nothing serious) and chalk paint (the new kid on my block).  I love the soft but still-washy effect that happens when the chalk is introduced to a watery mix.  Swoon...

I'm mostly working on my favorite watercolor paper (Fabriano Artistico, 140#, hot press) with a little vintage ledger paper thrown in for texture.

See what you think.  These have been added to the Etsy store.  Thanks so much to all who are looking and playing along!

Little Sister, No. 26

5x6", mixed media on paper

Little Sister, No. 29

5x6", mixed media on paper

Little Sister No. 23 Plus a New Framing Option

First let me introduce Little Sister No. 23.  Her background is painted tissue -- remember when I was dancing around the studio painting paper?  But I think my favorite part is her washy face... I love a washy face.  This one required a lot of tiny cutting -- a handy project while I binged a few episodes of Reign (Netflix).  And then I went a little nutty with a pencil -- mark making all over the place.  Deciding she needed drop earrings.

Also, I finally found a frame I like for these Little Sisters.  I've put them as an option in the Etsy store.  Scroll all the way down to see No. 23 framed!  They are black wood, measure 10" x 10" x 1.75"deep, and have a linen-y background.  If you want your Little Sister framed, just purchase that in addition to the collage.  I'm happy to secure your art into the frame and ship for no additional charge.  The frame has a hook on the back so it can be hung.  Or it would look darling in an easel.

Little Sister No. 23

5" x 6", mixed media collage

available in my Etsy store

(scroll down to see framing option)

Black Framing Option (frame only)

10" x 10" x 1.75" deep

available as a separate purchase in my Etsy store

Little Sister No. 21 | Need a Plumber in Manhatten?

I'm officially in love with this Little Sister.  Of course, I think her message is sooo relevant and something I'm thinking a lot about right now as storms of all kinds ravish our world.  But, from an artsy-fartsy perspective, I positively swoon over the array of materials in this one tiny (5"x6") piece of art.

Little Sister No. 21

available on Etsy

(I also listed a cute frame I found on Etsy but more about that later)

click photos for larger view

Her wings and halo are made from hand painted phone book pages.  Yes, Miss Hotel Owner, I'm that person.  But really, if you're at a fancy-schmancy hotel in New York City, how many people staying in room 913 are going to need a plumber?  And who uses a phone book anymore, anyway?  Based on that alone, I almost pinched the whole book but it was heavy and I wanted my bag in the overhead bin!  Isn't it a lovely shade of magenta now?  Love that phone book texture

Her hair is security-envelope turquoise.  Thanks, Mr. Right!  And her face is vintage ledger paper.  I'm getting crazier and crazier about square cheeks, I think....

#artistsforharvey

Thanks so, so much to my great collectors - what an awesome group!  We continue to send prayers, best wishes, and support to our fellow Texans.

#artistsforharvey

Dear Friends,
I've just posted these 3 Port Aransas oil paintings to my Etsy store.  Listed at discounted prices, I will donate 100% to Hurricane Harvey relief if purchased before the end of September.  They are the three remaining oil paintings from a series of work I did following many wonderful trips to Port A.  I look forward to going back!
#doingwhatwecantohelp  #portaransasismyotherhometown

Catchin Rays

12x12, oil on panel

Still Catchin Rays: Trading Spaces

12x12, oil on panel

Catch of the Day

11x14, oil on panel

Little Sister No. 10

So delighted that Little Sister No. 10 found her forever home... Away she goes!!  I love her big overstuffed chair/hair and the way those legs drop down into earrings.  Boy, as an artist, you just can't make this stuff up!   Big thanks to my collectors for engaging with my art and my heart.

Little Sisters No. 19

I love playing with these girls.  No. 19 is a modern-day angel with an Alice in Wonderland dress, made from a book page that's been hand painted.  Her wings are small but mighty.  

I dream of hairdos.  And I love to find some scrap/s of paper in my stash and make random hairdos out of them.  Don't you want to wear polka-dotted polka dots in your ponytails?

You can click on any photo and see it larger.  No. 19 is up on the Etsy store and available!

Lessons Learned in the Junque Journal

Too many to mention: the lessons I learned in this junque journal..... small j's.

Because the lesson I keep trying to learn is 'don't take any of this too seriously.'  This is art -- small a.

I like the common color palette throughout the book.  Not strict but also not too far afield.

And then from there, it was really anything goes. And that lesson was fun too!

I'm so inspired by my peers. Again, too many to mention.  

I want to do it again. Soon.  

Thanks for meandering through the book with me, dear reader.

More Junque Journal Pages

I love working with ribbon I can dye and ruffle!  And then sew into a pretty little book. :)

I want to experiment with embroidery on paper.

I love my teachers; I'm grateful for my muses.

The Junque Journal, Part 3

For me, an art journal is a learning space.  An experimental space.  Strictly pleasure.  Check out the pink crepe paper ruffle.  :)  Let me just say that learning to sew crepe paper is a hoot --- so cheap for so much product and super easy to dye.

Confession:  I'm passionate about words and I like quotes.  Funny quotes.  Wise quotes.  Witty quotes.  I admire people who come up with a short set of words that tell a story.  And I really like an art journal where I can ponder a good quote while I create with it.  Prettify it.  Play with it.
Are you passionate about words, dear reader?

Bits & Bobs: More Pages from a Junque Journal

In the spirit of "everything but the kitchen sink," here are a few more pages from this art journal.  Really it's just stuff I like to look at, all put-and-stuck together.... somehow..... with something. And then something else, on top.  I hope you like its randomness.

A Pretty Little Junque Journal

I made a little book.... maybe we call it a "junque journal" or a "glue book."  I just wanted a place where I could cut and paste and paint and sew and write.  

For the base I used all kinds of papers, both vintage and new, including lots of Fabriano Artistico 140# Hotpress.  This paper makes me swoon.  I truly love it that much -- so great for any medium, from pen and watercolor to collage to acrylics.  The journal's design is based on Teesha Moore's Amazing 16-Page Journal (Google and find the videos on YouTube for excellent step-by-step).  "Amazing" is an understatement -- I've made a gozillion of these over the years.  A 16-page journal from one sheet of 22x30 paper.  Amazing.  

For this project I added a number of signatures.  I did most of the machine sewing before sewing the journal together. Blackboard paint, ball fringe and S&H Greenstamps, washi tape, doilies and dry cleaning tags, and flowers.  Lots of flowers.  Pure eye candy.  More photos to come!

Little Sisters, the Collage Paintings Continue

A few more in the series.  My hands are covered in glue and paint and happiness!  Check them out on Etsy for more photos and info.  Thanks for looking.  

On Dust-Settling, an Etsy shop, & New Art

Greetings Friends,  It's good to be back.  The past few years have been busy -- Mr. Right and I have graduated one from college, launched one into college, and built our dream 'empty-nesting' house.  I've gone back to full-time school-marming, with plentiful time in the studio during evenings and weekends. I'm not candy coating it -- there have been some rough spots. And maybe we'll go into all that later but for now suffice to say, no surprise, the creative process continues to be a mainstay of joy in my life. And so let us commence with joy!

I want to show off a few things but first, drumroll please, I'm opening a new Etsy shop! Just like the blog, it's name is MitziEasleysStudio (Etsy doesn't allow spaces...).  There are links both in the column to your right and up at the top of the blog on a new tab named "SHOP."  I'm still setting things up, moving displays around, dusting and primping but please join me there!

To celebrate the shop opening, I've created a new series of little postcard-sized collage/paintings collectively called the Little Sisters.  They are soooo fun, a little bit quirky, and perfect for gift-giving.

Some have messages; some don't.  

  

Some are angelic.

Stay tuned; I'll post more.  Perfect on just a little easel.   Aren't they a tickle?