The Zombie Army

Zombies continue to be still the hottest things around that are dead cold.

Is there a Zombie party planned at your house? Do you need to set the sick tone for your seriously undead friends? Fun to bring all your undead ideas together.

Start your party off with  Zombie cocktails! Warning: these are very powerful so you might want to consider switching up to something milder after one of these.The original Zombie  was concocted in the 1930's in a California restaurant and bar called 'Don the Beachcomber'. It included three different kinds of rum, lime juice, falernum, Angostura  bitters, Pernod and grapefruit juice.

Outfit your Zombie army  team, wedding guests, partygoers, and all around goodtime buds and  rotting flesh friends with a hip flask for their  Zombie Elixir - thanks to Kathy Valentino's very alive brain. Her zombie things and other cool stuff are available on Zazzle  :

Here is her undead version of a  Zombie cutting board. 
Or cutting bored. I think it is a perfect accessory for your undead celebrations. You could add marinated eyeballs made from hardboiled eggs sliced in two, turned flat side down with little centered irises made with black olives. Or you could use it as a platter for your red velvet cake:

A poster available from skeleton artist Bob Lee (b.l.inks)

will help to set the mood:

What to wear oh what to wear: 

Zombie Tees.

And here are your invitations:

Zombie Invites

The first person to leave a comment will win their choice of a gift certificate/ecard for Zazzle, Spoonflower, or dickblick art supplies!

If you are not first, please leave a comment with your suggestion for a future prize. Thank You!

Fairy Notes

W.DeWitt    Pink Pixie   watercolor 

I love beautiful fairy themed art. Like the Blue Fairy from Pinnochio (1940).  Like Cicely Mary Barker. Like Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Waterhouse. Several years ago,I really enjoyed painting a few watercolors with friends' children as models. I think the only reason I haven't continued with this series is the difficulty of aquiring new models. (While in the grocery store: "Excuse me, could I borrow your seven-year-old tutu-wearing daughter?")

Hard to get more than a silent stare out of that conversation.

Below: pair of twins posing for me. 

 W.DeWitt     Lavender Blue Lavender Green    Watercolor

I even used non-human models for a time. Rabbits were a favorite subject.

My inspiration when younger was the absolutely fabulous book The Fairy Tale Book by Marie Ponsot & Adrienne Segur.   It was published in 1958 and I still have my copy :)

Here's a Puss-In-Boots that as a six year old I thought was the most perfect Fairy Tale art. And I still do. If you can find a copy of this lovely book take a look inside.

My mother told me that when she was small she received notes from the fairies at the bottom of their garden. She knew they were from the fairies because they were written in lavender ink. Of course her mother had sent them. Can you imagine! 

And I thought I'd show a folk doll I made of my own Blue Fairy.

Now if you've read to the end of this post, first of all thank you! And add a comment below... first to comment receives their choice of a gift card/certificate/ecard for DickBlick art supplies, Spoonfeather , or Zazzle.

The Bliss of Kimono Kittens

Come and meet Canadian artist Brenda June Saydak. You'll love her art, I promise.

'Kitty Oiran & maid'

Brenda June Saydak (Moussart) 2008/Sold  ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") 

A convergence of pattern, lines, rich color and style, this artist is a master of all these things. And then she stirs in a cup of cats. You'll be saying more, please! 

Building on the Japanese style of layers of pattern upon pattern, Brenda's work is a joy for your eyes. She works mainly with acrylics on paper. Many of us in the art community respect her skill and also the expertise and her grasp of the finer points of Japanese culture. Be aware that these image are larger than they are in reality but they stand up to a close-up look. Beautifully executed.

'yuki te ume'  Brenda June Saydak (Moussart) 2008/Sold  ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") 

'haru da'  Brenda June Saydak (Moussart) 2008/Sold  ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") 

'temari  oiran'  Brenda June Saydak (Moussart) 2008/Sold  ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") 

From the artist:

My work is heavily influenced by Japanese art, something my dad introduced to me when he was working for the Japanese ambassador in Winnipeg back in the '80s. I don't like to explore the dark side of life, I would rather bring a smile to your face when you look at my art. My work mainly consist of charming and cute vignettes of life, often featuring cats, and sometimes fantasy subjects. I work exclusively in acrylics, mostly on paper. My palette is bright, cheerful and makes use of a lot of pure metallic pigments. Quality and precision are two features of my work that I value highly, which is a nod to the Japanese aesthetic, and I want my work to look as good from two inches as it does from arm's length. Authenticity is another feature of my work - I am quite knowledgeable about Japanese art and culture, especially kimono, and there is often a surprisingly large amount of research that goes into even my smallest paintings. 

For more information or to just see more of her exquisite work :

 http://blissandkittens.weebly.com/

There find links to her Etsy and Zazzle shops.  

  Brenda June Saydak (Moussart) 2008/Sold  ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") 

Valentine's Day

Ok. I have to be honest here. Every time I see a 'Happy VD!' written or spoken I am so tempted to reply 'And A Merry Syphilis To You Too!'.

Now that I have that out  of my system here are a few of my Valentine's Day images to put you in a not too sugary state of mind. 

Bacon. Just bacon. Nom Nom Nom

A step too far? You're probably right.

Everyone loves a lab !

The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts 

 all on a summer's day 

The Knave of hearts, he stole those tarts

And took them quite away! 

Hope you and your Valentine have a super day!

Come To Tea

The children in our lives should know how to connect with art, poetry and their imagination.

Encouraging children to read is all well and good but if that experience consists of solely of sitting inside on a beautiful day - well, that is simply a missed opportunity to create a magical memory day! These photos were of an 'Alice' party from several years ago. I invited moms and their small daughters or granddaughters for tea time.  Our Mad Hatter was my friend Candi's husband Larry. 

Vicki, Candi, Larry, Bobbie, Mary & others

Our 'tea' was different sorts of fruit punch. Our teacups were plastic so no little ones had to worry. Petit fours, white tents, Alice invitations, and gift bags each with a copy of Alice In Wonderland. After all, every child should Know Their Alice.

I was very fortunate that I had a mother who made sure that my imagination had a sound foundation for further adventures.

Here is Candi Iamurri's daughter Vicki with a group of teatime guests. Isn't she a perfect Alice?

I think I had more fun than the girls that day.  There were those Petit Fours after all. I was dressed as the evil Queen but no photo exists thank heavens!

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

It's the first day of the month. Which means you think about, even if you don't say aloud, the phrase "rabbit rabbit rabbit". Unless you live in the western half of the country. In which case you are convinced people just spout nonsense at times.

 Years ago this was odd enough to me to make me investigate the custom.  But I also think people are likely to spout nonsense.  This view has since increased as the years go by.

  
The subject is rabbits. Funny how the subject in art evolves for every artist. Some artists decide they will paint primarily horses for instance. Presto, they are known as equine artists. Many artists will paint whatever a client requests, but for the most part an artist who is known for a specific subject will attract buyers in that same subject.

"Artists only paint thus and so because their soul needs it."  Nice try, but artists for the most part, like to sell their work. At least once in a while. 

When I was first earning my living as a graphic artist I found it difficult keeping my fine art separate from my work art. At least in my head.  

 Keeping that creative vision inside so that your work stays true to you can be extremely difficult. Especially when your client is telling you exactly how they want the piece to look. Customers tend to ask why can't it be drawn it like this? (Client pulls out a scrunched page from a magazine featuring art from ...xyz.) Really? Today with the benefit of years of art I would simply laugh as if they were making a joke.

But back to rabbits. In my opinion nothing can bring the artist to a comfortable balance like experience and time. Although for years I painted only people and thought of myself as a portrait painter - BD (before digital files). When someone asks me today to paint their pet I can appreciate it. And not feel fenced in by the subject. Even rabbits. Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.

For The Birds

   Stork - copyright Carolynn McDade

Blackburnian Warbler
copyright Carolynn McDade

Carolynn McDade says her interest in art began about the same time as her interest in birds.

She remembers drawing portraits of her friends in elementary school and by the time she was 13 she was taking private art lessons.  After raising a family in the Lake Michigan area, her interest in painting was rekindled when she started painting and selling birdhouses and ornaments in craft fairs.

Other than the early school art lessons, Carolynn considers herself an outsider in the art community.Without any formal training as an adult, she says her technique was developed by studying original paintings, books, and online videos .

She has enjoyed a wide audience by creating ACEOs and selling them. Through ebay art buyers Carolynn has sold these small art jewels to people all over the world.  In case you were unsure what ACEO stands for : Art Cards Editions and Originals. This size of painting has to be exactly 2.5" x 3.5" to satisfy the definition of an ACEO demanded by collectors

Known for her watercolor paintings of birds, Carolynn has gained a following who prize these beautifully painted small format artworks. Including me!

Cardinal male and female      copyright Carolynn McDade

Statement by the artist:  

I live in the San Francisco bay area and spend much of my time splashing around in puddles of color creating portraits of the beautiful birds of the world. I also enjoy painting portraits of children, fairies, and various animals.  Watercolor painting keeps me satisfied and content; however, the most satisfaction comes from giving others a slice of what i love.  It's live a wonderful thing to make someone smile or feel happiness because of something I've created! 

I also enjoy hiking daily and have become an amateur photographer (birds).  I love to abandon a few pieces of miniature art at Christmas time, just to make someone's day a bit brighter. While raising a family, I had a career as a paralegal working for the largest law firm in the Midwest.  Today I'm a full-time artist. My focus for 2014 is to get out there to share art in my community.  

Fledgling Blue Jay      copyright Carolynn McDade

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American Crow   copyright Carolynn McDade

If you're lucky you might find some beautiful watercolor birds in Carolynn's eBay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/carolynnzart