My Mother...

Taking a break from my art today to pay a tribute to the most important female in my life.  This is my mother, a true redhead, with the kindest heart for children.

Recently our local newspaper asked on facebook who our favorite all time teacher 

was...Hands down, it was my mother, Lawanda Davis. She was my teacher before I 

ever entered a schoolroom. Long before she obtained her teaching degree to teach 

handicapped children (when we attended college side by side) my mother was my 

teacher as well as a teacher to the kids in our neighborhood. 

She was always doing little things for kids. She built forts with sheets under our 

dining table. Helped us set up lemonade stands and drink the leftover lemonade! 

Hosted Halloween parties, that I still hear about when I meet up with old 

friends today. She helped kids do their homework at our house when she realized 

they had no help at home.  When neighborhood mothers 

wanted to take a nap or go shopping they sent their children to our house to "visit" 

because they knew my mom would watch after any child in her presence. 

I don't think my mother knew what a nap was and shopping was for milk and bread! 

I would often come home and find my friends with Mom 

because they had a problem they wanted to ask her about. That went on from 

childhood through adulthood, and particularly in college, when my friends faced 

things they did not even want to share with me. When I shared troubles or concerns 

with her, she would ask, "Do you want my help with this? or my opinion? or do you 

want me to just listen?" 

Often I said, "yes." and her advice and wisdome still rings in 

my ears today. If I declined her offer, she understood that I just needed a sounding 

board. You cannot imagine how much I want to talk with her, especially on days like 

today, I would sure like to have her here beside me, but she is still with me in my 

heart. She was the most awesome MOM ever. I know lots of people say that about 

their mothers, but I feel it every single day as I continue to hear the lessons she 

taught me. 

I love you and miss you more than you can know, my sweet "Monda."

NATIVE SKULL

This is a skull that I painted for a Keetoowah Cherokee Native American veteran.  The gentleman is one of several who serves as an honor guard for the Keetoowah Nation.  

I used mostly the colors from the Keetoowah flag. And I misted it with Radiant Gel Shimmering Mists from ColourArte.com.  Really added a nice little kick to the painting, though that never photographs well.  Wish you could see how much spark the Radiant Gel Pearl Mist  gave this skull.

Feather Flames Watercolor for ColourArte

Here is my next project for  ColourArte.com/blog that will post on Monday, May 4, 2015.  It is called FEATHER FLAMES.  You will find a tutorial video there explaining how I drew and painted this watercolor.  I try to keep my tutorials short and to the point, so click on it and watch.  If you have any questions email me at studioabsee@yahoo.com

I had so much fun with Twinkling H2O's  from ColourArte.com that I immediately placed another order so I can have more of these lovely shimmering watercolors.  One thing I like about them is that they are activated with water about 5 minutes before you use them, thus they are travel friendly!  No spills in the car!  That is an incredible PLUS for me.  I like to have easy access to my materials whether I am going across country or to a sporting event. Twinkling H2O's (sometimes referred to as "Twinks") are easy to carry, and I can choose my color scheme before I leave home eliminating extra bulk of unnecessary supplies.  LOVE 'EM!

Updating Vintage Children's Books Tutorial

 Here is a vintage book that I used to test Twinkling H2O's 

The page below is printed with only two colors, green plus a black outline.  Typical of the times, there are only three colors (green and turquoise, with black outlines) in the entire book.

 I'm going to jazz it up with a makeover!

Painted the photo and margins with Twinkling H2O's with crisp edges on the bird, but using a wet into wet technique on background

Habitat for Humanity Donation: TIME FLIES

FRONT VIEW

BACK VIEW

Each year  Habitat for Humanity in Tahlequah, Ok, conducts a fundraiser using to benefit building, remodeling, and repairing houses in the city.  The organization asks area artists to create or decorate a birdhouse.  The birdhouses are displayed in businesses throughout Tahlequah and then placed in a silent auction.  I am so proud that I was invited to join them this year.  There is an enormous need in this area, but few resources, so if you would like to know how  you can help this worthy organization, click here:  

 TAHLEQUAH AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

What fun I had creating this decorative piece! 

The shimmery colors of ColourArte Radiant Gels were  the perfect paints to give a metallic finish to molded-paper gears, keys and locks! 

To see complete instructions and a video on how I made this donation, go to ColourArte.com and click on "Time Flies" on the sidebar or click on this link:

 

                                           TIME FLIES

DETAIL of FRONT

Side 1

Side 2

Full free instructions and videos for making this and other projects can be found at:
ColourArte.com/blog

Peacock Feathers created with ColourArte Paints

I truly enjoy working with my new paints from ColourArte.com!!!

I used several Radiant Gel Dimensional Paints to create this composition.  The only thing I regret is that I cannot get the lighting correct to show the wonderful shimmer of the colors in the painting.  

Fancy Paper Feathers-A ColourArte project

If you would like to see a full tutorial and video on how I made these Fancy Paper Feathers go to Colourarte.com/blog 

For my third ColourArt project, I made Fancy Feathers!  I have made these for several years, but the project has grown from a simple hymnbook feather to very fanciful, fun decorations made from all kinds of discarded papers and found objects! 

Add shimmering colors with Radiant Gel Dimensional Paint and Radiant Rain Shimmering Mists and Daubers and these feathers become individual works of art!