Friday - Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces really does fit well as a title. Rounding out a week filled with: a lot of art, thoughts of art, looking back on art I've made. So ... art.

I gifted my Grandson his piece of art on Wednesday, his 18th birthday. He loved it. Even though this motorcycle didn't have a long life, it's being used to learn how to fix them mostly and he has a special place in his heart for this machine. And now has something else for his wall to add to the many handmade gifts I've given him over the years. As you can see in the photo of him opening it (I used painted papers to wrap it up in) he said "Cool!" as he saw it. Yay!🥳

In a previous post or two I've mentioned the painted paper sheets I glued together then cut down to use in my journals and on cards. I was looking at them and decided to lay them all down to have a look. The first photo they are on my table.

Some of these will go into journals but a few might get cut into strips (the longer ones especially) and used in some awesome way.

What's really nifty, to me anyway, is all of these pieces were once individual painted papers. Gluing them together and then cutting them down creates a new piece of art. The last batch I did, I didn't draw doodles or add paint to them like I had with the other sheets I made. I was tired when I put glued the sheet together and in the morning I'd cut it before remembering I wasn't really finished with it. After looking at the smaller pieces once they were cut out, I didn't like them as much. They were boring. I actually love the grungy look of a wild pencil or paintbrush or tons of squiggly lines within the art, stamps, ink, circles, stencils, etc. And so I learned something about how to approach these sheets and will take that with me when I make the next sheet. Possibly today. And I reminded myself to never underestimate the power of writing a note! If I had put a note near the large sheet I'd made, to draw doodles, etc on it, that would have saved me from looking at these pieces as "less than". However, they each can get doodles, paint and so on, on them and will become just as I like them.

Meanwhile, very little work has been done on the mosaics I have waiting patiently for me in the Purple Palace. I did a little bit on the piece sign yesterday. It's almost filled in with glass and ready to sit in the "to be grouted" pile.

This weekend we'll be celebrating my Grandson at a party and next week I have an eye exam to test for glaucoma. I'm fairly sure I have it (all of my family on my Mom's side has had it) and when I had the last eye exam recently, they suggested I go to a specialist for testing. Keep good vibes coming. I'm truly grateful for the eyesight that helps me see and create art. Hopefully I'll be able to continue for quite some time to come. 

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

 

Wednesday - Art Table Madness!

It is madness here this week! My goodness there's so much going on ... many started projects in both the Purple Palace and at the art table. I'll keep it simple, though, and share just some of the completed or almost completed photos with explanations. No need to take you into the madness with me with the WIP's (work-in-progress). 

What fun to take an existing photo of myself and make it into an abstract. Honestly it was torture at first ... I just didn't want to do it because I didn't want to ruin it. Once I realized abstract is the best way to go and what happens, happens and to just be free thinking about it; don't take it too seriously, in other words, I was good to go with it. And go I did! Twice! I shared the other self-portrait here as well. Scroll down to find it. I did this one using acrylics, stamps, collage papers, Pasca paint markers in black and white and a white gel pen. I'm not in love with it, but I keep trying every so often to find my way around faces. Why not practice with my own?! Other than hearing myself say: "UGH" once in a while, I'm learning, it's okay to fuss once in a while. 

This is some paint textured with baking soda on deli paper. Fun process and feels like sandpaper. Lots of possibilities there with this technique. I am taking a favorite art print I recently did and gluing it on the paper which is on a wooden board and has a hanger ready to get placed somewhere in my room. 

This card just sort of evolved into pink things. I didn't used to like pink, but after using magenta for a while, I discovered it's a great color to use. This card is in an art journal created with an old greeting card, wrapping paper, collage paper, ribbon and stickers. 

Butterflies are making their way throughout my art these days too. Gotta love it, because I think of my Dad whenever I use one in my art. I feel he'd like that. This is the other side of the page in the same art journal shown above with a lot going on from my own art cut and glued, to a few pieces from a greeting card, a chamomile tea box, magazine cut outs, stamps, book pages, dots, stickers and painted papers. 

This one was really fun to do. I love the paper I used for the vase. I have no idea how I made it and I'm fairly sure I'll never duplicate it. I recently got some flower stencils through Amazon and just pulled them out to use here. Wow I love them! And I used the baking soda and paint technique here as well on the flowers, along with a few collage papers and part of a sun doodle. Another art journal page.

These are the roll-off papers I use when I'm painting or using the Gelli plate. I'm in love with the second one shown here, using some of the new stencils and my favorite circle stencil. Neither of these are getting used for collage just yet. I want to keep them as they are for now. If I make enough pages like these, I'll glue them together into a large sheet and then cut them down to a nice size. Eventually, they will get used.

Here's the second attempt of a self-portrait in an art journal as well and one I like much better than the first. I used watercolor, stickers and cut outs from books and word sticker quotes. My favorite is: "darling, you are a work of art". In this case, it's true! I cut out around the glasses, hair and hat and glued it over the photo I printed of myself to use to trace the face onto paper. Part cartoon, part photo. Pretty cool. 

More collage flowers in an art journal. I love the wonky look of these two pages. I can tell as I'm making journals, I have many going at the same time, that I'm finding a style I enjoy more than others. That IS why I have been making these journals, to practice different techniques and styles and see what speaks to me.

"Creativity Takes Courage". The latest card using the cut up sheets of painted papers I made recently. I added a flower stencil in white and a strip of deli paper that looks like a film reel were added.

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Mosaic Monday

Happy Labor Day Weekend! As the four day weekend is a goof-off and relax time for us here (my Grandson's birthday is tomorrow!), I haven't been in the Purple Palace to continue working on anything mosaic. However, there are always things to share on the website (which has been updated and is finally ready for viewing!). This is one of my favorite mosaics I've made. I love the way I did it (acrylic paint, dish tiles, tempered and stained glass) and the colors too. So much love went into this bird mosaic. A true celebration of nature and love. Way cool. 😁 So here we go.

 

Bird and Sun Stained Glass Mosaic Art

Stained and Tempered Glass

8 inches

$45.50 USD

(this link sends you directly to PayPal to purchase or you can go to the website link above and purchase from there)

 

 

Illuminate your space with our enchanting "A Bird In The Sun" mosaic art! This stunning piece brings a burst of color and warmth to any room, expertly crafted to be a captivating focal point in your home.

At the heart of this mosaic is a beautifully detailed bird, delicately perched amidst a radiant sun. The sun itself is crafted in vibrant hues of orange, iridescent white, and rich yellow, creating a mesmerizing display that dances with light. The bird, fashioned from a finely detailed dish adorned with graceful vines, adds a touch of nature's elegance.

 

What truly sets this piece apart is the charming heart incorporated into the bird’s design—a symbol of love and connection that draws the eye and the heart. Surrounding this radiant sun are layers of shimmering acrylic in bold yellows and glistening gold glitter, all protected beneath a sleek sheet of tempered glass for durability and a polished finish.

Each creation is lovingly signed with my signature peace sign and dated on the back, ensuring your artwork is unique and infused with a personal touch.

 

Designed for indoor use, this 8-inch beauty is ready to hang, making it the perfect addition to your living room, bedroom, or any space that longs for a splash of joy and creativity.

Transform your home with this vibrant piece that celebrates nature and love—order today and bring the warmth of the sun into your life!

 

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Friday - Bits and Pieces

There's a lot of little things from the week I'd like to share. I'll start with the mosaic peace sign. I've been working on a section at a time up til this week. I had a spurt of energy that lasted as long as the album Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and a few songs by the Doobie Brothers. Which equaled about 45 minutes, I am guessing. I finished three sections, leaving three sections left to do before grouting. Not bad!

 I did a collage on a small bottle (sweet and sour sauce maybe?) and added wonky looking twine and an awesome earring.

 I covered a piece of cardboard from a cereal box and cut out shapes for journaling. That was a lot of fun and easy!

 I also did a card, a windowed envelope, some ink stamping, and an awesome shaped piece that came from a box (I put the red flower on it).

 Over the weekend (Labor Day weekend many have a four day weekend - enjoy your play time if you get it!) I'd like to use a few of the collage papers (shown under the red flower - pile on the left ←) I made into a large sheet then cut down into nice pieces for my journals or I can cut them down more and glue them to cards. Maybe I'll do both. And maybe I'll make another big sheet! I really loved doing that with my scraps.

And I'm working on my website ... taking the collage art prints available on Fine Art America and adding them to the website under their own heading. I have 9 collage pieces on FAA at the moment. I'm taking screenshots of a few choices offered (canvas prints, framed prints and throw pillows), putting them together using the Pic Collage app on my computer, then getting it on the website with general info and a link to take you to my page to see sizes, prices, other items offered and to purchase. Each thing offers a great turnaround time but due to upcoming winter weather, the holidays (yes, they ARE coming whether we're ready or not!) I think giving extra time, between 7-10 days, is reasonable.

Doing the computer stuff ... I used to do it for a living but I'm retired now and I find it's a lot of work for my brain, but I can do a few each morning before it goes fuzzy. Right now, at this writing, I have 2 finished. Wow. I might have to kick it up a notch. LOL

The photo above shows the editing I'm doing on the computer. It is harder now, especially when I want to be getting messy with paint or grout.

Meanwhile, I purchased a new Lamb Chop for our dog this week. I thought I was getting the small version that she always gets (I think she's shredded 4 so far) but it turns out I got the BIG version. She loves it! You can see video of her playing with it right after we gave it to her through Instagram. Check it out.
 

Happy Hinata. 💓

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

 

Wednesday - What's on the art agenda this week?

This month I'm not taking a break like I have been doing. I'm still following the moon and its phases and using the intentions I feel are important. At this time, I feel it's more important to stay connected with those who follow along with me and walk the artistic path as I go. Welcome to my art journey discoveries. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Honestly, I hadn't started out making painted papers yesterday but as always, it's what I end up doing.

I've been trying to prep cards for collage fun. In the past, I painted all of them white. Clean slate kinda thought. But it turned out I am more productive and see a more pleasing starting point if things are black. Very odd. I like to doodle on white paper but I want to collage on black substrates. I do not understand it, but I definitely go with it.

After I painted quite a few in the black acrylic, I had leftover paint. No surprise, I always do. I grabbed my Gelli plate and decided to look for some kind of something to use for a design. I have a lot of somethings, but I just wasn't feeling the desire to use the ones I've used before.

Imagine my delight when I found some egg cartons I'd kept to sort glass and beads. I saw someone do this, it wasn't my idea and if I knew where I saw it and who did it first, I'd give them credit. I'm so happy with the result.

 I made more painted papers until my bed was filled up once more. When I get to the point where my pillows are, I try to stop because I don't have the room anywhere else (the floor, yes, but animals live here, so nooo).

 One of the fun things I do is spray some water on the Gelli plate just enough to get the paint activated again. I grab some watercolor paper and do some swirls quickly on the plate with the paper, not pushing, just moving it from side to side.

 ACK! I freakin' love these! They look like storm clouds or a weather map of a storm. Maybe both.

I don't know when I'll use these papers but I'm so happy to have tried this technique. I'll definitely keep doing it with different colors. Maybe the neon colors should be next! 😁

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Mosaic Monday

 

Bohemian Sun Celestial Design Mosaic Wall Art

Stained Glass and Mirror

8 inches

$53.50 (purchase directly through PayPal here)

 

As the song says: Open up your heart and let the sun shine in!

One of the best parts about this beauty is the focal point. That brilliant bright green chartreuse! My favorite color in green. Fabulous!!

 

This is 8 inches and filled with small hand cut stained glass triangles and mirror diamond shapes all lovingly placed. Naturally I feel an energy that comes from making mosaics and I've sent that vibration in and on this sun. Something deserving for a celestial design such as this. The best thing about this mosaic are the good vibes it can exude.

The stained glass used are colors ranging in orange, amber and tan almost caramel around the center with the pre-cut diamond mirror.

 

A peace sign charm often used as my signature on my mosaics has been added.

Indoor use only.

Screenshot of my website page

 

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

 

Friday - My Grandson's Birthday Gift

It's that time again, when I wanted to make something for my Grandson's birthday. Each year, to date, it's been a mosaic. I'm fairly sure I want to try one for him for Christmas but for his birthday, I used collage papers and acrylics.

From a printout of a photo his Mom took, I traced with carbon paper and used acrylics.

It probably could have just gone like this onto the board and been acceptable, but I wanted more interest and I definitely had a lot of painted papers, so I glued down a few layers.

The original background of Malachi in orange made the motorcycle disappear, so I decided to cut it out and I used the pieces in a journal page. The papers I glued, once dry, needed a little love note to him. He won't be able to read it now. I know it's there.

Here's the final piece, ready to gift and hang. I love it and really hope he will too. 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

If you'd like to support the artist go to BuyMeACoffee and buy me a cuppa. It's always greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. 👄💝 

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com