Thinking Outside the Box

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Some paper I made, books I designed and handmade bindings from my college days.

My biggest fans, proud of their mamma when I entered my first  International Marlin Magazine Art Gallery Contest and got in!!!

my art process and How it has evolved,
so far

When I exhibit my artwork, whether at a fine art festival or in a gallery, I am frequently asked “how do you do it?” or “what is your process?” And, "how did you start out with this idea?".

the short story

I started to bring my artwork outside the border in college but at that time I only really worked with charcoal, pencil and ink. I was introduced to paper making, printmaking and book design classes and absolutely LOVED them. I started illustrating more and would continue my work out onto homemade pages I created that folded this way and that in my  handmade books.
I also illustrated music posters for my boyfriend, now husband, who was/is a huge music lover. In these posters I would experiment and bring my work outside the borders. Adam liked that I "thought outside the box"  so I started to do so even more. I also enjoyed showing off my art skills to him and loved challenges so my goal was to make sure that each illustration was better than the last, which was great practice. I wish I had photos to show you of these old poster designs but, they are currently buried up in our attic somewhere. And honestly, it's waaaay to creepy and hot up there to search for. Yes, I am not fond of the dark. I admit it.

Years went by, we had jobs and I didn't really work on my art much. By 2009 we had lived in South Florida for five years and we had our two boys. One afternoon when Conlan and Brannen were napping, and I didn't feel like doing the laundry or washing the dishes, I decided to get out some old art supplies. I found some watercolor paints that I had never used before. They were not my favorite medium to use in the past, I found them very difficult to work with.  I decided to get them out anyway.   I played around and after a couple weeks I grew to really like them! Unlike college, instead of getting frustrated, I just decided to go with the flow. It wasn't like it was for a grade, right?! I painted loosely and pretended that the mistakes were meant to be. I suppose that I had more patience too after having our boys. It all fell into place and just felt right. Eventually I started my own business and I sold commissioned paintings, dog portraits, special occasion invitations and painted more for family and friends. I gained confidence and started applying to fine art shows and started entering contests here and there. I combined my love and passion for our tropical setting here in Florida using watercolor paints with illustrating on top of the painting and extending it out on to the mat creating a "window of color". Painting with watercolors is so much easier for me now because of the change in subject matter. I gain inspiration from the sights and sounds, including the beaches, canals and nearby fishing villages here where I live. Water is included in almost every aspect of Florida life and I love that I can use watercolors to make my artwork look and feel more fluid like. I really feel like I was meant to be here in Florida to paint.

fun fact

This little stinker, now 13, is the reason why I usually have at least a splash or two of paint in each my paintings. It kind of has become sort of a signature that I'm known for (and Conlan is proud of).
I was working on a big commission at our kitchen table. As I was painting and talking to my son, he playfully came up behind me and "flew" into me, as any super hero may do flying away from evil. Paint splattered directly onto the commission. I sat there and just starred at it for a little bit. He looked at me with his big blue eyes and said "sorry mamma." I hugged him and instead of getting upset about it I just decided that it was meant to be and kept working. It was too late to start over. I finished it and delivered the piece the next day as planned. I have to admit that I was worried as I handed it to my client. They ended up loving it and I took a deep sigh of relief! I think more like a few deep sighs of relief! Now, I always include splatters and splashes of paint in my artwork.

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Fun Fact

I liked ink splatters early on in my life. In third grade my cousin Jessica and I would take markers apart and blow air through them to create ink splatters on our artwork. Jessica at the time said that we should invent markers that we could sell that you could blow into easily to make splatters. I thought it was a great idea! Eventually we forgot about the idea and a few years later markers were sold in stores that you could do exactly that!!! Dang it!

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1. First I sketch out shapes onto my watercolor paper and then I add layers of paints. I get more detailed and add more color and texture within each layer.

2. Once I get to a certain point I am comfortable with, I will then start to illustrate on top of the painting.

3. I add my fine mat board over top of the painting and continue to illustrate. I extend the illustration out with both black watercolor paint and black ink.

4. When I think I am finished I will put my artwork away and will look at it the next day. Most of the time I will go back into it with more paints. Nowadays I may add some watercolor pencils/sticks to add more texture.

I also like to add hand painted cutouts to my work as you can see below. I have lots of ideas running through my head too that I will soon share!