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If you follow my adventures on my Facebook page (if you are not a liker of the page, I highly suggest you to become one if you want to be first to here from me about what’s happening in my part of the creative world), you already have seen snippets of this new Nixies over the last few weeks.

Since my husband helped me clear up my Studio, I have this big pile of «never finished»+«ugly» paintings in a box. They need to be reworked… or be entirely redone.

This is what happened with this painting. I had this huge (16×20″) painting, dated from July 2010, made on canvas board. It was ugly; I was in my «grey face round eyes» phase (don’t get me wrong, I love some of what came out during this phase, but definately not this specific one).
Okay, trying not to be ashamed (it is all about the Journey, right ?):

The start. July 2010.

I told you…
I did not start with any other intention that create another Nixie based on the January painting from Mindy’s True Free Spirit class (allow me to shorten it to «TFS» please). So I started to play around with paint, creating blocks of color to hide what I really hated, but still preserving what I liked in it.

After a few layers

I also used this hexagon stamp I love so much, and went around it to highlight it with one of my favorite color of Oil Pastel (my preferred brand is Senellier).
Still with oil pastel, I did some marks (for example the drops on the top right corner).
I used heavy gesso with a stencil from The Crafter’s Workshop (should I still say it ? you know they have my heart). I used one from Studio Calico, too.
The bright pink pieces are simply tissue paper. The brown part with line at the bottom is tissue paper, this thing used when you sew your clothes yourself you know (a pattern ? I’m not sure of the anglophone term, sorry). The beige part in the middle-left part is tissue paper too, but the wrapping kind; it has kind of a scene design on it. I don’t get tired of using it, because it adds pop, because it is semi-translucent (more or less depending on the color of it).
And last but not least, I used some other stamps (some from Hero Arts for Studio Calico, some from Christy Tomlinson by Unity). I need to check the manufacturer of this circle one I love so much, but I think it is Bo Bunny though.

Engraved Truth

You need to look closely at the painting to actually notice this word. I simply engraved/scratched it whil the paint was still wait. I love the contrast of the warm colors showing through that grey block.

Finally working a bit on her face. She is composed of plenty of layers, very thin layers after layers. This is always the part that scares me, even if I am getting more comfortable in my technique. I think I only have one solution for it: learn how to traditionally shade a face, and go from there. I will.

And a dozen of details and layers after, here she is:

«Fae».
Prints available in the shop.

«If you are not willing for the unusual things, then you’ll have to settle for the ordinary.» Jim Rohn

Here is Fae’s story:

Fae’s look is quirky. Unusual. She has beautiful fragile yet still strong shiny wings. Her hair seems to be all over the place.But she doesn’t care because she knows deep in her heart: she makes One with everything and everyone around her. She is both the Sun and the Moon. The stars in the sky that are still there even when you don’t see them.She is a perfect Being, image of what is.

Good morning/afternoon/evening !

I am so happy to share with you this new video. I want to make and share more of them this year (which mean accepting not to look for «perfect» and do shorter videos as well).

Reilly is part of my Nixies created in Mindy Lacefield new year long class called True Free Spirit. I may share quite a lot of what is going on for me in this class this year (be prepared). We have a lesson a month, but I am doing plenty of paintings around it to practice and enjoy.

This month is about creating a character with a tilted head. Which is out of my comfort zone, as most of my Nixies are facing us straight. But I love challenges, and learning. So it’s all good. And I can always ask for advices on our group, which I did for Reilly, as there were some points I was not sure where to go with her. This is priceless.

«To live is to suffer; to survive is to find the meaning in the suffering.» Frederich Nietzche

I created her on GessoBoard. I truly prefer to work on a hard surface, like wood panels for example, because of the first layer that usually is collage. Applying the paper on a hard surface is easier, especially when you need to press with your tool to get the gel everywhere so it won’t bubble.

I surprisingly went pretty simple in my first layers of papers, using only three different scrapboking papers, and two tissue paper (the dark one is bleeding tissue paper, the other one is pattern for sewing).

I used my stencils with different media for this Nixie: heavy matte gel medium and extra heavy gesso. I decided to switch to the gesso to add visual contrast with what was already happening. The paint and ink react differently on them, which is fun (but you have to keep that in mind though).

I love using items to create my marks. This time, I wanted circles and used a cork lid dipped in the acrylic paint. So much fun ! At this stage, I was loving it. The colors, the patterns, everything. It became more of a struggle after…

Seeing my character emerge is always a magical moment for me. Seeing them appear in the background and them pushing them forward. But it is something harder than it seems (this is when I think that having a sketch to follow, as I did when I began, would make my life easier ! ahah).

You’ll see in the video, I went back and forth between her face and the rest of the painting. This is my tactic when frustration strikes right in my face. Her face is composed of layers upon layers (and I did work on her after I thought she was done, so after the end of the video).

Reilly.
Prints available here.
Original available.

This arrowed spiral is one of my favorite symbol and I was happy that it popped into my head. AND it was the perfect spot for Reilly’s message

Here is the video. I hope you’ll enjoy:

If you are a regular reader of this space, you probably know I am a deep fan of Mindy Lacefield (a.k.a. Tim’s Sally) and her art. I am currently in her year-long class beautifully called True Free Spirit. We will be having a project a month (I think) and started with this one where we create this tall beautiful character.

Maybe because it is the beginning of the year, I felt the urge to create something even more meaningful than usual. Using my symbols. Words to guide.

I am learning from my struggles.
I am loving the process.
I am surrendering to what comes.
I am listening to the Inner Voices.

Here is where I stand today. I feel like there is still work to do to sense she is complete, though.

Yes, she has a third eyes. She is seeing deep beyond.
Yes, she even has a mouth. To sing chants to Mother and Father.
Yes, she is very tall. So she can shelter the one who needs one.

…to be continued…

Hi !

I found out that I have prints around that were never listed in my shop (can you believe that ?!). It is a good thing I decided to make the inventory of what I got and to cross this list with what was in Inner Worlds.
So I am listing them, they will be better in new homes

«Autumn». 8×10 print available here

Autumn is a very warm Nixie.
She loves taking care of others.
She appreciates making her close friends and relatives happy, no matter what.

Autumn knows that a happy heart is a happy soul.

She is kind, compassionate, loving, devoted.

You can purchase 8×10 prints of her right here.

In other news, I am changing my prints. Until now and since I’ve started selling prints of my artworks, I was using a extern prints provider. My prints are real good archival photo like items. And I love them.
However, because of the end of the year madness, it takes more time to get my prints. I hate this kind of situation.

Soooo after talking with my husband (who is the bestest husband ever *well, he would be if he would do amazing birthday surprises but still*), we decided to finally get me a professional wide scanner+printer. I’ve been thinking about it for months, but decided against it until now.

He got me one, thanks to a good sale on the Best Buy website… and one week later, I received this beauty:

I have not bought the paper yet, but I am experimenting with regular paper first.

Soon, my prints will be made on beautiful lustre paper, with a white border for a better framing.

I will be having a print sale soon, in order to try to sell out my actual stock and redo them all with the new printer.

So excited !!!

Hello again !

I am so happy to announce I have some new paintings available for you to purchase. For now, one Sprixie and one Nixie.

They were both created on 5×7″ birch wood panel.
I really really enjoy working on a wood surface. Because it is hard. And If I want, I can let it more or less show through.

Title: «Move On»
Original available here

This Sprixie is really all about leaving what you don’t need anymore behind in order to make room for what is to come next.

He is looking right ahead, to what the future holds, refusing to stay the prisonner of the past, of the emotions and thoughts that he does not need anymore. He works hard to get rid of the hurt, to mend the wounds.
He is tired, and his heart is heavy with all those conflicted feelings. The will to change for better, and the «not knowing how to make that change a reality». The fear of not being able to find his way to his beautiful self.

But overall, he knows that all the struggles happen for his growth and that yes, everything is gonna be okay. everything is okay.

Title: «Charlie»
Original available here

Charlie is quirky and different. She even has a (teeny tiny) mouth. And small wings that trick people, because they think these wings are useless and embarassing.
She is so strong and brave, you would not know that by just looking at her. There is way more under the surface than what the eyes can see, just as much as the background composing the painting, made with layers and layers of different media (the papers, art tissue, paint, stamping, scribbling, scratching and more than I can actually remember afterwards).

For more details about their stories, please go in the shop.

Prints will soon be available in the shop as well (next week) and I am now able to offer several sizes of the same print, so if you would like bigger than 8×10, this will be made on order but available at the same time than my usual size.