Love your LIFE

A sketchy day

Another sketch I completed a few days ago. I used a photo from a magazine and his name is Tony Duran. Sketching helps me to figure out the tones and values. I use colored pastels to add some color - in this one I used grey for the shadows.

Chanel Iman

Feels great to be home on a Monday morning and not have to go to work......anyhoo no time for play...gotta paint, upload the shop, update various media, print...............!! the list is never ending but making art takes priority. Just finished this sketch of a lovely model from one of my fashion magazines. Now I have to transfer to canvas. Have a lovely day people....life is good!

Busy Bee that's me

I have decided to pursue my art full time and last Friday was my last working day in the corporate world. Today I have been busy cleaning up the studio, packing away my craft supplies as I make more room for my art stuff. D will be revamping the studio completely to make desk space for both of us as we both will be running our own businesses from home. He does contracting work while I will be selling my original artwork.

So the plan is to create desk space for both of us, increased storage for dedicated craft, art and screen printing supplies. I also need a racking system to store the finished oil paintings and somewhere to dry them. Luckily the studio is in our lower level and I can control the lighting with track lights. I think next year calls for a big yard sale and getting rid of everything that is piling up in the crawl space.

I don't have an image for this post but leave you with a link to one of my favorite artists Carol Marine - such a talented lady with such a distinct style.

www.carolmarine.blogspot,.com

Etsy Treasury - featured for the third time

Oh Joy - I got featured in an ETSY TREASURY for the third time. Getting featured in a treasury means you get featured on the home page of etsy and that is more views by potential buyers.

The painting was Butternut Squash and CLICK HERE to see the entire collection created by the lovely SarahJohnAfana.

CLICK HERE TO BUY

What is an ETSY TREASURY? 
TheTreasury is an etsy member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just whoever they like.

Click on www.etsy.com to see the other treasuries created.  

SOLD

A portrait of my handsome nephew Liam. 

via the blog 'When I grow up'

And today begins my creative journey..............!!

Limpid pools

This is Britt. Co owner of Portland Garment factory.

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Another painting from Urban Weeds done from a black and white photograph. D and I spent all of sunday photographing the artwork in vintage settings and we were very happy with the results. I knew I wanted the vintage suitcases and typewriter. It was his idea to add the yarn to bring in a soft element and I believe it works! 

All photography by Dhiraj D'Souza. 

Painting portraits

This is Sarah.Owner of Lille Boutique

CLICK HERE TO BUY

The above painting was done from a photograph from the Urban weeds: Portland Street Style blog. The photographer the immensely talented Lisa was kind enough to allow me to paint her stunning pictures and above was my first shot at painting a colored painting from a black and white photograph. 

Sarah the model, owns a beautiful shop called Lille Boutique that deals in vintage lingerie and wedding gifts. You can see more of Sarah and Lisa's work in their links above. 

Portraits

This is Rosa. She writes poetry.

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Completed this painting on my wood panel I mentioned in an earlier post and liked the way the paint dried on it. The grain shows somewhat despite the three layers of gesso but I think it just adds to its overall effect. Enjoyed doing this portrait and have completed a few more after this. I have been sketching alot lately in charcoal and pastels. Will post some of those later. 

Etsy Treasury

Woohoo - I got featured in an ETSY TREASURY. Click on below to see the adorable collection created by the talented WOOL CRAZY who makes decorations from recycled fibres.  

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ENTIRE TREASURY - EARTH FAIRY THEME

(The painting of blushing turnips is mine)

CLICK HERE TO BUY

What is an ETSY TREASURY? 
TheTreasury is an etsy member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just whoever they like.


Click on www.etsy.com to see the other treasuries created. 


This is the second time my work has been featured and I feel pretty honored. The painting from the first treasury which was themed "Pears" has sold.

Here's to the Crazy ones

The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.


Back in 1998 my old boss sent this to me saying the words 'fit' me. Today August 20, 2010 I came across it in another blog.....exactly 12 years later...........


It's amazing how others can see 'us' more clearly than we see ourselves. 


To all the crazy ones...............

Change

Via The dreamy giraffe collection on etsy 

Bid now!!

BID ON MY PAINTING

I have completed 100 paintings on panels today and to celebrate my success I am offering one of my panel paintings up for auction. Bids start at US $ 25 and all bids will close on August 15, 2010 at midnight. Just leave your bid here in the comments and I will ship this painting all gift wrapped to your special one. Bidding starts now!! Artist: Lynda D'Souza, Title: Journey, Oil: 8x8.

SOLD 

What is Etsy?

Etsy is a social commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. These items cover a wide range including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys. Many individuals also sell craft supplies like beads, wire, jewelry making tools and much more.  The site follows in the tradition of open craft fairs, giving sellers personal storefronts where they list their goods for a nominal fee. It has been compared to "a crafty cross between Amazon and eBay",and to "your grandma's basement".


I set up my Etsy shop "70 popes" last year but began stocking my art in the shop early this year. You will have to set up an account to purchase items from Etsy. There is no charge for setting up an account and it is fairly straight forward with the payment taking place in the back end through visa / mastercard / amex and paypal.


Do stop by to check out Etsy and also my shop. You will be pleasantly suprised...............happy shopping! 

www.etsy.com

Today

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”


 - Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back

Painting panels

After painting on hardboard for the last few months I am now trying out the wood painting panels in dims of 12 x 12". I purchased them at Curry's in Missisauga and love going to that store as they allow my little pug to roam freely in the aisles and feed him treats. And the sales people are very very nice and extremely helpful.

Before I start painting I usually put 3 coats of gesso, and sand each coat in between. The new panels feel very sturdy and the 2" depth allows me to paint the edges in a contrasting color.

age is just a number

Via thenotebookdoodles.com

The notebook doodles is a wonderful collection of thoughts of a very special lady. If you have a moment do drop by her blog to read more of her work. Link above.

Will This Work??

Do you lay out your clothes the previous night or are you the type that just stands in your closet for 15 mins the morning of, trying to come up with something that will work? Do you find the outfit straight away and dressed in 5 mins, or do you end up trying 3 different combinations before going with the "comfortable" option? You have probably figured me out by now - when times are tough.....throw a pretty scarf on.

I usually use a colored ground for my paintings but this time I decided to not cover the background color and just leave it like it is. A nice contrast of sorts! 

Oil on Hardboard - 8 x 8 inches

Title: Will this Work

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Click on the image to view it in a sample of frames

Frames and mats shown here are for display purposes. Painting is sold unmatted and unframed

Largest painting

SOLD

This is the largest painting I have done. I sometimes embark on projects larger than life and surprise myself when I do see it through. This was a commission from a lovely lady of Kenyan origin and the painting now resides in her home in Australia. The painting is an abstract composition of a matrix of Masai warriors on a heavily textured surface. The background color which was a total of 6 layers of color, was scrubbed  on with cheesecloth. 

This photo was taken out in our home in Dubai and you can see a bit of the mural I did on the garden wall.