say it out loud . . .

it's been some time since i last posted - life gets crazy sometimes.  in the last 6ish months i've taken on a medium and it's been quite the learning curve.

it all started about a year ago when somebody asked me if i could paint on a coffee cup.  i have been widely suspecious of this idea.  pinterest says you just use a sharpie and bake it!  pshhhh.  that's too easy to work, right?

RIGHT!  it doesn't work, so i threw in the towel on the simple idea and moved on.

then i get another request - to paint caricatures of a bridal party on glasses.  apparently it's something people do, now, and there's people all over etsy to prove it.  proof that it can be done!  that means i just haven't found the right process, so i researched until i found it.

that was an awfully long way of saying that i paint on ceramics and glass, now.  behold . . .

 these are the bridal party caricature mugs mentioned above, or at least a portion of them.  it was a rather large group ;)

i was provided with photos of each person as well as details about what they would be wearing in the wedding (the girls could choose a variety of dresses), and any details not evident in the photos (eye color, if they always wear glasses, etc).  this was my first project in caricatures and in painting glass, so it was an experiment to say the least.

close ups!

 the bride and groom

after that i just started playing around . . .

 my splendid bunny series ;)

true collaboration . . .

i recently coordinated a project that required the artistic abilities of myself and my 2 kiddos.  they love to paint, so i let them, and we're all pretty happy with the final product.

step 1 - the little man

 he's 3, the youngest "collaborator", so he goes first.  i provided him with a canvas, a paint brush, and a tray of "cool" paint colors that he chose himself.  i limited my input to directing him to paint the white areas, and he really stepped up to the challenge.  he had a blast, and really did not think he should have to stop.
i know some people tarp off an area when they let their little ones paint.  i think it's more work that it's worth.  i put him in a t-shirt that was already stained, and that's as far as my prep went.  acrylic cleans up easily with a sponge.

step 2 - big sister

after step 1 was dry, i let the 10-year-old have her turn.  she got a palette of "warm" colors and she was free to doodle on the already-painted background.  i told her that some of her work would get covered up, so it was more about having fun than painting a picture.

and step 3 - making it work

would i have hung it on the wall as-is?  yes, probably.  i'm a mom, so all the stuff they make is precious.  but this was a set project, so there was my part to finish.

i was inspired by an image i found on pinterest, which seemed appropriate given the project.

i drew it out and then painted the sky and grass areas white before the blue/green.  the space between the hearts was a particular kind of torture.  then i went back in with a fine brush to do the black outline and then the white highlights.

i'm pretty proud of my fine brushwork.  it's definitely a developed skill and i'm finally comfortable with most any project requiring it.

jo

paint

long time no blog.  i've been getting my paint on recently, so a little sneaky peak of a few things i've whipped out recently . . .

 botanical skull painting on canvas.  inspired by a black and white image i saw online, just add color!

this painting is based on an elevation image of the moon

painting on book pages - these are my spring trees

book page painting of love owls - awww

later . . .

jo

inventory

if you see something you like just shoot me an email about it at josasser@yahoo.com .  if you are local i can arrange a delivery/pick-up, or i can create a reserved etsy listing for the item for you. 

ART
-only a portion of available art is listed here.  contact me for more!

'dorothy'
16x20" canvas board for simple framing
landscape or portrait - there is no "up" in this piece

'helen'
16x20 canvas board for simple framing

'world peace'
7" wood disc wall ready
#184

'i carry your heart'
7" wood disc, wall ready
features a quote from the e.e.cummings poem
'this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart . . . i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)"
#156

'he loves me'
7" wood disc, wall ready
#158

'wanda'
8x10" canvas board for simple framing
$45
(see it in my etsy store)

'frankie'
 painted book page dry mounted on 5x7" black cardstock

'oliver'
 painted book page dry mounted on 5x7" black cardstock

'orville'
 painted book page dry mounted on 5x7" black cardstock

'otto'
 painted book page dry mounted on 5x7" black cardstock

'amber spring'

'lavender spring'

COWLS/SCARVES
- all my scarves and cowls are crochet by me.  i use a variety of yarns that includes acrylics, wools, alpacas, and handspuns, so please read the descriptions for those details.  i accept custom requests.

ruby red cowl with mother of pearl buttons
acrylic, super soft
#235

gray cowl with electric yellow buttons
acrylic, super soft
#238

gray cowl with teal buttons
acrylic, super soft
#239

gray confetti cowl with brown buttons
100 % wool, very warm
#240

gray and white cowl with teal buttons
100% handspun angora wool, soft
#241

pink, orange, gray cowl with tan buttons
100% handspun wool silk, very soft
#243

pink, orange, gray cowl with tan buttons
100% handspun wool silk, very soft
#244

cowl in fall colors with wooden buttons
gorgeous in person - photos do this yarn no justice!
100% handspun wool
#245

purple/gray cowl with purple buttons
50% wool, 50% alpaca, very soft
#346

black cowl with hot pink buttons
acrylic, super soft
#000

aqua cowl with red buttons
acrylic, super soft
#233

lime cowl with teal buttons
acrylic, super soft and thick
#236

plum cowl with wooden buttons
acrylic, super soft and thick
#234

gray/purple/blues/browns cowl with purple wooden buttons
50% wool, 50% alpaca, very soft
#242

purple and gray nubby scarf
acrylic, very soft, 61" long
#228

nubby scarf in blues
acrylic, very soft, 50" long
#229

scarf in pinks and browns
acrylic, super soft, 72" long
#230

child's scarf in blues with coordinating removable flower hair clip
scarf is acrylic and super soft, 42" long
flower clip is felt with a blue button
#195/196

cream scarf with cascading red peonies
acrylic, super soft, 77" long
#231

WREATHS

12" ruby red yarn wreath with aqua painted cardstock butterflies
#264

10" gray yarn wreath with blue painted cardstock butterflies
#265

12" flatback yellow yarn wreath with orange stripes and gold/plum/ruby red yarn mums
#266

BROOCHES
- cockroach brooches

(see it in my etsy store)

 HEADBANDS
- this is just a portion of what is available.  contact me for more!

 

RECYCLED, UPCYCLED, and GREEN

recycled crayon - heart
pinks/reds

recycled crayon - jersey
shown in camo, but many colors available

recycled crayon - plane
many colors available

recycled crayon - rocket
many colors available

recycled crayon - star
shown in blue, but many colors available

recycled crayon - trophy
shown in blue, but many colors vailable

recycled crayon rainbow pack - stars

square flower box in red and aqua decoupaged with old book pages
4.5" across
#263

round flower box in purple/yellow/blue decoupaged with old book pages
4.5" across
#269

round flower box in purple/yellow/blue decoupaged with old book pages
4.5" across
#268

round flower box in purple/yellow/blue decoupaged with old book pages
4.5" across
#270

wool dryer balls
for replacing dryer sheets!
several colors available

sugar skull owl in cool tones
 3" thrift shop owl given a new, much more fabulous life

large sugar skull owl
 5" thrift shop owl given a new, much more fabulous life

JEWELRY
 

'rose' vintage lace hankie pendant
1x2"
#251

'daisy' vintage embroidered hankie pendant
1x2"
#252

'rosebud' vintage embroidered hankie pendant
1x2"
#253

purple necklace featuring handmade beads made from magazine pages
20" with magnetic closure
#256

pink and brown necklace featuring handmade beads made from magazine pages
19" with magnetic closure
#257

yellow and orange necklace featuring handmade beads made from magazine pages
17" with magnetic closure
#255

'harvest'
bracelet
100% wool hand-felted beads
#049

necklace
100% wool, hand-felted beads that fade from lime green to aqua, alternating with frosted acrylic beads
17"
#161

'sweet lavender'
necklace
100% wool, hand-felted beads with alternating glass beads
18"
#163

(see it in my etsy store)

'peacock'
22" necklace
100% wool, hand felted beads
 #162