Peridot Birthstone Painting

For this month's Femme Thou Art Collective auction, I created a piece inspired by my birthstone, Peridot (August born). I was initially worried about having to draw and paint gem stones, esp. in such a pale tone as lime green, but I decided to step up to the challenge and do it. 

While this piece is only letter size, the girl herself is much larger than I usually draw my figures. To be honest, it was much more challenging getting proportions right, and colouring things in. I definitely need to start working bigger! I'm still debating on whether I should have punched up the warm tones in her skin, and if she hasn't sold by the end of the week, I might just do that with pencil crayons; but I haven't made a decision if she even needs it yet. What do you think?

As for her lacy top/tattoos, it was a bit of a last minute thing that I doodled with the paint brush, but I'm really loving it. Perhaps I'll try doing even more detailed tattoos on a future painting? I've also noticed I seem to have developed an interest in gravity defying hair, and things falling down from it. It's kind of funny, because I have no idea why I like drawing hair that way. Maybe in a future painting I'll draw a whole world wrapped up in a lady's hair? Who knows!

Anyway, hope you love this piece as much as I do. I think Peridot may be my new favourite piece. ^_^
PS: Let me know if you're interested in a print! :)

Here are some photos of this piece in progress from instagram (@ sashafitzgerald):

Sugar Rush Painting

In my spare time I've been experimenting with painting on wood - in this piece in particular, I used watercolours, pencil crayons, and acrylics to complete this piece. 

I really love creating these small wooden paintings. They allow me to let go, and experiment with new ideas and new painting techniques. It's really a lot of fun! :)

If you're interested in purchasing this piece, it's available in my etsy shop. 

I hope you're all having a lovely Autumn!!

Winsome Decay

Good news! I was accepted into the Portobello West Market!!! Hurrah!
The tricky part is figuring out how I'm going to pay for it. It's going to cost me $400 smack-a-roos. I'm going to see about possibly paying in installments, or getting an extension on the deadline, or, if it comes down to it, pan-handling. Just kidding. ;)
Thank you to all those who wished me luck!

Now, onto arty things. I've been making progress on 'Winsome Decay', a painting I meant to finish for the Femme Thou Art Collective's June auction. It's turned into a really complicated piece, which means that it will take me longer to finish than I originally intended. It will still most likely be available in my shop unless it's sold before that time.

The theme of this piece is 'Life Springing From Decay'. I brainstormed a lot of different ideas along the vein of rebirth, cycles in life, things dying while other things are thriving... I think I captured the idea best with the bird's unhatched eggs in the nest, which rests inside of a skull. It's like the unborn life is being protected by the outer shell or husk of what used to bare life (and now in a way it will aid in baring life again). The mushrooms, while a subject of great interest to me, especially make sense to the theme in this piece. They are things that feed off of other things that are in a state of decay (or will be when the fungus gets to it!).

All of these different pieces are juxtaposed together to create a new meaning... new possibilities. The ultimate symbol of life in the nude female form, she who gives birth to all. But she's also there because she represents the soul. She's the shell giving the soul life and existence in this physical plane. Once she's gone and decayed, the soul will live on. A bit of morbid mixed with beauty.

>> This post will be updated with more pictures until this piece is finished 

Art and Depression Dammitttt

Well today is one of those shalajbksjasaBLAH posts.

I am busy and have lots to do, but I'm tired, broke, and desperately need a cup of coffee (even if just for a temporary rush). But I will settle for tea. I'm out of my favourite one (a yummy raspberry one made by lipton I think).

Anyway, I feel bleh, and I needed somewhere to say that. Even though things are looking up, I feel stagnated in my head. Like stuck in the mud (or soul sand, if you play minecraft).

I'm a little lonely too. And I want to go to Paris, today. I feel young, dumb, and immature, and yet like I'm aging too fast (I have way too many grey hairs... sad face). I just hope I make something out of this thing called life. I guess that's what we all hope for.

I want to take my camera and shoot the hell out of stuff. Go on adventures, take some chances, make some mistakes. Get a tattoo, or pierce something naughty.

Forget professionalism (at least for today).

Do you have any advice on how I can get out of this three year long funk? I'm getting tired of it, and bored out of my mind. One can only paint and make stuff so much until they go bonkers.

Here's some art I've been working on:

The Swan Girl, oil on wood, for an upcoming show
at Blackbird Studios in June. 

I hope you're all having a better day than I am. I think I'm going to make that tea now. :)

Acrylic Paintings, Landscapes, Sunsets, Still Life, and Mountains!S

Happy April Fools Day! 

I hope no one played any really nasty tricks on you hehe!

I was chatting with a friend last night who runs a painting group, where a bunch of girls get together for several hours and make some art. 

{They tend to use mostly acrylic paints; a medium I find quite challenging to work with.  Okay - that's a total understatement - I find them a HOLY NIGHTMARE to work with. Oils are even worse!}

SO I thought I would share some of my acrylic paintings that weren't total failures like my other attempts. 

Just curious - which one is your favourite, and which is your least favourite? My favourite is the last one, and my least favourite... well I didn't post any of those LOL. 

Sunset and Tree in Silhouette Painting

Sunset over the Ocean Painting

Chartreuse Floral Still Life Painting

Glass Jars and Flowers Still Life Painting

Purple Mountains Majesty Painting

My Work Space

Greetings everyone!

I've been busily working away on quite a few projects and have lots of updates coming for you! 

Here's a peek at what I'm working on right now - 50+ new pendant designs for my shop, Positively Petite. I'll let you know when the pendants are finished and in the shop. 

The kitchen table has been my work space lately. ^_^

Mini watercolour paintings for new pendants!

A little sketchbook where I jot down ideas for pendants.