Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. 

The Christmas decoration 'Christmas' is on my tree, it is one of my favorite ornaments. It makes for a great shot along with the blue moon and the red bauble.

Looking for a Christmas Gift?

Generally speaking it is not hard to buy a gift for those who love to create. Many artists want paints, paint brushes, art pads, sketch books, pens, pencils, easels anything art related really but what about something a little different and unexpected but has a multi-purpose use?

This product has to be one of the best investments our there for everyone and could potentially be the most talked about Christmas present. 

I suffer with cold hands, I am often tucking my hands in my pockets or wearing cumbersome big gloves when I am outdoors. I like to be able to have easy access to use my mobile phone or touching and feeling textures with my bare hands often when I am outside or something as simple as picking up my keys from my bag.  Even when I am indoors, typing on the computer, painting, sketching or watching the TV I am often pulling my sleeves down to cover my poor freezing cold hands, particularly during the cold months. 

Hand Warmer 2. $89.99 plus tax.

Wearing gloves in an office isn't really the done thing either but there is another alternative. The hand warmer pictured is excellent for artists, office workers, outdoor workers and sports folk alike. However my focus is on artists and more often than not artists are venturing outside to find inspiration, whether it be taking pictures, going out and sketching or painting, it is important to keep warm but also have the ability to keep hands free. To have such conveniences I have been using the hand warmer from iHeat Wear . I have the black one which is now on sale for $69.99 plus tax.

It took some convincing at first, I remember using hand warmers or 'hand muffs' (as we used to call them), when I was a kid and to be honest I wasn't a fan. However, this is different because the iHeat hand warmer has heated elements inside which is controlled by you. It is soft inside and oh, so cozy. It comes with  a rechargeable battery which is attached inside and concealed in the hidden compartment where you can see the zipper. The adjustable strap as seen in the image goes around your waist.

 I am in love with this product, my hands quickly heat up inside the warmer and I can easily release my hands when I need them to be free. My kids also loves sneaking in their hands after a snowball fight.

This is a new Canadian company and they have other available products like heated inner-liner gloves which I hope to get at a later date to go over my normal gloves, great for winter bike rides, hikes etc. They also have ski gloves which I am seriously looking at purchasing for when I go skiing. 

I highly recommend this product, you won't be sorry.

Doodle Frenzy.

Sometimes I don't want to paint and in-between paintings I like to doodle, sketch or do something creative. In my new art journal I have been using felt tip pens and here are a few drawings I have been working on.

#makeart Now!

Landscape.

Dolphins.

C.S. Lewis was a remarkable children's author. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is my favourite. It there was one door that I would open it would be the door of the wardrobe into Narnia. This sketch was inspired from the Walt Disney Movie cover. 

It is nearly Christmas, afterall.

#MakeArt Now!

Come and visit me on my Facebook page. Would love to see you there and build a conversation about how you make art, what you do and use my Facebook page to spread the word of who you are and promote your work. Facebook and Twitter for that matter is so saturated that it is hard to find you and what you do. Use the #makeart on your social media platforms it will make it easier to find you.

Spread the word. 

#makeart Now. 

Christmas is Nearing.

A few days ago we woke up to this in our garden, the white cold stuff, it makes you go, brrrrrr! It is so lovely to see the sun peaking through the trees and seeing fresh snow on the ground particularly when it is on a weekend and there is no need to go anywhere in a hurry.

I haven't been painting much for a while, I have a few ideas but I am working on sketches on a new, fresh, untouched art pad and I have purchased some lovely new colourful pens. I have ran out of most of my paints which is annoying but I hope to find a parcel under the Christmas tree, wrapped in glorious Christmas paper with lots of art supplies. This remains to be seen since I forgot to put it on my Santa list, I still have time though. 

Photography is also my new found passion and I am learning how to use my DSLR camera to its best ability.   

So with that on my mind I am taking a pledge where I will make art whether it be taking pictures, creating images for my blog or headers, sketching and doodling or making things with my kids like baking and getting the glue sticks out. Getting creative can help to clear the mind and be a stress release by having fun. 

I am looking forward to Christmas and I hope you are too. After what I have been through over the last few years I could do with a nice rest and peace of mind, that would be the greatest gift of all.

Art Exhibition with Kids in Mind.

On Sunday at 1:30pm I happened to stumble upon my Facebook page only to discover there was an opening reception being held for kids at the local art centre in Port Moody from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. I bundled the kids up quickly and we went for a family trip. The kids seemed to think it was going to be a boring event until we got there. My girls know this centre because they often go for classes on Pro-D days. We stepped through the door to be greeted by a lady dressed in the most amazing gecko costume. It was bright and colourful and sequined like something you would find on stage at the theater, it was fantastic. 

The paintings were hung at kids eye level and there were stickers that could be placed next to the artists you liked and which paintings you would like to recreate. There were puzzles, quizzes, sculptures, paintings and art created by kids. What a great way to get children into art.

Here are s few things at the event and the exhibition is on for a few weeks yet.

This amazing dress is in the main area in full glory. It is beautiful.

Princess Monsters From A-Z by Joelle Brandt. This room was devoted to the local author and artist Joyelle Brandt. It was an interactive room where kids could create their own Princess Monsters and pin it into the frame to exhibit. The children could also dress-up and have a picture taken behind a hanging frame. There was also a questions and answer sheet, to find the monsters special abilities. It was lots of fun for young and old. 

A fabulous event and a must see for all.

It is that time of year.

I don't know what it is about Autumn but all I want to do is go for walks during the day and stay inside at night. I get inspired at this time of the year, more so than any other time. My horse paintings through the summer came to an abrupt end when I got stuck on one painting and I got mad with it. So I stopped and have not returned since. However, I am now feeling the painting pang, and I need to start on my next project. Once the kids school and activities have settled down I think I will be able to take some time to sit and think, plan and maybe go to some art shows.

That time of year.

Horse Painting

My latest 24x24 horse painting titled 'Blue Moon'.

You can see the development on instagram. It took a few weeks to complete I was not totally happy with the main horse colour so I added the red which I think helps it to 'pop' more.

Golden - Horse Art

Here it is the final piece. 24x24 Canvas acrylic paint. The paint was wet when I took the photo and the lighting isn't at its best. The colours are more vibrant but you get the picture. I love the way the mane flows in this painting. The golden body against the red background which has varying degrees of red tones. The large chest and the strong neck of the horse with its gentle eye. 

Overall I am very happy with the three horse paintings I have created so far. I am planning on another and I may go black and white with the next one. We shall see.

My next horse painting. Golden Horse.

I have already made a good start on this. The background is blocked in red I will add to this later. The horse itself is developing its shape and colour and I have already started to add detail. It still needs more work but I think this will be finished soon.

The palomino is a colour of a horse, some have tried to turn it into a breed but really they come in all shapes and sizes so it would be hard to define as a breed. I have only ever rode one palomino, they are not all that common, at least in the UK. The pony I rode when I was a teenager was aptly named Goldie and she was lovely. The golden yellow coat and white mane makes then stand out from the crowd. They come in all shades, some are creamy some have a distinct golden coat I want my painting to reflect their golden colour with the light mane. So this painting is based on the palomino and to the lovely Goldie I once rode.

Final version of my red horse.

I think I will call this one Serenity, the image conjures up tranquility, relaxation, now rush just enjoy what is.

At this moment I am enjoying painting horses. I used to draw and colour and sketch horses A LOT as a kid I was a real horse enthusiast. I loaned and owned  horses over the years but as I got older the realization of  affording a horse on top of running a home and having a family became almost impossible so I had to give something up. However, I am back in the saddle and it is as easy for me as it was when I began. Horse riding came naturally to me and it still does. Maybe one day I will realise my dream again and do some of the things I was unable to do years ago. But for now I am taking riding lessons, painting horses and I have started to write a book. Maybe, finally I have found my inspiration once again.

Today is a lovely day so I thought I would finish this and take a picture of it outdoors, it tends to be better lighting. I am still waiting to get a higher end, camera may be this year will be the year. 

I have already started a new one which is posted above.

Horse Art Progress Report

Starting to look a little different now. The main colours have been added to the body of the horse. The background has touches of red mixed with the green, I doubt I will do much more to the background. The horse will change some more, I need to add shading and tones and the mane is going to be a much stronger colour. I am undecided on the tail (you can't see it here) technically you can't see it but I may take it away and have it appearing a little but I am undecided as of yet. I have the artistic license to do as I please, of course.

Hopefully I will have this finished by the weekend.

Horse Art - Next Project

Here is a new painting in the making. You can see where I am at with the stages and how it starts to evolve. I sketch out the horse shape first which consists of lots of lines until I am happy with the shape. Once I have determined the shape I use some very watery acylics to outline it. I like to fill in the background with the main colour I am going to use, in this case green. I fill in the hoses body with blue, but I am going to use a top colour of red with pops of blue showing through. The head is going to be the prominent feature it is going to be darker than the body and the main and tail is undecided.

By blocking the areas with a base layer I can see what changes I need to make. For instance the ear on the left is at the wrong angle, the shoulder t the right was too low down so I have moved it up, you can see the line. Using watery acrylics means that it is easier to make changes before the main colour is added. I have made the mistake before of using thick paint only to discover the proportions need changing or the paint is moving in the wrong direction and once it has dried it is hard to disguise it, if at all.

Now I will go and make the changes and start to build the colours, add the shades etc. The end result will be very different but I intend to keep the background green and the horse red. I like to use contrasting colours.

Horse Art by Stephanie Matthews

Finished today. For sale 24x24 canvas acrylic painting. Horse art, I love horses and I love the vibrant colours in this piece.

If you are interested please contact me.

Steel Arab Horse

I have been thinking about trying something new in my art work other than painting and drawing. I remember doing a wire subculture at school and thought it might be something worth trying again. As I was flicking through Youtune I found this amazing video. Michael Turner is the sculpture and this is his site. His work is just amazing and I would love to have something like this sitting in my lavish grounds (I wish I had such a place). Take a look thorough the video, I love to see how people work and their processes and I particularly like how is has the horse in the background as a reference point.

How to make a wire body

I love the way this lady explains how to measure the parts of the body and how to build a basic human form.

Take a look.

A New Painting in the Making.

Here is something I am working on. I needed to start the new year as I mean to go on so here it is a WIP that will be completed in a few weeks time. 

I am not doing New Years resolutions, I haven't done them for a few years now but I have set myself some goals. Here are a few of my ambitions this year:

1. To finish off the Photoshop course.

2. To exhibit more of my work but first I need to produce new paintings.

3. To read at least one book per month. I would love to read more but always find I have other things to keep busy.

4. Go for a weeks break in summer in a cabin, where I can play with the kids and spend time with the family. Some much needed R and R.

5. Begrudgingly go skiing. Apparently it is meant to be great for family time. Personally, after my first experience about ten years ago, it was not so good so I am not too thrilled to start up again but I think my kids would like it, so I go with gritted teeth, you never know I might like it!

The above is a snapshot, I have a few more but that just gets tedious for readers especially as it is unrelated to art.

Below is a few images of my painting that I started yesterday. I just need to decide on colours.