The day is quickly disappearing on me. There are so many cool photos I was hoping to share with you. I've been getting prepared to take things over to Paper Mermaids tomorrow. YAY!

I wanted to make you something small out of clay today, but when I tried my white clay there was something wrong with it. I checked my terracotta clay. There was a pool of water in the bag but the clay was dry. Something has been wrong with my fridge. Just a small leaky drip from the door. They were supposed to fix it but the "hilly billy remedy" didn't seem to do the trick this time. I'm wondering if the strange dynamics inside the fridge affected the clay. It's a bummer to loose about 15 bucks of clay. I might try something else like sculpy next time.

I was scrambling at the end of the day to figure out what to make since the clay didn't work out. There was a magnet I had that I wanted to redeem, so I went with that. There use to be a splotch painting here. The only remaining part of it is the "fish" like shape and color. I didn't intend for it to go potentially patriotic. Perhaps this is the infant or larval stage of Day 13's creature. I used gold paint on the card and engraved the black lines into it. This is a very textural painting and I'm considering just spraying it instead of clear coating it. Perhaps I'll leave it up to the winner. 

It's always a good day when art sells :) I sold some jewelry today and will have more to post soon. Sorry you will have to wait and see. I think they turned out quite well, if I do say so myself lol. Night!

Oh and Mom I told you he was gonna be Rumpelstiltskin son. Although nailing the prediction is cool it spoils the surprise.

My good friend Carol who owns and operates Paper Mermaids, a local scrap booking and crafting store here in Newport, has graciously agreed to let me bring a display case over and fill it with various creature goodies and my zentangle jewelry. I should have enough for a decent spread. My head was hurting so I didn't think I would be able to get any extra items done until my next door neighbor stopped by. She gave me some little glass pieces. Here is the end result of one for your viewing and possibly winning pleasure. I could make this into a magnet if you like or it can sit somewhere and be cute for you.

The video below is an example for those confused by yesterdays blog here is a slightly simpler version of what I will be playing with my friends online. Please note the guys in the video, who you may know from television shows like The Big bang Theory, can be a little crass. Most of the language is bleeped out. Will Wheaton explains the dynamics of the game play at the beginning so you don't have to watch very far to get the jest. It's like making up a story similar to the lord of the rings interactively with a group of friends. We are playing a different game but the concept is the same just with a lot more dice.

It has been brought to my attention that some people are having trouble posting to enter the drawings. In order to hopefully make the process easier I'm giving you..

          TWO WAYS TO ENTER!!! 

1.   You can still post on the blog to enter (don't forget you have to ask to be entered in the comment for it to count.)
2.  I have created a special contact page especially for entering the contests. Remember the Day # you want to enter and click the link provided in the blog. It will ask you to offer your mailing information in advance. That way I don't have to try to hunt you down, or give your prize to someone else when you don't turn up. It's optional, but helpful for getting your prize to you. 

Graphite takes considerably longer for me to use. I just realized I forgot to blend after drawing... so this could have been a little smoother. It's been a while since I've drawn anything in just graphite.... it's been a long time since I've sold anything in just graphite... This was actually my attempt to make a more realistic creature. Can something that doesn't exist actually be realistic? Of course! I just can't seem to do it.

I am working on getting a number of people together from across the continent to play an online, google hangouts, version of D&D. I've been watching a lot of Merlin on Netflix when nothing new is out to see. I decided to play a wizard like Merlin. If you know anything about the two a wizard in the game is similar to the warlock Merlin, but not at the same time. I will be taking on a "familiar" or pet that I interact with empathically. There are a lot of cool familiars to pick from. A common choice is the raven. I decided to go out of the box and choose the Toad which increases my hit points. Here is the image I found online to represent my Toad I have yet to name. I used this image as the inspiration and starting direction for todays creature. Enjoy!

Today I have another ATC for you. I started it yesterday and didn't like it. I was trying to decide what to do with it, when I thought it may be nice to work on it more and see if I can get it to a better place. Wether I did or not is up for discussion. Honestly I'm still not very happy with it. I think I'm just not very happy with myself atm and it's filtering down to the work. There are so many layers of ink on this card that there is a bit of depth you miss in the photograph. 

So yesterday was rough but ended well. After waking up early and dying my hair, I started off the day with the realization that someone who I think should support my art dosen't or at least doesn't think I can make a living from it. The reality is I don't have a lot of choice. I think God planned that so I wouldn't be able to avoid what He created me to do. It hurts to hear though. I tried not to let it get me down and got the art created early enough to get dressed up for the Valentines get together at For Artsake Gallery.  

I had my hair and makeup finished and went to pick up the mail before putting on my dress and finishing touches. In the mail was a mix of things. There were two letters that were most definitely Atc's from listia and a third bubble mailer from one of my kickstarter supporters full of fabulous wonders. Lastly there was a letter from Social Security. I was nervous to get bad news but hopeful so I opened the SS letter first. Unfortunately the letter stated that they could not prove I "suffered" from my conditions prior to 2009 when my window for disability closed. There is plenty of documentation to prove I have the conditions just not enough doctors visits to show real suffering. Thankfully the atc's were there to help me get through the roughest part. At that point I really didn't want to go anywhere, but I was already 80% ready, so I finished up and pasted on my best smile. When I was a kid working as a bagger at Safeway I learned a fake smile eventually turns into a real one. 

I went to the party and had about three glasses of champaign. I was feeling much better, but a little too good for driving so I went  for a walk around the block. It was nice. When I got back we saw a woman across the street dressed in red with wings and lots of hearts. They encouraged her to drop in for a bit. She proceeded to give us all love in heart sticker format. I got some pictures for you. You can see by the time she arrived I was doing much better.

At first I was going to re-apply just listing my migraines, since I believe it to be the most provable of my conditions. I tried this morning but they wouldn't let me. I had to do it as an appeal to the previous case. We shall see what comes of that. I believe if it doesn't work out this time around it may be time to talk to a local disability lawyer. I was really hoping to get a little more every month so I could get back into the gallery and have a few days of daycare to work on my larger commission pieces. For now, that doesn't look very promising. I did get Kaleb's application in for head start a few days ago. Should he be selected this fall there may be a chance I can use the few hours a day he is gone in a similar fashion to what I would have done had I been able to afford the day care. There are a few gals at the gallery that said they would be willing to work with me on hours should that event occur. There is still a shred of hope. It's just getting a bit dimmer every day.

Thank you Melissa for your ATC care package. It was so very encouraging at the moment when I needed it the most. I am honored to be the recipient of your first ever ATC. I absolutely love everything you sent!

I dyed my hair this morning after getting Ashley off to school. My mom is graciously watching the little ones for a few hours so I can go to a little Valentines get together at For Artsake Gallery here in Newport. I have a new dress and jewelry to wear so I'm planning on getting all spiffed up. I clean up well, about 4 times a year... maybe a little more depending on how many art shows I'm in and sometimes when I wake up early on a Sunday morning. Art shows though are a different type of dressed up than church. I'll see about getting a picture or two with my cell phone tonight to share with you. I pray you all will have a very Happy Valentines day no matter what situation you are in. Love those around you or just spend some time loving you.

I made a lot of art today. Kaleb and I sat down and made a lot of new splotches. I've just started participating in an online atc trade group of illustrators. I was matched up for a great trade and had some extra work to do as well as finishing one of the commission atc's for kickstarter. I had a few good days around the house so it was time to have a good art day! After we busted out a number of new inspirations I was able to make / finish 7 cards with only a couple I considered to be duds. I think I nailed the requested card for the trade group and the commission ended well. Here are a few of the other creatures created today for your viewing pleasure. (the only card in the drawing today is above in red.

I got a lot done today, but this time around the house. I fell asleep working on the blog last night before I it was successfully posted. I woke up in the most uncomfortable position and slept poorly. I posted the blog at about 6:30 in the morning after the kinks got the best of me. After getting Ashley off to school in time for the bus and went back to sleep. 

Around ten the maintenance man showed up to let me know that someone would be in to look at the leaky fridge from 1 - 4 pm. Fortunately I remembered to tell him that I needed the shower head swapped out and he was able to get that taken care of for me. The internet was down again so Kaleb and I took a shower/bath. I think it was after lunch when they showed up and took care of the fridge. Hopefully his "hill billy remedy" will do the charm. (The repair mans term.) 

Once they were gone I proceeded to clean my room to make space for my new light tent photo booth area that recently arrived and I slept next to last night. I now have a path all the way around my bed and an area on top of my dresser set up specifically to photograph art. All be it rather small art, but it works like a charm for those that fit. Here is an example photograph of the hat pin you can win on day 38. This is post glaze. I didn't have to edit the photo much thanks to the light tent. I spent about $30.00 on ebay for it and it came with the lights.

When the time came to make art I didn't really want to think about it so I asked Ashley what I should make. She said a dragon. I was able to narrow it down to a splotch atc as her preffered medium and she choose this splotch out of those I had to select from . I found it interesting that she choose a splotch that she, herself, had made a while back. I had never been able to see anything in the few upward strokes on the page. I asked her where the parts were located. She instructed me that it had two heads and the one in the back is looking away to were you can't see it's mouth. 

~ Click images below to see larger ~

Name "Rage"
Story: Rage is the pet/mascot Phoenix of Lightning Slayer a fighter for good! Depending on the gear load out of the hero Rage takes on a different coloring or shine to boost her accordingly. 

I got some hat pin (broach) settings in the mail today and wanted to try them out. I just coated this in acrylic and will photograph it again after it has dried. The colors will be effected  by the glaze in some way. For now you get to see the pre-version. The red and green are sparkly. I worry I overworked this one. It's tricky at the super small scale. There isn't a lot of room for mistakes. I made a couple extra that I will be putting in the originals for sale area once they are ready to be photographed. 

I woke up with a headache this morning. I took some medicine and went back to bed. I had some really strange vivid dreams. I can only remember searching for a special pocket watch that had a sort of M.C. Esher fish pattern inlayed on the front... and finding a ten thousand dollar bill in a cabinet. When I woke up and was feeling well enough to respond to some emails I discovered my internet was out. I forget how tied I am to it until I can't access it anymore. 

I was working on one of the kickstarter custom cards yesterday and really enjoyed the way certain aspects of the ape looked in ink. I utilized some of the same aspects I enjoyed from the custom card in the face and transitions of this creature, especially around the eyes. 

I started the card with strange ram horns but scrapped that part and kept the face. I was on a google hangout with my sweetie in Texas while I worked on the card. We discussed giving it a body to fill up the space or using a long neck. He said with the facial expression it lent itself more to the neck, and I agreed. I enjoy the dynamic of wonder created when a creature does not show it's entire form. What could come after the neck?

Congratulations Judy L <>< you are the winner of todays drawing! I hope you will consider naming your creature card. Should you prefer not to we have had a few great suggestions that were offered on the blog.