Crucifix Bottles

I love dabbling in various mediums and for years I've done stained glass - although my metal work has pretty much pushed stained glass aside for now.  I do love to create these bottles, however with crosses on them. As with every whim, craft, and art project I fall in love with I always go whole hog and buy massive quantities of that particular "whim" item I'm working with (the excuse to head to the thrift store is never an issue). Needless to say, I have now acquired a huge quantity of gorgeous bottles, crystals & jewelry for such.  I will never get them all made with crosses on top ~ Now what? 

If you think that is bad you should see the amount of shovels & wheelbarrows I have.... it's daunting!!  

Ok, Ok, I have a problem... what of it.  It's only one problem, right?

So here are just a few of the Cross Bottles I've made. 

Iris Watercolor Lesson

I've been trying hard to get better at my watercolor painting.  It's a weird feeling when I begin to paint a picture I kind of feel like I won't remember anything I learned from the last painting.  In fact, I start getting really nervous and my stomach gets fluttery.  Even when I'm creating my art out of metal I get the same feeling ~ especially when I've done something new.  It's kind of like when you have a dream and you can't quite remember any of it.  I get this strange feeling like I'll never be able to recreate something similar again. 

DO ANY OF YOU ARTIST OUT THERE GET THE SAME FEELING??  

So in trying to better my painting skills I ordered a video by Jacqueline Gnott who does fabulous watercolor flowers.  I've admired her work for a long time so on Thursday I received my video on her step by step instructions.  I learned a lot from her techniques and found some of my weaknesses my biggest issue is slow down, pre-plan and lighter layers.  I'll probable be painting this flower many times over.  Mine is way to dark, but I was working on a picture that was actually darker than her's shown below.  Check out Jacqueline's blog and see all her beautiful flowers.  http://jacquelinegnott.blogspot.com

This is Jacqueline's Painting

 

Dalton Ghetti Pencil Artist

I love finding new and quirky artists. Dalton Ghetti is one of those. His patience is beyond what I could ever imagine.  Many artists have used pencils to create works of art - but Dalton Ghetti creates miniature masterpieces on the tips of pencils The alphabet, all carved from 26 pencil tips.

Dalton hollowed out the centre of the wood, then carved the central column of graphite to create this hanging, linked heart

Dalton, who works as a carpenter, has been making his tiny graphite works for about 25 years A sculpture of Elvis Presley wearing shades, carved from a single pencil

Using the eraser end of a pencil, Dalton created a tiny cross sculpture from the internal graphite

 Dalton has made about 100 carvings, and is currently working on an epic piece inspired by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He said: "I decided to make a teardrop pencil carving for each of the people who died in the attack, about 3,000. Since 2002 I have carved one every day, it takes me under an hour. When I'm done they will form one big tear drop. It will take me about 10 years but it will be worth it"

Two interlocking hearts, carved from one pencil

Dalton, who is originally from Brazil, has a box full of more than 100 sculptures that have broken while working on them that he affectionately calls 'the cemetery collection'. He said: "I have quite a few broken pieces so I decided to glue them on pins and into Styrofoam for a display case. People might think it's weird I keep them but they're still interesting. I worked on them for months so they might be dead now but at one point I gave them life"

Is this guy Awesome or What!!!!!!

Garden Stakes and JACK

Have I ever told you I LOVE ~ LOVE ~  LOVE my plasma cutter.  This may be the best piece of equipment I've ever purchased.  I can cut metal like butter baby.  When you can cut metal like
butter baby
butter baby
butter baby  (sorry I had to do that ~ I had a brain freeze)

It opens up a whole new world.  It did for me.   You should try it sometime!!  It's been hard to gear up to go outside and create (113 today), but finally this week I created something new.

GARDEN STAKES

Every beautiful garden needs a garden stake & Jack

How To Be Alone

Found this beautiful video. What a beautiful insight..