Does anyone really care

that I'm blogging today? The world is a busy place, how can it stop to see what I'm doing. Does anyone really care? Probably not, but why not? Other blogs get great traffic but mine is slow on the uptake. I have to get noticed, but how? Ideas for anyone stumbling across this is always welcome. Feel free to tell me what I'm doing wrong and what I'm doing right.
I tweet on twitter but get no replies...do I not do it often enough? Are other people watching my tweets OR am I in cyberspace, flying solo? Hmmmmm...back to sorting AVON products, it's at least making me money. eBay and etsy are stubborn and I can't break through that glass ceiling to become a power seller on eBay or a seller at all on etsy. I AM doing something wrong but I need to spend some time figuring out WHAT??? Blogging can be a lonely business after all...especially if no one comments or says Hey, I like what you just said. Oh well, Sebby, my sweet darling cat is crying to get out of the bedroom and away from all of this cosmetic crap and oh, no! He's climbed up on the desk and any minute is going to pounce on the keyboard................ gbvgf gfv,fv g,vf, see..I told you so....ta ta for now or ttfn for those in the know.

Make Over is sparse and far from done

I had hoped to fancy up this blog but my brain is definitely not ready for a lot of heavy duty html'ing so it will have to stay this way until I figure out just how to add my own elements. I thought I was ready to take it on but after a visit from my daughter and a call from my mother I'm feeling the squeeze of being in the middle...AGAIN! More tomorrow...maybe!

Make Overs

This week I planned to do a lot of Lisa Bebi's paint overs but this morning I need a kick start. I'm tired and totally non-creative so I'm going to get a make-over. For this blog. I designed auction templates on eBay until they pulled the plug on e-delivery of items so I've got a lot of custom designed options. Right now I'm sitting her pondering how I'd like to go about it soooooooooo
I think I'm going to visit some of my favorite blogs and get some ideas for what I want to change. I definitely want to make it more exciting than this black and white format. When I started the blog a couple of years ago it seemed the easiest route to follow. Now I need it to POP and sing...sooooooo
off to visit blogland. I'll be back later today or this week with a new look. Not that anyone is looking yet...LOL Hugs, y'all...I'm off to see the wizard!

Lisa Bebi paint over collage technique: An explanation!

Because I've gotten sooooo many 'what the hecks' I decided I'd better write just a bit more about this technique as presented in the 30 page article in the Spring 2008 edition of Somerset Workshop where she explains how to do this 'technique'.
And I quote: "Find a glamour ad with an image of a person that speaks to you. Photocopy the image a couple of times. The rawness of the ripped out edge adds to the overall effect, so do not trim it. Paint the background color in a bright acrylic color on a canvas board. Ultimately you will have a soft piece, so choose an initial color that is bright so that a bit of it will peek through the layers. When the background paint has dried, adhere the torn image onto the top by using matte medium to the back of the image and generously to the canvas support. Carefully rub any excess medium out of all the bubbles and pockets. Once the canvas is dry, paint around the figure with bright color (she used orange) where you think there would be true color for the gown and a bit of this color should be worked into her skin and hair. While still wet, paint highlights with cool white. While both these colors are wet, stamp into the paint with various images that suggest femininity and possibly classic style. When completely dry, add further embellishments. I love to use a thick painterly style around a beautiful delicate looking figure." Lisa's piece was a beautifully gowned woman called "Beginning to Feel the Cold". If you can get a copy of a Somerset Workshop it appears on page 53.
You can also find more info at: http://www.lisabebiart.com/.
I'm fascinated by this technique because it's got a certain energy to begin with and adding your own style with acrylic paint and stamps takes it to a different level. This week I'm going to be using vintage family photos with this technique and I'll be posting more to my blog as I go along.

Lisa Bebi paint-over collage technique???

For the second time in as many days, someone has said to me, "What the HECK is a paint-over"? The short answer is; take a photo or magazine page, affix to a canvas board and then using acrylic paints you PAINT OVER THE IMAGE. Now if that doesn't explain it any better, just google: Lisa Bebi +paint-over. OK...my sister just did it and comes up with the info that will better explain the technique since it's not mine to fully explain. I've only done it twice so far and have a long way to go before I can do it well enough to explain it. Also http://itspamelasworld.blogspot.com/2008/04/paint-over-technique.html has examples of this very same technique by another blogger and artist.
I'm so appreciative of Lisa for being generous with her technique in the Spring 2008 edition of Somerset Workshop. Her "Altered Images Fun & Easy paint over technique" is a wealth of information about this wonderful way of expression. I was able to do these paint overs by reading the information presented. I would love to take one of her workshops but because of $$$ restrictions and travel costs I've never been able to fit one into my life...but someday!
This week is MINE! with the exception of Tuesday when my AVON boxes will arrive on my front steps before dawn and I'll be out delivering all of those wonderful products to my friends and family. Other than that I plan to PAINT all week using lots of my vintage family photos and some of my newer pieces from garden shops. I'll keep posting all week so stay tuned!
Hugs from Jersey y'all :)

Original Acrylic Overlay Paintings

One of the comments on my last posting was from Lorri who thought the piece was great but didn't understand the technique. Since I'm not the "mother" of paint-overs I would suggest that anyone who is interested in particulars just google Lisa Bebi. She has a blog and has written many, many articles in Somerset Studios magazine as well as others. I've looked at her work for several years but this particular technique just grabbed me and I dearly wanted to challenge myself to try it.
All things considered I think I did pretty well with the two pieces that I attempted but DH says "size matters" and he wants me to go bigger. These were on 6x8 and 8x10 canvasses. I think I might have a few bigger sizes in my studio so I just might try doing a larger size. I don't honestly know why I freak myself out with the thought of doing bigger pieces. I think it all goes back to that childhood warning of 'don't waste it'. I don't know the real reason but I do know that I'm bushed and even though it's a gorgeous day in Jersey I'm going to crawl into bed for a few extra winks of sleep. I'll probably Twitter later on today, and I might even post again her tonight but I need some down time.
For now, here's another of my latest pieces to chew on :) This particular piece is NOT a paint over but it's still a collage with embossed aluminum cupcake wrapper and lots of beeswax.
I love cupcakes and they LOVE to reside on my thighs as soon as I gobble them down. My size 8 body could eat a dozen but my slightly more mature figure just slathers 'em right on the places I don't want them to land. lol