Beverage, Anyone? ATC Swap

Created with colored pencil, black art pen for outlining, and white gel pen for highlights.

Approximate time to complete: About 30-45 minutes each
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches each
Completed October 4-6, 2010

Favorite Toy

Made for Miss on atcsforall.com on the MMH: All Mediums Thread. A vintage teddy bear was one of the items she was requesting. Made with colored pencil and black art pen.

Approximate time to complete: About 30 minutes
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches each
Completed on September 30, 2010

An Apple a Day Swap

These were some of my most favorite art cards that I've made lately. Made for the Apple a Day swap at atcsforall.com. All 3 were created with Prismacolor colored pencils and black art pen.

Approximate time to complete: About 30 minutes to 1 hour each
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches each
Completed on September 28-29, 2010

Marvelous Mermaids

Got my mermaids done!

Pink Haired Girl

Mixed media. Background made with Sharpies, paint pens, and metallic markers. Girl's face made with colored pencil, paint pen, Sharpie, and black art pen.

Approximate time to complete: About 1 hour
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on September 25, 2010

Metallic Purple Dots

Made with paint pens and metallic markers.

Approximate time to complete: About 15 minutes
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on September 23, 2010

Mouse on Floating Leaf

I had fun with this one. The idea behind it was neat. I participated in a MMH thread at atcsforall.com. MMH means Make Me Happy. The way it works is someone requests an ATC from a list of different categories, then the next person will make one of those cards and add a short list of about 3 ideas for someone to make for them. This was created for Prairiemouse.

Approximate time to complete: About 2 hours
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on September 22, 2010

Relaxed Jaguar

(It's finally done!) This is probably one of my favorite pieces and I think I might do a tiger soon.

Approximate time to complete: About 3.5 to 4 hours
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on September 22, 2010

Jaguar Work in Progress 2

Work on the jaguar continues:

Outlined with art pen and colored the spots with Prismacolor colored pencil. Also colored the paw and began shadowing.

Wallflower

This one started as a self-portrait, but kind of got a mind of it's own. Mixed media. Started with a handmade specialty embossed paper as the base. Then I layered on scrapbook paper, and hand drawn embellishments on cardstock (markers and Zig millennium memory art pen). The girl was actually drawn with a random calligraphy pen I had laying around.) I sealed everything together with glossy Mod Podge, which, might I add, is awesome.

Approximate time to complete: About 2 hours
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on September 19, 2010

Jaguar Work in Progress (Sketch)

Started work on this ATC this afternoon. I haven't gotten to work on any animals lately, the last being "Raccoon in Tree" which was completed months ago, so I was excited to start on this one. I was inspired after a trip to the Tulsa Zoo yesterday and seeing the beautiful jaguar there. I really wanted to draw one. So far I am extremely pleased with how it is coming out. I will scan the stages of my progress as I go along for everyone to see.

Here is the reference photo I am working from:

Credit for photo to photographer Tim Knight from this website.

This is my work in progress sketch:

Altered Photo Album

I made this for my sister who is away at college. She asked if I would make her a photo album. So I used a freebie that I had gotten awhile back and stashed away. I used  scrapbook paper and Mod Podge (For the first time, might I add. I thought it was pretty cool.) and an embellishment with rhinestones and metallic beads from the scrapbook aisle at my local Hobby Lobby. If you look really close you can see the hairs from my cheapo paintbrush that I used to spread the Mod Podge. LOL.

Approximate time to complete: About 2 hours
Original Size: 4 x 6 inch photo album
Completed on September 17, 2010

Blind Drawing Swap ATCs

These were created for the Blind Drawing II swap at atcsforall.com. Had tons of fun making them. Used pictures of the original paintings for reference.

Approximate time to complete: About 1 hour each
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches each
Completed on September 17, 2010

Metallic Abstracts

My newest ATC creations:

Created with metallic pens on pieces of folder cut down to size.

Approximate time to complete: About 15-30 minutes each
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches


Completed August 31, 2010

Alcohol Dripping Painting Technique

My First ATC Trades are Here!

I am so excited! I just received my first cards in the mail. (I forgot to check the mailbox yesterday, and they sat out there all night. Silly me...) They are so B-E-A-Utiful. One came all the way from London even. So cool.

Here's what they look like:
Card 1: Searching for Spring  and Card 2: Flight Among Flowers 8

Hot Cocoa ATC

Part 1 of 3 of "Beverage, Anyone?" Swap
Not 100% pleased with how this turned out, but it's okay. Started with pencil sketch on cardstock, then outlined with Zig Millenium memory art pens, colored in with colored pencil and metallic paint pen and glitter gel pens. Also used a scrapbook sticker and a printout that I designed on the computer with Microsoft Publisher, then cutout and glued on. Unfortunately, it is not one of my WOW pieces.

Approximate time to complete: About 1 hour
Original Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Completed on August 27, 2010

Butterflies & Leaves

I think this one just looks cool. Sketched on turquoise pastel paper with Zig Millenium memory art pens and colored in with an assortment of metallic brush pens, glitter gel pens, and cheap markers. (Made with the finest of art supplies, huh?)

Original Size: about 4.5 x 6.5 inches
Approximate time to complete: about 20 minutes.
(Completed in June 2010.)

Metallic Tree Painting

Painted on a piece of scrap cardboard with metallic acrylic craft paints. Love how the paint has a texture on it when you look closely.

Original Size: about 6x8 inches.
Approximate time to complete: about 2.5 hours.
(Completed in June 2010)

Trading Art Is So Much Fun!

Apparently my ATCs are going fast. I have already traded the squirrel and porcupine ATCs. My Purple Tree has also been traded as well. They are off to London(!), Michigan, and Alabama. But it seemed that out of all my cards, my porcupine was the one everyone was wanting. I need to make some more animals, as those were the ones that piqued the most interest.

I am so excited about trading my art! I can't wait to get my new trades in. Artist Trading Cards are such a great idea.

A Fruitful Shopping Trip

I don't normally get a chance to splurge on art supplies, especially lately, but yesterday I got all sorts of neat stuff at my local Hobby Lobby. Including a fabulous metallic green brush pen (on clearance!), a new Prismacolor pencil sharpener (my old one is AWOL), some acrylic paper ATCs, and this awesome handmade paper package (also on clearance!):

Mixed Media Tree Art Journal Page

Check out this amazing video from Art Trader Magazine's YouTube channel featuring a mixed media tree art journal page in progress. I love some of the techniques shown and would really love to try some of it out. This art is fabulous!

Mermaid

Here is a mermaid that turned out okay. Still debating with myself as to whether I should color it or leave it black and white. Drawn today on matte cardstock with Zig Millennium memory pen 08 thickness.

Attempting Mermaids

These started out okay, but sometimes you should just start with pencil instead of pen. These are actually two sheets of paper on the same scan, intended to be a couple of ATCs. Does anyone think these are salvageable?

Mister Pokey

(This ATC is no longer available for trade.)
I completed this porcupine a few months ago. Just now got it scanned to the computer. Isn't he cute?
Completed sometime in March with initial pencil sketch, then colored pencil, and outlined in Zig Millennium memory pens. Oh yeah... and just a dot of white gel pen for the eye reflection.

Angel Sketch

Had a few moments of free time last night to sketch this beauty here.
I may color this later, maybe not. Haven't quite decided yet.
Drawn with Zig Millenium 03 Memory pen on sketch paper.

Blind Drawing

I am joining a swap on Atcsforall.com called the Blind Drawing swap. It is such a neat idea. I just started working on my three cards for it yesterday. I am going to do parodies of famous paintings, including American Gothic and others.

Generally the idea behind blind drawing is to close your eyes, draw a face, and work with your crazy creation to make a funny piece of art. Check out these examples (Samples by AKMamaof2, novasmem, and themuppet of ATCsforall.com):

I'm Baaaaack...

I have finally gotten my internet back. Expect more art added here soon!

Purple Tree

Colored Pencil and Steadtler fineliner on coverstock.
(This card has been traded and is no longer available.)

Forest Driftwood Sketch

Pencil Sketch on cardstock. Unfortunately, the scan is not picking up as many of the pencil strokes as I would like, but we do what we can with what we have...

COMMUNICATIONS ARE DOWN!

My internet is down and so is my car. The only way for me to update my blog is to go to the public library accross town. This is an issue because I work evenings and my husband works days. In other words... there may not be posts here for a while. I will get back when I can. Thanks for stopping by!

-Lady Kristianna

Squirrel (Commission #2)

This is for my cousin Kendra:
Made with colored pencil and black Staedtler fineliner art pen.
(created February 13, 2010)

Raccoon in Tree (Commission #1)

I started taking commissions from people. (Well, more like art prompts.) I have been asking people what I should draw to get the creative juices flowing. No charge or anything for the time being.

This is for my friend John:
Made with colored pencil and black Steadtler fineliner art pen.
(Created February 16, 2010)

New Zentangle

(Created February 16, 2010)

Awakening

Painted on glossy cardstock with metallic green acrylic paint. Then used permanent marker, metallic gel pens, and metallic paint pens.
(Created on February 11, 2010)

Colorful Zentangle

This is yet another artwork from my old sketchbook.
(Competed March 18, 2008)

Paisleys

More stuff from my old sketchbook. I am thinking about cutting this up into ATC sized pieces, and using those as separate art pieces (the original was made on a 9x12 sketchbook page). Not so sure though because I like it as is.
(Completed sometime in 2008... if you could call it done. I may work on it more in the future.)

Dark Blue Swirl ATC

This ATC was created using black, blue, and silver metallic acrylic paints on Strathmore acrylic ATC paper. I also used a similar method as described in the previous post by scraping into the wet paint with a hard edge. After everything was dry I went over it with silver 3D glitter paint.This particular piece was also created when I was in a foul mood after work one night. I was in a better mood when I was done. Just shows how therapeutic art can be!
(Completed February 5, 2010)

Time & Space ATC

This card happened by accident. I was at my art group playing around with stuff, and this is what happened. First was a layer of metallic blue acrylic paint, then a layer of crackle medium. After the crackle medium dried, I put on a layer of metallic yellow-gold, but the crackle medium didn't work correctly. The gold paint kind of gummed up on the surface. Since it didn't work out as intended I took the edge of my ruler and scraped lines into it.

My friend John who hosts the art group loved it. The scanned image doesn't do it justice. Because of the texture and metallic paint, when you hold it at different angles it is like you're looking at a different piece of art each time. John was the one who came up with the name for it.

Behold... "Time and Space"
(Completed February 9, 2010)

Whimsical Cat

From the depths of my old sketchbook...
(Completed March 12, 2008)

Pink Flower ATC

This mixed media card was created with a variety of materials. Painters pens, Bic Mark It markers, 3D glitter paint, Prang metallic brush pens, and Staedtler fineliner pens.
(Completed February 4, 2010)