"EACH OTHER II "

   It's not finished but getting there.

I made her more of a blonde than brunette, oh well I'll just say she went to the salon and had highlights done.

I don't know if I will paint the shirt I like the idea of having her shoulders bare.

"EACH OTHER"

   Here is the sketch I did of Rachel I found her in the last challenge next to    mine actually.

Next is painting it , I'm always a little scared at this point.

I'm much more comfortable drawing.

"BLESSINGS TO ALL"

                           HAPPY NEW YEAR      2009

" Pomegranate on a plate "

                                               8.5 x 7 acrylic on  bristol

I don't know if this is finished yet ?  I think it needs a background but I need to see it for a while before deciding.  I've always like these fruits. They have a symbol too but I forgot what it is at this time I'll have to look it up. 

" MY LIFE "

Detail of the boots                                                 13 x 4.5     Acrylic

This weeks challenge for " different strokes from different folks " blog of Karin  Jurick .

She posted a picture of her boots but I felt I needed to add more to this challenge and wanted to portray the look of our shoes during our life. Obviously there are more representation possible but I decided to stop there.

I had lots of fun doing this. I hope you check all the other entries also.

I don't know if I will post anything more before Christmas because life is getting busy.

So I wish everyone a most beautiful and blessed Christmas, may you all receive the greatest gift of all.  Christ our Lord.

" Hydrangeas II "

    Second study. This time with acrylics.

    I try to force myself not to pay attention too much otherwise I get   

    lost in the details.

    Gosh it's hard to go against your natural habits !

    LET GO ! LET GO !  is what I hear.

" Hydrangeas "

       This week's challenge for Different Strokes from different Folks.

I enjoy reflections of all kinds.

I am still playing with my watercolor pencils. I might try a different study with a different medium on this week's challenge.

If I don't get a chance to tell everyone that stops by,  

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING.

" ONE, TWO, TREES ....."

    5  x  7   Acrylic on gessoed masonite

I just love fall

" I got tagged "

I got tagged By IRIT BOURLA ,which at first I did not know the rules. But now I do.

So here goes :

1. I lived in Switzerland Lausanne and Geneva for 16 years , am fluent French also.

2. In my class for 4 years at the Art-Decoratif in Geneva was the Princess of Liechtenstein          ( she's very nice)

3. I hitchhiked though Italy and Turkey at 18 ( I don't recommended it now, I was lucky)

4. My father combed Jackie Kennedy's hair for her wedding to John Kennedy.

5. I was born in New York and lived on 5th Avenue 16th floor, in front of Central Park for 12 years. (It had a beautiful view)

6. When I was young I had a parade on my street for my birthday every year. I thought it was for me (my birthday is February 22, G. Washington B-day) see # 5

7. No matter the situation rich or poor I am so blessed with family and friend's love and that is what counts to me.

The 7 I am tagging

Alice Thompson

Adebanji Alade

Edward Burton

Shelley lampman

Vern Schwarz

Annie Salness

Carol Feldman

I'M DAY-DREAMING !

This week's challenge For Karin Jurick

she has this week an explanation for sending your artwork to her blog or other sites and I am one of them that had a hard time with this. But I am taking a photoshop class so I can learn more but I'm not there yet.

I did not want to do this one but forced myself,  it's not so good but the part that got fun was adding the fish after I turned it around .

" boat on the water "

                          I don't know if I like the red house so cropping it to show only the left side of the picture is probably better   ?

It was a test after all. I conclude I really like those pencils ! 

" My reflection "

                                            5 x 5.5           Watercolor pencils

I just bought some watercolor pencil which I haven't used in years. I needed to play ! and try them.

" COME WITH ME "

                                               5 x 7     Acrylic on gessoed masonite 

We don't even have to move for variety, the trees get their coats changed for us .

" HAPPY "

                                                5 x 7   Acrylic on gessoed masonite

                                                                                       

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO !

I read this phrase last night and thought , yes this why I paint , draw, create.

His earth and us are a beautiful expression of HIS ability. We are co-laborer with the Master Creator.

" To embrace the privilege of creative expression is consistent with being made in the image and likeness of our creator. "

God wants to answer our desires:

John 16:24 ".......that our Joy may be full"

Pg 34 " Dreaming with God " by Bill Johnson

www.BillJohnsonMinistries.com

No matter what we do in life we have an ability to bless , give and receive love ; those virtues bring Joy to others and us, in our work and play.

Blessings to all.

" My GOLD "

                                               8 x 5  Acrylic on masonite

I had to have a companion for the red tree ! Oh glorious change of season.

"Oh GLORY"

                                             8 x 5   Acrylic on Masonite

 I just love the change in color of the trees, isn't it glorious.

" ME AND MY SHADOW "

                                       8.5 x 11.5   Acrylic on masonite

This week's challenge for "Different Strokes from Different Folks"

I want to get better so exercise is the best way.

"OoH MY COW "

                                         7 x 10      watercolor

                                  This week's challenge for Different Strokes From Different Folks blog of Karin Jurick is an Alabama Cow . I've never painted a cow before so this is my 1 st. one and I have not touched watercolors in a while . The advantage of the DSFDF blog is it gets me to practice more out of my comfort zone and to paint something I would of not picked like the NYSE.  BUT it's a lot of FUN so check all the entries.

"My Four legged friends"

                                                    MISS KITTY   and
                                            GRACE  -  are my sweet furry friends that keep me company while I paint or draw. I'm posting them because I was envious of seeing the pets on someone else' blog.

" BILLION $ CLUB "

                                                 10 x 12   colored pencil on Bristol.

                                                 Well, being part of a group of artist that give ourselves to the leadership of Karin Jurick or how some call her Capt'n , in her blog " Different Strokes From Different Folks "  stretches you a bit but the result from everyone is really good.

I'm learning that I'm not 'too' crazy, seeing the result, but doing this piece was a bit daunting especially with this technique.

" THE BEAN "

 

                                                                  9 x 10 pencil 

 This is Cloud Gate Sculpture in Millennium Park, Chicago also known                  as " the Bean "

     It is also this week's challenge from Karin Jurick's blog 

                 "different strokes from different folks"

This week has been a bit more of a stretch but the result from everyone is wonderful and the connectedness with each member is growing and gives me a feeling of a big art family. Thanks!  

" DA VINCI "

                                    If I could I would sketch ALWAYS......................................... "what's wrong with your horse mom" said my daughter ,              I just wasn't paying attention  . Ha ! Ha !

" Flower fields "

                                            7 x 11    Oil on hardboard

                                    My series on sunflowers is still going.

" Sunflower II "

   8 x 12  oil on gessoed hardboard

I wanted to paint it again to feed my soul.

" Sunflower "

                                             8 x 10  Oil on gessoed hardboard

                                  I saw this and couldn't help myself I had to paint it

"LITTLE WHITE PUMPKINS II "

                                               Mixed media   9 x 10

                                            pencil - colored pencil - collage

I wanted something more in my original drawing. I thought of lines that I would draw but I wanted color too. So I decided to add the color but that was horrible by it- self . I decided to add the lines but thought it would be more interesting if they were made of a magazine picture.

So here are my lines, my color and my little white pumkins. 

"LITTLE WHITE PUMPKINS"

                                                 8x10 pencil sketch

                                             Beautiful white pumpkins for DSFDF but I want to add something before I e-mail this one but I don't know yet what it is, so I'm going to chew on it a little.

" IN MY DREAM"

                                           16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

                    

                                          This style of work is new for me but it was fun to do. This is a dream I had and started painting. I would really appreciate to know how this painting speaks to you so please leave comments if you want.  ( click on the image to enlarge it)

"I'm reading"

This is this week's exercise for Karin Jurick's blog for different folks, link on the side.

I personally appreciate the motivation it gives me and I enjoy seeing all the different renditions. Pen and Ink on Bristol paper 9x10

"Prickly Pond"

                                                     8 x 10 Oil on gessoed hardboard
Prickly pond in Warren Vermont has always mesmerized me I truly believe it is a heavenly place and I have the pleasure of visiting there. This is were the famous Prickly Floats of the 4 th of July are made. Go check August post. My daughter was mentioning that this is the spot were she painted the windmill for the Parade. It's a beautiful memory place.

" The LOOP ROAD "

                       This was such a beautiful walk very early in the morning in Warren Vermont ,              arriving at my brother's place on the Loop Road.

                                                            oil on hardboard 8 x10

"HIBISCUS TWO"

          each, Oil on canvas board 8x10

These were painted from pictures my daughter took on her Semester at Sea in Mauritius.

The island were the DoDo bird was, what a beautiful place.

I think I could paint flowers all day long.

"JACK"

This was the sweet dog of Karin Jurick and it is now part of a series done with other artist on a new blog called  "Different Strokes From Different Folks "

Pencil 8.5 x 11

MOM and BABY " BOOK of BLESSINGS "

This is a blessing book I created.

The purpose of this book is especially to bless the child, as a protection, an imparting, a purposeful written legacy or joyful comments.

And shared pearls of wisdom for the future mom and dad.

It is perfect for new baby's and new mom's as a gift for a shower or at the hospital were each family member and friend can write something.

It then becomes a beautiful heirloom and keepsake.

The cover will be different with each book and is hand painted directly on the cover.

The name of the child can be added to the cover.

The inside page gives a suggested description on how to use this book.

Please e-mail me at artbydominique@yahoo.com

For orders and descriptions

Click on the picture to view it larger.

"FREEDOM"

This is my first book cover.

The original art work is acrylics on smooth Bristol paper.

The thoughts behind the design are :

The walls we have are self built sometimes there's a door sometimes not. But the key is always in our possession.

In this picture you will notice that the walls are hand painted so is the prison door and  the lock is on the inside.

Beyond the door is real and beautiful and awaits you.

It is up to you to reach out, what ever the circumstances might be. Reach out you have nothing to loose and so much to gain.

Check this book out and tell me how it helped you.

 www.nathandanielministries.com

"In the light"

This is part of a series I am working on

of doors and windows.

          9   3/4 x 12  scratchboard

Summer flowers II

I needed to do some touch up on this picture but since I got back from Vermont I got busy here                                                                      in san Diego . 

Please forgive me I am learning to post on a blog I have to remember,

 it goes backwards !!

REmember to click on the pics to see the details of this Anagram

BABY"S ANAGRAM BANNER " COLETTE"

Courageous, compassionate, confident, consecrated

 

Open to experience & adventure

Leadership, loyal, loving

Energized, empathic, edify

Truthful, triumphant, theatrical

Terrific, tenacious, tender

Encouraging, enthusiastic & effervescent

A better close up of the baby's anagram we created.

Tiffany's words and my design.

"COLETTE"

At a lovely diner given

 by the new parents.

Tiffany and I unveiled 

our collaboration

How Vermont and circumstances gets my creative juices going too

Events in your life give you an added stretch, like at first not knowing what you are going to do for a much prayed for child.

It's so exiting sometime to find out what it's going to look like ! and a bit scary. ( I'm talking about the art work of course)

       THE 4th of July                

MY Vacation in VERMont !

It is always an adventure and a delight to my soul. My eyes get bigger here because there is so much more of a feast for them.

I can't stop clicking, on a camera that is. 

I tell others it's for future paintings but most of the time my delight is just to see the pictures again.