MERRY CHRISTMAS

Grace and I wish you all the warmest Christmas 2009

She's already smiling and doing tricks for the leftovers.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2 :14

" CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT "

8 x 8 Pen , pencil & watercolor

Well here we are a year later doing the Different Strokes From Different Folks Christmas portrait exchange again. We were given a picture of an other artist participating, so I am painting her and she is painting me. It is a surprise for both of us. For this one I have to admit I was influence by Alice Thompson with her decorative flair she applies sometimes to her work. My subject has the most beautiful green eyes so my decision to make her sweater green also was easy.

Please go check out all the entries so far with their actual pictures on U-Tube

I truly enjoyed doing this piece I hope my subject likes it too.

OUR DEARLY DEPARTED !

6 x 4 Pastel

Well I have to announce that we have a valiant sacrifice made on behalf of our survival for which we are very thankful and appreciate all minute morsels.

So here is the portrait I did today in memory of the blessing that was bestowed to us.

I hope many such sacrifices where made in your households for which I say

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

San Diego SketchCrawlers

These are sketches of Batik prints blocks from the Mingei Museum done with the San Diego Sketchcrawlers. Go to Dancing Strokes to check out the other sketch I did at that time too. We had fun sharing our work and eating lunch together afterwards.

I added the colors later since we were not allowed watercolors in the museum.

IF BORED........ Do not.........

PAINT YOUR ANIMALS ...................... LOL

GET READY......SET.........GO !

Tomorrow Saturday is the 25th Worldwide Sketchcrawl so go grab your pencil, pens, watercolors and anything else you want to draw with and go have fun. Record your life where you live with others or by yourself but just DO IT. You will get blessed in the process and then share it with all of us.

NOW GO DRAW................

I BRING GIFTS !

8 x 10 Acrylic

Well here we are the last DSFDF before Thanksgiving so I decided I am coming to visit each and every one of you bearing gifts for Thanksgiving via the Web of course but nevertheless that is what this picture represents.

I am thankful for all of you DSFDF'ers for without your comments, e-mails, calls I would not have the richness my life has in the Art World.

I thank you all and I bless you to have the best Thanksgiving ever.

PLease go check out all the other submissions on this fabulous website of Different Strokes From Different Folks, Thank you Karin.

A LA POLLOCK !

These are screenshots I did from a website where you can play your hearts content doing abstract A la Jackson Pollock it was real fun and as you can see not bad result.

Go try it jacksonpollock.org

No Greater Sacrifice !

GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. John 15:13

This is NOT my work, I am following in the footsteps of James Parker and EPTAS. I've been sick and wanted to do something for Veterans Day but alas.

A day late but showing you a wonderful piece from BROOKE OLIVARES in the spirit of yesterday. http://www.brookeolivares.com/

Costumes !

8.5 x 11.5 Pen, Ink & marker

It's fun watching the different outfits my daughter was wearing. Of course this was for Halloween.

GIVEAWAY !

NO, not all of these.......... but one of these sets, 5 cards tied with a pretty ribbon, one of each flower.... YES.

These are cards I made from the colored pencils collection (blank inside)

" Les fleurs de mon coeur"

As a thank you to my friends and fellow bloggers I am giving away a set to one of my followers when the number hits 100 or more, so if your are not one yet, ADD yourself to FOLLOW but leave a comment here also to let me know you are interested in this giveaway.

I'm also selling them :

They will make great Christmas presents and at a cost of $ 20 including shipping anywhere in the US directly to you or your gift recipient.

For outside the US please e-mail me at " artbydominique at yahoo dot com "

I do take PAYPAL at Art by Dominique.

As soon as the # 100 (or more) is passed on "FOLLOW THIS BLOG" I will draw a name from this comment box and will let you know who won.

BLESSINGS to all

" ROOF TOPS "

8.5 x 7.5 Tempra

OK........... This was not my idea of a picture to paint and because I was fighting it I decided to do something more abstract.

But in the end I enjoyed myself.

This is for Different strokes From Different Folks the blog of Karin Jurick.

Go check out all the many variations !

"Hot Momma "

PLease go to Diana Marshal's blog to view " My Shoes " ........ lol

I guess you get to see some of my wardrobe that way !!!

She needed some reference pictures of sneakers so I send her pics of my new one.

She did a fabulous job on them .

" In everything there is a season "

22 x 30 Colored Pencil

Since I'm showing you some Colored Pencil art I did.

Here is another piece I did for my daughter depicting all her favorites stuffed animals posing for me. =)

Prints are available (without the dedication to my daughter of course)

" Ma Passion "

22 x 30 Colored Pencil

Well here is the 5th one in this series and actually this is the one I started with and the others came after. I have a friend asking me to make a bouquet with all of them in Colored Pencil. I think her idea is the perfect way to finish the collection. I will have to work on that.

" Ma Gloire "

22 x 30 Colored Pencil

Here is the 4th piece in the collection " les fleur de mon coeur " .

I did not have time before to post it.

I'm making some nice cards out of these pieces, will show you soon.

One more to go........ stay tuned. = )

Kreativ Blogger Award !

Karen Hargett was very kind to include me in her selection of art bloggers for this award.

Please go check out her blog and the other recipients of the award.

Now I need to pass it along and also list 7 things about me.

So here are things about me :

1. Garden's and flowers feed my soul

2. Animals always make me smile

3. I love the smell of horses

4. I love dinner parties

5. Music is the bomb !

6. Dancing is even better

7. I relish a great sense of humor

Here are the ones I am passing this to:

Irit Bourla for her perseverance in her art.

Angela Elledge for her sweetness

Ruth bodycott for great watercolors

Nithya Swaminathan for finding her muse again

LIz Holm for her encouragement and talent

Claire Beadon Carnell for great oil paintings

Gwen Bell because she deserve it

List 7 things about you and pass it along to 7 Kreativ bloggers

These artist are so fabulous go check them out .

I WAS HUNGRY !

5. 25 x 9 . 25 Acrylic on Watercolor paper

This is the latest challenge for Different Strokes From Different Folks , I did today and the deadline is today, Yikes !

Hope it makes it in....

I enjoyed this one it was fun and not easy.

STRETCHING........... thanks Karin - Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Glowing success !

5 x 5 Pencil. This little guy is in the program with his mom.

This is the last piece I did for Set Free Ministries. There were a total of 4 pieces and they ended been very nicely framed and displayed.

The Silent Auction went very well. A dinner with Carrie Prejean was auctioned and it received $ 4100 which was really great. This is such a great ministry that really gets down and dirty with the help you need until you are completely healthy and able to be on your own. I liken this to a new set of parents that don't give up until it's done , even with though LOVE. All faith based.

IT's FIXED !!!!!!

So sorry, it seems I needed the bong on the head with those boots ! not on the behind..... lol !

Go write on Every Photo Tells a Story !

My boots are featured there today. How cool is that !

Should we kick someone in the behind with them ?

I might need that ! So many things to do before these 2 shows on Saturday ........ aahw !

At the same time !

One for the " 4th floor art show " where a good friend will be representing me there with my colored pencil flowers, because I will be at the other one.

for " Set Free Ministries " silent Auction .

Proceeds from this event goes to help train, counsel, and disciple women and children so that they might grasp the opportunity to become productive citizens and law abiding citizens of our community.

My art work will be in the silent auction there, it's the 2 little girls I drew below. They are in that program with their mom.

I'll be hanging out with Carrie Prejean she is also giving of her time there.

I'm looking forward to it.

click-----> EPTAS

I'm french what can I say !

22 x 30 Colored Pencil

This to me represent the french culture and what you see so often in european art work.

( I'm talking about the flower not my art work)

Well this is my version of it but I did this quite a while back but I'm having a show coming up with all my colored pencil flowers in one spot. This is the 3 rd one in this series.

2 more to show you soon !

What is the title ?

5 x 7 Pen & Ink

Here is the latest one for the "Women & Children Silent auction " of Set Free Ministries.

I intent to add some watercolor in the water or just the fish. But wanted to post it before that was done.

Ps What could be the titled ? I need help with that.

San Diego SketchCrawlers

Check out the VIDEO

I have a sketch blog called " Dancing Strokes " where I usually post my sketches. In the side bar.

But this time I also went to a get together with the weekly group to Balboa park , Alcazar Gardens here in San Diego.

Well one of the our sketchers is Lydia Velarde she is part of the Urban Sketchers as a correspondents but her talent doesn't just lie there. She made this fabulous little video posted on U-Tube of us, drawing, including the sites we were enjoying.

All to great music, titles and credits.

And let me not forget but it also STAR's Grace (my chocolate lab)

" I don't want to take a picture ! "

5 x 5 B Pencil

Here's an other Mommy & Me drawing for the project I 'm working on but in the end I am not sure we will choose any of these for the final one.

They're good exercises though.

" I'M WAITING "

5 x 5 Ball Point Pen

This is one of the pictures James Parker posted on his website Windows to the Words Art. It is a photo submitted by Maggie Mayer, I believe his name is Laid Back. Everyone can join and paint one or more of the pictures and they will be displayed there.

The deadline is completely past ( July) but I saw this beautiful lab done by a few artist I know and I am partial to a beautiful face like that.

So here is my version. I enjoyed drawing him.

" Oh... how I love you "

11 x 12 Pencil 4B

This is the first of a couple of drawings for a Mom and Child poster for a fundraiser coming up in September. Well see which one gets chosen.

UP & DOWN WE GO !

8 x 10 Acrylic

Here is the latest one for the Different strokes From Different Folks challenge. I started today and due today ! Ewff.......

I tried being a bit more loose and did not pre-draw this one on purpose but just started painting. This one was a little bit of a struggle but kept telling myself it's the feeling I want to get not the accuracy. It seems I was drawn to the cool one side and warm the other.

All are very good go check them out.

I wonder what's next.......... :D

" Love is Kind "

18 x 24 Pastel

I've been a bit busy on a project which I am not done with and I have neglected my blog, sorry.

So here is a piece I did a while back for my nephew Eric and his lovely wife Jen's wedding.

I hope every one is having a fabulous summer.

Stay cool, enjoy the sunsets, give compliments to complete strangers, smile even if it hurts, hold someone hands and tell them thank you for being there.

Blessings to all.

" REST "

7 x 9 Acrylic

Here is the latest challenge for "Different Strokes From Different Folk" Blog of Karin Jurick

I've been a little busy this past few weeks so this was done this morning in an hour. Hopefully I've made the deadline.

" LOVE NEVER FAILS "

8.5 x 11.5 Acrylic

Here's an other Blessing book cover. This one had specific colors and images as guidelines.

This is for a lovely couple Aaron and Hadassah getting married this Saturday.

Blessings to you both.

" Ma Joie "

22 x 30 colored pencil

Here is an other from my flower series I did in colored pencil of Freesia. Flowers make me happy. What makes you happy ?

It is framed and there is some glare from the glass , sorry.

MY LIFEGUARD !

6 x 8 Acrylic

Detail

This is the latest challenge for " Different Strokes From Different Folks " site where we do our own interpretation of the subject presented by Karin Jurick.

It's always so much fun. This site has brought a lot of us artist to become good friends. I am very grateful for it.

I'M FREE

16 x 20 Acrylic

This was fun . I had to play with no thought in mind but let my paint brush have it's way.

" MADE THE TOP 10 "

On " Tony Moffitt's Art Blog " that is.

It is an honor because his blog has such a plethora of information for us artist, to help , motivate, educate, impart wisdom , my gosh you name it on top of being an stupendous artist himself.

So I was honored to be part of his top 10 at this time.

Please check his blog out. It is worth reading every post !!!

OOo.. SAY can you hear..............

I thought it appropriate to have my dog " Grace" pose with our flag.

We need more grace !

I hope everyone will check the AUDIO of The STAR SPANGLE BANNER

by " Francis Scott Key " it will show you were our National Anthem comes from and how it was created. It gave me a different perspective on it !

BLESSINGS TO ALL for this 4th of JULY 2009

" CASI "

8.5 x 10.5 Acrylics

This is a cover for a Blessing Book . It's used to write a prayer, a blessing or words of wisdom for the bride to be. Whatever you want actually. This one is for a friend of my daughter who is getting married soon.

I bless you CASi hope you like it.

" Mon Amour "

22 x 30 Colored pencil

This is an older piece I did of a series on flowers. I just love simple flowers.

GREAT SITES !

This site is about creative imagination with just a piece of paper

http://www.santafebag.org/exhibitsandopportunities.html

This one is about stick art for anyone that thinks that they can only do that  !

http://alanbecker.deviantart.com/art/Animator-vs-Animation-34244097

" MY HARVEST "

                 8   x  10    Watercolor   (frisket removed)

This is the challenge for Different Strokes From Different Folks a site hosted by Karin Jurick,

As you can see VEGETABLES were the subject.  In these challenges I had the desire to try to stretch myself with medium or technique. The background was done with a lot of Frisket, like a cake. Some frisket some paint, more frisket and color and so on. the idea was to cover some area at the time .Then it is all removed. If any one has ever done batik this is the same thing.

When finished I touched it up a little.

 
                     8   x   10    watercolor    ( frisket still on )

" SHE"S BACK "

                                         6  x  7  pencil

Well she's back from Thailand but this is how I see her most of the time. I guess after 48 hours of continuous travel this is what you do. There's stories and pictures but I guess I'll have to wait. =)

" I REJOICE "

12 x 18 acrylic

I started to play with some paints the other day and this is what was done. But as I was painting I was thinking of a sort of flag because I painted it on it's side. I changed my mind and will look at it in a vertical fashion from now on, I like it better that way.

I received many definition on the meaning of it that blessed me so, thank you.

" JOY "

                                                            6  x  6       Pen    &    Ink

So here's another doodle to add to the collection. I do enjoy doing these. I came upon this phrase yesterday and needed to post it.

Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.      O.Chambers

So I bless you with JOy may you receive all of it.

" I'm Tickled "

                        6   x   8  Acrylic, crackle paint and  transfer

This is another one I finished later from that same workshop. Here I applied crackle paint then added 3 different washes over it and wipe it so that the colors would be mostly in the grooves of the crackle than I added the transfers and a little more paint.

" J'ARRIVE "

                                                    6   x   8    Acrylic  &  Transfers

I took a workshop last week when I did not have my camera to post what I was doing . Well here is one of the results. 

It was lot's of fun and very interesting new product from Golden Acrylic Paint.

Anyway this piece is done on a white piece of cardboard, then an splash of molding paint over that which I painted the Yellow. I then added some washed of blue in some areas and a little more yellow wash this time and added 3 different transfers.  When that was finished I added more paint to the flower and bud. The cardboard started to peel in some areas but I did not mind that.

I purposefully did this more like a faux because I wanted that age look.

(Translation of the tittle is " I'm coming " )

 

2009 San Diego Fair Art show

San Diego Fair Art Show

June 12- July 5

2 of my art pieces were accepted in this year show. 

(click on the names to view the artwork)

La plage           and            Billion $ Club  

" WE GROW "

                                          8.25   x   11.75          Acrylic

First off let me say how blessed I am. 

I don't know if you remember but when I visited my brother in Colorado my daughter lost my camera and her ipod was stolen =( bad time for electronics). But my brother gave me an extra camera he had, Yippe !  2 weeks ago Tiffany left for Thailand  ( see previous post) and I gave her my camera hence no real posting of new items.

Well the others day I received a package from the friend she had visited who found the camera right in time for the deadline of DSFDF. =)

So here is the Pennsylvania Landscape challenge just in time !

GO VOTE for Adebanji Alade

This post is to promote  a great artist that needs your votes:

   Adebanji Alade

I had the chance to meet him in London and on top of being such a fantastic artist with amazing creative ability ( see all the DSFDF he blows us out of the water every time), he is one heck of a nice person and guide.

 Well now he has a change to win the price to come to New York and do some of his artistic magic there. So I urge everyone to go vote for him at this SITE where you will see his page. Please pass the word out.

This is what our little community of artist/friends is all about.

LET's press those buttons we can do it were online already !

exiting WEBSITE !!!!!!

                    This is a sketch I did and posted on my blog

                                     Dancing Strokes
Since I can't post any new work I thought I would post a few sites I've found that are really interesting , innovative or just fun. 

So the first one I will post today is about making anything you want with your art work or pictures.

Like making believe your work is in a museum like above.

Or a glass ball / spiral effect

Or a rubik cube

There are many more free effects you can do and others are not.  If you have photoshop some of the one with a fee you can find there but otherwise it is a fun site to experiment with.

It's always kind of fun to see what you can do with your work. Here is their site. HAVE FUN !

www.dumpr.net
                                            

Sniff !! :(

Well my daughter age 23 left for Thailand on a missions trip leading 15 college students (just a year or two younger than her) to help in an orphanage with one gentleman co-leader for 3 weeks. I'm mentioning this because at the last minute we realized she did not have a camera hers just broke, so away mine went !   Now posting will be a bit more difficult, Oh well . 

Thank you for waiting !

What do you think ?

This is a real photograph you can check it out from the link on => CNN. Any way I believe in something bigger than us and I can't help but say    "  LOOK "