Take a Look at this Mo Faux

I am a decorative painter, for my newer friends who just see my paintings. I actually finished this master bath last year, but the room wasn't decorated when I took the pics. I am back in this client's home to do a few little things and snapped these for your viewing pleasure.



The pics above are a master bath done in Venetian plaster, with a yellow-brown tint. Gahjus!!

Here is their fireplace, which was your standard white before. This treatment is fauxstone, finished in wax and brush polished.

A great look for columns, which they are getting ready to do in the foyer! Can't wait, it's such a stunning look. Wish you could see it in person!

Take a Look at this Mo Faux

Oil Pastel, the pain that keeps on smudging!

You may have noticed by now that I like sunflowers. And why not? Maybe Vincent really cut off his ear to show affection to a sunflower! (Hey it could happen, I mean, he did cut off his ear!)

I have used a few oil pastels in my time, and I have found that with the right amount of pressure and painstaking labor, you can fill in any gap ...that is, of course, if you want to...(make sure you have some aspirin lying around for the hand cramps).

Ideally, I suppose, the best paper to use for the finer details of oil pastel is a good medium weight smooth drawing paper, which allows for a very fine image and lots of detail.

But, I wanted a heavy impasto effect. I used acrylic linen canvas for this piece, which is a great heavy weight textured paper that will take on some serious paint. I also like it for oil pastel, but be prepared to use a lot of crayon. Above, I alluded to my tough attitude toward my paper, but in this case, I wanted the result to be a highly textural incredibly vivid image that in person looks like the style of painting I often enjoy: Sculptural!

About Sealing:
There are a variety of ideas I've read about with regard to sealing an oil pastel. You can use a fixative on your piece during your work in progress and continue working, but you will definitely want to seal it properly when finished. I used a UVLS satin lacquer and apply numerous coats so I can actually touch the surface (lightly) without digging into the soup that pastel artists love to hate.

About framing:
I frame my oil pastels behind glass because fingers can still damage the surface! (I'm sure you know not to put any painting behind glass unless it's watercolor!)

Here are a couple of places I googled and found some information on using and sealing oil pastels.

Oil Pastel Painting
Sealing Oil Pastels

Have a great sunflowery day!
(P.s. Looking for new oil pastels; please send them to the "Rubbed 'em in till they was gone" fund, c/o Rebecca Salcedo)

Oil Pastel, the pain that keeps on smudging!

Blog Party!! To Benefit Childhood Cancer Research

I'm joining in the party!!!

A very worthy cause to benefit Neuroblastoma research!

Click here to Visit THE AUCTION now!

My Friend Alisha, a friend of Tuesday's family, is auctioning my print!

"From now until May 12th, I am holding this give-away to help benefit the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation.

Tuesday was the beautiful twin daughter of my dear friend Jessica Kate who bravely fought and sadly lost her 8 month battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma in January of this year.

My friends and I from Jess' multiples group have decided to put together an annual blog party to help raise funds to fight pediatric cancer, specifically neuroblastoma, as it is the least funded of ALL cancers yet one of the most fatal :(

The item I am auctioning off is this awesome fairy 7x10 print from etsy shop owner by Rebecca Salcedo!
This is a professional giclee print which comes in an acid free museum quality matt, sized for an 11x14 frame!

All you have to do to enter to win this auction is simply leave me a comment letting me know you are interested in winning this awesome print and then, be sure to donate $1 to the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation. You will not be entered into this auction unless you donate the $1."

All you have to do to join the fun is visit the Blog Party. Each entry to win will only cost $1. That's a bargain at twice the price, and you are helping a worthy cause.

Thanks,
Rebecca

Blog Party!! To Benefit Childhood Cancer Research

Flowers Challenge Re-Post

Team North Georgia Flowers Challenge

Check out our blog, leave a comment and win some cool prizes!!

April Showers Bring May Flowers… especially here in Georgia. So this month the North Georgia Street Team is proud to bring you a beautiful bouquet of Flowers!!!

Choose your favorite from the group below & you will be entered in a contest to win one of these fabulous prize packs made up of some awesome items from Team NorGA shops. Here’s what you could win:

Flowers Prize Pack #1

A Pair of Dishcloths from FoxyGKnits, Cocoa Soap from HartleySoap, Flower Pot from KellysClayCreations, & 5 Floral Scented Tea Lights from WorthySoyCandles.

Flowers Prize Pack #2

A Floral Zipper Pouch from DingoGirl66, Flower Power Scarf from WorthySoyCandles, Tropical Punch Soap from HartleySoap, A Pendant Necklace from MarciaPalmer.

Below is our collection of Flowers challenge entries. Please go to the North Georgia Blog to view the entries and vote!

Note voting rules: Everyone, including Team NorGA members, may vote for a favorite entry. If you have entered a piece in this challenge, you are not eligible to vote. The challenge winner will be announced on May 8th, 2009.

Please don't vote here! Click to go the Etsy North Georgia Blog to Vote on your favorite and win a great prize pack!
www.etsynorthgeorgia.com

Flowers Challenge Re-Post

Pay It Forward!

It's as cliche as "Seeing is believing!" It's as overused as "What the ....?"
Ok! And you're telling me this because.....?

Call it what you will, there is a growing group of folks on Etsy and I want you to know about it!!
Etsians who believe in offering incredible deals way below cost, to those who want to do the same for others, and create a spirit of good will and nurturing for our businesses!

It gives the shop owner a lot of exposure and it gets some really great handmade items into appreciating hands! The only thing that these shops asks is that when you buy an item, you also offer something to Pay It Forward in your shop!

Here's some items that are featured by beautiful selling souls on Etsy right now!!

FOXY G KNITS

"...where every scarf, shawl and wrap is designed with you in mind – to both complement your style and enhance your comfort. Foxy G. Knits run the gamut from simple ribbon scarves that can be tossed into a weekend bag to beautifully choreographed goddess shawls that can take you all the way to the red carpet! And each item is hand knit with love – from my heart to yours.

Foxy G makes beautiful handknit items. You will want to remember her when you need that very special gift for your girlfriend!!

Twistedstring
Twisted sells great supplies, all at great prices, so you will want to stock up!

I urge you to remember that these hard working sellers need your business too, so please throw an extra item in your cart along with the PIF item! It's good for everyone and you probably have someone else in mind for it anyway!

SunnyDayCreations


SunnyDayCreations has a great shop with very pretty soaps and bath and beauty products.

She also has a huge pif (pay it forward) inventory, which is so wonderful and generous!

The prices on items in these shops is so reasonable anyway, that you can buy a regular item, and with the Pay It Forward item, it will be like 2 for 1 !!! Heck, you can get a basket full of soaps at a bargain! So, go help a handmade crafter, buy local even to go green, and spread the joy!

REMEMBER, by accepting a pay it forward item you are making a pledge to perform a random act of kindness for someone else.

Here are just a few more Pay It Forward shops and items! There are sooo many shops that it would take me hours to list them all, so please search for "pay it forward" or "pif" to view them all!!

Moonshadowdesigns
SunnydazeBoutique
Businessminded
Dolphindaze
PlunkettDesigns

Chileandreamer

Thebearfootshaman
Ferrytales2000
Weedesigns
JacquiJCrochet
crochet18banner
grigiodesigns
artandsoulgallery
kokovanilladesigns
snookybootzi

Pay It Forward!