Saturday, December 31, 2016

Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge with Leslie Saeta







I am joining up with Leslie Saeta for her Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge. 

What's it all about? As our host Leslie says,
It's about getting in to the studio to try new things. It's about painting more often. It's about having fun and developing new habits!”
The last time I took part in a 30 day challenge I grew so much as an artist. In the beginning it took me some time to get started each day, I had trouble coming up with ideas and making that first mark on the paper. But after a few days the ideas flowed. I could see my progress with each piece. I developed my skills and tried out new techniques and supplies. It was such a good experience.
Back then it was just index cards, small works. This time I am going to work on 9x12 paper, masking off a 5x7 area so the finished works are suitable for framing.
Leslie makes it clear that there are no rules.
She suggests you may want to choose a theme but it’s up to each artist to decide what works best. I think I need a theme. I have chosen the NEW YORK SCHOOL. (what is that? Well you need to wait until tomorrow to find out!)
If you want to join in just visit her website where she explains everything!
I hope you will sign up, I'd love to see what you create!
#30paintingsin30days!

Saturday, December 24, 2016

New Project in the Works!


I have a new TOP SECRET project.  I'm still in shock and afraid I might be dreaming!  





I can't give out any details just yet.

Let me just say that an exciting opportunity has been presented to me. It is truly a gift - and in more ways then one. I am honored that I was even considered.  I have something to focus on, something I can sink my teeth into. 

Starting in January I plan to share my journey with my readers. There will be full blog posts and little snippets. Because I don't consider myself much of a writer you know there will be more photos than words.  

I hope you will stay tuned.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you all - see you in 2017!

~ Shelley


Saturday, October 29, 2016

Hanging My Head in Shame: Nothing to Show for Myself!


I'm posting to say that I don't have a painting to post today!

I haven't finished. I am a PROFESSIONAL procrastinator so I put it off until the last day (Friday). BUT I woke up sick, with vertigo and I couldn't even make it out of bed until like 2pm. And then I had "work" I had to catch up. I am still catching up as I lost like 7 hours (yes, I start my day at 5am).

So, no painting to share. BUT, you can always check out past work via my YouTube channel. There's a load of COLOR there. I mean I ASSUME that's why you are here, right?! You love COLOR!

 Oh yeah, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!







Saturday, October 22, 2016

It's Saturday - Time to Showoff! - October 22, 2016



It's #ShowOffSaturday over at one of my favorite Facebook groups, The Artist Entrepreneur hosted by the lovely Catherine Orer, Coach Extraordinaire.

Again this week I am sharing one of my paintings from my October series where I am celebrating autumn with abstracts - this is abstract 10.4 


You can see my process in the photos below -

                    Step 1                            Step 2                             Step 3       


(1) I started with a 20" x 20" canvas and applied a base of black gesso. I then sketched an abstract design with chalk. (2) Using white acrylic I began my layers. I started with a round brush and painted small haphazard strokes. (3) For the next layer I mixed the paint with acrylic glaze.



(4) Next I added color. (5) Once it dried I began pulling off some of the top layer of paint off using alcohol and elbow grease. This created a distressed look.

Lastly I applied thin layers of translucent colors - Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Green Gold. Using baby wipes I removed some of this paint too. I worked some Paynes Gray on top to give it some more depth.



The final piece -

20 x 20 Acrylic on canvas
Donated to the
Rome Rescue Mission Fundraiser

Here are a few close ups photos which allow you to see the texture and layers of color.




Shhhh - if you've read this far, thank you! Your reward? Leave a comment below and be entered to win a set of note cards with close up images taken from this painting.Winner selected on October 28, 2016.

Congratulations to last week's winner, Kathy E.




Saturday, October 15, 2016

It's Saturday! Time to Showoff: October 15, 2016


It's #ShowOffSaturday over at one of my favorite Facebook groups, The Artist Entrepreneur hosted by the lovely Catherine Orer, Coach Extraordinaire.

Again this week I am sharing one of my paintings from my October series where I am celebrating autumn with abstracts - this is abstract 10.3 (yes, I skipped one, I am still struggling with 10.2).


You can see my process in the photos below -




Step 1                                             Step 2                                                     Step 3
(1) I started with a 20" x 20" canvas where I had applied a base of black gesso. I then sketched an abstract design with chalk. (2) Working with my chosen color palette of autumn hues I worked out a plan.  (3) I began building my layers with stamped images and collaged sewing pattern tissue and torn pieces of newspaper.



Step 4
(4) Filling in base color. I used several products to build layers of color - acrylic paint, markers, gelatos and Neo-Color II crayons.





My most used tools on this painting - Acrylic glaze (used to add transparency to paints) and a scrubby paint brush (older brush that I cut down)



Steps 5                                       Step 6                                      Closeup
 (5) I created a few flower outlines with my chalk. (6) Using my scrubby brush and acrylic paints mixed with the acrylic glaze I filled in the petals of the flowers, still allowing the bottom layers to come through.


After many, many hours of adding layers I have landed here.


20 x 20 Mixed Media on Canvas
FOR SALE - Inquire via email


Here are a few close ups (I love close ups, it's where you get to see all the yumminess!)






CA3.5X7
  ** Special Offer **  

Get your own 5"x7" print of a close up image with
  added quote by John Donne,

"No spring nor summer's
beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in
one Autumnal face."

send $5
via Paypal to
shelleygrahamturner@gmail.com
(state #CA3.5x7 in the note)

Suitable for framing. The watermark will not appear on your print. Other sizes and formats available. Offer expires 10/31/2016.



But I'm not sure it's finished. I may keep adding to it -  after all, you can NEVER have too many layers.

Shhhh - if you've read this far, thank you! Your reward? Leave a comment below and be entered to win a set of note cards with close up images taken from this painting.Winner selected on October 21, 2016.



Saturday, October 8, 2016

Show Off Saturday with The Artist Entrepreneur Gang - October 8, 2016


Yeah it's Saturday! GOOD NEWS - I don't have any grandchildren visiting today so I can create ALL day and night!!

Besides that, it's #ShowOffSaturday over at one of my favorite Facebook groups, The Artist Entrepreneur hosted by the lovely Catherine Orer, Coach Extraordinaire.

Here's the artwork I am sharing today. It's part of a series I am working on for the month of October. I am celebrating autumn with abstracts - this is abstract 10.1 (real creative name, huh?!)

(Selected as Artist of the Month by the Rome Arts Association, it will be on display at the Rome-Jervis Library during the month of January 2017).

It's a mixed media on paper measuring 11x14 framed. It will be listed in my Etsy store soon (so much on my plate right now, but I HAVE to get to that! Next week I am training an new assistant, hoping that goes well and he will pick up the slack around here!---- any who....)




Here's the painting and also a few photos in a slideshow as well.

The slideshow begins with a page from a magazine which inspired my color choices. You see the beginning of the painting as well as some up close shots.





Hope you enjoyed the glimpse of my work...see you next #SHOWOFFSATURDAY!

~ Shelley





Sunday, October 2, 2016

Leaves & Trees - Mix It Monthly Challenge with Pia Rom

Each month artist Pia Rom of Germany hosts an art challenge. She calls it "Mix It Monthly Challenge". In September the theme was leaves and trees.

Pia suggested that we use texture in our work. I love leaves and I love texture. I really enjoying using my different art supplies to create layers of texture.

Here is a slideshow with few photos of my finished art piece - a 6x6 mixed media on canvas.






   (SLIDESHOW)

Wonder what's next?

WHAT are you working on right now?!












Monday, August 29, 2016

An Abstract Challenge with Lindy Stamps!




Yesterday I started a painting. As usually happens, I began with an idea and ended up with something totally different.


I tend to paint in fifteen minute sessions with breaks in between. During one of my breaks I went online to check my e-mail. I saw an e-mail regarding the August Challenge over at Lindy's Stamps. Normally I don't do these but when I saw their graphic, I was HOOKED - here, look for yourself.






Yeah, COLOR!
You know me - I LOVVVVE me some color!

As I said I had already begun painting but I didn't like the colors I was using - too dark for my taste. So, I went into my supplies and took out my Lindy sprays. I just happen to have some of those colors!  What a yummy palette to work with. It just took a bit of gesso and I was able to switch over to these colors.




I had already added my signature circles so while the gesso was wet I worked in a bit of  Jazzy Jivin Purple to each one. While they were drying I mixed Lucious Lime (one of my very favorites!)  with white acrylic paint and filled in a large rectangular shape.





After it was completely dry I laid my canvas down on my table and sprayed it with Delphinium Turquoise  - letting the spray pool up. This spray is from  Lindy's Starburst spray line,  they are two-toned colors with shimmer added. I love the way it looked against the matte background of the light lime.





After staring at the painting for a bit I thought it still needed something. Texture. It needed texture!  So I tore up some deli paper which I had tinted with a light spray of Tears on My Pillow Tangerine. Once that dried I put on a base color of white acrylic paint mixed with Hottie Patottie Hot Pink. I followed it up with a mix of the same color spray mixed with a hot pink acrylic paint. I worked this blend into the nooks and crannies, gave it a minute and then wiped it back with a wet baby wipe. When it dried I added a coat of gloss medium to the hot pink background. 
After adding just a few marks with neon paint markers, lastly I used white acrylic paint to make large brush strokes across the whole canvas. I DO like my ABSTRACTs!

Here's the finished painting and a few close-ups too.





"Temper Tantrum"
20 x 20 Mixed Media on Canvas












It took some time, and many changes, but I love this painting!









Saturday, March 12, 2016

ICAD Revisited : CREATE 'Til Your Heart's Content!


Sharing another of my ICAD self-challenge from 2014. This one was created using one of my favorite art supplies - Faber Castell GELATOs! LOVE the creamy colors. I love adding them with my fingers!


"CREATE 'til your heart's content!"


Hope you enjoy this short video -



                                                    ICAD 023 by Shelley Graham Turner



Monday, February 29, 2016

ICAD Revisited: "Eye Can't Sleep"


The latest trend seems to be COLORING. Well, I'm not really much good with the markers and pencils. Staying in the lines is something I have NEVER been good at!  But, I CAN do a little something with the gelatos and other mixed media art supplies.

Check out what I do with this eye... it was kind of a fun exercise for me!


Do you color?






Friday, February 26, 2016

ICAD Revisted: "Happy"


Thought I'd revisit my self-challenge from 2014, and take you along.

 I grew so much as I let myself go! A small index card sized piece of art was just enough without being overwhelming.



Enjoy!
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