'Regalia' in ink

It's been awhile since I've posted here sorry….art fair season has me crazy busy. I suspect that's because I'm new at it. Next year when I know what to expect I'll have it all under control. (Who's fooling who now?.…LOL) Anyways I had a bad go in Traverse City which was saved in the end by a private showing in which I sold 6 framed drawings and netted some badly needed cash. Thank you patrons of the arts….you are wonderful! Now I have holes to fill for the Funky Ferndale Art Fair in September……off to work I go!

Turn

This is a tad crooked…but I think you can still enjoy it's merits…….LOL

Tumbled

51st Artcenter Traverse City Outdoor Art Fair

51st Artcenter Traverse City Outdoor Art Fair

July 30th, 10 am- 5pm: Traverse City Michigan....I'll be there...will you?

NEW WEBSITE!

Finally finished my new website.....please go take a look and let me know what you think!

www.wix.com/MOTStudios/theArtworkOf_MariaOlivaTyra

Berkley Art Bash 2011

                                    Looks like I made it into the Berkley Art Bash!  

                                                            www.berkleyartbash.com

Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair

Just got the offical word.....I'm IN at the Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair.....

http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/departments/recreation/special-events

More info to follow!

'Behind"

Royal Oak Artist's Market Show and Sale

So I finally entered my 1st show....after much pushing by all my near and dear. It was crazy throwing it together on such short notice but I'm really glad I did it. I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and am really looking forward to doing another art fair again. People were really great and I had a lot of positive comments and that in itself was a real ego booster. It's nice to have your ego stroked once in awhile!  I sold my art to some wonderful people ( It's nice to see my little dears going to good homes where they'll be appreciated!)  There were a lot of really talented artists there as well. I had some of them comment positively on my art as well and THAT really means a lot to me. It's nice when the lay people tell you you've done well but when your peers tell you it's really nice. One of them told me that my work was destined for the DIA one day....which floored me to say the least. It was a fine complement coming from another artist and I was really amazed to get it. And if she ever reads this I hope she understands just how wonderful that was to hear.....and THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! 

Here's the booth all ready to go. The hubs did an AMAZING job setting me up with this at the last minute. He's so handy and a real trooper. I'm blessed to have him.

Close up of the interior. We used office cubicle partition panels. They were a pain in the @$%..... to put together but once together they worked really well. He put together some wood stands to lift them up about a foot higher than they would be normally. He really did a great job and it all pulled together well and really looked good I think.

'Lotus'

'Lotus'

Working on getting pieces ready for a show. 

Here's the newest piece to spill out of my overworked brain.

'Tear Away Shrimp'

This piece has been waiting around in the studio to get finished for awhile. I finally got to it this last week. There's so much going on right now that it's amazing I found time to get to it! 

Chloe as a Christmas Gift

My husband's family has decided this year to give handmade gifts, with a approximate value of $20. They did this last year also, with moderate success. The women in the family, all very creative, were very happy to make and give handmade gifts. We like to create. The men......not so much. One of my brothers-in-law made a paper airplane out of a twenty dollar bill (which, I gotta admit, I thought was quite creative. It fit the rubric...it was handmade and had a $20 value) and the other taped a check for $19 to a cinder block and wrapped it. (He said the block cost $1...LOL)
Now this year I was not so keen to do this because December is really hectic for me and the kids can't seem to do anything like this on their own which means that I have to practically spoon feed them  to get them to make something. It just is a pain and makes my December that much more hectic and that much more stressful. But, in for a penny, in for a pound. I got my brother-in-law, paper airplane guy, in the gift draw and decided that I would do a portrait of his baby daughter (Remember I LOVE faces...LOL) I sure hope he likes it because I don't know what else I could possibly make him that he would like.
Anyways here she is.....Chloe.....whatcha think? She's kinda cute huh?

Oh I forgot to add....it's been at least 30 years since I worked with pastels...no lie. I had to blow the dust off of them when I pulled them out of my cabinet. All things considered I think I did rather well.

My ArtSwap Came!

Oh my Twitter #ArtSwap came and I was soooo delighted to get it! It was from Tasmanian artist Kim Foale, @frogpondsrock, a wonderful ceramic artist.  I had seen her post it on the #ArtSwap stream and thought to myself: "Oh I would sooo LOVE to get that for #ArtSwap!" And for once in my life (well once that I am conscious of) the Universe heard me! AMAZING!  She makes wonderful pieces that pay homage to the human connection with art, leaving personal traces like fingerprints in the glaze or the slightly off center edge. No mass produced every one perfect and perfectly the same bellybutton pieces here. This is truly OOAK and I just love it! Here it is....check it out! Isn't it beautiful?!

#ArtSwap Fall 2010

This is my piece for #ArtSwap Fall 2010. David Pringle is the man behind the scenes for this wonderful Twitter based swapping of creativity. A truly wonderful idea! Dozen's of artists on twitter trading art...enjoying and reveling in each other's creativity.  I had a great time preparing this piece but I'm even more stoked about what piece of art I will end up with......keep your eye on this space 'cuz as soon as it get's here I'm gonna post it ;-D

Looking Through

"Looking Through" 

This piece is currently for sale in my Etsy shop. Just click the button in the upper left hand of the blog to view my shop and everything there.

WaterMarks and Etsy

Okay I finally learned how to watermark my images. So expect to see them appearing in all new artwork as well as the old images as I replace them little by little.  I don't like having to watermark but it's so easily copied and printed by anyone with a printer and a desire.  As a 2D artist I feel I need to take all precautions to protect my work.
 I also got my Etsy shop up and running. I'm slowly loading work for sale on there so keep checking it for new items. I put a button in the upper left hand of the blog for easy access to my Etsy shop "ArtdreamsStudio". Please check it out and let me know what  you think. I'm open to suggestions and would love advise from any "seasoned" Esty shopkeepers! Thanks!
Ok....I'm off to create......

Turtle Bee

"Turtle Bee"

Flowers 55

This piece was another commission for a friend who was giving it as a 55th birthday present. She wanted a lot of flowers in this pieces, "a lot, I mean A LOT of flowers, and two nickels, and time again." So I found myself really pushing the flowers into this piece. My favorite part of this piece is the lotus at the bottom of the piece. I may explore that form more in other pieces soon.

No. 132 Attitude

I did this one UpNorth. I don't really like drawing there because I am without supplies and I am constantly interupted....but it turned out nice.

Blue Hibiscus

'Blue Hibiscus'

I was unable to scan this entire drawing as it is rather large but most of it made it... :)