Empowered - Limited set of 3

Hand altered prints, limited set of 3, one of a kind originals

$30 each - Available with other hand altered prints in my Etsy Shop

Portrait of Now - Limited Series of 3

Yesterday I came up with this idea to do hand altered prints in limited sets. It came after a very long and very inspiring phone conversation with a friend. The kind of conversation that gets your heart pumping and positive ideas are eagerly bounced back and forth across the miles. After the phone call, with a hot ear (you know how it goes), I sat back in my computer chair staring at my Etsy shop and it came to me. I know other artists have done this before, but I thought of how I could do it in my own voice and style. I quickly got to work.

To share my process with you... I begin with a sketch on paper (usually with a Sharpie marker) which I scan and then save as a bitmap file. I bring that file into Illustrator to convert it into a sleeker lined design. I print out three prints of this Illustrator image and then sit down with my watercolor paints and oil pastels to make each one an original work of art!

I made a new set I will post after this today. I'm excited to do lots of these limited sets and I've created a new category in my Etsy shop especially for them called Altered Limited Editions

Rediscovering some older work

Red Bull
Acrylic on canvas paper, 11 x 14, 2003


I'm offering some never before seen older works for a slightly discounted price on Etsy right now. Most of these paintings are similar to this style and size. Take a look!

www.livefunky.etsy.com

Now We're Talking

You are looking at a new canvas with the first strokes of paint, purple + yellow makes a brown that sings.... with my pie plate palette, a reused Tupperware thing with water, and my thoroughly paint splattered coffee table.

My first paintings of this year were in watercolor, which really isn't my natural medium. And this was after enough of a break that it was a bit of a challenge to get back into the groove. Even when I did, I still wasn't happy. But I haven't been very happy lately, period. It's nothing serious, nothing horrible, just the winter blues, I guess. I haven't been miserable, but I'm a person that likes to feel PUMPED UP! and happy as often as humanly possible.

Well, today has been a very positive day, in part because I read the India section of Eat Pray Love last night. I read the Italy part a few months ago and then put the book down, knowing that I wouldn't be ready for what the writer discovered in India until I was in the right place. Yesterday was the right time. I am so empowered and inspired. I won't get all spiritual here, it's not the right place for it, but I will say that we all have our own spiritual path that makes sense to us, and sometimes we know we are deviating but simply don't care. Maybe it's because we're stubborn, or it feels too good to wallow in self pity, or we simply think we "don't have time". I've found that for me, when I open myself to the potential of growth and learning, there is fear at first, but if I can kick my attention in the right direction and follow through anyway, it ends up showing me the very keys to get out of whatever funk I'm in. Everything else just comes tumbling (in a positive sense) after.

So with this new energy, I busted out a new canvas I got for Christmas (thank goodness my family knows to get me art supplies) and my acrylic paints, and as soon and my brush pushed that gorgeous, squishy paint around I couldn't help but think "ahhhh.... my love, how I've missed you so". 2008 might just be a kick ass year after all.

Speak Peace Men's T-shirt on Zazzle

Speak Peace Men's T-shirt on Zazzle, originally uploaded by livefunky.

www.zazzle.com/artjct*

Tiny Boxes

Tiny Boxes, originally uploaded by livefunky.

My first painting of 2008! Now available for sale at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Etsy Front Page - Jan 6, 2008

Etsy Front Page - Jan 6, 2008, originally uploaded by livefunky.

I know they are here and then gone in a flash. Fortunately this time I caught it and got a screen shot. Thanks to 3FUN for creating this great list (and for including me in it!).

LOVE BUG - New Babukins Design

Perfect for the little love bug in your life! www.zazzle.com/babukins*

Also in blue....

Customizable clothing for men and women www.zazzle.com/artjct*

Odd Fellows - Hot Ladies Tank Top

Another new design at www.zazzle.com/artjct*

Radical Expansion

A new shirt design at www.zazzle.com/artjct*

i'm just an animal looking for a home

if feels really cool to see one of my greatest inspirations dancing on this page... the wonders of technology. i hope he wouldn't mind.

Happy New Year!

happy new year!, originally uploaded by livefunky.

This picture was taken last night at our favorite place to spend New Year's Eve, Szechuan Tokyo in West Hartford, CT. Live jazz, great food, friendly people = good times.

I can hardly believe that it's actually 2008. Today is a day to chill and reflect, tomorrow really begins the NEW year for me. After getting a bunch of shipments out, I plan on starting some new paintings. I feel the spirit!

Happy New Year, my friends!

Good Tidings To You and Your Kin

me and mommy, originally uploaded by livefunky.

(This is a picture of me and my mom last year at our Jack and Jill party.)

I finally did it and upgraded to a pro account on flickr. This means I can upload as many pictures as I want and make as many sets and collections of images as I want, too. I'm adding a bunch of personal shots as well as art and art related photos and I feel like 'why not?'. It may seem unprofessional, but I always think it's cool to see other artist's "real life" pictures in their flickr account along with their wares.

May our smiles give you some holiday cheer. Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas

Silent Night

The sun just set red over the valley below and now the world's turned blue. I took this picture looking out our kitchen window to the backyard, the snowflake was from a Christmas crafty day here with the fam. I've got some time before the whole lot comes home and it's very peaceful sitting here, listening to the wind chimes outside and relaxing for a moment.

I hope everyone is allowing themselves some moments of peace and quiet in the mad dash of this next week. Take a deep breath. Look at the pretty lights you worked so hard setting up. Enjoy this moment with family or friends, a pet or by yourself.

Peace.

Etsy In The Press

Check out the NY Times article about the Handmade Pledge and Etsy's role in the movement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16Crafts-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Preparing for the New Year

Howdy folks. I've been fighting a beast of a cold for the past week. Knock on wood the worst is over but I still need to take it easy. I can't stand being sick and I can't stand being slowed down! But I obviously needed this break. I just want to be better for Christmas.

Since painting hasn't been an option (no energy, dizzy standing) I'm working on reorganizing my Etsy shop. I've got a sale section now which you can see by clicking here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=102895&section_id=5247974

Basically I am clearing out some older work to make way for new paintings and prints. My plan is to create a new shop on Etsy just for my "gallery collection" of original fine art. This will feature only the best of the best. I'll be working in series with the highest quality paints and materials. I'm going to hold off on telling you the link name until I have set up the shop, but it's something I am very excited about.

Since I've had such success with livefunky, I'm keeping that shop too - but of course! Livefunky will feature all affordable art, including prints, ACEOs, sketches, etc.

The reason why I'm doing all of this is to make some sense out of the mounds of artwork I have accumulated! Cleaning out the studio was the wake up call of just how much work I've got. I need to seriously go through everything and make a few piles/stacks.

Art that I don't want to sell because it's special - That should either be hanging in my own home or passed on to someone I love.

Art I don't want to sell because it's not good enough - I need to figure out what to do with the loads of art I have held onto that's just random. Sketches that never went anywhere, paintings that have a tear, you name it. I can't sell it but I can't part with it either. I guess the only answer is to find some sturdy tupperware bins and just store them away. Who knows, maybe my random sketches would be worth something to my kids someday?

Art that I do want to sell - These go to Etsy, and if they've been on there for a long time and haven't sold, they go on sale or get taken off to be part of a collection of "give away" art since I always include freebies for buyers.

That's my plan for all of my finished artwork. My plan for art that is yet to be is this...

MY PASSION - Time to raise the bar with my paintings. Invest in higher quality materials for new "gallery collection". Paint in series/groups. These will be my babies... :)

MY EVERYDAY - Even though I'll be raising the bar (and prices, by the way) of my fine art paintings, I'll still be doodling, sketching and doing little experimental watercolors and paintings on paper. These will be my livefunky puppies, ready for an affordable price tag and perfect for a little dorm room, apartment or workspace.

MY SIDE PROJECTS ONLINE - I'm going to continue developing my clothing lines through Zazzle www.zazzle.com/babukins* and www.zazzle.com/artjct*. These will have special illustrations and digital designs. Expect some more of these special product lines in 2008.

There's a lot to look forward to in 2008, but for now, I need to take a nap! I need to get better to get back to work!

All Sassed Up

I scored a Treasury List on Etsy tonight and dedicated it to dressing up for a night on the town.

Check it out here! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17925

It will be live through Monday.

Modern Art Apparel on Zazzle

a few examples from my online apparel line....

www.zazzle.com/artjct*