Feather's Ink

The 7 Deadly Sins

2005-08-24T16:30:52Z

Well, I decided to try something new with my ACEO cards and create a group rather than just a single card. These cards are my rendition of the 7 Deadly Sins using my women characters.
Listed in my EBAY store

Thanks for looking!

Latest Art

2005-08-14T11:29:36Z

Here's my latest auctions listed - I'm really liking how these are turning out!
Listed in my EBAY store

Thanks for looking!

More New Art

2005-08-11T01:56:36Z

Well, there I was just working away on my new EBAY store pages and I had to stop to paint something. It's really tough to be the all around everything and still try to find the time to do what your doing all this other stuff for so you can do it. Here I am advertising all my art work, creating new website pages, auctions, stores, etc. and by the time I get finished, I'm worn out and can't even think of painting anything. Today was different. The urge hit and rather than ignore it and move along, I followed it and here's the result. Title: The Diplomat

The Auction and the image of the auction

New Works On the Auction Block

2005-08-07T22:04:22Z

Due to life, I have not been able to paint very much lately but what I did get finished is listed here.

Less than 2 hours left on this one!

The newest one added

Check out my new store while you are there - it's a work in progress but coming along! My EBAY Store

Thanks for looking!

New Art Style

2005-07-21T22:44:48Z

I took myself off on a mini vacation up to Calgary, Canada to visit with my sister and brother in law and had a great time. The main event was the big Stampede which drew in the largest crowds in history there due to it being Calgary's 100 year anniversary. A friend and I went to it and enjoyed the sights and sounds of all the cultures of people gathered there but more than that I enjoyed going through the art displays.

As I wandered through all the mediums and styles, I felt myself becoming more confident with my own art and even though I was exhausted after arriving home, I awoke early the next day and painted 5 new ACEO's and started a 6th one. I was amazed at how it just flowed out of me! It feels great to be in the space of painting without much thought of where it's going but rather to convey my emotions on the canvas through touch.

So, here are the paintings I have completed and they are listed on EBAY now HERE

If you prefer to see what they look like before entering the ebay zone, here they are:
I am donating 25% of the sale of this one to the Bids4Kids Charity for the Hole in the Wall Gang.

Thanks for looking!

Playing Catch Up

2005-06-16T14:12:08Z

You might ask why it's taken me so long to post a new message so here goes with the long line of events the past month or so:

1. The first thing that happened was my computer decided to throw a hissy fit <<<(defintiion- Southern speak...usage as a noun-"I just had me a huge hissy fit!"....meaning she screamed, ranted, paced the floor uncontrollably, pointed her finger at the offending party, crossed arms tightly over chest with a tight lipped and squinty eyed appearance towards anyone brave enough to defy her and made several threats which were not idle. Apply these human animations to an inanimate object in your imagination to get the idea.} So, my computer threw this hissy fit and totally balked at ever starting again. After throwing my own hissy fit towards her, I one upped her and said "fine, I'll just erase your ass!" and proceeded to format the drive. Fortunately, I keep backups regularly on important stuff so snuffing her as I did hurt her more than it did me. Now she knows who is the queen of the hissy fits....I'm still loading programs.

2. My brother was killed in a car accident the first part of June. He was 48 and had lived in Mississippi all his life. Everyone from my father's side of the family lives there so of course, that's where the funeral was held. So, I had to take off and drive there (494 mi. one way) and spent a few days helping to sort things out and be supportive to my parents. Although the fact of his death was sad, we celebrated his life and some wonderful family time together as we shared our memories.

3. I've been busy creating ACEO cards to sell on EBAY and because I am such a sloooooooooooooooow painter, I usually only get anywhere from 2-4 cards painted per week. My women characters seem to have caught on and I have several collector's who adore them (yippee!) so I do my best to have at least one new character per week and maybe a 2nd painting depicting an old character in a new situation. I've been working at a plan for these ladies and will hopefully have it all together within the next 2 months or so to announce to the world. Sorry, can't give anymore info than that. *wink*

Other events: I sold my Chambre ? Coucher painting this past week to a guy in the UK! I'm very pleased with that and really think doing the ACEO cards has helped me to get more people to view my art. Not to mention how they are helping me with the actual painting of stuff - like really paying attention to details I once overlooked.

So, here is a new character and her name is Carly.

This is Ruth and her cat Ralph in another little adventure.

See my Other Auctions!

One more thing....because the ACEO's are really catching on and becoming such a HOT item for everyone, I am helping with the beta testing of a new Auction site specifically directed to ACEO's, collectors and artists alike. This is more than likely where I will be listing my ACEO's once the testing is finished and it's ready to run and I wanted to share it with you. Just remember, although you can see things and navigate around the site, it is still in test mode but this will give you an idea of how great it will be! http://www.artcardauctions.com/index.php

Well, I think that's about it for now except that I am painting some new stuff which I hope will be finished by next week. Some larger works that I am really pleased with at this point. *smile*

New stuff

2005-05-22T19:47:38Z

Well, I have been busy painting ACEO's and they are selling great so far! I decided to list a couple of larger things too and one has a bid. The other one I just listed today. It's an oil landscape titled "Early Summer, Late Afternoon".

To view all my auctions.

Other than being tired, I am doing really well. Weather here is warm but cloudy with storms predicted sometime today or tonight. Lots of nice cloud formations to look at.

Lagging Behind...or is that sagging behind? ;o)

2005-05-06T15:01:42Z

This past week has been really kind of weird. First I got this little tickle in my throat which turned into a massive headache, which then became ears killing me. Then, I couldn't hear with all the crap in my head, coughing, hacking, spitting...you know, all that wonderful stuff that comes with coming down with some sort of cold type thing. My room mate got it too with the only difference being that he isn't coughing as much - probably coz I smoke more than he does. So, anyway, here we both are feeling pretty lousy and then it was like all these weird things started happening all around us. Noise. It was like everyone in our neighborhood decided to be as loud as they possibly could be with yelling, cars drag racing down our street, kids everywhere with whistles blowing. Then, my computer started messing up and wouldn't boot. I tried everything to get it to boot up and it wouldn't work. I ended up having to format it ...grrrrrrrr.

Vaughn and I just kind of finally looked at each other day before yesterday and laughed and decided that we would just join in with all the ruckus going on and make noise too. The t.v. got turned waaaaaay up, we opened the doors and started talking very loudly to each other from opposite ends of the place. Basically we just made as much noise as we could and stopped resisting the fact that it was unpleasant. After about 30 minutes of that it all of a sudden stopped. I mean like every noise that had been going on for the past week just completely stopped and it was as quiet as it gets right before a tornado comes. We looked at each other and just smiled. See, we have this belief of "what you resist, persists" and we feel that by our joining in with the noise makers we had stopped resisting it. Once we did that, it stopped persisting. Anyway, we found that to be kind of weird and cool all at the same time.

So yesterday, things started to calm down and get back to normal. Now instead of sitting here getting my computer back up and running, I can get back to my painting. Fortunately I had a couple of my Rebecca series cards painted ahead of time so that at least worked well. I have 2 more to do to complete the series and I have to get them done by tomorrow so I can list them to end on Sunday.

Well, that's what has been going on in my little world. Oh yeah, I went to the eye doctor yesterday and found out I have this little basil cell carcenoma (have no idea if any of that is spelled right), or in other words, a little cancer growing in the corner of my eye. Now I have to go to a plastic surgeon to have it removed. Yippee...

The ACEO Bug

2005-04-28T17:12:10Z

I've been bitten by the bug to make these eensy tinesy little pieces of art on 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inch cards! I didn't think I would keep doing them after really screwing up 5 of them - well, they looked just sucky to me anyway. However, I decided to keep on working at it because by the time I got finished with the 5th card, I realized it was getting easier. So, one thing led to another and I now have a series going of one character, Rebecca, and I must say they have been a lot of fun to create! Here's the first one called Finding Zen and has already sold.

The second one in the series along with the 3rd are still up for bidding at Ebay...here's a preview of them

To read more about this character and bid, you can click HERE

There will be a total of 9 in this series so keep looking for more to be posted at Ebay! Thanks for looking!

New paintings

2005-04-21T02:41:41Z

Well, it's Nibblefest contest week and with the theme being Alice in Wonderland, I finally came up with something.

Alice in Wonderland

A new ACEO card created today called Finding Zen

All these are for sale HERE

Thanks for looking!

It's my birthday!

2005-04-19T18:37:47Z

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to me!

New work

2005-04-19T18:36:35Z

I guess I must have been feeling fairly creative lately because before I knew it, I had my April Nibblefest entry finished for Alice in Wonderland theme and 5 fairy ACEO cards done. Then, on a whim last night I painted another card for the cleavage contest with ACEO and this morning got up and finished another little card. So, here's the link to the latest card I have listed with EBay: Mandy

I would list my Nibblefest entry but then it would ruin the contest, so I will just have to wait until after I list it tomorrow evening.

Fixing me some grub now - I'm famished!

An Important Discovery

2005-04-12T15:05:08Z

I enjoy reading the posts from my friends as they bring up some interesting topics of discussion. Today Windi discusses religious beliefs - a subject that is very personal and passionate with most everyone I meet. With a chuckle I remember how many arguments I have been in whenever that subject was pursued. Interesting...

So, I have been painting a little here and a little there but not feeling really overwhelmed with the desire to create. Many things are on my plate at this time and I have to question how I got where I am right now at this present time. I can see where my own belief of low self esteem and unworthiness has led me to this place. It's funny really because it's like there are actually 2 people inside me. One dictates to me that I can do anything I choose and the other is constantly berating my past decisions that have placed me where I am now. I envision like in old movies the little devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other, both whispering in my ears opposite opinions of who I am and what I can/cannot accomplish. The insecure and scared little girl who has no confidence sits on the one side and the adult woman who is confident in herself sits on the other with both of them arguing about how right they are to convince me of how to behave and what to do in any given situation. That little girl is very strong and constantly present in most everything I do telling me that I have to have someone older and wiser to help me make decisions for myself because I'm not smart enough. Sometimes I just want to slap her and tell her to leave me alone but the older and wiser woman knows that is not possible because the little girl knows how to make things fun and spontaneous and realizes the importance of that in life. So, instead, I just tolerate her and try to keep her in line giving in to her needs every so often because she helps me to have fun and be happy when the older woman is too serious about life's challenges.

Something came to my mind the other day that I felt a lot of importance to. I remember years ago when in my early 20's where I was asked if I enjoyed challenges and I replied "Yes! I love challenges!" It occured to me that since I verbalized that, my life has been nothing but challenges! Full of stuggles and disappointments, hurts and anger, life for me has been a constant battle as I have sought understanding to why things have been as they have. Decisions made in the past were all based on the fact that I enjoyed a challenge, a way for me to "figure it out", like a huge puzzle being put together with the final realization that some of the pieces were missing. Discovery of this belief I had held for so very many years prompted me to change that old belief.

Well, it's another dreary and rainy day here in the Ozarks but I feel o.k.. Today I will be getting some unfinished paperwork completed and paint some more cards for ACEO. I have 3 finished and a 4th started in a series of 5 I am doing to be put on EBAY for sale. My Nibblefest painting for Alice in Wonderland is mostly finished for the 20th of this month so little by little I am progressing with my goals. I will be glad when my roommate is moved out so I can set up my studio once again....but, I will miss him too. He has taught me much about myself. Thank you Vaughn.

April Fools

2005-04-01T13:48:11Z

Ah, the first day of April, the weather here is rainy and 43 degrees, but I am feeling alright and painting once again. Started on the April Nibblefest for Alice in Wonderland and am pleased with the results so far.

I've been watching Ebay for about a month now to see the patterns of the big sellers, what people seem to be bidding on, styles, colors, subject matter and I am feeling more positive about my own work. I have to do something being as how I lost my job because I had to put on light duty - my boss is an ASSHOLE. However, I am working to keep my thoughts on a more positive side and thinking this may be the best thing to happen to me right now. Now I have the time to paint and really work at building a business with my art. I'm still looking at my own style and don't really see anything that just jumps out at me. I've painted realistic landscapes and admittedly, I am pretty good at them, but I think I am beginning to see something else about it and that is that I think my preferences in technique are leaning more toward impressionistic, folk, surreal, and abstract. How I wish someone would just look at my stuff and tell me what my style is! LOL Somehow I feel that if someone who is trained to see these things could help me out then I could just zero in on that particular style and really practice it and make it more consistent. Right now, it's a hodge podge of eclectic works and I would so very much like to just do what I should do for me.

Oh, well, maybe someone will help me out someday....

Hope everyone has a happy day! I'm gonna paint.

Gonna paint

2005-03-29T14:18:10Z

My medication for depression is working very well with my mood and my shoulder feels much better this morning so I've been reading Alice in Wonderland to get inspired to paint for the Nibblefest contest next month. Inspiration arrived along with my muse (who I might add has been sorely irritated by body's refusal to co-operate) and I am now preparing the canvas to begin.

The weather here has been decently warm and we finally saw the sun yesterday. Today it is a little overcast but the temp is still mild in the 50's with forecast of high 60's. I've had my 3 cups of coffee and am ready to paint - woooohoooo!

Wounded wing

2005-03-28T21:20:16Z

This is the first time I've been able to type anything since mid March due to a shoulder problem. Finally gave in to the excruitiating pain and visited the chiropractor. I had him take x-rays because I didn't know what the problem was or what had caused it as I haven't done anything different. He took 4 x-rays and on one I find out that at one time I had 3 broken ribs and I didn't even know it! They apparently tried to heal on their own but are just sort of hanging there...geesh.

So, anyway, the shoulder is still not functioning as it should, but at least I have some range of movement now...maybe I can at least brush my teeth with my right hand in a few days. I hate trying to do things with the hand and arm not intended to do even the simplest of things. What a riot it is to even pull up my pants when I use the restroom. I've been off work for a week now and will be off at least till the 31st - I can't even drive - stick shift. I want to paint and can't!

A new day

2005-03-13T19:08:02Z

Well, I think my meds must finally be working better. Although I woke up the past 2 days feeling a little grumpy, after taking the Effexor I find that my mood is definitely better. I've even primed 5 cards to paint to put on Ebay for sale under the minis. Of course, I have NO idea what in the world I'm gonna put on them, but I'm sure my muse will humor me at least a little bit and help me out. I figure with me being a virtual unknown on there, if I start out small and work from there, who knows what might happen.

I'm really anxious to begin painting on one of my 30 x 40 canvas's but know that I really prefer to be like a painting fool that cannot stop before I begin it. I'm still debating on what I actually prefer to paint with, oil or acrylic, and whether I want to do a landscape or seascape or something different. So, I'm just being really patient with myself at this time and know that when the time is right, it will all fall into place.

My room mate is getting closer to making a decision of where he wants to move to and once he is gone, I will have more room here to spread my things out and get my studio back for painting. That excites me. What doesn't excite me is the financial end. I know me though and know that I will do whatever it takes to make it work.

Meds..argggg

2005-03-10T17:36:01Z

As I get accustomed to taking this medication, I've noticed several things going on inside my body some of which are not pleasant. This jaw clenching, gnashing of teeth thing is getting out of hand. My entire face is hurting from it! Plus, I want to sleep all the time. I guess that could be a good thing though being as how for the past like 15 years I've managed to eek by on an average of 4-5 hours per night. Now, I am averaging a full 8 and sometimes 9 hrs. per night with a 2 hour nap in between sometimes as well. Yikes! Can a person catch up on their lost sleep? I read somewhere once that it is impossible, but if it is possible, does that mean I am going to be catching on the past 15+ years of not sleeping? Just a thought...

A lady from the SS office called me this morning to ask if I went to the doctor and if I am on medication now and I couldn't even remember the name of the doctor or the clinic where I went to see him...that is just one of the things I've been having problems with for the past year. My memory used to be like an elephant - I never forgot anything! Now, I have to deal with this shit and it's killing me! Simple little things I forget, like putting the cap on the toothpaste, closing the lid on the washing machine after starting it, and the list goes on. The therapist assured me this is all just part of being bi-polar and it is fixable, so we shall see.

The weather here is beautiful today with the sun shining and 48 degrees although the wind is a little bit blustery, it's still a very nice day. Spring is just around the corner.

A new painting

2005-03-09T15:35:10Z

I started my medication for bi-polar and today is day 5 on it. I've had some side effects but have somehow muddled through and today has started out being a better day than the one's previous. The doctor has me on 75 mg of Effexor to see how I do with it before we proceed. The first few days were really awful with my jaw tightly clenched whenever I wasn't talking or eating and feeling dizzy along with the major headaches, but today has started well with none of those symptoms. Hopefully, my body is becoming accustomed to it.

I did complete a painting the other day and that is a very good thing (as Miss Martha says) and it turned out rather cute. It is for the Nibblefest group I have joined where once a month there is a theme and for only a few days it will be posted on Ebay with a starting price of 99 cents. The person with the most unique bids wins a prize. This month's theme is nursery rhymes and after searching for one that struck me as interesting, I finally decided on this one. It is a 12 x 12 hardboard masonite painted with acrylics. I've added some glitter to the star and to the lettering and it's very colorful and bright. It also has a hanger on the back making it ready to hang. I'm sooooo glad I have finally painted something again after several months of not doing anything but graphic work.

painting_mantis @ 2005-03-02T07:27:00

2005-03-02T13:27:39Z

Went out to dinner last night at the Fox and Hound and saw a movie last night with my room mate..."Constantine" with Keanu Reeves was an interesting take on demons and angels. Another of movie which provoked thoughts of the spiritual nature. I personally didn't view it as anything unusual or much different from other things I've already read about or pondered, but it was refreshing to see a common viewpoint on the big screen.

My room mate is a guy I hooked up with almost 4 years ago. We've gone from being romantically involved where we actually became engaged to one where we share seperate bedrooms and are almost platonic. Being with him has been like being on an emotional roller coaster with our feelings for each other changing from one day to the next. We are almost perfect reflections for each other in our thoughts, mannerisms, beliefs, and patterns....yikes! We somehow manage to come out of each disagreement remaining as friends and somehow closer than before. It's been a very different type of relationship for me and for him and although we muddle through at times, we are still together.

The past few days have been ones where I question the diagnosis of being bi-polar. I've been told that it is part of being bi-polar which makes me question and deny the fact that I am, but I can't help but look within myself for the core belief of how I really feel about it all. If it was a physical condition where I could actually see the problem it might be a little easier to believe, but it isn't. Being a person who carries the belief that I can create my own life as I choose has its drawbacks in that there's this thing inside telling me there is only something wrong with me if I decide there is. So, during a short time period when things were really sucky in my life I believed there was something wrong and ended up getting tested for it. Now, I am looking at it all through different eyes and seeing things from a different vantage point and seeing that it's possible I am not bi-polar. I have 5 more days to complete the other paperwork and send it in for them to base their decision on and I am procrastinating.

painting_mantis @ 2005-03-01T10:50:00

2005-03-01T16:50:39Z

Just finished adding some of my fav artist friends to my friend list. Yipppeee! Cool stuff they have - also, it appears they are a bit better about adding to their journaling than myself. *smile*

Today I have been pondering many avenues of where and how to market my art. Then, a thought occured to me - I haven't even done any art for a few months now so I had better get busy creating or else I won't have anything to market! So many ideas are rolling around in my head and yet I'm not moving forward with those ideas...grrrr. I have to take control of myself again and get myself organized so that I can once again be productive. I know I can do it!

painting_mantis @ 2005-02-17T17:54:00

2005-02-17T23:54:39Z

Today I have been feeling sort of lonely and have been posting messages on the group message boards I belong to, but that's o.k. and I think it's good for me to get my thoughts out there.

Last night I had some new ideas for a book to write - I've started 3 books and they are in various stages, but none are complete. Sometimes I really hate that creative part of myself. The part that is constantly creating things but not following through with the ideas. So many ideas and not enough self discipline to organize and be productive with them.

I found out a few weeks ago that I am bi-polar and now I have to go through some more tests to begin taking medication. In ways, I am so very glad to hear that there really a reason for my sporatic and impulsive behavior for all those years past, but on the other hand, I am a little frightened of what will happen now. I've been doing some research on it and talked to several people familiar with it and they all have very postive things to say about what happens when the medication is fitted to you and you begin to get your thoughts balanced. That is probably the only thing that is keeping me focused on getting it all taken care of. I will just be glad when I get all the paperwork done to get it started.

Haven't painted anything since I was in Canada and I miss it. Finally got all my supplies and paints shipped back home so there they are, sitting there looking at me each day just waiting for their time to be used once again. So many things have been happening in my life up to this point that I have found myself having a sort of "slump". I must get myself stabilized so I can continue with my art.

painting_mantis @ 2005-02-15T19:21:00

2005-02-16T01:21:11Z

Gonna try another post with an image in it...got my fingers crossed!

painting_mantis @ 2005-02-15T18:46:00

2005-02-16T00:46:50Z

Some things about this painting...it is a commissioned artwork using one of my other paintings as a character that she really liked and placing her in a not so normal situation. She wanted her to look enticing, inviting, and yet sort of surreal and to also match the colors for the room in which the painting now hangs. What you cannot see from the photos is that her eyelids are covered in glitter and the glitter is also on the mask on the floor along with on the table top around the beads. It is much more impressive in person than in the photos.

Anyway, thanks for looking!

painting_mantis @ 2005-02-15T18:42:00

2005-02-16T00:41:58Z

A closer view
Another closeup
Cat closeup
Closeup