Friday, January 26, 2007

Okay, I'm trying



After posting yesterday and a week of Moms, kids and teachers I decided I did need to make some time to create. So, I took my paints out and just went at it. This is still a work in progress and not sure if it's going to be a keeper or not just yet. It's using the idea I had started before on paper using one of my carved stamps. Constructive criticism appreciated.

The photos are not very good. One has less glare but you can see the wood through the canvas and the other is very glary. I can tell I'm going to need some professional help or at least a lot of practice before I can take accurate photos of my artwork.

Have a great weekend everyone. Back to finishing my piece for the Invitational Reverse Auction. I hope.

Heidi

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Kindergarten, PTA and Art at the Mill

Hello,

What is Art at the Mill? Well, it's a fantastic event that has been going on at my son's elementary school for several years now. This year, although I'm a rookie PTAer, I've taken on co-chairing this event. So, you ask, why do I write about this on my blog which is supposed to be about my art? Well, I haven't posted in awhile and I just to make sure that you don't think I'm just creatively blocked or slowing down.

So, while not quite making art, at least I've been thinking about artists and exposing the kids to as many cool people as I could find. I think it's going to be great and I had great time meeting so many different kinds of folks working in such a variety of mediums. We have a zendrum player, a gourd carver, a magician, a jazz saxophonist, several painters, a clay artist, glass bead artist, fiber and copper enamel bead artist, quilter, handspinner, thespian, metal sculptor (actually, same person as the zendrum player) and a watercolor batik artist. Don't you wish you could come?

Oh, and I almost forgot. My sisters and I (and my niece) went to the High Museum to see the Louvre exhibit and had a wonderful time. It was the first time I have been to an art museum/exhibit since I started drawing and painting. Definitely was a different kind of experience than before. I was much more interested in the details and the processes of how things were done, but still in awe of the beauty that the artists were able to create/convey.

We also saw High School Musical the night before at the Fox and then I got to spend the night in a hotel downtown with them. It's really the first time we have done something like that and it was awesome. We are hoping we can make it a yearly event.

So, still not creating, but it was definitely a weekend full of the Arts.

Hopefully I'll get back to my own art soon. For now I am satisfied with making PR posters and flyers for my son's school event.

Take care,

Heidi

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Today's art



Hi!

Today's art consists of a sketch for an invitation for a friend and another long neck girl.

Gotta run. Going to see Dreamgirls tonight!!! Yea!

Heidi

Monday, January 15, 2007

Mad Woman with Crayons





Hi again,

Okay, since I finished my webpage (for now) and my piece for She Made Her Mark, I've been drawing like crazy. I think it's mostly an excuse to avoid putting away my Christmas stuff . I just look at it all and feel so overwhelmed. So, I pick up my pens and my crayons instead. I will add a new gallery of drawings very soon to the website, but it is considerably more work than posting a few here on my blog.

This girl(with the pinkish hair and folded hands) is definitely one of my all time favorites.

I think I am also using my drawing as a way to avoid my fiber art. The postcards were small and easy. The things I'm working on now are large in comparison (still small though) and require some amount of organization, focus and a somewhat clean sewing area. Well, I'll get to them eventually. I want to, I really do. But these dang crayons are just so much fun!

Take care,

Heidi

Friday, January 12, 2007

Small Drawings







































Hi everyone!

I have had a lot of feedback on my website and I really appreciate it. I'm keeping a list of all the suggestions and will make them as time allows.

I bought some Fabriano Artistico hot pressed watercolor paper (previously I had only used cold pressed-rougher, and a cheaper brand) and I am in LOVE!!!! Here are a few small drawings. I'll add them to my website soon.

I also took a brave step (for me) and journaled on one of my drawings in a very open, spontaneous way. It was scary and liberating at the same time. I think it will be very helpful to me. Not sure yet whether I will put my journaling on drawings to share/sell but I will continue to do it for my own mental health.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Celebrate MLK day!!

heidi

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Carving Rules!



Hi everyone,

So tomorrow is my son's 6th birthday and instead of finishing up his Lego cake I'm playing around with paint and carved stamps at 1:00 am. I started carving a few months ago and find it totally addictive. I created this stamp and hadn't tried it out since completing it a few weeks ago (it's been buried in the mess in my car). I was so excited to see how it turned out. What do ya think? I made it while waiting at the airport to pick up some friends (hence why it's been lost in my car) and I think next time I carve something I'll take the same approach. That is, sitting somewhere with nothing else to do but stayed focus on the carving and not stop in the middle of the process to try it out.

And, taaadaaaa, I know I've said it many times and you are all tired of hearing about it, but the website is up. Yea!!! Now I can get back to more creating and less time on the computer.

See ya,

Heidi

Thursday, January 04, 2007

What I'm up to now

Hello again,

I finally finished and mailed off my entry for "She Made Her Mark" today. I've got my fingers crossed.

I've also been working like crazy on my website and will have it up by Saturday (www.miracle-mcmahill.com). I can't wait to see what folks think. Please email or leave comments if you have a suggestion. After looking at it for so long it's a bit hard to tell what is working well and what is not. It may still need some tweaks but it's got all of the necessary stuff that it needs and is looking pretty good (in my humble opinion). My husband gets most of the credit and I think we could both be website publishers now after all that we have learned.

I'm still going to try and put up some old photos and new work here that is in progress.

So, here are some more pictures. A few of birthday cakes I have made for my kids. And, a couple of some recent drawings. Not sure yet if the drawings will be painted or turned into fiber art. Just having fun with pen and paper. Enjoy!