I have a love/hate relationship with this season. On the plus side, I adore my family and getting to spend time with the daughters without the pressures of school (my youngest is homeschooled (sounds easy...it's NOT!), my Senior goes to a very prestigious school...translation: lots of WORK and not much free time for her!). On the minus side: while I so greatly appreciate orders for Christmas, I don't find much time for random creativity during this time. I am finally finished with orders and got some studio time yesterday. Here's a photo update on the Legions (no features yet but some glazing!):
Next...some amazing art from the amazing artist Justin Wayne Butts. Taylor (my Senior) recieved this painting for Christmas. She was so happy, she actually cried! She had mentioned this painting multiple times and couldn't believe she actually became the owner! It's very large, maybe 48" x 60":
I received this painting...also by Justin:
Justin is writing and illustrating a children's book. I got to see the originals over the holidays and I must say, they are incredible! I can't wait to see the book completed. He's also working on a Zine...busy guy!! Check him out!
One more thing (for now!!):
Those crazy girls of mine are at it again! Here is their Christmas video. Does it seem like my daughters just keep multiplying?! LOL Actually this is all of them, I have 3 daughters (and a son, who is NOT in the video!). Watch to the end for the bloopers.
I took a little time last week to do a Christmas project called "A Carvalho Christmas Story" (referencing, of course, the movie "A Christmas Story") using myself as "Flick", my daughter Taylor as the "Major Award" box, daughter Bailey as "the Pink Nightmare" and my husband Ray as "Ralphie". I hope it makes you laugh!
I've also spent the last week sculpting my little people. I've decided to call them "Legions" because I read somewhere that a Legion is about 6,000....and it sure feels like I've sculpted that many!!
I just took them out of the kiln about 5 minutes ago and I was so excited to find that nothing had exploded...a rare occurance! I thought you might like to see them before I started painting them. I'll also be painting the little pendants from a few posts back. There are actually 25 of them even though I only photographed this box of about 17 or so.
This painting is not my usual style! My mother always asks me "Why can't you just paint a landscape?". If you've ever seen my paintings, you know landscapes just aren't my thing! But, funky paintings are...so, as a Christmas gift for my dear mother...a funky landscape! I wanted you to see the progress so the pictures posted begin with the background and show the progression through the process to the conclusion. I really enjoyed painting in this way so I may do more!
Ok, Girl-zoes! Here we go!! I finally made a decision as to what I would do as a giveaway to celebrate hitting 100 subscribers. It is a handmade art pouch (made by me, of course). The front features a sublimation print of my painting "We All Are Sisters In This World". With the sublimation process, the print is actually a part of the fabric and will not fade or peel. The fabrics are handpainted batiks. It measures 9 1/2" x 6 1/2". Perfect for packing up pens, pencils, a small watercolor set....whatever you can think to fill it with!
I will also be putting a bunch of bags in various sizes into my Etsy shop within the next week in case you don't win but still want a bag. I make them in many sizes and handle lengths with LOTS of different prints.
To enter the giveaway to win this little gem....just leave me a comment! I will have a drawing (using Random.org) on Friday, December 9th at 8 a.m. Central time and announce the winner here later that day.
