Heather Original Gouache Painting

I'm so excited!  Why?  Because I've finally started my new series that has been bouncing around in my brain for who knows how long now.  It's kind of a spin off from my belly dance series in that I'm using a similar style and gouache paint.  What's different is I'm branching out to different styles of dance and making the images either much more simple or much more complicated.  First up is Heather!

Inspiration comes in many different forms, mine is in those I know personally and find strength, beauty and good energy.  In the image above is just one of those special ladies, Heather.  I met Heather through the dance studio I work at, she is one amazing dancer and instructor.  Heather often wears flowers in her hair which I feel fits her personality perfectly.  Outside of class she is a calm and serene presence, like a flower bud, it's closed but still just as lovely in it's simplicity.  In class Heather explodes with energy, she looks like she's having the time of her life you can't help but smile and laugh with her, in this moment she is in bloom showing off all her color and vibrancy.  This is why I chose such a bright color, dancing she pops like the red of a rose.

Above is the image I used to create my gouache painting.  I love how graceful, energetic and powerful this image is.  Heather is one strong mamacita!  If you'd like to know more about Heather check out her website here: http://createyourownbeautiful.com/

Heather Original Gouache Painting at Elven Grove: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76254521/heather-orignial-dance-gouache-painting

Water Goddess Watercolor Print

My brain is tired and thinking... is... difficult.  Yet I decide to write a blog now, how odd I am.  Oh well, when the mood comes to write it cannot be stopped even if the brain doesn't want to cooperate.  Next up in the batters box:

Like my previous post I created this image from a photo of one of my best friends.  I love this image because I put love into it when I made it, which was a Christmas gift to the lovely woman portrayed in this image.  She completes the trilogy of my tattoo sisters and her name is Amanda.  I decided to make her a water Goddess because Amanda adores water, it is her element and the flowers surrounding her are her favorites.  Check out Water Goddess in Elven Grove: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74726389/water-goddess-watercolor-print

This is the image I used to create Water Goddess, isn't she lovely?  I have known Amanda for a very long time, I'm not even sure exactly how long at this point but we began as school yard friends and our friendship soon grew to a life long one.  Though she lives so far from me now that I need a plane to see her, partly because I don't have a car, we still keep our friendship strong.  Amanda is one of the most caring and giving people I know and loves immensely.  She's also intelligently hilarious in a goofy sort of way which is why I love her so.  At the moment she is going to school to become a teacher which is perfect for her, with Amanda's giving and caring personality kids can't help but adore her.

In my previous post I mentioned some new ideas which are now becoming more solid in my, at the moment, mushy brain.  I'm getting excited to start some new projects and to share them on here...  But I'm getting ahead of myself, obviously I'm having difficultly focusing on one thing, this post took way to long to write but I got the writing bug out and I am happy.

Goddess Watercolor Print

I got through all of my Belly Dance paintings, what?!  This means I'll need to get working and create some more, though at the moment I have some other ideas growing in my mind... So many ideas so little time!  So now for a change of pass, some watercolor prints.

Above is an image that means quite a bit to me.  I created this image from of photo, which you can see below, of one of my long time friends and tattoo sister Briana.  I created this watercolor for her as a Christmas present, the wording below is in Gaelic and translates to "Froever Friends".  I chose Gaelic because we, including our third tattoo sister (in a future post to come), all have a bit-o-Irish running through our veins and share a love for everything Irish.  I always enjoy creating paintings of those that I care about, makes the process meaningful and fun and always hoping they'll enjoy it as much as I do.  Goddess Watercolor Print at Elven Grove: http://www.etsy.com/listing/65259871/goddess-watercolor-print

Above is the image I used as reference of my lovely friend Briana.  I have known Briana for, goodness, I want to say 15 years now... Could be a little more a little less.  No matter where we are in our lives I will always love her and call her friend.  Briana is also a very talented artist, I have seen her photography talents grow over time and she only keeps improving.  She's talented, driven and one awesome person, recipe for success!  If you'd like to check out some of Briana's photography take a look at her etsy shop The Dizzy Pixie: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDizzyPixie

A favorite etsy shop: Imagine Studio

Imagine Studio's creates art though photomontage, photo fusion and painted photographs.  I love this shop, the colors are vibrant and each piece brings out a different emotion.  The creator of this shop definitely doesn't hold back on letting the creativity flow.

The image above is titled "Fall's Awakening".  The reds, oranges and yellows not only remind me of the vibrant colors of the leaves in fall but also of the passions of romance.  At least that's where my imagination goes with this piece.  I wonder who she is looking at, perhaps she is on stage and her eyes fall on a tall man towards the back that she feels she knows from a distant past.

The image above titled "Metomorphous" gives a completely different emotion.  In this image I see escape, freedom.  It is a dark image so I get the feeling that she is in the moment of transition.  She was in a dark place, someplace she felt trapped but now she is moving on.  Escaping from this dark place to something better.  She explodes into flight to a place of light.  As you can see my imagination goes wild with the images of this shop.


If you'd like to see more from Imagine Studio's check it out here: www.imaginestudio.etsy.com

Britt

Lately I've been thinking I'd like to do bigger paintings like I used to do in school.  Perhaps they would be belly dance art, perhaps not.  The main problem with this idea is, room.  The bigger the art the more space it takes up and folks, I sadly do not have that much space.  It's so nice to have the smaller paintings tucked away in my portfolio, waiting to be bought so I can ship it off nicely wrapped in a bow... *sigh* dreamings.  Perhaps I can cover my walls with my large art or put them in a bag and hang them out my window.  Any ideas?

Okay, enough of my tangent thoughts, on to more belly dance art!  My newest piece "Britt" is as always, of a belly dancer I personally know and have taken inspiration from.  I love that I have such lovely muses that fill my life.

I chose yellow and red specifically to portray Britt's firery attitude on stage.  She has the ability to keep an audience completely captive and entertained simply by thrusting her hip to the audience while pointing them down as she holds an expression that says "yes, I'm pointing at you and you like it."  And it's true!  Britt has an amazingly witty and outgoing personality it's not surprising that she brings that wittiness to her belly dance performances which are wonderfully entertaining to see.

Above you'll see the lovely image of Britt I used as inspiration for my gouache painting.  Just look at that expression!  Pure confidence.

Check out "Britt" at Elven Grove: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72436209/britt-original-painting

Lydia

Next up in my Belly Dance series is "Lydia".  Lydia is actually the second original gouache painting I've done in this series, the first being "Veronica" which I gave as a birthday gift to the actual Veronica.  I liked it so much though I may paint another to put up in my shop.

Lydia is a dancer I've known for about 2 years now.   I met Lydia through Hipline starting out as fellow students.  Watching her in class it was obvious she had an amazing talent for dance.  She soon grew in the studio developing her arabic style of belly dance and began performing solo's at recitals, teaching workshops and eventually teaching classes.  Having a background in ballet, Lydia brings amazing grace and elegance to her belly dance performances as well as some kick ass back bends!

 Above is the actual image of Lydia I used for the painting above.  Check out "Lydia" in Elven Grove: http://www.etsy.com/listing/66514427/lydia

A favorite etsy shop: Elfin Dreams

This is a shop, at the moment, that exclusively sells fantasy original painting by Toni Cogdell.  The art in Elfin Dreams is mainly fairies or other nymph like creatures of nature.  Which, of course, is a big reason why this shop is one of my favorites.  Toni's work is very emotional, spiritual and whimsical.

Above is one of my favorite original watercolor and acrylical painting in Elfin Dreams.  This piece is titled Lady of Hawthorn.  As far back as I can remember my family has taken camping trips every summer.  With so many fond memories with my family out in the woods I have grown with a great appreciate for nature and a love of trees.  In this piece, an elven like creature seems to be a part of this tree, perhaps a tree spirit taking on a humanoid form.  I've hugged trees, but to be a part of the tree would be a completely different experience.  What's your interpretation of this lovely art piece?

If you'd like to see more from Elfin Dreams follow this link: www.elfindreams.etsy.com