Lavender Fields - My Learning Process

I strongly believe that every artist, no matter what the medium should be able to draw.
Drawing is like running sais Alisa Burke, one of my favorite artist bloggers, and I also believe it is something that becomes better with practice. Although talent might be something you are born with, you still need to work hard to improve your skill.

Here is a peek into my studio.
I don't draw or paint much although I wish I did more. I am still at the stage of drawing still lives. I was a disaster when I tried plain air painting and I definitely cannot draw from memory.

I can't say no to a challenge though and when my friend wanted a painting for her room I decided to go for it even if I knew I wasn't the best paintor in the world.
So, Lesson 1: Don't be shy, go for it !

Leson 2: Find your own way of doing it.

My friend wanted a lavender field with a small cottage and some trees around the house. I used a photo I found online and modified it to use as reference to my painting.
Here is the final result, although I prefer the unfinished version from the first picture .

I didn't paint this for myself and I know from experience that people prefer the more realistic look so I went for that. It was a good exercise and I definitely have to improve on painting houses and trees.


Lesson 3: Imitation is not a sin as long as it is for learning purposes.
Reproducing the masters work is one of the ways they teach you to paint. That is how you learn the techniques and find out what you like. Just don't try to sell a Monet reproduction as original art :) I think it's ok to sell it as a reproduction for just enough to cover your expenses and buy new materials to keep learning. It's also ok to give it away for free....

February Sketch Challenge: OPPOSITES

Thank you so much  for your feedback on yesterday's post. I really appreciate all the support I got from everyone. I definitely don't intend to stop sharing. On the contrary. However, I do think a lot what to say and what to leave out from my blog posts. I wish I could share my creative process, my space, my tools, my new shopping adventures, my newest designs, a few tutorials and so on. But how can I open the door when I know wolves are out there, ready to grab whatever comes out? (That is another episode. Today we are talking about opposites.)

If you remember my post from last month, I have decided to join the Sketchbook Challenge this year and I am happy to let you know I managed to do the February theme too. The theme is OPPOSITES. I thought about it for a while. For me, opposites are black and white, man and woman.... but none of these themes called for a sketch until one day it came to me: LEFT AND RIGHT.  When it comes to drawing, one of my greatest challenges is symmetry. I know I am a little obsessed with perfectionism and I used to take 9 hours for the same still life my colleagues in art school drew in 2.  But that is something I like about myself and although I will not accomplish as much and as fast in this lifetime as others I know I am enjoying every moment of it.

So what about this butterfly? This is the very first time I actually sat down and took the time to draw a proper butterfly. I was always scared of drawing them because I had to make the wings symmetric. So one night when I was too tired to do anything else I took a butterfly stamp, glued it to my sketchbook and used it as guide to exercise my symmetric drawing.

Cotton Fields Necklace

Another of my painting has become a necklace thanks to the talented lil.lu bijoux.
I have sent her some prints and now she is working on an entire collection she called "Floral Dream" (love the name!). This one is my favorite piece until now.

I love seeing my work transformed into wearable art by one of my favorite Romanian designers.
She made those little cotton flowers from real ones she picked herself. I love this about lil.lu: in creating her jewelery she often uses things she picks herself.

What does a pregnant woman do when she is too tired to stand?

This pregnant woman likes to take her new pocket size sketchbook and a pencil, sit somewhere comfortable and sketch.

I used to lay down and read during the first trimester, but laying on my back is not an option in month no. 9.
I still do a lot of work in the mornings, but I feel exhausted in the evenings. However, going to bed early will only mean insomnia and I don't want that, so thank God for drawing.


I sometimes also sit at my work table and add some watercolor to the pencil drawing. Love how this orchid came out. I am thinking to transform it into a digital image and use it on wedding invitations.

My Paintings Becoming Jewelery

I am so excited to share this, I don't even know what to write and what to leave out!


This necklace is handmade by Lil.lu♥bijoux using a print from my poppy watercolor painting.
You can see more pieces on Lil.lu's blog. There is also and an entire jewelery collection coming up using my paintings.

I had the idea in December while I was making some covers for Lil.lu's portfolio. I asked her and she agreed, so now you can see the first fruit of our collaboration.

Why Lil.lu?
I have been watching her blog for a long time and was drawn to the originality of her work. Her pieces are unique. She combines elements in a different way every time and none is like the one before. I guess I have instinctively felt she had a similar creative pattern to mine, which was later confirmed by reading about her creative process in an interview.

This is the end of todays story, but you will be hearing more about Handmade by Meda and Lil.lu♥bijoux soon.

The Sketchbook Challenge - "Highly Prized"

I don't know how many of you have noticed that from the beginning of the year my blogroll has a new link in the "Challenges" section.
It's the Sketchbook Challenge blog. They have started a 1-year challenge to make sketches and share the process and I decided to join them.

For this purpose I made a new sketchbook with small pages and paper that can support wet media.
Small because I can't work fast and I tend to be intimidated by large canvases. Wet media, because I love watercolor and will probably use it on most sketches.



The theme for January is HIGHLY PRIZED".

For me greatly prized is the paper I work with (breaks my heart to throw away the tiniest bit and would love to recycle it all). That is why you will more often than not receive my invitations in reused packaging and my favorite way of making cards is by using scraps. Even this little book is made from cardstock that was left over from some of my invitation cards.

If there is anyone out there making paper by hand I would gladly send you paper scraps (free shipping).

I haven't drawn a stack of paper for the sketch challenge though. I have drawn a symbol of where paper comes from. A simple leaf. One of my favorite things on earth.

Christmas Teacup Watercolor

This is a picture uploaded directly from my camera. I am still on someone else's laptop, but I didn't want to miss Laura's Challenge Scrapper in Romania #8.


As soon as I saw the inspiration photo I knew I wanted to paint it and I I did about a week ago but my computer got toast and haven't been able to edit and post pictures to my blog.
Here is another view of my painting:

Poppies... to Remember

I love poppies! I live outside the city on a hill where lots of poppies bloom in summer time.
I didn't know until recently that they are the symbol of Remembrance Day.
I found out about this from The Craft Garden November Challenge.



Then I saw this beautiful image on Julia's Blog and felt a sudden urge to paint poppies. I wish I had time to do an oil painting but the watercolor should do for now.


It's so strange how (As L. guessed in my previous post) every year around this time I paint poppies.

Here is the one from last year:


And the one from the year before:

Of course, like every summer, this summer too I had to take a trip to my poppy field. I am not a very good photographer, but I thought I could bring you just a little feel of summer now that winter knocks at our doors.

Sunflower and Ladybug (SOLD :)

Despite all the invitations I posted lately, I have been actually been able to squeeze in a little time for painting.
I did this sunflower and ladybug watercolor to use as background for one of my invitations, but I then thought it just didn't match the wedding theme.




I have to thank Isidora for sending me the postcard that served as model for my painting.
I wish I could be that good to paint something like this from memory but it requires lots of practice which I don't have.

You know Christmas is close, right? Does anyone remember what is my favorite subject to paint around this time?

[Edit]
I forgot to say the dragonfly is a stamp. I might use it for the invitations instead of the painting.

Cotton Flowers Acrylic Painting (Flori de Bumbac - acril pe panza)

I have finished this. You can find an in-progress picture here.

Acrilic painting on canvas 50x50 cm.
(Acril pe panza, 50x50 cm)

What's on My Easel (Ce am pe sevalet)

Long time no post!
Nu am mai scris demult.

Actually I should have had a wedding day reveal last Saturday but I simply have no time to edit and post so many pictures.
Ar fi trebuit sa public un articol despre o nunta care a avut loc sambata trecuta, dar pur si simplu nu am suficient timp sa editez si sa public atatea poze.

So I thought I should write a short post instead to show you what's on my easel.
Asa ca m-am gandit sa va arat in schimb ce se afla la mine pe sevalet.

"Cotton Flowers" acrylic painting - in progress
("Flori de bumbac" - in lucru, acril pe panza)

The flower brooch is a gift from my friend Lolly. It has just arrived yesterday and I really LOVE IT! Thank you so much, Lolly!
Brosa gri cu perle e de la prietena mea Lolly si am primit-o ieri. Imi place foarte mult, Lolly! Multumesc!

Home Decor with Cuttlebug: Black And White Butterfly Canvas

Today is my turn again to write a tutorial for Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.
Azi e din nou randul meu sa scriu un tutorial pentru Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.


Deborah and I chose black and white to showcase Mother's Day. She made a box and I made a butterfly canvas. See full tutorial here.
Eu si Deborah am ales sa realizam proiecte de ziua mamei folosind doar alb si negru. Ea a decorat o cutie, iar eu am ales sa va arat cum puteti realiza o panza decorativa folosind o tehnica mixta. Tutorialul se gaseste aici.

Daisy Field Acrylic Painting (Camp cu margarete - acril pe panza)

We celebrate Mother's Day in Romania today and one of the Romanian mothers whose name is Margareta (Daisy) will receive one of my paintings. I hope she likes it.
Here are a few work-in-progress pictures. I don't have a final picture as my signature was still wet when I gave it away. Thank God for acrylic paint!


Azi e 8 Martie si o mama pe nume Margareta va primi una din picturile mele. Sper sa-i placa.
Iata cateva imagini realizate in timp ce pictam. Din pacate nu am o poza cu varianta finala pentru ca l-am dat pe cand semnatura mea nu era inca uscata. Slava Domnului pentru vopseaua acrilica!

the base layer
(fondul)

painting the flowers
(pictand florile)

close up
(detaliu)

"Fields of Joy" Acrylic Painting

Happy Spring!
O primavara fericita!

Can you believe its March 1st already?
Va vine sa credeti ca deja e 1 Martie?

Here is a painting that describes exactly how I feel about this time of the year.
It's 50x50 cm acrylic on canvas.
Iata un tablou care descrie exact ceea ce simt fata de acesta perioada din an. E acril pe panza, 50x50 cm.

detail (detaliu)

inspiration (inspiratia) -my kitchen glove (manusa mea de bucatarie)

It was the first time in my life cooking brought about something pleasant.
A fost prima data in viata mea cand gatitul a adus cu sine ceva placut.

"Morning on the Lake" Oil Painting ("Dimineata pe lac" pictura in ulei)

While oil is not my favorite painting medium, I do like how you can mix colors directly on canvas to achieve subtle backgrounds like I did for this painting.

Cu toate ca pictura in ulei nu e preferata mea, imi place ca pot amesteca culorile direct pe panza pentru a crea fundaluri subtile ca si in acest tablou.



I painted this in December while experimenting with oil but I decided to go with acrylic for my final exam at art school. Also I chose a more modern style and a textured background technique.

Am pictat acest peisaj in decembrie pe cand experimentam uleiul, dar am decis sa raman la acril pentru lucrarea de diploma. Totodata am ales si un stil mai modern si o tehnica de lucru pe fond texturat.

trees and bushes detail (detaliu pomi si tufisuri)

However, if you like this painting and I know many do, you can have it (free for friends :).
It is 11 inch 1/4 (28,5 cm), painted on cardboard and it is not framed. I would likea vintage black frame for it but don't know where to find one.

Daca va place acest tablou, si stiu ca sunt multi carora le place, puteti sa-l aveti (gratis pentru prieteni :). Este de 28,5 cm pictat pe carton tratat si nu are rama. As fi vrut o rama neagra cu aspect de vechi, dar nu stiu unde as putea gasi una.

evergreens detail (detaliu conifere)

Mardi Gras Fine Art with Cuttlebug

If every year before Christmas I paint poppies, i don't know how it happens that around Valentine's day I do mixed media art using cuttlebug texture.
Daca in fiecare an inainte de Craciun pictez maci, nu stiu cum se face ca in preajma Valentine's Day realizez o lucrare mixed media folosind texturi cuttlebug.


Here are some details. Click on images for larger view.
Iata si cateva detalii. Faceti click pe imagine pentru o a se mari.


As design team member for the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog I was assigned a Mardi Gras project and tutorial so I chose to experiment with painting on cuttlebug texture.
Ca membru in echipa de designeri Cuttlebug Challenge Blog mi-a fost desemnat un proiect si tutorial cu tema Mardi Gras, asa ca am decis sa testez pictura pe o suprafata texturata cu cuttlebug.

Here are some work in progress pictures. See full tutorial on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog (follow link above).
Iata cateva poze din timpul lucrului. Tutorialul integral se gaseste pe Cuttlebug Challenge Blog (urmati linkul de deasupra)

Last year's painting

I don't have it at home so this is the best picture I could find. You can read more about it in last year's post.

Poppy Painting Around Christmas (Pictand maci in apropierea Craciunului)

On the eighth day of Christmas I painted poppies. It was a gift for a friend, commisioned by hubby. I paited poppies last year around Christmas too so it seems like this is becoming a tradition.

In a opta zi de Craciun am pictat maci. Tabloul a fost comandat de sotul meu pentru o prietena. Si anul trecut pe vremea asta am pictat maci, deci se pare ca devine o traditie.



This is my first large oil painting on canvas. Actually my very first oil on canvas and I am not sure I like this medium. It's very messy, smells bad, very difficult brush cleaning. I am not a quitter, so I am giving it more chances. I did like it on cardboard so I probably need to prepare my canvas in a different manner.

Aceasta este prima mea pictura in ulei pe panza. Constat ca nu prea imi place pictura in ulei: miroase urat, se usuca greu, cureti mult la pensule... Dar avand in vedere ca nu ma dau batuta usor, voi ai incerca. Mi-a palcut uleiul pe carton tratat. Poate ar tebui sa tratez altfel si panzele.


The canvas is 50x70 cm.
Here is a picture with me beside it for comparison.

Panza masoara 50x70 cm. Pentru comparatie, iata o poza cu mine langa tablou.

Friday is Art School (Vineri e scoala de arte plastice)

For me October means back to school. Art school that is. I had great fun today trying oil paints for the first time, but while that is drying back at the studio let me share last week's pastel painting (Canson paper, 50x70 cm).

Octombrie aduce cu sine si un nou an la scoala de arte. Azi m-am simtit foarte bine incercand pentru prima data pictura in ulei, dar pana cand aceea se usuca in atelier vreau sa va arat pastelul de saptamana trecuta (pe hartie Canson de 50x70 cm).

"Rusty Autumn"

and here are some close-ups
(cateva detalii)

I had to paint the leaves from imagination because I finished the painting at home. I only had them sketched along with the image from my memory. They were maple leaves but they were so dry you could barely distinguish their shape.

However, it's the beautiful contrasts that I love about this still life.

A trebuit sa pictez frunzele din imaginatie pentru ca am terminat pictura acasa. Le aveam doar schitate si erau oricum destul de greu de reprezentat fiind atat de uscate incat cu greu le mai distingeai forma.
Totusi mi-a placut foarte mult contrastul din acesta natura statica.

Cuttlebug Spa weekend: Relax, Rejuvenate, Be Inspired!

EDITED: YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT TO COLLECT ALL THE FLOWERS AND SEND THE LIST TO THE CUTTLEBUG EMAIL.

Thank you for hopping here.
If you have come directly to my blog and don't have a clue what it is about, then you should go to the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog first. It is where the blog hop starts.

Here is what you have to do to be eligible to win one of our many prizes:

-- Visit each blog in order, starting from cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com
-- "Follow" each blog or add it to your blog roll/TypePad
-- Leave a comment on each blog
-- Grab the name of the blogger's flower
-- Email CBC with the name of the bloggers and flowers at the end of the weekend


Here is what I am giving you:

This is my flower for today: it is called ANEMONE.

The image above is a watercolor painting I did for this special event the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is hosting. It shows all that inspires and rejuvenates me in one image: NATURE & ART.

When I was a little girl I used to walk in the woods all day long and admire flowers.
I don't do that so often anymore and that shows in my new stressful life.
I wish I could at least have a garden to grow flowers.

I will transform this into a digital image set that will be given to all those who will leave a comment on this post.


To collect next flower, go to

Spike's Blog

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We Want to thank these fabulous ladies for joining us.

Libby, Eveline, and Beth

BLOGGERS:

Eva http://evafromca.blogspot.com/
Michelle http://creative-mayhem.blogspot.com
Meda (myself) http://handmadebymeda.blogspot.com/
Spike http://spikescreativeside.wordpress.com/
Lea http://leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Betty http://bettybrett.blogspot.com/
Karen http://reallifeinpictures.blogspot.com
Peggy http://cardcrazy.wordpress.com/
Ching http://www.notleftstanding.blogspot.com
Cassie http://www.fortheartofit.blogspot.com
Jenyfur http://torn-paper.blogspot.com/
Sally http://sallysangelworks.typepad.com
Roe http://creativeliberties.blogspot.com/
Tracy http://www.luv2cre8joy.blogspot.com
Jenn K. http://scrappinforlife.blogspot.com/
Alyson http://allisonscraftymoments.blogspot.com
Mrs. J http://www.mrsjscreations.blogspot.com/
Nathalia http://funkyphreshpapierkreations.blogspot.com/
Danni http://www.dannisdoodles.typepad.com
Beth http://beth714.blogspot.com
Eveline http://vanheijstditjesendatjes.blogspot.com
Amber http://thecountryscrapper.blogspot.com/
Maggie http://stamping.craftgossip.com/
Kim http://radiogirlcards.blogspot.com/
Heidi http://vanlaardesigns.blogspot.com/
Jenn M http://captainscrappyjm.blogspot.com/
Becky http://bouncyflouncyfunfunfun.blogspot.com/
Libby http://libbysscrapz.blogspot.com
Christine http://creativejourney.typepad.com/creative_journey/
Shannon http://shannonssentiments.blogspot.com

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Sponsors:


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Bella Bee designs
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Ferris Wheels Wonderful gift set for PC comfort..
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Delicious fun Handmill soap from SavonShoppe
Here's her Etsy Store

How about some Java to help us rejuvenate?
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How about a set of Handpainted coffee mugs?
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Design Team giving prizes:

Karen M....K&Co. Goodies
Amber...Ribbon & Martha Stewart Stamp Set
Maggie...UHU Glue
Ching...SEI Windsor
Christine...Spa Basket & Prima Crystals
Lea...Scenic Routs Sonoma Papers
Danni...Spa Basket
Nathalia...Vintage Ribbon/Trim/Lace
Jenyfur...Paisley Cuttlbug Embossing Folder
Spike...Arbonne, Glitter Ritz Glitter, & a set of Spellbinders Nesties
Mrs. J...Lush Bath Bomb & Candle
Cassie...Lavender Sachet & Pillow Mist
Peggy...Party Light Scented Candle
Cassie L....Sophia Lia Jewelry
Meda ....Watercolor digital image set

SheetLoad and Cuttlebug Intersite Challenge -Be Inspired #25

This is my card for Be Inspired #25 over the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog.

Our sponsor this week is Sheetload.. They gave each of the design team a pack of frosty and clear acetate cards to work with. I chose the frosty one.

This is something new we are doing an intersite challenge.. Meaning both sites have come together to bring you an excellent challenge.. please take a moment to visit them by clicking on the image below. Sheetload is owned by Alicia the creator of Shortcuts. If you have not seen sheetload I suggest you run there and download your free copy.




Sorry for the ugly photo. I have waited for the sun in vain.



I saw a stamp like this somewhere, but I don't have it so I took my pen and watercolors and tried to draw it. I'm quite happy with it.

Edited: Leslie Miller has just told me it was an image by Stamp Oasis and the samp can be bought at Rubbernecker Stamp Co.   Thank you Leslie.



This is the sketch we had to use. I had to simplify as usually, I did not want to cover the frosty acetate. I kind of like the contrast: FROST - FLOWERS.