I usually offer free Christmas art to download every year. This year I designed two new 5x7 and one updated Christmas themed art suitable for printing. Peace on Earth is updated for 2025. The Merry Christmas design kept the same poinsettia theme with the colors changed to blue and purple.  The three red “flowers” are constructed from a single poinsettia that was made into a pattern. The pattern was distorted and layered over a tear drop shape. The shapes were used to create flowers. 

It is cold and raining outside. My summer “studio” is closed and I am finishing up my mixed media art. My focus is back on my digital art, but there is a problem. I really like doing my canvas art, which is very different from my surrealism digital art. Then, a light when on. Why not create my style of mixed media art digitally? This turned out to be a fun challenge, as I had to create digitally the various objects I use on a canvas. This includes gears, watches, keys, torn paper and more! I had learned to digitally “tear” paper a few years ago, but had forgotten the technique. My notes were incomplete on how to “tear” paper and I am now using different software. Fortunately, I was able to not only adapt the instructions, but simplify them. There is something about tearing up paper that relieves frustration, even if it is only digital paper being torn! Have you ever learned how to do something, then put it aside to do something else only to realize you needed that particular skill much later?

The delay in relearning a technique was due to my own lack of foresight. Just because I learn something today does not mean I will remember it next year or several years later. This was a reminder to myself to take complete notes and add images if needed.

The image below shows my mixed media canvas on the left and a digitally create piece on the right.

It is raining today. Not a heavy downpour, but the steady drops of rain that keep you inside. I miss the clear blue sky and summer heat. Not because I love the heat, but summer means I can use my back yard as an outdoor studio. It means I can take a break from digital art and create mixed media art.
I started a new piece last week, one that is 14x14. Most of my mixed media art has a metallic look with keys, gears, and watches to create a vintage/steampunk feel. I wanted something different in color and shapes, so I picked roses as the theme.
I did the background using multiple layers of paper and paint. Texture was created by using spackling compound over stencils. I ordered some new stencils, so I am excited about the different textures I have available to me now.
I am starting to fill in with the accessories, like air dry clay roses, lace, hand painted leaves that I cut out, and glass pebbles covered in a mixture of gesso, sand, and paint. The image below looks messy and incomplete. This is where I select shapes, try colors out and move objects around multiple times before gluing them down. So many possibilities! This  takes so long, because I keep moving things and changing my mind until it feels right to me. I will share Roses on my website when finished.

I am dividing my time between digital art, mixed media and garden. I am doing the paper, paint basic textures layers now. It is about 85 degrees this afternoon and the forecast is for over 100 degrees tomorrow, so I am trying to do as much as I can before it is too hot for me to go out. My comfort zone is around 75 degrees.
I have to take time to water my back and front gardens. The front garden is all flowers and the back all veggies and herbs. I just need to take my mixed media pieces in before I start watering! Here’s a quick glimpse into my outdoor “studio” and garden.