Free To Play (and watch pumpkins grow)...

Hello, out there!

It's officially Summer!!!

We have had so much rain and just perfect temperatures here. I really need to start doing more of my painting outside, on the patio.

 

Summer will pass me by if I do not come up with a brilliant way to work outdoors.

I do not have any commission pieces due until August, so...

today, I allowed myself time to just play with paint.

I am taking quite an interest in abstract painting and wanted to try my own hand at it.

It sure feels fabulous...

to not have a plan, or even an idea.

I did not want to waste any of these beautiful, bold colors, so, I kept an art journal near by and once I was finished using that paint color on my canvases, I then added the remaining paint to the pages of my journal. Love this idea and will continue to work in this manner...

working on two entirely different art projects at the same time, in the same colors.

As I got further along in the paintings...

Umbrellas popped into my head!

Oh, yes!!!! Umbrellas indeed!

I have yet to finish them and since these are not commission works, I may list them in my etsy shop, once done.

Do you sell on etsy?

I would love and appreciate it if you would share your experience with me.

I have listed many items...

and have only sold just a handful over a few years span. I'm just not sure if etsy is the market place for me. I wish that it were because I could reach out to more potential buyers, in different states. Some days I think that my etsy days are simply over. Been there, done that. Other days, I remind myself to never give up!

I have been doing rather well through my facebook page!

Please, look me up and give me a "like"!!!! (Missy Trent Art & Offerings)! I will be forever grateful!!!!

Did I tell you that I planted pumpkins?

Take a looky:

The vines are now growing under the garden fence! Squeel! I can't wait!

I hope that all is going well for you in your corner of the world!

I plan on blogging more this week so I will see you very soon!

Xo

 

Big Girl Doodling... & SALE!

Hello, far away friends!

Have you yet settled into this new year?

I do believe that I will like 2014 very much! (Feeling positive here)!

I certainly have more creative energy than I have had in quite some time. I find myself jotting down ideas in notebooks that are scattered throughout the house...

thinking to myself, "I'll work on this next"! Sometimes, I'm even wide awake at odd, dark hours. Painting, journaling, sketching even MORE ideas.

This past week...

Word art.

I have always been a a "doodler". Always.

I recall sitting at my high school desks...

doodling words and designs on the desk tops, in pencil. (Not such a good idea).

By the time that the bell would ring for passing period, my entire desktop would be full of art. Art to me, anyway. Some works remained for the next student to enjoy...

while other desktop art got washed away with spray cleaner, with my own hands. Teacher's orders. True story.

Honestly, I never was a great student, however, I excelled in day dreaming...

and art, of course.

I'm thoroughly enjoying word painting right now, and working on some custom pieces for others who also liked the results of my "big girl doodling"!

I listed the "love you to the moon & back" in my shop yesterday! More to come because I'm on a roll!!!!

I do also want to share the SALE that I am offering through Facebook only. "Like" my page: "Missy Trent Art & Offerings", and receive $10.00 off of a custom, 9"x12" word art on heavy watercolor paper, ready to frame! This sale applies to the word art heart design and to US buyers only. (My apologies, friends... But the cost of shipping internationally is crazy high and has been disastrous for me in the past, therefor, I stopped).

Husband and I went to the city yesterday.

He is so very adventurous, ... Love this about him!

It wasn't in the plans, but he blurted out, as we were driving on the highway, "wanna go eat at Ameristar Casino"?

Oh my goodness!!!!

I could never say no to the Ameristar buffet!

Naturally, I also take in the beauty and enjoy the photo opportunities.

Fountains.

Painted ceilings and darling store fronts.

Oh so many glass cases filled with lovely, photo worthy sweets.

Yes. We left the Ameristar felling fat, miserable, sleepy.

Back at home...

both husband and I fell into a sweet, Saturday slumber!

Aaaaahhh, weekends!

Enjoy yours!

XO

 

ACEO's and a Dash of Color!

Hello, friends!

I am typing this blog post from my warm bed! Yes, a cup of hot coffee is sitting on my night stand. It's seriously cold here, in our neck of the woods! I am a person who could easily burrow all Winter long and never leave the house! (It just might be that way now that I've left my day job)!

Even the view from my art studio has been rather blah. A dusting of snow on the ground. Grey skies. Poor, dead trees.

I need color!!!

I have been dabbling and creating my own sunshine, of course.

Do you do the same?

I absolutely love playing at home!

This week I have tinkered with many of my toys...

Gelli plate, clay, gouache, acrylics, watercolors, graphite pencils, my cameras.

Although I long to bounce around on the land again, with the sun beaming down on my skin...

I am enjoying this Winter, just fine.

I finished this 8"x10" acrylic painting from my last blog post!

I'm crazy in love with the colors and texture!

She is available now in my etsy shop!

Moons make me smile! Do they you? I want to paint many more moons and stars!

Sometimes I prefer to work with tiny art.

This little gal is an ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals). She measures only 2.50"x3.50".

I remember when ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), became all the rage here in the United States. I was involved in several online groups for swapping these small works of art. What fun it was! I received trading cards from Spain, Italy, Japan! I met so many nice people who were passionate about art and ATC's!

ATC's are for trading only.

ACEO's may be sold.

I miss participating in the ATC swaps. I just might get online later today and see if there are still active groups...

And jump back into the game!

Possibly you know?

For now, I'm listing ACEO's in my etsy shop.

I'm in the mood for small today...

And may make oodles and oodles of them!!!!

Wishing you a colorful day!

 

It's A New Year!!!!

Hello, dear ones and Happy new year!!!!

It's pretty calm around here. Last night as well. Hubby and I sat in our new recliners, in our lounge wear, watching a scary movie! I tend to work on something creative as I sit because I'm really not a good sitter and my attention span is short. My mind never rests and yesterday I was just a bit excited about an accomplishment! A goal in which I had been pondering for awhile now. I decided to go ahead and begin the new year by re-stocking my etsy shop, now that I am settled into a permanent home and my vagabond has stopped and unpacked! It's tough after a divorce and not really knowing where home will be. Starting all over. Roaming. That was me a few years back. One certainly cannot maintain any kind of business in such chaos. I let go of many things during that time, including goals and dreams. Art supplies were in plastic tubs that traveled from Southwestern Kansas to the East coast, then Eastern Kansas!

Aaaaaah. At last I am at peace and have my life back...

A much better one than before, in fact!

So, I'm back up and running on etsy. I may never succeed there...

But I won't ever know until I do give it my time and commitment, right?

Here's the link to my shop, "La La Vagabond". I do hope that you'll stop by for a visit!

I like variety and will continue to list everything from original paintings, ACEO's, sculptures, greeting cards, holiday goodies, and always surprises! Always!

A pretty princess original watercolor painting that comes with a chocolate matt!

I try my best to price my art at reasonable prices that will allow everyone to afford, if they desire to purchase a piece.

My shop accepts credit, debit cards, paypal.

All is up-to-date, confirmed and verified! Yay!!!!

All of that alone took many hours, so for me, it's something to shout about!

Don't you just love that magical feeling that seems to arrive with the new year?

It's as if we have been given yet another opportunity to challenge ourselves and continue to create the lives that we so want.

I do not do resolutions. I just continue to improve and grow. It's always important to me to live a creative life, every single day.

I like to keep things colorful and make believe!

(A lot of glitter too)!

 

So, on that note, I shall say goodbye for now...

 

Wishing you a magical and wondrous 2014!

May dreams come true, goals achieved, and love shared!

Until next post,

XO

 

Feeling Like a Princess!

Hello, dear readers!

How are you?

I couldn't be better!

When I woke up this morning, I immediately began celebrating a new lifestyle!

Today is my first weekday at home, alone, since resigning from my job.

 

I had been thinking of all the things that I need to do and want to accomplish. Although my artwork will be priority, I still have plenty to do around the house. Today I have done a little bit of both, art and home.

I have an assembly line of tiny watercolor girls on my work table. I'm thinking that my etsy shop needs a fresh, new start...

Just in time for the holidays!

Soon.

Very soon!

How about a pretty princess for a special little girl or friend in your life?

I think that we all need to feel like a princess at times.

I gave my sweet husband a big thank you this morning...

For being so supportive and allowing me to give up my day job.

He makes me feel like a princess, indeed!

Suddenly, I feel the spirit of Christmas!

I couldn't wait to do something with these little Christmas trees that hubby and I cut, deep in the woods. We got two of them.

I will do some cleaning before dragging out all of the Christmas decor...

But doesn't this tree look adorable in a vase, with water?!!!

Fa La La La La.

I feel so Martha Stewart-like today!

Oh, but wait!

I'm a princess today!!!

You'll be seeing more blog posts now that I have the time, so please, stop back by again soon!

Enjoy your day!

 

Ah, Summer Salad!

Hello, dear readers!

I do hope that you are having the best weekend!

I kicked off the weekend by preparing my favorite salad last night...

(And enjoyed it while watching a scary movie with my sweetheart, on tv).

I was craving fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and cilantro, from our garden.

So, out I went...

With my country basket in hand.

Oh! I picked a honeydew melon as well!

Yum.

We have cucumbers and tomatoes galore. I do wish that I could share them with you.

The corn isn't quite ready yet...

But oh, how we love sweet corn on the cob. Soon, I think. Soon.

So, my favorite salad deserved a place in my art journal.

I did not go into great detail with the recipe because I like to mix it up at times. Sometimes I add black olives, sometimes green olives... Even Greek olives.

If I don't have fruit handy, I substitute the apple slices with dried cranberries...

Or not.

I always keep Feta cheese in the fridge!

I make this salad at least three times a week during the Summer months.

Today we went shopping and I found some wonderful, tiny canvases to paint on! I bought several of them and plan to dive into some art soon! I want to stock my etsy shop, truly, I do. I just find it difficult when working a full time job, leaving me very little free time to keep my shop filled with newly listed items. I thought that I could make it happen this Summer...

But with the wedding and the travels, it just did not happen.

I have decided to keep plugging away with my creations, as time permits. Once I feel that I have enough offerings to make my etsy shop appealing to others, I will stock!!!

In the meantime,

If you do see something that you wish to purchase, please, talk to me via comment or email! Most everything that I create, is indeed, for sale (with the exception of my art journal entries, of course)!

I am a perfectionist and am just waiting for the right time to fill my shop with sooooooo many treasures.... Page after page of viewing and shopping!

A big thank you to those who have purchased from me...

Just by asking! I appreciate your support. My greatest passion is creating, and sharing with others!

Now, I think it is time for another salad! How about you?

Enjoy!

XO