T stands for old art

Hi Everyone!

 

Today I am joining in with the T gang over at Bluebeard and Elizabeth's.  I am so happy it is Dec. 1. Just 52 days until we have a real president, vice president and cabinet. I pray to the gods I am not in a dream about this. LOL

 I was looking for something on a flash drive and came across more of my first paintings. This one sold right away.

 

 This Polyptych abstract was sold too and lives in MT.

 

I think this one was sent to Michigan.

 

I still have this. It is one of my faves.

This one my daughter has.

Now for my drink. A week or so ago I saw a commercial for Coke. There was and ice cold coke in a glass. You know sparkling with the outside of the glass wet and ice clanking. It just looked so refreshing. The last time I went to the store I bought a coke. I drink sugar free. I couldn't wait to taste it. It has been about 10 years since I have had a coke. Hmmm I was so disappointed. For me coke is awful. I will take water any time. 

 

Be Safe Out There And Wear A Mask

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

Monday AEDM Last day

Hi Everyone!

 

I took this weekend off. Something I don't normally do EVER! I didn't clean house, ( my house is clean freak clean anyway) I didn't cook, I didn't go on line, I just vegged out watched movies, and worked on some art pieces. I guess I needed it. Today will be business a normal. LOL

What did you do or didn't do this past weekend?

I am sure you all remember the Brusho piece I created last week, 

well here it is finished.

I found this delightful looking fellow on line and 

thought I would attempt to draw him. Yikes!

We'll see how he turns out. At least he is bald. ha ha

Well that is it for now. Wishing all of you a very happy Monday.

 

Be Safe Out There And Wear A Mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

EEErrrrrgggg hair. AEDM days 26 and 27

Hi Everyone!

 

It's a mess. The beautiful face I have been working on got messed up again with hair. I don't know why this is so difficult for me. I watch videos on it. Denthe sent me a video on how she draws hair. I have practiced, and practiced but when it comes to putting it on a head.  I lose all sense of knowledge and reasoning. I was so proud that I actually got this face to look the age of the photo. Then I watched one more video that showed how to draw gorgeous hair with pastel. 

WTH was I thinking?  

 

I got her eyes and a bit more shading. I even started her hair with graphite.

 

And then I went insane.

Connecting to AEDM and PPF

Be Safe Out There And Wear A Mask.

 

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

Making Manicotti Nicole Style

Hi Everyone!

 

I hope all of you are having a very nice Thanksgiving. I made my dinner yesterday so all I had to do today is pop it in the oven.  I made manicotti with homemade bread and a salad. For me making manicotti is dance. I enjoy it so much. So here is manicotti Nicole style. LOL

 

Saute garlic in butter.	Add onion and peppers
Add unrendered beef Chorizo.	This gives any type of meat sauce great flavor
Add ground beef and cook to almost done. Drain and return to pot add seasonings.	This is my homemade Arbol chili sauce. Just add 1/4 tsp. It is VERY hot.
add 1 can of dices tomatoes and 1 large can of tomato sauce. Add more seasonings. I normally use Rotel instead of diced toms but was out. Bring to boil, turn down to simmer and put a lid on.	With the meat and Chorizo a lot of grease comes up. Use a piece of lettuce to soak up the grease.
No Grease. Let this simmer for about an hour.	Grate Monterey Jack, Mozzarella and Parmesan
Add Ricotta, Cottage, and  queso blanco cheeses. You can leave out the queso. I just have it on hand. Mix in seasonings, cover and put into fridge. You want it very cold. Also place a piece of foil in the freezer.	Bring a big pot of water to a boil, add salt, remove pot from heat and drop in the maniccoti or lasagna pasta. Let it stand for 5 to 6 minutes. No longer. Then remove and run cold water over the pasta.
Get the cheese and foil. Take a handful of cheese and roll into a tube. Now you see why you need it cold.	Then slide the cheese into the manicotti. I don't have a pastry bag and I find using that or a plastic bag wastes too my cheese. This works great.
Line the baking dish with sauce before laying in the cheese filled manicotti.	Cover with sauce then top with Parmesan and olives. Bake at 350 for about an hour.

Seasonings. I don't measure so you will have to go by taste.

Meat, Oregano, Italian seasoning, Pepper, Cumin,  a small amount of Garlic salt, Onion powder and Basil. Season the meat after you drain it. Then season again after you add the tomato sauce.

Cheese. Garlic salt, Parsley, Dill and Basil.

Now you know what I did yesterday.

 

B Safe Out There And Wear A Mask

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

 

 

 

Be Safe Out There and Wear A Mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life.

 beadwright.com

Wednesday AEDM 25

Hi Everyone!

 

Today I am going to be busy in the kitchen. When I finish this I will start some Anadama bread for my landlord, he is getting a big bag of baked goods later today. He picks it up off my porch.  I am also baking some almond shortbread cookies. The main thing is I am getting the Manicotti ready for tomorrow's dinner. Oh and I will bake some no kneed, beer batter french bread too. I have gained 5 lbs just writing this all down. I make the best cheese filling for Manicotti, this year seasoned with herbs from my garden. The sauce will cook all day too. 

So I better get to it.

Here is the girl I am working on. I will go back in to lighten up her lips. I think they are a bit too dark, but I will know after her eyes go in. 

Day 25 AEDM

 

As you know the lighting in my house is awful. Even if I set my camera

to Candescent lighting. I was messing with some settings in Adobe and I hit 

the contrast in the black and white setting and "she" appeared.

She feeds into my macobre' spirit. I think I will print this

and make some cabs with it. I love her NO EYES LOL

Well that is it for now. Off to the kitchen for me.

Be Safe Out There and Wear A Mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist

 Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

T for Tuesday and AEDM

Hi Everyone!

 

Today is T for Tuesday with the beautiful Elizabeth and Bluebeard. 

It is also day 24 for AEDM.

First my drink. See this cup? Well of course you do. I really like the color of this cup. Three of my favorite colors. I also really like the shape of this cup and the size. What I don't like is where the handle was placed. It feels too low and in the wrong place. So I don't use this cup very often. The other day I grabbed for a cup and this was in my hand. Good for my morning hot water. Just not my fave. 

 

 

My favorite color chocolate, brown and beige

I made some Japanese Mile Bread the other day. I cut the dough in half

to make a small loaf of bread and some sweet rolls for Mr. M.

It works perfectly.

There is nothing like home made bread and soup.

Now for art. To answer a few comments on how I work. 

When I show you the final sketch, I have spent a lot of

time to get to that point.  I take a many measurements 

and each part of the face is drawn in sections to get the lines

just right. They are not always exact, but close enough and I do make many

changes from the original picture. I use to have a proportional divider tool 

but for the life of me can't find it. 

Calipers, a ruler, and the rule of drawing faces is how I work. 

Also a good eye, a steady hand and good graphite pencils. 

I am still learning and every draw teaches me something new

I didn't get much done on her yesterday but it is coming a long.

 

I also tend to make faces look older than they are. 

Something I am working on.

Any tips on that, I would like to hear them.

 

Be Safe Out There and Wear A Mask.

Nicole/DVArtis

 Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

AEDM day 23

Hi Everyone!

 

Good Monday morning. This is day 23 for AEDM. I really can't believe how quickly the month is going by. I have another sketch. I am truly enjoying drawing again. There is an artist on You tube  that some of you may know. Painting with Jane. I listened to her story when she was in art school. One of her professors told the class to go out and draw 100 faces and that he would see them next semester. She did just that finding students to sit for her. At the beginning of the next semester the students had to show their faces. The professor pointed out how much she had improved from the first few to the last few. I find that to be an interesting way to teach and one I would like. I took out all of my faces. OMG! I started drawing faces during a 29 faces month about 4 years ago. I can't believe I actually posted those faces in the beginning.  LOL No you don't get to see them, they are pretty bad. My Grandmother told me to draw each line as you see it.

 I am trying to do just that. 

Here is my next draw. 

Click on the photo to see it better.

Be Safe Out There and Wear A Mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life. 

beadwright.com

AEDM 22

Hi Everyone!

 

Well today is the 22nd day for AEDM with Leah. I got up early, oh hell, I get up early everyday. giggle. I wanted to finish a drawing I started last night. As I have said in the  past, lighting is a terrible thing here. Always overcast, soaking wet and windy out side so no out door photos. It's gray out there too. LOL Anyway, this looks better in person. 

 

It started like this

 

and ends up like this.

 Be Safe Out There and Wear A Mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life.

 beadwright.com

AEDM day 21

Hi Everyone!

I am running so late today. It's day 21 for AEDM with Leah.

I got busy yesterday afternoon when my microwave blew up. Yep sparks and everything. It was late afternoon so we ventured over to Bi-Mart. It is a Pacific NW store that has a little bit of everything and a bunch of nothing. LOL

They do have microwaves though. I was so thankful that there was hardly any people at the store. I am not happy with the microwave we got. It is a Black n Decker, which in my opinion is a terrible brand. However, we didn't have much choice. I told Mr. M. today that I think we should take it back. 

He rolled his eyes ate me. LOL

Then today I have just been going, going, going, since 4:30AM.

whew I need a beer. (giggle)

One of the things I have been busy with is making digital prints 

of my art to make cabochons. 

First I made this one for my friend who wanted a Krampus cab. 

Yeah, a lot of my friends are macabre like me. LOL

 

Then I had another friend tell me she really wanted some of my art and as soon as she can get back to work (out due to covid) she will buy some. However, she is also a beader so I made her some cabs using my art.

It is so much fun to do.

This is from one of my Black to White series

The above is art I showed a few days ago

and this is an image of one of my molded leather faces. 

These images will all go under glass and sealed in the heat kiln.

It is freezing today, now I am off to make some beef barely soup.

Hope your day is going well.

 

Be Safe Out There. 

 

Nicole/DVArtist 

Honor and integrity in art, in life.

 beadwright.com

PPF and AEDM day 20

 Hi Everyone!

Yesterday we got a nice break in the rain. I was able to go out in the yard and get a bit of sunshine. My spirit is much better. LOL 

Today is day 20 for AEDM and it is PPF. 

Yesterday I worked on a new painting. This is 20x16" acrylics and Brusho. If you don't know about Brusho, it is a pigment that is used mainly in watercolor but I use it with acrylics. 

The affects are pretty amazing and so much fun to use.

After putting down some acrylic paint on the canvas. I used white, paynes gray, and yellow ochre,  Then I sprinkle the Brusho in places I wanted. Now this is the only time I use water on acrylics, I give it a spray directly on the pigments. Then watch them explode. It is so cool.

 

 

I then take a wadded paper towel and make a few dabs.

 

Now just leave it alone and allow it to dry. 

You will end up with a muted colorful background

Of course you can leave it as is or add some paint to it.

Be safe out there and wear a mask

 

Nicole/DVArtist

 Honor and integrity in art, in life.

 beadwright.com