Inherited Thorns Cover Reveal!!

My very talented and amazing cousin Sammie Sidelinger is writing her first novel and I was fortunate enough to become her cover artist. I have never done book covers before so this has been an exciting journey for the two of us. I have wanted to quit and give up because it was out of my comfort zone and I didn't think I could do it but she has had absolute faith in me.

You can check out more info about Sammie on her Facebook Here! 
Also on her blog Honesty About Books

Big Changes and Other Little Updates

             So much has changed since the last time I posted! Over the past months my husband and I managed to sell our home in Massachusetts, temporarily live with a friend for two months until our kids were out of school for the summer, and then relocated to the great state of Maine. We moved to South Coastal Maine to be closer to my cousins that live around Augusta and Portland. I actually hadn't seen any of my family in almost fourteen years since my mom's side of the family doesn't seem to ever talk or see each other for holidays. It kind of sucks in a way because I always wished for one of those close families who saw each other all of the time and had big meals and cook outs for the hell of it. But since moving, I have rekindled my relationship with my cousins and it has been amazing. I have learned a lot of new things about my "gifts" as my Gram used to call them. I am just so unbelievably thankful to have them with me.

           In other news, I have done a lot of thinking over the past couple of days in terms of digital versus traditional paintings. I have always wanted to be some amazing digital artist but it is something that I have to teach myself. I went to college for Graphic Design and I don't even enjoy that fully. However what I did enjoy was the studio courses where I could sit and paint and draw for hours and hours. I even used to be one of those people who wouldn't cheat and buy premade canvases. Nope, I went and stretched my own and primed them with Gesso. It was amazing, fun, and I had the time of my life doing it.

          But as of lately, I haven't had as much fun teaching myself to digitally paint. I feel pressure and keep doing the thing I am NOT suppose to do and that is.. Compare myself to Professional and Popular Artist! It's like a huge no no to do and yet I constantly keep doing it! I'm almost at the point of having complete anxiety attacks. That is not normal and you shouldn't be having panic attacks with something you are suppose to enjoy and love doing. With all that being said, I think I am going to really move towards drawing and painting again. It's what I knew and loved. I am pretty I had posted something about this previously but never followed through with what I had wanted to do (very typical of me).

         I found out that there are some really cool art galleries nearby. My ultimate goal right now is to get my work in there and hanging on the walls. I think that right there would be spectacular and definitely give me a boost of confidence!

I haven't posted in forever but here is some work I have done!

I finally finished the painting thank god! I had attempted to paint peacock feathers on her dress because I thought it was looking to simple but it only made things look way more busy and cluttered than I wanted, so I opted out. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out to be honest, since the past couple of months all I have managed to do were technically "speed paintings" .. This one worked out to be roughly between 10-15 hours I think? I didn't really clock myself on it.

Just a few pics

I have been a bit under the weather lately on  top of trying to prep my house to put on the market to be sold. I have SO much work that needs to be done all the while taking care of 3 kids. Needless to say my hands have been majorly full but I at least wanted to post some work in progress pics of my latest painting I am working on. And for once... it isn't a speed painting! :) I am trying really hard not to rush and make sure I take lots of breaks so I have fresh eyes to look at it.

An attempt at landscapes?

So I have been trying really hard not to get lost with my addictive personality. I seem to do that a lot - whether it be games.. painting.. or my latest one, reading. I have read nonstop the past month and a half. So much in fact that I have neglected my art big time. And sadly, that is something I reaaallly do not want to do. I will fall into the same pattern and forgo painting for months and months and then kick myself for my procrastination, laziness, and neglectfulness. With THAT said.. the past two days I have attempted to try landscape paintings because well, why not? It's not my norm and quite frankly, it is something I do have to concur if I want to be professional or improve at all.

I used reference pictures for them and for some reason.. they appear blurry. I don't know why. In SAI, they look perfectly fine but when I posted them to my Facebook Art page, the quality went to shit. Maybe I am doing something wrong? I don't know.

Newest Speedpainting

                     

Alone