Image Makers

This photo was taken by one of my students at work.

Few that I hand picked are entering a competition called Image Makers, which is run by The Boys and Girls Club of America.

I'm not sure how she got this look and she doesn't either all I know is I love it

Thursdays Inspiration

I have an online friend, he has been a friend for sometime now.
We got to know each other when I first meet my husband... yes online we all played a game called Secondlife. He meet his girlfriend that way to, and over the years all four of us have had some serious laughs together, I don’t really play second life anymore I play WoW and so do they which is awesome cause the laughs keep coming daily.
I always knew he was a fabulous artist I remember him showing me a photo of a sculpture he had done some years ago, it was breath taking without a doubt, but yesterday he took my breath away again. He posted some photos on Face book of some drawing he had done, he then removed them before I had a chance to show you, but like all good family members (and yes I do consider him family) do he put them back up when I told him what I wanted to do with them. One was show you the other was to show my kids at work. I’m about to do an enrichment class in Illustration starting next week, I really want the kids to draw in pencil and learn more about shading and so on, these pictures are an inspiration to me so I know the kids at work will find them inspiring to.
I chose one to show you, they are a little blurry as the photo was taken via the web cam and he also tells me they are not yet finished, well unfinished or not this guy has a serious talent.
I for one am totally inspired.

Tuesday's Shopping

I love to window shop online, I think it’s the best way to window shop.
I tend to do a random search of some thing strange and see what comes up.
So my random search today was a the word Poppy and Talk, don’t ask me why it was what came to me.
Out of the words came a blog called Poppytalk, So I went to see what that was about.
Interesting blog and the last post on there was about a baby’s cradle which I have to say if your having a baby or know someone that is, tell them about this product, not just cause it looks cute, but its meant to help the baby in some really awesome ways.

The bed comes from a company called Mawok


You really should check it out.

So back to Poppytalk, well they have a site on the page which caught my eye, and things that catch my eye at the moment get looked at.
So my window shopping for today was done on a site called Sally Jean, it’s a wonderful collection of handmade collage jewelry, very much like dog tags but way more stylish, and a lot more appealing to ones eye. My favorites are the Fairyette made up of antique photograph of girls from an orphanage and wings, this lady has a way with words that just bring the whole thing together.
There were a few things that got added to my wish list that’s the list I leave hanging about in the hope my husband might take note of, which of yet I don’t think he every has done, but never mind there is always the hope he will do one day
Go check out Sally Jeans Shop and let me know what your favorite pieces are!
Oh and I nearly forgot...... Happy Window Shoping.

Monday's Inspiration

I’ve had a picture on my mind all morning.
I found it last night when I was just reading bogs that I normally read, but hadn’t had time to look at over the last couple of days.
Anyway this picture caught my eye and has stayed there all morning while I’ve been at work.
I find it breath taking and inspiring.
I as an artist have never been able to draw faces, I have a mental block when it comes to adding a face to a picture, and as much as that’s not a big problem it does stop me drawing people per say.
But this picture has shown me that you don’t need to add a face to make something stunning
So thank you Art&Illustrations you have inspired me

To see the picture please vist Art& Illustration at her Etsy Shop

How we can help.

Working for a non-profit organization you really do begin to appreciate the time and effort that goes into keeping an organization afloat, especially in today’s financial climate, when donations don’t come as readily, when people may not have the time to volunteer their services , and the organization has to employ someone to do a job that could very easily be covered by a volunteer . So for my first post I thought I would share some inspiring fun stuff that will in return help some non profit organizations earn some well needed money (hopefully) and give a general awareness to what is out there to help these organizations
I stumbled on to Indie fix this morning with coffee in hand and was just scrolling through her latest posting and this caught my eye artist's coloring books.
I love to color with my five year old step daughter but sometimes I get a bit fed up with coloring in princesses, and believe me its really hard to steer her in another direction away from the normal princess coloring books. At the time I didn’t know anything about this book. It is sold on a site called romp, and here is what romp say about the book
These coloring books are truly special - like the classic anti-coloring book, they're not about coloring within the lines or re-creating cartoon characters - instead this one is packed with illustrations from over 50 of the best contemporary artists of our time - Vito Acconci, r. Crumb, Ryan Mcginness, John Baldessari, sol le witt, Jennifer Steinkamp, Kenny Scharf and William Wegman to name a few.
best of all, the sale of each book supports a nycbased nn profit that works to bring contmeporary art into hospitals. check out their work here.
I did the click here bit and found a fabulous site called RxArt. Totally non profit organization with some awesome art work for sale to
So either pop along to romp or RxArt and order your copy today and get down to some seriously fun coloring.

The other day I was looking at summer camps, the whole summer camp thing is totally new to me, being the British girl that I am, and as my job as Art Director at The Boys and Girls Club, this summer I will be working attending my very first summer camp, and I have to say as much as I’m a little confused and dazed by the whole prospect I am at the same time totally excited. So back to looking at summer camps….. Well as art is my thing I wanted to see what other camps do and I came across The Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation, their PHILOSOPHY and MISSION is outstanding and they have some eye catching art work for sale in the store my favorite and I will say I am twitching to buy it but I have told myself to wait till next pay day is a reproduction print by
Karen Michel called Speak of Love, it would look so pretty in my step daughter's room.

This next site is a fun site for kids but an educational site for all interested in New Hampshire Folklife, I for one am and have been since arriving here two years ago, history has always been a pull for me and if it incorporates art then its even more of a pull
It has a learning centre for kids and adults alike and its interactive.

A non profit organization close to my heart is Jaiden’s Angels, its local to me and I have helped out in a very small way with fund raising, but do hope to do more in the near future.
They have some fab T-shirts with an angel on them drawn by jaiden herself, ideal for summer and at a reasonable price and all the money goes to helping children, the organization will serve to provide services and support to local families with critically injured and terminally ill children. This organization will soon be helping out families all over the USA and hope to go global

Well thats all for my first post.
Enjoy the read and and have a wonderfull evening.