Artful Gathering Online Workshops

I feel so grateful to be asked to be a part of this talented group of teachers at Artful Gathering.  Everyone is so supportive and it has given me the courage to be in front of a camera and share what I love to do!

I just love how there is a variety of workshops to take...something for everyone.   Keep checking back to sign up.  The plaster painting workshop should be so fun!

Art Studio Tour

Come visit with me in my art studio and see what news I have to share for the upcoming year!

Plaster Painting Workshop Coming Soon!

Reindeer Ornament Sculpture

This reindeer sold over the weekend.  I got use to having him hang around the studio.    Looks like it's time to mix up another batch of paper mache.

Mom's Favorites.com

I am very excited to be asked to participate in the Room by Room Redo Series with Katie Harding from Momsfavorites.com!  Mom's Favorites is tackling rooms of a family home and showing their readers how easy it is to make their home both kid and adult friendly. 

Today, my painting along with some of my other work is being featured in the post of her home office.  I think it looks great there! 

I am offering a 15% discount on my Etsy site for this special post.  When purchasing after "add to cart",  just enter MOMS15  under "apply shop coupon" on my Etsy site.

She also is featuring a lot of discounts and give-a-ways, too.  Very fun stuff!

New Phone Cover

 

I treated myself to a new phone cover with one of my images from Zazzle.   I picked red so I can find it in my purse!  Ha Ha

Tulip Floral

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Tulip Sweetness 12" x 12", mixed media on canvas

I just love the close up quality of these plaster paintings.  They have such great appeal.  Here I tried to keep it light, colorful and airy. 

Crackle Gackles

Crows 10" x 10" mixed media on canvas, sold

 

 

 

 

Creating this plaster background was very fun, but I had no idea what to put in the foreground.  I decided on a coastal bird, but it just didn't look right against all the cracks and texture. Then I thought of these crows and they definitely worked for me. 

SUMMER SALE (Last Day)

"Afterlight" 6 x 6 x 3/4 on Ampersand birch panel

My Summer Sale giving free domestic shipping is ending today.  Now's the time to buy if anyone is interested in my shop now!

Crossing

Crossing 6" x 8", Mixed Media on Canvas Panel

I am loving this new look of impregnating plaster into burlap.  It is quite a process, and I am having fun experimenting with all the different things I can do.  I like to break the plaster to create all the little cracks and crevices.  Then, once the plaster/burlap is adhered to a canvas panel, it becomes very strong and stable. 

Doesn't it look great in  this black frame?   Unlike some of my other paintings which could go frameless, I love how this frame makes it pop.  It really makes the piece. 

You can purchase both here.

Charlie

Charlie 4 x 4, oil on canvas

Just a little 4 x 4 portrait of my friend's dog, Charlie.  Sometimes, I like oil because it doesn't dry too quickly and it's like painting with frosting...fun!

Reflections of the Day

Reflections of the Day, 5" x 7" Mixed Media

I had been struggling with a small landscape painting and I thought it best to just leave it for a while.  So when I picked it up again, I was ready to throw it away and thought I got nothing to lose if I just play around with it. 

First thing I did was turn it so that I would start looking at the piece a different way.  I also kept some of the papers from the original showing through.

I'm also very excited about my new website.  Come stop on by....

www.dianamulder.com

Fiesta Rose Painting

Fiesta Rose 16" x 16", mixed media

A bouquet of white roses from my daughter for Mother's Day inspired this rose painting.  Once I used the bright manganese blue in the foreground, it took on this fiesta feel. 

Just bright and fun....

Coastal Waves

Coastal Waves 16" x 20", mixed media

We have taken many visitors to Laguna Beach in California to walk the beach and climb the rocks and see the tidepools.  I see this coastal painting as a lovely memory during those times. 

Land Girl Portrait

My husband says I've become a Netflix monster since our corner Blockbuster finally closed down.  He would always be the one to stop in at Blockbuster to get the latest released movie.  Now that we signed up for Netflix, I've discovered all the old British series and movies that we would never have rented at Blockbuster.  My latest movie series was "Land Girls" and the best thing is, Netflix will suggest more movies of the same!  I know.  Anyway, I'm loving it and I painted this portrait with a land girl in mind.  BTW..a land girl was a girl that signed up to do her part during the war in England and worked on farms to labor, etc.

What a face! :)

What a face!  5 x 5, acrylic on canvas

Don't you just love when a dog doesn't understand you and they tilt their head.  So cute. 

White Roses

White Roses, 16 x 16, mixed media

What is Spring without flowers?

I love the way  this galvanized/tin texture came out with a one squirt of latex paint remover sprayed on the wet paint  (The first coat was a dark gray and then I painted the lighter gray over with a little spray on top. 

Another interesting backaground detail.

All this yummy texture comes from adding some Golden Gel Medium to the paint. 

Michael Carson

"Ready" 40x30, Michael Carson

What is a spring break trip with my daughter to the desert without stopping to see a few art galleries on the way.   We came across the Jones & Terwilliger Galleries in Palm Desert, who had several Michael Carsons to see up close and appreciate.

"Man in Jacket", 30x40, Micheal Carrson

I loved seeing the drips and brush marks.  The shoes are kind of there but melt into the background.

"Red Chair", 40"x30", Michael Carson

I wish I took my picture next to these beauties, because you could get a better feel for the size.  If your ever in Palm Desert, so worth a stop on El Paseo ...shopping and galleries, perfect.  

Old Sailboat Painting

Sailboat Painting, 16" x 20", mixed media

My husband suggested I put some paintings in his office.   So, I was inspired by the old vintage sailboat paintings I see in many of the beach homes.  I thought something more masculine for a law office than a floral. So, I looked online for a nice photo of a sailboat.   After I had painted it for the first time.  It was all fresh and crisp.  This would not do.

I wanted the painting  to feel vintage.  So, I glazed the whole painting to bring it down and reduce the brightness.  I used my usual painting and sanding method along with a palette knife to drag the paint around. 

The closeups show have fun it is to look at all the texture and detail. 

Ok, so this is our family room, but I gotta try it out first, right?

More Shell Art

Shell Art 1  5" x 7" Print

Shell Art 1  5" x 7" Print

I had admired Sheila Norgate's art from one of my pins on pinterest and found a short youtube video in which she describes making her own stamps with discarded takeout containers and other packaging items.  So, this is the first project that finally came together.


I know its simple, but that's what I like about it.

Shell Painting Beach Art

I had saved an inspiration picture for beach art of these fossil shell prints from the Horchow catalog some years ago   It must be very old, because I don't even see it on line anymore.  Anyhow, I decide to try my own version of the shell painting.   

I  realized very quickly  this painting was taking on its own personality.  Once again, I added Annie Sloan chalk paint at the end and this time I waxed the painting at the very last step.  It really made everything gel and it feels really nice and smooth. 

Searching for Blank Notecards?

 

6 Floral Blank Notecards 4.25 x 5.5

1 Floral Blank Notecards

I been working on Google's SEO or Search Engine Optimization for my Etsy shop and although I had some  notes on the whole process, I wasn't applying any of it.  So when I listed these newly made blank notecards in my Etsy shop today, I made sure to research a good Google search phrase.  I think these blank notecards turned out really nice, don't you.

Can you guess my search phrase?    

Also, the site that really helped me for SEO on Etsy is here.

Birthday Girl, 10" x 10" acrylic on canvas

This painting is based on an inspiration photo of my daughter on her birthday at Laguna Beach.   She had to reserve a fire pit for her birthday party, which is first come, first serve, basis and so she camped out all day with her best friend till all the guests started coming in the late afternoon.

Years ago I tried to paint this painting in a more abstract way and never felt comfortable with the style.  Starting over again years later, you can still see that abstract influence, but in  my own style, I really enjoyed the process this time. 

Pug Painting

Pug 3 x 3, mixed media

We had a discussion about pugs last night and how they were cute-ugly like Gismo.  I love when dogs tilt their heads when they don't know what your saying. 

Green Earth Coffee Shop

Diana Mulder, Green Earth Coffee Shop

Just having a nice cup of coffee at the Green Earth Coffee Shop in Lake Forest, CA and celebrating the New Year of new direction and opportunities for my artwork.  I am grateful this year for selling a few paintings at Green Earth and the owners asked that I hang some more art.  So nice to be asked.  So I thought it was time to take some updated portrait pictures for my Etsy "About" page with my art behind me.  

As you see, the outlets for computers are on the wall behind me and there is always someone sitting there. 

Did I ever mention I was really photogenic?

Let's just say there was some photoshoping involved.  Hope your having a great day and wishing you the very best for the New Year.