If you aren’t yet a fan of my Facebook page, head on over and check it out. I’m having a giveaway! All you have to do is comment on my post letting me know your favorite pendant in my shop. Hurry though, giveaway ends May 7.

I’m also running a 15% off coupon for my shop through May 12th. Use the code MAMALOVE and get something unique for that special mom in your life.

Thanks for supporting my art, and good luck!

Quiet Moon (Full Moon Series: January) -

and Crane Moon (Full Moon Series: July) -

Both are gouache on paper mounted on wood panel and varnished. You can own the original! Both Quiet Moon and Crane Moon are available on Etsy.

Prints and cards available on RedBubble!

All framed prints are 10% off using the code ART4MOM. Conveniently, any of the pieces in my shop can be purchased as a framed print!

At the very least, you can get your mom, your grandma, your favorite aunt, and your sister a card at RedBubble for 10% off using the code CARD4MOM. Or you can completely subvert the system and use the 10% off to get yourself something nice. You deserve it!

I got my visuals ready to go in an easy to carry case!

I’ve got a packet that includes my artist statement, resume, and price list, a stack of postcards, a little foam core display with four images of my work, as well as a real painting. I’m set! And very, very nervous! Wish me luck!

Motoi Yamamoto is fascinated by the interconnectedness of living things and salt’s literal and symbolic role in the pattern of life and death. He creates stunning labyrinths, tunnels and abandoned staircases out of salt.

I found this great video of the artist at work! I love art that is created out of something unexpected.

"Element: Earth" - 4"x6" gouache on paper Lesley Atlansky 2012

"Element: Water" - 4"x6" gouache on paper Lesley Atlansky 2012

All are 4″x6″ gouache on paper, matted and ready for framing. It always surprises me how much that final touch of framing really sets off the painting.

This time I took pictures of them in the frames for Etsy. I thought it might be nice to see them on the wall in their final state.

"Element: Air" - 4"x6" gouache on paper Lesley Atlansky 2012

"Element: Fire" - 4"x6" gouache on paper Lesley Atlansky 2012

I’m pleased with the results. Prints are available on Red Bubble (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)!

I’ve been spending a lot of time playing with water and paint on an very small level…placing water next to wet paint or painting with water and then dropping paint into it. All with a tiny brush. I like what happens, but I’m not sure how I can transfer that to a larger painting! I suppose I could just take even longer to complete one…

I thought I’d show you one of the Element paintings I’m going to eventually put up for sale. This is Fire. It is 4″x6″ goauche on paper.

First I applied some gouache directly from the tube. I’ve never been able to remember the name of the paint colors I use, so I’m going to see if I can figure it out as we go. Here I’ve used sepia, spectrum red, perylene violet, and the new to my palette yellow ochre. I use Winsor & Newton gouache tubes.

The next thing I did was apply water to the paint on the paper. I rinse the paint off my brush after every couple of strokes so that I’m letting just the water blend and spread the paint.

I put pieces of wax paper on the wet paint, and let it dry.

You can see the patterns left behind by the wax paper. I also used a bit of water to pull the reds, ochres, and purples towards the top of the painting.

Later I touched up spots to give them some oomph (technical term) and added some gold. Here you can see the water and the gold working together.

If you had told me ten years ago I’d be happily making abstract paintings, I’d have said you were being ridiculous.

I hope to have this and a few other 4″x6″ Element paintings up on my Etsy shop in the next couple of weeks. I’m also in the final stages (flattening, varnishing, mounting on wood panel, sealing) of two Full Moon paintings, which means I only have one left to complete the year! Then I can really focus on my new direction, which I find exciting and slightly terrifying, as most pictures involve a child of indeterminate age and gender.

My painting "Shines Like Silver" in Artwork From the Void.

A beautiful view into the creative process, the resulting images are ethereal, playful, and well, floaty.

You may have seen his handiwork at McMenamins, or on any of the Artback murals painted in and around Estacada, Oregon.

Here is a nice video about Joe and his work on the Buckman Community mural in Portland -

I took an ordinary cassette case and flipped it to make a stand with a well to hold the cards.

Bonus: it also makes a handy carrying case!