My Birds
I was really happy to put my birds into my collages this week in my photoshop elements class. The first one is of my lovebird, Zippy, who I was lucky enough to have for 10 wonderful years. He passed away not long after the photo was taken in 2001. I created a new background for him to soar in. The second collage features Gilbert, my parrotlet. I snapped this picture of him yesterday, created a new background and learned to put in a cast shadow. I love how they both turned out.

New Collages
I created these collages in my Photoshop Elements class over the last two weeks. The theme of both of them is the theme of my blog. Life is art... Art is Life. Emmitt is the inspiration for my art and the joy he brings me overflows into everything I make. It is from this place that I want to share it with you. Our pug friend, Oscar, is also featured in my montage Meet the Pug Models. He and Emmitt have been the inspirations of many of my paintings. It was so much fun to put it together in this way.

Process of painting my Pugs
I am so excited about the two new pug paintings I did this week, A57 and A58. You may easily view them and my new products on my website http://www.pugnotes.com/new.htm

I documented stages of the painting to show you how I do it. I start with a 8 x 10 x 3/4 piece of hemlock wood and sketch my pug in pencil. Then I decide whether he will be a black or fawn pug and start painting in the head and body. I work on the shading of the fur as I go. I often add a bit more shading at the end of the process but most of it is put down in this stage. I then move on to ears, eyes, muzzle, nose and mouth. I usually paint in the background before i put in the final wrinkles and shading. Voila! He is a new pug in the Pug Notes family.

Sunday's Sock Doll
I just finished stitching up another one. It is fun to experiment with different fabrics and textures. This one is the first to have yarn for hair.

Photoshop Backgrounds
The possibilities are endless. I am still learning how to create effects that I want. The cool thing is that I am always surprised about what I create!

Friday Fun!
I combined my Photoshop lesson on backgrounds with my newest sock doll to achieve this great effect!

Wool Sock Weirdo
Got the socks for .99 at a thrift store. Weirdo emerged with ribbons and yoyos for hair, oh my!

Quick Sketches
I enjoyed the pen and ink line drawings we did last wednesday. My teacher encouraged us to use marker or pen to eliminate the judge that always wants to erase as we go. It is very freeing, and I think gives you a chance to create something that you wouldn't be able to do with pencil. Here are a couple quick sketches I made of Emmitt sleeping in the office and things on my desk.

Adventure Journaling
We went on a field trip for our last mixed media class. We ventured out to the Denver Botanic Gardens and had a fun morning of being present in the moment. We sketched or journaled about what was surrounding us. I really enjoyed the excercise. I tried some blind drawings where you look at the object and draw without looking at your paper or picking up your pen. I am happy with how the sketches turned out. When I got home, I added backgrounds, photos and bonsai pencil drawings I had created at an earlier time.

New Sock Doll
I just finished this funny doll and created a background for him on photoshop. My Sock creatures live in my office where they can stare at me all day and inspire creativity. Sometimes they switch places while I have my back turned. HMMMMM....

Sock Drawer Raided...
OOOoo! The treasures I found. I forgot I even owned most of these socks. I know I have not worn them in at least 5 years and now they have a new life! I created this fellow yesterday without the book. I just started cutting and sewing. He is my favorite so far.

New Sock Creature
I made good use of a cold rainy afternoon and whipped up another sock monster. I love creating the face. The button choices and placement totally change him from a blob to a creature. I am going to raid my sock drawer today to find more textures and colors to make more!

Purple Pug!
I love the Photoshop Elements classes I have been taking online at http://www.eclecticacademy.com/ .

I just learned how to create a Warhol painting effect and wanted to share it.

Crazy Sock Creature
I bought this great book because it made me smile. I just finished my first doll and he makes me laugh! The instructions are easy and you can make a zillion different dolls. I followed some instructions and then made up the rest as I went.

Click the picture of the book with the kit to get your own!

Mixed Media Creations
I am having the best time in my mixed media class. We learned how to alter photos yesterday. Great fun! Of course, I chose my favorite subject. I also played around with some india ink paintings the last few weeks.

Colorado Pet Expo 2007
We had a great time this weekend at the Colorado Pet Expo. I am very happy that we rented a booth. It was so much fun to meet tons of local dog lovers. It was fun to plan our booth for the last several months and then see it all come together.

Free Form Pug Doll
I just made this little guy today. After completing the pillow kits of the raccoon, pig and monkey, I felt comfortable making up the whole project. It was fast and easy using my sewing machine for the body and limbs while hand sewing the felt features. He is about 12" tall from head to toe.

Monkey Doll
I just finished my last cartoon pillow kit from http://www.haan.com/

I will have to order more soon! It was a great weekend project to use my sewing machine, hand sew and embroider!

Needle Felted Parrotlet
I just finished this little replica of my parrotlet, Gilbert. I bought a rainbow of wool to play with, so there will be more colorful creations coming soon! I love sculpting with wool!

New Pages
I am really enjoying the process of how the pages come together. It often takes several days in different layers for the pages to be completed. This is a completely new way for me to work. I usually want to get my projects done all in one sitting. Very cool stuff!

Woodcuts
I also put together a collage of my woodcuts. I used gesso for the first time as a base for the page on the right. I then wiped on and off two colors of acrylic paint. The gesso is a wonderful way to add flexibility and texture to the paper. On the left side, I used a piece of Japanese wrapping paper. It has characters and pictures all over it. I wrote words on it in india ink that I bought last year and never used. It is fun to work with. I love how it flows off of the brush and stays so dark even after it dries. I am having a great time experimenting with things I have collected and saved. Everything has its own time and place.

More Mixed Media
What fun! I created 6 random fabric pages yesterday by sewing together blocks of vintage fabric i have had in my stash. i had no rhyme or reason for what i put together, except that i like them and the colors. Well, today I realized that they are the perfect compliment to 3 of my pages, and fit perfectly in my journal. I am so excited!

Mixed Media Art Class
I am taking an art class at the Art Students League of Denver, and I am having the best time. Meeting the teacher and the other students is as much fun as creating the art. Here are a few of my favorites so far...
Oodles of Doodles, Art is in Everything! and My Fiber Art.

Wool Sheep
I love my new wool sheep. He is very puggy. I actually like him sitting so that I can see his face. I have him sitting on my desk.

Gilbert's Collage
Boy! Where did the week go? I have been so busy taking business and art classes that I haven't had time to finish the needle felted sheep I am working on. He will be done soon, so stay tuned. I had a great time in my photoshop elements class this week. I made a collage about my parrotlet, Gilbert. It celebrates the trip to CA we took to bring him home in July 2001.

Needle Felted Corgi
I just finished this little corgi. He is for my sister and his name is Moe. I tried to make it look like her little dog. I was so excited, I had to post it right away. So Melly, if you sign in before I get to give him to you... Surprise! :)