And The Left Leg Too

If you know me, you know I love beautifully done tattoos. I love the artistry behind them, and I love the way they are a piece of a person’s life story, embedded in flesh.

Don’t get me wrong. I know a lot of people who’ve gotten tattoos that were inspired by nothing more than a whim, a desire to get any old tattoo, or simply because they want a piece of art from a specific artist. Those are part of that person’s story too.

In the middle of 2015, I went in for two sittings with Stephanie Flannery (then at Golden Rule) and came out with a gorgeous magpie and fox on the front/outside of my left shin.

 

It is so lovely, I immediately knew I wanted to have her continue on and wrap the rest of my lower leg… it just took me this long to get there.

On Saturday, I took the short drive North to see Stephanie again (now at Black Castle Art Co) and she lined and shaded the rest of my leg. And I couldn’t be happier.

I realized part of the way through the lining, that my dad would hate the subject matter of this tattoo (if he liked tattoos at all). I don’t know how he feels about bluebells, but the fox glove making its way up the side of my knee is basically a weed back home (maybe I’ll find a place for Himalayan blackberries next) and the feather on the back… well, let’s just say blue jays are like the feral cat of the skies on the farm.

I’ve since joked that I may get a skunk cabbage on my knee. I’m only mostly sarcastic.

Next month: Color!

Bridal Shower Gifts Part 1

So! This weekend I was back in my home town for one of my best friend's bridal showers.

I decided to hand make her gifts because I like making things for people (if you hadn't already guessed....) and so I sat down and thought of what I could do.

Immediately I decided on doing some paintings because I love to paint, and I chose her corgi and her cat as the subjects of the paintings because.... well, she loves her pets, and of course because they're adorable. 

If you know me well at all, you know that I don''t do much detail in my oils, so I decided that while I still wanted to use a canvas, I was going to use watercolors for the actual dog/cat because I find it's easier to keep control of an actual subject in that medium.

So, I got some 6x6 canvases (I did still have to put these in my carry-on luggage!) and I painted them in a solid base. And let them dry for a full week before I did anything else with them.

Then I made a template of the square and sketched up her pets. Something simple, but that helped me keep the lines of the actual animals themselves.

And then it was all about the water colors. Which I let dry and then put on the canvases. Here's a comparison shot:

The Corgi had to be trimmed down because I apparently measured incorrectly :/

Heidi's Art

Last night we took a stroll down town to a small gallery opening for a woman we've become friends with because we drink at the same place. (that seems to be how it goes anymore).

She has six pieces up in the Downtown Phoenix Ambassador office. If you're downtown, you should check it out, it's in the 101 North/US Bank Building right next to Spoonz on the North East corner of Adams and 1st St. 

The six pieces are all very unique, starting with the Ariel from her "Dia De Los Disney" style (that I did not get a very good picture of) and her tribute that I'm sure has a name, but I'm calling Ruby and Lothing in Las Phoenix. To the almost abstraction of a white peacock and the portrait of Freda Kahlo. 

 Heidi (in her lovely blue dress) even ended up selling Ruby and Loathing last night.

And of course there's her tin man, and the long one toward the end (also without a decent picture) that has texture fibers in its hair.

Congratulations, Heidi! You and your work are incredibly beautiful.