Artist in Mixed Media Mosaic Collage and Jewelry

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

JOSHUA ... PLEASE POSE FOR ME!


HE DID!

Here are the photos of the Joshua Trees that I said I would post. I just love these trees. So much personality.  If anyone wants to use these for reference please feel free.  These are from the Red Rock Canyon and Blue Diamond areas outside of Las Vegas.  


















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I have a friend who gave me oodles of stamps from her late fathers stamp collection so I have been having fun trying to come up with creative ways to use them.  We are currently traveling and I was sure I would predominantly spend my 'studio' time painting ... just easier when traveling. But, when she gave me the stamps I couldn't resist bringing my collage 'stuff' along (limited of course).  



JOY FOR THE LIGHT OF DAY

12 x 12" Mixed Media Collage

(next Piece has a lot more stamps :)

For more information on this Piece Please click here: 

www.charleenmartin.com

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                "I have no neighbours other than animals and
                                         Joshua Trees."
                   Captain Beefheart ( Don Van Vliet, musician)

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                            NO CLOUDS IN THE SKY TODAY! 

                                                  CHARLEEN

Sunday, January 15, 2017

QUIET GOES THE NIGHT ...


BUT COLORFUL GOES THE DAY  ...

A little over a year ago we were down in Nevada and took a day trip over to Red Rock Canyon, about a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas.  We are back down here again and decided to take another trip to Red Rock yesterday.  Last year it was a bright sunny day. Yesterday was very overcast. I couldn't believe the difference in the colors of the rocks between the two years. Yesterday the colors seemed so much more vibrant.  I think last years Sun may have washed out the colors a wee bit. Not so yesterday.  See for yourself ...








 You can't see them, but these wonderful, face-painted, old crags are filled with hikers and rock climbers.  A great place if you like doing either.








 This is just one of a few houses painted/stained to match its surroundings.



Amazing isn't it.





I took a few photos of the Joshua Trees in the area. I love their crazy poses.  I will try and include more of  those in my next blog.  

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And, now some other color.  Just can't compare to Mother Natures Palette ...


QUIET GOES THE NIGHT

9 x 12" Acrylic on wood panel

https://charleenmartinfineart.com

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...


I see Ol' Woman Wind huffing and puffing and making more clouds for me to imagine with.  :)

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Rocks and water, etc. are words of God.  And so are men.  We all flow from one fountain Soul.  All are expressions of one Love. 
John Muir


Charleen

Sunday, January 8, 2017

A LITTLE DISTRACTION ...



OOPS, I MEAN ABSTRACTION, FOR TODAY,  :-)



BREATHE THE FALL
6 x 6 x .75"
SOLD


INVITED TO THE DANCE
 6 x 6 x .75"

This piece would have been sold too, if it had been a larger size.  I've offered to do a similar piece in a larger format so we'll see what happens.  There really isn't a way for me to do something like this 'exactly' the same.  Of course, I say that, but there are those artists out there that seem to be able to copy just about anything. In:-) fact, there are two hotels here this weekend concurrently running sales of their 'original artwork' starting at just $19.95.  :(  I don't know, do they call that sweatshop art ?  In photos you see rows of people just painting away, the same piece over and over again. 

As they say, everything is in the eye of the beholder.  :)

For more information on this Piece Please click  HERE


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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .


So what do you see?  I see a male swimmer, very muscled,
head under, striving hard for the finish line.
  If I squint, I can also see Goofy, smiling back at me.  :)


'Life is all about how you handle Plan B'

Charleen

P.S. new tablet and I'm still learning how to use it.  Can't seem to figure out how to italicize or highlight the right way.  This shouldn't be italicized but I can't figure out how to undo it ...  :( 

Thursday, December 15, 2016

WE ARE ALL . . .



JUST A SHADOW IN TIME.



SHADOW WALKER

6 x 8" Acrylic on wood panel  ~  SOLD


I did this piece a few weeks ago ... just in time for my November Newsletter.  Since it's almost time for my December Newsletter I'd better get back in the studio and get some more work done. :) 



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A CHANGE FROM CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Since we went south the first few weeks of November, and I did more sightseeing than I did Artwork, I thought I would share more of the photos I took on some of our explorations.  We will be heading south again in a few weeks, this time for three months. 

If it was up to my husband, we would have just stayed south but I wasn't quite ready to give up spending the Holidays with family.  As our daughter said "let's just take baby steps on this whole idea of you going south!"  :)  Don't know that I'll get away with that next year though.  I've been hearing too many mumblings about how "we could be in 80 degrees but here I am having to plow snow in 10 degree weather!"   I can't say that I blame him, especially since I haven't been any help.  I chose this time to have 'double' foot surgery (maybe there was a little method to that madness!)  :)  It was something that needed to be done, and since I was going to be laid up because of one foot, why not get it all over with at once and just do both.  And, what better time of year with well over 3' of snow on the ground already and that blanket being added to as I type. Our real problem may be just getting out of Mullan when the time comes!

 

Death Valley was not at all what I expected.  There are so many varied landscapes all within this one National Park.  It can go from 280 feet below Sea Level Salt Flats to over 11,000 foot high mountains.  I had no idea about the mountains ... I thought it was all predominantly below sea level.  Fascinating to see.



Salt Flats to Mountains


This is one of the drives off the main highway through the Park.  It's called 'Artist Drive' because of the many beautiful colors in the rock in this area.  It's aptly named.  :)  Iron Salts provide the reds, pinks and yellows while Micas produce the green and magnesium makes the purple.  Unfortunately my photos don't do justice to the actual coloring.




You can actually see the difference in colors in this photo.


And for you oldies out there that remember the old ads on TV . . .


And yes, this is where the original '20 Mule Team Borax' came from  :)



Easily the most desolate area I've been to.  I would not want to be lost out here.  Well, I don't want to be lost anywhere . . . but especially here!


As in the last Blog, if there are any photos here that any of the Artists out there would like to use as reference photos, please feel free.


Since there was not a cloud in the sky the day we went to Death Valley I decided to share this cartoon my friend Indy sent to me.  Kind of emphasizes how we can all see life (and clouds) so differently.




Charleen



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Saturday, November 12, 2016

A LITTLE TIME AWAY ...


GREETINGS FROM NEVADA!

I would like to say that I have been getting all kinds of Artwork done these last few weeks but that would be 'inaccurate'.  :)  I did get a few new pieces done but don't have them with me to post.  I'm currently on a short vacation so I thought I would share with you instead, some photos of our trip.  Now I know most people hate looking at other peoples vacation photos, but I promise, there are no humans in these.  I thought, for the Artists among you out there, there just might be a photo or two that you might find inspiring.  :)

If you do see something that you would like to paint, please feel free.  As  you will note, I do not make my income from my photography so I have no problem sharing.  If you do get a painting out of any of these, and you would like to share it, I would love to post it on here so the others can see it too.  :)

We were on our way to The Grand Staircase Escalante' National Monument (a part of Bryce Canyon National Park) when we took a wrong turn and found this beautiful place.  It's called Kodachrome National Park and it's a little off the beaten path.  When discovered, it was thought to be so photogenic that the government asked Kodak if it could use its name for the Park.  Obviously they gave their permission.

How do you like this pose?!  :)

It doesn't show up very well in this photo but, yes, that is a double Rainbow forming.

 The vast differences in the Rock Colorings in a small amount of space is just amazing.









Chimney Rock










 This reminds me of a great, old Wise Man standing guard over some Ancient Treasure









See you soon!

Charleen