80/365:2013 ATC spring dress

21. of March mark the calendar from winter to summer, vårjevndøgn, spring equinox. So to this girl, I give her a spring dress.

Want to trade/swap an ATC? Read here to see how: http://ewian.blogspot.no/2012/12/atc-artist-trading-cards.html

Medium used:watercolour and permanent marker.

56/365:2013 ATC violets are blue

Come to think of the rhyme about roses and violets.

Want to trade/swap an ATC? Read here to see how: http://ewian.blogspot.no/2012/12/atc-artist-trading-cards.html

Medium used: vinyl paint and pastel chalk.

49/365:2013 ATC may the luck grow

Not sure what would be the correct translation for the saying "måtte lykke gro som gresset bak do" but loosely translated would be "may the luck grow like the grass behind the loo".

In my old memory books(you know the book friends write nice things to each other when they are kids). I know we got this saying on a card for our wedding ours. Although most people no longer have an out door loo, there is still many who have out door loo at the cottage.

Illustration drawn with pastel over vinyl paint. Do you like my artwork? Would you like to swap? Read here how: http://ewian.blogspot.no/2012/12/atc-artist-trading-cards.html

Norwegian:
Ikke sikker på hva som vil være den rette oversettelsen til engelsk for ordtaket "måtte lykke gro som gresset bak do". I mine gamle minne bøker så fant jeg dette ordtaket vet også at vi fikk det på et kort til bryllupet vårt. Nå har de fleste i vårt land innlagt do, men der er fortsatt mange som har utedo på hytta.

Illustrasjon er tegnet med pastell over vinyl maling. Liker du mine illustrasjoner? Har du lyst å bytte? Les her hvordan: http://ewian.blogspot.no/2012/12/atc-artist-trading-cards.html

5/365:2013 ATC lily of the valley

Lilys of the valley grows in forests and gardens. It has white flowers in one-sided clusters in May (June) and get red berries the after flowering.

The leaves and flowers, and berries contain substances that have been used as medicine for centuries, but which can be lethal, even in smaller doses for children and animals.

Lily of the valley's most often grows in sheltered forests, but is also observed up to 1200 meter above sea level, and in Norway as far north as Mo i Rana, my childhood town.

Medium used: watercolours and acrylic iridescent.

Want to trade/swap the ATC? Read here to see how: http://ewian.blogspot.no/2012/12/atc-artist-trading-cards.html

Art journal - my favourite flower

My favourite flower is "løytnantshjerter" translated meening the "lieutenant hearts". In English it is known as the "bleeding heart", in Latin it is "dicentra spectabilis".

The flower is perennial, meaning it survives the winter and blooms every year. We have been moving a lot and I had keep my bleeding heart in a urn taking it with me where ever we have lived. We now go our own home and this summer I hope to find a place where I can plant the hearts permanently. First it did not look like they survived the winter being in a urn can be though for the flower. I was very sad because it is really hard to get hold of these bleeding hearts. Today when I was outside doing some gardening I noticed that my hearts had survived after all. I am so glad. I wish I had more of these wonderful hearts, but I only have this one plant. I have the one that is pink/magenta.

Of course my journal entry for the day had to be the bleeding hearts. In my flower there is a girl sleeping, for me she represent the flower sleeping through the winter.

Medium used: Derwent pencil, watersoluble wax pastel and permanent marker.

Art journal - dancing with knitting needles

I am so happy, my order with knitting needles came today. The girl in the picture has a dress made of felted wool, just a cut of scraps from this summers felting. The flowers are green spangles and the knitting needles are made by permanent markers. Yes, the clouds are made of glitter! Other than that watercolours are used.

I have been waiting since may for these. I ordered from Michelles Garage Sale and I know they were sent shortly after I ordered but my post office lost them! Today I got a call saying they have fond them, this really made my day. This was not just ordinary knitting needles they have colours!
I can not get a hold of them here in Norway, just plain grey ones. I ordered Susan Bates silvalume double pointed knitting needles. Finding a company that would send them was also a bit of a trouble, did not wanted to be ripped off by the price of the postage. If you know a brand that make coloured knitting needles( not plastic) other than Susan Bates and if you know of company's that sends to Norway please let me know. Although I am happy with the service of Michelles Garage Sale I want to find a better selection if possible.

ATC - porcelain flowers in the snow

ATC - artist trading cards - porcelain flowers in the snow

I was asked to participate in an ATC- swap, 26 cards that are alike. I have never made ATC's. So I said that I had to try it out. Here is my test round and this is how I did it.

Made a sketch. The inspiration is the porcelain flower, it is not made of porcelain is a real flower (picture her if you don't believe me). Well I imagined the flowers in the snow.



I cut up 30 cards, guessing there was going to be some mistakes. Stamped the brown leafstrukture. Drawed the porcelain flowers. Added the masking fluid in dot's. Made the centre of the flower with acrylic paint.


Added some iridescent medium thickly, to get a little structure.


Painted with watercolour ochre and shades of blue. Added a little bit of iridescent to get a little sparkle. Rubbed off the masking fluid.


Cut out words from magazines and old books. Stamped on the S. Just have to sign and write on the back of the cards.

A little trouble along the way when making the cards...
Well I had problems cutting it exaktly to size and finding enough of the word "porselen" did not want to copy.

Not sue what to do with the cards as this was only the test round and I am going to do the real challenge for the swap later. Have any suggestions?

A bit about ATC - ACEO

Artist Trading Cards are individual art miniatures which pass hand to hand. Artists make ATC for trade or self-promotion. The only rule for these cards is their 64 x 89 mm (2.5 by 3.5 inch)
There is no standard thickness for ATCs but people customarily make them thin enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. The cards are created as unique works or small limited editions of prints. Artists generally sign and date the back, and may also include a title and contact information.

An offshoot of Artist Trading Cards are the "Art Cards, Editions, and Originals", ACEO. ACEOs originated when some artists began to create cards to sell, in addition to trading among themselves.


Links to find more about ATC:

www.flikr.com , just do a search for ATCs.

http://www.arttradermag.com , free online magazine containing ATC

http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_Trading_Cards

Felted wool scarf - flower petal

Felted a scarf, trying out the new wool. When the weather gets warmer, I'll make more of these for Christmas gifts. Felting is a wonderful outside activity. All the nap/shag fly with the wind and don't get in your house, dusting is not what I want to spend my time doing.


Colours used: dark magenta, white, standard yellow and ocher.

IF - worry

This little birdy worry about who's shadow it is.



Medium used: watercolour.