it all starts with an idea....

"Fox and the Hedgehog"

watercolor, gouache, oil pastel & ink

available at Etsy - click here

I've been painting like cRaZy lately!  And let me tell you it feels so good!  I remember almost a year ago thinking that I just wanted to wind things down some to be able to paint more!   I had no idea how that would be accomplished, since I do have a family to help take care of.  But...I didn't worry about the "hows" to make it happen.  And lo and behold, the Universe responding by carefully aligning all the things in my life so it happened.  Thank you Universe!

A student in Life Book and Paint Free asked me recently how much I plan out my paintings.  I thought that was a really good question.  Years ago, I remember planning almost every little detail out in a painting.  In fact, I was taught to do that in college.  Over the years, I've let that fall to the wayside.  I guess when you are first starting out, it can  be a good thing to "plan" out a painting so (as my professor would say)...you don't get into trouble later.  But...that take's all the fun out of it for me!  

Call me a rebellious artist...but I love getting into trouble!  

Because then I have to get out of trouble and turn something into a happy mistake!  I don't stress over it...I embrace it and make it a fun puzzle or a game that I have to figure out.  

My paintings usually start out with a rough sketch, and then I just let the painting take me where it wants to go.  

Does the painting turn out like it was originally thought up in my mind?  No.  

It usually turns out WAY BETTER than I could have ever imagined.  And I love being surprised!

Here's some of the work from the past couple of weeks, and a video too! 

"Quiet Time"

gouache,woodburning & beeswax on wood box panel

available at Etsy - click here

"Quiet"

watercolor & collage on paper

available at Etsy - click here

"Daydream Believer"

watercolor, collage, sumi ink on wood

Original is sold

giclees available at Etsy click here

"In a world where you can be anything, be yourself"

canvas giclee

"The Wyanne Collection for Natural Life"

collection available at Etsy - click here

In other news...all of "The Wyanne Collection for Natural Life" is now in my Etsy store.  There are cute canvas giclee prints and magnets.  I love what they did with my art!  You can find the Natural Life collection here.  My Life Book segment starts next week. And yes, even though it's started already...you can still sign up.  Click here for more info.

And wow...only 3 more months until my move to Atlanta.  I guess I should be packing.  Hmmm...packing or painting?  I choose PAINTING!  Maybe the Universe can pack up the house and studio for me?  Now that's an idea!  LOL

Love to you all!
Wyanne

good to be king

"Good to Be King"

watercolor, gouache, oil pastel & collage

available at Etsy

It's my birthday today...so I guess I was feeling a bit festive when I painted this one.  LOL  

But...oh my gosh....I love it!

Chat later...cupcakes are calling.

Love,

Wyanne

Kiss Kiss

"Kiss Kiss"

mixed media with encaustic beeswax

8" X 8"

Original is Sold.  Thank you! ♥

giclees available at Etsy

Hope everyone had a FABULOUS Valentine's Day!  I finished this painting on Valentine's Day because my Valentine was in Atlanta ( but we had celebrated early).  The painting is on Italian Watercolor paper mounted to a wood canvas panel.  I finished it with a wonderful smooth beeswax finish.  

The painting is watercolor, gouache and collage.  I'm trying to keep my collage elements a little less obvious lately.  If you look close, you'll see the bunny is from a vintage map.  

The big rust colored flower is also collaged.  The beeswax finish altered the flower slightly...making it lighter in the upper right side.  This is because the was seeped into the collage paper and caused it to darken in the other areas.  I love when things like that happen!

I decided to try something new and make the painting available to my lovely blog and Facebook followers at a special presale price...before it's listed on Etsy next week.  Just use the Add to Cart Button above. If you guys like this idea...maybe I'll start doing that with all my originals.  What do you think?

And thanks to a wonderful email from a prospective student asking for a multiple class discount for purchasing  more than one class...I finally updated all the classes with new prices for previous students and those buying more than one class.  You can find out more about the classes here.

I also had a previous Paint Free student ask me for a badge for her site...I promise that's next on my list.  I just have to finish up the final edits on my LifeBook segment for next month.  I'm very excited about it.  And don't worry...you can still sign up for LifeBook.  I have to say it's amazing.  My dear friend Willowing has done an outstanding job that deserves a big HUGE BRAVO!!!

So, that's all the news lovely people!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Love,
Wyanne

I AM the Queen...I Take Back My Power

"I Am The Queen"

watercolor, acrylic, collage, coffee, rhinestones & beeswax on wood

16" x 16"

original and giclees available at Etsy

Last week, I had coffee with my best friend.  She's an artist and paints gorgeous poetic large scale oil paintings.  I am always in awe of her talent and creativity.  The business side of me is usually hounding her on how she needs to get her work in more galleries across the country, etc.  But, for this coffee date...that side of me didn't show up.

You see...I've been on a bit of a sabbatical.  I'm taking time off from teaching and only concentrating on painting and my move to Atlanta.  It has been very good for my soul.  My friend has also cut back on some of her responsibilities too, and we both agreed that it had given us more clarity.

Instead of painting, my friend had been writing children's stories and illustrating them!  This was something that I knew she dabbled in from time to time...but I thought fine art was her passion!  With tears in her eyes, she explained that it was something she had always wanted to do, and had put it on a back burner because others had pushed her fine art career.  Now...she was finally doing what she always wanted to do.

It made me think back about what I always wanted to do.  I thought I was doing it already...but I realized I had gotten off track quite a few times.  When I was 9 years old, I had a CLEAR vision about what kind of artist I wanted to be.  Over the years, I've stayed true to the artist part but veered away from the 9 year old's vision.

I've let her dream get interrupted by gallery owners who told me that the work wasn't edgy enough.  By friends who said they didn't get it, and other artist's who poo pooed the subject matter because it was too simple.  I've gotten discouraged because I've seen my work copied so many times...that I felt I should abandon it because it was too easy to copy.  I've even been influenced by family members (spouse included) who liked the work but it was too girlie for them.


Every time I consciously or unconsciously, allowed myself to be influenced by any of these people...I gave away my power.

Today, I take back my power.  I promise to stay true because my nine year old self was way wise beyond her years.


Here's a new video for you.

You should take back your power too.  If me and my best friend, can do it...so can you.

Love,
Wyanne