Lesley Venable

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

I've been working on creating some new handmade hearts using several different techniques. 

The first thing I knew is I wanted it to have that organic look that I love while also being romantic.  So I created pieces to resemble pieces of broken china to be the focal point of the heart.  Can't wait to bring this class to Art Is You 2014!!! 

Add some soldering, vintage fabrics, lace and some other special touches here and there and you have some very heartfelt creations......

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Several of these flew from my hands and will landing in others' soon to wish them some special love in their day.

xoxo,

Lesley V.

Inspiration.....

My artistic style is most definitely vintage....inspired by vintage imagery and ephemera.  I love the hues of old papers, faded paints and sun bleached ribbons.

 

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Click to see a few of my favorite things.... 

 

 

Personalize your own picture slideshow

 

From that inspiration comes things such as this....

 

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What inspires your creativity?

xo,

Lesley V.

 

Related articles

The Artist Community In Full Force....

Home Again, Home Again.....

We arrived home last Wednesday after traveling to Stamford, Connecticut for Art Is You.  What an amazing time, what an amazing retreat......I could say this a gazillion times and it would never be enough - if you have the opportunity to visit one of the Art Is You Retreats do it, Do It, DO IT.  You will not be disappointed - it really is as wonderful, awesome and phenomenal as everyone who attends says it is.  Yes, really.  :)

Yesterday found me unpacking, creating and listing items in my Etsy Shop, A Vintage Season.  Here are a few peeks with more to be listed today....

 

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More items will be listed today, as time allows, and more putting away, creating and I think some resting is in order as well.

Thanks for stopping  by my little space here in this Land O'Blog.

xo,

Lesley V.

 

More News & A Bit of Inspiration...

Good Morning Everyone!

I wanted to let you know that Artiscape in Dublin, OH has been added to our list of locations where we will be traveling to in 2012.  The schedule will be coming out soon with times and classes listed and registration will begin soon.  To visit the site just click on the link below:

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I love finding inspiring sites and one that I visit over and over again is Art-e zine.  If you haven't ever visited the site you are in for an amazing treat and if you have then perhaps it is time to visit again.  Click on the image below to find inspiration, images and more.

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Also, be sure not to miss my first post as a Design Team Member on the USArtquest blog tomorrow!!! In my studio this week are items ready to be soldered, sewn and embroidered.  What's on your artistic agenda for the week?

xo,

 

Balancing The Creative & The Analytical

Hi Everyone,

Lately I've been finding my way through balancing the creative and analytical parts of my brain.  My "necessary" job is in finance so shutting out what is happening economically in the world today is tough.  There have been those days where it has just been impossible to let the numbers go and let the muse in. 

I figured out that I know enough about the creative process to know that if I feed that part of my soul daily it gives so much back to me.  Stretching those creative wings gifts me with the energy and need to push the job out of my head and with each day it happens a bit quicker. 

I won't say that every day it is a breeze to walk in the door, change from my job clothes to my creating clothes, get in the studio and get to creating but I will say that for the days that I thought I didn't want to create it didn't take long for the gears to change.

There are a few rules that I follow each day when I get home...

1.  When I arrive home I immediately change into my play or creating clothes.

2.  I sit at my studio work table and immediately begin working on whatever "work in progress" I spy first.

3.  I keep some items that can be worked on in other areas of the house so that I can easily pick it up and create elsewhere.

4.  I always have a few pieces in the works so that when I arrive home each day there is something waiting for me to work on.  This makes Item #2 above work because I am immediately drawn into the creative process.

For me it's really what has worked the best to get out of my business/analytical/spreadsheet brain.  What do you do to get creative and stay creative?

So grateful for you all,

 

Mail Art, Fabric Flowers and Collage Backgrounds...

The Creative Bundle Classes are getting ready to kick off on Tuesday and sign-up will end on November 18th.  Here are a few images to whet your appetites.....

Mail Art

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Fabric Flowers

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Collage Backgrounds

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To read all about what is being offered in these amazing bundles you can visit the original blog post here: 

http://flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/lesley_venable/2011/10/just-in-time-for-the-holidays.html

Hope to see you all there.

xo,

Lesley

 

Rampant Creativity

There is nothing quite like a visit from an artistic friend to send your muse into overdrive! Kecia visited last weekend and from about Tuesday on I have been busy doing a bit of this and that in the studio.

Here are some of the creations from  this week....

Little Christmas Tree

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A Santa

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A Bird Collage

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A Few Altered Tags

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A Fabric Wallhanging

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A bit of detail....

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Almost finished with this wallhanging...

 

A Day in Creativity....

I love those days when you can sit down and play around with several different things at once. Today has been one of those days spent at the long studio table (aka the dining room table) and I have had my fingers in paint, ink, fluid chalks, glue, glaze, clay, solder....well you get the drift. I have gone from one project to another and then spent some time listening to music and the Virginia Tech game in the background.

As you all know I am getting ready to be very brave and begin selling my artwork on Etsy, from my blog, while vending and in a shop in Salem. Even though people see my art all of the time online, while I am teaching, in swaps, etc. it is a bit different to put it out there to sell. What if nobody wants it??? Eeek! It's hard to put something that you have created out there to be accepted or rejected. But I'm doing it....I believe in myself and my art and like I said the other day my new mantra is "She thought she could so she did". So I am. <smile>

A lot of the newer items are me putting what I learned at Art Is to use....I have been wanting to create iconic faces for a while and now, thanks to Pam Carriker, I am actually doing it and loving it!!  Here is a new piece...the substrate is a piece of architectural salvage.....

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Another class that I took was JoAnna Pierotti's on Friday evening.  I had taken her doll class in Connecticut at the first Art Is when it was known as Art Fest For The Soul.  This was a wonderful class that was filled with my friends, laughter and beautiful creations!  Here is a piece I have been working on today using the doll face I learned in JoAnna's class....

The word bloom on this piece was inspired by Jane's beautiful necklace that she created.

I will be posting several of my iconic faces tomorrow evening on Etsy.  The creations I make with the doll faces I will be selling at the shop in Salem, VA but if you see something you like let me know. 

Would love your feedback....good or bad....just would like to know if these are creations that "sell worthy". 

xo,

Creations...

While I was in Danbury teaching at Art Is You I took a class with Pam Carriker on how to paint faces.  My goal was to be able to paint very iconic looking portraits.....

I am still working with her....some touch-ups here and there, a bit of darker shading and have to work with that "hair" but basically I love how she is coming out.  If you ever have the opportunity to take a class with Pam you should definitely do it.  What an amazing teacher, woman, artist and a new friend.  Stay tuned as I will be sharing some other information about Ms. Pam soon.  <smile>

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Here is a mixed media collage that I did....love the bird and how all of the other elements came together.....

This was created in my studio....you know me and my color pallette. 

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Did you notice the button in the right sidebar?  The Artful Gathering is already getting geared up for 2012!!!  Super exciting news!!!!  Check it out by clicking the buttom below.....

 

xo,

The Great Adventure In Clay....

The last few days have seen me working with clay.  All types of clay....apoxey, paper and sculpey (not sure what kind this is but it bakes to harden whereas the others can but it isn't necessary).  I never knew that clay could be such fun, well in the way I am using it now anyway, and so absolutely infuriating at the same time. 

Working with this clay has made me realize that I need to work in a room that is covered in plastic and that I need to be suited up in one of those very feminine hazmat suits, you know face shield, giant gloves, etc.  I have found the clay in my hair, stuck between journal pages, on the floor (not good - as Tom's Mother used to say), on shoes....well you get the picture.  I can't quite understand how the clay goes from my hand to the pasta roller aka clay roller to the protected work surface to the studio oven but somehow ends up in the bathroom.  What's up with that??? 

Speaking of the pasta/clay roller thingie I have to say yes it saves my hands from all of that hard clay conditioning handwork that I'm just not up to (read I don't want to do it and I ain't gonna do it) BUT the handle keeps falling out and onto the floor!!!  I cannot tell you how many times I ended up bending over and picking that thing up!  So, I am having an absolute love/hate relationship with this roller but for now it stays as I am, at this moment, willing to put up with the bending over if I don't have to learn how to knead clay. 

This morning as I passed by the dining room table, yes the one that was cleaned off for a fleeting moment, I looked at the clay and felt myself half smiling half sneering at the thought of the beautiful creations that I would make with it.  I'm feeling that I have a case of the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde sickness where this very versatile medium comes into play.

With that being said look for images tonight of a few creations that I will be finishing up.  Either that or one of me at Abuelo's with a Margarita Meltdown in hand.

Be well,