Garden in the Forest (IF-MIdsummers's Night)

I found a Garden in The Forest

where I often sit and linger

to get lost in my own thoughts...

 Garden in the Forest #1-3, acrylics and colored pencils on board

Hi all. I have been enjoying painting these days, making more "crafty" art and finding it to be quite a relaxing thing. I suppose not working for deadlines plays a major role in this... as some of you may agree, yes? Well, I think I'm just lucky to have the kind of occupation that gives me plenty of freedom and space to keep things flowing according to my own needs. And of course, these girls are now available for adoption in my shop, so please feel free to pop in. :)

Now talking about luck, I have had plenty lately too. First of all, a dear blog friend (and a terrific artist!), Sara Lynn, has passed me The Versatile Blogger Award and I'm excited to pass it along to a few friends who I think deserve it:

Tammie Lee of Beauty Flows
Theresa of Welcome to My World with Faerie Moon Creations
Cris of Mommy's Midwest Mountain Folk Art
Lauren of Fair Rosamund Art
Maria-Thérèse of Afiori

On top of the award, I was also very very fortunate to have won a giveaway from Kaspian Shore!!! Have you ever seen his art? Well, I was blown away the first time I saw it, and have remained an admirer ever since. Here's a little peek of his work, but I really recommend you to visit his blog and find yourself lost in the serene melancholy that he captures in each of his paintings.

So, it's been a good beginning to the week for me so far... I hope you'll have plenty of luck and happy moments in your days too!

Amalia, oxx

Come Out, Come Out and Play

I heard soft knockings and whisperings from inside my wooden chest the other day.... and when I opened it, I saw three girls with a pout on their faces. As it turned out, they were bored and a little sulky because I had forgotten to let them play here on my little blog... :))

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick 

Indonesian translation

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

Indonesian translation

 Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Indonesian translation

A warm thank you to Penerbit Atria for letting my girls to grace the covers of their marvelous books.

Amalia, oxx

Reversed Moods and a New Experiment on the Table

I have had very fierce cravings these days. No, not for bizarre meals or even shiny jewelry, but to make art. Loads and loads of it. Do you think it's possible that the dead creativity moods I had during my early pregnancy has finally taken a reverse? I just have these ideas swirling in my head all day, and there seems to be a huge magnet that keeps pulling me towards my drawing table. Now I can sit there doodling, drawing, painting, with the baby kicking and nudging nonstop inside my tummy. Even the cramps seem more bearable, or at least I've found a way to try and ignore them. :)

Here is the last project I did, while trying new things into my usual work by putting a good use to a lot of craft materials that's been sitting away collecting dust. You see, I get all excited sometimes when I go to craft stores and almost never strong enough to escape the craft demon that lures you in to buy stuff... which all usually stay unused inside a box under the table. :)

And this is the star of the project. Meet the girl in blue with her sleeping fox friend. I painted her on a thick  recycled paper board and added glossy varnish just to keep her safe from nasty grubby hands.  I then made two adjacent little holes on the top corners, and worked a satin ribbon into them, tying a double knot on each end. Of course, you can be more creative and use other things like lace or beaded strings. 

Then finally (finally!) I used my favorite little trinkets, that the demon had seduced me into buying, to make a line of charms, which I also combined with the same satin ribbon to add more accent. I attached them to one corner of the painting, giving the girl in blue a whole different look compared to the other girls I've done before...

Quite a change, isn't she? Well, to be honest I was happy with the end result... she really cheered me up for the day.  So I'm naming her "Gwyneth", which by the the way means "happiness", and she's now available in The Wish Forest, in case you'd like to give her a little visit.

Now, I wonder where this new mood is taking me next... :))


Amalia, oxx

Living a Dream (IF - Swept)

When I was about six, I decided that there was nothing more I wanted in the world than to become a pilot. After watching a local acrobatic air show along with hundreds of other people, I suddenly saw flying in loops up in the sky as the most miraculous thing that human had ever invented (next to roller skates and talking dolls, of course). Somehow the idea of being able to be one with the clouds, swept away by the winds, just put aside all other childhood dreams and cleared out a whole new space to make way for this new one.

 Balloon Ride, mixed mediums

Strangely enough, the dream stayed with me for a good number of years, only it became less logical and ridiculous. At first I started imagining myself flying in an airplane, then using wing-like contraptions, rockets under my arms, balloons, fairy wings and eventually just nothing on me.  I guess all I wanted to do was to fly and the "pilot" thing was just the most logical package my human mind could find. The good thing of having drawing as a favorite past time, I was able to pour down all these ideas out of my head and prove to myself that anything is possible. At least up in my head. :)

The original of this piece is now available in my shop.

I hope you're having lots of fun in your days and keeping the dream alive. You'll never know, it might come true.

Amalia, oxx

Nothing Beats a Quiet Day

A few poetic finds for you...  Heart in Poetry

helmitarha $97.00	DeLaCruz $20.00	saysthetree $28.00	irenesuchocki $30.00
MaisonPaulette $42.00	DreamsandJewel... $155.00	Brookish $11.00	Ketzelphotogra... $40.00
5gardenias $58.00	staroftheeast $74.00	tushtush $20.00	wholeport $7.59
DebrasDivineDe... $22.00	TheGreatBear $52.00	lovemaude $32.00	astridanatural... $3.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

A few little faces added to my free gift collection at the shop...

Now I am happy and content..... it's time for a nap. :)

Amalia, oxx

Magic Comes in Small Forms

Hello my fellow woodland creatures...how are things sprouting in your neck of the woods? I for one have been busy rearranging things in the home, thanks to this crazy "nesting" period I'm going through. It's a good thing I'm not a collector of heavy old furniture, otherwise I'd be driving everyone silly (and out of breath) pushing them around the house.

Between tidying and cleaning up, I've been treating myself to making more art in small sizes. If you remembered how rarely I make ACEOs, it's strange how I've been finding peace in creating them recently. Maybe because I'm not expected to spend too much time on the drawing table with this growing belly in front of me... :))

Here is how my typical working session goes...

 I start with the black and white sketches...

...and start painting, just a soft blush across the faces.

Coloring the hair... definitely my favorite part!

Adding more colors... I like how they seem to become alive as I do this.

And just a bit of shading and accents with colored pencils to create more details and depth.

   

...and voila! These girls are done (minus cramps on my tummy!) :)

If you like any of these faces, I'm actually giving each away for every purchase in my shop. Of course you can choose whichever you like, just let me know your pick. And don't forget, I have a surprise set of free goodies for the first 20 buyers too!

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Amalia, oxx

A Hidden Secret No More

Once there was a girl who had a million wishes.

She kept them safe within a place where no one has ever been...

Now the gate has finally opened

And she welcomes you inside to meet

The Secret Society of the Wish Forest

 Irena

 Moira

 Helene

They are only few of the hundreds lingering inside the gate of the forest.

Among the shadows you will also find thousands of tiny lights

creating wishes and dreams for all...

Upon Waiting

 

Sunset Rendezvous

To find your dreams and wishes, follow the tiny lights and enter the gate

Special note:

Thank you for taking time to see my little show and tell. I have been slowly and patiently working on these for quite some time and I can't tell you how happy I am to share them with you now. It's a wonderful feeling to finally open my new shop, and although I'm still pushing myself to list more art, you're welcome to visit and linger. Just to show how much I love all of you, I'm giving away a surprise free bonus of original ACEO with each purchase...AND... a set of surprise goodies for the first 20 buyers who purchase my art!

 You'll notice that I only have original art available in the shop, but you can still purchase prints of my previous work over at RedBubble.

I hope you enjoyed this little show as much as I did making them.

Amalia, oxx