2011.033 "Paintball Erosion"

My son Kalon gave me considerable help with today's piece. I've not been in a very good frame of mind for this today. Not that I'm in a bad or sour mood, just so darn cold I can't get my creative bones to stop shivering long enough to make sense of much. So thank you, KB, for lending your own creative genius to mom's madness today.

This is the last of the hard use of the new techniques. I've got some more ideas and don't want to get stuck on this particular style. I will say that this technique lends itself...strike that...it DEMANDS to be colored boldly. :o)

So here's the entry for today, "Paintball Erosion".

Paintball Erosion - 12x12 digipaint

~ Lisa

You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/


If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell


You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart

2011.032 "Psychadelic Bird of Paradise"

Once in a while it hits me...the urge to create something with crazy, psychadelic colors. I know beyond any shadow of a doubt this is the influnce of my mother. She hit the 80's and refused to leave until she passed away in 2009. Day glow green, neon pink, highlighter yellow...the brighter the colors the more happy it made her.

If you didn't know my mom you missed out. She was 4'10", strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes and covered from head to toe in freckles. Needless to say she was extremely cute!

Anyway, today has been one of those days. I started out with more muted, calming colors but it rapidly developed into something more "far out man". This week I am breaking away from my usual swirls and fractal designs and trying some new techniques I have been learning. This one, despite it's crazy color scheme, is one of the more complicated pieces I've done to date.

I hope Monday has treated you well so far. I've been hearing warnings of epic winter storms on the way for most of the US. Stay in and stay warm!

Psychadelic Bird of Paradise - 12x12 digipaint

~ Lisa

You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/


If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell


You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart

2011.021 "Triptowheel"

This is my 20th post. How awesome! I'm the kind of person who loves celebrating milestones. It doesn't matter if it's small or insignificant to anyone else - I'm going to celebrate anyway! Graduation from 5th grade? Party! Big job interview? WOOHOO! 20 days of posting fun digital artwork? Bring on the cake and streamers!  Anyway, you get the point.

For today's blog piece I started with another hypotrochoid then decided to give it my signature swirling paint effect. Seriously I think someone should name this effect after me since I adore it so much. As much as fractals are fascinating - swirls are swoony. :o)

This one is called "Triptowheel".

Triptowheel - 12x12 digipaint

If it's icy and snowy where you are take extra time, wear extra layers and be careful!

~ Lisa

You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/ If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart

2011.013 "Swirls in Sidewalk Chalk"

My youngest son, who I often refer to as TJ Tornado, has always been able to draw amazing things with sidewalk chalk. I remember once at 3 years old he drew a giant Spongebob on my porch with such amazing detail we had neighbors stopping by all week to check it out. My son has been in treatment for a number of behavioral and psychosocial developmental issues since he was 2 and believe me he is nothing short of a little tornado most days. Each morning as soon as his eyes are open he is talking, singing, and moving 300 mph. I intentionally give myself an hour each morning to sneak around the house and have some coffee before he wakes.

There's something about drawing that brings him down to a very peaceful, relaxed state of mind. It always has. When he draws he hyper-focuses on what he is doing and can do it, virtually silently, for hours on end.

Needless to say I keep my sweet boy fully supplied with sidewalk chalk, crayons, markers, paints and whatever else his little heart desires for his creations.

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day for TJ and me. His routine was disrupted by a snow day which can be a problem for any 7 year old for sure but for my son it's a world-flipping event. World-flipping events are generally not a good thing in our house. Bless his heart he sure tried to make the best of it and by the end of the day things had eased a bit. I even got a random hug and kiss after supper. :o)

So today's piece is dedicated to my little man TJ. I'll never be as awesome as you with sidewalk chalk. Then again, I don't want to be. Your chalk drawings make my face and my heart smile. No matter what you'll always be my sweetie and I am proud of you every single day of your life.

Swirls in Sidewalk Chalk - 12x12 digipaint

~ Lisa You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/ If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart

2011.010 "Beauty for Ashes"

This morning I step aside from my usual silliness and whimsy for some gentle reflection.

A little retrospective: To say that 2009 was a year of great heartache and loss for my family is completely insufficient for the difficulties we endured. So great was our pain that at times it was hard to just breathe; let alone put one foot in front of the other and move forward. Even with only the tiniest of gains in recovery we did survive and as we entered 2010 it promised, if nothing else, to be a year of greater peace and healing. That's exactly what it was too. 365 days of quiet, rest, peace and restoration. There were days when I wondered if we'd ever start to gain ground again but most of the time it was a blessing to just rest and wait for the things to come.

That brings me to 2011 and how, despite it being only the second full week of the year, already there have been some amazing things that have happened. I look back over the past 18 months and see quite clearly the path my little family and I have been walking. We climbed a treacherous mountain and rested in a peaceful valley. Now, it seems, it is at last time for new adventures.

These experiences remind me of the bible passage in Isaiah 61 that says he will give beauty for ashes. My life and the lives of my children were shaken and burned down to the ground. It would have been easy to have given up and stayed there among the ashes of that dark, cold place and believe it would never get any better. However we are not weak in faith, spirit, or heart so we waited patiently knowing we would see brighter days.

Thinking about this journey inspired today's piece which I have named "Beauty for Ashes".

Beauty for Ashes - 12x12 digipaint

Never give up...never give in!

~ Lisa

You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/

If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell

You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart

2011.007 "Un Rayito de Sol"

Buenos Dias!

Today I awoke with my 2004 trip to the Yucatan Peninsula and the lovely Mayan artisans I met there on my mind. I think we all have special places we have visited, domestic or foreign, that have left such an impression upon us that they become a permanent part of who we are. For me it was the Mayan culture I encountered far away from any tourist zones in the Yucatan. My experiences forever altered my view of the world and my taste in food and gave me a new perspective on all things hand made and home grown.

With all this on my mind it's no wonder that today's piece, a compound fractal, came out with a splash of that influence. I called this one "Un Rayito de Sol" which means "a little ray of sunshine" in Spanish.

Un Rayito de Sol - 12x12 compound fractal

Have a beautiful day!

~ Lisa

You can purchase any of these blog pieces printed on canvas and stretched over a 1/4" gallery frame through my new website: http://www.lisacantrell.com/ If you would prefer I also offer printing that is wood mounted and smooth matte laminated. You can order these from my ArtFire studio page online at:  http://www.artfire.com/users/LisaCantrell You are also invited to joing me on facebook :www.facebook.com/lisacantrellart