tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28580144490101369682012-01-31T17:49:37.113-06:00RGR is Regina Gansen Rooks - Jewelry Designer and Artist. Check in to see what I'm up to and where you can find my designs.Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.comBlogger2791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-46012220381136932132012-01-31T12:33:00.000-06:002012-01-31T12:33:55.343-06:00

"For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes.  So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."  James 1: 11 ESV Daunting words.  I'm studying the book of James with a group from my church using Beth Moore's latest study guide: "James - Mercy Triumphs."  This time Beth threw out a challenge to memorize the book of

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-84189871208018355012012-01-21T18:39:00.003-06:002012-01-23T21:11:02.016-06:00

How do you know you are an artist? When do you claim the title as your own? When do you believe it? It’s common that those around you can see quite plainly what is right in front of you. But you are blind to it.  Or, you see it through too many filters… - unbelief - false modesty - pride - fear - comparison Since I was a small child, I’ve delighted in making things. I’ve been attracted to

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-79739058290613395582012-01-20T23:12:00.001-06:002012-01-20T23:15:20.681-06:00

Tallcorn Towers Four Ways Today I learned a different way to convert color images to black and white. Then I made simple adjustments for a variety of effects. My inspiration is a historical building in downtown Marshalltown.  I couldn't resist the name play of this building that is emphasized by the angle of this shot.  I edited out a street light that cluttered the right side of the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-20332729492906102962012-01-19T12:07:00.000-06:002012-01-19T12:07:44.361-06:00

I've been sorting through image files and playing with the new skills I'm learning from Kim Klassen.  You can still sign up for her Beyond Layers Year of Artful Inspiration. This is an image I shot in Marshalltown, Iowa on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon when Hubby and I were admiring the architecture of its downtown area.  I was drawn to the color of the door and all the lovely texture created by

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-89702525288988599332012-01-15T23:37:00.000-06:002012-01-15T23:37:51.932-06:00

After PS Elements I'm so excited about the Photoshop Elements tips I've been picking up from Kim Klassen.  Kim offers eCourses and texture layers.  The above image was created using techniques I gleaned from Kim's Skinny Mini eCourse.  Before PS Elements I used this image of a fall blooming clematis that I shot last fall.  One of Kim's textures was layered two times with a different blending

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-16286603467335273312012-01-06T01:08:00.000-06:002012-01-06T01:08:32.371-06:00

Scanned monoprint edited with texture layers in PS Elements. Making art gives me joy.  The creative process stimulates my heart and my mind.  I'm so excited to share with you on my blog after a three month hiatus.  I've been OK, but many family events absorbed much time.  There have been celebrations and a farewell.  Through it all, the joy of the Lord has been my strength. This Fall my

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-71467843404338139422011-09-20T23:28:00.000-05:002011-09-20T23:28:49.144-05:00

Journal page close up. Do you want to have fun creating lost and found edges?  What does that mean?  The above stamped image shows distinct edges and places where the edge is "lost" when the stamping colors merge with the background. To learn how to create this look, read Michelle Ward's great tutuorial on this month's challenge. Just follow this link.  The first two journal pages were

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-57105863047502631822011-09-17T16:21:00.000-05:002011-09-17T16:21:29.132-05:00

I love the colors that surround me at the Iowa State Fair.  When Michelle Ward posted the August Challenge, Mind Games, I knew exactly where I would find my inspiration for the challenge.  This was a perfect chance for me to do a simple study of modern vs. traditional pigments. Be sure to go to the GPP site to read what Michelle had to say about this challenge. Have you ever tried mixing colors

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-63168886250695733352011-08-09T13:50:00.000-05:002011-08-09T13:50:43.160-05:00

 "Connections" at Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit 2011  Sunday we attended the Iowa State Fair Fine Arts reception where we got to preview the amazing art that will be on display during this year's fair.  This was the third time I've had a painting juried into this show.  It's a thrill to get the bright colored postcard in the mail and find a check marked in the accepted box.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-58822388144470996022011-07-22T17:15:00.000-05:002011-07-22T17:15:48.802-05:00

Virtual color palette extracted from scanned paint reference journal.  A little scanning, Photoshop Elements, and imagination came together to come up with my Summer Treats Palette.  This month's challenge from the Green Pepper Street Team was the motivation to take a new look at my paint reference journal.  I use spiral bound watercolor paper tablets to develop palettes for many of my

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-64530803719908476022011-07-14T23:55:00.000-05:002011-07-14T23:55:58.599-05:00

 I've been busy creating new jewelry with some of my favorite beads.  You can see these and much more in Marshalltown at the Fisher Community Center this coming Sunday at the Linn Creek Arts Festival from 10:00-5:00. This set was inspired by a gorgeous set of polymer beads created by Chris.  Her artistry and workmanship are top notch.  I found gorgeous orange garnets to coordinate with the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-62944703292956282692011-06-14T23:57:00.000-05:002011-06-14T23:57:16.220-05:00

Cover art on Strathmore Visual Journal  This month Michelle Ward challenged Green Pepper Street Team participants to share seasonal "wardrobe" changes in our art.  Do I change my color palette with the change of the seasons?  How does the changing of the seasons affect my art? I tend to work with a limited color palette and usually prefer saturated colors.  But looking back at the past winter

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-12062590476873043722011-06-11T16:17:00.000-05:002011-06-11T16:17:58.849-05:00

I'm happy to announce that this painting was juried into the current Community of Artist exhibit at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, IA.  I previously posted about this painting when I was contemplating whether or not it was finished.  Honestly, I don't think I added anything more than my signature.  I took it to the critique group that I was attending and we all agreed that this

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-90063017410652785532011-04-28T11:35:00.000-05:002011-04-28T11:35:54.748-05:00

I've been making some new earrings to prepare for the upcoming art sale at Snus Hill Winery this coming Saturday.  The event is part of a multi-community celebration in honor of the High Trestle Trail.  Read more here. This grouping features different stones and sterling silver.  I've been shaping and hammering sterling wire.  That's lots of fun. So is hanging out with fellow art lovers.  I hope

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-80105786843785231132011-04-15T20:33:00.000-05:002011-04-15T20:33:36.854-05:00

Digital art from my painting and photography My computer is operating again.  Hooray!  I need help from Hubby to tweak a few things, but I very happily played with Photoshop Elements this evening.  I really missed using it very much! I combined a face that I painted following Sharon Thomlinson's class last year and a photo of daisies that I captured last summer.   Over the past several months,

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-64975702380298503732011-04-05T12:20:00.001-05:002011-04-05T12:30:15.572-05:00

Painting image taken Saturday under partly sunny skies.  Do you ever wonder when enough is enough on a painting?  I have found that taking a quick digital image often helps me see the weaknesses in a painting.  There have been times when I thought I was done and was preparing my images to post a blog entry when I saw flaws that I knew I couldn't live with. Back to the easel... Saturday was a

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-41837379361870803752011-03-31T13:20:00.000-05:002011-03-31T13:20:47.771-05:00

Journal spread featuring a tea I like.  Let me start by saying that I am very happy to be getting a post up today.  My lap top died last week. The hard drive is kaput.  The new hard drive that Hubby purchased turned out to be defective.  We are waiting for the replacement to come in the mail.  Now I'm using my computer that is operating on a Linux operating system from a disk!  My husband is a

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-53196488221477070922011-03-18T20:05:00.000-05:002011-03-18T20:05:18.978-05:00

On April 30th, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is celebrating the grand opening of the High Trestle Trail.  This trail features one of the largest pedestrian bridges in the world!  The bridge is over 1/2 mile long and 13 stories tall.  The trail is part of a 670 mile trail system that connects Des Moines and several Central Iowa communities.  Get out you bike or walking shoes! Several area

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-88617125971805114892011-02-28T21:25:00.000-06:002011-02-28T21:25:39.869-06:00

Evidence page featuring a symphony concert we attended.  The February prompt for the GPP Street Team is to create another evidence page in our art journals.  The theme is to come from an event attended last year, so Michelle Ward cleverly named the crusade: "Been There, Done That."  Read more at the GPP blog. I've just completed half of my spread that you can see above.  Hubby and I attended a

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-19475926760201066822011-02-05T15:03:00.000-06:002011-02-05T15:03:22.844-06:00

Detail from journal page We had quite a snow storm earlier this week. I had filled all the bird feeders in anticipation of the bad weather on Sunday. I was rewarded with the sight of juncos, aka "snowbirds" feeding in my back yard. Inspired by all the activity, I pulled out my new Strathmore Visual Journal with watercolor paper and jotted down some thoughts with a Sharpie pen.  Then I put a

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-33105366434706818982011-01-29T21:54:00.000-06:002011-01-29T21:54:54.421-06:00

Detail view of new art journal page. Here's a fun winter project you should try.  Strathmore is offering free on-line workshops.  The first was introduced earlier this month and is taught by Pam Carriker.  Check out this link for more information.  Early in the journaling process.  Pam guides us through a project that invites you to re-use previously created art.  Start by making copies of

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-70119066051237734462011-01-22T12:18:00.000-06:002011-01-22T12:18:59.754-06:00

Have you ever gone to a shop where you can paint your own pottery?  I went to Kil'n Time in Ames with some church friends on Monday.  It was a cold and icy night... just perfect for sitting around a table with friends. There's definitely a learning curve to working with this paint/glaze.  It dries much lighter than it will look after it's fired in the kiln.  You have to paint several layers to

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-61477157675630848392011-01-01T12:24:00.000-06:002011-01-01T12:24:17.092-06:00

It's the beginning of a new decade. I'm looking forward to living this life the Lord has blessed me with. This past February, Hubby gave me a smart phone.  It's an HTC Eris.  In the world of technology, it was a grandfather in a matter of weeks.  It's not the fastest and smartest of it's kind.  But it still is a giant step up from my previous phone.One of my favorite activities on the phone is

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-61917852713554873762010-12-25T11:01:00.000-06:002010-12-25T11:01:59.084-06:00

In my garden, new snow formed a mantle on the angel statue. The Shepherds and the Angels And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord  appeared to them, and  the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-9906013502192865822010-12-19T22:24:00.000-06:002010-12-19T22:24:57.765-06:00

 Oh, The Wonderful Cross I This past week I received the happy news that the above painting has been juried into an upcoming national art exhibit at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames.  I've been submitting entries the past few years, and this is my first acceptance.  Care to join me in doing the happy dance?  Oh, The Wonderful Cross II  To the left is another painting

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-74373033315041165162010-12-07T15:48:00.000-06:002010-12-07T15:48:12.584-06:00

Previous GPP Crusade art framed and hung with related art.  The final challenge presented by Michelle Ward for 2010 is to frame and hang some of our own art.  I have framed many of my art pieces, but many are not hanging on my own walls.  Thankfully, some are at the I Scallon Gallery in Ackley, Iowa and waiting for new homes. Earlier this year, I created a page for this challenge.  I had

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-22069270072723590642010-10-28T00:48:00.003-05:002010-11-08T10:24:26.921-06:00

 This month Michelle Ward has challenged us to make copies of a previously prepared journal page and alter it some way.  This is what I chose.  Watercolor paper was washed with the dregs of paint left on my brush and lots of water.  Plastic wrap was laid over the wet paint and left to dry.  The wrinkles in the plastic leave voids on the paper that look like... On a black and white copy of the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-16549780831760090462010-10-26T13:59:00.001-05:002010-10-26T14:00:26.093-05:00

 The three paintings shown side by side.  This is a mixed media set I created on 6x6 gallery wrapped canvases.  After preparing the canvas with sections of sheet music, I painted the sunflowers and backgrounds with acrylic paint. Text was stamped on paper and adhered to canvas with soft gel.  Additional details were added with water soluble brown pencil that was blended and sealed with

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-52989877293015607652010-10-22T23:24:00.001-05:002010-10-26T13:38:48.568-05:00

Linda Scallon, owner of I Scallon Gallery with one of the famous Ackley dummies. If you are driving across Iowa on Highway 20, you will see signs that advertise Ackley.  It's just minutes north of the highway.  Ackley made the national news when CBS did a story on the dummies that are found seated on benches up and down Main Street.  Main Street Ackley has plenty of charm. Be sure to

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-45984350429464820332010-10-19T23:39:00.002-05:002010-10-22T22:41:18.648-05:00

Sara from Fifth Child Studio recently honored me with this award. Check out her blog if you haven't been there before. It's lots of fun! To accept this award I have to: * reveal 7 truths about myself * select 7 blogs that I would like to share the award with TRUTHS I do not like tomatoes. I wish I did. They look so lovely and yummy, especially cherry tomatoes which I dislike the most!  But I

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-18637032450321246512010-09-30T11:31:00.000-05:002010-09-30T11:31:35.028-05:00

You might think I'm just scraping by.... In a sense, I have been.  The September Green Pepper Press Crusade challenged us to prepare a journal page by scraping on paint.   I often use a palette knife, but an old credit card makes a wonderful tool.  This time I also used some unused plastic dividers from a storage tray... you know, the kind found in the fishing tackle section of the big box

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-47424017790118908862010-09-11T15:12:00.172-05:002010-09-11T18:31:09.727-05:00

August 30, 2007 was the birthday of this blog.  At the time, I had considered creating a blog to help promote my jewelry creations in my Esty store, but I was intimidated by the process of setting one up.  Hubby and I had attended local art festival that summer with the intent of researching ways I could display my work at my first outdoor festival. In July, we met Brandie Butcher Isely of

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-28202285297384274542010-08-14T14:42:00.003-05:002010-08-28T11:19:20.726-05:00

The latest challenge by Michelle Ward for the GPP Crusade gave me the opportunity to use ephemera I saved from the office. As in the last crusade, I started with a page previously monoprinted from an earlier crusade. I softened the color with a wash of gesso. I tore strips from security envelopes that had been washed with acrylic ink. When I decided some stenciled lettering would be nice, the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-63081031231271037082010-07-24T20:55:00.005-05:002010-07-27T18:29:01.158-05:00

Visit the official crusade blog for Michelle Ward's instructions for this month's challenge. I decided to use some left-overs to create my journal page. It was fun adding layers to the already painted page. It didn't take long to complete. While writing on the page with a Sakura Souffle Pen, I enjoyed the contrast of white against the saturated colors on the page. The tissue paper strips aren't

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-3912954438965370092010-07-23T00:56:00.003-05:002010-07-23T01:27:07.006-05:00

I had booth #51 at this year's Linn Creek Art Fest.With much help from Hubby, Sis & Niece - we set up a display of art & jewelry. The front table featured small paintings and ACEO cards. My sister & niece did a great job displaying my jewelry.The earring rack makes a great display, but we rescued earrings several times when a strong breeze carried a card to the ground. Drapery hooks held my

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-40536777416843822682010-07-10T22:43:00.003-05:002010-07-10T22:51:38.654-05:00

This is one of a series of ACEOs that I recently created. They have been mounted to blank greeting cards using temporary adhesive disks.I hope to see you at the Linn Creek Art Fest in Marshalltown on July 18, 2010!

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-28467298392917949062010-06-30T22:31:00.003-05:002010-06-30T23:04:00.844-05:00

I had extra room in my journal after mounting previously posted grids. I decided to make a grid directly on the painted page of my journal. First I divided the page using Michelle Ward's excellent instructions found on the GPP Crusade post. I painted over the lines with acrylic ink.This time I grabbed a map from my ephemera stash and punched circles featuring places in Iowa that are significant

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-70749597216237787622010-06-29T22:25:00.004-05:002010-06-29T22:53:06.252-05:00

Last week I was inspired to paint something for my wonderful husband as his birthday gift. The scene was inspired by photos I shot at a local park, but it came mostly from my imagination.Earlier in that day I listened to water colorist, Sterling Edwards on a webinar. That influenced my decision to paint a landscape with water color techniques. I have been experimenting with Liquitex Acrylic

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-30479810622678583752010-06-25T22:19:00.004-05:002010-06-25T22:52:54.843-05:00

Look what can be done with monoprinted and stamped card stock!Paper was monoprinted for a previous crusade. I added the text, butterflies and flowers with stamps using metallic ink and distress ink. A spritz of water blurred the distress ink.Detail of the stamped paper. "Tiles" were formed with square punch and adhered to white card stock. Another monoprint that was stamped with text and circle

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-43375670910270677882010-06-05T11:36:00.004-05:002010-06-05T12:39:33.970-05:00

This is what happens when I experiment with no expectations...I've been reading a book, DYNAMIC ACRYLICS by Soraya French. The author likes to use acrylic ink, often as the underpainting. I picked up a bottle of Liquitex Burnt Sienna Acrylic Ink. There's a dropper built into the cap. Wonderful. I applied the ink with the dropper on watercolor paper - dry, wet into wet, sprayed with water, alcohol

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-34054590703555563572010-05-29T15:44:00.004-05:002010-05-29T16:18:07.883-05:00

APPLES" by HENRI MATISSEI recently had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Art Institute. Two times! There is a special exhibit focusing on a pivotal period of Matisse's long career(1913-1917). The exhibit will be on display until June 20, 2010.I was not very informed on Matisse's work or influences. The exhibit provided fascinating insights to both well-known and obscure art as well as his

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-49247771402502140822010-05-27T22:06:00.005-05:002010-05-29T15:44:18.145-05:00

Since I ended up framing my first crusade project, I needed to do another one for my crusade journal. This is a close up showing some of the subtle texture on the page. (Click on the photo to seem the whole image.) This is on Fabriano cold press watercolor paper. I applied layers of Folk Art Paint in yellow/gold, burgundy and rust. After stamping xoxo with chalk ink, I stenciled the xo pattern

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-26172311001722863352010-05-16T16:45:00.011-05:002010-05-17T14:18:26.282-05:00

It's official! I'll be exhibiting at the Linn Creek Arts Festival on Sunday July 18, 2010. I enjoy this venue very much. The organizers are very helpful & friendly. The site is the park-like grounds surrounding the Fisher Community Center in Marshalltown. The air is filled with enjoyable music and the scents of delicious food.My original artwork and jewelry will be available for sale. This is my

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-68776283867851763212010-05-15T22:49:00.006-05:002010-05-16T15:07:13.619-05:00

I'm a relatively new-comer to the Green Pepper Press Street Team Crusades having started at number 28. Michelle Ward has been orchestrating these challenges since the beginning. This month we celebrate GPP Crusade No. 40: Step on the Scale. Click on the link to learn more. We haven't become a new weight loss group. Michelle challenged us to work smaller or larger than usual.I decided to go

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-33669126759049931592010-05-10T00:11:00.002-05:002010-05-10T00:12:56.360-05:00

Face2Believe.jpgOriginally uploaded by rgrdesignsThis is another mixed media project from All NorahS Art Faces on-line class that I finished this weekend. "Believe" is on a 4" x 4" canvas. A few minor adjustments to her face and hair were added since the previous post. Napkin and tissue were collaged on with Golden Matte Soft Gel. Using Staz-On ink, I stamped "believe" on rice paper that was

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-59831972420471689352010-04-30T16:34:00.002-05:002010-04-30T16:42:11.062-05:00

Face 2Originally uploaded by rgrdesignsThis winter I signed up for an on-line workshop taught by Sharon Tomlinson. I've been playing with drawing faces for a while now and have wanted to learn how to paint them better.This is a work in progress. It's amazing how many things I see in the photo that I didn't notice before ... should I even be posting this?You can still sign up for this class.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-25115811437669930362010-04-30T16:06:00.003-05:002010-04-30T16:22:28.111-05:00

Susan Tuttle, a talented and sweet mixed-media artist, is giving away one copy of her new book,Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements.You might be able to find it in your local bookstore. Since I didn't, I ordered it from Amazon. {Can you believe this is my first order with that giant! I believe in supporting the local guys as much as possible... which I do. ;-) }

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-13195186357679009762010-04-23T21:56:00.005-05:002010-04-23T22:11:33.197-05:00

What happens when inspiration strikes, you have a stack of cardstock and palette of paint?This is just a portion of the prints I pulled following some of the steps outlined by Michelle Ward at the GPP Street Team Crusade blog. Michelle says you can use tyvek to make a mask. I bought packs of plastic masks for pennies in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby a few months ago. They work great for

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-28195015884258514742010-04-20T22:48:00.006-05:002010-04-20T23:44:29.179-05:00

Today I decided to prepare a spread in my GPP journal in anticipation of creating monoprints for this crusade. I ended up making my first print for the challenge. Go to the link to read more about pulling prints.This post features a variation on the technique that Michelle Ward describes.I decided to create a journal featuring GPP crusades this year. I used Fabriano cold pressed watercolor paper

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-13459067296009601292010-04-20T15:11:00.005-05:002010-04-20T15:36:49.090-05:00

I'm late posting for this challenge. There was one thing after the other and I didn't get this post written.Ironically, the current crusade has us pulling prints. I could combine both crusades because most of my tissue paper was painted by making monoprints! You can link to the Green Pepper Street Team Crusade to read what Michelle Ward shared about painting on tissue paper. I have kept a stash

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-42418885302944366032010-04-17T17:38:00.003-05:002010-04-17T18:18:22.356-05:00

One of the advantages of using a Stay-Wet palette for acrylics is that it cuts down on wasted paint.I'm using left-over paint from last weekend's adventure at Unforgettable Art. This is painted on a 5 x 7 gallery wrapped canvas.There's a lot more paint on the palette. I should use it soon. The paints draws up moisture from the sponge below the special palette paper and the paint becomes a bit

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-13489672381262107342010-04-15T01:03:00.003-05:002010-04-15T01:09:59.301-05:00

Signing the PaintingOriginally uploaded by rgrdesignsI created a slide show on flickr with some pictures from last Saturday. I'll be adding more soon and more details.If you click on the pictures on the right side bar, you will be taken to my flickr page where you can see larger images and read notes I wrote.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-58905269948824895632010-04-06T14:31:00.005-05:002010-04-06T15:04:42.591-05:00

Untitled painting featuring cone flowers. Painting is 24 x 36 inches on stretched canvas. It was inspired by photos I took in my backyard garden. These are not the usual wild echinacea, but a cultivated variety that a friend shared with me. I love their glorious texture!This is what I will be painting at the fundraiser, "Unforgettable Art: An Affair for Alzheimer's!" in Rockford, IL.It's

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-19169540166618808802010-03-19T23:20:00.003-05:002010-03-19T23:48:43.644-05:00

My latest acrylic painting is 30" x 24" inches. It's my largest painting on canvas and I haven't given it a title yet. The inspiration is our Prairie Fire Crab Apple Tree. We'll be seeing its glorious color through these windows in about eight weeks. Since I enlarged the design so much, I projected my photograph onto the canvas and sketched some basic outlines with water soluble graphite. I

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-39373695280374279062010-03-12T02:07:00.003-06:002010-03-19T22:27:05.626-05:00

What a treat! Tonight I found out that one of my bracelets was chosen for an Etsy Treasury. (I removed the link because the treasury has expired, but you can still go shopping in my Etsy Store. www.rgrdesigns.etsy.com)

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-56563728766063272392010-03-04T12:13:00.004-06:002010-03-04T12:23:07.966-06:00

If you're a follower of this blog, you would have seen this same shot in November 2009. I painted this mural for Zen Garden Massage in Ames, IA. Sue Wolf, the owner, is hosting an open house this coming Sunday, March 7th, from 2 - 4.Zen Garden Massage is located at street level in the tall office/residential building on Lynn Avenue right across the street from the Iowa State University Memorial

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-10124064385661241872010-02-10T00:11:00.004-06:002010-02-10T00:36:40.800-06:00

Could it be any plainer?This is a love affair with X's & O's! Have you visited the Green Pepper Street Team yet? Take this link to the site where you can link to other artists who are participating in the challenge. Their names are on the left side column. As you can tell by the post title, this is my second entry. I worked this journal spread during the same sessions as the previous post. It's

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-1369535114909911242010-02-09T19:40:00.006-06:002010-02-09T20:23:05.481-06:00

X & OA great motif for creative play...Michelle Ward, leader extraordinaire of the Green Pepper Street Team has challenged us once again. After you're done reading this post, why don't you go here and play along?Let it be a Valentine to yourself!Just a reminder, click on images to enlarge, then hit your browser's back button to return to the post.I'm a big fan of the X & O, and have a small

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-35669767646508479632010-02-06T22:17:00.005-06:002010-02-06T23:15:15.724-06:00

When I started painting, I was overwhelmed by all the color choices. I took a water color class with excellent instruction where I learned a lot of techniques. The mystery of color choice was a non-issue because the instructor suggested the colors to use for our projects.I picked up just enough information about the pigments to know that some would be opaque and others transparent. I couldn't mix

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-79327785160691091632010-02-05T12:54:00.003-06:002010-02-06T00:58:35.769-06:00

I've been trying to renew my stash of greeting cards this past month. In the past year I've discovered some very inspiring blogs that feature stamping and card making. I find the techniques cross over very well to my visual journaling as well.More recently I discovered the Happy Heart Studio Blog. Nancy is having a drawing for the newest Hero Arts catalog which was signed by the artists at the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-1069881032440514582010-02-02T14:45:00.009-06:002010-02-03T15:42:54.679-06:00

How about a hint of flying over a tropical archipelago?I love images of turquoise water. Even more, I love being in water.Textures excite me.Iridescent, interference and metallic paints are fun.I am inspired by the beauty God created in this world.These come together when I make my art.I previously posted this painting here. More glazes of interference green and phthalo blue were added to the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-41416809484319424092010-01-30T22:35:00.003-06:002010-01-30T22:54:17.195-06:00

Today I received the great news that I have been selected to be one of 50 artists who will create our art on site for Unforgettable Art, an annual fundraiser for Alzheimer's. Ever since I learned of this event from fellow artist and blogger, Janet Nelson, I have been interested in participating. Janet will be participating again this year and I'm looking forward to meeting her.Alzheimer's Disease

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-46531074159738806982010-01-30T18:22:00.005-06:002010-01-30T19:19:42.529-06:00

I was waiting for the painting to dry on a couple of WIPs and decided to check out a few blogs. Michele Ward posted a reminder for the latest Green Pepper Press Crusade and gave this link to make virtual snowflakes. In the past, I've made virtual snowflakes at another site and it can be addicting...so..... Just one snowflake today. And since I'd just been to Michele's site and we both love XOXO,

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-63765671434017043592010-01-26T16:38:00.004-06:002010-01-26T16:58:03.201-06:00

I'll start with a couple close-ups of a WIP (work-in-progress) using acrylic paint and Liquitex fiber gel on illustration board.I really like the way these close-ups look. But I'm not as excited about the entire piece. I have some ideas, but pondering... Continue to the bottom of this post to see the entire painting. I've been playing with more paper tiles in my journal. These were punched from

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-75502584724380070732010-01-20T15:48:00.007-06:002010-01-20T16:32:48.702-06:00

Last night the wind came and blew all the lovely frost from the trees and later a freezing rain pelted the landscape. Our neighbor's tree is sagging under the weight of ice. (Click on pictures to enlarge them.) What a difference a couple of days makes. This is the ash tree in our front yard today. There is a creepy cracking noise coming from the ice coated branches. This is the same tree on

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-81722111071741849372010-01-19T16:35:00.006-06:002010-01-19T17:09:56.453-06:00

Journal page in progress. These "tiles" were punched from a 4x6 card that I used to experiment with this color scheme. I had tucked the card into the back of my journal. Last night I was inspired to use a 1-1/4" punch to make tiles. I found this already prepped page in my journal with a compatible color scheme.This spread had been prepped with left over green and a bit of burnt sienna some time

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-35426607490853221462010-01-19T15:47:00.004-06:002010-01-19T16:09:13.616-06:00

This is what happens after 2 days of fog, virtually no wind, and temperatures in the 20's.I love this scene that I can see from our dining room that I use as my art studio. We placed finch feeders in the near flower bed. A large hopper style feeder is hanging in the Prairie Fire crab apple tree along with a smaller wire feeder. The junkos appear to enjoy the lilac hedge and the drift of snow

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-27074253054096741862010-01-07T21:59:00.005-06:002010-01-07T23:57:41.915-06:00

Michele Ward has given a new challenge with the GPP Crusade No. 36. Read about it here. Last month I prepared watercolor paper journal pages inspired by Teesha Moore. Check out her fun videos. When Michele suggested we make snowflakes to use as masks, I knew where I would draw my inspiration. Last fall I added "The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils" by Kanako Yaguchi to my personal library. Even

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-69204648340531078632010-01-05T17:06:00.004-06:002010-01-05T17:19:31.149-06:00

Last Spring Mom discovered an antique oval frame complete with curved glass. I promised to paint something for her to go in it. This is what the completed painting looks like.I took inspiration from a nearby lake where I find retreat. Using some reference shots of the local lake and my imagination, I sketched the scene and began the painting process working on illustration board that I prepared

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-84569025592525072712009-12-31T19:28:00.000-06:002009-12-31T19:30:07.340-06:00

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-2992386827396588272009-12-09T10:23:00.004-06:002009-12-09T10:36:49.336-06:00

You may have been following the current blizzard on the Weather Channel, but there is nothing like living through it... the sound of the wind howling, the furnace running more frequently to keep the house warm. I'm wearing wool socks with warm shoes and have cuddle duds on under my jeans. Our house is pretty tight with the new windows and siding we installed in 2008. But it's still chilly. Could

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-41263282101849652812009-12-05T20:41:00.002-06:002009-12-05T21:16:52.125-06:00

Yesterday a good friend helped me install my new art exhibit. There are now 38 of my works on display at the Fisher Community Center's auditorium in Marshalltown, Iowa. They will be up until January 5, 2010.My exhibit is being hosted by the Central Iowa Art Association. The Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce is located in the same building and can be contacted at (641)753-6645. Call ahead to be

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-10746576892947417292009-12-01T15:10:00.002-06:002009-12-01T15:24:01.716-06:00

I packed up my journal kit before heading out for our Thanksgiving travels. I hadn't worked in my "HOPE" journal for several weeks. Over the past several months, I used up odds and ends of paint from other projects to give several pages a base color.For the above page, I cut up strips from a greeting card catalog and adhered them with a glue stick as Hubby drove along the interstate. Then I

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-46998779597640004952009-12-01T14:26:00.003-06:002009-12-01T14:30:54.509-06:00

I wish I could say I saw the "A" in the sky when I was shooting this pic! As hubby drove south on I-35 last Saturday, I loved all the texture created by the clouds, so I grabbed my digital camera and hoped for the best. While reviewing my shots, I saw that I had captured jet trails that formed an "A".It was an "A" day after spending some great time with family for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-49279060438911167332009-12-01T11:01:00.003-06:002009-12-01T17:01:32.116-06:00

I found out that our local newspaper ran an article and picture on the front page publicizing my upcoming art exhibit. This is a picture Hubby took of me in late summer. The CIAA (Central Iowa Art Association) requested a photo of me with my art.Just in case you missed my earlier post, there is an opening reception this coming Friday, Dec. 4th from 5:30 - 7:30 in Marshalltown, Iowa at the Fisher

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-59402855968277747412009-11-24T16:58:00.002-06:002009-11-24T17:01:25.875-06:00

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-56573851400660758792009-11-19T23:48:00.003-06:002009-11-20T00:13:36.593-06:00

The ground below the tree and water features are the next to be painted. When Hubby took this shot last night, the work light was pointed to the left which is why the wall color is uneven from left to right.I have mentioned before that my husband is super-supportive. He even helped with this mural by removing some stray brush marks for me. First we dampen the area with water. Then we use a cotton

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-51118931184311472642009-11-19T22:55:00.004-06:002009-11-19T23:15:24.444-06:00

"INTERSECTIONS"Who? Regina Gansen RooksWhat? Art Exhibit Opening ReceptionWhere? Fisher Community Center, 709 S Center St., Marshalltown, IAWhen? Friday, December 4, 2009; 5:30 - 7:00I hope you will come if you are in the area. Thirty-four of my paintings will be on exhibit through the month of December. If you are a follower of this blog, you know I paint a variety of subjects from abstract to

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-65622728185651986382009-11-18T00:51:00.003-06:002009-11-18T01:04:19.456-06:00

I've made some progress on the mural since my last post. After contouring most of the major branches, I tried painting a few leaves. I was inspired by a Russian Olive tree growing near our nephew's dorm. Painting the leaves is relaxing to me. I was happy to find I could use a green straight from the bottle. The rest of the colors I've used so far are mixes.I also added some detail to the

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-55701091589556251572009-11-13T23:43:00.005-06:002009-11-14T23:39:13.318-06:00

Following is a peak at my latest project. I'm painting a mural in the reception area of a massage therapy business in Ames called Zen Garden.Water soluble graphite was a great choice for drawing the design on the wall. It is easily removed with a damp cloth. Most of the paint I'm using is Liquitex Soft Body. I mix it with Liquitex Matte Medium at about 50%.Stayed tuned for updates.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-38514398109626297072009-10-31T13:58:00.005-05:002009-11-03T10:06:47.573-06:00

Collage of elements from my experiments on black paper. When this Green Pepper Press challenge was announced, I was excited about the possibilities and wanted to explore ideas I have for working on black backgrounds. Earlier this summer I painted a design on black for my husband and have wanted to do more. But it's been a busy month with other priorities. I didn't know if I would get to follow

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-11672515965776471532009-10-27T16:18:00.004-05:002009-10-27T16:51:20.466-05:00

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;Let Your glory be over all the earth.Psalm 57This is the latest painting that I completed. It's been mostly done for a few weeks. I joined a critique group earlier this month and picked up a couple tips to improve the composition. After taking time to consider the ideas, I tweaked the painting a bit, added varnish coats and now it is ready to be installed in a

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-22586022920189422009-09-27T23:18:00.004-05:002009-09-28T00:16:42.242-05:00

Michelle Ward has encouraged the Green Pepper Press Street Team to share what we are learning for our latest crusade. Being a curious person, I'm always learning. There are usually art books or magazines beside my favorite chair and beside my bed.When I start a painting, I've been trying to remember to keep a record of the paints I use in a watercolor tablet. I learn what colors to mix for

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-55083444519537963072009-09-25T19:00:00.006-05:002009-09-25T19:24:01.405-05:00

Just a portion of a 16 x 20 acrylic painting in progress.This is on illustration board and I had a completely different painting in mind when I started it. Long story short, I blew the first concept and was inspired by a different idea and colors which covered up the original work very well. There are thick & thin layers of heavy body acrylic, heavy clear gel, fluid colors and airbrush paint. I

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-89891139656052139952009-09-11T20:37:00.003-05:002009-09-11T21:02:15.957-05:00

The days are getting shorter, and there are signs that it won't be long before our gardens turn brown. But for now, the last surge of glory can be found. The hydrangea shrub at my in-laws was weighed down with bundles of blooms last weekend when we were visiting.I used Photoshop Elements to alter one of the images I took. After cropping, I removed the color (making it b&W). Next I applied

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-80839211117503047952009-08-15T15:04:00.005-05:002009-08-15T15:18:41.333-05:00

My how time has flown by since my last post. In addition to working A LOT at my regular paying job, I've had some art events to celebrate. Hubby & I went to the opening reception at the Iowa State Fair's Cultural Center on Tuesday evening. It's a special time to preview the Fine Arts exhibit before the fair openned on Thursday. Awards were distributed to winners. I was pleased to find my

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-66533817087682503232009-07-28T17:02:00.005-05:002009-07-28T18:36:51.063-05:00

The above is my latest attempt at melding my scanned artwork with Photoshop Elements text and editing. I was inspired by the GPP Street Team's latest challenge. Read on for more info- In an earlier GPP Crusade, I played with circles. Lots & lots of circles.The following is acylic paint on rice paper. I like it very much, but it needs to be with something. This is a page from my visual journal

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-5408738258288530142009-07-28T11:30:00.004-05:002009-07-28T11:54:35.912-05:00

New in my Etsy shop! Check out this Black Onyx and Sterling Silver Necklace. Matching earrings are available in a separate listing.These onyx beads are interesting because they have varying amounts of opacity and translucency.I've been experimenting with some different photography props. The necklace is laid on a mirror for the shot in this post. I have mixed feelings about the image. The

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-37335590335016737822009-07-25T23:25:00.005-05:002009-07-25T23:42:42.071-05:00

As promised, I added a few items to my Etsy store today. I will be adding more this coming week.I also promised to make an announcement this week. Thanks for your reminders in the comments some of you left. I almost forgot my promise. My mind has been elsewhere this week. We said our final goodbye to a very dear friend who has gone on to Heaven. Our thoughts have been with her family.So - what

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-25095845550892403992009-07-21T23:09:00.003-05:002009-07-21T23:50:38.057-05:00

Wonderful weather and a beautiful setting.It couldn't get much bettter. My tent was right across the driveway from this pond. The wind was calm which made setting up the tent and display wall go smoothly.My sister came to help Hubby & me. She's a God-send!A trickle of people started coming first thing in the morning. There was a steady flow of people through the day.The trees made the site

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-74604378868387543402009-07-18T14:55:00.005-05:002009-07-18T15:09:18.732-05:00

Onyx, Sirated Agate and Sterling Silver Necklace These are just a few more of my new jewelry creations. I hope they are whetting your appetite for an art festival. Tomorrow (Sunday, July 19th) is THE day. I've got packing and organizing left to finish. There are paintings to insert into frames. The weather forecast is good - 70's and clear. Artist Jasper, Blackstone, Red Tiger Eye & Sterling

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-22913133150145883052009-07-15T10:35:00.003-05:002009-07-15T10:40:20.819-05:00

This is one of the newest necklaces that I created in preparation for the Linn Creek Art Fest. It has a lovely sterling silver toggle clasp in the front that doubles as a bail for this gorgeous sodalite pendant. I hope to see you at the festival on Sunday!

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-66243104343018511722009-07-11T13:01:00.004-05:002009-07-11T13:16:15.241-05:00

Poppy Jasper, Blackstone and Sterling Silver Bracelet Blue Goldstone and Sterling Silver Bracelet Ocean Jasper, Pietersite and Sterling Silver Bracelet Garnet, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver Bracelet.Just one more week until the Linn Creek Arts Festival (July 19, 2009) in Marshalltown, Iowa. I've been making new jewelry. It's been a while since I made stone bracelets. I love the variation

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-53295618868686703422009-07-03T15:46:00.004-05:002009-07-03T16:17:31.794-05:00

In the July 2, 2009 edition of USA Today was a commentary titled "A holiday message on hope and freedom" by Capt. James Key. He wrote about the importance of hope. He was surprised to find it expressed in the artwork of Haitian-born artists. Haiti has had a history of dictators and corruption. It is one of the world's poorest and least developed countries in the world. Despite these circumstances

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-51059036568380204942009-06-30T01:08:00.004-05:002009-06-30T01:44:56.600-05:00

There was a special birthday celebration at our house last week. I created this small painting for my husband.I started with the same background that I used here, but I added several more layers and more colors. The focal shape was created with a foam stamp and layers of paint. Accents and shadows were created with Stabilo water soluble pencils.It was fun to get Hubby's reaction to this piece. I

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-76946778898227382772009-06-26T00:41:00.005-05:002009-06-26T01:34:10.057-05:00

I'm finally back to painting after a long break due to a full schedule. One of my first projects was to paint this small piece for my brother and his bride. I promised them a larger painting as their wedding gift. Now that I've seen their new home, I have some ideas of what to paint.I haven't been checking out all my favorite blogs as much as usual either. I think it was good to have this break

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-75759507850984301302009-06-04T14:52:00.004-05:002009-06-04T15:19:30.054-05:00

May was a very busy month with special events and special visitors, so I've been away from this blog. Thanks to those who keep checking on me.Tonight I will join my Tuesday night painting group, Artists of the Heart, to set up our exhibit at Chocolaterie Stam in Ames, Iowa. The annual Art Walk will be held in the downtown shopping district on Friday, June 5th from 5-8 p.m. This is a great venue

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-25688671121592923222009-05-15T00:06:00.003-05:002009-05-15T00:13:21.404-05:00

I received word that I've been accepted into the Linn Creek Arts Festival to be held on Sunday, July 19, 2009 in Marshalltown, Iowa. I will have both jewelry and paintings to sell.This festival was formerly organized by the Central Iowa Art Association, but this year the Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance is organizing it. It has a new name, but is being held at the same location as

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-78154879986298688662009-05-11T00:00:00.003-05:002009-05-11T00:33:26.825-05:00

Late last month I had the opportunity to take another Golden Acrylic Workshop with Bonnie Cutts at the ART Store in Des Moines. Last year I took her acrylic skins and transfers workshop. This year we explored gels, pastes, and grounds, compared gloss with matte, fluid paint with heavy body paint. It was a blast!This is my favorite project from the day:We started the day making reference sheets

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2858014449010136968.post-24941566416248146252009-05-08T23:33:00.007-05:002009-05-14T11:03:21.969-05:00

Last Friday night my sweet Hubby wrote the previous post on this blog, because I was exhausted after too little sleep and many hours of preparations. We had traveled 150 miles to Cherokee, Iowa where we set up my first solo art exhibit at the Sanford Museum and Planetarium.There's nothing like a good night's rest to revive the body. After checking out of the motel, we headed to downtown Cherokee.

Reginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09120688958195916028noreply@blogger.com4