Pip Notes: Art and Musings By Pilar

More From The Lily

Brass and raw copper medals and crosses from Rhode Island.

 

 

 

Copper & Brass chain, filagree, and charms.

 

 

Vintage Goodness

This past Sunday I had the good fortune to kick off my domestic boots and head to

Fullerton

with my dear Kelly. There is a wonderful, little store in

Fullerton

named Gilding the Lily and it was the perfect remedy for my weary soul. Nancy, the owner of this fine establishment, has a vast array of assorted antique goodies. From filigrees the size of a pinkie nail to large garden hats from the 1920s the Lily is an enchanted playground for any lover of treasure.

Each step you take in the Lily is a pathway to riches from a by-gone era. Bolts of velvet and antique trim line the walls as crystal goblets brim with filigree and charms.

Here are a few pictures of the plunder I purchased.

 

A lonesome locket waiting to be loved.

 

The back of these buttons are just as beautiful as the front.

 

I will post more pictures tomorrow so stayed too. In the meantime, please visit Gilding The Lily's blog or website.

 

El Corozon

By all means I am not an expert in the drawing arts. However, I do like to take my pen out and sketch. One of the great joys is watching a face unfold beneath the nib. Here is a face that came to life over the last few days. His name is El Corozon-the passionate one.

The Knife, The Stick & The Brush

I am not one who religiously keeps a journal in the traditional fashion. I am one who houses my fits of hypo-graphia onto receipts which are at the bottom of my purse; take out menus; those damn flyers which always end up between my wipers and windshield when I come out of the market: in other words what is handy at the time. Perhaps, I am just disorganized, lazy or manic, which has prevented me from writing between the covers: or perhaps, I just don’t care to go back and read my entries since my scribble and scratch are often linguistic vomit.

 

 

 As for art journals, I am just as guilty. I am not organized as some folks are in that there is a special book, which collects their painterly musings. I have been encouraged to use an art journal to explore new techniques and to play.

  

 

This holiday weekend I found a desk calendar in the rubble and heap of my office, which is in the size and shape of an antique ledger. I decided to play a bit with palette knives, sticks and the ends of brushes. I am trying to let go of my inhibitions and let the process speak vs. the accuracy of the composition and the anxiety to achieve perfection.

 

 

Melissa's Journal-Page 1

For the last year I have been participating in a journal exchange with my girl, Melissa. There are no rules, no time tables, and no themes. It is kind of a where ever the spirit takes you type of a project. Here is a page I created last week using papers from India, acrylic, ink, and gel pens.

In Memoriam

 

George Carlin

1937-2008

Fruit Punch

Happy Birthday, Bear

Wishing one of my favorite guys,

a very Happy Birthday!

Inspire Me Thursday-Whimsy

Inspire Me Thursday: This week's theme is Whimsy. Be playful and imaginative with your art this week. Have fun!

Although I love whimsy, I often find I do not incorporate these elements into my artwork. For this challenge, I have to think long and hard about how I could take that creative leap and become whimsical. Images of faeries and devas filled my mind. This is my interpretation of a mushroom deva.

I created this piece through a fusion of painting and digital. I started first with the fairy creating her with colored pencils, pen & ink, and paint. I scanned the finished image and utilized photoshop filters and brushes. When I think of whimsy I think of soft colors so opted for a pink with a touch of yellow for the background. To create a woodsy feel, I used various shades of brown for brushes and enhancements. I found the most amazing photoshop brushes on Thalissa's site. She created the perfect brushes for me to convey my vision.

                                                                                             

Artsmiths One Word Challenge

Hey, there is a one word challenge over at Artsmiths, which include some amazing artwork from Angela Cartwright, Sarah Fishburn, Deb Trotter, Lelainia Lloyd, Mary Beth Shaw, Crystal Neubauer, Deryn Mentock and moi. Here is the 411 on the challenge:

Each Artsmith will choose ONE WORD that describes them. That's ONE, not two or three! *grins* They will create a piece of art to interpret or showcase that word. The word will appear somewhere in their work and they may use any medium and create their work in any size-that part is up to them! Once their piece is finished, they will post it here on the Artsmiths' blog along with an explanation of the word they chose and the piece they created.

The word I choose is enigma. To find out the reason why, go to the Artsmiths blog.