Miss Kitty

Friday is ''fish day'' and all Miss Kitty is thinking about  is getting her little claws on the catch of the day!! This is my entry for Mixed Media Monday

Greek parking

Athens is finally sunny again! After a week of clouds and cold temps (low 40's) it's 63 degrees today!! yay! I have to say that ever since moving here from the US, this Greek bright blue sky has changed me as an artist and as a person!! My colour palette is so much brighter than before and even though the transition period has been longer than I expected...I find myself being more positive and happier here. who cares if I still can't parallel park the stupid car! One thing about living here is that anything goes...meaning in this case that I'll just park on the sidewalk..lol which annoys Harry (my hubby) but hell..if everybody else does it..

I just don't sweat the small stuff !! I try to live life at it's fullest and enjoy the little things. I don't care about credit cards anymore. I cut them all up before I left, except for one that I use when I go back home to shop till I drop :))

The other thing I love about living here is that it's more laid back and I get to go out more often. There are hundreds of little cafes in my neighborhood. Going out for coffee is a favorite pass time here! No mater what time it is, all the cafes are full of people!

I think that my paintings reflect this changed person!!

Harry was here on his monthly visit from Libya and all I had time for,  was to finish two pages in my journal. I've been obsessed with fish lately; eating them and painting them! so this is what I made.

The Pinball Queen

May I present to you... The Pinball Queen,  my latest creation for Mixed Media Monday.

Daisy, the Shibori artist

Someone is being very bad today!! Getting tangled up in my scarves and then growling if I try to take them away!! No snackies for you today,  Miss Daisy!

Gazi

Last night I took a much needed break from painting and went to one of my favorite hangouts, Tapas Bar in Gazi.   This neighborhood  has been named Gazi primarily due to the fact that in the past there used to be a gas factory of the same name. It's full of cute little restaurants and bars and is always packed with people.

On my way there I saw a picture of Sean Connery among graffiti and it looked so much like a photo transfer on a wall. How did they do that?!

Following my dream

Yesterday I went here to discuss my upcoming show in May.They told me that I sold five paintings last month! I am soooo thrilled about this! beyond words! I was kinda nervous about painting my journals on canvas, that they would look too busy etc, but now I know I'm on the right track. Just following my dream...
Now...I need to come up with a title for my show. Any help would be appreciated :)

  I also want to thank all of you for those wonderful comments for '' The Bird Fairy ''. These comments mean so much!  I painted that in my journal and now will make a painting of this cute fairy!

New prints on Etsy

Just listed this on etsy.

Mixed Media Monday

This weeks challenge for Mixed Media Monday is  '' Wings '' and this is what I made. The Bird Fairy wearing an haute couture skirt with what else but...poodles :)

Art in progress

This is what I was working on over the weekend. I usually begin my journal pages with a diluted layer of acrylic paint, whatever colour is leftover from my paintings. I keep my journal next to me when I paint my canvases and do several pages at a time.

After I paint , I'll start adding different design elements like collage pictures, photo transfers or stamps. I love doing the transfers, although I don't always have success, I'm fascinated by them!

I recently bought neocolor crayons  and I can say that, I can't live without them! They are amazing! I do all my shading with these crayons, they are so soft! I got the big box when it was on sale at dick blick .
I add text after everything is in place and go back at a later date and write my journal.

Oh and since a lot of you have been asking about the numbers on my paintings... they are old phone numbers I used to have!  LOL !!  don't try calling them!!

Have a great day my friend :)

New York, New York

Thank you for all the comments about my work. Reading them makes me smile :)

Art supplies

I love living in Greece, except for when I need art supplies....I can't just run down the street to AC Moore, like I did back home..ughhhhh. so every time I go back to the US,  I bring back the whole store!  ohhhh  the joy of walking in the craft store! I lose control!  completely!! I savor every minute of all the hours I'm in there.

Why am I writing all this? I'm almost out of white gel pens and I'm being stingy in using them.

'' The Secret ''

My most challenging woven piece was this cape.'' The secret ''. It was a very emotional piece to create, it's story is based on a little girl's living nightmare that she had to endure for years.

It took me over one year to complete. I hand dyed over one thousand threads and after I wove the cloth, I further embellished it,  by freehand painting, embroidery and bead work!

My passion for textiles

I was very fortunate as a child to grow up surrounded by art and textiles. Both sides of my family would knit, embroider and weave their own cloth, so it was only natural of me to follow in their footsteps. I'm proud to say that I'm a fifth generation self taught weaver!

I became so obsessed with weaving and dyeing my own cloth, that I would hardly sleep! Of course there was a price to pay since weaving is one of the most labor intensive crafts and hard on ones body, that after twenty something years of weaving,  I developed and had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome... so that was part decision I had to make in taking a long break in weaving.

A few years ago I began teaching workshops on shibori, marbling and silk painting, here in Athens. I was preparing to teach a class on printing on cloth and paper and that's how I got into a new direction with my work. Instead of cloth I started experimenting on paper and canvas. So here I am!!

New prints on Etsy

Listed a couple of prints on etsy this morning. I really have to organise myself more with my shop... ugghhh

I will go over some of my techniques in my next post. Have a great Monday my friend :)

My name is Joanna and I'm addicted to Art

Ok, holidays are over, husband left for Libya this morning, and it's time to get back to the studio. I'm real anxious to get ready for my show this Spring. I plan to show small paintings and some assemblage pieces. I still need to figure that one out.

I've been painting on small canvases so far 9.5 x 11.5 and I know my gallery is going to ask me to go bigger and I'm kinda nervous abt that..what do you think?

Welcome 2010 !!

Dear friend,
I wish you a very Happy New Year, full of love, happiness, and most of all creativity!! Don't be afraid to express yourself artistically and otherwise, and let your needs be known.
My wish for this year is to grow as an artist and explore more techniques, have success in my art exhibitions

and a little trip to Milan wouldn't hurt either :)))  hint, hint...