I have been spending weeks and weeks visiting with paper dress girls and art dolls of all sorts. The studio is like a one elf (that would me be) Santa's workshop of madness. Me, making too many things at once it seems, but loving that sort of busyness.
I am beginning to finish pieces of art work (sharing 2 today), loving those last moments, when the sparkles get added, hair gets adorned and the dance comes to life…
My mixed media pieces start out with me sketching on cardstock, in pencil. As I draw, I can begin to see their colors, and the whole piece comes together in my mind's eye…
I am feeling very candy colored lately, as I shared a couple posts ago – mixed with stars, Marie Antoinette and dreams…
This piece is 16" x 20" (1.5" deep)
It is titled…
Marie Antoinette Dances at Le Théâtre De Petit Gâteau
Nothing like a cupcake theater I'd say 😉
(petit gateau is French for, little/small cake, essentially meaning cupcake)
There is nothing more difficult than photographing art (well, there are more difficult things, but you know what I mean), there is never justice done to the colors and textures and details of the original. But, I think that goes without saying, right?
I really enjoyed creating this piece, it feels so light and free, and blissful and happy to me…
Dancing her heart away…
The next piece I want to share for today was beyond challenging to photograph.
The color is a light buttery beige golden in person. Such a dreamy soothing tone…
Dancing on tiptoes through dreamwaves…
Little gold beads of paint adorn her hair, as she delicately finds her way…
This piece is also 16" x 20" (1.5" deep)
It is titled –
The Star Girl Follows her Dreams.
I think there is a star girl in every one of us gals. A part of us that wants to soar into the most beautiful places our mind's eye holds for us, and make it reality…
All of my paper dresses to date, are made out of vintage dictionary pages. I have found that, the older the pages, the more I love working with the texture…
Billowing through clouds and stars…
The bottom of the painting has a paper lace ribbon that I painted matte gold, and adhered to the canvas. Over the ribbon I adhered a layer of mica flakes, and then a thin layer of iridescent fairy sparkles…
Depending on what angle you look at, you can either see paper lace details, or extra glimmering sparklies…
Some stars have metallic pink fairy sparkles on them, others (the silver ones) are coated in silver german glass glitter. Which over time, gets a gorgeous bronze patina.
Both of these pieces are now in my online shop.
Elves are firing and I wait impatiently for goodies from UPS (I am his last stop of the day). All the while, a turkey defrosts and pumpkins bake. We are staying here for Thanksgiving, so I'll be around, catching up on painting, guitars, friends.
Yumm!
See you beyond soon!
(can't wait to share what UPS is bringing)
Love, Vanessa
ps: I fell out of a hamock today (the old tree straps fell apart like cotton after 10 years), hit my head, bounced on my bum, bit my tongue. Point is, extra tooshie padding is good, so make sure you eat lots of yummy stuff. You want to bounce in case you fall out of a hammock, don't you? Main reason to fill up on goodies right away, so important! Tee hee 😉
Dearest V, So glad you weren’t seriously injured! (Luckily I can bounce too). 🙂 If we weren’t buying a house, the beautiful Star Girl would come to live in Amsterdam! Gorgeous work, as always, my friend. Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you and Mr. Lovee! xoxox
Beautiful dancing girls. I especially like the second girl with all her glittery stars. Beautiful! Hope you are not too bruised after the hammock let you down!
You might like these.
http://herzensart.blogspot.com/2011/11/bead-heads_18.html
Mini Marie Antoinettes! x
I will take that last request as an order. I vow to eat an extra piece of pie so I don’t hurt myself – even though I don’t own a hammock.
Hugs and happy turkey day,
Lisa
Your paintings are beautiful my friend…I have to share with you that I fell out of a hammock when I was 12 and broke my collarbone – ouch!!!
Absolutely starry-licious creations!
I am so sorry you had an accident with your hammock…knocks to the body tend to upset ones constitution! And you with your vertigo…hears sending wishes for no problems!
I will gladly take your advice on an extra smackeral of sumthin’!
Darling V,
I am literally swooning right now. When I saw that first painting, le theatre de petit gateau, I was beyond thrilled. I take French as one of my high school electives, and I LOVE anything French related. I didn’t even need the translation that you so helpfully provided! Astounding, don’t you think?
In addition, I am a GIGANTIC cupcake fan. In fact, I want to start my own cupcake business one day, which I will call: Jessicakes. (My mom came up with it, and I thought it was a clever play on words.)
Point is, you should keep an eye on me because I will probably be purchasing either the original or a print of the cupcake theater ballerina. (Or enthusiastically encouraging my parents to get it for me as a Christmas gift). TEEHEEEE!!
That isn’t to say that your other painting isn’t lovely. It is. It most certainly is!!! I love it so much, and I love your artwork in general. So creative and magical and whimsical and…if I could have that hanging in my room, and wake up to it everyday, and close my eyes and see that beautiful ballerina dancing in a cupcake theater, I would be set for life. What more do you need?
And I also like your advice about filling up with holiday goodies for protection. That definitely makes me feel less guilty about drinking that gingerbread latte…but I would have drunk it anyway, despite my guilty feelings, teehee 🙂
Have fun baking up a storm and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jessica xx
A Woodland Fantasy
P.S. And over in my neck of the woods, I have officially figured out how to create a sidebar and post pictures on it, so I have the invitation for my Christmas Tea on December 10 all set up! If you are interested, pop on over to http://www.awoodlandfantasy.blogspot.com for details and how to participate! I hope to see you soon! 🙂
these are my favorite pieces that you have created yet! excellent work
I am so glad you weren’t injured in your fall, dear Vanessa. Thank you for sharing these stunning pieces of art. I am so drawn to their beauty and movement. I most especially love the second girl. I hope that you and yours have a most lovely Thanksgiving. We will be headed to our parents – I am bringing cranberry compote and cranberry cornbread. xoxo
Your artwork is amazing. I love your posts too. You are truly what a blog is all about! Love your work!
Oh they are beautiful! Someday, when I have a real job and so have actual money I am going to commission a painting from you, you just wait and see! I am thinking some paper dress/tea related loveliness. I will definitely be preparing for hammock falls this thanksgiving! haha. Have a wonderful holiday!
A cozy Thanksgiving at home with your boys…a bruised bum…and pie…
Sounds just right!
These girls are amazing…as are you 😉
These two ladies are just beyond gorgeous! I’m in love! =D
I promise to eat lots of tasty goodies so as to maintain my plushyness. =3
Hope you’re alright after your tumble. Have tons of fun staying in this Thanksgiving. ^-^
XOXO
Beautiful work!
Don’t fall!
Good morning Vanessa! I have gotten to catch up on your recent posts this morning——-lots of “lovely” going on here! Very nice thoughts about being connected/making friends via the Internet, and if you’ve been to my own site this fall, you know how I love making ballerinas——–and French things : ) Your dancing ladies are beautiful—–and dreamy. Love your clay work too!
Glad to be connected with you and your cozy spot there, from here (where it’s presently SNOWING! First flake storm of the season—yippee!!)
Love, Kim
Bonne Nuit Designs art dolls, puppets, and miniature worlds
Oh, I was too late to snap up Marie! Will you be offering her as a print or postcard set? *fingers crossed*
So Beautiful….like a dream! xo
Oh Vanessa they are both so beautiful…especially love ‘Marie Antoinette Dances at Le Théâtre De Petit Gâteau’ and of course they are both sold already…you go girl! One day I’ll snag an original 😉 Love to hear that you have elves in the works…my three have been asking for a new friend, tee hee.
Jamie
p.s. so glad you made it through the hammock attacking you 😉
Your art is very beautiful, sister. You are a very talented person… you know? Some people take art classes hoping to become a great artist, and you were born with the talent!
These are both so charming and magical! I hope you’re okay after your fall!
I hope you are OK after your fall, bumping your head and all. Not fun.
And your lovely collage ladies are already magically out of your shop! No surprise there!
They are so beautiful and divine, my favorite art media you work so wonderfully in.
Have a very, lovely Thanksgiving!
Miss Teresa
I will incorporate your art here in my custom made photo album. I hope it would be a great one. Thanks for sharing these love pieces of art.
Happy Thanksgiving! :”)
Miss Vanessa…mon ami! It has been too long…I’ve been traveling the Continent, malaria here, dysentery there…sigh, you must forgive me. 😉
Your work is as always absolutely beautiful! I am sooo in love with “The Star Girl Follows Her Dreams”!
I am fortunate though, when I go to sleep at night the last thing I see is “Cupid’s Revenge” (the original) this is also the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. And so you are never far from my thoughts even if I have become terrible at saying so (malaria…nasty stuff).
I hope you have a VERY Happy Thanksgiving my friend! <3
Vanessa, The Star Girl Follows Her Dreams looks just like my kidling who is a dancer and a dreamer. I went to your store but didn’t see her. Did you already sell it? Will you have prints if you did? It was so special to see this painting and the first thing that came to mind was my girl. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. You really help us all to stop the madness and dream!
Gorgeous artwork, as always!