Let It Be... 12/01/2010
 I love music. Don’t have a musical note in my body—but we have it playing at some point every day. I made many (poor) attempts at being musical myself...tried various instruments (piano, guitar, saxophone)...but my brain never could read the music. Those little black notes meant nothing to my fingers. I finally figured out I needed to abandon the idea of playing anything when my guitar teacher was obviously trying not to laugh when it took me 15 minutes to play Ode to JoyJ...Needless to say—there was nothing joyful about it. I also tried the singing thing...thought my sisters and I would be the new Dixie Chicks...(we decided on Cactus Kittens...OMGOSH!!!...That sounds like a group of naughty dancers!!) Anyway, I forgot the words to a very simple hymn while singing solo during the Christmas Eve service at my church. I never really recovered from that horrid eventJ-- but it is a pretty funny memory!!...My mom was literally screaming in a whisper the words from the middle of the church...and still told me I did greatJ...Only a mom could have loved that performance. So, listening to music is what I’m really good at;)...and I love a huge range. Phil and I have always played music we love for the kids...not a whole lot of nursery tunes or kids CDs...As long as it hasn’t got any bad words or a nasty theme, they listen...Niamh could sing Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison song word for word by age threeJ. They *love* Another One Bites the Dust...and Philly has actually requested Pat Benetar before. HAHA—that cracked me upJ... “Mom, can you put in the “hit me” song?” One group I could never get “into” was the Beatles. Phil really loves them...his dad would play their records when he was growing up. All I knew is they had really bad haircuts and spoke with English accents. Literally, before Phil, that’s all I knew of themJ...Anyway, he plays their CD a lot in the truck...and I (being the ever so quiet and kind wife;) listen to them without voicing my dislike (most of the time)...They just don’t do it for me...I know I am one of the few here, but it’s just my opinionJ. I will admit, however, I am totally stuck on Let It Be right now. It’s so beautiful, I happened to play it the other day, and have played it probably 20 times since. (I do that when I get stuck on a song...) So, I was listening to it last night while doing some artwork. I wanted to do a dancer...something different than my child characters...and ended up with this sketch.  . I don’t like it yet...but the girl’s hair was so pretty, I wanted to put some crazy long hair on another girl—and couldn’t go back to dancer chick—not yet at least (it’s good to walk away for a few days sometimesJ)...So, listening to Let It Be got me here  ...a cute little librarian-looking girl who just read a juicy romance novelJ...Funny where I end up sometimes while drawing—she’s not what I’d expect from listening to that song all night, but I’ll take herJ. She reminds me of my little blonde, pigtailed nerd all grown upJ.  This week I have had requests for two hair stylists (one being quite a sexy little hair stylist), a baker girl (who I already sketched up and love...she reminds me of the Ratatouille movie, but a little more girly and no ratsJ), and a cream soda girl (I had to sketch her up right away as well...she sounded so fun to doJ). I ended up listening to the whole Beatles CD...just kept drawing...and finished with some cute girls listening to songs about Octopuses...err, Octopi??...and Walruses...and a guy named JudeJ. So, I guess you just need to give some songs a third, fourth...even tenth try. I still wouldn’t call myself a fan; but my work time did fly by...  PeaceJ, KristaJJ 3 Comments I had a really busy day getting orders out...and this evening I’m going to devote a little time to organizing and cleaning my house, as it has a far way to go before I have Thanksgiving guests over...But after the kiddies go to bed tonight, I am looking forward to artwork. After a caotic day, it sometimes takes me a while to get settled into drawing...Like I know I have something to put on paper, but finding it in my scattere-brained head becomes a little difficult. So, I sat down for 20 minutes this afternoon and thought about what and who is really inspiring me right now... There is definitely media overload sometimes...shows on TV, links to click on, stories to read, magazines to flip through...it’s all there making its way into our thoughts and maybe even influencing our tastes, opinions, and tendencies...I thought if I tried to narrow it down to my favorite images or places to “visit”, I might have a really productive artwork session tonight. I have a computer ritual I have fallen into—the places/blogs/sites I visit everyday. I think I even do them in the same order...which is maybe a bit weird; but it is my routineJ. I like to visit blogs...and I love discovering a new one once in a while. It’s like a little gem in the cyber world. I’ve listed my “core” blogs below (the ones I’ve been devoted to for at least a year)...They tend to be slighted a little on the fashion side of things...I am a true Sartorialist fan. Phil got me his book last Christmas, and it is on my top three “I Will Never Part With This Book List.” (The other two being Wicked and my BibleJ) The blog by Promise Tangeman is more on the artsy/photographer side of the spectrum. She is beyond talented. And her hair alone inspires me (and makes me insanely jealousJ). Click on the links if you’d like...See if you agree...Blog Gems!! http://dorasfur.blogspot.com/ http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/ http://www.itlooksgoodtome.com/ http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ http://www.promisetangemanblog.com/ And, because I am a character/figure drawing girl, people can be sources of inspiration. Sometimes it’s because of a charcter they play in a movie...sometimes it’s their look...sometimes their personality. Often, it’s the combination of them all. They give me a starting point for a drawing. It isn’t them...but it’s their essence or style or attitude. So, here are my inspirations for tonight...the girls I’ve been thinking about putting on paperJ, in some form or another...  Nicole Nicole Richie...I just think she is effortlessly hippie...It’s not at all pretentious; it’sjust her. And it’s easy. I love her style and my goal for tonight is to get a really 70’s inspired girl with big sunglasses and bell bottoms on paper!  Olivia from Jerseylicious. Let me explain....hahaha...First, I know I’m 30. I know that show is not good for me in any way. But I cannot seem to get my fingers to click the right buttons to stop its automatic DVR-ing... J ...Anyway, I think she is over the top and that sometimes makes a great character. Her makeup is heavy, her outfits are loud, and she is hysterical. Those are great ingredients for artwork.  Vampire Bella Vampires. I have a desire to turn all my girls (and boys) into vampires right nowJ. I never set out being a Twilight fan...sort of got sucked into it by my daughter and sisters...but my heart does skip a beat when Edward first appears on the screen in each movieJ. (Yes, I am on Team Edward...how can there even be a choice??) Yesterday one of my Etsy customers asked me to turn her adorable daughter into a gothic vampire...AAAHHHHH!!!!! (singing thatJ) How fun is this going to be!! I googled what Bella will look like as a vampire for a little reference and found that I actually prefer her on the cold, sparkly side of the fenceJ...she is gorgeous!  Finally, Rapunzel. Niamh is talking non stop about the new Tangled movie from Disney. Truth be told...I can’t wait either!! She is EXACTLY what I envision Rapunzel looking like...She is my new favorite princess. I may have to go back to Disney World just to meet herJ. What blogs do you love?? Who do you find inspiring to simply look at??...Please shareJ...I love reading your comments!! Check back tomorrow to see my artwork inspired by a combo of Nicole Richie, Vampires, Rapunzel, and Jerseylicious!! J...LOL!! Should be interesting! XO, Krista Pretty Pink... 11/08/2010
Today was really chilly...a true brisk, fall day! And every time I looked outside, it was like looking through rose-colored sunglasses. It was the weirdest thing—overcast, but in a pinkish hue...I should get my weather National Audubon Society book out and look up what causes that effect. (I’m really sticking my neck out here—showing you just how much of a nerd I am, with a few of those types of books handy...But I do grab for them now and then;) Anyway, it was a really pretty day, if just for the crazy pink tint...But it made me think of just how much I love that color—even if I tend more on the tomboy side of the color wheelJ.   I took these pictures today...trying to get that pink captured in a photo—but my little digital camera didn’t do it justice! But the clouds do look so pretty! And some more pretty things I found today...in PINK:)...  MarthaStewart A pink kitchen...Phil would die, but it is tempting to just try it!  PinkWeddingDress Pink wedding dress...daring, but gorgeous!  VictoriasSecret Pink heels, literally! I bought these pink heeled platforms from VS recently. I have no idea where I’ll ever wear them...but they reminded me of a business in the front, party in the back ideaJ...And I couldn’t resist that combo!   FreePeople  ETSY These aren’t real cupcakes—they are sweetly packaged baby socks!! Too cuteJ  And a pretty pink pinup girl...Oh, to be that cute! Have sweet (pink) dreams!:) Krista A Sight for Tired Eyes... 11/04/2010
Just a few pretty things on a quiet Thursday night at homeJ...      ANTHRO    FREEPEOPLE  MARTHASTEWART I love this table setting for Thanksgiving. I am having—oh my goodness—almost 30 people over!!...My mom and I are getting things together (I desperately need help planning the food, as I didn’t inherit that great cook/hostess geneJ )...Deciding on colors and décor...Since we will be in the basement, where there is little natural light, I’d like to go with a cream/ neutral color scheme and little lights strung everywhere... So, gonna fall asleep tonight imagining my basement turned into a pretty thanksgiving wonderland!...Hope you enjoyed seeing the sweet images I found today...Good night <3 . Krista Inspiration for Artwork... 09/04/2010
I especially like to draw character art that is decidedly cheeky, creepy, or sweet...Pretty much everything I do falls into one of these categories. I get ideas for artwork just by moving throught the day...Like not too long ago, we were driving through town (not the super nicest part) and this sweet little girl in a white dress was standing in a doorway, leaning up against the side, looking down at her crossed barefeet...Oh my goodness...I wanted to jump out of the car and take a picture!...I have some artwork ideas stored away in this cluttered brain of mine from that day for sure:)... I'm also a huge witch fan (if you haven't been able to tell from my artwork yet;)...And as Halloween is just around the corner-- I seem to get new witch characters popping in my head everyday:D... And a new project I'm realy excited about...I'd like to do some military art, things for the soldiers kids to put on their bedroom walls and think of dad or mom...I have the first piece drawn out and just need to add color!:)...I think it's really special. My husband Phil was a marine when I married him and my brother-in-law is in the Navy training for deployment on submarines...So, I have a special spot in my heart for soldiers and their families. I'm going to donate part of every sale to a military-related charity...Just need to pick one--- there are so many great ones out there!!!! My Etsy store is sometimes populated by artwork inspired by some of my customers...They'll shoot me a note and I do try my best to accomodate everyone at some point (sometimes it takes a little while just because I get busy with orders and other projects)...I am adding a new iguana piece soon (for all the reptile people out there...of which I'm not one-- but I am excited about drawing one out...Never done that before!)...And I added a Halloween special to my shop...an 11 x 14 size print of a Witch named Kat for 7.00...She was a character described by one of my best and nicest customers!...Feel free to leave some ideas for art to be done-- Who kows, it may just appear in my shop someday!!:) Speaking of a sweet little girl in a white dress, here are some pretty images I'm thinking about using today for some inspiration...They are from last summer...Isn't Niamh (my angel;) pretty!! Have a lovely Saturday! XO, Krista    |  My name is Krista. I am an artist and this is my blog about lovely things in life that inspire me, make me laugh, and keep me a kid at heart. Enjoy!
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