I am Super-De-Duper excited about my latest Creative Adventure!

I am in the process of putting together a new Business Plan and I am super excited.

“Every artist is an ENTREPRENEUR and every entrepreneur is an ARTIST.” – Dr. ‘E’ (Dr. Elliot McGucken). It is true, both entrepreneur and artist create. With that being said, I cannot help but start a new business adventure. If you have been following my blog for any time now, you know that I value creativity and that helping people of all abilities create art is a passion of mine. How it all unfolds is in the works. If any of this sounds interesting to you then sign up and be the first to know when my new business launches.   P.S. there will be some free art goodies once I get whole thing rolling.

join the giftjoy.org mission.

Stay tuned,

Holly

Sculpted Paper Watercolor Flower: An Art Lesson #2

A close up:

© Holly Herick Design

Full watercolor painted flower—pen used for scale.

© Holly Herick Design

Even our cat Squeaky liked it.

© Holly Herick Design

One more full size image of the flower.

© Holly Herick Design

My sculpted paper flower is more than 12 inches across. Check out the process of making this flower in my previous post. I will definitely make more of these. It was a fun process with much guess-work this time around—taking me three full days to cut, shape and build the flower. I used a bit too much watercolor paint so it took a full day for all the layers to dry. After touch up paint, a day later, I felt like it was done. I am going to show this piece on a pedestal at the Studio at Living Opportunities this March 2014 for a month. I am curious to see how it is received. If you would like to see my sculpted paper watercolor flower in person, stop by 32 South Central, Medford, Oregon on March 14, starting a 5:00. There will be a reception and some great art by artists of the Rogue Valley mixed with artist of the Studio at Living Opportunities. I hope to see you there.

ART SUPPLIES: STRATHMORE® 140 LB. COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAPER AND DR. PH. MARTIN’S HYDRUS FINE ART WATERCOLORS FROM DICKBLICK.COM.

P.S.

If you would like to join me in short weekly creative challenges, sign up by pressing the button below. My Creative Adventure friends are important to me and I will never spam you. You will get one weekly short+easy exercise to challenge your brain. Start your Creative Adventure today!

Sculpted Paper Flower: Art Lesson #1

Sculpted Paper Flower: An Art Lesson

I’m not gonna lie. I am not the first person to create a sculpted paper flower, but here is my first experience with the creative experience.

I drew rough petals on 9″ x 12″ watercolor paper—consecutively larger.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

Then, I cut out petals and stacked them from large to small.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

I cut the center base of each petal, overlapped and glued with archival glue.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

After overlapping the tabs and gluing together, the petals started to take shape.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

I started to glue the petals together.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

The flower started to take form—upside down view.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

The flower started to grow.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And grow…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And grow bigger than scissors…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And bigger than apples and oranges…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

Art supplies: Strathmore® 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and Dr. Ph. Martin’s HYDRUS Fine Art watercolors from DickBlick.com.

Now to add watercolor. stop by next week when I show you the finished colored piece.

P.S.

If you want to have your own Creative Adventure, sign up for my weekly Creative Challenge. I promise I will not spam you. I just want to share my Creative Adventures with you.

100 Flowers: #7

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #7

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if this painting reminds you of a certain flower. Also, prints and cards can be purchased through fineartamerica.com, see the link in my right column.

XOXO,
Holly

100 FLOWERS: #5

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #5

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower. Also, prints and cards can be purchased through fineartamerica, see the link in my right column.

XOXO,
Holly

100 FLOWERS: #4

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #4

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower. Also, prints and cards can be purchased through fineartamerica, see the link in my right column.

XOXO,
Holly

100 Flowers: #3

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #3

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower.

XOXO,
Holly

100 Flowers: #2

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #2

© Holly Herick Design

Watercolor of Bleeding Hearts.

XOXO,
Holly

I’m Bored: Announcing “100 Flowers”

I’m bored. As you may know, many artists get bored easily—that’s why us creative types are always trying something new. I have completed “100 faces” but I have not posted them all. I think some of you were maybe getting bored with them too? If you want to see the complete collection you will have to go to fineartamerica.com. They are not all up yet; it takes time to format the images for the site and it takes away from my painting time—just one of the issues of being a one-woman business.

Announcing “100 Flowers”

© Holly Herick

With EVERYTHING in bloom, I have been inspired to start painting 100 Flowers. This should be fun, as I love gardening. I do not intend these paintings to be realistic  but some of them may be. Usually, with my graphic design background, I like to simplify things. Here is Flower #1 which was created about two years ago—inspired from a rose called Pat Austin. This image  is also available as a print or note cards etc. at fineartamerica.com.

Most of these paintings will be inspired from my own garden; however, if you would like to submit a favorite photo from your own garden, I will consider painting it. Send photos to hollyherick@charter.net.

Follow my blog and come along on my new
creative adventure.

XOXO,
Holly

My Day Job

I get to work with the most
amazing artists each day.

The Artist at the Studio at Living Opportunities may have disabilities, but all I see is the ability to enjoy the present. I see creativity and the ability to share love. I am a lucky person to get to share my time with these people.

© Living Opportunities by Mieke Ryneal.

This month I would like to share about one of our most well-known artists: Mieke Ryneal. Mieke has been painting at the Studio at Living Opportunities for about 7 years. Everyday I watch Mieke paint in her own individual and unique style—all while happily listening and signing songs of joy on her iPod. Mieke’s ability to paint in a pointillism style is only rivaled by the masters of art history. As Mieke paints with her one-of-a-kind wooden tool she does not even touch the surface and her paint magically dances onto the canvas. It is a miracle to witness.

Working backward in time from December 2012;  I want to share with you some of her artwork. It takes Mieke three to four months at eight hours a week to complete a painting. Here is the current piece she is working on (with details) plus a couple of past pieces.

FurnARTure

Third Annual FurnARTure Auction for the Studio at Living Opportunities

Once again this year I will be donating a piece of furniture or “FurARTure” to the Studio at Living Opportunities. On October 7, 2012 at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville, Oregon from 2-5 pm, the Studio at Living Opportunities will hold the Third Annual FurARTure Auction. Artist from around the Rogue Valley will gather together and donate their art to benefit the Studio at Living Opportunities. This year the auction will include a raffle for a fabulous wine rack painting by Gabriel Lipper—including almost $2000 of wine. Anything Gabriel paints is worth tens of thousands so these raffle tickets will go fast. Raffle tickets can be purchased from me for $50 each—what a steal! (winner does not need to be present to win). Last year I painted a pre-set table which you can see below and read more about here.

© Holly Herick. FurnARTure piece 2011.

This year I am also painting a table and I am super excited about it.

© Holly Herick. In process: the paint is visibly wet in this photo.

My table design is loosely based on a zinnia flower. I have been working on it over the past month. If you are interested in bidding on this table you will have to attend the fabulously fun and feel-good event that is the Third Annual FurnARTure Auction to benefit the Studio at Living Opportunities. Tickets are $25 per person and include a bidding number, live music, appetizers, beer and wine. You can contact me for tickets or call Living Opportunities at 541.772.1503.

Poster design by Snapshot Group

During the Third Friday Artwalk in Medford on September 21, 2012 Terra Firma Home will be hosting a sneak preview of the furnARTure that will be auctioned this year.  The Third Friday Artwalk event will be from 5-7 pm at 309 East Main Street,
Medford, Oregon. Thanks Terra Firma for your support! Did you see all the other wonderful sponsors we have on the poster? Thank you Snapshot Group, Valley Immediate Care, Southern Oregon Endodontics, Cutler Investment Group LLC, Newswatch 12, Fox 26 and again, Terrra Firma.

© Holly Herick. After about seven coats of paint.

After about seven coats of paint—I think it still needs something to make it pop. It needs a little bit of the unexpected. Maybe…a little bit of purple. Did I mention that I want to keep this table? You will be prying it from my paint stained fingers at the auction. No—but really—the funds could not go to a better cause.

© Holly Herick

© Holly Herick

© Holly Herick

 

This is the most up-to-date photo of my table that I am going to show you. Did I change it up a little or not? Come to the event to find out…

I have mentioned the event—all the great art, music, food, beer, wine, and great people in a beautiful historic setting in Jacksonville, but the best reason to attend this event is to support the artists of the Studio at Living Opportunities I would love to tell you all about each one of them because each artist is so special to me. To learn more about some of the artists that attend the studio workshops weekly between 2-4pm click here. Check it out—you will be amazed. And the Studio has a facebook page so like us on facebook.

Finally got the art up on the wall.

It is the little things in life that create success.

I finally got my art up on on the wall, Here are a few photos.

Close ups

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Creative Time: Watercolor Doodles

Make time for art. So important.

5 x 7 Watercolors 4/1/2012 available for $25 each

Contact me @ hollyherick@charter.net for purchase.

“Love From Me” book now available

Dear friends, loved ones, and followers:

“Love From Me” is a book of amazing inspirational art compiled to raise money for cancer fighters. I have a page dedicated to my friend Wendy Anderson in it (p. 44). The book is now available for sale. I will not make any money from the sale of the book, my art is donated.

PLEASE follow the link to view the entire book and purchase “Love From Me.” It is a wonderful gift for people fighting the battle against cancer and a great coffee table book—truly inspirational.

“Love From Me”

The Love From Me Project is an extension of the Paws For Charity Art Book Project (pawsforcharity.blogspot.com), and is the 3rd annual Art Book Project compiled and edited by Sara Harley.

The Paws For Charity Art Book Project was started in 2009 and raised funds for breast cancer charity while celebrating the bond we feel for our pets.

This year continues with the Love From Me Project…Inspirational images donated by 61 artists and photographers from many countries. All funds raised from this project are donated to The Rose Fund, c/o the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada. This is a registered charity to help cancer patients who are facing financial difficulty as a result of dealing with their cancer treatments.
My page dedicated to Wendy:

"Love from Me" compiled by Sara Harley

If you purchase the book or at least view it online, I would love your feedback. Please come back and leave me a comment about the book—or the battle you or your loved one have fought against cancer.

New favorite blog!

Please check out this blog that I am so proud to be a part of. It is amazing that I can help people around the world through my God-given talents and connections. The “Love from Me” project is dedicated to people suffering from cancer. In this blog you will find many artist whom have dedicated their art to friends who have been through cancer. My dedication is to my friend Wendy. “Foxgloves for Wendy” was painted around the time that Wendy fought and died of breast cancer. Here is my page from the book that is being created to honor cancer sufferers.

"Love from Me" by Sara Harley

When it becomes available I will share the link so that you may purchase the book in order to support those whom have suffered in your life.

Flowering Quince Art: Artist are painting from my photo. See them all here.

A photo I took on Easter of flowering Quince is being used for Monthly Sketch Project on Ning. MSJ is just a group of artist looking for inspiration and support. Anyone is welcome to join, but you don’t even have to join to participate in my blog. I hope to add links to any participants blog’s. One of my favorite things to do in art is find how many different ways artist will interpret the same thing. Artists styles vary be the medium they use, the style they have developed, and the mood they are in at the time they created the art. Watch with me over the month to see how many people will chose to draw, sketch or paint from this photo. My goal today, among others, is to get started on a watercolor from this inspirational photo today. I will post when I am done.

If you would like to participate you can send me an email with your art image attached (please keep .jpg file size small) and I will post it on my blog. Also, you can post it to your blog and link up to mine. I am working on figuring out how that works so stay tuned for a “McLinky button”

Any level of work is acceptable. Hope to see your work.

Here is my first attempt. It still needs some detail work, shadows and washes. I might just start over, but l like to see the transformation take place. Check back later to see my reworking of the quince flowers.

This morning a worked on shading the flowers and creating more depth. It was hard to decide what approach to take. More practice and experience will definitely help. Helpful critique is always welcome, so if you have any please leave a comment. Below is after I added shading to the flowers and depth to the background.

I sure like this one by Neon Fog, nice composition and sense of light.

This one is by Eva @ To Be Determined.