While my daughter was home over the holidays, I wanted to take some photographs of her in the garden. It has been a while since we did a fun photo shoot and I wanted to capture the feel of a fairy in the garden, yet be true to her spirit.
This was one of my favorite shots.
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
“The Power of Three, Fae of the Earth”
In January, I take a day to do some reflecting on the past year and to make some intentions for the new year.
I choose three words that resonate with me for my “words” for the year. I started doing this a few years ago, and I really enjoy the process. I also like to have these words to refer back to each month as they bring me back to my “path” when I get distracted with all the little details of life. 🙂
My three words are for the three areas of my life: Family, art and me.
My first word is for my family. Something I want to hold in my mind as I spend special time with them.
My second word is for my art. A word that will lead and direct me on my creative journey.
My third word is a personal word for just for me. A directional word to bring myself back to center and keep me true to myself.
My family word is “ADORE” to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor; to like or admire very much. To love intensely. Of course I love my family, but this year I want to really adore them with respect, honor and support them and their choices in life. To take time to send cards and do little things that let them know how very special they are to me.
My art word is “LISTEN.” I plan to use this word in a few ways. To really listen to my self and my inner thoughts on what I want to paint and what path I want to take with my art. I am also NOT going to listen to everyone who has an opinion about my art path and who feels the need to share it with me. Sometimes I get so caught up in what everyone else thinks I should be doing, that I get drawn away from being true to myself (and my fairies.) I’m giving myself permission to dismiss suggestions and do what I want to do.
Doesn’t that sound like fun! Of course, this is just in reference to my art, not my entire life. 🙂
Definition of Listen: to concentrate on hearing something. to take heed; pay attention. To hear what someone (Myself in this case) has said and understand that it is serious, important, or true. To give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; to wait attentively for a sound ; (Sometimes I have to wait for my thoughts to complete and re-form.)
My third and personal word is “ALTERNATIVE.” I want to remind myself that there is always an alternative path than the most followed. I want to explore alternative paths when making choices this year. There is always an alternative to the obvious, I just need to take time to think about it and not feel like I “have” to do the obvious or expected, especially if it is something I don’t want to do. Could the alternative just be “no”? Hmmm… This should make for a very interesting year. 🙂
Do you have words that you pick for the New Year or do you make traditional New Years resolutions? I would love to hear what will be inspiring you this year.
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
This is the artist trading card that I submitted for the Grumbacher ATC swap that I joined on the Grumbacher Facebook page. I ran across this ATC group when I was on their official Facebook page and thought it would be fun to join. She is a mini version of the large painting I am currently working on.
I have to admit it is challenging to work small. On my 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ card, I did some layering and worked with ink,. watercolor and colored pencil. I had a lot of fun with mixing the different mediums and doing all the layers. I used gel medium to adhere the collage layers together.
And here is the beautiful ATC I received in the mail from the swap. I just love it! The artist is Sara Branson. I think we are Fae soul sisters! 🙂
Here is a link to the page with all the ATC’s that were sent in for the swap on Facebook:
If you would like to participate in an upcoming swap, you can check the Grumbacher site on FB. You may also want to follow their page as you can win a mystery box full of art supplies. I actually just won a Monday Mystery Box and I can’t wait to receive it! Yippee!
https://www.facebook.com/Grumbacher/?fref=ts
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
I am still working on my painting, “DOE.” but I thought I would share a few pictures of my progress.
Here is the final sketch from my sketchbook. It is 8″ x 10″.
Here is my sketch enlarged on a copy machine and pieced together. I wanted to paint this one pretty big, so I bought a 24″ x 30″ gallery wrapped canvas.
Here is the canvas with the last coat of tinted gesso. I was thinking I wanted to go with a lighter background, but you will see that I changed my mind…
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And here is the painting with the main subjects blocked in.
Now I started feeling the Fall weather and began getting some darker shades worked into the painting. I always rotate my canvas around on my easel when I am painting certain parts. I especially like to paint the tips of my hair sideways. Anybody else do this when they paint or draw?
Here is the whole painting sideways on my easel. I darkened up the background and added texture that gave me the feeling of bark on a tree.
And here it is, right side up with the my progress, so far.
Hope you have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
Pansies were my favorite flower when I was a little girl. They had such large petals and wonderful rich colors. My Aunt Helen, who worked at a greenhouse, introduced me to them. She brought a large pot full of their showy blooms to set on my grandparents porch. I thought they were so pretty and instantly fell in love with them.
Pansy, A Little Girl’s First Love, Acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 20″
Now I have many favorite flowers, but pansies will always remind me of being a little girl and the first flower I discovered. Painting this pansy was such a fun walk down memory lane. The paint just flowed onto my canvas.
I hope you have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
I’ve been working on Fairy and Fawn sketches this week. I hope to get started painting them this weekend…
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
WOO HOO! I finished my bird and fairy painting today! I have had a lot of fun painting this piece. I giggled a lot when I painted the fairy and the birds next to her. After much deliberation with a few girlfriends, mom and sis, I decided on a title: “Morning Chit Chat”
We had quite a few really good titles texting back and forth, so it was pretty hard to decide. Here are a few other names I considered: “Night out on the branch,” “Rumor has it…,” “Got any gossip?,” and “Any news from the fairy realm?”
Some were pretty funny, like “I thought we owned this branch, is she paying rent?” or my mom remembered a line from a song “May the bluebird of happiness fly up your nose!” (I have to say that one gave me a whole new idea for another painting. ) 🙂
My second choice was “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Here is a picture of me finishing up the details on the fairy. Note the paint on my middle finger…it’s my “other brush” that I love to use.
Here is the painting on my easel. (Please ignore the messy studio surrounding it!)
And another view…
And here is another picture of the finished painting…
Morning Chit Chat, Acrylic on canvas, 18″ x 36.”
I would love to hear what you think of this painting and other title ideas. I finished it just in time to put in a group art show on Saturday. I also think I will make art prints since I love it so much.
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
“Excuse me, but this is our branch!” I still have quite a bit to do on this painting, but I thought I would share my progress. I have had a lot of fun with this piece and find myself giggling every time I look at the bird next to the fairy.
Life was being much too serious lately, so I decided my art needed to lighten things up. 🙂
This painting evolved from combining a group of sketches and then I drew in the branch. Once I started painting, I decided the birds should all be the same kind. I think the little fairy was thinking she would blend in with her blue hair and they wouldn’t notice her! 🙂
I was hoping to have it finished last weekend, but I have been distracted by “stuff” that has to get done! Hopefully, I will get time to finish it this weekend.
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
A fairy sketch I drew while I was traveling. It’s interesting the inspiration I get while gazing out the window of an airplane! 🙂 I named her Fawn, as she has “spots” on her cheeks.
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
Yesterday, I entered a call to artist that required a very specific size of art for the entry. So I created a collage of three of my fairy paintings for the entry.
Fae of the Earth, collage of three paintings by Janell Mithani
Have a wonderful, creative, day, Janell
janellmithani.com 
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