Spanish Sun with Relics & Artifacts® Ambassador Heather Thompson

November 8, 2017 David Evertson

As the sun shines and reflects off the terra cotta rooftops,
standing against the sun worn wall,
A pure beauty, a true Spanish sun with olive tone skin,

With a mysterious beauty about her,
as she stands against the Moroccan patterned earthy tones,

She emanates an enigma about her,
in the eyes of all who gazes upon her.

Note: "Spanish Sun" originally appeared in Mixed Up magazine earlier this year as part of the Creative Play feature with a full stepped out tutorial. Be sure to visit Pocketmags to learn more or sign up for a subscription.

Supplies:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Milagros
Relics & Artifacts® Helios I
Relics & Artifacts® Helios II
Apoxie Sculpt
DecoArt Media: Primary Yellow, Cadmium Orange Hue, Yellow Oxide, Burnt Umber, Carbon Black, Quinacridone Magenta, Cadmium Red Hue, Dairylide Yellow, Pyrrole Orange, Medium Grey Value 6, Paynes Grey, Tinting Base, Gesso White, Decoupage
The Crafters Workshop® Viva la Art stencil
Canvas

Jasmine the Garden Fairy with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Chrissy Colon

November 3, 2017 David Evertson

As Summer begins to bleed into Fall, I look at my darling garden fairy, Jasmine, as she sits so serenely on my shelf. I realize how fast the year has gone by and, like previous years, I did not spend nearly the amount of time outside or at the beach as I promised I would do at the start of the season. William Blake's "To Summer" seems to be an appropriate tribute to my most favorite season.

O thou who passest thro' our valleys in
Thy strength, curb thy fierce steeds, allay the heat
That flames from their large nostrils! thou, O Summer,
Oft pitched'st here thy goldent tent, and oft
Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld
With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair.

Beneath our thickest shades we oft have heard
Thy voice, when noon upon his fervid car
Rode o'er the deep of heaven; beside our springs
Sit down, and in our mossy valleys, on
Some bank beside a river clear, throw thy
Silk draperies off, and rush into the stream:
Our valleys love the Summer in his pride.

Our bards are fam'd who strike the silver wire:
Our youth are bolder than the southern swains:
Our maidens fairer in the sprightly dance:
We lack not songs, nor instruments of joy,
Nor echoes sweet, nor waters clear as heaven,
Nor laurel wreaths against the sultry heat.

I look forward to next summer where I hope to sing more, play often, and embrace Summer's sultry song.

Note: "Jasmine the Garden Fairy" was created for Mixed Up Magazine's June/July 2017 issue as part of the Creative Play feature. Visit Mixed Up Magazine on Pocketmags for the full issue which includes a step-out tutorial on how to create your own!

Supplies Used:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Retro Cafe Art Gallery Santos Doll
Retro Cafe Art Gallery Antler Cut-Outs
Apoxie Sculpt
DecoArt acrylic paint
Debbie Kerkhof of Xquizart "Hippie Chick" digital papers

Fractured Fairy Tale: Chapter 2 with Relics & Artifacts and ColoriQue

October 4, 2017 David Evertson

We continue our Fracture Fairy Tale with Ambassador Sherry Matthews as she familiarizes us with the demented stepsisters. For the previous segments, please be sure to catch on the ColoriQue blog as well as the Muse.

Cinderella had the meanest of step-sisters. You'd have to look far and wide for two nastier people. They treated her like she was their maid and took whatever they wanted of her few belongings. So it was no surprise that when the Prince's invitation to the Monster's Rock Ball arrived, the sisters began arguing over it.

"Me!" Anastasia screeched, "the Prince will LOVE me!" Drizella ripped the envelope from her hands exclaiming, "Everyone knows that I am the most beautiful in the land!" They both mocked Cinderella horribly for wanting to attend. Their torture left her in tears. Somehow, amongst the tussling, a brooch fell from a secret pocket in the envelope. The sisters assumed the jewelry was a gift from the Prince. But BOY! Were they WRONG!

Cinderella's fairy godmother had sent it. The gift was an enchanted brooch, intended to allow Cinderella's true beauty to shine through. Drizella and Anastasia, true to form, kept the brooch hidden for themselves.

On the night of the ball, Anastasia tried to pin it to her dress. Drizella was furious! She grabbed for it and tried to rip it from her sister's dress. Suddenly, they both felt faint! They promptly sat on their vanity bench, looked into the mirror, and to their horror, discovered the brooch's powers!

The sisters were now conjoined! Individually, they had half the brain, half the personality, and none of the kindness that their step sister possessed. The brooch itself was now rusted and crusty. It oozed the black of the sisters' souls.

Their dark sides were now revealed for all to see.

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Rising Spirit I
ColoriQue by Lisa Jimenez: Black Diamond, Snow Summit, Ruby Slippers, Pacific Ocean
VerDay paint set
Apoxie Sculpt
EnviroTex EasySculpt Modeling Clay
EnviroTex Jewelry Resin
DecoArt Antiquing Cream
DecoArt Modeling Paste
Liquitex Gel Medium
Nail Art Jewels
E6000
Kraft paper
Cardboard faux book box
Scrapbook paper

"Nature and Art" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson

June 14, 2017 David Evertson

As many of you know I not only create art inside, but I also create art outside. I have been gardening for as long as I have been working. I use art both inside and out as a release from the stress of work. So whether it is in the gardens or in the studio, it relaxes me. It frees me.

So for me to be able to make something I can enjoy for my gardens is a bonus. To sit in one of the many places in my gardens and enjoy the true art of nature and to see a beautiful piece of art that shimmers and shines in the patches of sunlight breaking through the leaves is a reward in itself.

Nature and Art, they go their separate ways
It seems; yet all at once they find each other.
Even I no longer am a foe to either;
Both equally attract me nowadays.

Some honest toil's required; then, phase by phase,
When diligence and wit have worked together
To tie us fast to Art with their good tether,
Nature again may set our hearts ablaze.

All culture is like this; the unfettered mind,
The boundless spirit's mere imagination,
For pure perfection's heights will strive in vain.
To achieve great things, we must be self-confined:

Mastery is revealed in limitation
And law alone can set us free again.

-Selected Poetry of Johann Wolfgang van Goethe, 'Natur und Kunst' (2005: 124-125)

I wanted to make something functional but yet stunning, a piece special for my gardens. Enjoy the process of this piece.

But with all artists, there is the idea, implementation of the idea, following through, altering the idea, and then through many other steps, set backs, and "AHA!" moments, there is the completion of the idea. It is then time to capture the completed idea so others can envision in their own eyes the true beauty and elegance of a piece.

Of course, with any creative process, getting the picture to capture its true essence is sometimes just as long, complicated, and tedious as the project itself. The things we will not do to try and get the perfect picture are few and far between. The balance between the perfect project and the perfect photo is sometimes literal!

Supplies:

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson

March 3, 2017 David Evertson

Having young children at home and the fact that they STILL think Momma is fun and "the best Momma in the world," my art is highly influenced by them. It tends to reflect on what we are actually doing around the house or in the gardens or what we seem to be watching at that given time. Also seeing that my daughter, Olivia, and I share an art room together she gives me her honest, heart warming opinion on EVERYTHING.

I mean, when she doesn't like something, she will usually give you a better way of doing it in her eyes. So when it came to the "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" piece, we were talking about how we wanted it to look and we had the movie up on the screen. Olivia was pointing out details in the walls and torches and things evolved from there until it was time to make the torches.

So with Apoxie Sculpt® in hand, (she gets to mix it up for me and then play with the left overs because I can never measure the perfect amount) I struggled, and then struggled some more, and then mom duties where calling and I had to make supper. She asked if she could help. I thought, "Why not? Let's see what the girl's got."

I was happy to see I wasn't the only one that struggled. She would manipulate and twist and turn and with much delight, the torches were done, and not by me! As proud as Olivia was of her handiwork, I said, "Well we better put them where they belong."

So to give credit where credit is due, Olivia, the little scutlper that she is, did in fact, make the beautiful torches. With some expert "Olivia guidance" of color choices, this "Best Momma in the World" finished the paint details that made the whole project seamlessly come together.

A collaboration of the minds, our rendition of "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" was completed and Olivia is one proud artist.

*Inspiration from Walt Disney's 1959 "Snow White", the main villain, "Evil Queen"

Supplies:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Star Chain Gold
Relics & Artifacts® Ostensorium
Apoxie Sculpt®
DecoArt Media Gesso
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Titanium White, Quinacridone Gold, Dioxazine Purple, Primary Cyan, Metallic Silver, Burnt Umber, Paynes Grey, Primary Yellow, Cadmium Orange Hue, Carbon Black Metallic Gold
Amazing Putty
Amazing Casting Resin
Stampin' Up! Embossing Folder
Antique Iron Frame with mirror (from Italy)
Table Salt