inside my sketchbook…

Posted on February 22, 2014 by susie carranza studio

i’ve been using my sketchbooks more and more lately, and really enjoying it. it’s part of my “create every day” goal for 2014. when days around here are so busy that i haven’t picked up a paintbrush all day, i love to sit late at night (when the rest of the familia sleeps) and draw in one of my sketchbooks.

i find myself using words and phrases so much more now, like this drawing from a couple of nights ago, “live a colorful life”. i drew it very late one night and left it to be colored in next chance i got..

…and i LOVE the results!

this work-in-progress photo was posted on my instagram page (one of my “good morning!” posts)…

i love working with colored pencils; i think they offer such great texture and layers to a piece…

like i said, i love how this came out! the flowers are a little bit different than my usual flowers, and the colors are bold and vivid – perfect for my handwritten phrase.

even my father, a man of very few words, asked me “why don’t you paint this larger and sell it?”

and i plan on doing just that, maybe on a 12 X 12 inch canvas. i am also recreating something similar on a canvas tote bag; stay tuned to see how that works out!

so – what’s in your sketchbook?

’til next time…

***

where else can you find me?

facebook

etsy

google+

lots of heart art going on!

Posted on January 30, 2014 by susie carranza studio

just wanted to share some of the heart/love inspired items i have in my Etsy shop –

and in our website Arte de Nuestro Corazon –

if you’re a creative soul, i have also been busy adding NEW items to my Etsy supply shop – my 2nd shop for destashing art & craft supplies –

i had planned on doing a blog post on what i’m currently working on – hand painting canvas tote bags, and more mixed media hearts – but my computer is giving me SO much trouble right now, especially when i’m doing any edits to my photographs. i’m hoping to get some help working out the kinks very soon…

til next time…

new items for a new year…

Posted on January 24, 2014 by susie carranza studio

i’ve been busy working on my Etsy shop! i created a “SALE” section, to which i’ll be adding certain items at reduced prices. i’ve also been creating new hand painted pieces to add to the shop, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, i’m hoping my new mixed media hearts, with inspirational words and phrases, will find new homes soon…

these hearts were inspired by the art badge i shared in my last post (2014: create every day…). i loved the art badge so much i recreated it onto a paper mache heart (excuse the photo – it’s from my phone)…

…and enjoyed that process so much i wanted to make more! i used recycled papers (tissue papers, Gelli Plate prints, junk mail envelopes, book pages, and more), acrylic paints, stamps, and miniature flowers – i love being able to reuse items i already have.

(another phone pic)….

each heart is one of a kind and available in my Etsy shop now!

2014: create every day…

Posted on January 3, 2014 by susie carranza studio

happy new year! i hope this post finds you happy and hopeful in this first week of the first month of 2014.

i wanted to share the first creative thing i’ve made this year. i’m part of a Facebook group of artists, The Studio, and the artist who created the group – April Cole – challenged us to create an art badge as a way of celebrating our one year anniversary as a group. i hadn’t participated in any of the challenges or activities so far and i signed up for this. who cared that i’d never created an art badge in my life! we were to post it on our Facebook group page on january 1st.

this is what i came up with. i covered a chipboard heart shape with a gelli print, and went at it…

…and i love it!

i chose the phrase “create every day” for my badge. i plan to place this somewhere in my work space where i can see it daily, to remind myself to really create EVERY day. even if all i can manage is a drawing in my sketchbook late at night, into the early morning hours.

CREATE. EVERY. DAY.

i’m grateful for this challenge. it made me think about what i want this year to be: creative, colorful, and full of art.

***

so, have i been creating every day? we’re three days into january, and so far, yes. if you guessed it’s late night/early morning drawings in my sketchbook – you’d be right. my days are busy right now with personal issues, but i make it a point to stay up late, pull out my Sharpies, and draw.

i have lots of plans for this year. yesterday (due to the personal issues) i decided to temporarily close both my Etsy shops. my husband (a.k.a. my shipping department!) and i need some time to focus and regroup. and just breathe! but it’s only for a short time. i have my work table going with new projects, lots of ideas jotted down in notebooks – on the first of the year i even signed up for an online course with artist Jeanne Oliver. i have lots to share and i can’t wait to get new items into the shops! (if you’d like to see what i’m up to late at night, follow me on Instagram.)

again, happy new year! and if you have a favorite word or phrase of your own, please share in the comment section!

til next time…

around here…

Posted on December 6, 2013 by susie carranza studio

i’m not in a celebrating-the-holidays mood. losing my sister in october and losing my father-in-law in february did not leave me in a party mood. our thanksgiving here was a quiet meal with my parents, my brother, and my nephew. (my husband lawrence was with his mother.) it was quiet, peaceful, and simple. we also had a small cake for my mom; that day was also her 79th birthday.

lawrence and i did visit Huntington Library again a couple of weeks ago. (read my other post about the gorgeous library and botanical gardens here.) this visit was more about just clearing our heads and getting some exercise, so i was not concerned about taking too many photographs…

(i love how lawrence’s shadow looks in this photo!)

we watched some ducks for a while…

bridge in the japanese garden…

so – not many pictures to share this time, but we enjoyed the day. we even finally had lunch in the tea room: garlic shrimp spring rolls with jasmine tea. it was delicious!

i haven’t been painting as much as i should be, but i did start up again. funny thing – even though i don’t feeling much in the holiday spirit, i have been painting ornaments for my Etsy art shop – and enjoying it!

i added a pretty metal heart charm on sheer ribbon around the birds’ necks…

if you’d like to see what i’ve been adding to my Etsy shop, please check it out – hopefully you’ll find some holiday gifts you can check off your list! ♥