Looking back at 2015

It has been an eventful year.

Starting with New Year's Eve a year ago. I had no idea at the time that tripping and twisting my leg would have such long lasting consequences. My knee hurt all day New Year's Day but when it stopped bothering me in a couple of days I forgot about it. Until May when I went bowling and played laser tag with my work. I'm not much of a bowler and didn't run too much at laser tag but by the time I drove home my knee was hurting just like in January. After a few days it became apparent that I was in need of a doctor. 

The doctor x-rayed the knee and said the patella was out of alignment and gave me exercises to do. Which were way too painful to complete  I could do two of them so that is what I did. Still not able to really walk I tried the doctor again and was sent for an MRI. Now they tell me I have scar tissue and there was not anything they could but give me a cortisone shot. The shot worked for exactly 3 months and I thought I was doing really well so I tried more of the exercises. That was either a mistake or the shot had worn off because by the next day I was worse then ever. Barely walking, in pain all the time. I turned 50 in June and figured it was all over and my body was shutting down I was telling people my warranty had expired. 

At this point to top things off I caught a stomach virus and didn't eat for 4 days. This became a blessing in disguise, my dehydration reduced the inflammation in my knees. Of course now I just had to figure out how to keep me knee from getting swollen again. After a lot of searching the internet I found some suppliments that have helped a lot. I still have a hard time going up and down stairs, not doing much walking has really caused a lot of muscle loss.

I have had some good things happen this year it wasn't all depressing. For my 50th birthday my best friend Amber took me on a cruise to Alaska. It was beautiful. I went with her and my cousin Amber. My doctor told me I shouldn't go but I ignored him. Here are a few photos.

when I returned home we had a little party. I felt like my birthday lasted a whole month.

Another great thing that happened was with a art piece I created. Th Utah Shakespeare Theater was doing a celebration this year to commemorate the last year in the Adams Memorial Theater. They had a juried art show originally consisting of 25 pieces. Mine was accepted. I was so excited. We drove it down just before the opening. My aunt JoAnne and I went down for the reception. It felt so good when I walked in and they asked if I was an artist. I said yes and they asked which piece I told them the one made of tickets and they told me how much they liked the piece. I priced it at $900. Calculating the cost of supplies and labor plus the festivals take. When we went over to see it I couldn't believe it had sold. I couldn't believe it, my first major art sale.  I think that is what has motivated me to continue creating this year. 

My piece before framing 

Close up

 This summer I started watching YouTube videos on art. I started following an art journal Facebook page and was posting the pieces I created on my Facebook page. This got me an invitation to teach at an Art Party. That was fun. I wasn't sure what to expect this being my first painting teaching gig. But everyone was very friendly and I think they all created great unique pieces. This whole adventure inspired my to start recording myself creating the art journal pages and by October I had started a channel. I now have 57 subscribers another exciting adventure. 

Here are a few art journal pieces from before I started recording;

I also went to Washington State this year for a family reunion. I love going up there. Some day I'm going to go when we don't have to hit all the tourist spots.

A great place for roasted artichokes in Yakima.

Mukilteo lighthouse 

The old bunk house

Exploring Fort Casey

Deception pass bridge

Coupville in the rain

For the day all the family got together I did another art activity. I think everyone that created one was happy with the outcome 

I love the foot prints on this one!

I hope that 2016 bring just as much wonderful events. Just minus the pain.

Exploring the Gelli plate

I  have started a YouTube channel under The Shelley Studio.http://youtu.be/297xq_YIaQk

 I've been painting random stuff and doing an art journal for awhile now and I finally decided it was time to video tape it. I have watched so many art videos that I felt I could do it too. Hopefully it is a successful channel. 

My first video is about using the Gelliarts Gelli plate. That thing is so much fun. I really enjoy using it. The Gelli plate is a little pricy I purchased mine on Amazon. 

I don't have much money so I am using the cheap paint. In fact that is what they recommend. The craft paint stays wet longer and that makes them easier to work with. You can find craft paint at Walmart for less than a dollar. My paints have been around for quite a while and can be a little messy to work with. 

I used stencils and bubble wrap to create the patterns.  My next video will be creating something from one of the prints I have made.

Here are a few of my prints from the video. 

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Collage

Apparently I've been on vacation from blogging. Now that summer is almost over I think I should get back on track. I have had a really great summer. Starting with a cruise in Alaska which my friend gave me for my 50th birthday.

I also invested in a Gelliarts printing plate and it has been so much fun. I've gone a little crazy making prints with it. Mostly stuff you would use for art backgrounds. I decided to start making things with these papers and here is one example.

First I selected an image. I was inspired by a crazy owl I saw on someone's business card. Here is the owl I drew. It looks nothing like the business card owl.

It is sitting on a simple painted background not created with the Gelli plate.

Then I picked the printed papers I wanted to use. They all seem pretty random don't they?

Then I cut the owl up and created the pattern peices. I did them bit by bit so I could glue the owl together correctly.

I use matte medium to put the peices together. 

I should have finished the background and then completed the owl but I like to make things harder. 

Here's my owl. I think he's adorable.

I then added visual texture to my back ground using plastic canvas.  

Then I put the owl on using matte medium.

Once it was dry I tried to create a little shading. Using a watercolor crayon in raw umber. Once I did that I created a ground using black sparingly. I put a couple dots of white to highlight and give the Owls eyes some life.  

I think it's really cute. I think now I should do a whole series of animals.

Hopefully a carousel type horse next!

Societly 6

I started submitting art to another web site. This one allows you to out it on cell phone covers and laptops. I'm very excited. Maybe some one will buy something there. I have added a link on my blog you can see it off to the right. My first painting is my Gecko. isn't he cute?

Impromptu

Yesterday we had some sad news. My nephew and his wife's baby was still born. They've been trying for so long and thought they were safe because they were past the 6 month mark. I felt moved to paint this. It's just a sketch really 

Art Journaling

Art Journaling. It's been popular lately on Pinterest and Facebook. After watching a few videos I decided to try it. I love the mixed media look. Even though some of them have the look of straight painting. I guess it takes a while to shift your thinking. I signed up for an art journal challenge and it has been a lot of fun.

This challenge was feet

This was calendar 

This was no paint brush. I used my fingers and a paper clip. 

I attempted to paint some faces. They are defiantly imperfect but I like them 

This challenge was crown.