EBAY Store Sale!

Everything is on sale!!

My Vision Saga Continues...

Today, I had my follow up appointment for my contacts... and I had some complaints ready. I actually liked the contacts, they were comfortable most of the the time and didn't bother me to have in my eye. I liked not having to wear glasses and the absence of reflections on the lenses. But the most important thing was lacking. I couldn't see all that much better, which was the whole point. Same thing with my new glasses too. So anyway, I told the doctor all this, and she's a different one than I had the first time. After doing some testing, it was concluded that the original prescription wasn't right (which I'd basically figured out myself) but she thinks that I have a slight astigmatism in my right eye. This would really explain a lot since sometimes I thought that the new prescription was okay, and then other times it seemed blurry or out of focus.

Unfortunately, they didn't have the new prescription in stock and had to order it. So I have to wait another week to possibly see any better. I'm just hoping that I won't get charged anything to get my glasses redone with the new prescription. I mean, it isn't my fault that it was wrong the first time. I'm quite irritated with the whole thing by now. Thankfully my eyes aren't so bad that I can't do anything without my glasses, but they do feel strained quickly and I get headaches especially if I try reading without them (one of my favorite things to do!). :( I feel bad, though, because I'm not getting a whole lot of new work done. I'm working on a commission (slowly) and I want to start a Halloween themed painting soon after I'm done. I have a neat idea for that! I even have a little concept sketch done for it. :)

I did manage to finish a necklace a couple days ago! It matches the black bracelet I made before. And this one is for SALE! :) It is available in my Etsy shop HERE! I'm planning to make another bracelet to sell too eventually. It is a fun new hobby of mine! It becomes kind of addicting!

Oh, and I have 2 poster size prints for auction on ebay! They are of "The Secret Temple" and "Darkest Night"! They only have 2 days left though. Sorry for the late notice! Check those out HERE. They start at $9.99 and have free shipping! :)

I also recently wrote a little tutorial about watercolor textures. You can view the tutorial on my website. It feature a few ways of creating texture that aren't mentioned quite as often as some others and are a little more controllable. I hope some may find it helpful!

Two Artbooks for Auction

I have two slightly cosmetically challenged copies of my artbook for auction on ebay! They each have minor flaws, that are described in detail in the auctions, and are starting at more than half their normal price! View the auctions HERE. They are the two under $40.

In other news, I got my new scanner today and it works wonderfully and is super fast! So I'm very happy with that. I got a Canon 8800F.

I also got a trial pair of contacts and one of my new pairs of glasses (the other wasn't in yet). I'm having a bit of trouble adjusting to my new prescriptions. I got a terrible headache yesterday from switching from my glasses to my contacts; the kind of headache that feels like a nail is being driven into your skull. Today has been a little better with the contacts. I think I may be starting to get used to them. I'm getting the hang of getting them in an out of my eyes too, which I only really had trouble with the first day. I have a follow up appointment on Saturday, so I hope that I've adjusted more by then. Otherwise, maybe the prescription isn't right.

Damn Scanner!

My damn scanner is dying! With my latest painting, I noticed when I scanned it that there is a vertical stripe that runs along the side of the scan. Fortunately, I managed to get it scanned alright by setting the painting to the right of where the stripe usually appears, but that basically cuts a third of my scanner bed off. I don't what to have to do that every time, so I'm afraid that I'm going to have to buy a new scanner. This is the same thing that forced me to buy a new one the last time. I think I've had this scanner for 4 or 5 years, but I have used it a lot! And of course this had to happen the same week that I had to pay nearly $300 for new eyeglasses and contacts. Nice. :(

Another Ruined Cravat -- Finished!

I finally finished it! His shirt ironically took the longest of everything. Hope you like it! :)

Watercolor, white goauche and colored pencil. 9 x 12"

Prints are available on my website. :)

Check out the details below:

Grape Twist Bracelet

I've made another bracelet! This one is a gift for my mom. I was originally going to give her the "Rose Garden" one I made, but I ended up wearing it myself. lol :) The crystal charms at the end of the dangles are actually the same color even though they didn't seem to want to photograph that way. ;)

I'm getting really close to being done with my painting (Another Ruined Cravat). I haven't taken anymore progress pics though. His shirt is taking a while to paint! It never really occurred to me that it would, but I have to build up the dark shadows and it's not going fast. I should have it done this week sometime though! The whole painting, that is, not just his shirt. ;)

I have an appointment on Monday to get my eyes examined. I need some new glasses. Actually I'm going to get contacts this time, because I hate wearing glasses. Not really for vanity reasons, I just really find them bothersome at times. It is definitely time that I went though. I got my glasses I'm wearing now when I was in high school still, and I graduated in 2002! lol

2010 Calendar!

This is my calendar for next year! It is my favorite that I've made so far! It's a full-color spiral-bound 2010 Calendar featuring 12 of my fantasy/gothic paintings (actually 14 with "The Storms Series" for one month)!!

Comes in 3 sizes: small, standard, and HUGE (which I know personally looks fantastic!) Photos of my huge version HERE.

This beautiful quality calendar can be purchased from MY ZAZZLE SHOP

Another Ruined Cravat -- Even More Progress

I've gotten quite a bit more done on this painting! I'm liking it again! ;) Sorry in advance for the terrible photos!

<= In these first two, I painted the woman in the background, and I painted in the wallpaper pattern.



In these next two, I detailed the bed curtains, which look brighter than in these terrible photos. And in the last one, I began painting the vampire (the most fun part)! I got his face mostly done and his hands started.

"Another Ruined Cravat" -- More Progress

I've gotten some more background work done on this the last couple of days. I hate when I have to stop working on things for commissions (or any other reason). It takes me a little while to get back into working on the original painting I was working on. If I were a faster painter, I'd try to juggle working on them both at the same time, but I just don't work that way. My focus is usually on one thing at a time. But I'm starting to get some excitement back for this painting. I had such a vision for it at first that the break from it kind of ruined it for me. I think once I get more of the actual detail in, I'll be more motivated about it again.

<= Just laying in some of the basic colors.

In this next picture I went a little crazy while darkening the background and decided to darken in the entire bed curtains/floor area, with the intention of using colored pencil over it later. The entire curtains isn't quite as black as it looks in the photo. I'm still planning on making it green. After I did the play-coloring in Photoshop, I just can't see them any other way now. I think this will also help me get the room as dark as I want it too be. :)

The Secret Door - ACEO

This is an ACEO trade I did with ScarletGothica. You can see the beautiful one she did for me HERE.

Watercolor and white goauche. 2.5 x 3.5"

Limited Edition ACEO prints available on my website HERE.