BetterAfter.net feature and Halloween

 I'm so excited to be featured on BetterAfter.net today! I made this coffin to display a bunch of apothecary bottles that I made this year. I used cardboard and foamcore, masking tape and hot glue. It's actually quite sturdy. I decoupaged some pages out of some thrift store books that I got to make spell books with inside of the shelves and of course painted the whole thing.

 I also made this Halloween grandfather clock the same way.

I am not posting enough on this blog, but again I am really going to put in more time here. I love all my friends out in blogger land! I do post more on my Instagram account: KelleySmithArt @kelleysmithart so please follow me there. I have been doing a couple of giveaways' for the Halloween season and will do more for the other Holidays and in-between on Instagram.

Happy Spooky Month!!!

The Mystry Thrif Off Reveal

    Thank you BetterAfter for inviting me to repurpose this crazy ceramic head for "The Mystery Thrift Off"! But oh the frustration when my plan of attack had to change when after I made a "crown" out of 2 part epoxy on the top of the head to hold a platter that I had drilled holes all around to hang jewels from and in 2 minutes, I knocked the head of the counter accidentally which cracked and broke it and then I picked up the platter at a weak spot and broke a piece off  just by picking it up. (sorry for the longest running sentence ever)
   For a minute, I had wished it had shattered :(   So I made a vase out of the head instead. Plan B worked out ok.  :)
 

The Mystery Thrift Off sponsored by BetterAfter.net

I'm so excited to have been chosen to participate in betterafter.net 's Mystery Thrift Off!
  I went out to my front porch on Saturday and found this box. Inside was this crazy hand made ceramic head!  I am supposed to alter/reinvent/repurpose this object from the Goodwill into something new. Oh man!!! But after a day and a half thinking about it (I'm still open to suggestions too) I'm looking forward to the challenge.
  I will be posting the progress here and on my Instagram account @kelleysmithart with the hashtag #themysterythiftoff . Check out Lindsey's blog Better After to see mine and other participant's progress with their items. Fun!

Portraits inspired by the artist Margaret Keane by Kelley Smith

I have been working on a "big eye" series inspired by Margaret Keane. Here is the start of my granddaughter Remi.

Here is the semi finished painting of my granddaughter Pepper. She is going to be holding a cupcake and giving it to the viewer to represent Good Works. I still have a bit more to do. These portraits are more "flat" than my usual portrait painting, but that is the charm of Margaret Keane's paintings.

and this portrait is of our granddaughter Goldie. She did not make it through labor, but she is in our family's hearts and minds every day. She has given us a renewed desire to strive to live so that we may all return again as an eternal family together in our Heavenly Father's presence. I am going to gold leaf her halo and the banner she is holding.
I'm so happy to be able to be painting again and I am thankful for this opportunity to share.

I'm Back!!!

I'm back!
  After a 2 year hiatus, I am ready to blog again. Thank you for all the warm messages that I have received in my absence. Life took my family and I through some very happy and some very sad times which I will share as we catch up. I am excited to go back to being able to spend more of my time with the glambabies and with my art!
  Life is always good even when it is hard.
and our new family motto:
  "Family means no one left behind or forgotten"   love, Kelley