I have always wanted to make one of these melted crayon paintings that you see all over pinterest and I thought it came out so good! I sprayed triple thick epoxy lacquer on top and that made the colors pop. This canvas is 24" by 8" by 2" deep and I painted the sides black.
I put it on top of the mantle above the fireplace in the kitchen next to a painting by one of my favorite artists Lee Kaster (her artwork in also at the AZ Art Alliance Gallery...fabulous stuff!) and some of my store front letters that I collect. (you really can't see the "K", but the letters represent "Dennis & Kelley Smith" Anyway, it was fun and easy. I think it will make a fun craft thing to do with the Glamchildren.
For the past few years, I have a Girlfriend Valentine Party. Each gal brings a Valentine Box, Valentines to give and a treat to share. It is such great fun to see all of the creative things that my "Gal-intines" put together for the party!
This year we had trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for "Best Valentine Box", "Best Valentines" and "Best Valentine Attire". Each year we change it up a bit...
I only got photos of about a third of my fabulous friends as I am always too busy jabbering away. I am so sorry to have left some people out of these pages, but if they will email or post their photos on facebook, I will make some more! I hope that you have a wonderful Valentines Day. XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Recently, a lot of my neighbors seem to be in some sort of tacky Christmas Decoration Extravaganza. So, to keep up with "The Jones's", I brought out my old big guns....Fabulously Tacky Inflatables! They look fun at night, but in the day time it is one big mess as you can see.
Please join me tomorrow at art reception at The Arizona Art Alliance Gallery, Sat. December 3rd, from 6 to 9pm (9011 E. Indian Bend, Scottsdale, AZ 85250). Meet famous former AZ Suns Basketball player Dick Van Arsdale, He is our guest artist and he will be there signing and selling original art and prints. I also have oil and pastel paintings, along with signed reproductions and my artsy fartsy line of "Collage Jewelry" in the gift shop. The event is free and open to the public. The Gourmet Girls are catering, so that is even more of a reason to come. Hope to see you there!
above: sweet little Pepper who just turned One year old recently and
darling Pearl who recently turned two years old. We are expecting our #15 glamchild next month and it will be a boy... no name yet, but I am sure that it will fit in with the rest of the unusual names that my children have picked for their children. It is funny how each generation thinks they are starting something new with the choice of names that they like. I know I thought I was the most clever gal on earth at the time, and now there are millions of girls named the same names as I named my daughters. LOVE those babies though, no matter what their names are! I also posted a group of portraits that I did for a dear friend on my Kelley Smith Art blog today if you are interested....
Above is Conway. His portrait was the first one I did. I had planned to paint them in oil, but then loved the preliminary drawings so much that I decided to keep them in that state. I really love to see the marks, adjustments and process of thick, thin, straight, squiggly, light and dark lines that when layered on top of one another create an image of an actual thing.
This is sweet Ava. I took her photo with the camera in my phone.
and my son-in-law Jason. He was so cute and excited to see his portrait as this was the very first one that was ever done of him. It will take a while to finish every one's portrait with all the holiday coming up AND the fact that the adults in the family want the portrait to be from a photo of them that looks "attractive". (I can't blame them, I have done two of myself lately and they are not making the cut.) I'll post all of the family portraits as the wall progresses. Thanks for letting me brag!!!!
While Xander worked on his painting, I worked on this one. A client/friend wanted a portrait of her children by the pool. The perspective I used is very popular and on trend at this time, and I think it is very cool, because even though the children's heads are not in the picture plain, you still get a feeling of their personalities from each child's stance and position. Several of my friends who saw the red primed canvas were not sure about my color choice, I explained to them that I like to "prime" the canvas with the contrasting color of the general color pallet of the scene that I plan to paint. This made them quite nervous! 
Here is how the painting ended out. It is 48" by 48". Very Big!!! 
(My daughter Brooke has babysitted that little dog and had brought him over for family dinner once and when my glamchildren saw the painting they knew who that dog was at once!) 
I then printed gold Relief Society emblems and glued them behind the heads for halos. Wa-la! "the Errand of Angels is given to Women"... Oh, and for table toppers, I bought 2 rolls of shipping wrap paper (at the $1 store) and cut out scalloped squares. That so far is the most inexpensive decor I have done for a party/meeting. 
We made these cute little sock dolls that new mothers use to comfort their babies if they are too little or sick and can not go home yet. The Mom, Dad or caregiver can place the doll inside their clothing, close to the skin and the doll will soak up their scent. The next time they visit the baby, the doll is place next to the baby to snuggle and/or prop tubes and the baby will feel the comfort and smell of their loved one. The dolls are very easy to make so I've included the instructions if you would like to make some yourself and donate to your local hospital. 
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