New blog

I'm going to be blogging over at my portfolio website - the trouble with the images I was having here are the last straw :P

Here's a link, update your bookmarks if you so desire: http://janellelile.com/new-blog/

And I think I'll try to do quick updates on instagram, it seems like a fun way to share pics when I don't have a whole lot to say about them!  I'm janellelile (so creative).

Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair

Hello all, sorry for the radio silence over here.  I've been working on some new pieces to go with the new series and applying for some art fairs for this summer!

I'll be at the Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair July 25, 26, and 27 at booth L-02.  All the info about the fair is right here. I'm on a wait list for another fair so I may or may not be there, we'll see!

I've got a new drawing that is finished, too and I wanted to try an encaustic that had a drawing transferred on top to see if it would work.

For unknown reasons the only files that are uploading correctly today are my images that are formatted for the art show application website??  Thanks Blogger! :P  So try to ignore the borders here:

It's a bit terrifying trying to melt in the drawing on the encaustic without messing any of it up…the little triangles are much easier to do.  It worked and I like the result though, so I think I'll do more like this.

merry christmas!

Hope your holiday was lovely and filled with cheer!  I have a couple of hummingbirds overwintering here and they've been delightful to have around.  I've been fretting about them on cold nights but they've been doing great and even made it through a snow storm.  The lights keep their feeder from freezing overnight.

Looking forward to 2014!

Happy Thanksgiving! And a discount for you!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Even if you don't celebrate it yourself, it's a good reminder to be thankful, I think :)

I'm so thankful for all the wonderful opportunities I've had in the past year, and all the amazing people I've met online and in person.  So to say thanks I'm having a little sale in the online shop.  Use coupon code THANKFUL13 for a 15% discount from now through Monday.  I'm also doing free gift wrapping for the hand printed accessories in the shop, example above.

Here's to a lovely and tranquil holiday season!

Fall City art fair

Heads up for the local peeps:  I'm going to be showing at the Fall City Autumn Arts Faire in (you guessed it) Fall City, WA on November 16th.  That's this Saturday!  10-4, live music, things to eat, should be a good time.

I'll be there with art, of course, and some of the hand printed accessories I've been making for those people who want some art to adorn themselves and their homes!  See you there!

new series!

 Deflect, 16x20" mixed media on paper

Pieced, 11x14" mixed media on paper

Stabilize, 11x14" mixed media on paper

These are what I've been trying to figure out for the last couple months.  There's a learning curve for how to incorporate new things and it took quite a while to figure out how I wanted to proceed.

I picked up a book at the local used book emporium about embroidery in various cultures.  The pictures are beautiful but the idea that clothing in some places was embroidered to protect the wearer really stuck with me.  I've been sort of mulling over combining stitching with figure drawings for a while and I was ready to move on from the crafter drawings.

The best way I found to embroider onto the heavy watercolor paper was to pre-punch a hole from the front (so I could see where I wanted it) and then re-poke the hole from the back so it was big enough to put the needle through easier.  I didn't really care for the look of the holes in the paper so that's why I came up with the idea of patching bits of fabric over the holes.  On 300 lb. watercolor paper the holes were sort of overwhelming the stitching.  My transfer paper works great on fabric so I thought that would make an interesting combination.  I like that using bits of fabric also gives a patchwork feel to the drawing.

I worked on all three of these at once and I think I will do them one a time in the future...that's a lot of little holes to embroider and my fingers are hurting!

new minis

That's a lot of images for some very tiny art!  

These are 4x4" minis I made to test out the addition of image transfers on fabric and embroidery thread to attach the fabric bits.

The more opaque pieces of fabric are cotton with image transfers and the sheer pieces are silk.  The silk didn't take the image transfer for some reason but if I decide I just have to have it I could always try those printable silk organza sheets.  I assume the effect would be the same.

I like how this is working on the small scale so next up will be to add it onto a larger piece.