The Fish Mobile

When I started posting fish ACEOs last week, I mentioned that I was influenced by a fish mobile hanging in my sunroom. Here are some photos of it. It was given to me years ago as a souvenir by a friend who took a tropical vacation.

The fish I'm using in my ACEOs are all cut from templates; they're not cut freehand. I like using stylized fish shapes. The repetition reinforces the idea that they're of a family and belong together.

I traced around the fish in my mobile to create my templates and then modified the shapes to be:

• easier to cut out
• good sizes to fit within the ACEOs
• recognizable as fish
• pleasing shapes

I'm influenced, too, by Matisse's paper cutouts. I've always liked them. They're cheerful and lively -- full of life and color and movement. His cutouts are playful yet powerful.

Although I don't expect my simple little fishies to be powerful, they are playful. And it's ok to be a serious artist and yet be playful.

See more fishies in my Etsy shop: http://lifeneedsart.etsy.com

Fishy in a Grotto ACEO

Like yesterday's fishes, this one seems to be happily swimming in an underwater grotto.

The fish is made from my favorite origami paper; I like how the flowers ended up on her tailfin.

The background is painted with watercolors on a piece of handmade paper. The paper has wonderful organic bit and threads running through, which absorbed or repelled the paint in ways I couldn't have planned. It all came out really well, and I'm happy with my little fishy.

This little fishy is available in my Etsy shop: http://lifeneedsart.etsy.com

And stay tuned. More fishes swimming this way...

Two Purple Fish ACEO

These two purple fish look like they're swimming in an underwater cave, don't they?

They're cut from that wonderful origami paper that I like so much. The background is acrylic paints on a heavily textured watercolor paper.

These little fishes are available in my Etsy shop: http://lifeneedsart.etsy.com.

Underwater Fish ACEO

OK, I realize that saying this fish is underwater is probably silly, but oh well.

The fish and bubbles are cut from my favorite origami paper.

The background on this card is fantastic -- it's made by crinkling up the paper, dampening it, and then layering watercolor paints on top. The creases and crinkles in the paper cause the paint to flow into all the little trenches and make wonderful patterns all on its own.

The background makes me think of water plants waving around gently in the water. What do you see?

See more photos and details in my Etsy shop: http://lifeneedsart.etsy.com .

Criss-Cross Fish ACEO

OK, here's fishy number 2! This one is definitely tropical -- bright colors and lots of patterns. The fish is cut from my favorite origami paper, and the background is painted with watercolors.

Very fun and cheerful.

You can see more details and photos in my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25634166


Stay tuned for fishy number 3 tomorrow...

Gone fishin’ !

Apparently being stuck in the house with a broken leg on a holiday weekend has a silver lining.

Since I couldn’t cut the lawn or pull the weeds or clean the gutters, I made ACEOs. I’m still enchanted with the origami paper that I’ve been using lately and wanted to try some new shapes.

I’ve done snowflakes; I’ve done flowers. What next?

Hanging in my sunroom is a mobile made of little wooden fish that someone brought me as a souvenir from a tropical vacation many years ago. Lots of brightly colored stylized fish in different sizes. Very cheerful. I just love it.

Fish…how about fish? Ok, fish it is. I did some serious (ok, fun) "fishing" and I have a whole school of fish to show you over the next couple weeks.

Oh, and a few other ACEOs yet to come. Stay tuned.

All ACEOS will be available in my Etsy shop. Here's the first, Two Little Fishies in the Deep Blue Sea:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25584260

Red Gold Hearts ACEO

Here are some wonderful little hearts! They're full of layers and textures and rich colors.

A combinatinon of acrylic paints, colored pencils, collaged papers give this ACEO a fantastic depth and richness.

For details, see the listing in my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25240235

Sunlit Reflections ACEO

The sunshine in spring is so warm and such a welcome change after the cold colors of winter. It just seems to reflect everywhere.

This card is painted with watercolors on paper. It's standard ACEO size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches, and is signed and titled on the back.

More details and photos are in my Etsy shop.

Vote for May Flowers Challenge Winner

Congratulations to SilverMade Studio, winner of the May Flowers team challenge!

Her entry, "The earth laughs in flowers, a sterling silver ring" was the winner.

See the winner and the other entries at:
http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/?p=522

Golden Flowers ACEO

Spring has arrived, no denying it! The clear blue skies and new flowers...it's all so beautiful. So much that these flowers just insisted on being painted gold so that they shine and shimmer. Well, I had to oblige.

The card is standard ACEO size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches, acrylic paint on cardstock. It is signed and titled on the back.

See more photos and details in my Etsy shop.

Hearts of Silver ACEO

Now aren't these little hearts charming? Sweet purple and pink hearts surrounded by little silver spirals. Very cute!

The card is standard ACEO size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches. It is signed and titled on the back.

See more details and photos in my Etsy shop.

Vintage Hearts ACEO - Sealed with a Kiss

Wonderful green and gold hearts are sealed with a lip print (a stamp, not mine). The background is pieces of patterned papers set side-by-side and glued in place. The border and a few details are drawn with sepia ink.

Overall, a very warm and inviting card.

The card is standard ACEO size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

See closeups and details in my Etsy shop.

Vote for May Flowers!

Cleveland Handmade is celebrating May Flowers. Come see how local artists are inspired by spring flowers and vote for your favorite:

http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/?page_id=70

My Miyabi Chiyogami Spring Flower ACEO is one of the entries. I'd be delighted if you would vote for it.

And tell your friends. :)