Mixed Media Monday

Once in a Boo Moon 24" X 30" acrylic mixed media on canvas

Meet Boo, the subject of the painting I made as a gift for my sister-and brother-in-law Mary Ann and Don. In the last few years we've begun to exchange handmade presents at Christmas, and I just love our new custom.Mary Ann and Don are both incredibly creative and talented people. Mary Ann, a retired Naval commander, has recently become fascinated with needlework and gave me a homespun muffler, and Don, a wood-turner made me a beautiful set of wine glasses with wooden stems. Boo, their West Highland Terrier, though not artistic herself, is the perfect nonetheless, and her unfortunate encounter with a skunk this past summer inspired this painting. Pet portraits make a wonderful gift for birthdays and holidays. Contact me at www.katherinemccullen@yahoo.com for more information.

The challenge at (Mixed Media Monday) this week was to use my least favorite color in a work of art, and since I love every color, I'd have to say white is my least favorite. I just finished this painting on Christmas Eve, and, when I was putting a finish on the painting, as I brushed the varnish onto the canvas, I noticed that the white in Boo's coat and the skunk's stripe immediately began to yellow, so I had to wipe it off very quickly. The varnish was labeled as a finish for acrylic paintings, but I will not use it again. I'd love to know what you use to finish your paintings, so please let me know in your comments.

All Through the House

The Three Muses have a Home Sweet Home challenge this week, so come in all you muses, and have a cup of Christmas cheer with me!

Shhhh....Just a Peek

I can hardly wait to give this Christmas gift to someone very special. It's also my entry this week for Creative Therapy. I can't show you the complete painting yet because that would give too much away, but I'll show the whole painting on Christmas Day. I started it about a week and a half ago but couldn't much done the first few days because I was still in school. I've been getting up really early to work on it, though, while watching reruns of the first season on Dexter, and yesterday, in my haste, I had a major accident involving about 16 ounces of spilled gesso, ALL OVER my rug, furniture, face, and hair. But, unbelievably, I was able to clean it all up, and the painting is finished. So now I'm off to look for a frame. I love Christmas!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

(One Powerful Hour)




















Welcome to my home! I haven't blogged in over a week because everyone's coming to our house for the holidays this year, and I've been busy decorating. So, I thought I'd take you on a Christmas tour of my house.






















Every year my best friends and I exchange ornaments, and these beautiful Santas are the latest additions.




















The tray table in the living room holds some my favorite things: a Santa, sugared fruit, crystal, and flowers.











































The Welsh dresser in the breakfast room holds green majolica year round, and at Christmas, I add white Santas and pine boughs.





















In the red damask dining room, another dresser is filled with tranferware and fruit.

















On the staircase, Staffordshire and fresh boxwood and variegated holly decorate a black chinoiserie shelf.


















And the hunter green upstairs den is home to Nutcrackers and a tiny tree.
























I started collecting Santa Claus figures in 1985, and there are a few that I made myself in this secretary. On the top shelf, there's a bread dough Santaand a Santa in a black robe that I made, and, on the middle shelf, there's a reclining Santa with striped stockings that I made out of papier mache. (Inspire Me Thursday).


I've always loved everything about this time of year: the cooking, the carols, the lights and sparkle, but, most of all, the time celebrating the intangible gifts of friends and family. I hope that, in the coming week, wherever you are, dear blog friends, you are warm and blessed with the spirit of Christmas.

Love and joy come to you!
Alberta




for Crazy Amigos

On The Wings of Love

for Mixed Media Monday

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

for One Powerful Hour

Dreams That Came True For Me This Week:

1. Results are in, and every single one of my students passed the Georgia High School Writing Test!!!

2. Junior performance essays exams were organized and well supported.

3. I heard from my three very best friends from college on Facebook.

4. Inspiration came to town; I started 3 new paintings.

5. Life is so good.