Welcome to the West Seattle Art Walk 2011: bin 41 July Show and Bastille Day

Welcome to the West Seattle Art Walk 2011: bin 41 July Show and Bastille Day: "ART WALK - Thursday, July 14th, art debut by local photographer PLUS Bastille Day wines from 6-9 pm. Join us for the debut showing for loca..."

My Completed Art Work Orginals as of June 2011

Here is one set of a completed collection I have done of my mixed media pieces. These little "dolls" are put together in many many layers. from penciling the doll, to coloring and shading with colored pencil and then applying to birch wood. Gesso is used in between layers to protect it. layer upon layers of fibers, glitter and embellishments really make these pieces speak to you. You can see it all right there in their eyes! The gift I give to you, through my art... The pictures do not show as much detail as you would see in person. I am currently in the process of creating prints for sale., although these originals are for sale as well. Please contact me at 253-431-2919for ordering/buying information. Commissioned pieces are always welcome! * Cheers & Enjoy *
Liisa

Daughter of Mine...

We dropped my daughter off at college over the weekend. I miss her so much it hurts. "
I hope she knows how very proud of her I am!
I wrote her a little poem...

~ Daughter of Mine ~

A daughter can be a blessing in disguise...
With the ups and downs
and turn arounds...
We can still look into each others eyes...

We share this special bond Courtney...
That will stand the test of time...

I am so proud to be your mama and...
call you a daughter of mine...

(c) Liisa Elder 2010

Fairy Jars for Purchase

Capture and treasure a fairy in these whimsical "fairy jars" that I created.
Each jar contains a fairy embellished with woodland enchantments of greens, flowers, jewels, sweet butterflies, ladybugs, bumblebees and much more! The choice is yours.
I also do special orders on themed jars of your choice. If you are interested in purchasing one for yourself or a gift simply use the Paypal button below. You may pay by credit card or your paypal account by using the button below. Please contact me with special order information. at LiisaElder@gmail.com

#1 Believe Fairy #3 Dream Fairy Pink

#4 Wish Fairy Pink

(#2 and #5 fairy jars have been sold)

Fairy Jars

#1 Believe Fairy $20.00 # 2 Wish Fairy $20.00 #3 Dream Fairy Pink $20.00 #4 Wish Fairy Pink $20.00 #5 Dream Fairy Blu $20.00 Purchase 2 Jars for $35.00 Made to Order Themed Fairy Jar $25.00

The Spring Fairy Festival!

One of my favorite time of year! With Spring comes with it the birth of everything new. From plants to animals, this is the time of year that births new life. I do a lot of cleaning and ridding the home front of clutter that was collected in our hibernation over the winter. Time to open the windows and sweep the porch and plant an inviting pot or two of flowers. The Spring Fairy Festival is being held at Green River College in Auburn WA. on April 16th 2011, which is happens to fall on my birthday this year! Yay! What a fun way to celebrate with a day filled with wonder and enchantment! Time to dust off those wings, ears, tails or whatever you desire to be and join the festivities! You can find more information here:
Spring Fairy Festival

Passing the Gift of Art to my Children

(c) Alex Elder 2011

With the day off today my youngest daughter Alex, who is now 13 was home feeling sick with flu symptoms. But, this didn't keep her from doing what she loves to do with her free time. She asked to borrow my watercolors and paper. I know she isn't done with this piece but all I can say to myself is "Wow!" I love how she can just pull images from her imagination while listening to her favorite music in the background inspiring her. I am so proud to pass on the gift of art to both of my children!

Follow me on Blogluvin

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Mixed Media With Suzi Blu: Gigi Stamp

I Love Suzi Blu! She has inspired me to live life through Art & Fur Babies!
I Love Gigi!

Get your gigi stamp at:
Unity Stamp Co. Suzi Blu

Art at the Speed of Life

My awesome Art teach Suzi Blu is featured in Pam Carrikers book
"Art at the Speed of Life."
~ Motivation and Inspiration for making Mixed media Art everyday ~
You can order it at Amazon!

Adding the Next Step - Paint to My Portraits

(Liisa Elder (c) 2011)

Here are the three pieces I am currently working on. I did the the next step end of lesson 2 last night. Adding a base color to hair, and clothing, highlighting areas with titanium white glaze, painting the eyes with metallic paint mixed with glaze.
This is all a process of building up layers and adding depth and color. Many more layers to come as I start Lesson 3 this week. This is all a process which will in the end effect give a great outcome of a truly meaningful piece.

Listening to Your Inner Voice

I decided to venture out this week out of my comfort zone. I tend to be a home body, I work from home, do my art at home etc. Since I needed to go down to the City hall building to obtain a building permit for our patio cover I noticed a new Art gallery had opened up in the same building. If you are familiar with the downtown Puyallup area, it has been greatly improved with the new City Hall building, pavilion, and library over the past few years.

As I walked by the Gallery just somehow called to me. I'm glad I decided not to pass it up and went in. Lovely works of art from sculptures, jewelry, drawings, and paintings all done by local artists. GalleryThree is a co-op gallery where an artist has an opportunity to display works of art on a contract and rate. I talked with Connie who was so charismatic and helpful. She told me of classes in town that I could take. Open studio times to work on art and mingle with other artists. Something that I need to feed my soul! I think this is why the Gallery called me into visit. I always try to listen to my inner voice, it has led me to amazing opportunities and opened doors that I may not have had the chance to explore.

I attended my first art class last night with a nude model. I was so nervous to go and almost chickened out but, with my husbands support he pushed me out the door and said "have fun!" And, you know what? I did! The teacher of the studio was super friendly and had a great sense of humor. The atmosphere was laid back and relaxing. Coffee, tea and music, how wonderful, something my soul needed, connection with others who share the same passion as I!
I truly enjoyed myself.

So, what I'm trying to say is try listening to your inner voice and step out of your comfort zone. You may be pleasantly surprised where it takes you!

Golden Goddess

Liisa Elder (C) 2011


This is another incomplete drawing of another "Goddess" I'm doing a few of these before I go to my next lesson so I have some to practice on when we add the next layer of paint. The best thing with art? You can change it anytime you want. Add, take away, erase...the "push" "pull" technique as Suzi says! Push to put things in the background, pull to bring it up...I still need to add more color and finish her hair...then this week I will be adding paint! Yay!

Art With Soul

Liisa Elder (c) 2011

Another of my many faces I'm continuing to work on, now using warm and cool colors, lots of layering with crosshatching method and building up the shading. The photo doesn't show the many colors I have used. Pinks, lavenders, greens, cream, Sienna brown, white and Tuscan red with graphite. This particular work is more dreamy and Goddess like. I am really enjoying this style of art, that really shows the soul and not necessary perfection. I will post my progress as I continue to work on these intriguing Goddess portraits.

Adding Color to Graphite Sketches

Here's looking to a very creative and productive year with my art.
As I continue to practice my shading and getting the hang of drawing pretty faces, this is just a few of the many I have been doing in my art journal. I am on my 2nd class "The Goddess & Poet", this step is not finished yet. Layering over graphite sketch with colored wax pencils in many, many layers...I will post the next step and you can see how the faces change layer after layer. We will be adding paint, more pencil, etc. Bringing the eyes and features out even more. This all takes time and is worth the end result. I am excited to see what lays in store!

Practice Makes Better!

The class I am currently enrolled in is challenging, which is good for me. I am currently struggling with shading and shadowing a more realistic face. I haven't done this since college so I feel like I am starting all over again. Every night I am diligently practicing lining up the face, with even eyes nose and lips...this is just a couple of the pages from my sketch book. I am making progress and I know I will get it. But this is a tough one...but practice makes better....not "perfect". Let's face it nobody is perfect.

Homemade Christmas Gifts

The holidays don't have to be so commercialized...go back to giving something from the heart! Every year I come up with a creative way to use what I have saved over the year. I burn allot of jar candles and with this I saved quite a few. These jars are really nice with a lid and after washing the left over wax out, I used rub on's and stickers to decorate. Filled with Christmas candy, and added ribbon. Easy peasy! Great little gifts for family, friends and neighbors. I love handmade gift to give and receive!

I love Suzi Blu's Art Classes!

Suzi Blu's Les Petit Academy

I can't tell you how much Suzi my art teacher has inspired me. With her cool way of teaching and breaking down basics and having fun with color. My first class I took was the petit dolls class and learned so much more on what being an artist meant to me.
Art doesn't have to be perfect, or realistic! It just has to be from you! For Christmas my husband signed me up for The Goddess & Poet and class and I am loving it. I love to learn new techniques and improve my art skills. I now make time to draw every day. I just want to say thank you to my muse..."Suzi" Rocks!

Inspired by this Time of Year

~ Let it Snow ~ Liisa Elder (c) 2010

This time of year I am inspired by snowmen, bundled up little ones, and the free spirit of the holidays. Enjoying the time spent indoors by the wood-stove I draw these as I would as if I was still a little girl making snowmen in the snow! Enjoy this time of year that only comes around once. I would eventually like to put together cards that everyone can enjoy!

Holiday Journaling

I sat down one night in front of our Christmas tree and just started mixed media journaling....I drew our tree, one of my dogs underneath it and just talked about what was one my mind... what one of my Christmas wishes was. I used colored pencils for the major part of it, chalk and a Le Plume scrapbook marker. This is what I usually do when everyone goes to bed. I relax and unwind working in my journal.

Holiday Christmas Card

With one of my orginal drawings I created our Family Christmas Card this year with Shutterfly!
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Blessed be ~ Liisa Elder
I found this great site: Mixed Media Monday where a new mixed media challenge is posted on the first Monday of each month that will inspire you!

Funky Christmas Pink 2010 Christmas Card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.