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

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!

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!

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.

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.

The Queen

This piece has been something I have been working on...Not sure if its done yet.
I may go back and put some more depth into it. I used wire and beading for her wreath and lots of lots of layering of chalk, paint, stamping and embellishments!

Playing With Textures in My Journal

This is another journal entry..which I have been playing with different mediums...I really like how shabby this one turned out. Using paint or matte gel on the paper before drawing and coloring in works great. I liked the texture and how the colored pencils gave it a little rough and edgy look to it!

I'm Here For You Journal Entry

What do you love and celebrate about yourself was the theme for this art journal entry. I just played with chalk, paint, and typed out a journal entry and pasted it into the painting. This entry took a few days, because of all the layering with the chalk, paint, rub-ons, stamps, chipboard and glitter.

Capture Journal Entry

Moving into more realistic styled faces, today I made an art journal entry with "Capture the joy" as the theme. This journal entry really captured the joy I find in art. It can be messy, it doesn't have to be perfect, just simply you....I really liked how the chalk and paint turned out. I also used stamping with blue metallic and gold paint to achieve some depth.

~ I Will Catch You if You Fall ~ Journal Entry

This time I drew the girls directly into the journal. I am really enjoying the pastel chalk effect. Its almost like watercolors. The paint just brings out the charm I think. This entry is one that comes from within...I will catch you if I fall...meaning I listen to my inner child and will support her and her art. Don't be afraid to let your inner child come through in your art...This one looks like a child did it! Which in fact she did... I am a kid at heart ya know!

~ Always Dream in Vivid Color ~ Journal Entry

(Click on pictures to view larger images)

I dream in vivid color...sharing with the world the colors, shapes and sizes I see!
This was a fun entry that just flowed from my imagination!

Completed Mixed Media Self Portrait on Canvas

Here is the finished mixed media self portrait I completed today. I added some more stamping, painting, rub-ons, and jewels. The great thing about doing mixed media is that you can change it anytime you want by simply adding elements. I liked how it turned out.

Layering Effects of My Self Portrait

Continuing work on self portrait using mixed media. After drawing my self portrait I transfered it to a beige cardstock and colored and shaded with colored pencil. Painted the whites of the eyes, and teeth. I glued down the picture on a canvas that was prepared with acrylic and gesso. I tore pieces of paper and layered it letting this dry overnight.
Next I used paints and brushed over the layer to give it a glowing effect. Letting this dry completely I used more paint and stamps.
I used some embellishments with the flowers and jewels.
There are many more layers to come just showing how this process and the many steps I take to get the effect I want. I will post more pictures as I continue.