Fall is Here and so are the Aliens!!

Well it's not really HERE. I know in many places fall has arrived, but here in always summer land, it has not. Miami is a great place to live if you don't want the change of seasons or you LOVE high humidity 9 months out of the year. For me it's not so great. Fall is my favorite time of the year, I love everything about it. I love the colors, the temperatures, the fashion, the holidays, the decorations and of course the food! Well enough about that-----just had to put it out there in the universe to see what becomes of it;)

Now onto the art! I'm happy to be participating in the NOT OF THIS EARTH an Extra Terrestrial Art Invasion show from October through November at Bear and Bird Gallery. Here are a few sneak peeks of my piece. She is an Alien Hybrid living in Area 51.

I love being a part of these types of shows because you have the freedom to experiment with a subject that you normally wouldn't be working in. Thanks Amanda for coming up with it!!!

As soon as the show opens I will put up her completed photo.
Have a great weekend!!!!
Rosanna

Off with their heads!!

Heads have been rolling here the past week. I have 6 varnished heads ready for their wigs, head bands and hats. I have started on the 6 body armatures this week and dyed some mohair for wigs. I'm also making a chair for one of them. Next week I should have at least 3 dolls ready for costumes.

I'm also really loving the doll for the Alien show. It's funny how you can start a project on paper with one idea and then end up going in a totally different direction once you've painted the face and looked at the eyes. That's the part I enjoy the most, seeing that little person looking back;)

By the way, while I was working I realized one of my pugs had what looked like a green bouquet in his tail. He's old and is pretty much blind but he finds ways of getting into crazy situations all of the time. He strutted around,

dropping leaves, for about an hour before he let me pull it out of his piggy tail. Of course, I had to get a pic first, he's my sweetie pie!

Have a Wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!
Rosanna

P.S. I forgot to add that I used acrylic paint to completely cover one of the heads and used water color and pastel chalks on the rest. The acrylic paint seals the paperclay and leaves an egg shell finish. I would not use this to make a realistic skin color unless I found some matte paint. The water colors are great on the paperclay as well as the pastels, just make sure to use a very light touch. Its better to keep adding little by little than to have to scrape or sand off. Good Luck!

Paperclay Face Time!

The paperclay I ordered arrived and I have been working with it all day. I really like this stuff, I can give these dolls a more painterly style versus the very realistic dolls I usually sculpt. The high humidity is a pain but I just set what I'm working on near a warm oven and let it dry that way.
So far I have 6 heads going at the same time!! These dolls will all be 14 to 19 inches tall and one of them is going to be an alien;)
Here are my works in progress, hope you enjoy

I couldn't resist trying some hair on one just to get an idea of what they will look like. Now I just have to sand them all, add some ears, a few tweaks and finishing touches.
Next step will be to test what paints and powders will achieve the right look for my dolls.
Bye for now,
Rosanna

New doll with Ankie Daanen

I was fortunate enough to spend last week with some great gals and the amazing artist Ankie Daanen!! I took part in her class from aforartistic. Ankie is such a wonderful teacher and Adele Sciortino was a wonderful host to us all.
I don't usually work in paper clay but because of the extreme heat here in Florida I will be working in this medium for the next few months.
Doll is paper clay and approx.19 inches tall.

I am so excited that I have already started on 5 other dolls as well!!
Have a wonderful weekend
Rosanna

Happy Summer, New Home and Sketches!!

After finally finishing the remodel, some of the neighbors relatives asked if we were willing to sell our little cottage gem, and we said YES!!!!
I can't believe we're moving out before we really moved in but the timing(and the price)was just so right. I realized that I really loved the challenge of making a small place as functional and homey as possible. I can see myself working more with small/tiny homes in the future.
As for right now I found a great place to rent for the next year until we decide where we want to go.

Now onto some art
Here are some quick sketches,  a few eventually get turned into paintings or dolls.

2014 has been a whirlwind year so far!!I am grateful for all of the blessings and new opportunities!!!
Thanks for stopping by
-Rosanna

P.S. I have a few things I am putting up on Etsy in the next week or so but I will share on my blog before I post it on facebook:)

Art, Moving and Remodeling on a Budget

Okay so todays post is not about my artwork but its still about being creative in your home life.
So I know I have been MIA(missing in action) for a few months here in blogland, but I assure you I'm still alive and kicking, and scratching and biting too;)
I have teaching more private students and have put some of my bigger art projects on hold.

Here's the scoop-I am in the process of downsizing like most people now a days and I was fortunate enough to find a great little place that I can afford AND in a nice neighborhood too!(Thank you God)
I will be moving in one month!!!

It is a tiny(1100sq. foot) gem in the rough, and by that I mean that the original owners haven't changed anything since 1960. Everything is in a sad state and needs some serious TLC which I will be very happy to give it. I want to save what I can but the house has to be safe and comfortable enough for a family and our pets too.

I want to create a Tropical-Cottage look. So if you want to keep up with my adventures in remodeling on a really tight budget just keep visiting me here and I will update you on the changes taking place as they happen.

Here are some before shots: This is the living room-I have to take out that antique oil heater thingamajig
and see if I can salvage the floors. They are pretty beat up and stained but I think if I darken them they will be okay. Since the wall is textured I will be making some kind of design out of paneling to hide the new sheetrock.

Here is the bathroom, its pink and grey and begging for a facelift. It's going to be all white with a grey tiled floor with some large subway tile around the tub and an ikea vanity.

 and last but not least is the kitchen, yes that linoleum will be the first thing to go along with the horrible faded wallpaper throughout the kitchen and rooms. I'm seeing a BLUE kitchen in my future!!

I will begin posting art again as soon as I get situated and creating in my new art space which has some great windows and natural light!!!

All my best,
Rosanna

Happy January 2014! Teaching and Learning

I hope everyone is having a great 2014 so far!! As artists I believe we need to constantly learn new skills so I have signed up for two amazing online classes and I can't wait to see what I learn in both of them!!
The first is Studying under the Masters with Jeanne Oliver and an amazing group of artists 
and the second is by one of the most talented pencil artists I have ever seen Marco Mazzoni
Rendering Light: Compositions With Colored Pencil
I can't wait!


And on that note-to all of my wonderful students at CraftartEdu thank you so much for choosing me as your teacher. I hope you enjoy the class as much as I enjoyed teaching it!!


Best wishes to all,
Rosanna