Artist Renee Mak

Happy Friday to all! It's been a while since I shared my works in progress  so today is the day! The flowers are still in full bloom at my studio... as are the bright colors! I'm dreaming bigger then ever... and am discovering new and exciting things each day.  I'm working towards a show to be called "Indian Summer : In Full Bloom" that will be finished next month. Old paintings are getting new life again... just like the blossoms of an  "Indian Summer" take the place of the scorched fields of July and August! I've started reading a fabulously philosophical classic  called "In Tune with the Infinite"   by Ralph Waldo Trine. This has been said to be "one of the best motivational books ever written." And who doesn't like to be motivated on to greater things, right?!? I love it and hope you will too... I'm hopping back onto the PAINT PARTY FRIDAY blog hop fille...

"...their houses were tucked neatly beneath the brightest colored flowers... allowing only shimmering light to pass through... and dazzle their days with  magical color..." xoxo {all words and artwork  protected under copyright... renee mak 2012}

Happy Saturday!  Today the studio is buzzing with excitement... at least for me!  These works in progress are finally getting stretched! As in every project, the right tools make all the difference... like a corner vice to help hold the perfectly cut corners of the stretcher bars in place...  and wood glue, a hammer and something to wipe the  extra glue... and this little baby... which is just the right size for my small hands!   It will be good to finish up these paintings in time for the first open Gallery Night   of the year in  Historic Valley Junction ... which is just one  week away! As always, I'll post WIP pics as they're available! Have a fabulous weekend... Happy Easter! xoxo

This past weekend I taught my  Fabulous Key Pendant Necklace with Vintage Jewelry! class at the studio.  I love teaching mixed media classes and always create right along with my students.  Here's the  pendant I created this weekend. I've been thinking a lot about dreams lately,  as in dreaming BIG, and so I chose the key that says "DREAMS" on it. Although vintage keys are great to use, I really like using the Tim Holtz keys from Archivers ! The keys have words engraved on them and come in a pack with several different shapes and sizes to choose from. I find my jewels at flea markets and thrift stores but you could also use vintage family jewelry and create fabulous keepsakes with sentimental value! The supplies for this  fabulous creation are simple... a key Mod Podge glitter E6000   vintage jewelry and a chain! And here's the simple skinny... (instructions) 1. Use the Mod Podge to adhere glitter to the key; allow to dry. 2.  Use E6000 to adhe...

It's time for another Blue Mondays post ... I've been spending so much time painting doodles and have,  quite frankly, gotten carried away!   The studio is a wonderful place for me to get lost... even if just for a moment. I let the brightly colored paint take me places far far away... where the sun is shining, flowers are blooming and the leaves are still on the trees! Finding and following colorful doodles is easy and extremely freeing... with no plan or expectations, I just let the paint flow! The brush and  paint carry my thoughts out onto the paper as if it's magic. Of course the color blue always appears... and is always a welcome addition to  my piece! And so... here's one more post dedicated to the fabulous color Blue... and all the wonderful places it's been showing up in my doodles this past weekend! Have a fabulously colorful Monday... and don't forget to be creative today! ~XO~

Doodles... Week Two! The second week of Traci Bautista 's Doodles Unleashed Workshop is called Spontaneous Watercolor Backgrounds ! I love this exercise! I got to randomly spread color around and then  "find the doodle" in the color! I made this simple foam stamp and added green to  my yellow and orange background. Next I used silk flowers as stencils and continued  to build up my layers. "Finding the doodle" is the most fun... Layer by layer... Color by color... And mark by mark! Now to add additional marks, letterforms and any final details until I think it's done! Stay tuned for the finished piece... and if you still haven't signed up for this FREE workshop... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! It's just soooo much fun I want to share. xoxo

Happy Holidays! From the bottom of my heart... I wish you  Peace , Love & Joy like you've never known before... today, and every day to come! xoxo Renee!

Christmas in Paris! Wouldn't it be fun to hop on a plane and spend the night in Paris... at Christmas time? We could walk the streets with a pastry and cafe au late... pretending we live there! Look at amazing light displays... Take pictures and people watch... Do a little holiday shopping... Visit fabulous landmarks... Watch the streets clear as dawn approaches... Welcome the new day... And then hop a plane back home! Wouldn't it be fun! {All photos are linked to the original posting...}

Hanging out... If there's one thing I like most about Starbucks,  it's making memories there with my kids! Of course that's always easy because my kids are so "special"... as you can see from the photo above, haha!   While we always have a great time, we also talk, make plans, dream  and sometimes even  do homework. They entertain me and anyone else who will give them attention.   Another important thing about our Starbucks time is the time and attention they get from me!  You can tell how much they love it! The only thing missing from this photo session is my oldest and leader of the clown pack... who will join us shortly over her Christmas break from FIDM.  I can hardly wait for that... my favorite Starbucks time is when we're all together! We always reconnect and have lots of fun hanging out at our favorite hangout... Starbucks! <3 Where do you reconnect with your kids?  I lo...