New Zen Cat from Laura Iverson

"Catch a Falling Leaf":

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Siamese cat sits in a tree reaching down to try to catch a falling autumn leaf. A luminous full moon brightens the night sky, which is in shades of purple. This piece, part of the Zen Moonlight modern art series (botanical abstract landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in purple acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting. This piece is offered as an open edition giclée print. The original is in my private collection at the moment :-).

Mountain Majesty, a miniature scratchboard drawing by Denise M. DesLauriers

This scratchboard drawing is called 'Mountain Majesty'. The size is 6" x 4". Click the image to go to its webpage for more information and detail pictures.

Wall sculpture of 14th century knight on horseback

I posted about this as a work in progress over a week ago, and finally finished it and was able to photograph it today. It's based on a stone carving of a knight on a horse from the 14th century. Mine is done in hydrostone and painted in acrylics to look like weathered stone.



It measures just over 6" x 6". Watch for these to be offered on my web site and in my etsy store.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,

Bobcat painting from Laura Milnor Iverson

"Bobcat at Rancho San Antonio":

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A bobcat makes his way though the golden California hills. Clouds drift over the landscape, dotted with oak trees. I've been seeing this bobcat the past few months at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Mountain View. This piece is offered as an open edition giclée print. The original is in my private collection :-).

"Flame Point Siamese Cat in Cherry Blossoms" from Laura Milnor Iverson

"Flame Point Siamese Cat in Cherry Blossoms":

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A flame-point Siamese cat sits on a tree branch watching the cherry blossom petals dance in the luminous full moon. The night sky is in shades of blue deepening to indigo. This piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (botanical abstract landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in indigo acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

This piece is also offered as an open edition giclée print.

ACEO Limited Edition Prints

I am now offering limited edition Art Cards (ACEOs). Each one is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size) and has a miniature signed Certificate of Authenticity printed right on the back. See the Miniature Gallery for more information. I selected some of the best pieces from the zen cat and angels series. I printed these myself using archival inks and paper.

Wall sculpture of 11th c. knights

I finished another piece that I've been working on for a couple of weeks now. This one depicts a pair of 11th century knights on a horse, and is based on a seal from 1168. Mine is done in hydrostone as a wall plaque, and is about 4-1/2" across:


Because images of the actual historical example in books are copyrighted, I cannot include an image, but there is a picture of the original seal online here if you scroll about 1/4 of the way down the page.

Tonight or tomorrow I also hope to finish the 14th century style version of a knight on a horse I've been working on. When that one is finished, I will post a picture of it as well.

Soon I plan to add these to my web site, as well as to my etsy store. :)

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

Blog Village, a new Top List

I was recently invited to join 'Blog Village' a family friendly blog TopList. You can vote for my blog and visit other great blogs by clicking the image below. Thanks!




The scratchboard drawing below is called 'Alpine Waterfall". The size is 4" x 6". Click the image to go to its webpage for more information and detail pictures.



Technorati tags: art, artwork, artist, scratchboard, drawing, landscrape, waterfall, DMD Scratchboard Gallery, Top List

"Siamese Cat at Hakone Side Gate" from Laura Milnor Iverson

"Siamese Cat at Hakone Side Gate":

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A Siamese cat passes through a gate in a Japanese garden. This landscape from Hakone Japanese Gardens in Saratoga, California, is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" staple-free sides are finished off in dark green acrylic) and can be hung with just a nail. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.

This piece is also offered as an open edition giclée print.

It took me over a week to complete this piece but a lot of that was due to the heat. Hakone Gardens is one of my favorite sources of inspiration.

My Space

If you wonder what I am up to...
most of my time goes to working with my husband and trying to promote myself, other than the time I devote to finishing my gallery paintings, my dolls are in a bit of a stand still, quiet witnesses of my struggle with "painting block", I almost can hear them say..."if you make another doll you will feel complete" yah, I would but it takes away from my easel work...so...stay centered...it takes some balancing here.

I also opened a new account in

MY SPACE

...yeah...after all I've said about "you will never see me in My Space" ...a friend of mine sweetly invited me to join, and I respect her intuition a great deal, so I had to consider this seriously.

As a result, I have joined a circle of artistic folks that not only inspire to paint but have encouraged me with their kind emails me to find my way through another html mess...wow...it is like a forest of advertisement, yet I think this might lead somewhere...I'll drop little shinny pebbles along the way I will let you know what I find out there.

Bright Blessings and Peace ...May you experience pure joy and creative bliss.

Two new sculptures completed!

Yesterday I finished two of the sculptures I had posted about earlier. Both are based on historical pieces, and created in hydrostone painted in acrylics to look like weathered stone. Here is the griffin wall plaque:


This is about 6" wide by about 4-1/4" high.

The other one is based on a 14th century carved ivory mirror back, and depicts two lovers on horseback:


This one is about 4" wide by about 3-1/2" high.

Both of these pieces will soon be available on my web site, as well as in
my etsy store.

I'm still working on two other sculptural wall plaques, and hope to have those finished soon.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

New abstract painting from Teresa Turner

I finished this abstract painting the other day, but have been so immersed in sculpting, I forgot to post about it! Maybe I've had pirates on the brain lately, because the title is PIECES OF EIGHT:


Original acrylics on gallery canvas
8" x 10"
This painting is currently available on ebay. Click here to visit my ebay store.

I've been painting a couple of the historical sculptures I posted about earlier. Hopefully I can finish them and get pics of those to share before the weekend.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao, abstract art,acrylic paintings,sculpture,

More historical themed sculptures from Teresa Turner

I have been working on another historically based wall sculpture. This one is based on a 14th century bas relief of a knight on a horse. Here it is in progress, with the basic shape roughed in and some of the detailing completed:



I also finished one of the 14th century cat sculptures, which is based on a wood carving from a church:



In case you are reading this and wondering why so much of my work is influenced by the Middle Ages, I actually majored in Medieval English Literature. As a child I had a fascination with this period of history, watching reruns of old movies like Robin Hood, and playing in a friend's barn with a wooden sword. It's funny how some interests stay with us our entire lives.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Sculptures in progress

I took another pic of the griffin sculpture I've been working on after I finished detailing it:



Since then, it has received about 8 coats of latex, which means I still have about another 8 coats to go.

I am also working on a wall plaque of two knights on a horse, based on a lead seal from 1168. The design is only roughed in at this stage, so I still have a lot of detailing to do:



The detailing will take me most of the rest of the day, since I still have to carve in all the details and smooth it off. Then it will receive 12-16 coats of latex, and will be ready to be cast in hydrostone after the latex cures for a couple of days. Then the hydrostone gets painted. Although the originals for these were wood and lead respectively, I will probably paint them to look like stone.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Two new items from Laura Milnor Iverson

"Mystic White Branches" ACEO Miniature Painting:

eBay Item 180006029356

Golden autumn leaves on white branches swirl around a full moon. The night sky is in shades of dark red. This feng shui piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (botanical abstract landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original acrylic miniature painting.

This is an ACEO (Art Card). It is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size).

Purple Moonlight Original Acrylic Hand Painted Box:

etsy Item 303232

Branches of orange autumn leaves surround the full moon. Some of the leaves are dancing in the air. This piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (botanical abstract landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a wooden box. The sides and inside of the box are painted in purple. It is 100% hand painted and is one of a kind. It has been sealed with varnish to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. It also has clear plastic pads on the bottom corners so you can put it on any surface without worrying about scratches.

Griffin sculpture- work in progress

I spent the weekend working on this, and I snapped off a pic of it this morning to post (even though it's not finished yet.) This is based on a 14th century wood carving of a griffin. I have the basic shape completed, and am finishing all the details now. Eventually this will be a hydrostone wall plaque, painted to look like stone.



Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture,gargoyles

Artistic ramblings

Someone asked me today how long I've been an artist. This always strikes me as an odd question...I mean, is one an artist from the time one first begins creating? From the time one begins publicly showing one's work? From the time one begins sellings one's work? Or from the time one passes certain artistic milestones, such as winning awards or having solo exhibitions?

I've been showing my work since 1989, and doing art full time since 1992. My mom tells me that I first made efforts to show my work publicly when I was five. This consisted of me deciding that I was going to go sell my paintings and become an artist, and setting up some of my paintings out at the end of the driveway. I don't even know what those paintings were, and since we lived out in the country at the time, it's likely that nobody but my parents (and possibly a couple of curious neighbors) even saw them. But clearly, the signs were there even then that this is the road I would find myself on eventually.

Then there's the question as to how long it took an artist to do a particular painting. I once heard an artist respond that it took her whole life, up to that point. I imagine she said this because artists inevitably must first create works that don't live up to their expectations, which are destined to end up at the back of the closet, before they can create works they are happy with. Even then, for me, it's a constant evolutionary process to create. New techniques, methods, or materials must be played with, then eventually they find their place in the artist's work or are left behind in favor of further experimentation. Looking at the work of some of the great artists in history, one can see how their work, subject matter, style, or choice of materials changed and evolved over time.

I cannot help but wonder, though, if there is some resemblance between the paintings that little five year old girl had at the end of the driveway, and the work I create now. Perhaps there is. Today I was working on a sculpture, and remembered how my mom has a clay sculpture of a bear I made for her when I was about four. It remains in her curio cabinet, where it has resided since I gave it to her. So, I guess in some ways, I've been an artist my whole life too.

Technorati tags: art,blog,weblog,original artwork,wwao,sculpture

"Gray Skies over Hills" ACEO from Laura Iverson

I go out walking in the mornings, usually in one of our local parks. This is a typical scene of what I see around me this time of year..."Gray Skies over Hills" ACEO Miniature Painting:

Item 180005066302

A cloudy gray sky over the golden California hills. A live oak tree stands on one of the hills in the distance. This classic California landscape is an original acrylic painting.

This is an ACEO (Art Card). It is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size).

"Cactus in Bright Sunset" ACEO from Laura Milnor Iverson

When I first woke up this morning, before I opened my eyes, I saw this image in my mind. As soon as I got up, I painted it..."Cactus in Bright Sunset" ACEO Miniature Painting:

Item 180004694345

A cactus is illumined by a brilliant sunset in shades of yellow, orange and red. The cactus, in shades of purple with turquoise highlighting, completes the southwest palette. This miniature mystical landscape is an original acrylic painting.

This is an ACEO (Art Card). It is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size).

"Autumn Gateway" ACEO from Laura Iverson

"Autumn Gateway" ACEO Miniature Painting:

Item 180004458192

The full moon illumines a wooden gate, set in a crumbling adobe wall, which opens to another world. The night sky, in shades of blue, deepening to indigo, is in monotone contrast to the bright autumn world beyond the gate. A single leaf has fallen on the path, to be a mystery the next day when the gate has closed. This visionary piece, part of the Shaman's Gate series (mystical landscapes of alternate realities), is an original acrylic painting.

This is an ACEO (Art Card). It is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size).

"Whisper of Hope" ACEO from Laura Iverson

"Whisper of Hope" ACEO Miniature Painting:

Item 180003985387

A praying angel in a white gown glides through the clouds in gentle shades of gold, rose, burgundy, mauve and purple. This miniature inspirational art is an original acrylic painting. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. Note that the copyright watermark does not appear on the original painting.

This is an ACEO (Art Card). It is 2.5" x 3.5" (standard trading card size).