Sold an original watercolor, working on my mermaid + summer patio garden pics

So its august, and my birthday is this Sunday! I am turning 23.<br />and so far... I started off my birth week with some awesome surprises/presents such as:<br />I sold an original watercolor painting of mine via <a href="http://www.lucidopticlab.etsy.com/"><strong>our etsy shop</strong></a> the other day!<br />See it here:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3260470899/" title="Bathing in Babylon by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Bathing in Babylon" height="367" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3260470899_0a20692d85.jpg" width="450" /></a><br />---SOLD---<br />"Bathing in Babylon"<br />original watercolor painting by Chelsea Rose<br /><br />....Yes! she has found a good home and is going to New York, in fact.<br />It is always such an uplifting and exciting thing to sell original work- very inspiring. My heart goes out to those who support the arts!<br />I was pretty surprised that this watercolor sold in our etsy shop seeing that i tend to do better selling inexpensive prints on etsy and have been reluctant to put much of my original painting work up. However, this proves there are certainly interested art collectors on etsy willing to pay an artist a fair sum for original art. Perhaps i will be putting more of my watercolor and my acrylic paintings on etsy for sale in the near future!<br />.....seeing that this watercolor has sold also seems to have made me itch to play with watercolor( its been too long!) so i hope i can manage to play with some this weekend even though its supposed to be retardedly hot.<br /><br />I got another birthday present in the form of a body painting paid commission. A fellow flickr photographer came to me, asking for my body painting services for his planned maternity shoot which he is doing for his portfolio. I happily agreed and i am excited to see how it all comes together since the theme is very "earth mother."<br /><br />Here are two super quick sketches i made to show him my floral ideas for the body painting( i wanted them to look very different from my current <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/sets/72157623003286474/"><strong>women's study body painting series</strong></a>.) :<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoeHHXOnY64zVD7GGLX1m_Vyh9q24NWC1FaZGkh6aCLetMvT18SUbbkyXoN2oG5O5HV18ZDYO_fFFAGyzOBwlvUWWKh4qKAVCmygpHVn3SOs5ni7nQ1RYMCVh1qd3KdeF0w6nS8x6LZg/s1600/body_paint_sketch%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504915727099475394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoeHHXOnY64zVD7GGLX1m_Vyh9q24NWC1FaZGkh6aCLetMvT18SUbbkyXoN2oG5O5HV18ZDYO_fFFAGyzOBwlvUWWKh4qKAVCmygpHVn3SOs5ni7nQ1RYMCVh1qd3KdeF0w6nS8x6LZg/s320/body_paint_sketch%5B2%5D.jpg" style="WIDTH: 192px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> front details<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSQBB5JL4sY9dAt6cbIKzF6FBnu6YIBmUrCbZK0lqC9PcuXtlgU9kYnPy-CLfp-xFvKLvwPIcXlCOV27XGw_3M7sUL4orhR-4bBRRjpGuBhD3mvkLCriaSXy0_AyrxNVf-kBdHJ1aAvU/s1600/body_paint_sketch%5B2%5Dback.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504916127157529938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSQBB5JL4sY9dAt6cbIKzF6FBnu6YIBmUrCbZK0lqC9PcuXtlgU9kYnPy-CLfp-xFvKLvwPIcXlCOV27XGw_3M7sUL4orhR-4bBRRjpGuBhD3mvkLCriaSXy0_AyrxNVf-kBdHJ1aAvU/s320/body_paint_sketch%5B2%5Dback.jpg" style="WIDTH: 190px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> back details.<br />The photographer said he loved these roughed out ideas- which i will be painting with earth tones of green, brown and reds. The shoot has been set for the 17th. It will be exciting to see how the project comes together. and yes of course i will have Danny with me and he will surely take some photos of the body painting process so i can share in an update entry.<br /><br />In other news I have been doing some more work on my "work in progress" mermaid acrylic painting:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4884303844/" title="bubbles-work in progress by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="bubbles-work in progress" height="308" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4884303844_85e40a04af.jpg" width="450" /></a><br />( sorry for the horrible photo- was taken at night in very low and yellow lighting.)<br />So far i have added a lot more side fins to help fill up space and add more flow and detail. However the painting was striking me as being horribly flat so i started adding bubbles in hopes of concocting some much needed depth. I am still far from finished. I have everything sort of roughed out and now i have to go back in and fine tune. I intend to add more layers of bubble also. And eventually i will have to paint the hands- which i am sure i will avoid till the very end :P<br /><br />On a personal note i have come to terms with my addiction to hats. And while i am comforted by the truth that there are certainly worse addictions to be had...its still a shame!<br />My newest addition to my ever growing collection:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4883696837/" title="Summer gaze by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Summer gaze" height="450" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4883696837_f21b1724af.jpg" width="341" /></a><br />I found this one in downtown Portland at the skidmore fountain market which we cruised before heading over to the artful Saturday Market. It is purple and green/my favorite color harmony and It was $15 and is made of hemp. It works as a less dramatic sun barrier then my other sun hat which Danny has likened to a sombrero.<br /><br />While this summer has been a relatively mild one- the sun has still been out in force and so my patio garden in flourishing:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4884297216/" title="One summer evening by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="One summer evening" height="410" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4884297216_0bbf9db84b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />the wild flowers were the first to come up and thus are most mature. However my morning glory vines have sprouted and quickly matured. They are now happily climbing the lattice and the iron work of the patio. Its a shame i took this photo in the evening because by then the 6 big morning glory trumpet flowers had gone to rest so they are not pictured here. But in this photo you can see some of my chamomile- which i just recently harvested a few flower heads to dry and make tea from.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4884293196/" title="summer patio garden by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="summer patio garden" height="364" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4884293196_a2606f9084.jpg" width="450" /></a><br />The basil isn't seen here but its doing well and has gone through its first clippings-Chile sprouts are is still maturing and our fuscia hanging plant is producing all sorts of blooms and attracting hummingbirds to our windows. However my cilantro went to seed before i could even use it for tacos or something!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4884289382/" title="summer says hello by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="summer says hello" height="460" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4884289382_007d69ab24.jpg" width="295" /></a><br />our little growing space may be small but i am thankful for it! I love hanging out on the patio on these long summer evenings with Danny and sushi cat. Summer is full with life right now. In fact just the other day Danny went outside and came back in with a huge pot full of freshly picked wild black berries from the big bushes around our neighborhood- they are everywhere and laden with fruit. Yum Yum.<br />As much as i am enjoying summer I am eagerly awaiting fall which i think is my fave season over here in Portland Oregon. The trees turn such psychedelic shades of orange, yellow and pink! And it starts to get a lil chilly so i get to dress in lots of layers, snug beanies and scarfs. yes! I cant wait.<br /><br />So thats it for now i believe!<br />I wont be doing anything extra for my birthday this year- just hoping to be able to honor, remember and realize all the love and fine points of this super odd world and existence on it.<br /><br />Much love to all,<br />-Chelsea Rose

Sold an original watercolor, working on my mermaid + summer patio garden pics

So its august, and my birthday is this Sunday! I am turning 23. and so far... I started off my birth week with some awesome surprises/presen...

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More Queen Bead body painting photos + mermaid painting in progress + Evolve Mushroom screen print +patio garden pics

Its getting closer to the end of July and the beginning of August. Danny reminded me the other day that my birthday is only a few weeks away- how strange!<br />Its been a very mild summer thus far and for that i am truly greatfull for its allowed me to be less "melty brained" and work on projects ( some times the heat of summer does me in and i just end up a puddle on the floor.)<br /><br />First off i wanted to share two more photos i posted from my body painting photo shoot with Queen Bead:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4816919081/" title="Queen Bead by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Queen Bead" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4816919081_7175ff5d37.jpg" width="357" /></a><br />(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose<br />Model: Queen Bead)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4816925555/" title="Queen Bead by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Queen Bead" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4816925555_d2e2c13a01.jpg" width="357" /></a><br />(body painting and photography by Chelsea Rose<br />Model: Queen Bead)<br /><br />I am looking forward to tonight! Queen Bead will be singing with her reggae band tonight at a club in Washington. It will be my first time seeing her preform and I cant wait!<br /><br />I started working on a mermaid painting last week and haven't gotten much done on it since then:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4816821249/" title="work in progress by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="work in progress" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4816821249_4de12df6d0.jpg" width="335" /></a><br />...i haven't even finished putting down the first beginnings of color and I'm already not liking where it is going.<br />I am doing this painting based off of my "love thy self" pen and ink drawing of a mermaid hugging herself:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3879438665/" title="love thy self by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="love thy self" height="236" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/3879438665_387a2a4a05_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />( pen and ink drawing by Chelsea Rose)<br />....I initially started out painting her with a light green skin tone but she was melding way too much with the light blue background. I am trying out a natural pinkish skin tone and not liking it at all. However, it may just be too early to tell. What i really need to do is add some more layers of colors and shadow before i make any rash judgments but its been hard to find motivation to work on her unfortunately. However i will have plenty of time to stare her down and do some work on Saturday when Danny and I go and watch <a href="http://www.truthartspace.com/"><strong>T.Ruth art space</strong></a> gallery from 1-6pm. i really do enjoy painting in the back while doing my best at greeting people when they filter in to look at all the art.<br /><br />In other news Danny made a new screen print from his "Evolve" design. Check it out:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidopticlab/4816642171/" title="evolve by Lucid Optic Lab, on Flickr"><img alt="evolve" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4816642171_dc2a9cf20c.jpg" width="382" /></a><br />one of a kind screen print composite.<br />designed and hand screen printed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/lucidopticlab"><strong>Danny</strong></a>.<br /><br />He used two of his recent screen print designs to create it. The background is his faery star screen, the mushroom his most recent silkscreen creation.<br /><br />I am in love with the new prints and lucked out by getting the first "evolve" print on a shirt- all for myself:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4817360726/" title="Evolve mushroom screen print by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Evolve mushroom screen print" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4817360726_6cc57cb0fb.jpg" width="381" /></a><br />Isn't it lovely? If you want a print of your own feel fee to send in a custom order with t-shirt size/color and paint color preferences!<br /><br />....Did you notice the hat? well i recently got it in order to help shield myself from the constant bombardments of sunburns that summers tend to inflict on my pale skin. When i came home with it the other day Danny thought it was ridiculously huge and likened it to wearing a sombrero! But i do love it and my good friend Dr. Bob gave me the cool paper blue flower to adorn the hat with. I think the hat will do well for the long bus rides home in the sun, the summer hikes we take and all the hours ill be spending sitting in direct sun at the various art fairs of the season.<br /><br />I also have a couple patio garden snapshots to share:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4816733119/" title="patio garden by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="patio garden" height="335" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4816733119_9a91dcb328.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Its a true luxury to have a lil outside patio to ourselves amongst the pitfalls of apartment living. Although i dream of working an actual piece of land to plant all sorts of edibles I am making due with what space i do have. i started a potted herb garden from seeds( i think i will do starts next time since seed growing is magical to witness but a slow slow thing.) So far i have the following herbs sprouting happily: cilantro, chile, basil and chamomile. However i am most excited about the morning glory vine that i planted. The morning glory vine have been so quick to grow, some of their leafy vines already climbed the lattice and are beginning to work their way around the top of the patio rail. I was very excited the other morning to find my first two buds ready to burst:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/4816735619/" title="Morning Glory buds by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Morning Glory buds" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4816735619_3e60020d6d.jpg" width="353" /></a><br />Morning Glory is my favorite sort of flower. I wish i was small enough to live in their enchanting purple trumpet blooms.<br /><br />On that note i will break off this post.<br />Its supposed to be a hot weekend so who knows how much i will get done really...hopefully some painting, maybe some hiking but i am sure there will be a lot of time spent in the shade drinking some iced herbal tea, watching the plants on the patio grow.<br /><br />Much love to all,<br />-Chelsea Rose

More Queen Bead body painting photos + mermaid painting in progress + Evolve Mushroom screen print +patio garden pics

Its getting closer to the end of July and the beginning of August. Danny reminded me the other day that my birthday is only a few weeks away...

Read more »