Bugaboo!

There are many, many incredible polymer artists out there. I am a painter. I paint beads, and oils and watercolor. I love paint. Polymer and I do not have a strong relationship and I consider myself no more than a basic dabbler. In honestly, I’ve only dabbled twice. The first time was to make painted polymer beads which did not satisfy me very much. The second attempt used a more hands on approach and created these interesting little guys.

Bugaboos. They are so cute that no one could possibly be afraid of them, but they think they are quite scary just like many of our own scary thoughts and fears. That is what a Bugaboo means to me. I look at my bugaboo and I am reminded that the things I think are scary and the mean things I tell myself, are usually not that scary or true.

Definition of BUGABOO
1:  an imaginary object of fear, bugbear 
2:  something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

These are made with gray polymer clay playfully and spontaneously hand formed and then painted with concentrated acrylic paint in thin, very permanent coats. I use very light coatings dabbed on with my finger to produce the shadow effects. They are lightly sprayed just to further protect the natural, matte finish.

I am not selling this right now, and these were made for friends for Christmas. I am thinking about making some for the shop. If you want a bugaboo of your own right now, just send me an email and I will make you one!

Painted Dia De Los Muertos PUMPKINS!

I am always on the lookout for unique hand painted objects and ideas. As I was perusing a google image search on painted pumpkins I notices a small subset that seemed like the perfect pairing. Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) painted pumpkins. It seems like the perfect combo but I was surprised how sparse really good examples of the idea were. After some searching google, Pinterest and Etsy I pulled together some of my favorites. 

A cool project from Michael's

A How-To from A Little Fur In the Paint

From Stephanie Joy Art

Unknown but Quite Cool

On Pinterest

Painted by Someone's Girlfriend

Talavera Jack-o-Lanterns

On A Beautiful Mess

from SimoneauxArt 

Painted by Lupe Flores

NEW BEADS! Painted Ocean Swirls

I have a new style of swirl coming out this summer! It is a softer, more organic swirl with less curly-ques and quill work. With this first colorway I was thinking of sunlight moving through the currents of deep tropical waters when I made these swirls. Deep ultramarine blue with shades of turquoise and pockets of sun yellow marbled in intricate patterns. Uniquely colorful. Find them now on ETSY, on ACM or through my online store.

ETSY

ACM 

Painted By Hand Website Store

NEW Hand Painted Ceramic Beads!

I am super excited to introduce hand painted ceramic beads to Painted By Hand's bead and component offerings. I love the feel of the paint on the ceramic when I am making them and the beautiful clean matte at the finish. I really enjoy the new shapes! Designers have asked for ceramic components. I have been working behind the scenes for a while. The design is a kiln fired base bead with the same bright hand painting techniques as my wood beads with a durable and clean mate finish.

Designer that prefer smaller holes and no grommets can finally play with some of my beads in their designs! Quantities are limited at the moment. It will take a little while to ramp up to a fill product line. Especially because they seem quite popular and go quick when I do offer a few at a time. I started with dot designs by request for the Bead and Button show and will be introducing a new style of painted swirl in the near future. I am so excited to be working with this new medium and I really hope you love the beads!

Find them now at:

ETSY

HPB WEB STORE

ACM

20 Creative Ways to Woo Your Muse, and Find Some Inspiration!

I've been asked many times what I do when I am up against a block or feeling a little uninspired. I wrote this for those folks that ask, and for myself to look at when once again I have to fill the well. Enjoy~

1.  Take an online mini-course on inspiration!
The DailyOM Inspirational Courses

2. Watch Neil Gaiman's famous and VERY inspiring commencement speech

3. Just Breath.
Just Breath
Télépopmusik
Album: Genetic world

4. Take on your creative procrastination.
Overcome Procrastination: Steven Pressfield’s Top 12 Tips

5.


6. Stake your inspiration’s claim. The Creative Manifesto from the Rebelle Society.

7. Do a Google image search for Painted Doors…. Walk through one… What would you find?

8. Do a Google image search on anything!

9. Take some time to look at some great art!

10. Have a cup of tea, or if you’re like me some coffee...

11. Reach out for the sublime:

#16 O Magnum Mysterium
by Morten Lauridsen
King's College Cambridge 2009

12. Then Rock and Roll into your work!
Start Me Up
The Rolling Stones :
Album: Tattoo You


13. Look at bright colors and beautiful handmade things!! FOLT BOLT

14. Find our purpose and do what you love.
How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love by Maria Popova

15. Look to the trends: Pantone Spring 2015 Trends

16. Then break the rules! 18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently  

17. Explore what other’s think. Ted Talks on creativity

18. Take a few minutes to browse some good quotes on creativity!

19. Really exercise your brain!

20. Close your eyes and smell the roses... or oranges, or eucalyptus... or...

Author: Sandra Walton, Painted By Hand