Featured in Uppercase

Welcome to subscribers of Uppercase Magazine! We were thrilled to have our project featured in the Uppercase newsletter "All About You". We hope Uppercase subscribers will join us in our monthly inspiration project. We'll post new inspiration images on April 1st. You can also go back and look at any of our previous inspiration images and submit your art anytime! Your art can be in any medium....painting, drawing, photography, quilting, stitching, embroidery, jewelry....whatever inspires you.

Your Art Inspired by Sunshine and Shadows

Enjoy the similarities and differences between the submissions and Sunshine and Shadows.

(You can see the Inspiration Image at the bottom of this page.)

 Julie Brandt: Buddy

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints 

Oil on Canvas

This old girl loves to play in the grassy park!  She is in constant motion, but for one second she sat still and posed for the photo.  This painting was done as a fund raiser for an animal shelter and art school in a nearby town.  It was my pleasure to capture her in the sunshine.

Whitney Eaton: Sunsets and Silhouettes
Instagram: @whitneykay93
Acrylic on Canvas, 3"x 2"

I have been wanting to paint this sunset for a while.  And a quick acrylic painting on a tiny canvas did just the trick!  I took this photo on an evening drive through Kansas.  Sunsets in Kansas have always taken my breath away.  And are you really in Kansas if you don't pass by one of these oil pump jacks?  Sara says you can't have shadows without sunshine. Well, you can't have silhouettes either!

Nancy MacDonald: Sun Shadow
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nancy.m.artist & Instagram: @nancy.m.artist
Colored Pencil

I've always loved shadows especially when colored glass is involved.
It's always a treat whe the sun hits a pretty bit of glass sitting around the house and puts on a little show for us.  

Helen Eaton: Flamingo Flower
https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/
Oil on Canvas, 11"x 14"

You know that funny house plant with the flowers that are like red heart-shaped leaves? 
Well, I bought one, and it has a name... Anthurium... doesn't exactly roll of the tongue. 
But... it's sometimes called a flamingo flower!  I... Love... That...
I knew I'd paint a still life with a red flower and shadow in response to Sara's image; however, I had a problem.  I do not enjoy painting fluffy still life flowers.  I'm not good at them.  I avoid them.
So... a red flower that's not a red flower!  Crisis averted!
I hope I can keep you alive, my pretty little flamingo flower!

March Inspiration 4: Sunshine and Shadows by Sara Harley

The winter months can be cold and dreary in Nova Scotia, days on end without seeing the sun. So maybe that is why I shadows always catch my eye. After all, you can't have shadows without sunshine.

Your Art Inspired by The Snug

Relax and enjoy these comfortable, cozy, snug submissions!

(The inspiration Image is at the bottom or the post.)

Deidre Townsend: Social Distancing on the Bayou

Acrylic on Canvas

My niece sent me a picture of herself in this boat that belonged to my father on the bayou where I grew up in Louisiana. She commented she was “social distancing” Louisiana style (Covid-19). When I saw the comfort spot in the March inspiration group I thought of her comfort spot for reading, and it inspired me to try my hand at my first acrylic painting.

Whitney Eaton: Reach

Instagram: @whitneykay93
Oil on Canvas

This place in my home has so many things that give me so much comfort. Family, travel painting, reading, music... and a little boy that make my heart swell! And I wonder... Will he love travel? Or paint? Or read? Or play an instrument? All he has to do is reach for the possibilities.

Julie Brandt: Cozy

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints

Oil on Canvas

When Naomi was three, she did not like to take a nap, even with Grandma Juju.  I would close the door of my bedroom after bringing a silver bowl and many books to set the stage for a nap.  As I closed my eyes having read one book four times, and said let's take a nap now.  Naomi climbed the door, holding onto the doorknob, both feet pushing on the door to try and open it.  I was trying not to laugh at this funny scene, and hoping she would eventually come lay down.  Well, she did, but not before she tucked this book under her arm and her wee fist inside of the bowl.  Of course I took a photo of her and painted this memory. 
Cozy, at last!

Helen Eaton: My Space
https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/
Oil on Canvas, 12"x 12"

My space... It starts with a comfortable chair.  My computer and phone are always near.  The little round side table has a drawer with pens and pencils.  There's a photo of my husband and pup and another showing the Twenty-third Psalm.  There's a pretty little purple and green box for stuff... markers, bookmarks, notepad. Each of the journals is special.  There's a little green quilted cow on the wall that makes me smile.  The painting behind my chair changes according to which is my current favorite.  And from the window, I can see my outside favorite things... chickens, garden, flowerbed.

March Inspiration 2: The Snug by Sara Harley

Everyone has a place they go when they want to feel snuggly,
somewhere that brings comfort so they can recharge. My comfort
spot is a cozy corner, with a book and maybe a cat in my lap.
Perhaps with a cup of tea and a glowing fireplace.
Where do you go?

Your Art Inspired by Someday

Our first submission for art inspired by Helen's "Someday" (inspiration image at the bottom of this post)...

Sara Harley: Sometimes
saraharleyphotos.blogspot.com
photographic art

Sometimes... I am a stream, dancing through the forest. I am a rabbit, timid and unsure. I am a tree, grounded and strong. I am a flower, unfolding with beauty. I am a butterfly, dreams lifting my wings. Sometimes

March Inspiration 3: Someday by Helen Eaton

Are you... ?
An ocean or a lake?
A babbling brook or still waters?
The diving board or the kiddie pool?
A rocky shoreline  or a sandy beach?
Gently rolling waves or crashing whitecaps?
Pine trees and grass or palm trees and sand?
A swimsuit and towel or windbreaker and boots?
Whitewater rapids in a kayak or picnic with a camera?

Your Art Inspired by Door Beneath the Wisteria

Helen's Door Beneath the Wisteria continues to inspire. 

We received another submission in April!

(The inspiration Image is at the bottom or the post.)

Darlene Awalt: Magical Forest 

Instagram: dream.imagine.believe
Photographic Art

Helen mentioned fairies in her inspiration image description, an elf or a gnome.

I thought, why not have them in the forest?

This is my version of something going on when we are not there.

Nelvia McGrath: Fairy House 

Instagram: Nelvia McGrath

Watercolor, Marker, Colored Pencil, Pen & Ink

l

When I saw Helen's painting, the first thing I thought of was painting an abstract door.  Love doors, especially European doors.  But the colors she chose pointed me more along a fantasy theme.  I love fairies, don't paint them or their environments very well, but something you can always work on and get better at.  Linda Ravenscroft has several books that help you think along the lines of creating a fairy world, full of, or course, fairies and their friends.

Lynn Hanousek: #3

Facebook: Lynn Hanousek Designs

Acrylic on 9x12 stretched canvas

Oh, how I’d love to behind that gate catching a bit of peace and quiet right now, away from the craziness going on around me. This painting has been my quiet place during the month as Covid-19 gradually becomes the central theme of our lives here in NYC. My painting is based on a photo I took in St. George’s, Bermuda. I love taking pictures of doors and gates, so when I saw Helen’s painting I headed straight to my photo stash for subject matter.

Deidre Townsend: "Lapis Tree of Life"
stone and wire 

This was my first jewelry piece to make, and the crooked tree (from "The Fairy Door" which was inspired by "Door Beneath the Wisteria") was a great inspiration.

Sara Harley: "The Fairy Door"
saraharleyphotos.blogspot.com
photographic art

There is magic deep in the forest, but you must tread softly and listen to your heart to find it. Only then, if you look very hard and are very lucky, you may catch a glimpse of where the fairies live. Their homes are full of joy and colour, happiness and love. The fairies are the protectors of the forest, and they will gently blow their blessings your way if you treat the forest as if it were your home as well.

March Inspiration 1: Door Beneath the Wisteria by Helen Eaton

Who do you think might live in the door beneath the wisteria?  Surely it's a fairy... a sprite... an elf... a gnome...a regular lady with green thumb?  I think she sings while she tends to her flowers and smiles when she greets the mornings.  I think she laughs when she looks at her aqua door and is glad she chose aqua.  I think she is content. I think everyone who visits her feels welcomed and at home.

March Inspiration

You have four new images to choose from this month! We hope that one of them inspires you to create art of your own.  Will you do an oil painting, a knitting project, a metal sculpture, a stained glass, a descriptive essay, a photographic collage... You decide! We can't wait to see what you share.

Click HERE for instructions on how to submit your work.

We are grateful to each participant! There has been such diversity and creativity in your art pieces. Whether you've participated both months or this is your first time, we hope you join us this month!

March Inspiration 1: Door Beneath the Wisteria by Helen Eaton

Who do you think might live in the door beneath the wisteria?  Surely it's a fairy... a sprite... an elf... a gnome...a regular lady with green thumb?  I think she sings while she tends to her flowers and smiles when she greets the mornings.  I think she laughs when she looks at her aqua door and is glad she chose aqua.  I think she is content. I think everyone who visits her feels welcomed and at home.

March Inspiration 2: The Snug by Sara Harley

Everyone has a place they go when they want to feel snuggly,
somewhere that brings comfort so they can recharge. My comfort
spot is a cozy corner, with a book and maybe a cat in my lap.
Perhaps with a cup of tea and a glowing fireplace.
Where do you go?

March Inspiration 3: Someday by Helen Eaton

Are you... ?
An ocean or a lake?
A babbling brook or still waters?
The diving board or the kiddie pool?
A rocky shoreline  or a sandy beach?
Gently rolling waves or crashing whitecaps?
Pine trees and grass or palm trees and sand?
A swimsuit and towel or windbreaker and boots?
Whitewater rapids in a kayak or picnic with a camera?

March Inspiration 4: Sunshine and Shadows by Sara Harley

The winter months can be cold and dreary in Nova Scotia, days on end without seeing the sun. So maybe that is why I shadows always catch my eye. After all, you can't have shadows without sunshine.

Summary: February Art

We can't believe it's only the second month of Inspiration Collaboration!  What fun it is to see and read about all these beautiful creations!
It's never too late to join in. If you're inspired to create based on any of our monthly Inspiration Images, we want you to submit your creation anytime! Send us your art and we'll add it to our monthly summary.

Here is a recap of the Inspiration Collaboration art created this month in order of receipt:

"Sweet Treat" by Whitney Eaton
Instagram: whitneykay93@yahoo.com

I've tried doing a lot of hobbies... I did woodworking for a bit... then DIY home decor... tried my hand at baking... Then I asked my mother-in-law-painter-friend to teach me how to paint.  Boy, am I glad!  I think I've settled on a good hobby!  And, I'm glad I tried baking too, otherwise I wouldn't have had such a beautiful cupcake to paint to go along with a great mug of hot chocolate!

"Small Town Music" by Deidre Townsend
When I first saw "Hibernation", I thought "purple" because of the lavender color it seems to have even though it's snow.  The, of course, the telephone poles drew my eye, and with the electric lines, I thought, "That looks like sheet music."  Reading Sara's words made me think of John Mellencamp's "Small Town," and there you go! Drawing it, I thought the notes were flowers that might bloom in her small town after all that snow is gone. 

"Cocoon" by Nelvia McGrath

Instagram: nelviamcgrath

Dried acrylic inks laid out a space perfect for a figure/head.  Combined the ink colors to do a tonal painting.  Brown flow on the right side reminded me of the right flow off the figure in my reference piece.  The cocoon is a form of hibernation, so hence the title.

"Just Down The Road" by Helen Eaton
Blog: https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/
Just down the road, just around the bend...
You'll see my veggie garden and my 12 little hens.

Just down the road, just past the hill...
You'll see purple irises and yellow daffodils.

You can watch the squirrels and cardinals in my favorite dogwood tree
or sit on my red benches and visit there with me.

Just down the road, my yard will be your view.
Come right on over!  I'll be waiting there for you.

"Tea For Two" by Sara Harley
Blog: saraharleyphotos.blogspot.com
There is something soothing about the thought of afternoon tea. Shouldn't we all treat ourselves to the slow comfort of tea brewed in a teapot and poured into china teacups? Add a friend to share it with, perhaps a cozy chat in a special place where contentment grows and friendship strengthens.

"Ruby Red Grapefruit" by Helen Eaton
Instagram: helenpowelleaton
So simple... so mundane... so everyday... 
     Yet beautiful if only you'll take a moment see it.
          Next time you slice your grapefruit in half, look closely... 

"The Grass Is Not Greener" by Sara Harley
Blog: saraharleyphotos.blogspot.com
I have two dogs who are restless souls if they don't get their daily walk. 
If they are in, they want out.
If they are out, they want in...especially when it's cold outside.
The grass is not always greener on the other side.

"Looking for Comfort" by Nancy MacDonald

Instagram: nancy.m.artist

When I think of comfort food in February, I think of a nice big bowl of homemade soup which makes me think of my favourite spoon.  This single vintage spoon was a gift given to me at a Christmas exchange a few years ago.  I think it's one of the simplest, probably the least expensive, most useful things I've ever received as a gift. It's not fancy but it just seems to be the perfect weight and size.  Do you have a favourite spoon?

"Little Green Teapot" by Lynn Hanousek
Facebook: Lynn Hanousek Designs
I like tea, but it's not something I look to for comfort. But I have to say this green teapot has been a constant companion all winter.  It has seen me through 2 colds and chilly days when the only way I could get warm was to have another cup of tea.  So, in a way it was a comfort.  Of course, I took my inspiration from "Hot Chocolate" but there's a bit of a nod to "Roundabout" too.

"Lens" by Nelvia McGrath

Instagram: nelviamcgrath

Lens is a quick sketch marker/acrylic/color pencil piece.  Seeing Sara's abstract photo made me immediately think of a light house lens.  Brainchild of French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnelrainchild, these complex facets truly were indispensable for naval safety and expanded global trade.  The oldest lens today is the Boston Light which turned 300 in 2016.  The 336 individual facets turn on metal wheels and can generate 1,000 watts which can be seen 27 nautical miles away.

"I Celebrate You, Mom" by Darlene Awalt
Instagram: dream.imagine.believe
This month was a little harder for me.  I used the Hot Chocolate and words Comfort Foods to come up with a gratitude poem in honor of my mom.  My mom would have been married 61 years on the 14th of February.  She passed away from Alzheimer's 12 February 2017.  I try to do something special in honour of her by volunteering at the Seniors Home and walking the beach collecting glass.