Your Art Inspired by Storm Approaching

 Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's Photograph, Storm Approaching

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Julie Brandt: Spring Fog

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

Oil on Canvas, 8"x 8"

Spring fog quiets now
Dogwood hidden in mist
Nestling tender blooms

Both Sara's photo and Helen's painting of clouds urged me to take action on painting the foggy morning.

Helen Eaton: Under the Billowing Clouds

Website: https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/

Oil on Canvas, 9"x 12"

Clouds really are the artwork of the sky.  They add color, texture, interest, and mood to an otherwise plain blue canvas.

Inspiration Image:  Storm Approaching  by Sara Harley

Clouds fascinate me. One evening this summer, I stood outside
with my camera as a storm approached. Thunder in the distance,
the wind was blowing the clouds in a fast moving kaleidoscope.
I was happy capturing a series of abstracts created by Mother Nature.

Your Art Inspired by Aspens in Autumn

  Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Aspens in Autumn

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Julie Brandt: Colorado Glow

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

Oil on Canvas

My painting, Colorado Glow, is about the breathtaking blue sky and the golden quiver of aspen leaves.  It's one of my dear memories of camping and hiking in the Rockies. 

This painting responds to the other autumn leaves in our Inspiration Collaboration collection.  Thanks to all of you who inspire me.

Deidre Townsend: Arizona Aspens

Acrylic on Canvas Board

I am in awe of Helen’s painting Aspens in Autumn because I love Aspen trees. My brother lives in Arizona in an area with mainly cactus. As often as they can, they go to nearby elevated areas to see trees! There’s an area near them in the Pinaleño Mountains that has beautiful Aspens, especially in the fall. Helen’s painting made me think of the pictures I’ve seen from there. Arizona is more than just desert. It makes me want to walk that trail!

Nancy MacDonald: Shallow Vision 

Website: Website: www.nancymacdonaldart.com

Photograph

Autumn is my favorite season. The sun seems to sit a little lower in the sky and when it shines through the leaves, they glow like they are on fire. I took this photo yesterday along the LaHave River. With a tilt of the camera down towards the water, I thought about Helen describing how you can't see the horizon line when you are deep in the trees. Not seeing the horizon can really change your perception of space.

Sara Harley: Reflections of Autumn

@saraharley.photos

photograph

Like Helen, I love trees. I have spent the
past year photographing sights found on
the trails that run through our town. I never
tire of walking the same paths day after day.
No matter the season, no matter the weather,
there is always some new magic to see.

Inspiration Image:  Aspens in Autumn  by Helen Eaton

Aspen, Birch, Cedar, Dogwood, Elm, Fir, Gingko, Hickory, Indigo, Juniper, Kapok, Locust, Maple, Nectarine, Oak, Pine, Quince, Redwood, Sequoia, Tulip, Umbrella, Viburnum, Walnut, Xylosma, Yucca, Zelcova

I am soothed when surrounded by trees. True, there are trade-offs… no horizon lines with sunrises and sunsets, no big sky to watch storms roll in or to gaze at entire constellations. But, I’ll choose the cozy comfortable call of the forest every time.

Your Art Inspired by Bippity Boppity Pumpkin

 Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Bippity Boppity Pumpkin

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Lynn Hanousek: Peek-a-boo Pumpkins

Facebook: Lynn Hanousek Designs

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas, 8x10

Playing “hide and seek” with our cats is one of our silly simple pleasures in life and I think the cats like it too. While they are indoor city cats only, I can imagine them running, jumping and scurrying over and around in a field of pumpkins. Plus, it makes for a more colorful painting than a couch, a table or the corner down the hallway.

Sandra Walker: Pumpkin Season

Website: mmmquilts.com

Quilt, 58"x 78"

I was inspired to finish this pumpkin quilt when I saw Helen’s Bippity Boppity Pumpkin painting. I’d chased this ‘squirrel’ in October 2019 when I saw the quilt in McCall’s Quick Quilts issue, and I knew I had the perfect scraps to make it. I added in the teal pumpkins because I’d just finished a fall-themed quilt for a newly released fabric line, some of which were these lovely fabrics. I was so pleased to learn of the teal pumpkin project, where houses post a teal pumpkin sign to show they have safe Halloween treats for kids with food allergies. 

Sara Harley: October Sunrise

@saraharley.photos

photograph

One of my favourite colours is orange, and that was my inspiration for this image. I spent a lot of time taking photographs of sunlight and trees reflected in a creek, experimenting with different settings on my camera. I chose one with an orange undertone, and played with it some more in post processing. It's definitely not a pumpkin, but wouldn't have been created without the inspiration of Helen's Bippity Boppity Pumpkin.

Sheila Strickland: Boo-luscious

https://welcomehomeretreat.com/

Scrapbook Pages, 12x12

My little pumpkins!

Inspiration Image:  Bippity Boppity Pumpkin  by Helen Eaton

It’s October! 

You know what that means!
Pick pumpkin spice to sprinkle on your tasty pastry crumbs.
Put pumpkins on your porch beside your pot of purple mums.
Pare a pretty pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern party.
Pile pumpkin pie upon your pot luck plate to end a meal that’s hearty.
Paint a picture of a pumpkin patch that shows the orange crop.
Pose a scarecrow for a photo with a pumpkin for his prop.

Your Art Inspired by Purrfect Companion

  Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's photograph, Purrfect Companion

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Helen Eaton: Better Half

Blog: https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/

Oil on Canvas, 5"x 7"

Buff showed up at our backdoor one freezing night last winter.  We gave him shelter in the garage for the night, then of course you know what happened... He made himself at home. On one side, he's sweet and hilarious. He purrs loudly and cuddles in our laps.  On the other, he's aggravating and annoying. He opens drawers and unrolls toilet paper!  We do love him, so I decided that his portrait should only show his better half!

Diedre Townsend: Sassy!

Pencil on Watercolor Paper

My kitty, Sassafras

I wanted to paint my kitty because I think she is so pretty. 

I decided to do a pencil drawing first. 

We call her Sassy and that fits her personality exactly!

Inspiration Image: Purrfect Companion by Sara Harley

Love them or not, there is no denying that cats
have unique personalities. Myrtle Ertle Oickle
adopted us seven years ago. Lap time with her
is one of my daily joys.

October Inspiration Images

Take a moment to look at and read about each of the Inspiration Images for this month.  Does one of them strike a chord for you, give you an idea, make you think? We've learned to expect the unexpected with your submissions. You can paint, crochet, design, draw, weave, carve, scrapbook, photograph, write poetry...

Click HERE for instructions on how to submit your work.

We can't wait to see what YOU create this month. Whether this will be your tenth or your first time to add to our collection of art, we welcome you.

October Inspiration 1: Storm Approaching by Sara Harley

Clouds fascinate me. One evening this summer, I stood outside
with my camera as a storm approached. Thunder in the distance,
the wind was blowing the clouds in a fast moving kaleidoscope.
I was happy capturing a series of abstracts created by Mother Nature.

October Inspiration 2: Aspens in Autumn by Helen Eaton

Aspen, Birch, Cedar, Dogwood, Elm, Fir, Gingko, Hickory, Indigo, Juniper, Kapok, Locust, Maple, Nectarine, Oak, Pine, Quince, Redwood, Sequoia, Tulip, Umbrella, Viburnum, Walnut, Xylosma, Yucca, Zelcova

I am soothed when surrounded by trees. True, there are trade-offs… no horizon lines with sunrises and sunsets, no big sky to watch storms roll in or to gaze at entire constellations. But, I’ll choose the cozy comfortable call of the forest every time.

October Inspiration 3: Purrfect Companion by Sara Harley

Love them or not, there is no denying that cats
have unique personalities. Myrtle Ertle Oickle
adopted us seven years ago. Lap time with her
is one of my daily joys.

October Inspiration 4: Bippity Boppity Pumpkin  by Helen Eaton

It’s October! 

You know what that means!
Pick pumpkin spice to sprinkle on your tasty pastry crumbs.
Put pumpkins on your porch beside your pot of purple mums.
Pare a pretty pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern party.
Pile pumpkin pie upon your pot luck plate to end a meal that’s hearty.
Paint a picture of a pumpkin patch that shows the orange crop.
Pose a scarecrow for a photo with a pumpkin for his prop.

Your Art Inspired by Raggedy Ann Doll

Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Raggedy Ann Doll

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Sara Harley: Raggedy Metamorphosis

@saraharley.photos

story cloth (aka modern quilt)

Although I consider myself a photographer, I have recently become addicted to creating "story cloths", my version of a modified quilt. Creating a warm and comfortable blanket using Raggedy Ann as an inspiration was a wonderful challenge for me. I tried to take the essence of Raggedy Ann and stitch her into a one dimensional form. Black stripes for her shoes, a strip of red and white striped fabric for her stockings, flowered strips for her dress, and white linen with zig zag stitching for her pina fore. And let's not forget the wild, wild red appliqued strips for her hair!

Inspiration Image:  Raggedy Ann Doll  by Helen Eaton

Someone recently told me she thought Raggedy Anns were creepy.  What?!  I cannot imagine how a floppy doll with big black saucer eyes with zig-zags underneath, a red triangle nose, and out-of-control bright red hair could be seen as creepy!!  Oh...  Hmmm...
I've always had a soft spot for Raggedy Ann.  Oh, how I loved mine!  New toys come and go, but some special ones stand the test of time.

Your Art Inspired by Apple Slices

Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Apple Slices.

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post.)

Sara Harley: Tree of Strength

Website: saraharley.ca

Photographic Art

October 2020 will be the tenth anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis. During the time between my surgery and my treatments, I felt powerless and I decided to adopt a tree as my personal symbol of strength. Since that time, I have photographed many trees. Just like us, each tree is unique. Trees face many adversities and stand strong and resilient.

In response to Helen's Apple Slices, I decided to create a four season tree combining images of a century old apple tree that I photographed throughout the seasons several years ago.

 

 

Sheila Strickland: Back-to-School

Website: Welcome Home Retreat

Scrapbook pages, 12"x 12"

Inspiration Image: Apple Slices by Helen Eaton

While it’s true that 2020 has its own set of anxieties, back-to-school is such an exciting time! Brand new tennis shoes… crayons with sharp points… long yellow pencils… names on desks… sparkles in the eyes of happy faces... Between being a student and being a teacher, I got to feel that jittery first-day-of-school joy 47 times! 

An Apple for Teacher... For so long the apple kind of symbolized who I was.  It’s an odd thing when something that’s a huge part of your identity runs its course and comes to an end. Who will you be now? What will your new symbol be?