Darkling Woods Studio

"I'm Late"

2009-11-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

I'm loving working with this paper doll method, I think I'm just thrilled to be able to some type of doll (oh woe are my sewing abilities!) I have one more Alice themed one after this then I'm off to a bride of Frankenstein one!

I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was small but nice, honestly its not my favorite holiday. Part of me is just sad Halloween is over and I don't like spending all day in the kitchen either. Lucky for me family brings dishes as well! Well the Winter Holidays are around the corner and they feel much more festive!

*passes cider* Cheers!

Down the Rabbit Hole

2009-11-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

New mixed media piece, "Down the Rabbit Hole"

I've longed to make dolls for sometime now, but alas sewing isn't a strength of mine. So I've recently been experimenting with a watercolor paper doll technique and having so much fun with it. This one I stitched with needle and thread. More in the series are on the way!

print of Down the Rabbit Hole here

Dead Can Dance!

2009-11-11T09:10:00.001-08:00

My lovely friend had a Halloween wedding last week, I thought I'd share the painting I did for them. They had amazing costumes (pretty close to the painting, only the bride had a delicate black tiara and red veil.

Wishing an eternity of happiness to Eric and Bill!

Emaline

2009-10-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

A new spooky girl in town, Emaline, she's small but I think she has a big bite. She's available in my shop

Congratulations to Ginny , the winner of my art box giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered and blogged and tweeted. You guys are so supportive and encouraging, I'm a lucky girl!

I'm off to sew more trims on the girls costumes, I'm excited about Halloween but the unseasonal hot weather is dampening my festive spirts... *mops brow* the heat index was 102 on Friday. I long for the crisp chill of Autumn!

Black Cats in Hats, Halloween giveaway

2009-09-30T19:18:00.001-07:00

A special gift for you! I've painted a cute papier mache box, featuring "Soot" the little black cat. This sweet little box is in need of a magical home! Just leave a comment (and way to contact you if you don't have a blog) and you will be entered to win this original piece of holiday art. If you blog about the giveaway with a link back here, let me know and you will receive an extra entry for each! (or twitter, facebook etc :)

I'll be drawing names from my black pointed hat Saturday, Oct. 10th!

Good luck my dears!

Mythic Images, Stu Jenks

2009-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you (if you haven't already met) to a most remarkable artist Stu Jenks. I was fortunate enough to visit one of his installation pieces at Mythic Journeys in Atlanta a few years ago. Wandering through the exhibit arm in arm with one of my dearest artist friends Fati, was truly one of the most magical art experiences I've ever had. It didn't feel like an art exhibit, although his work was mounted throughout, it was a journey that I felt blessed to be taking. One of those experiences that you can tuck away for when your spirit needs soothing.

You can see more of Stu's work here http://stujenks.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Tis the season ...

2009-09-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well the Witching season that is! I'm in full Halloween swing, shopping for costume supplies and working on holiday paintings. Its just a real pity that we don't get time off work for Halloween, but on the bright side it does fall on a Saturday this year!

Hope you like my day dreaming little witch, hope she remembers to stir the cauldron!

Wandering Witch Giveaway!

2009-09-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

EHAG'S (Eclectic Halloween Artist Group) Search for the Wandering Witch Giveaway starts Sept. 21st!
Hauntingly beautiful prizes and treasures!
For details click HERE!

Pepita's Halloween finest

2009-09-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tammy, the winner of the beautiful art jar!

My favorite Holiday is right around the corner, *adjusts pointed hat* and I've got goodies galore for you! Giveaways, special gifts and new art, so stay tuned!

I'll be listing this original later today in my etsy shop
"Pepita goes to the Masquerade" The little pumpkin head girl has a special date, doesn't she look delightful? Pepita is painted in watercolors on heavy watercolor paper.

Off to the attic to search for more Halloween decorations!

Magic Jar Giveaway!

2009-09-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

I recently won a beautiful art jar from Alyice at http://alyiceedrich.net and Alyice was sweet enough to send an extra to give away to one of my lucky readers!

Enter to win your chance for a handcrafted art jar by Alyice Edrich Designs, One winner will be selected from the comments left on this post. Deadline to enter is: Sept 12, so tell all your friends!

Just take a look at how fun her art jars are!

You will receive a similar jar to the one shown above but you will not receive the "exact" jar shown above.

"The Pool of Tears"

2009-08-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

"The Pool of Tears"

While painting I started thinking back to my first exposure to Alice, and it was this book. Beautifully Illustrated by Marjorie Torrey and published by Dandelion Press it was a "flip" book with "Peter Pan" on the other side. Peter Pan was one of my favorite stories while Alice on the other side was someone I wasn't quite comfortable with.
I admired Alice but her adventures made me nervous, as I grew older I started to realize that being an only child had some influence on my feelings about Wonderland. Alice stands alone, no prince or brothers to rescue her.
I actually felt daring when I flipped that book over to visit Wonderland. I had a lot to learn from Alice, she keeps her wits about her and only cries once that I remember, the pool of tears. The thought of tears so large you could swim in them like a salty sea is right up there with the disappearing cat in my childhood imagery. So I finally had a chance to paint my own "Pool of Tears" and it was like going back to visit an old friend.
She will be available in my Etsy shop

Blog Give away at Diamonds and Toads!

2009-08-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

Kate has an absolutely enchanting blog at Diamonds and Toads and I'm honored to be part of her "Sleeping Beauty rewrite" contest. You can visit the blog to read the lovely entries and bonus.... by commenting you are entered in the drawing for my "Sleeping Beauty" print.

For all the details just visit Diamonds and Toads!

"Pool of Tears" Alice In Wonderland

2009-08-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

Work in Progress

Back to Wonderland! I remembered to take pictures while I was working on this painting, I hope to finish" Alice and the Pool of Tears"sometime this week.

Alice in Wonderland trailer!

2009-07-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

Loving this!

Little Red Riding Hood

2009-07-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

I just had to paint one more Brothers Grim for the Ehag challenge "All the Better to See You With" a Little Red Riding Hood painting done in gouche.
Little Red is a great story for inspiration and I've worked with her before, this time I wanted to capture a classic fairy tale feel. I hope you like Red and the Wolf!
Prints in my Etsy Shop

"Poison"

2009-07-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

The princess Snow White holds fate in her hands. New painting for Ehag's Brothers grim challenge
Since this was for Ehag (Eclectic Halloween Artist Group) I originally planned spooky dark branches, but the white as snow prevailed and ghostly pale painting emerged.

The Ehag group will be posting their Brothers Grim creations soon so check back to the ehag blog

Lucky days!

2009-07-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

Meet Lucky Lumina!

I was the very lucky winner of Johanna Parker's blog giveaway "Lucky Lumina" can you believe it? Johanna creates the most delightful folk art creations, you can check out more of her work here

And time for my giveaway!

Tea Party giveaway goes to "The Magic Onion" She receives a cute little pendant featuring my White Rabbit!

I hope everyone is having a sparkly 4th of July!

Mad Tea Party, Happy Birthday to me and a gift for you!

2009-06-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

Its time! for Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party!

Now I realize Mad Tea Parties are supposed to be for Un-Birthdays but its my birthday so by Royal proclamation of the Queen of Hearts... You are here by invited to my Un-Birthday Party Birthday Party! I have a little party favor for you too, I will be drawing a name from my list of followers to win this enchanting little white rabbit pendant from my shop.

Alice and the Mad Hatter arrived first. Followed by the White Rabbit and birthday girl.
The feast included lemon frosted cupcakes (with gumdrops) chocolate flowers molded by Alice and the Hatter themselves, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that mysteriously read "Eat Me" on them!

Imagine our surprise to find Door Mouse at the table sipping tea! Is it just me, or is the party getting more and more colorful?

Of course we saved a special place for you, with a warm cup of Wonderland tea and cookies!
Remember the White Rabbit giveaway, I will do a drawing on July 4th of all my blog followers to pick the winnner!

And another surprise I'm having Birthday sale! All prints in my shop are buy one get one free till July 4th!

would you care for cream or honey in your tea?

Princess Slipper's and a winner!

2009-06-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the lovely guesses for my daughters role in Midsummer Night's Dream, many of them I guessed myself when she asked! Ahhh but no one guessed it, (if it makes you feel better, neither did I!) She has the part of Bottom! *giggles* If you only knew what a delightful one of kind girl she was you would really appreciate it!

But don't fear, a winner will we shall have, we drew numbers for all the entries and *drum roll*
Coty is our winner! And she will receive a print of her choice from the shop!

In other news I just completed my series of princess slippers with Cinderella. They are available here Now I'm off to work on candy and cupcakes for the Mad Hatter Tea Party!

Ehag Gorey Tribute, Little Miss Muffet

2009-06-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be a part of Ehag (Eclectic Halloween Artists Group) This months challenge was a tribute to the art of Edward Gorey. Click here to see all the wonderful Ehag creations inspired by the dark whimsy of Gorey.

My tribute is this ink drawing, "Little Miss Muffet's Weaving Lesson" I always like to think Little Miss and the Spider came to an understanding.

Happy Midsummer Night! and a guessing game!

2009-06-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

I found this enchanting 1909 video that I had to share. This one of my favorite Shakespeare plays so I was delighted to learn my daughters theater group is going to perform it. Last week she came home bursting with excitement over the part she was cast for!

To celebrate Midsummer night I'll send a surprise gift to the first person to correctly guess her role in Midsummer Night's Dream!

(be sure and leave a way for me to contact you with your guess if you don't blog)

The Macabre Masquerade

2009-06-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

ahhh, The Bride of Frankenstein enters the ballroom of the Macabre Masquerade. I'm not sure her charming little mask will fool anyone but she feel so elegant wearing it!

original painted with gouache and watercolors, archival prints here in my Etsy shop

Just in from a short holiday, we waste no time once that last school bell rings! We actually have our bags packed before the last day of school. Feels good to be back home though (we all missed Capt. Jack) and to get back into my studio. I love my day job (most of the time) but once spring hits my mind drifts to summer plans and projects. Of course my first one would be a Halloween theme! Hope you like the Bride, I have another Masquerade attendee in the works (my pumpkin head girl) and I'm having fun deciding on what she should wear!

Magic Onions and Fairy Godmothers

2009-06-08T16:17:00.001-07:00

I've been a very lucky girl of late, I won an enchanting hand felted godmother from "The Magic Onion" You really have to go to her lovely blog and see them all!

Really who couldn't use a fairy Godmother to look over them?

More giveaway news soon, and a new one of my own coming up!

Napoleon Wrapped Around Her Finger

2009-06-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Came home weary and dragging after a long day at school today. Drooping along I checked my mail box and like magic my spirits soared! *Hurray for packages in the post*
I treated myself to an end of the school year splurge you see, the ever brilliant Lisa Falzon has been back to making one of kind jewelry pieces incorporating her paintings! *sigh* How's a girl to resist? This one is "Napoleon Wrapped Around her Finger"
Perfect timing.. my women's group is meeting tonight to discuss favorite artists and I'll be wearing a piece from one of mine!

May we have the winner please?

2009-05-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Its drawing day! My daughter and I cut and folded entries under the supervision of our Pomeranian Capt. Jack who became more and more interested and the pile grew.. did he think they might be tasty? We mixed up the names and jokingly put the hat down for him to *draw* and like lightening he snapped out a name!

Congratulations Abigail! You are the winner selected by Capt. Jack! I will be packing up the original ACEO and White Rabbit for you!

Well we were laughing so hard at this point we just had to let him draw again.. and well a couple of more times! (I wish had him on video!)
this time he picked
Bunnykissed
Rich Layers
and
Reni Valentine

These three winners will each receive a little surprise gift from the darkling woods, including an ACEO print of the "Hold Tight Alice" There will be a limited run of 25 and you guys will have numbers 1,2,3

Thank you all for playing, I promise to do another giveaway in June so keep an eye out!

(PS, I'm extending my Buy One Get One Free BOGO sale to June 3rd to celebrate the end of the school year! check my etsy for details