Transforming a Design And Having Fun With Lines

Sometimes I find drawing a picture that is meant for a tatoo or a simple design is harder than painting or drawing a picture that is meant to hang on a wall.  My friend Cory was looking for someone to design a tatoo for him.  He was having different people try it out and he would choose the one he liked the best.  He let everyone know what he was looking for, a picture of a snowy mountain scene like the mountains in Utah and the beach.  I wanted to try drawing this because I thought it would be a fun challenge!  I drew one picture and absolutely loved the way it came out, I am actually going to frame it and hang it up for myself.  But....I unfortunately put it some where and cannot find it!  But here is the second one that I drew:

The first one came out so much better and looked a little different, this one is tweaked but at least I can give you an idea.  I find pictures like this harder to draw for a few reasons.  First off, if it's meant to be a tatoo on a persons body, it is permanent so it has to look really good.  There can't be any mistake on what the picture looks like when the tatoo artist copies a pre-drawn design.  Secondly, whenever I think of tatoo designs I think of a simple floating design.  The pictures I draw and paint go into a frame for the most part, you can see an end to the picture on all 4 sides, you see it in a box.  But with a tatoo, there may not be a border enclosing the design, it doesn't go into a picture frame.  It has to be drawn to look good out of a box.  That is my opinion and some people may not agree with me, which is perfectly fine but, those are just a few reasons why I find them challenging.
Here is one design along the same idea of a tatoo, but this design I kept changing.

If you look carefully you are able to see that I erased a lot around the flower.  That hawaiian flower is the main focal point of the design and then I played around with the type of lines around it.  This design isn't as complex as the one with the mountain and the ocean but it gave me a lot of trouble.  I knew what I wanted but couldn't piece it together just right.  But these were the 4 that I think came out the best.
For me, these types of designs are more challenging but so much fun!
Which one do you like the best?
xoxoSavannah

It All Starts With a Sketch...At Any Age

Sketching is the foundation of a drawing or painting.  It is starting to draw out an idea and express what is pictured in the mind.  I absolutely love sketching, it is probably at times one of the most stressful but fun parts of beginning a new piece.  When I start sketching the sky is the limit.  If I start drawing a circle that I first thought was going to be a baseball, I could decide to turn it into a snowman or a sunflower or a teddy bear even.  Once I start going I just let my mind and the way I feel take control.  If I am in the mood to sketch I more than likely won't turn it into a painting.  Whenever I want to paint I paint, I tend to keep it very separate from drawing.  It's really interesting because it is usually one or the other, I don't normally combine the two.
When I first started drawing I was much younger and I would just sit and draw the characters I would see on the cartoon that I was currently watching.  Here are a few that I still have from between the ages 8 and 14:

"Rocket Power" group

Arnold from "Hey, Arnold"

 When I was in 7th grade my grandfather died.  He was the closest person to me that had passed away.  a few years later when I was a freshman in high school I tried drawing him.  To me, this doesn't look like him at all but I gave it a shot trying to draw a person.

 Alvin and the chipmunks from the cover of their Halloween movie.
After I started drawing while watching TV, I tried drawing covers and pictures from books and video covers.

 Junie B. Jones

 The Grinch

 From a birthday card.

A space shuttle.

I've moved on from drawing while looking at books or videos or TV.  I will sometimes set something up in front of me to try drawing, like these hats:

Here is the progression from my sketch of the hats to the finished product.  I tried taking pictures along the way but once I got into it I just kept going haha.

Some of these pictures may look the same if you look at them fast but there are a few of the finishing touches that I do before I finish.  It's basically just taking another look and fixing what I think may need to be fixed.  I love black and white photos and whenever I draw I use either just graphite or just charcoal.  I enjoy using my finger to show depth in my pictures.  I love drawing baseball hats because of all the creases and folds, they are fun to draw and work with.
This picture will be up on my etsy shop.
I wills till every once in a while set something up to look at and draw but I am also trying to teach myself not to look at anything and draw from what I picture in my mind.  I will always be learning and working on this.  Wish me luck!
Thanks for reading and will post agin soon!
xoxoSavannah

New Work Up On Etsy

I finally put up some of my work on Etsy!!  I am so excited.  I had some work up a long time ago but then got a little busy to continue, but I'm back and ready to stay consistent.  I have put up about 7 pieces, some are the holiday pieces that I have posted pictures of on here and there are a few non holiday pieces.  Let me know what you think and if there are pieces I have put up on my blog and aren't on etsy email me and I put them up!  Savviedesigns@gmail.com

Here is the link to my Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shops/savviedesigns

I hope everyone enjoys it!
xoxo Savannah

Jell Lynn Design Reveal Night

What a weekend!  This weekend was the Holiday Barn Sale at Mangiacotti.  It was so busy and at times I couldn't even move around to restock any product.  I wanted to grab pictures of my art work merchandised but it got too busy so fast.  The first day we had over 400 transactions!  I did however sell a decorated painted plate and one painting, it's so exciting to see people enjoying my work!  I am still exhausted but at least my feet and back don't hurt any more.  I am very thankful for that.  If you would like to see any pictures check out their Facebook page.
Even though I worked 14 hour days and couldn't seem to get enough sleep, last night I was able to end the weekend with an amazing showing that I am sure inspired everyone who went to Jell Lynn Designs' Reveal Night.  One of my best friends is extremely creative and started rejuvenating old pieces of furniture that she finds into beautiful pieces of work!  She also creates extremely creative and beautiful wall art.  Here are some pictures of her stuff from last night.

 This table she found on the side of the road and made it look gorgeous!  This one is on the top of my list of favorites :)

 This picture frame came out awesome!

 Cork board

 Jell the designer :)

 Her business cards.

Talking about her inspirations for the pieces.

This piece is my all time favorite!  I love the paint sprayed on top and all the bottle pieces that make this piece even more 3D than it always was.
Jell has her own blog about her work, I highly recommend everyone checking it out:  http://uniquelynew.blogspot.com/
Her other contact information is:  jellxlynndesigns@gmail.com, 401-573-3334(p), 401-334-0029(f)
She takes orders, suggestions, requests, just ask :)  Anything you see here you can ask for different colors, pieces, etc.  One woman last night ordered the drunken wall art but with martini glasses.
I hope you enjoy her work!
xoxo Savannah

On Your Mark...Get Set...Work Marathon!

It's here, this week is here and I cannot wait until it is over!  It's Barn week and weekend.  It is always so much fun but it will be nice to finally relax on Sunday night :)
The other marathon I was doing for a little while was finishing up some pictures for the sale.  They aren't all done but I think I have a good showing.  I don't have any pictures of my pictures in place, merchandised in the Barn yet but I will definitely post those the beginning of next week.  Here are the ones that I finished and some you may have not seen yet:

 This one is one of my favorites.  I love the Christmas gifts and using the graphite for the main part and highlighting with colored pencils.

 This snowy picture is painted on canvas with acrylic paints.

I painted the holly on the canvas fabric, it looks so nice with the olive green mat around it.

One of my moms favorite pictures is this little tree.  I used a charcoal stick fort he background, pastels for the tree and skirt, acrylic paint for the star and lights, and I used some glitter glue for the center part of the tree.

I have a hard time getting the lighting right when I take pictures.  All of these look so much better in person!  If you'd like to check them out come on down to the Barn.  It's located at 117 Pleasant Street, Attleboro, MA 02703.  There's no sign, just a flag with the Mangiacotti girl on it.  I hope you can stop by and take a look at them in person.

Here are some of the displays that I worked on in the Barn:

Here are some other displays that I helped with:

My friend at work, Chris, made this amazing toy chest for the kids.  It came out awesome!!

The kids are going to go nuts when they see this with all the goodies inside!
The hours for the sale are Thursday and Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm.  I hope we see you there!  Wish me luck!
xoxo Savannah

There's Just Not Enough Time In The Day. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  There is so much food and I love to eat!  Some are traditional, some new, and some experimental but always delicious.  This holiday is also very important because it reminds us that we have at least one thing to be thankful for.  I know I have many things and I appreciate each and every one of them.  We always have Thanksgiving at my house and it is so much fun.  This year we have new twins added to the family and  it is their first Thanksgiving (they are 11 months old).  It is going to be very exciting to share this special day with them.  Before being able to enjoy the actual day, there is lots of preparation in the kitchen and out.  The Holiday Barn Sale at work is directly after Thanksgiving (starts on Tuesday night for us).  So it has been crazy at work!  We have all been running around and working so hard.
My brain has been non stop with thoughts and ideas on what to draw and paint.  I was driving to work and had an idea but the only thing I had to write it down on was my Starbucks cup at a red light.  You know what though, it works for me :)  Usually if I don't write the idea down right away I will NEVER remember it.  There has been by far WAY too many things going on in my head that I feel like my memory is shot!  Sometimes I may never act upon the idea but it's written down for a day that I may not know what to draw, I guess you can say I have a notebook of ideas.
I had only a few days left to get as much stuff done as I can before the Barn Sale at Mangiacotti.  And I really only had 2 days until my art space is consumed with desserts instead of pencils and paint!  The table I use to do my work always has to be cleaned and my stuff has to moved and packed up.  Since my dad has already reminded me a week ago.....I really have to get a move on!
Here are some pictures of what I have been working on:

 In the picture it is hard to tell around the rim and on the snow but I have glued sparkles like I did on the tree.  I have been experimenting with decorative plates.

 So far, this is one of my favorites, nice and simple.  I used pastels and colored pencils for it and the olive mat around the picture did the touch.

 All of the black in this picture I did with charcoal pencil and the rest was with pastels.

 It's hard to tell in the picture but the mat around the edge is a nice, almost jean blue.

 In the Fall I did a lot of painting on the fabric cloth canvas, so I figured why not try some of the Holidays.

 Another plate, but this one is still in the works.

3 more pictures that are in the works, they are just barely started. One is going to be a tree in the corner of a house, the other some birch trees and the last one a winter tree.  I still have a bunch to do and will be posting more pictures as I finish them.

I started some of these this morning before doing some work, a lil house cleaning and before baking.  I just put some Red Velvet Bars into the oven.  They look and smell amazing!  It's my first time making them.  Here is the web address where I found them if you would like to make some yourself!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/red-velvet-bars-recipe/index.html

I hope everyone is able to enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, the Black Friday shopping, the Cyber Monday shopping, and the transition into the next round of Holidays.  My art table is almost cleaned up, my time is up for now :)  I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving tomorrow and eat lots of yummy food!  I know I will be!
xoxo Savannah

Back To The Grind....Getting Ready For Christmas

It's that time of year again.  All of the stores are setting up their Christmas decorations, radio stations have already started to play Christmas songs, and I have already seen commercials for Christmas movies on TV. I personally am not quite ready to be decorating my room yet, Thanksgiving needs to happen first :)
But just like every other retail store, Mangiacotti's Christmas Barn Sale is right around the corner.  I can't even believe it!  The Barn Crew has been working non stop for weeks already in preparation for this sale.   It is going to take place the first weekend in December.  Since we are only a few weeks a way (I still can't believe it), I need to start drawing and painting some of my holiday winter pictures :)
I have some pictures of some of the pictures I did last year.  Unfortunately I only took pictures with my camera after they were set up, so the picture quality isn't too great but you will get the idea.  Here are a few that seemed to go over really well:

 Last year I tried painting a decorative plates, just to try something new.  I'm not too sure I will do that again but we will have to see.

This year I am going to try and redo a few of the same ones, and try some different pictures as well.  I'm hoping to start this week, I already have my list of ideas written down and my table is all set up.  I will keep you updated with some of my new holiday and winter pieces that I will be working on.  Let me know if there is anything you particularly like or if there is anything you would like to see me do.  I love suggestions!
xoxo Savannah