Getting Back To My Roots

So, in all the years I have been painting and creating art, I've always loved doing portraits the most. Even as a kid in school, my portrait work was what I enjoyed the most. I was always fascinated by the minor differences in peoples faces, and how I could almost imagine a personality to go along with the person I was painting or drawing.

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Once I got into college, I relished the life drawing classes. I so loved seeing peoples different bodies, young and old, fit and fat. They were all beautiful in their own way! Even my photography would go primarily be of those subjects.

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After school, I went into mural painting. Although I did do some figurative work, most of my painting was of very different subjects, mostly decorative. Don't get me wrong, I love decorative art, I never quite got the philosophy that pretty art was somehow inferior to beautiful paintings. That tended to be the mindset while I was in college, my work was discriminated because it was too "pretty". That didn't make much sense to me when I studied the most famous artists throughout history, such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci, whose work was both beautiful and meaningful.

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Well, after all of these years I have been going back to my first love of portrait work and figurative work. I am really excited about doing some of this, although I have no intention of stopping my decorative work either. I feel that any art and creative process that makes me and my viewers happy is well worth doing:)

Get Along Little Doggies

Wow, I am happy to report that I have completed my sweet little puppy portrait:) A very sweet customer wanted her cutie pie doggies to get painted into a formal portrait. I will say, this was a very enjoyable painting to create. It also served as a terrific escape from my hectic life.

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I have enjoyed working these past months so very much, and had forgotten just how important it was for me to remain creative. After the birth of my three children, I had let my creative side stray a bit, but am very happy that I have it back. The funny thing, I never realized just how important the process of making art was for me. I used to think it was the final result, but now I am all about the actual actions. Mentally, it has done wonders for my sense of self, and well as my internal happiness meter.

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Go do something creative today, it will do wonders for you as well:)

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*hugs*

The begining of a New Addiction: Painted Easter Eggs

Well, as if I wasn't busy enough with a house full of little kids, and trying to start my little craft business, I've discovered my new favorite craft. Decorative egg painting!!! I will not pretend, they are in fact wood. I just didn't have the heart to paint something that couldn't last forever. I really enjoyed painting them so much! I have discovered the joy of miniature painting, and I have to say that I just can't stop. Hopefully next year I'll have them ready in time to put in my etsy shop, but for know my family and I got to enjoy these. Hope you like them, and hope all of you had an amazing holiday!
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Happy Spring!!!

Happy Spring!!!!

The Easter Bunny arrived with a big smile because he got to eat the yummy delicious carrot that my daughter left for him. He also arrived with lots of treats and goodies for my three cutie pie kids. This year, I helped Peter Cotton Tail by painting great little wooden totes for my kids to fill on their egg hunt. I used my most favorite wood crafter on etsy (http://www.woodshed.etsy.com/) to make me these awesome totes. I asked him to make something like a basket, that I knew my kids would love. As always, he delivered me the most perfect items just waiting for my paint brush! I'm really happy with the way these came out.

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Etsy also helped the Easter Bunny fill up the baskets with great goodies. The most adorable cupcake soaps, in such scrumptious scents by www.conniesboutique.etsy.com. These soaps smell as good as they look, and actually made my daughters beg to get in the bathtub last night. I also got them the cutest Boo Boo Bunnies, by www.MindysEmbroidery.etsy.com. My kids all likes this, but one of my daughters insists on wearing it as a bracelet:) I also ordered adorable little clips for the girls hair (my poor son really get cheated out with all the girly stuff) by www.MyFamilyTies.etsy.com. They are so beautifully crafted, and my oldest daughter refused to wear the clips I made to match their dresses because she had to wear the ones by myfamilyties. Last, the amazing crafters on etsy even dressed my kids! I purchased two gorgeous Easter dresses by www.Cherrylane.etsy.com.

Thank you so much etsy!!!!

Getting Back to Business

Well, it has been a crazy couple of months, but I'm finally getting back to working my butt off - God I wish that saying could be true*wink*.

I have some new projects in the works, including some interesting wearable art. I'm very excited to see where these new creations take me creatively, but that will be a while longer before I have any samples to show. In the meantime, I've been feeling in the mood for some sweets, and have gone and created another delicious little cupcake box to keep all of your treasures in. Also, totally loving the handpainted yummy banners. Hope you guys like them too!!!!

Almost 2009

The New Year is upon us and I am so grateful for the wonderful year I've had. Life is good! I'm praying for good things for everyone and great blessings for the next year!

Cheers to all!!! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Falling Flat on My Face

Did you ever hear the term "falling flat on your face"? Well, this actually happened to me this week. So I love being busy, and having a project. This year I decided to create a life size gingerbread family to represent all the members of our household. Last year I painted the snowman family, which we are hanging in the family room. With all I try to do during the holidays, I was a bit frazzled. I went outside to check out my finished gingerbread family, and not really paying attention to what I was doing - whoosh- down I went. As I was falling in my front yard, I was certain I would catch myself before actually falling on my face. But no, face down going straigh into the ground. Lucky for me, my face fell into the mulch and not our crown of thorns. Of course, the first thing I did was look around to make sure nobody saw! I've got a few bruises but my ego got it the worst.

Now I should have gone back to bed, and cancelled the rest of the weekend at this point. But no, I just kept chugging away. We were having our cookie party on Sunday, which most everyone bailed out of anyway. Good thing, since during the party our oven exploded. No, I'm not kidding, there was an actual explosion inside the oven while we were baking cookies. My mother, being who she is, was very concerned that we might loose a batch of cookies and opened the smoking oven to retrieve the cookie sheet. Everyone went crazy. People were running out the door, my daughter was dropping and rolling (even though she was in a different room). Thank God, my husband had the presence of mind to throw the electric switch. We finally got things under control and has to cancel the rest of the cookie swap.

My silver lining is, even though it is one week before Christmas, and we have 30 people coming for dinner on Christmas Eve, I'm getting a new oven!! A bright shiney LG oven to match my refrigerator! Oh, the cookies I'll be baking this weekend! I can't wait, and I'll be walking real carefully when I go outside.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Can you hear it? It is the tiny little voice telling you that Christmas is almost here. Something like 18 more days - OMG!!! I have so much to do, I'm not even sure where to start. Every year it seems like there is less time to prepare for the holidays, they just keep getting here faster and faster. Or is that just me getting old?

O.K., time to quit complaining, and time to get busy. My dirty little secret is I just love all the craziness! I love having a million things to do, I love being busy. My husband thinks I am insane, and after 10 wonderful years of marriage (our anniversary just passed), I have managed to get him involved with crafting. If I had a mustach, I would be twirling it right now. I am so proud!

This year for our anniversary I convinced my husband we should make gifts for each other. After all, what could show our love better than something from the heart. I can't believe he actually did it. He sent me out for the afternoon last week (major bonus!) and he stayed home with the kids and made me presents. He even baked me a cake! Poor thing tried to melt chocolates, but he scorced them and it seized:( But the kids were still so excited, they told us they really like crunchy chocolate.

In all fairness, I thought I should make him something that was out of my comfort zone. I did a scrapbook of our years together. I have to say I have an entirely new admiration for you scrapbookers. I never quite understood how hard it is, or how creative the process could be. Well, this has been an amazing weekend! And now I get to really focus on the holidays:)

I'm so excited about all the projects I have planned, including making a life size gingerbread family for my front yard. I found a craftperson on etsy to cut out the gingerbread pieces for me. I've already started painting them and can't wait to see how they turn out. Pics to come!

Enjoy getting into the holidays everyone!

Lollishops Is Open At Last

Yummy cupcakes!

Lollipops, for lollishops.

Pretty cake plate

Cookies for Santa?

A few months ago, while playing on my computer, I came across a woman named Sadie Lou. How adorable, and even more adorable she was opening a new online store called Lollishops. It is called a frou frou friendly marketplace, and I am so excited to be a part of it!

Lollishops has just begun, but I am already loving this place. I feel right at home with my girly designs and my tendancy to believe more really is more. I love gold, glitter, swirly design, flowers and sweet treats. Here I can let is all go!!

The other vendors here are so talented, and many are familiar faces I have seen around etsy. Etsy is still a wonderful marketplace, and I am proud to show my work there as well!!

Come check it out www.lollishops.com/purplesmurple

And the winner is.........

Congratulations...mommylion . Thank you all so much for your holiday inspirations. I know I am very inspired to get started on all the fun and amazing holiday celebrations I have planned.

First, I have some custom order ornaments to be working on, (so much fun). Then I plan on making oodles and oodles of homemade ornaments for my daughters Christmas tree. It is all pink and glittery, and we are planning on decorating it with yummy wooden ornaments like cupcakes, lollipops and slices of cake. I have some terrific etsy sellers helping me make some custom shapes.

Next, the kids and I are starting a gingerbread house of major frou frou proportions. It will be adorned with lots of sweet candy and pink flowers. Pictures to come.

And of course, the decorations. I'm looking forward to blog hopping and checking out everyone else's ideas.

Happy Holidays !!

It's time for Christmas - Time for a give-a-way

Yummy!! Without the guilt.

Thanksgivings not even here yet, and I already have visions of plumdrops dancing in my head. This Christmas is going to be so fun filled, I have so many projects in the works. Here in sunny Florida, we are experiencing our most fabulous time of year. The weather is remarkable, and I always understand why so many people flock to this area every year. Plus we are in our growing season, so here comes the planting. I can't wait to bring the kids to pick their own veggies at our nearest u-pick (which is kinda far, but totally worth it).

My 8 year old daughter just told me this morning that this is a time for giving. I couldn't have said it better myself! So in the spirit of giving, I've decided to come up with a really cute give-away!! This will be my first one so I'm super excited. Please leave a comment on how you plan on getting into the holiday spirit, along with a way to contact you. I will be picking a winner this Friday, Novemeber 28 2008. I will announce the winner Friday afternoon.

The item one lucky winner will receive is this handpainted one of a kind yummy Christmas ornament!!! This comes from a new series of ornaments I have painted for the newest shop I will be a part of soon, lollishops!!hooray. This amazing new market place is going to be the next greatest shopping experience, especially for those of us in touch with our ultra girly side. Here I won't have to show restraint, but can let my frou frou self go hog wild!

Good luck and stay posted!

Lets Paint a Child's Room

Little Girls Room

Nursery

A Little Bit of France

The rest of these are one room, mural goes around entire perimeter of bedroom.

So, I've been at this painting thing for many, many years. I've learned a very few things along the way, like I always have tons of fun doing what I do. I'd like to give a few simple tips for making a childs room look fabulous.

First, always start with a fresh coat of water-based paint your walls. DON'T be cheap here, get the best quality you can afford. It will serve you well, and in the long run, the cheaper paints require more coats of paint - so you're not really saving any money. I prefer eggshell, but some mural artist like flat paint better. Eggshell or satin paint washes better, and when dealing with children's rooms, this quality goes a long way. (Trust me, I'm a mother of three children that rival some very well know graffiti artists.)

Second, when choosing the base color for your wall mural, try a bold color. When I paint on white, the result is never quite as dramatic. I say, get more bang for your buck, go bold with color. Since I very often paint outdoor scenes in children's murals, I prefer a sky blue to start with.

Third, paint the entire room. No, you don't have to paint everything in the room, but small accents painted around a room bring the entire theme together. For instance, I will sometimes paint a lovely arbor in a little girls room. Adding some flowers growing around the perimeter of the room and butterflies draws the viewers eye around the room.

Last, when painting a childs room, don't forget this is for the child. Add small details in your mural that will grab the interest of the child. Remember to put objects at your childs eye level, this becomes a great teaching tool as they grow. They will point out their favorite animal or butterfly (or whatever your theme is.) And don't forget to have FUN!!!!

This is my super real life

Hmmm - are you having a super real life? I know I am - including trying to start a business to having a busy life raising three rowdy (I mean highly intelligent and always busy) kids.

When I was in my early twenties two of my nieces explained to me (as only a 5 year old could) that I was not leading a super real life. As a college student in the 90's, and having the time of my life, I begged to differ. I was happy, and excited about the prospects of my future. The girls explained to me, I had a real life, just not a super real life. Say what???

They went on to explain that even though I had a life, you had to get married and have children to have a super real life. I thought this was hysterical, I had no intention of ever getting married, I planned on pursuing my art career. Furthermore, my life couldn't have been any more super - life was amazing!

In the next year I met the love of my life, got married and promptly had children. Well, suddenly my life felt a whole lot less super, and a bunch more hectic! Wow, who knew one child could make so much noise? I thought, "this is my super real life?". Don't get me wrong, I loved my life, but not any more than the life I was leading before I was married and had children.

Three children later I realized something was missing. It wasn't with my marriage, which thank you God, is great. It wasn't with my kids, they are incredible! It was me, somehow I had lost myself. Somehow, my dreams had gone out the window when the burp clothes moved in. Well, why couldn't I still pursue my life as an artist and have the rest. I had messed up the idea of becoming a mother, I thought that was all I should do. I had missplaced myself, and in her place was supercharged mommy. My entire identity was wrapped up in motherhood. Please don't misunderstand, I love being a mother, but I love being me as well. I decided it was time to fix this.

And so, I feel like for the first time I am having a super real life. Not because I'm a mom, or a wife and daughter (by the way I have the most awesome mother ever). No, my nieces were wrong, what you need to have a super real life is authencity. I am finally being the person I always wanted to be, a person who has family but also has herself. Now I will pursue my other interests and make myself a priority once in a while. If starting a business doesn't work out, thats O.K. too, because I am not any of these labels, I am simply me.

I hope while you are reading this that you feel happiness and fullfillness in your life. I am on a journey to be just me, and I love to hear your input on how you pursue your own super real life. I will stumble many many times along the way, but that's O.K. too.

My Murals

Murals by Christina a.k.a. http://www.purplesmurple.etsy.com/
Details of Last Supper Painting
Painted Medallion
Family Crest

Last Supper in its entirety - this is painted on canvas and applied to ceiling. Is removable, this mural was removed from this site, and reinstalled in another house.

Canvas Floral Painting

Decorative wall Niche

Elegant Bathroom

View of Tuscany

Italian Landscape

In Formal Dining Room

Painting directly on wall inspired by rococo period. Two views of same mural.

Ladies at Bath

Inspired by Francois Boucher

This is the beginning of my way to share my portfolio with the world. I am a mural artist, as well as creator of fine gifts and doll maker. I pretty much try everything that interests me, and I try to do them all well. However, murals are my first baby. I attended Florida State University, and received my degree in visual arts and art history. I went on to paint in the South Florida areas, covering private homes, businesses, and model homes. Currently, I am working more from home and have started a gift shop on etsy, called http://www.purplesmurple.etsy.com/. All the paintings you see are completely painted by me and me alone. I do not use projectors or stencils, so everything is painted freehand. Acrylic paint is my medium of choice, however, I am able to use other mediums such as watercolor, pencil, etc. etc. Much of my work is inspired by artists throughout history, such a Francois Boucher, Michelangelo, rococo artists, and renaissance art. My history background helps me in my research and knowledge of the past and present, which is reflected by my work.

If you are interested in contacting regarding murals, you can e-mail me at

christinacrowley@ymail.com . Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio. I will be adding products from my gift shop, as well as the children section of my portfolio soon.