Memory Ornaments

Old family photos tend to get hidden away in trunks and albums. I have a number of such photos of my Grandma Hazel and Grandpa Cecil that have been stored away for years. This Christmas I wanted to remember my grandparents and give these treasured photos an honored place among the festivities. What better place then on the Christmas tree!

This was a simple project. First, I scanned the photos into the computer and printed them on printable water slide transfer paper. You can use the original photos but then you can not make more then one ornament with each photo. (These make great gifts so I wanted the ability to make multiples!) I bought ceramic white ornaments in different shapes at the craft store. After transferring the photo image onto the ornament I painted it with red craft paint. I added stripe and polka dot details with white paint pen and finished with a coat of shellac. On the back of the ornament I wrote any information I knew about the photo such as date taken and names. I look forward to sharing these photos and the memories they inspire with my family for many holidays to come.

Paper Doll Presents

Paper dolls are a stocking stuffer classic! In an attempt to give this retro gift a new spin I have made customized, magnetic paper dolls for my 5-year-old nieces, Maya and Peri. I drew dolls in their likeness and drew 4 different looks for them each to wear. They have a princess gown, a school look, a winter sports look and pajamas. I scanned the drawings into the computer, printed them onto printable magnetic sheets and cut them out. If you wish to make a custom paper doll but you do not wish to draw them you could use digital photos along with digital editing software. I purchased the printable magnetic sheets from www.dickblick.com but they may also be available at office supply stores.

The Christmas Art Box

My 5 year-old daughter Clara has recently become interested in art! She has requested both art supplies and "art lessons from mommy" for Christmas this year. Of course, I am thrilled with this new interest and I immediately went in search of the perfect art supply kit to inspire her. I found nothing on the market that was either fun enough for a creative, little girl or had the selection or quality of art supplies that I would like her to have. I decided I would have to create it myself. The result is a entirely custom art box complete with her initials, fun colors, flowers and, of course, a fair amount of sparkle. I found a vintage train case at the flea market and used fabric paint, paint pens, fuzzy letters and rhinestones to give it a new look. This was fairly inexpensive which gave me the opportunity to invest in some of my favorite art supplies with which to fill it. I can't wait to see her reaction on Christmas morning and I also can't wait to see the masterpieces she creates!

In Wonderland with Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat!

The Dixon's in Wonderland

October 2009

The Cast:

Oliver Dixon: The Cheshire Cat

Clara Dixon: Alice

Avery Dixon: The Mad Hatter

Autumn & New Art Supplies!

Charcoal, sanguine and white conte on colored paper by Heather Dixon

Autumn is here and art class has begun! All the charms of fall combined with new art supplies makes me smile! This semester I am taking a drawing class at Water Street Art Gallery in Sapulpa. Artist, Gil Adams, is my instructor again. You can see his work at http://www.giladamspaintings.blogspot.com/.

Above is my first still life drawing from the new class. I used charcoal and conte crayons in white and sanguine on colored paper. I really enjoy working with these materials and I intend to "play with them" more throughout the class.

Avery and Clara's rooms

Here is a photo of Avery's Bedroom mural. He loves science! I wanted a graphic mural so I decided to do a cross section of the earth's core. I painted the bands of color first and then I ordered custom wall words in various fonts that I applied on the walls. The text would not have been as crisp if I had painted it. He loves the resulting mural and I think it's not something he will grow out of quickly.Below is a very simple project Avery and I did together for his room. The top half is a peg board that is painted in silver and green stripes. The bottom is a piece of plywood that we painted with both magnetic paint and chalkboard paint. We hung it using a french cleat. It is a very inexpensive solution for storage and display!

Clara's room consists of a number of re purposed items. Basically, I "shopped" my garage and other rooms of the house. The large closets on either side of the window were in the study of our last home. I added floral and butterfly "wall sticker" designs that wrap around the sides. She now has plenty of closet space which I am sure she will appreciate when she is older. I carried the same floral and butterfly designs through the room randomly on the walls. I hung paper lanterns from the ceiling that were left over from a party that I hosted. I love paper lanterns, especially in a little girls room! I bought these at the local Asian grocery store. The painting above the desk is by local artist (& my best friend) Rosemary Daugherty! The girl in the painting is drinking a slushy in front of the a lucky stop convenience store. She reminds me of Clara!Outside of the kid's rooms is a linen closet that was not very functional. The hall is very wide and felt like waisted space. I took the doors down and painted the interior shelves a dark brown. I now use it to store and display books and games. The lower shelves hold the children's frequently used items. They often build a floor puzzle or play a board game right on the hall floor.

Salt and Pepper

My summer oil painting class is almost over. I did these paintings yesterday. We were asked to paint a few, quick, small, still life paintings of simple objects. I had a lot of fun with the salt and pepper shaker trying to achieve the metallic look on the lids.

The rose and pear was a class painting I did a few weeks ago. I still do not enjoy painting flowers - probably because I find them so difficult to paint.

This final landscape painting of Boulder Park was another class assignment. It was daytime but the moon was visible (day moon!) I love day moons! I gave this painting to my husband, Dave, for our 15th anniversary.

I am trying to decide whether I am going to enroll for oil painting again in the fall or take a drawing class. I love to paint but I have had three classes in a row and I think a change would be nice.

A VERY Large Canvas and a Bumble Bee

I have conquered my fear of large canvases thanks to the mural above! I painted this backdrop for this year's VBS drama production at church. The size is about 18 feet wide by 10 feet tall. I painted on a painter's canvas floor cloth because it was a lot less expensive then buying canvas by the yard. After it's life as VBS stage decor it will probably hang on the 3rd and 4th grade stage at church. At that point other props will be created. Perhaps a fishing dock and lake?

I have also completed the toddler stage that I referred to in a previous post. It includes a bee hive for our good friend "Bible Bee." He looks quite at home in his new surroundings!

Heather Dixon Studio on Etsy!

I have opened a shop on Etsy featuring my paintings! I have been working on a number of still life paintings on canvas featuring fruit and chinoiserie wallpaper. The print above features one such collection. I will have a gicelee, editioned print of this image available on my shop soon!

I have also begun to paint oils on gessoed handmade paper. This results in a highly textured painting. The lemon painting is one of my paintings using this technique. I begin with a pen and ink drawing of the subject. I then apply thin layers of oils (this is called glazing.) I build up the color further with opaque color (referred to as scumbling.) Finally, I apply colors using a palette knife. I use restraint with this application because I do not want to loose the luminous quality of the glazed colors. I framed the above painting in a custom black shadow box so that the paper appears to be floating within the frame.

I invite you to visit my shop on Etsy! I would love for you to invite your friends there as well! If you have not checked out Etsy before you should definitely do so! There are all sorts of inspiring item that are handmade by artisans throughout the world! There is an unofficial "Yart sale" on June 10- June 12, 2009.

YARD SALE + ART = "YART SALE"

I am participating in the sale by including a "Yart" section in my shop that features original oils painted on vintage bingo cards for under $50.00. I love the idea of a "Yart sale" because I believe art should be accessible! Everyone should own original artwork! Especially if its Kitchy, fun and involves upcycled bingo accessories!

The "Clubhouse" Set Design

Here is the set that I designed and built for the Asbury Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday morning "Big Group." It has been such a fun project that I almost regret that it is finally done. I am excited to start designing other children's stages at the church. I am almost done with the three-year-old stage (photos forthcoming.)

The theme of this set is a backyard clubhouse. We have a squirrel named Scout that lives in one of our trees. We have a galvanized pail on a pulley that brings us "pail mail" and we are all FaithZone Explorers complete with our own clubhouse pledge: "God first, others second, me third!" It has been fun both designing and teaching "Big Group" in the Clubhouse but now I leave the teaching in far more capable hands, my co-worker and teacher extraordinaire, Andi McMains! I will continue to work on the Children's Ministry team putting my creative energy into whatever new project may arise!

Little Birds and Sunflowers

Here is a recent home project I did to solve a design dilemma! I have a very long entryway. Along one wall I have a collection of photos, art and a piano. The wall directly across from it, however, has been bare since we moved in to our home. I did not want to do anything that would distract from the gallery of pictures but I also felt the blank wall needed something. I found this wallpaper at Target on sale awhile back. The background color matched the color of paint in my hallway all ready (one of my favorite colors - Tiffany blue!) I hung the paper on the blank wall. I love the pewter tree design but it still did not feel complete. I decided to paint a number of birds in a turquoise color along the wall. The overall effect feels more like a mural now and the birds make me smile!

My oil painting class continues and here is my latest. Our first still life with flowers! The canvas size is 8x8. I am really enjoying painting on a small scale. As for the subject, I find flowers intimidating to paint but, like my birds, sunflowers make me smile!

Waterworks Oil Painting Class

I am back in oil painting class at Waterworks Art Studio! Here are my first three paintings. I have always enjoyed painting landscapes more then still lifes, but now I am starting to appreciate still lifes. I am learning a considerable amount by painting subjects that are slightly out of my comfort zone - this bowl of fruit included.

The shed painting is an 8x10. I enjoyed painting on a smaller scale! I particularly like the propane tanks - very quaint! I might have to paint more landscapes with propane tanks. A landscape can't take itself too seriously if it includes a propane tank in the subject matter.

Oliver's Diagnosis

Christmas has come and gone and it's a new year! The time has flown by. Our home-made Christmas went surprisingly well, all though, I was not very diligent uploading the remaining gifts. I did not have a moment to spare between last minute crafting and Oliver's surprise diagnosis. In mid December Oliver was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. This was a total shock given we did not even know it ran in the family. We have learned since then that his great uncle Oliver was afflicted with this same disease! We spent the end of December getting educated about diabetes and learning how to help Oliver maintain his blood sugar levels. Unfourtunatly, this requires him to get at least four shots a day of insulin and check his blood sugar even more frequently. He is amazing. He no longer cries when we give him a shot or poke his finger! He maintains his usual happy disposition inspite of this challanging life change! We have a wonderful team of doctors, educators and nutritionists at the Pediatric Diabetes Center at the OU Schusterman Center and we have joined the Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation to become better educated and help them achieve their goal of finding a cure for diabetes! I will resume blogging in the future and I will craft again one day but I hope to find a way to do both to benefit this cause that is now so important to me, little Oliver and our family!