I wanted to try something new.... I ALWAYS have music on in my studio, but this time I chose a favorite song and basically listened to it over and over and over again while I painted intuitively.  I was really attempting to capture how the song makes me feel.  

This 1st song is, "Come Along" by Titiyo.  

The first time I heard this song, I was driving in my car and I believe they were playing it because a contestant on the TV show, THE VOICE was doing a version of it with her coach.  I immediately loved it!  I listen to it often :)

My next piece has so many layers!   I would paint and like how it looked, but something just wasn't right.  Then I just started painting the circular motion and switching up the paint between my blue and purple... I just kept the swirls going.  I finished for the day to let my paint dry and I just kept looking at the piece.  I saw a very distinct eyeball in the center of my swirl pattern!  I ignored it at first, but then I thought, "Wow, that is too perfect and it must come out more clearly."  I added the white around the iris and brought out the face that was already present then I painted the sides and edges black.

This next piece is titled, "Window to the soul".  
One of my customers, Sabrina, came up with this title
​so I sent her the 1st print as a thank you gift.  ♥

This piece was painted while listening to the song "Let it Go" by James Bay.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and come along on my journey!  ~Alicia

ad·ven·ture
adˈven(t)SHər,ədˈven(t)SHər/
noun 
An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.
verb
Engage in hazardous and exciting activity, especially the exploration of unknown territory.

It's Thursday and that means BLOG POST in my studio :)

Gallery exhibiting is a new adventure for me in 2016.  I love to challenge myself with new techniques and new adventures in art.  It has been fun to meet other artists.  I always get a bit nervous right before the show is about to open but that too is part of the fun!

Tonight is the private showing for the ART270 "Figures Exhibit".  I have 3 pieces and I am excited to see my work on display with all the other artists!  It is so interesting to see everyone's different styles.  If it's anything like the FACES exhibit, the gallery will be PACKED.  

Thank you ~Alicia

Thursday, January, 14, 2016 it is OPENING NIGHT with a private reception at Art270 Gallery in downtown Salt Lake City.  This is my first gallery exhibit and I am really excited!  Terence K. Stephens is the owner and curator of the gallery.  15Bytes Magazine has a great story about the transformation from small retail mart into a fun art gallery.

I am exhibiting 3 pieces:  
MaJuBree, a woodland fairy,  Madame Mystical, a gypsy fortune teller, and Tanzee, a woman of the universe.  Each is a 16" x 20" on canvas.
​The FACE OFF show runs until February 9th 2015.

Thank you to my daughter's boyfriend for providing the inspirational quote for today's blog post.

​Have a creative day ~Alicia 

I have 3 original mixed media paintings on exhibit at Art270 Gallery 
and the private showing is tonight!
I'm excited and a bit nervous.

I'm Alicia Hayes and my fairy name is
"Bracken Rainbowwand"

Here's what my "fairy-self" is like:

I bring good fortune.  I live where bracken and curling ferns grow.  I can only be seen when the seeker holds a four-leafed clover.  I wear leafy bracken-greenand have multi-coloured wings like a butterfly.

What to know your own fairy name?  
YES, I thought so.  :)
The name generator that I used can be found here:
Fairy Name Generator. 

This original mixed media on canvas measures 16"x20".  
Her name is "MAJUBREE".  
This original name is a combination of all 3 of my daughters' names.
​♥ Love to mix in little hidden meanings where I can. ♥
​She is a woodland fairy and is all about romance.  As with allfairies, she is a bit mischievous as well. She LOVES to play hide and seek with the butterflies.

If you have read my other posts, you know that I usually start out with a rough idea in my head and then the painting just takes on a personality of its own.

Sometimes, the face that comes through is still likable, but not at all what I had in mind.  This happened while creating my woodland fairy.  I knew I wanted to use warm colors and that she would have mainly brown hair.  LOOK who appeared first.... she looks like a FLAPPER Girl with a 1920s hair style.   NOT the carefree, romantic, fairy I was imagining. 

I added my handwriting to her wings using a white gel pen and then went CRAZY on her hair!   Eyes and Hair are my favorite parts to paint.  

Finished!   I really love how she turned out.  I will keep you posted on the gallery.  I love to read your comments and if you have a question, please feel free to use the contact me button!   Have a great evening, ~Alicia

Happy 2016!
What new projects, goals, dreams, etc. will you be working towards this year? 

I love the new year, it's a Fresh Start....  
​Time to get more organized, time to try new things and definitely time to be grateful for the blessings in my life.

The first new experience for me in 2016 is to display my art in a local gallery! 
I am so excited to be included in the "FACE OFF" exhibition at the Art270 Gallery.  
I created 3 new 16" x 20" originals for the exhibit:  ​TANZEE, MAJUBREE & MADAME MYSTICAL.

The first piece I started was TANZEE.  I wanted to try a new look and stick with a simple palette of Turquoise, Peony Pink and Dioxazine Purple.  Although I have worked with a 16"x20" canvas previously, 

• Live in the Sunshine 
• Pirate Girl
• My Favorite Addiction
• Woodland Fairies
• several commission pieces

I usually work with 12" x 12" or smaller.   I really enjoyed working in this larger space, maybe an even larger canvas is in my near future!

My daughter named this piece TANZEE, until then she was just called the blue girl.  When I finished this girl I really wanted to find a name that had meaning that could be appreciated.  I did what anyone would do, I searched Google :)

I did a search with the words blue purple gem / crystal and Tanzanite appeared.  I read the description of the stone and then the meaning and it was exactly what I was hoping to find.

"This stone activates several chakras from the heart to the crown and is used to link the mind with the heart."

This piece came out of my hands so freely and quickly.  I worked the background as usual and then used charcoal to simply sketch in the basic shape of her face.  I was like a mad scientist with mixing and adding water and more mixing to get the right color for what area I was working on.  

​It was so fun :)

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post.  I appreciate your comments and social media shares!  Have a creative and inspired day.   ~Alicia