Yes! I have gift certificates.

 

Can’t think of a gift that would be perfect? I can. The my studio offers gift certificates that can be used for mosaic, jewelry or artwork, even classes! You can’t go wrong. I have a whole new line of mosaic jewelry and would love to customize it for you.
Yellow Jacket fan? USC fan? Tigers? Dogs? Up to six letters can be used.

HO HO HO!

Laura.

This is easy peasy. Just click buy now and then add the amount that you would like to purchase. In turn I will send you a custom gift certificate that you can print for your special gift giving.

That’s it!

Told you it was easy peasy!

Just listed!

 

 

I have just listed a few new things at Etsy.  When you have time, take a look!

This piece is titled “I Wish you Blessing from Above”  She is a stylized original painting of mixed media.  She started as a poured painting with different colored paints.  When dried, I found the image and pulled in the sweet little animals.  It’s kind of like making figures out of clouds.

More info in my shop at Etsy :)

She is Thankful for Today

I have been participating in a mosaic exchange now for about 9 years.  This year my piece went to Finland. (Isn’t wild to think how small the world is now due to the internet.)  Her face is hand-painted with broken china for the blouse.  Glazed ceramic makes up the dress. The background is vitreous glass cut in little squares and rectangles.

I think she is precious.  I hope she likes her new home across the waters.

Artful Gathering 2011 - Online Art Retreat!

I am so excited that this year I will an instructor in The Artful Gathering 2012
Be sure to check out the blogsite for more information. 

Over twenty diverse art classes!

Come on and join the fun this summer!

New watercolor, appearing now!

“She  Loves Simple”

original watercolor

©Laura K. Aiken

Prints available

easy peasy…

Another class I was able to attend this summer was with Jane LaFazio.  This class was also offered at Random Art Studio.  My goal was to learn how to move the paint faster and easier without a lot of worry.  First I did my outline, which was a pattern from a tile and then I added the watercolor.  So much fun.  Then for some reason…I decided to add zentangles.  I think I got a little carried away.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

My Summer Fun…

Does this bird make me look fat?

oops! I can’t remember everyone’s name…

The early bird get the worm.

This summer I was delighted to attended Helen Shafer Garcia’s watercolor class at Random Arts in Saluda, NC.  We all had the best time.  So much fun to finally meet, in person, folks that you have “talked” with via Facebook.  If you have a chance be sure and take a class with Helen….and don’t forget to check out Jane Powell at Random Arts, she will be opening her new shop/studio soon.  It’s really going to be nice!

Lots of fun stuff is happening in Laura Land!  Coming soon-

Finally….a finished handbag!

This is my fourth year to contribute a handpainted handbag for the South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Handbags for Hope.  Such a fun project and I always do it at the extreme last minute.  I didn’t even think I was going to be able to create one this year…but I am so glad I did. 
Come to the auction and be intrigued by tons of other beautiful handbags by Greenville Artists.

Thursday, September 22 at the Upcountry History Museum

It’s for a wonderful cause, with great food and delicious wine!

Coming soon to a studio near you!

 

I have been having so much fun getting prepared for Greenville’s Open Studios coming up.  Go ahead and mark you calendars now for November 4-6th.
Tons of artists in Greenville will be showing off their works in their own studios!

Color Choices

 

Do you ever wonder how to come up with a color scheme? Take a look at nature.

There you have it!

What goes around, comes around…

So far this has been a great week. I have been painting (the best part of all) and dare I say, cleaning out my studio. Oh, what a chore that I wish I had not started. It’s coming along but trying to decide what goes where and do I really need this? For example, I have a large box of nothing but stained glass. I haven’t touched this in a year. Keep or donate? I have an oversized window, one that I wanted to mosaic-haven’t touched in a year-keep or donate? Do I keep both in hopes of pulling off the creation? Maybe I should just have an artist yardsale.

I did come across my first mosaic, a birdhouse. As I looked at that cute little blue stained glass mosaic I thought back on the different stages of my artistic life. The girl who loved to color, painted Minnie Mouse key chains and make pocketbooks out of tin buckets has come quite a ways. What is really ironic is that I am working with a friend Julia, whom I have known since my early teens. My mentor Suzanne Green taught Julia to paint and instruct.  Now, 30 years later (or more-yikes!) I have a studio and teach at Julia’s studio. I never would have thought this would happen, although always dreamed of having my own place and teaching. So, I guess it is funny what life has in store for us. It’s called following your dreams and doing what you love, if at all possible. Even though it may drive your family crazy and your in-laws to drink!  I cannot imagine a day without creating, whether it is pushing paint with water, acrylic or gluing a piece of tile to make a mosaic pendant, I have to create! So with all that being said, soon I will have a spick and span studio that I hope you will come visit. Lots of new artwork and jewelry are in the making and you can come watch! Thank you for making this all possible for me with your support.

Laura.

After all this cleaning, I do hope people will be able to tell! :)

Fun with Mixed Media Techniques

Just a reminder about classes

Another Fun Saturday with Mosaics

 

Be on the watch for another coupon coming soon!!  I love suggestions for other classes that you would like to see offered.

Technorati Tags: living social,laura k aiken,10 central ave,greenville,sc,art classes,children art camp

...believe in your own individuality

Learn to limit yourself; to content yourself with some definite work; dare to be what you are and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not;

and to believe in your own individuality.

~ Henri Frederic Amiel

I came across PerfectSentiment's blog today and the above stentiment really hit home with me.  I like it and want to keep it around.  Be sure and visit Erin's blog too.

Saturday Mosaic Class



Laura K. Aiken Mosaics 2011

http://www.laurakaiken.com/



Mama Loves Her Baby Bunny

This is my newest watercolor illustration, "Mama Loves Her Bunny". 

The colors can be changed for a boy or if you have twins or......

The frame here is for demostration purposes only.

Giclee printing starting at $35

email laura@laurakaiken.com

Highly Prized a sketchbook entry

Get all the details on the sketchbook challenge here.

This year I decided to participate in a sketchbook challenge.  I try to sketch every night so I figured this shouldn’t be too hard for me to keep up with.  PLUS you have a month to get it done.  You may want to give it a try too!  Follow the link above to find out more.

Maybe I will see you there!

laura.

Technorati Tags: jan246

Bella Pilar featured artist in skirt! magazine

Oh, I am crazy about this illustration!  Don’t you just love her fishnet tights and tattoos!

I wonder where she has been and where she is going?  She just fills me with inspiration.

Congratulations Bella Pilar, for gracing skirt! magazine with your featured artwork.

I want to be like this when I grow up!

laura.

The Trials

Here in Greenville, we had an art competition called Flat Under Pressure,

 sponsored by the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council --follow the

link to find out more about it.  Well, I participated again this year and

I can't tell you how much fun it was!  The thing is, that my projects

never turn out the way I intended.  I had such a great idea!  Where did it go?

I do like what I ended with, but -well-......oh well.  Does this ever happen to you?

 Can't wait until next year!

The Story  Brandi Cartile