Tattered Rituals

So much of what we do, we have done before. Which is not a problem if it works. However so many of the things we hold dear in this life, seem ritualized, we patch and mend, and still see it's beauty, it becomes a icon. This image lead me to believe that it is time to stop patching the torn and battered, and weave something new, something that will hold water, or at least myself. You only get one life, the fabric it is woven out of, is entirely up to me.

This is a digitally manipulated fractal. I pulled it into photoshop and hand drew the worn effect and unraveling.

Love Untethered Bowl (Repurposed lp record)

Who Knew? I was working the cash register at my Mom's estates sale and sitting with a friend I said, Really who wants those old records anyway. To which she replied, I don't know, but I do remember making bowls out of them. What I had never heard of that. Well you just now I had to try! Being careful not to damage the color pencil on the outside I think it turned out fantastic!

Love Keeps no Record

In January of this past year, I announced that this years theme would be relationship, both in my art and in my personal life. And what a year it was. My Mom died in February, it was a rough blow. In March we started preparing her home for sale. It was a huge undertaking, a 9 month journey, comprised not only with the discovery of Mom's relationship with her possession (it was a passionate affair for her) but it tried and questioned every relationship I had. Some relationships thrived, some faltered, some were lost, and some could go either way. My art, well it went all over the board and back again. It too appears to be in a state of flux. But as the close of this year is upon us I will have to leave my art theme, with what I learned, and my final piece in the year of relationships.,Love keeps no Records. Color and Oil pencils on a vintage vinyl LP. It is inscribed with the following...Love grows older, but keeps no score...ever and always flings windows open,breaks down doors.

Super Tiger!

Off to the rescue, this kitty got to fly. I find this super hero kitty theme irresistible. We have a new kitten in the house and it is true they will take on the world to rescue something...now if they could just manage to get down from that tree...

Kittygarden 101 by Alma Lee:

Look out here come the Cube-a-Kittens! Warm cuddly and so easily distractive. Still their CLASS is undeniable.

I have been absent from here for a awhile, I have been experimenting with jewelry. I am afraid it is quite addicting...yet again another art addiction! Anyway I thought that I would show you my steampunk time traveler necklace.

The Red Cloche

I am in awe of the Tamara Lempicka's portraits of women. otherworldly, strong yet vulnerable. It takes just that sort of woman to pull off a red Cloche. Red because you mean it, Cloche because you wished you had held it longer.


The Red Cloche, by Alma Lee

WIP Nude in a Wing back Chair

It has been ages since I tried a nude. I was looking through Lempicka's work and trying to get a sense of her cubism planes in both her figure distortion and fabric draping. I was sketching using her "Portrait of Madame M" when the left side of my brain went numb and the right side saw a nude. This is my rough in sketch done in Graphitint pencil.

Dog Pile by Alma Lee, First Place in the American Art Awards

I got the announcement late last night. My paintings "Dog Pile" and "Party Animals" won at the 2010 annual American Art Award show.
Dog Pile took 1st Place in the Cubism Category and Party Animals came in 2nd in the Pen, Ink, and Pencil category. The annual contest is judged by judges from 25 of some of the countries top galleries. It is a great show, take some time and see the extraordinary art coming from this nations artists. It is truly inspiring! 2010 American Art Awards

Dog Pile
1st Place: Cubism








Party Animals
2nd Place: Pen Ink and Pencil

How to Achieve Full Color Saturation with Color Pencils Demo

I have had several requests for this link in recent months so I decided to repost it here. I am often asked "how do you do that kind of saturation of color with color pencils?" It really is a rather simple technique, but requires a bit of patience, and a chunk of time. So sit back and relax a bit, enjoy the ride and explore just how far color pencils can take you. Here is the link:
How to Achieve Full Saturation with Color Pencil ESBQ live.

and more Duct tape Beading

I am trying to finish up a painting and will be posting it soon. In the meantime how about a little more Duct Tape Red and black duct tape beads, bracelet. Fully adjustable. I am having way to much fun. I am trying to finish up a painting and will be posting it soon.

Duct tape Rides again

I seem hopelessly hooked on duct tape these days. I try to walk away, but the next thing I know is I am back at it. Here is my latest...Coral bracelet with duct tape beads. Each duct bead is interwoven with the wire to secure it's placement.

Nebulous Dream in Blue and Green

This is one of my latest fractals It is actually a combination of several fractals but I really like the result.

I ran across a picture of the domed ceiling of a mosque in Istanbul. It is my understanding the fundamental difference between the decor of mosque and a church is where as Churches are primarily adorned in on images, or abstract representation of the Lord, Mosques focus in on the patterns of God, Islamic life ect. This lends them some of the most beautiful and compelling art in all the world.

The more I looked at the photograph the more I thought about the the biblical descriptions of the eyes being the window of the soul. This is the result of my musing.

About the Original:
Size:14x11
Materials: 140lb Bristol
Media: Color pencil and Marker
Subject: Temples, Mosque, Eye Abstract
Original Status: available from artist

Froggie Fantastic

This is the second in my cubic frog series;

Fractal Froggie

Here I was just being a space cadet, my natural state really. Dreaming amongst the planets. Space is such a solitary place, remote and disconnected. Then suddenly there appeared Froggie Fractual and I met my first interplanetary friend. Happily we seek our next adventure. It is but one small step for mankind, one giant leap for fractal!

The Would Be Prince

This is my first cubic frog. I like all the interconnected circles within both the frog and his habitat. Yellow introduces you to the would be prince, Otis. Leaping out of nowhere and yet appearing as though he had always been there. Such is the nature of frog, and their royalty!




Size: 11 x14
Materials: 140 lb Bristol
Media: Color pencils and marker
Style: Cubism
Original Status: available from artist

The Would Be Prince
by Alma Lee

Art Deal of the Day

An evening in Paris,
let the promise unfold
as I ready myself
to have and to hold

Evening in Paris Kitty is now on sale in a 7 day auction starting at just $39 on EBAY

Trash Talkin

"Now far be it for me to talk trash...." and "you didn't hear it from me" But.... You can just hear it can't you, it always starts with a little harmless whisper in the wind and pretty soon the whole park knows.

This is the 4th in the Retro Pink Trailer series. Bold stark reds are the perfect backboard for the fresh hot gossip. It is done in color pencils and markers

About this Art:
Size: 9x12"
Materials: 1/2"MDF panel
Media:Color pencils and marker
Subject: Women, Retro Trailer

Art Deal of the Day

The Moving Sales Continues. This is Pink Kitty Square Hole. Auction starts at $10.00

Art deal of the Day

Square Kitty Round Hole

About this painting:
Size: 6x6"
Media: color pencil, markers
Materials: MDF panel

10 Day auction starts at $9.99

Art Deal of the Day

I am holding a moving sales on ebay all this month. This is the lowest prices on ORIGINAL I have ever posted.

Deal of the Day:
Seeing Red Kitty (Original)
Size: 5.5x8.5"
Auction Starts: $4.99
Auction runs from: April 13-18

Deal of the Day Auction:

After Hours Symphony, Woven in Dance

After hours we all come together, mingling, interacting and woven in dance. Movement and music are theme here, how they work together, enhance one another and making harmonious symphony.

About this Art:
Size 14x17"
Materials: pen ink color pencil, marker
Media: 140 lb vellum BristolStyle: Representative Original Status: Available from artist

Marriage Abstract

I love as supposedly opposite shapes come together and just seem to fit. Especially when hadn't even occurred to anyone that they would. Now finally united, this is love, this is marriage, this is life...or should be.

About this painting:
Size 16x12"
Media: 140 lb watercolor paper
Materials: ink and color pencil
Style: non representative abstract
Original Status: available

Relish the Relinquishing

There is not a woman alive who doesn't understand what wearing our favorite, drop dead, femme fatale shoes does for our psyche. But I am instantly reminded of the price we pay for those shoes also. Beyond the price tag, is there a woman out there that does not relish the relinquishing of those heels in favor of a well worn pair of flip flops. Why can't they be as thrilling????? #@%*$$#

This painting is done in color pencils and markers. Original status: available from artist

Happy Cows.....Bull Nibblefest on Ebay

Here are my Nibblefest entries. And yes I do question whether cows are happier in California, well being from Wisconsin myself I will give you the winter is better in California...but really are barns decorated in California Style really happier?

Happy Cow...











Happy Cow?...BULL!

Hug Unfurled (Entry in EBSQ Candy show)

People always say that it all starts with a kiss. And heaven knows I have had my share of Hershey kisses. But when you think about it usually takes a hug first to get things going, A hug must be savored and relished, allowed to cast it's spell. I wanted to convey this along with the mellowness, warmth and richness of the hug , Eye candy if you will pardon the pun. I decided to depict the wrapper in red starting to unfurl, just to illustrate the spark of excited passion we all feel upon opening the wrapper. Sit back, and enjoy. you know the Kiss is coming...

About this piece:

Size: 8x10:

Sub strait: Wood Panel:

Media: Color pencil, and marker:

Style: Still life:

No frame necessary, ready to hang:

Note: The colored pencil is applied layer upon layer to build up deep, vibrant color saturation an effect similar to the renaissance glazing techniques used by the old masters. It is then hand buffed to a light natural sheen and spray fixative is applied to prevent wax bloom. It is then finished with a UV resistant semi gloss varnish to resist fading.

M&Ms Breaking Tension (EBSQ Candy Show Entry)

M&Ms is the greatest tension breaker I know! One day I and my dog were at the Animal clinic, for the latest of many trips that month. After the appointment I was waiting at the desk to pick up the prescribed medication for Dix (my dog). While I was there the vet walked out and grabbed a handful of dark chocolate m&ms from one of the clerks.

He said "Man I love these dark chocolate M&Ms"

I said "dark chocolate? Now that's medication I need!. He told the clerk to go and get him one of those big med bottles, and he poured in a bunch of the M&Ms and scribbled across the label my name and PRN and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked,

Your prescription TAKE AS NEEDED and APPLY LIBERALLY!"

Today that is still the best medical advice I have ever received.

M&Ms Breaking Tension is done on MDF 1/2" panel, in color pencils and markers. Color pencils are applied layer upon layer until full color saturation is achieved. It is then spraayed with fiixative and a UV Resistant spray to preserve color vibrancy.

About this Painting:

Size: 11.75x6"

Material: MDF panel

Media: Color pencils, markers

Subject: M&M Suspended by Tension Wires

Retro Grey

Grey was the challenge on EBSQ. Grey I thought surely they jest, Grey? Color on hiatus, say it isn't true........
Grey now there is a challenge for me. I am so used to a vivid color palette. Then I remembered the wool suit patterns my mom used to wear, and grey flannel slacks. Remembering those things I began to wonder how would one of the abstraction artists of the era pull together the collect of those swatches? The project only seems possible using every possible shade, value and tint of grey. I went out and got my first set of tinted graphite pencils (all I had been waiting for was an excuse!) and let em rip.

Size: 8x8"

Media: tinted graphite pencils, markers on Acid Free Sketch paper

Subject: Grey

Style: Retro Abstract

Kandinsky Cadence (the final)

Kandinsky Cadence by Alma Lee
So here it is, a few mad dashes later, (yes I finally worked up the courage!) This is the final piece. It was such joy I will have to do more. Let me know what you think.

Thought you might enjoy a look at Wassily Kandinsky work on YouTube. Possibly the richest 7 minutes you will invest in today!
Kandinsky on YouTube

Kandinsky Study day 4

I am reminded of the commercial stay within the lines as I am working at this. I think my reoccurring squiggle line, is due to the fact that I have not drawn in the horizontal lines yet. I have to get to that part soon or else....

Kandinsky Study day 3

Started adding the color pencil work. Still contemplating that "mad" line. Probably won't do it...

Art for Haiti Relief, Karate Kat

Haiti Relief Auction, 50% of final sale price is donated to Red Cross, via Ebay missionfish.















http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190368005132&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I have transferred the drawing and blocked out the marker layer. I am playing with the idea of adding an instructed "squiggly" mad line to the piece. But right now it takes more guts than I have!
Kandinsky Study #1 2nd step

WIP Kandinski Study #1

I have been studying the work of Wassily Kandinsky. He believed that both color and shapes had a "language" of their own and each would elict a universal emotional response. I don't know if that is true but something about his composition that so ignites my creativity. I decided to give it a try, and share my work in progress in the process.

Kandinsky study #1

Clear Sailing

My third abstract. Clear Sailing...
morning noon and night. Abstract to the eye realistic to the heart:

About the ORIGINAL:
size 18×10”
media: color pencils, and markers
Materials: MDF wood panel
Style:Modern Abstract Cubism
Now available as prints:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/almalee/art/4503237-1-clear-sailing-psychedelic

Featured today on Imagekind

Kitty and a Bow was featured today on ImageKind. Don't you wonder how they choose what they do?
http://www.imagekind.com/

The Convergence of Koi

The Convergence of Koi as they float among the coral reef, the wave, water,coral and Koi. Make for delightful form and function. This is my impression of the relationship of each to one another.

About this Original
size 5 3/4 x 10 "
style: Abstract Modern
media: color pencil, marker
Material: illustration board
Status of Original: Available from Artist

For those of you who requested...here is the visual transcript link to my EBSQ Live Studio presentation on color Pencils

Kat in a Box

Box Kat Blues

Box Cat Blues, is my third in the series. I have set out to explore the cubic relationship and nature of cat features. I wanted to try to "marry" the sharp severe angles found in cat features along side of the soft and warm appearance we know to be present in our pet kitties.