100 Day Project - 100 Pastel Sketches 25 - 32

Here are the images for the next 8 Pastel drawings, I totally forgot to share these.  I have been using a selection of pastels to create the images, and beginning to see that some I favor more than others.  I have been using my Rembrant Pastels - check out the selection that I share on Amazon

I would love to see what you decided to do for your challenge, remember to share.

I will also be showing you a weekly process video showing you how I create an image in pastels, you will be able to see how I start the images using the pastels, I am finding the more I create, the more I am able to find ways that suit me.

 If you would like to see the daily images you can come visit me on Instagram.  You will be able to see the first of the weekly videos here when I share videos 41 - 48 or join me on YouTube, I am hoping that they will inspire you to get out your supplies and create.  I will be sharing the full video on my Patreon Site, which you are welcome to join.

To see a selection of pastels and accessories on Amazon click HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

2019 Podcasts, Courses and Bonuses

Well we made it through to the 2019, and I started working on a new series on my Podcast called 'Creating in Faith' which helps you look at your creative practice and with suggestions and journey insights.  What happens when you are asked to do something that takes you out of your comfort zone?  Say 'yes sure I can do that' while I freaking out on the inside?

I was asked to lead an online group in a weekly practice and by the time it came for me to get on with it I realized that it wasn't as big of an issue that I was making it and if I just let go of the doubts and the fear I could actually enjoy the process.

I want to share that journey with you in which I had to lean upon my faith to get through, some days I didn't want to create in such a disciplined way but I pressed through, because I realized that the growth was in the journey.  

Each Monday I will be sharing insights - using a different word each week as a starting point, and encourage you to take some time to be creative in some way.  Don't make excuses why you can't, would've or could've but find some solid reasons to give yourself the time and stick to it.  I suggest that if it is not something you are used to doing then you start off with say 10 - 20 minutes - you should be able to find that time for yourself on a daily basis, or break it down if you have to into smaller chunks say 5 minutes - there is a lot you can do in that time.

This weeks title 'Leap' encourages us to step up and step out - feeling the fear, but doing it anyway!   I encourage you to make time to work on yourself, your dreams and goals and put things in place that will see you achieve those things that you always wanted to do.

While you are there, check out some of the other episodes that I have created.

The Mixed Media Play Date Online course that I will be teaching on has started!  I would love you to come and join us.  I have a selection of bonuses that you can get when you sign up using my link - Check them out HERE.

May 2019 be the year that you unfold your gifts, shine your light and be a blessing to you and others.

Caribbean Fine Art Fair (CAFA) 2019

Every year in March the Caribbean Fine Art Fair (CAFA) comes to Barbados, and it attracts artists and visitors from around the globe. I have participated in 3 fairs so far and 2019 will be my forth year. 

The dates for the ninth edition of the Caribbean Fine Art Fair is the 6 - 10th March 2019. 

Our guests curators for the Fair is Victor Davson, Guyanese co-founder of Aljira Center for Contemporary Art and Oneka Small, Barbadian Artist, curator and founder of Artist Alliance.

Applications are currently open if you would like to take part. and you can check out the link HERE

It is a great way to meet other artists, with so many different styles and approaches from around the world and share dialogue and love for art over the 5 days of the Art Fair.  It is also great to interact with art lovers and talk about the work on display. 

I hope you check out the Website and consider being one of the exhibitors.

Here are a few of the photos from last years CAFA Fair, check the link below for a full look at the work of the Artists that took part.

Organizer - Anderson Pilgrim

With family and friends

Amanda Trought - My mixed media Wall Hangings

Fellow Artist and Art Curator Dr Myrah Brown Green

Fellow Artists and Art collectors

Here are some mini videos that I took on the day

Walking round checking out some of the Art work

Remember to put the dates for 2019 in your calendar and make sure that you attend.

So you got a flavor of the opening, you can check out the work of the Artists who participated in the 2018 CAFA  HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

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Affordable Art and the Anonymous Charity Art Show and more!

If you are going to be in Barbados between now and the 31st January, then you will have a wonderful opportunity to own not only one of my paintings and sculptures, but you will also be able to purchase the work by many talented men and women artists as well.  

Mixed Media Art Doll

If you don't happen to have the opportunity to make it to Sunny Barbados then check out my website and other social media profiles to see how you can purchase my art direct and also see what other paintings and sculptures available.

I am participating in the Affordable Art Show at the recently refurbished Queens Park Gallery where all the art work on display will be available for under $500. 

Mixed Media Painting - Amanda Trought

I have both paintings and sculpture available for sale

Mixed Media Sculptures - Heart - Amanda Trought

and it is a lovely gallery space!

The Affordable Art Fair (Art Supermarket) makes art more accessible for those who would like to start building their collection of a range of artists, and also opens the door for many emerging artists to show their work as well.  

Things are going quite quickly so you will need to hurry with Christmas only 8 days away!!  

The Art Fair is open until 31st December, so you can also get your New Year Gifts as well!

Opening reception of Queen's Park Gallery "ART SUPERMARKET/ "AFFORDABLE ART EXHIBITION" exhibition Sunday Dec 10th 11am to 2pm. 

No piece is more than Bds $500. 

The exhibition continues until Dec 30th.

Hours 10am -6pm Tues to Sat.

Curated by Janice Whittle

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Anonymous Charity Art Show

The Frame & Art Co is hosting the Anonymous Charity Art Show benefiting Jabez House. The show opened on December 8th running until 31st January 2018.  Here is the Online Album of work so far.  It is for a great cause and enables both established and emerging artists to support and show their work on and build your collection with artists who you might not have been exposed to before.

I have 4 pieces of art in the exhibition and there are over 200 original paintings created in diverse styles and subject matters are featured on 12" x 12" canvases and sold anonymously.

The artist remains a mystery, until after the purchase, when the name will be revealed. All paintings are sold for $375.00 BBD.

For more information, contact 271-6509.

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Crane Village Gallery

It seemed like only yesterday that I was preparing for the Carmichael Exhibition, and showed one of my mixed media paintings.  

Emerge - Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

She is still looking for a home and will be available on my website.  I have some new work going up at the Crane, and it is more abstract utilizing different mediums on the canvas.

Layers - Mixed Media - Amanda Trought

Photographs don't do it justice, the colours are really vibrant and the paints have different textures within them, you will have to go and see it in person!

There are so many other Art events that are happening in Barbados at the moment with  Exhibitions, artists, photographers, art talks, workshops and interviews and more - check out The Barbados Visual Arts Events a monthly online magazine published by Corrie Scott.

There will of course be other additional events happening over the Christmas season and on into the New year, so keep your eyes peeled!

Today's the day! My first Auction

Today is the day that my art goes up on the Survival and Triumph Online Auction.  I am very blessed to share the space with Jenny Doh  We kick off at 1pm EST and go on to around 11.45 the following day.  I have a few more that pieces of art that you may not have had a chance to see yet, and you can see the other pieces on my Facebook page HERE 

cloth and string

I have a mixed selection of artwork on display which speaks to the ever exploring creative in me.  I love mixed media and taking it off the canvas and the art journal and onto a sculpture, and you will see my figures combine fabric, clay, paint and jewelry.  

Engage

I love experimenting and also working with different materials including recycling, up-cycling and these too you will find will be able to tell a story and capture a heart.

If you haven't signed up yet come by and show some love and encouragement and who knows you may be inspired to do something creative for yourself.  Survival and Triumph  Auction

Painted Tray

Seekers 2

Seekers 1

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Survival and Triumph Art - Its HERE!

The Survival and Triumph Online Auction begins tomorrow and run until 2nd October, there will be a closing party, giveaways and more, and it has been great sharing some of the pieces that I have in the auction.

Each piece that I create comes from an emotion, experience, memory or something that I am using the art to express and it is a blessing to know that art can be used in this way.

I thought that I would share a bit of the background to the pieces that I created that are in the Survival and Triumph Online Auction.  I shared some of my pieces Here  Each artist has around 15 - 20 pieces in the Auction.

Over the 8 days you will have the opportunity to purchase work by 14 amazing artists that include Annie Hamman, Jennifer Bonneteau, Katrina Koltes, Lara Provost, Renata Loree, Jennifer Albin, Lynda Fortin King, Donna Davies Timm, Lauren Rudolph, Mystele Kirkeeng, Donna L. Martin, Jenny Doh, Dana Primrose Bloede, and myself!

This event is hosted by Stephanie Gagos once a year in honor of the very important film she is creating called

“Letter to my abusers: What I couldn’t say then”.

You can read more about Stephanie Gagos’ project HERE.

Here is a selection of my art that will be in the auction:-

Ancestors Remembered 

Ancestors Remembered - How many of you have done a family tree and really thought about the men and women who lived before you and share your history.  I have been thinking a lot lately about those family members that are no longer with us and the impact they made on my life.

Dance

Dance, this piece was inspired by the child impressed by the women in the old time films who would dance in those flowing dresses.

Dreamer

Dreamer, having so many dreams and seeing those dreams become reality, not being afraid to dream big, and through your walk encouraging others to dream.

In Search for Identity

In search for Identity - how do you make your way in the world, we are told how we should look, feel, what beauty is and what the world thinks of us, and more, but what do you think about yourself.  We can stop ourselves from achieving, travelling and being who we were called to be when we allow the world to define us. 

You can also see some of my work on my Website - https://www.realityarts.co.uk

I will be sharing more of the art on my Realityarts Facebook  page, do stop by and join us for the auction, even if it is just to leave an encouraging comment, we appreciate it!

Mixed Media Art Painting Giveaway - We all need someone to lean on

Art Giveaway - We all need a friend to lean on

 Ok I am part of the #1min1take Video Challenge and I have decided to do an Art giveaway.  My target for the challenge is to complete at least 60 videos of 1 minute to encourage you, inspire you and hopefully bless you in the process with different conversations.  

#1min1take video challenge

Some of the videos call you to answer some tough questions, others to think about your creativity and life.  In a few of the videos I will be sharing what I am doing either in the studio or on my travels in Barbados.

I created this piece of art recently and it was so much fun.  I thought I would share the process with you below.

It began its life as a piece of cardboard I had recycled and added collage and layers of paint.  It has some great texture on it with modelling paste and stencils.

Once I had decided on the base image I start filling in with gesso

And then adding some of the colors to give me a general ideas of the overall color of the painting.

I start to add some background and continue to work on the images,  You can see some of the modelling paste highlighted by gold on the painting.

A bird friend comes along and makes home with our two ladies.  Up until this point our main character is day dreaming lost in her own world.

And then she opens her eyes to the birdsong with a knowing look in her eye.

Mixed Media Art on Card 6 x 8 inches  - We all need a shoulder to lean on - 

Do you want to win this painting? then hop over to my YouTube Channel and leave a comment on the video above. 

Check out some of the other videos in the #1min1take challenge as I will be doing additional Art giveaways, and showing you art techniques and tutorials, why not subscribe while your there and click notifications so that you will know when a new video comes out.

Anonymous Charity Art Show - starts today!

The Event

I will be taking part in the Anonymous Charity Art Show again this year, which is run by the The Frame & Art Co

I have submitted 6 pieces to this charity event and it would be great to have you come out and join us, if your anywhere near Barbados! You will be able to see art and purchase art from a great list of artists.

The 'Anonymous' Charity Art Show Opens TODAY between 5.30pm and 8.30pm and continues to 14th January 2017 and you will be able to see over 150 original paintings.

The Art

Each painting is created on 12” x 12” canvases and in a variety of styles and subject matter, and will be sold for $350 Bds each.  The artists will remain a mystery until after the purchase.  This is amazing value for an original work of art, and with Christmas and birthdays and other celebratory events coming up they do make beautiful gifts.  

In fact why wait until you have a reason, you don't need a reason to purchase art, at the end of the day it is a great way to support artists and raise funds for charity as well.

The Charity

A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Nature Fun Ranch, run by Corey A Lane, which helps young people with their personal development, by cultivating positive outlooks. The ranch allows young people to speak freely with one another about important topics, including HIV/AIDS, providing them with a positive focus to guide their lives in the right direction, in a rural setting while tending to horses, working vegetable patches, or managing fish hatcheries.

Artists participating

Here is a list of the artists participating in this exhibition, some are established artists and some are up and coming - including yours truly there in the mix as well! : 

Akilah Watts, Alanis Forde, Alexandra Hanschell, Alison Chapman Andrews, Amanda Springer, Ancel Daniel, Andy Peirce, Angela Simpson, Anika Millington, Anna Gibson, Barbara Pickering Caroline Gill, Carol Dawn Hunte, Cathy Alkins, Cherise Harris, Christine Farmer, Corrie Scott, Darla Trotman, Donald Johnson Erika Haddad, Elizabeth McKenzie, Gail Oelmann, Heather Dawn Scott, Heather Meyer, Heidi Berger, Helen Tulip, Jackie Philip Jared Burton, Jean Blades, Jeanne Morgan, Julianne Gill, Julia Seymour, Justin Downey, Justin Small, Katherine Kennedy, Kate Hoenen, Keyonne Yarde, Kristine Choy, Linda Hallwood, Linda Tudor, Loralie Seymour, Lorna Rose, Lorna Wilson, Maria Stanford, Mario Holder, Markley Clarke, Michael Alkins, Michelle Bowe Moreen Beale, Morissa Singh, Natalie Atkins-Hinds, Norma Farmer, Patricia Hernandez, Penny Rollitt, Rachel Mouttet, Rosalie Chiara Roseanne Milligan, Rosemary Ellis, Rosemary Parkinson, Shanika Grimes, Shari Garnes, Sian Pampellone, Simply Saffie, Stella Hackett, Sue Williams, Susan Alleyne Forde, Tanya Foster, Wayne Hinds, Yasmin Vizcarrando and Yolande Lewis.

I am looking forward to seeing you there, it will be great!  If you cannot make it today, make sure that you take the time to visit the gallery you have until 14th January 2017!

Favorite Art Supplies - In the studio

I have been involved with the #1min1take videos as you might have read in my blog post yesterday.  It has been really great creating videos that you don't have to worry about editing.  It is almost freeing, of course I still enjoy some of the editing processes, but it does take quite a while to do, more if not equal to the amount of time it takes to film.

That said, I have created some mini videos that share some of my favorite supplies that I use in the studio.  I think creating these short videos are a great way to give you that spark of inspiration without being a long video, and I really like giving you where possible ideas that will kick start your own creativity. 

I will be doing longer videos for those who would like to see just how I use the supplies, the different ways you can use them and ways that you can use them that are not so obvious.

Check out some of my mini videos which I may keep going after the challenge finishes today, and let me know which ones you would like to see a longer version of.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.  See you tomorrow for some recycled projects.

She dreamed of a place - Digging up those long forgotten dreams - Mixed Media Painting

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

She dreamed of a place, not so far away, not so long ago, but on a different dimension.  She had been there many times, and in this place she was herself, she didn't have to pretend, she was who she was created to be.

We are all going through some kind of journey and we have to decide how we we can make a difference to those things that we have the power to change.  We have more power that we realize, sitting in a garden of treasure, with the tools in your hand but looking over to your neighbours treasure and asking why you couldn't have a better garden.

All along, all that it would really take is for you to dig a little deeper, show up, be consistent, disciplined and when you least expected it as you wiped your brow it would show up.  Those little glimpses of the treasure.

As she dug deeper she realized that her journey was important, her life had meaning and she had things that she could share, so many things magically happened around her.  She would often take these things for granted. she just needed to get over, round or through herself

I value my journey, my voice, my treasures, my sparks of inspiration, my gifts, talents and abilities, I value me!  I will show up for me, stand in the gap, shine the light, to through the process and continue to dream my dreams

What talents have you been covering up, or playing small and what needs some light shone on it?  I would love to see your comments, stay blessed and be a blessing!