Random Bloggers OOTD Portraits #1

I've been on & off attempting to teach myself basic painting in photoshop the past few months. Here are the fruits of my labor. I've been trying to use different layers and clipped bits of fabric and reference images to make portraits because I honestly have little interest in painting anything other than people.

I'm not as thrilled about these as I would be had I made them with physical paint brushes and watercolors but I feel like I certainly made a lot of head-way in navigating my way around PS. But ultimately I'm pretty proud of myself for trying something new. And something has to be said about the ease in which I can undo my mistakes. Watercolor is not so forgiving.

Taylor (& my best good friend) of A Thunder Heart


Caroline of sparklyvodka


Kate of Scathingly Brilliant


I have three more in the works on my computer so hopefully I'll get around to finishing & posting those. If not, haha rest assured I've given up on painting in photoshop altogether.




-Becca

Ensembles: Forest Green

With Fall rearing its head all I can think about is the color forest green. It's been a favorite color since high school when I bought my first Smiths tee-shirt & paired it with my dark green cardigan. So stylish.

Anyways, I've been attempting to get better at using my wacom tablet (I've had it since 2003, you'd think I'd have tried at some point before now--ha!) and I'm starting to get the hang of it. I can draw just fine on it--it's pretty intuitive. I'm mostly having difficulties painting since I'm used to physical paints and this is quite a bit different. Though it's SO much easier to fix mistakes. What took me so long to get on the digital art bandwagon? Not sure, probably stubbornness.

So here are three outfits I thought would look amazing and pay homage to my favorite color...


smiths shirt // cardigan // faux-leather skirt // clogs


dress // heels


sweater // jeans // loafers

Hope you enjoyed these! I had a blast overlaying clipping & my art. Hoping to make this a more regular feature on my blog!



-Becca

New Art : Boudoir Series

So it's been nearly a year since I last did any real painting. I was doing portraits for various people on and off and once my etsy listings expired, I decided not to renew them since I'd been feeling less than enthused about painting. Or doing anything besides watching Netflix and going to work honestly.

I'm not entirely sure what has sent me spiraling into drawing/painting work mode, but I'm glad it finally happened.










If you're interested in purchasing a print of any of these, they're available in my etsy!

I also have custom portraits available again in my shop, so check that out if you're interested in getting a custom portrait done of yourself or a loved one! I'm planning on listing a couples custom portrait in the next few weeks, so check back!



-Becca

20% Off!

For any of you who have been interested in buying a portrait or pet portrait from me on my etsy, I'm now offering 20% off on any custom portrait. Just type in RIBBONS20 in the Coupon Code box when you're making your purchase and it will be automatically applied! The coupon doesn't apply to prints (unless purchasing a print with a portrait). Coupon will be valid until July 31st, so use it while you can! :)

my previous post featuring example portraits of my friends


-Becca

Estate Sale + Daisies

I love estate sales. Sometimes I feel a little guilty going to them, especially since I know most of the time they're happening because of a death or because an older person is downsizing and moving out of their own home, and into the home of a loved one/ assisted living.

But I try to think of it as rescuing well loved items from being thrown away or in this specific case, being turned into a pair of pants.

The house was beautiful and incredibly well-maintained. So often you see houses in a state of disrepair, squeaky floorboards, ceilings cracked from shifting foundations, and a thick layer of dust over everything. Each doorknob was clean crystal and the walls were a bright white with shiny wooden floors. It was very much a "shabby chic" home -- I felt like I was walking into Rachel Ashwell's house. All of the items that were for sale were clean and in excellent condition. I saw this sweet piece of brass and knew it had to be mine. I've been needing things to hang on my walls, and this fits my style perfectly. Bows and all.



After exploring the house, I went outside onto the screened in porch to look at the linens and found these. Some are hand towels, others are mismatched curtains, and the bottom bit of fabric is a huge beautiful cream and silver woven table-cloth. At first I thought it was a blanket...and I guess it technically still could be. When I went to pay, the girl who checked me out said she was disappointed that I was buying the table-cloth. She said she had been planning on buying it and turning it into a pair of pants...


top to bottom: large pink crocheted doily, pink polka dot curtain, pink embroidered dishtowel, white embroidered dishtowel, silver & cream striped table cloth

D: I like to think I rescued it from becoming either a failed project (it would have unraveled) or some incredibly weird looking pants.



I also bought myself some daisies at the grocery store because they were on sale, and I'm so glad I did. They've been a real pick-me up these last few days.


art on wall (left to right): "Copper, my good friend" original by wishcandy // "Tilly" by me

I'm still trying to find the right frame for the beautiful watercolor I bought from wishcandy last month! Everything I find fits it weird or I'd have to cut it down, and that isn't happening. If you want to buy anything from her, I suggest you do it now! In two weeks or so, she's shutting her etsy down for a few months while she moves.

-Becca

Insomnia

Ryan unexpectedly decided to stay the night at his place, which always knocks my sleep schedule off. If I have fore-warning that he won't be here a night or so beforehand, I can better prepare myself for being alone in my apartment all night.

I get anxious and paranoid really easily so I normally end up staying up the whole night watching netflix or painting. And since there's 16 seasons of Southpark and I'm having an art block, last night seemed like the perfect time to paint little portraits of my bestie (my sweet little Taylor) and a few friends (some of whom also happen to have blogs).


Taylor of A Thunder Heart


Katy!


Catherine of seecreatures


& my sister, Kait.

Yay fwiends!

-Becca

P.S.
If you want a portrait of yourself or someone else, hop on over to my etsy and click on the custom portrait listing. c:

Snippets

It's been pret-ty boring around here. I'm either at work or if I'm at home, I'm doing my commission work (and farting around on pinterest).

I'm expecting some exciting things to arrive at my doorstep within the next few days though, so keep yer eyes peeled.

-Becca

Valentine Ensembles

A few outfits I've put together and then illustrated. Mostly things I know I can't justify buying on my income but it doesn't stop me from wanting them any less.

top shorts shoes

I really love the look of those metallic scallop shorts but since they're from Forever21+ I'm immediately skeptical of the fit. But those are the only plus sized scallop shorts I can find so they'll have to do. I've almost bought them at least a dozen times online but since I've yet to try them on in the store, I just can't justify it to myself. There's nothing worse than ordering something online and being SO excited about it, then trying it on and realizing you look terrible in them or they're super uncomfortable. This has happened to me every single time I've ordered a fitted dress from ASOS.

The top and shoes are both from Styele369, a UK based company. Normally I try to avoid UK shops because either the shipping to the US is astronomical or they don't even ship to the US. But the top was just so cute so I put it on there anyways. I'll probably never buy it unless it's on super clearance because I'm pretty sure it's close to $80 USD and that is a bit too much for Becca.

sweater jeans shoes earrings

The second outfit includes mostly ASOS & ASOS Curve items. I personally am lusting after the Curve lavender skinny jeans. They are such a pretty color and they remind me of conversation hearts. The top is a pretty sweater also from ASOS Curve that I think compliments the lavender since it's so simple and the lavender seems like a hard color to pair with unless you were going for an easter egg sort of color scheme.

I tried my hardest to find a pair of enamel conversation heart earrings but all I could find were dangle earrings and studs made of lacquered real conversation hearts which grossed me out for some reason. But these little gold xoxo studs by SPUNKbyCM on etsy were really simple and cute and look nice with the outfit. As for the Vero Pointed Platforms, I really really want these shoes since I can't walk on heels at all so these seem like an obvious and stylish choice for me at least. I originally saw them on sparklyvodka and after she mentioned that she can't walk in heels either, I was convinced that I needed these shoes, haha. She has a great review of them if you're interested in purchasing.

hairband dress belt shoes

The final look is the most Valentine-y of all three. I couldn't help myself. I love love those shoes from ASOS and I've always wanted one of the heart or star crowns by giantdwarf. If they're out of your price range, she has a range of hairpins that are a little more affordable on a budget.

The dress and belt are both from A-Wear, a UK company that has apparently just started offering shipping to the US and a bunch of other countries. The dress is not solely plus sized, it comes in sizes UK6 to UK18. I know I couldn't wiggle my butt into it since I have a lot of trouble with fitted dresses. My body is just not proportioned right for them I guess? I love the dress though! It reminds me of Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides. It's so sweet and feminine.

Hope you enjoyed it! Feedback would be most appreciated.

-Becca

#1 Crush

I've been working on these valentine themed paintings the last week or so. I've had Valentine's Day on the brain since January, haha! I'm a bit obsessed with pale pink if you can't tell.

My bedroom "theme?" used to be pale pink, cream & gold but I'm trying to move away from that theme since Ryan and I will be moving in together sometime in the near future and he really hates pale pink. I think it reminds him of pepto bismol? Or maybe he just likes to hate the things I love. Don't feel too badly for me though, my kitchen and bathroom are still decked out with pale pink so I'm not really sacrificing much.

Annnyways, hope you like them!







-Becca