I started out with vintage Minnie, then the updated version...the off to 1937 with the lovely Snow White (and the birdie sayin' 'girl don't eat that apple!) Next up, it was Sleeping Beauty (1959) and everyone's favorite sassy fairy, Tinkerbell. (Peter Pan, 1953)

It's kind of tough, I am trying to maintain my style but include elements so that the viewer can recognize the character.  I think that I have been more successful with this on the first four...Tinkerbell looks a little like the original gal, so I am trying to be mindful of this for my next piece...check your Disney history if you would like to take a guess what that will be!!

And just a side note...I have started using a fine glitter gel pen to add some accents on the last two pieces. It adds just a tiny hint of sparkle, but doesn't show up as much in the photos. (see detail below)

The before, shown on the left.  Shaking my head looking at all that wasted space, especially up top! 

On the right, the 'after'.  We took everything out of the closet (yep, EVERYTHING)

Step 1: Its all about sorting. (Cost, Nada) Here is how we seperated things.

• Long sleeve/short sleeve shirts
  
• Cardigans/Outerwear
  
• Dresses (long and short)
  

Separating by type not only makes it easier to find certain items but it also controls the space underneath i.e. if you put all your shirts together you will have an 'even' space under the area where you can add shelving, etc.  

Then within each category, we did color sorting, ROYGBIV.

Step 2: Use your overhead space!!!  (Cost, $5) 

Next up, we had all this unused space at the top.  In my own closet I use white crates turned on their sides.  I can keep items separated and if I need to move anything just take down the whole crate. Another bonus, you create an additional 'shelf' above the crates...for more storage!

Sometimes the crates can be a little hard to come by...for me at least because I am picky.  So for this closet re-vamp we just went to the Dollar Tree and bought five white clothes baskets for Jen's t-shirts (separated into two baskets according to colored tees and neutral tees), one basket for bathing suits, another basket for scrubs and the last one for random gloves and such.  Again, if you want to move them you just pull the whole basket down.  Jen and Jake liked the fact that you could see everything in the open basket.

...that's the 1-2 closet revamp!

The second decision…what to use for the media.  In January I used watercolor and toward the end of the series  started going just a little (!) crazy with jewels and various embellishments.  Then, last month, my series was all marker and colored pencil with gems, fabrics and all kinds of fun stuff.  It’s not that I am tired of working with those materials…I just try to give each series its own distinct identity, not only in the theme but also in the materials used. 

Another thing that I consider is what other events I have going on…travel plans, etc.  I try to plan the series so I am not carrying acrylic paints and canvas on an airplane…but that has definitely happened!  (Nashville, last spring)  I went to Michael’s this weekend and looked around…seeing if anything stood out to me…I picked up a few things, still not 100% about my decision.

And then, like it usually does…it just kind of came to me.  Instead of reinventing the wheel, I chose to revisit three Disney-related pieces I have already created- the Alice in Wonderland watercolor paintings I made for the Armory show.  After I made the decision all I could think was, ‘of course!’.

So…for March 2015 it’s female Disney-themed watercolor paintings…with the option to embellish and/or change gears at any given time, per usual!  I think I will approach this series much like my September 2014 'Cheer' series, I started by looking up the Disney films by year, then selecting my favorite movies an/or most popular movies.  At first I was going to limit it to only the animated films...but there are so many other Disney films that I love...so...not sure yet.  

I started with Minnie Mouse 'cause she was probably the first really Disney diva and should get a little respect!  The images I looked to for inspiration were the original Minnie, with the lil' red hat with a flower, blue and white polka dotted skirt and, of course, the iconic mouse ears.  My Minnie is more Minvera Mouse- Minnie, circa 'Steamboat Willie', 1928 than the more modernized version.  (which did you know that both Minnie and Mickey got a makeover in the 40's?!  I didn't!)

My Disney-gals (and 'other'!) will take a little bit more of a whimsical take on each character, remaining true to my own style of big eyes, tiny features and long thin necks.

I have already been thinking about today's piece...I think I am going to go ahead and show the more modern version of Minnie...stay tuned!

John and I headed down to Lauderhill on Sunday to drop off my piece for the Square Show.  I have participated in this show before and it's always a great one!  Tons of great art and the venue is just...FUN! Never been to the main Tate's down south?  Ummmm...here's a panoramic from the gallery upstairs...  

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for this year's show.  I had some monochromatic blue angels I had started a while back...but nothing was definite.  

Then Leonard Nimoy, aka 'Mr. Spock, passed last week and this weekend it hit me- I should do something based on him for the show.  Not that I am some huge Star Trek fan...I mean, don't get me wrong- I've watched my share of shows.  And I have made some Star Trek-themed art in the past few years, too:

..but something about Nimoy passing hit a chord with me, not only was he a cultural ICON, but part of my youth, but he was a multi-talented artist with a love for animals.  So I made an angel. I wrote his last 'tweet' on the edges of the canvas...and it seemed like the right thing to do, especially for this venue.

Sidenote... I gotta admit, I have to think about the angel motif twice, just because those are usually my signature #angeldrop pieces.  But I figure if the piece sells I will put the money back into getting supplies to make more art and more angels, so I thought it was fine to do.