Warning! This post contains nudity!

Here are a few more Christmas presents I made for family and friends over the holidays. Unfortunately I was so busy that I didn't have time to photograph everything that left the studio this year. (I was in two different 12 days of Christmas swaps (24 handmade gifts total) and many other swaps not including stuff for family. Whew.


I am including a Altered tin at the end here that contains nudity so if that offends you -you have been warned. ;)

An angel. One made for me and one for my Mother.

These Santa's are all from AS collage sheets; as are the ribbons, beeswax, rub-ons, and gold embellishments and they appropriately went as gifts to Leslie and Miz Bella of Alpha Stamps. ;)

Altered matchbox. This girl is AS too.

Here is a package I wrapped using a page from an old atlas and AS tag kit:

This is a sample of the girls that went to one of my 12 days swap:

And finally an altered Altoid tin with bottlecap magnets made for a family member:

Thanks for looking and hope you all had a happy holiday!
XO

AS Secret Santa swap

Within Alpha stamps design team we had a "secret Santa" swap where we made one handmade gift for one other member and then exchanged for Christmas. I was secret Santa to Lenna Andrews and this is what I made her:

In this hanging I used one of AS Ophelia Images, Ranger crackle paint, distress inks, beeswax, rusted wire and other found objects.

My secret Santa was Frieda Oxenham who made an amazing quilted piece for me:

I just ADORE it! It looks like she machine quilted it and hand beaded it in several places. I have VERY basic sewing skills myself so when I see something this beautiful it really makes me want to learn more!

Frieda you truly do amazing work! Thank you SO much, I will treasure it always!

A New Year, a new beginning...

Well I have finally succumb to the world of Blogging. The new year is upon us and I really need another place (aside from my website) to informally share my work, techniques and ideas. So here it is!

I have really enjoyed some of the amazing blogs out there and hope that I can make mine as fun as some of yours!...

I have been using Google reader to keep up with my favorite blogs over the past year and I really love it! It is free too. Give it a try and you will be hooked! :)

Thanks for reading and welcome to the World of Caspiana! I hope you enjoy your stay!

Court Street Subway Station

Oil on linen 12"x16"

SOLD

"8th AVENUE - NYC"

SOLD

Oil on linen 12"x20"

"OTTOMANELLI & SON - NYC"

Sold
Oil on linen 16"x20"

This painting represents two parts of New York city. The legendary Greenwich Village butcher on Bleecker Street - Ottomanalli & Sons and Gansevoort street of New York meatpacking district.

Light at the end of the tunnel

SOLD

Oil on linen 12"x18"

Click here to bid

South Ferry Train Station - NYC

SOLD

oil on linen 12x18

Click here to bid

"Fog in Central Park"

SOLD

Oil on linen. 12"x18"

I am starting a series of paintings of NYC Central Park. Find beauty in things we see every day.

Stone Street - NYC oil on linen 12"x18"

SOLD

It’s one of the most interesting places of Wall Street area. A Street rich with history - Stone Street was one of the New World’s very first paved streets laid out by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. Now it’s the center of financial district night life with its bars and restaurants where mostly Wall Street traders cheer their profits.

"New York - BALTHAZAR"

SOLD

Oil on linen 16"x16"

New York & New Haven Rail Road

Sold

The painting depicts the street scene of historic New York. The storm just passed, the old Victorian buildings, washed in the rain, look clean and bright. Despite bad weather, New York is as busy as ever: the street is jammed with horse cabs delivering passengers to the New York & New Haven Railroad station.

Video Game Expo

This October I did a 15x15 foot street painting in the lobby of the Los Angeles Video Game Convention. The painting was sponsored by G4 for the E for All Video Game Expo. I worked on canvas during the 4 day event and completed the painting at the close of the event on Sunday.




Special thanks to family and friends for all there help with this extra large canvas and to my agent Vicki Prentice Associates Inc.

FIRE ESCAPE SOHO - 12"x18"

This painting has sold

Court Street Train Station - Brooklyn NY - 12"x18"

This painting has sold.

"Dean & Deluca SOHO" - NYC

This painting has sold.

Dean & Deluca is probably the best gourmet food store in New York City. I couldn't resist painting it with exotic scooter parked outside. Prince street subway station and Armani Exchange store right across the street nicely reflected in the windows. Btw, if you ever have a chance to stop by don't miss to purchase Mariage Freres Marco Polo tea. It's one of the best black tea I've ever tested.


click here for more info on this painting

New Website!

MelanieStimmell.com has had a complete face lift thanks to good friend Mark Monciardini, creator of Photoshop Top Secret. He did a wonderful job capturing the look I wanted. It showcases my streetpainting work but for those of you interested in my fine art you can find that under the 'info' link. Check it out!

Festival's Four Legged Friends

Hi everyone.

I was painting in Denver this weekend and it was extremely hot. The asphalt was too hot to touch...which makes street painting a bit difficult considering I blend everything with my fingers ;) The daily high was 96 degrees...the temp on the asphalt registered at 125 degrees.

I am a total animal lover and it pains me to see dogs at street painting festivals on really hot days. Yes, dogs have a tougher skin on their paws but it is certainly painful for them to stand on a 125 degree surface. I saw these poor dogs actually hopping from paw to paw because their feet were burning. Please don't do this to your wonderfu pets. It is no fun for them and it is awful to watch. Please leave the pups at home unless the temps are mild.

I have been invited as one of 3 American Artists to paint in this years International Street Painting Festival in Holland. The event will honor the churches and cathedrals of the city of Utrecht. The painting team will consist of 3 American artists, 3 German, 3 Italian, and 3 from Holland. We will each be painting an individual reproduction from a Utrecht Caravaggisti whose paintings hang in the cities museums. The 12 individual 9 x 9 foot panels will be linked together by a city scape of Utrecht that spans the length of the mural - 100 feet or so. It will be Hollands largest street painting to date.

Santa Barbara Street Painting Poster

This years Santa Barbara IMadonnari festival's poster features my artwork. The Allegory of Art which I painted at last years 20th Anniversary. Not only the 20th anniversary for the festival but also 20year anniversary of street painting in the United States.

I designed "The Allegory of Art" to depict my own interpretation of the art form. An all female cast plays the part of Fine Artist, Model, Muse, and Street Painter. In the background lies the church in Mantova, Italy where the original street painting festival still takes place each August.