Sneek Peeks

"Revolt" face detail

I always have a few paintings going at once, this helps me not over work a painting but also gives me something to always work on while paint is drying between layers.

Here you can see 4 of the 5 pieces I am working on" Techno Eve" (working title)" I Couldn't Tell if I was Dreaming"," Blackbird Cry" ,"Revolt" and not pictured but also currently being worked on is "It's You"

"I Couldn't tell if I was Dreaming" is coming along Y

New! "Revolt" 10"x 8" on oval wood panel

I just recently started "Revolt" and I am very pleased with how it has turned out so far. I promise I will not start anymore paintings so I can finish this crop, I will soon be filling my shop with new originals and prints! Yay!

Bozeek!

I recently completed creating this cloth baby doll for a little girl I used to take care of, she is very precious to me, so I wanted to make something special for her. She named the doll Bozeek which I think is the perfect name!

"Bozeek"

cloth doll about 14" from head to toe

face detail

The pattern for this doll was inspired by a doll my grandmother made in the 50s,

I did a post featuring my Grandmothers doll a few weeks ago. I had so much fun making this doll! I plan on creating more and sending them out into the world through my shop! I think there is something so romantic about the simplicity and sincerity of a handmade doll. The magic found in plastic toys pales in comparison to a hug-able, hand stitched doll. After searching the internet high and low I found a vintage pattern much like the one my grandmother used here

SALE!

"Don't Forget the Pigs"

acrylic on canvas

8".10"

Piggy detail

I just uploaded a bunch of older paintings I did in my shop for sale, Including my beloved "Don't Forget the Pigs" My hubby and I are moving to P.A. and I have decided to mark a few things down because I really want them in good homes and not risk damage in the move.

Precious

8.5". 11"

Wings

8.5".11"

I Love You 2

8.5".11"

New Tote!

I love my little tote bags I must say, I have a collection of every one I have ever made that I wear all the time!! They are super soft and durable and hold a lot! Very eco chic ;)

You can have one of your very own by visiting one of my shops on the side bar!

New Art! New Website

"I just want to enjoy this a minute"

Oil on Masonite

5".7"

I have been working on my new website through www.otherpeoplespixels.com. It is not done yet but if you would like to see it as a work in progress please check it out! www.lauramuraco.com

Above is a new painting I just completed. I have been having a lot of fun doing a series of smaller paintings

The Removal

This is a piece sprang from a sketch I did on my way home from Therapy actually. I have been bringing my sketchbook with me on the Train lately instead of a reading book and I have been catching some interesting images.

"The Removal"

5".7"

Teeny Tiny

This is a little 1.25" x 1.25" painting I did on a cut piece of stick. Sorry for the bad picture, my camera was no focusing very well on this tiny little painting. I will be adding this to my shop soon as a necklace. I am going to add a layer of resin for protection, depth and shine.

"Untitled"

1.25" x 1.25"

First step of "Blackbird Cry"

This is the first step of yet another painting. This little piece measures 5".7" I wanted to also include a few of my reference pics to show a bit of my process:

1. So first I have the model come in, in this case my lovely friend Jessica ( http://onesugarhillblog.blogspot.com/ ) and if time allows I draw them from life.

2. I spray the piece with Workable Fixative so that my drawing will not smudge and smear when I apply paint

3. I take a few reference shots to refer to while I am painting, I rarely work without reference whether it be live or from a photograph. The only time I work with out reference is if I want a more dream like feel or if it is something I have drawn or painted 100s of times like the rabbits in "Eve" posted above.

4. I apply a thin layer of water-based oil paint to sketch in the dark areas of painting

5. Allow to dry completely and continue to build up the piece layer by layer, starting first with darkest shades and slowly working up to finishing highlights.

This is just a basic run through of how I essentially work :) I will continue to post as I go along to show the stages of this painting

On the Easel

"eve"

48". 24"

eve detail

"Eve" is not finished yet but I wanted to share what I have been working on.

I have been focusing a lot lately on the balance between realism and gesture. One one hand I seek a polished quality in my work, allowing the image to speak clearly. Yet on the other, I believe sincerity is sacrificed in the refining process. I feel it is difference between listening to a prepared academic dissertation and a brokenhearted bar stool conversation. I would like to find a place for both grit and grace to live in harmony in my work.

little baby kitty

"here kitty, kitty, kitty"

4". 5"

This is a tiny little drawing that had a mate I really liked, It is was a graphite drawing of a girl titled "Livinia", I seemed to have misplace her for the moment :( Very strange, I have never lost a piece of art in my life.

This is a photograph of it awhile before I lost it.

"Shipwrecked"

5" . 3"