Felt Art + Marbling Design + Learning

Are your running out of craft ideas? Not to fret, as I've got you covered with another two projects. 

Kidspot: DIY Felt Art Set

Head over to Kidspot to get your hands on a Felt Art Template set I created. This set is the perfect starter kit for creating felt images. This activity is perfect for isolation, or travel (life after isolation).

My Poppet: DIY Marble Design Hat

In My Poppet land, I have shown how simple and easy it is to marble a three dimensional blank canvas. 

Here's a fun fact about the marbling ink (Bokuundo) used in this project. I bought the marbling ink from an art store fifteen years ago, and it's still good to use. 

WC Digital Portrait © Melissa Gaggiano

I have signed up for a swag of short art courses. I've completed a portraiture course that combines water colour with digital elements. The other courses I'm working through include BJD making, Art Toy Design, and Pop-up Book Making.

Ballet Meets Burlesque

© Melissa Gaggiano

The unveiling of my latest BJD concept. A nod to the Snow White fairy tale this doll is wearing a crystalline outfit made of emeralds and sapphires. I call her Snowdrop.

The concept is a little ballet and a little burlesque. In fact I could picture Dita Von Teese wearing a stage costume like this.

Spring into these Digital Prints

© Melissa Gaggiano

For all you scrapbooking and paper craft champs out there: I've designed a couple of print sets for you. The great thing about this product is that it's a digital download. That means you can buy it now, print it now (no waiting for it to arrive in the mail).

And so you ask, where might I find these wonderful prints?

Look no further than my Etsy store.

Flowers + Lace

© Melissa Gaggiano

Bubble Pop Electric Tennis

© Melissa Gaggiano

The Cola Roll

Digital Coca Cola Windmill
Scanning and Photoshop layers created by Melissa Gaggiano

These days computers, printers and scanners can be acquired quite easily for domestic purposes. But when I was growing up it was almost unheard of anyone having these things. So when photocopiers started appearing in offices it was just too much temptation. A generation of fully grown people the world over released their inner child, and photocopied their buttocks after too much tipple at work functions. Surely it had to be tipple because I can't imagine anyone doing this sober. I do not believe that derrière copying is a big thing anymore. Not when businesses were having to fork out money to repair cracked glass from too much weight pressing against them. Besides, we've now got Instagram to glorify our dorky selves and our private parts, so who needs a photocopier right?

When I was a teenager I visited my dad at his work place. I had just finished drinking a can of cola when I was pondering taking a photo of it. Dad had a better idea.  He placed it on the photocopier and slowly rolled it across the glass with the scanning arm. The result was a black and white work of art. I loved the photocopy and kept it for many years.

Today I finished drinking a can of cola and was reminded of that photocopy which has long since disappeared. In memory of that old photocopy I used my scanner, rolling the can awkwardly in time the scanning arm. And the result was this...

Coca Cola Can Scan
by Melissa Gaggiano

I Do It For Me

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I am proud to announce a new digital art collection - I Do It For Me. Check it out here, and interpret as you will.

    At the time of drafting these images I was thinking of the strong female characters from some Tarantino and Rodriguez films. Aesthetically sexy, their movement, clothes and hair attract the male eye, but surprise, surprise these women have an inner core strength. The way they dress, talk and behave, they do it for themselves, and not for the pleasure of external parties.

Her Face

© Melissa Gaggiano

Surprise Smile

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    Just two days to go before the Christmas market. In the meantime I have new artwork, Surprise Smile, available in my Red Bubble store. Come take a look.

Pink Surf

© Melissa Gaggiano
Buy "Pink Surf"

    Talk about being on a roll. I have a new art piece for sale. Go on and check it out!

     It's quite unconscious, but I must really like pink, and I swear it has nothing to do with Barbie. 

Splatter that Shoe

Buy "Splatter that Shoe"

    Newsflash: I have new work for sale at my Red Bubble store. Yay for the shoe lovers! Check it out now!

Cool Girl

Vector art by Melissa Gaggiano.

    It has been quite a long time [a few years in fact] since I last worked on any vector art. Years and years ago I started out doing most of my digital art in Illustrator. I eventually made  the transition to Photoshop as I became more confident with that program. This year though I thought I'd reacquaint myself with Illustrator and hone my technique.

It's List Time

    You know it is time to make a list or two when there are things you want to do, but just cannot seem to get started. Yep! That is my head space at the moment.
    On the flip side I do have some wonderful library books that I look forward to plowing through. Beginning with My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

Art by Melissa Gaggiano.

Nerd Evolution

Nerd For Sale

    Wonderful news on the creative design front. I have lovingly nerdy clothing art available at my Red Bubble shop. 

Check it out right here, right now.

Digital Artwork by Melissa Gaggiano

Melissa Gaggiano's art available at Red Bubble

Visit my Red Bubble folio at...

www.redbubble.com/people/emjie/portfolio

Roller Art Piece

Art by Melissa Gaggiano

Yay Hooray

A few months ago I mentioned that my Wacom stylus had gone bung [I think someone dropped it]. Well, anyway, today I can rejoice. My replacement Wacom stylus arrived in the post today. Finally! I have felt like a finger had been chopped off without the use of a stylus for my digital artwork. Honestly once you've learnt to work with a digital stylus for Photoshop and Illustrator there is no way you can go back to using a mouse. Let the intrepid digital art insanity recommence.

Yummy Food

Just some of my fave, crave, raves…

A Rosy Blur

This afternoon I doodled in Photoshop with the below illustration. Then I added different motion blur effects, just to watch what happens. There are some Dr Who like effects happening, I think.

Just Dance