Fish Dance a la Klee

Sad to report but I am quite behind on my art challenges.

I had a fabulous weekend at two different art markets and spent an afternoon taking photographs at the zoo, but it left me very little time to catch up on my art work.

I created this piece with the intention of including it in Take a Word's Circle challenge but simply ran out of time.

After tinkering and changing proportions and colors, I finally got a balance that I really liked!

Winged Swimmer - TAW challenge

Fairy Flight - TAW Bird Challenge

":I'm taking a ride with my best friend

I hope he never lets me down again

He knows where he's taking me

Taking me where I want to be

I'm taking a ride with my best friend

We're flying high

We're watching the world pass us by

Never want to come down

Never want to put my feet back down on the ground"

-Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

I thought it would be fun to add a little steampunk 

fairy flavor to the Take a Word Bird challenge!

Green Promenade - TAW challenge

They do say that opposites attract, but sometimes such things go a little too far extreme!

French Quarter Black bird- TAW challenge

One of the things I love about the natural world is the wide variety 

of animal life at different locales around the world.

Here is a fabulous example of a black bird from the region of southern Louisiana

pictured in front of her natural habitat in the French Quarter.

Laissez bon temps roulez, little birdie!

Blue - TAW challenge

I imagine that one Queen Elizabeth I would be quite a handful.

Foolish Doctor.

Combining some cracks in time and space, a time traveling police box, and the Tudor Queen that you married, could lead to some rather unpleasant hijinks!

Vintage Odd Couple - TAW challenge

Sometimes we love not wisely, but too well!

Home from the Tea Party - Hat Challenge from TAW

I suspect that our penguin friend had a fabulous time at the Queen's Tea Party.  He most certainly was wearing the most fabulous hat!

Happy New Year! - TAW challenge

Fiery - TAW Orange challenge

Blue Thylacine - TAW Australia Challenge

The challenge this week from Take a Word was Australia.

My first thought was of some of the amazing wildlife found only in Australia.

I've always thought how unfortunate that the intriguing Thylacine is gone from this world.

But perhaps they can still be found in Fairyland?

My sources are public domain images from Wikimedia Commons, all altered to suit my needs.  ;)

Something Blue - TAW challenge

Somewhere over the rainbow,

something blue and beautiful.....

I suppose it was inevitable that I went there some time or another....

Showbiz - Take a Word Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Take a Word was Showbiz.

I've always had a weakness for the original Vamp, Theda Bara.

Checking my posting list, I can't believe that it's been fifteen days since I responded to a challenged or posted.  My schedule has been unusually packed but I missed this so much.

I'm glad to have had time to fit a piece in!

Creativity is always a joy.

I wear the cheese - TAW Hot Color Challenge

I may have been re-watching the many wonderful seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

so I might have gone a little out in crazy nerd space for this particular challenge.

While cheese is generally stored at cool temperatures, the color seems sufficiently warm.

The Elusive Whalephant - Take a Word Wild Animal Challenge

Shown here, in it's natural environment, is the elusive whalephat....

Don't Linger in the Graveyard - TAW Dark Challenge

When the sun slides behind the end of the world,

make certain that you are on the outside of the graveyard wall.

Scary things come out of the tombs as night....

Don't be alone with slithering things in the dark!

Red Queen, Black Forest - 3 Muses Challenge

I do love the drama of the black, white and red piece.

I was feeling very Wonderland themed this weekend.

Mad Hatter - TAW challenge

Our challenge this week from Take A Word was Hat.

I've never done anything Alice in Wonderland inspired

so thought it might be fun to make a variation of

the Mad Hatter.

So, here he is: a little younger

and, maybe, a little less mad!

Something Fishy this way Comes - TAW challenge

Please be very quiet...

We have been following the elusive leaping trout for three days 

through the thickest part of the mushroom jungle.

Finally, we have sidled up close enough to capture 

this image of it as it leaps after it's natural prey.

Astounding.  Mother Nature at her finest.

Butterflies on my Mind - TAW challenge

She felt a buzzing in her ears.

Her thoughts felt a little fluttery

but she knew she had never looked

so wonderful!

The challenge at Take a Word this week

was Butterfly

so this is what I came up with.

Beautiful, fluttering butterflies!