Well...the time is flying...already the end of August.  I can't believe how quickly time is passing.  Children are back in school...holidays are quickly approaching, the world is swirling around us.  I am excited to present the newest purse reveal.  This purse has also been painted by me, Debi Gajewski.  This has been my personal dream of helping others.  How is this helping you may ask.  Well, the project is set to auction off these amazing hand painted purses on Dec. 2nd here in my Village of Niles.  I have been fortunate that the Council that I am part of has chosen to sponsor this project to help benefit the charity WINGS.  These are repurposed purses which I bought at local resale stores which are very gently used and then hand painted by myself and other artists.  We have a wonderful gentleman who runs an auction house here in Niles called Lot 14 and he has graciously volunteered to be our auctioneer.  I am so very proud of the people I have come to work with in this project.  These are people who are willing to donate their time and talents to help others.  The Niles Arts and Culture Advisory Council is a relatively new organization who is looking to bring the arts to our village while along the way, helping the community.  If you would like to view the purses up close and personal...they will be on a traveling display beginning Oct. 5th and travel from our Historical and Cultural Center, the Library, our Holly Jolly Event and then they will head to the auction block.  More details can be found on my blog by scrolling down to the beginning story of Purse-ue Your Dreams.  I am happy to answer any questions you may have...just email me at thewonderfulwizardofart@hotmail.com

 With all that being said...onto this weeks reveal.  As I said before, this particular purse was painted by me.  I have been an artist for over 35 years. I am a self taught artist.  I have had the privilege of taking some classes along the way with some amazing teachers.  I have watched videos and many you-tubes.  I have practiced, practiced and practiced.  I have ventured into many unknown artists waters and learned much along the way.  A long time ago, my mother-in-law said she would never do what I do in a million years.  She didn't understand the joy of art.  She didn't understand the feelings of tranquility that happens while in an artistic trance.  She evidently didn't understand the feelings of accomplishment that I had each time I mastered a new technique.  I don't think she understand what it was like to teach students how to accomplish the same was such a sense of accomplishment for myself.  To see others prosper by learning as well.   But she never delved into my world.  My world of art is a place that makes me who I am...colorful, I have swirled around in artful endeavors and challenged myself continuously along the way.  This purse is done with a brand new technique that I have learned.  It has been done using DecoArt's Americana Acrylic paints.  It is a technique that I have had great fun learning and wanted to share.  So without further adieu..here is my ART-Couture.  

Week after week, I am so proud to reveal purse after purse. I hope you are following this project and enjoying the reveals.  I hope you have found one you love.  Come out to the Auction on December 2nd and make sure you make your purse dream come true by bidding on it.  

If you are unsure of what is happening, let me introduce you to my project which is sponsored by the Niles Arts and Culture Advisory Council here in my village of Niles, Illinois.  I have shopped the resale stores for gently used purses and found wonderful artists who so generously volunteered to give them a new look with their painting skills.  The purses will then go on a traveling display in Niles, ending with an auction on Dec. 2nd.  Even our auctioneer, Lot 14, has generously donated his talents for the event.  Detail of their travels can be found here on the original blog PURSE_ue Your Dreams if you just scroll down.  I am very excited to know that the monies generated at the auction will go to the charity WINGS.  They are a wonderful organization dedicated to helping women and children who have been subjected to living in domestic violence.  I hope you will help us help them by participating in our project.  What a great way to gain a piece of art that you can show off wherever your go!!  And so, with the being said, on to today's reveal of GALLAXY SPILLPUT.  This purse was done by me, My inspiration was 2 other artists actually.  The earth spill was inspired by an artist, Ian Harris tutorial and the galaxy was inspired by Cinnamon Cooney.  I so enjoyed their individual art forms that I combined them into my style.  There is so much wonder and beauty in the universe.  I hope you enjoy this design. 

This was painted using DecoArt's So-Soft Fabric Paints.  I absolutely love how beautifully the paint goes on and keeps a soft, flexible finish.  

Well, another week has flown by for the reveal.  I am so thrilled as the purses that come in are just amazing.  I absolutely cannot wait until they have their opportunity to go on the auction block for charity.  In the meantime, we all get to enjoy these fantastic pieces of work.  If this is your first time to this blog, let me explain what is happening.  I am Debi Gajewski and I sit on the Arts and Culture Advisory Council in Niles, Illinois. It is my pleasure and joy to be in charge of this event. I have purchased 20 gently used purses from resale shops and have been honored by many artists who graciously volunteered to paint them so that we could have them auctioned off for the charity Wings.  Wings is an amazing charity that helps women and children who have battered lives.  How grateful I am that the monies gained from this auction will help them continue their work.  If you scroll down my blog, all the pertenant information on this endeavor is listed.  They will begin their traveling journey on October 5th, and end on December 2nd with the reception/auction.  If you are interested in something you see here and are not able to attend, feel free to contact me via email.  thewonderfulwizardofart@hotmail.com

So, with that being said, onto this weeks reveal of "BRANDED"

CAROL LUC 

Carol Luc has exhibited nationally and her artwork is in several public and private collections.  Other public art projects have included Cool Globes, Niles Night of Roses, and Ragdale fundraisers in Lake Forest. She has an MFA in Painting from Northern Illinois University.

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The weeks are flying by and I am so thrilled to see the purses as they arrive in their new styles.  I am in awe as I view the artwork from these wonderful artists.  Purse-ue  Your Dreams Project becomes more exciting as each  new design is uncovered.  I must say, there are so many amazing and wonderfully talented artists that I have had the pleasure of working with.  Not only are they talented and inspiring...but also BIG hearted.  They have donated their time to create works of art on the purses supplied by me.  If this is your first time to this blog, please scroll down on the blog page to read more about this project.  I am a member of the Niles Arts and Culture Council in Niles Illinois and presented this project to the council.  Art on purses is a way to repurpose an gently used purse rescued from resale shops.  They will go on a traveling display and then finally on December 2nd, they will go up for auction.  The money that is generated by the auction will benefit the charity Wings.  Wings is a wonderful charity that helps repurpose lives of women and children in domestic abuse.  More about wings can be found on their website.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with them on this project and hope that you...the general public will join me in this effort.  If you have any questions about the traveling display or the auction, please feel free to contact me at  thewonderfulwizardofart@hotmail.com.

With that being said, I would like to introduce this weeks reveal and artist.\