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Good Fortune Studios

The Intersection of Art, Design & Life

Art

Painting, mixed media

Garrison Art Tile

November 23, 2021 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A year-long art journaling course gave me the courage to answer an Instagram post calling for entries from a little art gallery near me.

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5 Things I’ve Learned from Wanderlust 2021 (So Far)

May 21, 2021 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Image of art journal spread of flowers, a fence and a tree

A guided course in art journaling not only helps me create more art, it expands my thinking and possibilities.

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Painting: All because of a little catalog scrap…

April 23, 2016 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I love learning how other artists work, see their process unfold. I love all processes really – I love that show on the Discovery Channel How it’s Made. What I am learning to do now, besides paint, is learn to enjoy my own process, even though I don’t know what that this completely. The work of getting the greens right the first time and then redoing it the second time

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Painting Progress

August 6, 2015 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I realize I don’t really care much for being a beginner! I just want to already know how to do something, not fight my way through making things that don’t look like they did in my head or make the mistakes. Please know I am shaking my head at myself as I write this, somewhat chagrined and chuckling. I’m sure there are people out there who revel in the beginning

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A Wreath of Possibilities…

January 27, 2015 by Rayna Diane Hennen

What turns out to be some years ago now, I created a winter wreath. I wanted it to last for more than just the holidays both for frugality and because I lived in a little one bedroom with my boyfriend and there was no room for storage. Even though I now live in a slightly larger two bedroom, I still store my Christmas decorations at my mom’s! Ironically while dealing

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Exercising My Creative Chops

July 7, 2014 by Rayna Diane Hennen

In an effort to keep myself in the creative habit, I bought the book Creating Art at the Speed of Life: 30 Days of Mixed-Media Exploration (Amazon Associates Link). It’s 30 exercises for 30 days to just create. Will I do them all in a row? I doubt it – I have noticed not only distinct lack of routine in my life but also a distinct lack of being able

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Swap has been finished and sent!

February 15, 2014 by Rayna Diane Hennen

I finished the Ampersand swap project and, as often happens with art, it did not end the way I thought it would. I present Cheese & Crackers.

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First drops of paint

February 3, 2014 by Rayna Diane Hennen

Often the fear of not knowing what to do or the fear of doing something wrong stops us in our tracks and keeps us from starting. If we can let go of this fear, we open ourselves up to a much larger world of expression – a world where anything is possible.– Flora Bowley, Brave Intuitive Painting I wasn’t sure where to start. I’ve wanted to ‘know how’ to paint

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Getting started and going for a swap!

January 13, 2014 by Rayna Diane Hennen

The first project of the year will be a swap! The Sketchbook Project sets up these mini-projects to sign up for during the year outside of their self-titled, main project. The one I signed up for is called ‘The Ampersand Project’

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Another Country: Costa Rica

December 28, 2012 by Rayna Diane Hennen

A client of mine was generous – he flew the NY team members to Costa Rica for the holiday party and I even had an extra day for sight-seeing! Saw this pretty little creature at a reserve near the waterfall gardens we visited. Looking forward to going back someday and seeing more of the country for sure!

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goodfortunestudios

Experiments in creativity and cringe. Join me!

I was digging around in my closet for something an I was digging around in my closet for something and came across an older sketchbook, which of course derailed the search because I HAD to flip through it 😊

My Mom had this box for a long time, just sitting in a cabinet. It was just plain wood, the lid wasn't attached but it did come with the hinges. One summer I stole it, painted it and surprised her for Christmas. 

On slides 2 & 3 you can see the first sketches I made for the box. And slides 5 & 6 show where the next round of sketches ended up. Completely different direction as it turns out! Went for the Arts & Craft period style she loves.
This floral cone actually turned out all right! I This floral cone actually turned out all right! I haven't quite gotten the ribbon exactly right so sometimes this style hangs a little awkwardly. I have wall versions, that can hang on a hook but I'll be damned if I can find any photos of it on my phone 🧐 

Or the silvery one I made last year. You'll just have to trust me, ok? 😁
O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expec O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expect a hanger on the back (second pic)? 

In my head, because they have the wooden lip on the back, they hang flat against the wall. 

T'anks! 

Almost done - varnish coating left to go! Happy Friday 💃
New hearts ready to go. New hearts ready to go.
After a few weeks away from the hearts because of After a few weeks away from the hearts because of vacation and other things, I ran into something that is both frustrating and good. 

Frustrating because I had to "break my heart" 😭😅 - I  noticed a lot of rhe edges kept coming up (last pic).

I was unhappy with how one of the hearts looked anyway so I pulled it off the canvas. (first pic)

The new way of attaching the hearts seems to be working better (second pic) so now I am going to do the same to the other 3 canvases. 

So, frustrating to undo the work but good because they'll look better! And also this is how we get better.

Have you ever had to undo some work to make it better? 🫀
Currently making some smaller ones of the heart co Currently making some smaller ones of the heart collage image in the last slide!!
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