Painting Bliss Custom Sugar Skull Giveaway

Anyone who's been following My So-Called Chaos for a while knows I have a love for Sugar Skulls.  Dia de los Muertos is one of the most fascinating holidays to me, and I actually have a good little collection of sugar-skull art building.  Also, Ashlie Blake from Painting Bliss is one of my favorite artists-as you'll recall I purchased some adorable little plush skullies from her last September.

Ashlie is not only a fantastic artist, but a beautiful writer and a generous soul who has offered one lucky reader their very own custom Sugar Skull from the Painting Bliss shop!  But before we get to the giveaway, let's meet Ashlie!  I asked her a few questions so we can get to know her better:

When did you really get into creating and selling art, and how long have you been doing it for now?

I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and painting since high school. After leaving college to marry my sweetheart I came home worked a regular job and hated every minute of it. The goal was to someday stay home with our future children and learn to sell my artwork. We did everything we could to make that happen, so here I am... Loving and living while sharing and selling my work. It's a blessing and I have been seriously striving and selling for about 8 years now... Each year grows better than the last for hard work really does pay off. 

How does your art influence your family, and vice versa?

My art influences my family everyday and they don't even realize it because it's just the way it is. Mom paints, writes, and stops along the road to take photos. My children are picking up all of my artistic quirks and frequent my supplies. Their studio? Our recycling bin. My husband is an engineer so they are a perfect blend of creation. 

What inspiration do you pull from most often?

Nature. I am a free spirited flower child... I am overwhelmed and in awe of all the beauty before me. 

What is one of your very favorite pieces you've ever created?  

That's so hard to say, as artist would answer... but my favorite piece I've ever created thus far has to be the painting where I just allowed myself to be me.

Do you ever create a piece of art and decide not to sell it or share it with anyone because it's just for you?

Yes! The piece as mentioned above! In fact all the paintings in my home are just that... Favorites I could not part with. For years and I mean lots of them I was so humble of my talent that I couldn't even hang them in my house. I've moved past that now, and enjoy adding new pieces to our walls. 

Besides art, what other hobbies do you find yourself drawn to?

Oh I am a magpie and love to do all sorts of things! My hobbies include photography, antiqueing, jarring/preserving foods, and crochet!

What is one hobby that you've never tried but would really like to?

Hmmm that's a hard one as I try everything I want to do! I would say my next venture would be soap making! 

What is one of your biggest items on your bucket list?

I truly would like to someday go to India's Holi Festival of color. And I will... Cause I always follow throw with my dreams in one way or another.

  

Now for the Giveaway!

Ashlie just revamped her blog, Painting Bliss!  To celebrate it's new-and-improved look, she wants to celebrate with a fantastic giveaway!  One lucky reader is going to win their very own custom Sugar Skull!  She makes these from a paper-mache base and then uses different medias (she is the mixed-media queen!) to create a unique art piece!

Both of the above skulls are for sale, click on the photo to see the listing!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open worldwide and ends August 20th at 12AM.

See official Terms and Conditions in the above Rafflecopter.