My Art Process

 Hey I'm back!  It only took about 8 months but I knew eventually I would be coming around.  I thought in this post I would show you how I go about making an art piece (in most cases).

I'm not an intuitive type artist--I've tried, but it will get too frustrating for me--I need to have a plan.  So in this one that I made I knew that I wanted to have paper collage in it.  And the first thing I did is think of my color palette and once I decide on what colors I want I get out my cardstock (110lb), paints, stencils, mark-making tools,etc and have fun with them--

I experimented with a new color choice--tangerine, gray , sage, and cream--and I stuck to those colors.  Next I knew this was going to be a dimensional piece so I took my 6 x 12 wood cradle board and flipped it around. I like these wood boards from Blick--they have deep 1  1/2" sides which makes it perfect for what I like to do.

Then I gathered--my studio and house for that matter is filled with all of my findings, so I never have a problem bringing a little story together--

This is what I initially found--but as I go into making it--I change my mind on some of the items and add some more--this is where I let the piece tell me what it needs--I just need to get out of my way and listen.

My finished piece--

really happy how it brought itself together

Next a different idea using the same paper (with some book pages) as my pallette--

paper flower collage--I like to tear the paper for the petals for a more organic look

and the finishing touch includes water soluble crayons and these Faber Castell watercolor markers which are awesome!

Lots more paper left, so continuing on--

.....my latest box--I never get tired of making these and this one has already found a new home in North Carolina!  You can find the other 2 in my Etsy shop

In other news--I signed up for Lifebook this year--such a great deal with all of the teachers and weekly lessons--hard to fit in with everything else but you have the videos forever and can take advantage of them at your own convenience 

I love Tamara's art and her classes--very detailed --these are from my classes with her--

These were both done in mostly watercolor--a bit scary for me, but with Tamara's instruction it's not so bad--she takes you step by step.  And what I love to do most is to add to the watercolor painting with crayons, posca pens (another awesome product), pencil, etc to bring it all together.

So I've been trying out new art supplies lately and I'm going to try to get a post together with my favorite supplies--hope to see you soon...

What I've Been Up To This Year--Creatively Speaking

 It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm always in my art studio every day--just neglecting my blog. I'm more active on my Facebook and Instagram pages, but I feel that I need to re-visit my blog here since it was my first venture on the web and I've met many online friends because of it.  I'll never stop blogging, just not as much.

So, what have I been up to--I've been playing with paint and collage and some assemblage (finding lots of great flea market finds too!)

I started out the year painting (my first love) with mainly acrylics and painting some of my favorite things (or animals in this case)...horses, giraffes, and elephants...in a whimsy style way...

They all ended up in barnwood frames that I collaged my painted papers on to like this giraffe--

I took that giraffe and put her on a cigar box--

didn't stop there--

I always enjoy making these boxes!

And this time of year, I will usually make some circus assemblages--here's just a couple of what I made--

When I make these I try to use mostly items that I find at flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales, etc (sometimes gifted to me too!) I'm always amazed at what I can find--it's definitely a 'treasure' hunt and you know the saying--"one man's treasure is another man's junk"--some people probably wonder why I get so excited when I find these things--but I know just where they are going to end up :-)

Some of my favorite finds from this year....SO FAR....

I can never pass up old cameras or photos.  Half the fun of making assemblage art, for me, is looking for my 'supplies'

So I've been busy with my little treasures (getting ready for my BIG show in October)--and here's a couple--

I call this one--Bird Watching

His and Hers

So, this is just a sampling of what I've been doing--I love what I do and so happy that I can do this every day.  I hope you can find the time to do what makes you happy--makes all the difference!

Till next time.....

Altering a Cigar Box From Beginning to End

 It's been a while since I've showed a step-by-step project here, so I decided it was time.  And with what else?--a cigar box!  I never get tired of making these.  Here's the finished box first--

I like the look of mosaics, but have never actually tried making a mosaic piece, so I go with the paper to mimic the look of mosaics, which is how I went with this box.   But let me back up and show you the before picture--

Just a plain old cigar box from my local tobacco store (actually this one was a little fancier) but it's all wood which is what I look for.

Next was deciding on my color palette , and pretty much all of the time when I make a box it's with collaged papers, and usually my own painted ones.  So here's the palette I decided on--

...some newly painted, and some scraps (which I have a ton of!)--

Next was figuring out my design, and since I was going the mosaic route--here's the result of the first step--

This is where a paper punch comes in handy.  I used a 1 inch paper punch for all of my 'mosaic tiles', and once they were on the box I  edged the top and bottom with washi tape.  I always use a matte gel medium for this step and also seal everything with it too, before I go on to the next step, plus on the top I added tape measure--I love using vintage cloth tape measure!

Next I had to do my black 'grouting'--

For the 'grout' look I use Faber Castell pitt pens--I like these because they blend well, but end up being permanent once dry since they are an India ink. I also like to finish off all the edges too with these pens.

Next is giving the box a little more of a design--

..by adding wood feet that I painted (you can find these at any craft store), and also giving thought to the top of the box

Now the final details--

It's these little details that lets the box shine...

And again here's the finished result--

A couple of notes.  I always seal my boxes with gloss varnish--the varnish really makes the colors pop. And also, I didn't take a photo of the inside, but I always finish it off by painting it usually the color of the feet.

I hope I've inspired you to create and if you do, I would love to see it--you can share it on my Facebook page or on my Instagram

February-- Art Playing Discoveries, Lifebook 2021, and More Etsy

 I've been doing a lot of playing in February and cleaning and sorting--not much else to do in this part of the country--too cold!  So every time I go to de-clutter and 'clean' I end up stopping and making art, because I find little things that I've forgotten about and then discover that I can put them together to make some art pieces--like these--

I've also been discovering new art supplies again--this time--Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils.  I've always loved the look that you get from chalk pastels but not the mess--these eliminate a lot of that mess, but you get the same result as a hard pastel--

 they blend beautifully too--love them!

 And another new discovery--the artist Jenny Manno--I first found her when I took a small online class from her and realized how much I loved her style, and then found out she had a Facebook group  called Next JENeration Art (with lots of prompts) which anyone can join and also a great you tube channel--every Tuesday she puts up a video sharing different art supplies and demonstrations--she focuses mainly on quirky portraits, but just learning about the supplies alone are very generous on her part.  Here's one (out of the many prompts on her Facebook group page) that I tried--

I made her with mainly the CarbOthellos--lots of fun art playing in Jenny's group!

And still loving Lifebook 2021--such a supportive and talented  community there--really happy with my latest portrait from Tam's (Willowing) lesson--

and another lesson about celebrating yourself--I put my own variation on it, but the message is still there--

Meanwhile back in my Etsy Shop I've been adding more art.  I 've decided to cut down on the number of art shows that I used to do (not sure what this year will bring anyway) and focus on more online business.  I  really do enjoy getting out there and meeting like-minded people at shows and fellow artists, but I don't enjoy the setting up and tearing down of a display and huge tent that's only been up for 2 days, not to mention about worrying if the weather will be bad.  I'm rambling here, so let me just show you what I've been up to this month for Etsy (remember--I've been trying to declutter my art room and house :-)

I've been having lots of fun!  You can find these HERE.  Hope to see you next month when Spring (hopefully) will be in the air!!

  

January--Lifebook 2021--Art Journaling

 Wow, can't believe we got through 2020--let's hope this year will start to turn around and we can get some normalcy back--although I'm so used to living this way--that it now seems the normal way  :-)  I'm just happy that I'm able to do what makes me the happiest and content--it really does make a difference to find that in your life and make time for it everyday!

So now that Christmas craziness is over with and the quiet month of January has settled in I've been able to do the same thing--settling in--in my art room and playing.  

And this year I'm so happy that I decided to sign up for Lifebook 2021 hosted by the wonderful Tamara Laporte.  I haven't been in it for a couple of years, but this year I knew I needed to make some art for just me.

Our first lesson was with Tamara--our goddess of light--

Love all the layers and texture--it was just fun to play with different mediums.  And the next lesson from Tamara--our happy owl--

I took it in a little different direction from hers, but loved her owl design and kept to that.

So the next week's lesson (yes there is a new lesson every week with 32 different instructors!) was with Cinnamon Cooney

Again, I put my own spin on this piece--except for the tree girl--I love her!

And I've been playing around with different art supplies--I decided to give charcoal a 2nd chance.  A few years ago I used it and gave up on it--I didn't like the messiness of it.  But this time I got past that and discovered it's fun and forgiving!

Definitely will be  experimenting with these pencils some more--I like the way they work with other mediums.   And the best way to experiment is where else, but your journal.  I'm committed to the one I started last year when the quarantine started, and I'm getting there--adding more pages--

....mostly faces, which I love to do and when it's in my journal I have more freedom to play around, because that's what a journal is--a place to experiment in--this is what I like to put in my journal--painted faces!  and playing with different art mediums.  I think my favorite thing about art journaling is that they are all unique with each artist--it's each person's own individual voice coming out--in words, or paintings, or marks or whatever--no rules--love that!

I've also been making other art that's now in my Etsy shop.

Altered a cigar box with one of my journal girl images--

some of my whimsy art on 6 x 6 surfaces--

this one has a polymer clay bird that I had made some time ago--I found the right home for her

and also some assemblages

I really enjoy making vintage children themed art like this--I just like the nostalgia of it.

So these pieces are all available and you can find them HERE

 

This has pretty much been my month in the art department of my life--my favorite department!  :-)

Hope where ever you are life is good for you and getting back to a happier time!