Art Journaling--My Way

Every  year at  the  beginning,  I  always  make  a  commitment  to  start  journaling--I  should  just  re-post  my  blog  post  from  last  year  and  the  year  before.   I  always  have  good  intentions  and  then  by  February--it  falls  by  the  wayside.   But  when  I  think  of  it,  when  I  paint  my  papers  to  put  in  my  artwork,  it's  very  much  like  journaling.

I  stuck  with  black,  white,  and  red--colors  that  I  normally  don't  use  a  lot  in  this  combination,  but  just  like  art  journaling--it's  trying  different  things  to  see how  you  like  them,  and  I  really  like  these  3  together.   It's  also  fun,   just  like  journaling,  to  fool  around  with  different  mediums--

This  is  molding  paste  that  I  added  black  paint  to--so  now  I  have  a  textured  paper  to  use.  It's  a  great  effect  to  add  the  watery  acrylic  wash  over  the  paste.

Just  like  journaling--it's  fun  and  always  good  to  play!

AND....since  January  will  be  here  in  a  couple  of  days,  I  know  what  that  means--time  to  get  out  my  journal  that  I  started  last  year,  and  said  that  I  was  going  to  complete  in  2011...........right.    Well,  anyway,  it's  the  Strathmore  Visual  Journal,  which  is  great  for  any  medium,  and  I'm  going  to  continue  on  with  it  in  my  FREE  Strathmore Online  Class  with  Traci  Bautista.   Last  year  it  was  with  Pam  Carriker,  and  I  picked  up  some  great  techniques  with  her  class.    And  also  Life  Book.   I'm  sure  most  everyone  knows  about  this  class--well  worth  it  with  14  artists  and  Tam  for  the  entire  year,  and  IF  I  can  keep  up  with  it--it  will  be  a  complete  journal  by  the  end  of  the  year.   I'm  ready  for  both  of  the  journaling  classes  and  joining  in  with  everyone.

I  do  want  to  say  that  I  have  a  sketchbook  that  doesn't  leave  my  side,  and  it's  actually  just  about  filled.    I  make  it  a  regular  practice  to  sketch  faces--very  relaxing  for  me.......so  I  guess  you  could  say  that  I  DO  journal!

Hope  to  see  everyone  in  2012  at  class!

A New Technique and My Finished Piece

First of all I want to thank everyone for giving me advice on my crackling dilemma, and also on the online classes.  Alot of you have recommended Julie's class. But I think I 've narrowed it down to either Alisa Burke or Traci Bautista--the graffiti art is more what I'm interested in--I just have to make up mind.  In  the meantime, Suzi is going to have a Goddess and Poet class part 2, and I know I'm taking that.  Although I haven't been showing many--faces are still my obsession.  And I also wanted to thank  Emelie  for giving other helpful tips about stencils and saran wrap.  You can find these tips on my comment section on my last post.

For my new technique, well actually it isn't new.  I've read it on a few blogs, and Wyanne has showed it on her videos.  She is another favorite  artist of mine  that also offers online workshops--aiiiii (that's a scream)--if only I had the money AND the time for all of these!!!  But anyway, it's the alcohol technique--

It's on the background of this paper--here's a closer view--

The best demonstration that I found for this technique is on this you tube video:

The trick is to do it when the paint is still wet, and to make sure that the alcohol is at least 91%

And I also put my paper from my last post on canvas--

This paper was 12 x 12, and I found a 12 x 12 canvas so it worked out perfectly.  I wanted to add a little embellishment--

I had this metal heart  that I found at Michaels actually (it was on clearance too!), and then I still wanted to add a little dimension, so I had these Stickles that I've had forever but never used them--so I  put Stickle dots  in places, but I discovered when they dry--they're very glittery--which made me discover that I am not a glitter girl, so I covered them with paint : )  HOWEVER I did like these Stickles--

Distress Stickles  -they are the glitter without the glitz.  It 's hard to describe and this photo doesn't show them well--

In case you're wondering--I put the Stickles in  the center of the flower.  They look more glittery in the picture  than  they really  are.  I just like the dimension that they give without all that glitz.

I also have a WIP going--

I have a plan for this one--but we all know how that goes.  When you have an idea, and it always ends up differently.  I can't just sit down with a blank canvas and just create--I've tried--I have to at least have a plan.  I know it's more "artistic" to let your muse or whatever take over, but I can't do it that way.  So we'll see how this actually turns out.

And this Friday, I am leaving to go to Columbus for a wholesale cash and carry  show on Saturday.  I'll be one of the shoppers---I usually don't mind crowds, but these wholesale shows are ridiculous--these lady shoppers are on a mission, and you don't want to get in their way.  It's mainly for crafts, but I can find supplies that I can use--when I come back  I'll show you what I find.  After going to these shows, I am amazed at how much retailers mark up these products!  What I'm really excited about, though, is that there is a D. Blick store there--I can't wait--I'll show you what I get there too.

And one more thing--I finally saw Alice yesterday--and I LOVED it!!  I don't care who you are or what your age is--I just can't see anyone not liking this movie! 

And one more thing--Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!! It's a BEAUTIFUL day here today, finally, and I'm going for a walk : D

Painting Papers

I am now going into my full-work mode, well I wouldn't really call it work, more like play.  My art show season is starting soon, so I've been  busy painting papers for collage--

I found a tablet of plain scrapbook papers, and there were a bunch of white ones, so I used them, and I've been experimenting with different techniques (some were so bad, that I trashed them), but most of them turned out pretty good.  This one technique that I really like to do is stamping on foam stamps with clear gesso on the white paper--

And then when it's completely dry, I just put an acrylic wash over it. The gesso acts as a resist--you could do it with regular gesso too, and you don't have to use stamps--you can do anything. I love the clear gesso--I was introduced to it by Suzi.

And there was this paper--

I just started doodling and playing around with acrylics, pitt pens, and mostly neocolor crayons I and II.  The more I use these crayons, the more addicted I get to them.  This one turned out so good that I decided to keep it whole and put it on canvas like this and finish it--I'll post it when I do.  And  I read a tip from Pam Carriker--instead of using water with the neocolor II crayons , use Matte Medium instead, and this will set the color.  I read it from an article from here--

I just got this, and I love it--what a great publication. I love Stampington!

And I'm also excited about my new stamp--

It's a crackle stamp--that produces results like this--

You know, I love the crackle look, and I have yet to master it.  I always have problems.  Can anyone help me?  The effect I like is the very tiny crackle look, but I'd be happy with any type of crackle.  What am I doing wrong?  (I'm just adding this in--what I mean by the crackle method--is the method where you apply the crackle medium  out of the bottle, and then when it's dry, you apply paint over it and supposedly cracks will occur, which never happens for me.)

 

I've also been looking around at online classes (remember in my last post, I said that I'm kind of obsessed?)  What I'm looking for now are workshops on backgrounds.  I've looked at Julie Prichard's, and there are a couple on the Creative Workshop ning site, but I'm thinking more of Traci Bautista's--I am really loving the graffiti style art out there, and hers is outstanding.  Has anyone taken any of her online workshops?

So, I'm really looking  forward to my first show of the season at the end of this month.  It's actually more of an art and craft show, which to me is no different--don't get me started about crafters vs. artists--there is no difference!!  We're all artists!! I get to see my fellow exhibitors that I haven't seen since last year, and also returning  customers  (I guess that's what you call returning buyers of your work), and it's fun just to get out and be with everyone who's all there for the same reason. It's in Pittsburgh, too--one of my favorite cities--it's such an eclectic place--I love it!!