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...

July Art --Plus Summer

This  year  summer  has  been  a  bit  different  than usual--goes  without  saying,  but  I  have  to  say  I  have  been  enjoying  it.  I'm  always so  busy  and  not  taking  advantage  of   this  great  time  of  year  to  just  relax,  so  I  am  appreciating  that.   First  off,  I  went  blueberry  picking  with  my  daughter  and  grandson--something  I've never  had  time  to do  before,  and  this  is  now  a  weekly  thing-

  -

Beautiful  and  delicious!

So  here's  what  I  did with  some  of  them--

First  time  I've  ever  made  these--turned  out  wonderful!

So  besides  visiting  the  beach,  the  only  thing  I've  done  this  summer  are  a  few  antique  stores  and  just  one  flea  market  (which  I  miss  the  most),  but  I  found  some  great  treasures,  and  they  helped  me  make  some  fun  art.   When  I  make  these  shadowbox/assemblage  pieces  I  first  like  to  gather.....

and  then  put  it  together,  finding  even  more  to  add  to  the  story  as  I  go--

I  had  some  Shirley  Temple  books  for  at  least  a  year  now,  just  waiting....

and  then  recently  I  found  Shirley  Temple--

This  piece  basically  put  itself  together  once  I  found  Shirley  :-)

And more  fun  in  my  journal (I'm  getting  lots  of  inspiration  from  Pinterest!)--I'm  committed  now  to  fill this  entire  journal  up  and  even  make  a  cover  for  it--something  I've  never  done  before...

And  lots  of  new  art,  most  of  which  is  now  in  my  Etsy Shop.   This  year  is  definitely  different  than  any  other  year  as  far  as  selling  my  art  and  I  appreciate  all  of  the  support  I  am  getting  through  my  Etsy  sales,  but  I  sure  do  miss  getting  out  there  and  talking  to  avid  art  lovers  and  fellow  artists  at  my  different  shows.

Here is  just  some  of  my  art  you  can  find  in  my  shop--

And  back  to  Summer--we  grew  tomatoes  this  year,  and  they're  on  their  way!

Back To Painting

I've  been  pretty  busy  around  here,  but  I've  had  time  to  do  what  I  enjoy   a  LOT--painting.   So  here's  my  first  painting  of  the  year  (but  not  the  last!)

I  started  out  by  collaging  book  pages  on to  a  wood  surface--

and  then  I  forgot  to  take  a  picture  of  what  my  next  step  was,  but  basically  I  sketched  in  my  design--which  was  elephants--here  it  is  partially  done  (when  I  remembered  to  take  a  picture)

I  added  some  texture  on  the  ears  with  some  molding  paste--love  this  technique--

…..and  I  finished  it  with  some  collage  (the  ground  and  sun)  with  a vintage  map--

really  happy  with  these  2--one  of  my  favorite  subjects  to  paint!

Lots of New Art Part 1

I  have  been  away  for  a  long  time (almost 6  months  to  be  exact)--I'm  always  posting art  on  my  Facebook  art  page--it's  just  a  lot  easier  for  me.   But  shows  are  finished  for  this  year  (one  more  small one,  but  that's  it)  and  I  have  a  little  more  time  for  everything  else  including  getting  to  my  neglected  blog.

So  I've  been  painting  a  lot--

….and  I've  been  making  'houses'

I'll  post  more  later--I  don't  want  to  make  this  too  photo  heavy--yes,  I've  been  busy  in  my happy  place  :-)

New Painting/ Collage--Step-by-Step

This  is  one  of  my  favorite  ways  to  make  art--a  little  painting  mixed  with  paper  play.  Here's  the  finished  piece--

...my  Paper  Mosaic  Horses

...but  I'll  start  from  the  beginning,  which  was deciding  on  my  color  palette--

these  are  the  papers  that  I  painted  for  this  project--my  color  palette

next  I  started  on  my  background--

this  is  a  20 x 20 deep  sided  birch  cradle  board--my  favorite  type  of  surface--paint  and  a  paper  mosaic  border

next  I  made  my  horse  templates--

this  makes  it  a  lot  easier  for  me  when  I  go  to  make  my  actual  subject  with  the  papers

a  close  up  view,  and  another  shot  of  the  finished  piece--

I  don't  make  many  horses,  but  I  think  I  will  now--I  love  the  way  this  came  out.  And  here's  another  one  that  I  made  in  the  same  manner  with  a  more  familiar  subject  for  me--

I  love  elephants!!

Elephants and Mushrooms

I'm  not  sure  that  these  two  have  much  in  common,  but  that's  what  I've  been  painting  lately....

"Find  Your  Joy"

"Be  Happy"

my  Mushroom  land

and....some  new  boxes  too--

I  threw  some  owls  in  there  too.   I'm  getting  ready  for  a  big  show  coming  up  in  July  The  People's  Choice Festival  in  Boalsburg,  PA--really  looking  forward  to  this  one!

Start to Finish Painting

Watch  my  process--I  started  out  with  a  12 x 24 wood cradle  board.

My  favorite  are  the  deep  edged  ones,  and  they  come  in  all  sizes.   I'm  really liking  working  on  wood  a  lot  more  than  canvas  lately  especially for  collage  (less chance  for  air  bubbles).

So  first,  I  made  a  background--

 This  is  a  fun  part--just  play  and  experiment,  because  if  you  don't  like  it,  you  can  paint  over  it--just  like  painting  papers--you  can't  mess  up.

And  this  is  where  my  background  becomes  part  of  my  foreground--

.....and  then  adding  in  the  details...

And  still  more  playing--this  time  I'm  seeing  elephants--

These  guys  needed  to  be  on  a  box,  and  I  had  the  perfect  cigar  box  for  them.

This  is  such  a  fun  way  to  paint--you  can  keep  it  abstract  or  keep  going--there's  no  right  or  wrong.