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...

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!