Artsy Layout

Artsy I can do but combine that with a sketch and photo panic stations set in. This was another class from the weekend. The description of the class was "for anyone wanting to explore their love of scrapbooking with their desire to make art". Just reading that I knew I had to do this class by Fiona (blog), it sounded fun and messy, but I knew I would learn something. Maybe get over my fear of sketches.

Before class I actually found a photo that I thought I might like to use, in the end I didn't use it, but at least I had one. You have to go into Fiona's classes with an open mind, you cannot have preconceived ideas of what you will create. For me that's lucky because I never know what I am going to create I just wing it.

On entering the classroom we were given an artist board, a double sided page of abstract (love abstract) sketches and a sheet of different pencil grips. How you hold your pencil makes a difference to the marks you make. I was having so much fun making marks.

At the front of the class Fiona demonstrated how she goes about starting a sketch and then sent us on our way. She doesn't tell us what to do but shows us techniques and that way we all created totally individual pieces of art. The sketch I chose to use and my finished piece don't resemble each other at all but is was a place to start.

And this is what I finished with

Products used - gesso, paynes grey paint, grey lead pencil, donna downey stencil - scribble script

Happy Creating

Mixed Media Magic Retreat

Two days ago I came home from a long weekend (4 days) filled with creativity. Thursday afternoon I arrived and from then on the weekend was jam packed with creating, laughter, food and friendship (new and old).

The retreat was organised by Cindy from A Scrappe Tiger , thanks Cindy. Now on retreat you can do as much or as little as you like, we had options of doing classes, and I did 6. Four extremely talented artists took the time out of their schedule to come and share their talent, knowledge and creativity with us and they were Fiona Paltridge (blog), Louise Nelson (blog), Michelle Logan (blog) and Cindy Porter (blog).

I am not going to share with you today any of my class work that's for another day. Please bare with me as I need to tell a little story behind my art work before I share.

When the class list came out, there was a couple of classes that I decided not to do and one of them was by Fiona and it was called "The Way Things Fall", after reading the description it still didn't really tickle my fancy. Then I gave myself a kick up the bum and a talking too. Fiona is one of my most favourite artists (which I am lucky enough to be able to call a friend) so why would I not do her class. So I did and I have to say oh my I LOVED that class.

When looking at the class requirements is said that we could bring special trinkets or findings that we had stashed away. I knew I had plenty of those, who doesn't.

 

Are you wondering what it is, it does look a bit strange. It is a piece of paper that has cotton string wrapped around and inside it. Then they have been put into a rust bath. When I was talking to Fiona about these pieces of paper (I had two) I worked out that they have to be at least 13 years old. I have been married 11 yrs this year and I know that I created this before I met my husband. They have gone through 5 moves and finally I was able to use one of them.

Hope you are still with me to actually see my art work.

I thought it needed something else but I didn't want to add anything else to it, and two very wise women told me, "if I think it's finished then it is". "Its your art work, doesn't matter what others think", "Now you just need to sign it" which I am yet to do

A close up of some of that yummy texture

products used: art basics heavy gesso - white, paper, cotton string.

Happy Creating

Find The Calm Within Your World

I was flicking through my art journal last night just before I went to bed, not really looking for anything but I can across this background and I knew what it needed.

We all have soooo much going on in our lives that sometimes it just gets too much. The calm within my world is my art which has been pushed to the back but the last couple of days I have made a point of coming into my space and trying to create.
 

I cant tell you how or what was used to create this background other than the arrows and circles are from a VivaLas Vegas stamp set.

products used - archival ink - jet black and coffee, dina wakley media stamp - silhouetted woman, posca paint pen - white, printed quote on computer, gellyroll pen - white, uniball signo pen - black.

Happy Creating

A = Art

There are so many talented artists out in the world and I do have a few favourites that I follow. One of my favourites is Marta Lapkowska (blog, facebook, Instagram), at the end of last year she started up her own facebook group called Maremi's Creative Café.

It is full of so many talented artists and just recently Marta created a challenge for us. The challenge is either using a deck of playing cards, flash cards or something similar and creating on that size with a theme that is determined by Marta each week. So far we have had the themes of art, bubbles, coffee and this week is dragonflies. You don't have to do each week it is just for fun so do the ones you want. I did find a deck of old playing cards. I prepared two by sanding them to take off the shiny coating on one side and painted a layer of gesso over it. Then they sat on my desk, until this week where I finally I had an idea.

Since taking the above finished photo I have actually changed the place of the quote, it was just in the wrong spot for me. I have moved it a little further right and down a little as well.

products used: prima art extravagance texture paste - white crackle, liquitex matte gel, e-xpress it glue - triple tac, prima art basics heavy gesso - white, derivan matisse flow - magenta (quin violet), faber-castell pitt pen big brush -  cold grey III, mont marte gesso - black, ranger archival ink - jet black, gelly roll pen - white, the crafters workshop stencil - mini harlequin, adornit wooded shapes, muslin, derivan spreader medium, tim holtz idea-ology tissue wrap - melange.

Happy Creating

Believe In Magic

I had a background in my art journal that was just screaming at me to do something with as it was rather dark and plain. So I did.

 

From the photo above I had added some Ecoline liquid watercolour and over the top of that I put what crackle paste. The crackle paste picked up some of the colour which was not my plan, but it is now a happy accident.

 Really frustrated with my photos at the moment I cannot find my camera cord to charge it so I am taking my photos on my iPad and they are just not up to scratch. I apologise for this.

 

Finally was able to find my camera cord and charge the camera so much happier with the next two photos.

 

 

Just love all the texture that I was able to create.

 

products used: liquites matte gel, artbasics heavy gesso - white, derivan matisse structure -  paynes grey, art extravagance texture paste - white crackle, ranger archival ink - jet black, versamark, ranger embossing powder - seafoam white, ecoline liquid watercolour - 522 & 545, memorybox die - distressed collage windham, stampin' up stamp - playful backgrounds, kaisercraft stamp - script, tim holtz idea-ology tissue wrap - melange, kaisercraft rubon - enchanted garden.

 

Happy Creating

Be Open to Whatever Comes Next

Hello and welcome to 2017, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. I sharing an art journal page on my poor neglected blog. Although it not just my blog that has suffered to has also been my art. Since November I have been away on a 10 day cruise, had my sons 7th birthday, created cards for the school fair, Christmas and New Year, that's a lot packed into 2 months. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon. My husband is going back to work tomorrow so we have had a lot of family time. My two children don't go back to school until the 2nd of February but I am hoping to squeeze in some me time.

I also haven't really wanted to create anything every time I came into my space all I ended up doing was looking at youtube videos, not that that is a bad thing in fact I should have lots of inspiration to choose from but still they did not motivate me either.

It was not until 2 days ago that I actually created something. I started playing with a card background that has been hanging around for awhile. I added 2 different colours of Golden Fluid Acrylics and stamping to it. Mind you it is still sitting unfinished, but that's ok.

products used: lindy's stamp gang magicals, texture paste, mixed media paper, the crafters workshop stencil, golden fluid acrylics - quinacridone nickel azo gold & green gold, heavy gesso, kaisercraft stamp - script, archival ink - jet black.

What I did end up creating and finishing was an art journal page.

The background had been created using up left overs, as I really don't like to waste my art supplies. After making the splatters on the card background I still had some fluid acrylic left. So I had to find something to use it on. I found this background and started making splatters and then while doing that I realised my fan brush would create an amazing print that would look like a flower.

I added the stems, added a little more shading to the flowers, scribbles in the background and the quote and a finished art journal page I have.

products used: gelly roll pen - white, golden fluid acrylics - quinacridone nickel azo gold, derwent inktense pencils - chinese ink, beech green, burnt orange and sun yellow, tim holtz idea-ology: small talk.

Happy Creating

No People Allowed

Yikes! Is it really the beginning of November, this year has gone so quick.

This month the challenge at Show Us Your Stuff is all about creating a layout, art journal page but you cannot use people in your creation.

Instead of people trying using something else, a pet, some food, a scenic photograph.

This month I created an art journal page. It may not have people in it but I did use my emotions to help me create it. One morning I was getting my two munchkins ready for and usually they are pretty good but this one morning they were hitting all the right buttons. Once I dropped them off at school I came home and created. The colours I chose were the same colour as my mood but while creating it the background it helped sooth me.

My hand made items - wood veneer lighting bolt from Rainbow Splendour which I have them gold embossed, and my hand cut and written quote.

Please don't forget to pop on past the blog to see what the other members of the design team have created.

items used: rainbow splendour - lighting bolt, ranger ink - gold & silver embossing powder,  mixed media paper, ranger ink - fude ball 1.5 pigment ink pen, dylusions paint - black marble, dylusions - white lines ink spray, dusty attic paint - denim

Happy Creating