Studying Under The Masters

This little bird came out of this multi-layered background.  It was paint scrapings from a couple different palette's. So it started with acrylics but I uses Neocolor II WC crayons and gelatos on top with no water added.  I am linking to Art Every Day Month for this art journal page.

Studying Under The Masters

This past weekend I found out about this class being offered in January.  It feels like a great companion to what I have been learning in Pauline Agnew's class.

Join nine artists as we become the “apprentice”. We will share how we became a modern-day apprentice to those who came before us and those who work beside us now. Through discussion and technique videos, each artist will share their week with a “master” as if they are sitting next to them. You’ll learn who their “master” artist studied under, who influenced their work and what techniques and mediums they used.

*This is a nine week course.

*Over 60 discussion and technique videos. 
*Supply lists, prompts, book suggestions
*Weekly live chats 

*Course material will be available for one full year

The Instructors
Katie Kendrick, Stephanie Lee, Kate Thompson, Christy Tomlinson, Junelle Jacobsen, Danielle Donaldson, Teresa Sheeley, Jenny Wentworth, and Jeanne Oliver♥

To sign up for the class you can go to Jenny Wentworth's blog. There is a sign up button in her sidebar.  There is a pre sale going  on now so get in on the sale price of 48.00. I know the work of several of the artists but not all of them. I think it just might be an amazing course, so I signed up. It will be fun to start the year with this amazing class.

My Explorations In A Collage Journal

I have been working on and off in a journal that I received as a gift when I went to Sedona last year. The journal is simple, just scrapbook type papers and bound with a ribbon. Its frustrating because the paper keeps moving around. Since this was a gift from a new friend I want to keep it and fill it up. I want it to be full of great art to remind me of the giver. So I decided it might be best used for collage. Papers layered will make it a little bit stronger. Following are some of the pages I have done.

I liked the way this image looked on a black gessoed page.  Sometimes I find it hard to use images that are not in color. I added tape to make some borders around it.

This page was just random scraps of pink papers.  I cut the silhouette out of scrapbook paper, using a magazine image as my model.  I used a sharpie poster paint marker for the writing. She was fun to do.

The Quote is "We are the night ocean filled with glints of light" Rumi.  I love this quote. This was from a greeting card that I dismantled. I had collaged all the purple papers at a different time.

In this one I had the stencil sprayed on but didn't like the background. I painted it with black gesso and added torn strips of paper from a calendar. I left some black visible so that I could add some journaling.  I like how it turned out.

I used strips of  sprayed ink pages, some washi tape for the background.  I painted over the pink page with white so I could journal over it. I used some of the same scraps from the first page to make it more unified.

New Things This Week

I am starting two new courses this week that I am excited about.  Connie Hozvicka is teaching a class called Workshops, creative Circles and Retreats.  It all about learning to run your own events. It has some great guest speakers and is bound to be full of great ideas.

The other class I am taking is called Drawing and Painting What You Love with Irish Painter Pauline Agnew. I have seen some of the work coming out of this class and was truly amazed, More importantly after watching her video's it seems like Pauline is a fabulous teacher.  I really think that I am going to grow as an artist with this class.

Do you take classes that will get you out of your comfort zone?

New Techniques and Free Classes

So its Friday and I was going to do something for Link Love over at Daisy Yellow 's blog but realized that was set up for blogs and not videos.  I found some great videos when I was ill that I wanted to share with all of you.



 
In this video the people at GelliArts show using gel medium as a resist. Just one more way to use a gelliplate. They also use distress stain instead of paint which I liked because I have some of the stains but don't use them that often.  I love finding new ways to use old supplies.



In this video I.K. Tolbert show how to make prints with some glue and cardboard. It looks like a fun technique.



This is a step by step journey through creating a portrait in charcoal.



My friend Kelley made this video showing how to make paper fortune cookies.  They are so cute, I know I will make some soon.



In this video you will learn how to make a strip of tickets without using a die and its so easy.  I wish I had seen this last month.  There was a ticket swap in a group I belong to and I really didn't want to buy a die to participate. Now I know I didn't have to.


Free Classes 

I know that you all like a bargain so here is one for you.  A coupole years ago I offered 2 online classes. They were called Mixed Media 101 and Bodacious Backgrounds.  The first covers the basics of mixed media and gets you started on your own art journal and the second is all on backgrounds.  I am making them available free to anyone.  Here is the link to both sets of classes.  Pass on the information to anyone you think might be interested.  Have a great weekend!

Poppies, Feathers and Dominoes

I have been working in a Pan Pastel class that I took from Donna Downey. More exercises to come.  I do love these classes of hers.



 

This was a feather for a prompt in the sketchbook challenge I am doing.

Game pieces prompt.  Not feeling to well today so this is pretty simple. Rain is now coming down it looks like the day is turning dark and dreary. Time to watch some art videos.

I am taking Julie Fan-Fei Balzer's little class on gesso. Since I have been using it for years you would think it was one I would skip. I heard she was covering spray gesso and clear gesso which are two products I bought and rarely use. I figured it was time I figured out how to use them.  I have learned a lot about gesso I didn't know. Like all the different kinds, when to use which one and how to tint.  The class is fun so far. Ok off to watch another video.

Still Weaving

I have been spending my time at the loom this week. The old loom is not working yet. So I continue to work on the blanket I showed before.  I also got my Baby Wolf loom threaded with a new project. I just love the water like colors, they are definitely me.

This is some fabric I am weaving for a kimono style top. It is silk that I dyed in three different sections. I wound the warp chains first and then painted the dye onto the yarn. Then it was steamed to set the dye.  The weft or horizontal thread that I am using is sewing thread. It does not get any smaller than that.

This is what is called a warp faced fabric. It is closely set so you don't see the weft thread. The colors look better in real life.  It is mostly turquoise and teal with some blue and purple added in.  The color will change throughout the warp.  It is going to be fun and fascinating to use this fabric when its completed.

New Local Classes

I've also been working on getting a series of classes ready to teach in July.  If you are anywhere near me be sure to check them out on my website  I am really excited about doing them, they are going to be so much fun and life changing too.

Laughter Meditation

I went to a laughter meditation last night led by my friend Anne. She is my laughter yoga instructor and just the most fabulous person.  In laughter meditation we laugh for ten minutes and then lie down in silence for ten minutes and then share our experiences.  It is quite wonderful because after the laughter it is easier to slip into meditation without that monkey mind going every which way. It lends itself to a deeper meditation and feels fabulous.  Laughter Yoga is really great, check it out on the net and you may find a laughter group right in your own area.

Postcard Challenge 2012 - Israel

The country this week is Israel, so at a loss of what to do I went the easy way and did the flag. Someone remind me next time just how hard it is to do a flag.

As we can see Louise is gong to take the plunge and travel.  Should the two of them meet or should they be like ships passing in the night.



I got bored the other day so I signed up for a class on lettering. I have always admired the great lettering that other artists do. I am loving it so far. Joanne Sharpe is doing an awesome job. This is called a whimsy grid.  It was drawn first and then color was added using PanPastels. I really don't have the right markers for lettering but I am just going to use what I have for  now. It appears the chisel markers are the best choice and I only have a few of them.  This little page was pretty fun to do.  I am using Strathmore's mixed media journal and I do love the paper. This class has 29 lessons for a great price.  I hope to be better at lettering by the time all the lessons are done.

Fearless Painting

I was listening to a video last night and felt like working in a journal as I listened.  I grabbed the first art supply I could see.  She was created using Faber-Casteel Gelatos, a water soluble oil pastel.  I didn't use water on these though, I just applied and used my fingers to blend.

Fearless Painting

I have long been fascinated by the Fearless Painting Course BIG put on by Connie at Dirty Footprints Studio.  I have seen the work posted by other people and almost signed up once but it wasn't a good time.  Then I really didn't want to spend that much money on a class.  So recently Connie offered this free workshop called Total Alignment on her site. She basically explains some of her ideas and gets you started in the Fearless Painting Process.  There are 4 things you need to be able to do.  They are as follows
1. paint a scribble
2. paint a line
3. paint a shape
4. paint with the enthusiasm and non judgement of a kindergartner. ( that is the hard one)
Oh plus its not about the painting, its about the process, how you feel and all that. So paintings can really look like crap but that is ok.  I  have to keep telling myself that.

So I took the bait, I decide to tack cardboard on my wall and just tape poster board to it.  She wants you to paint standing up and I don't have an easel for that. I just happened to have saved a big cardboard box so I was all set.

She recommended using Liquitex Basics paints, so I got a couple colors from Michaels and began my first fearless painting.

I am not a fan of pink so when I went for that color first I thought I am really following my muse and not questioning and that is what you are supposed to do.  When I look at the painting I see all the flaws, like the houses are supposed to be on her shirt where now it looks like she is standing behind them. But I also think oh that is ok, I learned something with this painting and I had fun making it.  Painting big is so different.  I encourage you to check out Total Alignment if the process interest you at all.  There are five videos all set up to help you to connect to you artistic source. Even if you don't want to paint big I think the videos have some great information.  I know I can't wait to do another painting now.

So it was off to Michaels for some more colors and when I got to the checkout I discovered I could get 40% off the price of my total acrylic paint purchase.  Now it was such a deal I went back and got a few more colors. Seems like I was meant to do this.

Crystaline Paper

I got a notice for this new class in my email today. You can look at the promo for to see how to make Crystaline Paper. This technique makes the paper transparent by adding gel medium to tissue paper on both sides and then painting it. It's easy and makes a fantastic collage paper. I can't wait to have the time to try this.

This is a sketch I did on Thanksgiving, It felt great to be sketching again.

Creative Whirlwind

I truly believe that I have been on a creative whirlwind.  Granted much of that is due to taking Remains of the Day and Layered Expressions, two classes by some very talented ladies. I think its more than that. I have taken other classes and often not completed all the exercises. Sometime its attitude and willingness to put in the necessary time, to let go of expectations, to finally to be able to go that extra mile. To that space where you really start feeling like an artist. I feel like I have arrived there and its a fabulous place to be.

My first pages in what I am calling my grafitti journal. I got the idea from an issue of Art Journal Magazine called My Summer Journal.  In the article the person made a journal in a class and it was all about Summer.  I thought it would be fun to do one for all the seasons. Since its Fall that is where my emphasis lies.  I always admire those pages that are simple and have handwriting on them. Kind of like graffiti.

So I took old book pages and sewed 3 pages together for each of my pages, I am not going to bind the pages until they are all done.   I sewed some things down, and glued and stapled others.  I want these pages to be ones that can been done quickly.

On this page I went through fall colored papers to start off this page. I spent just a few minutes on this one too.  I am liking this fast journaling.  You pick a few things and then you're done.   The paper in this journal is really old and yellowed and its almost like that become part of the design of each of the book.




The beginnings of my cardboard journal that I am making in Katie's class. The covers are cardboard and so are all the pages.  What fun this will be .  More on this on Friday. Can you tell I have been having a blast in this class.


CONTEST WINNERS for my 500th post giveaway were chosen by random number generator.


Poetry Girl - Artella
Anka - Zine by Samantha Kira
Andria - Artful Purpose Zine
Codyrachel's irises - Card Collection
April Cole  - Sketchbooking

Would the winners please send me their addresses so I can get their winnings to them. Thanks to all who entered.

Little Squares of Color

I signed up to take Alisa Burke's class Watercolor Bliss.  I would love to find a way to incorporate watercolor into my journal pages that is more satisfying and Alisa does beautiful work so it seemed a perfect combination.  So far I am loving the class.

So I dragged out this baby.  Most of these paints are 14 years old at least.  I got it when I took my first watercolor class in 1997. I have used up some of the colors but there is still a lot of paint available. I had no idea what brand of paint these were or their color names.  I ended up digging through old files to find out what brand of WC these were. Turns out these were Winsor-Newton paints and I now I know the color names too.

We are into week one and our assignments are to get familiar with our supplies. So I have been doing some samples of all the water media I have and there is lots of it. I have 4 sets of pencils, derwent and caran d'ache watercolor pencils and inktense and graphitint pencils.  So I have been making these pages with samples of each color.

They took awhile but they are really fun to do. I like looking at all the colors and their names too. I also made sheets for the Neocolor II watercolor crayons and the all the watercolor paints I have.

Don't you just love all the color names, like shiraz and prussian blue and carmine and vermillion and more.  I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had in making all these little squares of color.  I was almost disappointed when I ran out of materials. It will be really nice to have these pages as reference for future work.

Tell me do you make little charts like these for your supplies?

New Video On Taking Classes With Me

A Peek Into My New Class

I have been working on preparing and filming my next class. Bodacious Backgrounds and More.  I am really excited about this class.  It is going to be so much fun. I am going to cover Color Theory, pulled art, making backgrounds with spray paint and Colorwash and a whole lot more. Since I am including some spray painting I needed to take advantage of the one good weather day we've  had in a week. I headed out to do some sampling in the garage. Here's a sneak at my worktable, and then a few of my samples.

I just love this new paper stencil. I have used it to makes stamps, spray paint and use spray inks. Its pretty versatile.

I love how ithereal spray painting can make things look.

i

It turns out my black spray paint is having issues, it just didn't come out black like it should. I don't know if it because of the temps outside or what. I may just go get a new can.

I do love the look of spray paint over lace. Here I didn't mind that the black didn't really come out black. The muted shade seems to add to the antique look of things.

I did the butterfly's all in one color I think next time I will try multi-colored.

Some basic circles look good multicolored.

This leaf paper was a  new stencil too and initially I thought it was boring but now with multiple colors I kind a like it.

I love using this alphabet stencil and had been looking for it. There it was in the garage with some other stenciling materials. Do you ever misplace materials and have no clue where they are?

Catching Up

I am trying to catch up but I feel like I am weeks behind everyone else.  After ten days of company, everyone has gone home now.  Time to reflect on last year and pick my word for the year. Alas there are already things starting that need attention.

I wanted to share with you some fun free things out there in cyber land this January.

Milliande is doing her Art Journal January series again.  She has a video daily, there is some awesome inspiration there.  You can check it out here.

The Sketchbook Challenge has started also.  Its a year long project that will really encourage you to get that sketchbook out and use it.  You can start any time. There are guest artists and monthly prompts and giveaways and fun to be had.  Check it out here

Strathmore Online Classes featuring their new line of Visual Journals began Jan 1.  These are free classes. This month Pam Carriker is doing a class and there will be 2 more additional classes in March and May by Linda Blinn and Roz Stendahl.  You can check those out here

Then there is Make over your writing in 31 Days.  It really more of a blog than a class with daily posts and ideas.  You can see it here 

This is what Santa brought me for Christmas. I have wanted a good camcorder so that I can start filming online classes myself.  So now I have no more excuses, I have the equipment I just need to learn how to use it and start filming.

Word of the Year, I have been thinking about this for some time. I was leaning towards Wellness but lately the word I had thought about choosing last year seems to be resurfacing.  Last year I almost chose finished or completion but changed my mind and embraced the word bliss.  Now once again I am drawn to finishing things. So I do not know if the word should be finish, completion or focus or follow through.  I have been looking for the word that encompasses all of this but I haven't figured out what it is yet. If you have a suggestion I would love to here it.

This past weekend I had some spinning/knitting friends visit from Utah. I pulled out lots of UFO's and went to work on some on them. I finished a pair of fingerless mitts for my sister and finished a sock for Sarah, just have to do the other one.  I had another sock 1/2 done so that is being completed now. I am coming up with a plan to finish all these things I have lying around.

Now that is just knitting, I have lots of writing projects in the unfinished states and I'd like to tackle one of them and just complete it. So I think this week I will take some inventory and see what it is that I am willing to spend the majority of my time on.

How are you planning on spending your time in 2011?

Art Journal Playground - 21 Secrets

Have you heard about this class. Its just about to start and it sounds like an Art Journalers Dream. Go here to find out more about it and to sign up of course. Its put on by Connie of Dirty Footprints Studio and she invited twenty other people to take part. 

She is giving away 2 spots in the class which is why I am posting today. I would have talked about it anyways because I always like to share the good things I find online.

I have wanted to take Connie's class BIG but it has just never fit in my schedule with my surgery and recovery time. She is one of the lovely talented ladies who will be teaching. So I would love to learn from her.  I also can't wait to see what my friends Lis Hofmann and iHanna offer in their videos. These are two other awesome ladies I have met on line and love their work. It will be great to learn more form them. But get this there are eighteen other people teaching in the class. I am sure it will perfectly awesome.  There is the well known Samantha Kira, Dawn Sokol, Sarah Whitmire and so many more artists. This class sounds so awesome, check it out here