Express Your Creativity - Week 12

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. Here you can share paintings, sketches, art journal pages, poetry, photography, fiber arts like knitting and weaving, favorite recipes, organizational and decorating ideas, and more. The only requirement is that it is something that you have created in some way. I hope you will join me here and please pass it on. Please make sure to list your posts url and not your blogs url. This makes it easier for any late comers to find your post. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, this is how it works. You type in your name in the first box and the url/link to your post, not your blog address about your creative efforts this week. When you return your name will already be populated, you just need to paste in the new posts link.

I have created a blog button for those participating who might want to post this on your blog. You'll find it on the sidebar to your right.

My Week

I have been laid low with a awful stomach flu since last Friday.  I didn't get to as many as your blogs as I would have liked.  I apologize for that. Thank to all of you who continue to post here each week.

Since I have been so sick I don't have much to share.  I have been cleaning up my studio. You know how that is at one point you just have to do a major overhaul or you can't get anything done. I am going to be doing some major work and I wanted lots of workstations set up so I can move from one project to the next. It took me two days to get it all set up.

This is a little peek into a painting I am working on.

Here is another section.  I am loving all the color buried in all the layers.

I took this watercolor background and began a mandala.  I haven't gotten very far with it yet.

After a trip to the Dentist and a Dr. appointment I needed a lift so I went shopping at Michaels. I wanted some orange paint but ended up with a lot more. The white paper in the background is for scrapbooking but I will use it as a stencil. I got it on clearance for.49. The small toned gray sketchbook was on clearance for 5.99 so I got a couple good deals. I used a coupon on the inks.  They are the metallic set which includes silver, copper and gold. I will use them for drips in paintings and other accents.  I really like adding copper to a piece.

I'd love to see what you have been doing so please share your work below.

Express Your Creativity Week 10

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. Here you can share paintings, sketches, art journal pages, poetry, photography, fiber arts like knitting and weaving, favorite recipes, organizational and decorating ideas, and more. The only requirement is that it is something that you have created in some way. I hope you will join me here and please pass it on. Please make sure to list your posts url and not your blogs url. This makes it easier for any late comers to find your post. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, this is how it works. You type in your name in the first box and the url/link to your post, not your blog address about your creative efforts this week. When you return your name will already be populated, you just need to paste in the new posts link.

I have created a blog button for those participating who might want to post this on your blog. You'll find it on the sidebar to your right.

I am posting a little early. In the morning I am having the first steps of an implant done. So tomorrow I get the tooth pulled and a bone graph done. I will try and check back when I am feeling better.

I had a busy day planned last week on my birthday but I really wanted to allow a little time for art.  I thought an art journal page was a perfect idea. This was one of watercolor backgrounds I made last week. I just grabbed a black marker and began. Making those first marks can be hard but you just need to take a deep breath and commit to it. The background was painted over with acrylic paint as was her dress.

Now its your turn to express your creativity.

Returning To Sketching

I have been missing making art in my sketchbook so I grabbed it and did some church drawings. The woman is from a magazine image. I was going to just leave this page with pen and ink but then remembered that a little color can always make a drawing come to life. I used cheap watercolors to add the color in this piece.

I drew this from a photograph. I am using a new pen and oh I love this pen.  Its a soft Fudenosuke Brush Pen by Tombow. You can get them at jetpens.com At only 2.50 this pen is a steal. If you want a fine line you use it as normal, you want to get a thicker line you just use more pressure.  Its like having a fine liner and a brush pen in one.

This I drew in church from life. I used pen and then watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. I put the quilt and wall hanging in last. I was not sure how it would work but I was glad I tried it because it looks good.  Art is all about taking risks, sometimes we are willing and other times fear takes a hold. Each time that I find myself being a little bit bolder, it gets a little easier. Sometimes we need to take small steps to reach big goals.

Kate

Sketchbook Skool Storytelling

Sketchbook Skool has started again. I took the Storytelling course this time. My instructor is the lovely Koosje Koene from the Netherlands. She is the co founder of Sketchbook Skool along with Danny Gregory. She has a wonderful blog and lots of videos and classes on drawing, you can find it here. I always enjoy her Draw Tip Tuesday short videos.

This is my first drawing for Storytelling.  We are supposed to create a recipe.  This is not something I normally do but it was quite fun.

Our second homework assignment is to create a manual or set of directions.  Here I describe how to use a 3 x 5 gelli plate.  I started this in pencil and then went over it in pen and erased the pencil lines. Then I added watercolor and some colored pencil.  I think it is a fun illustration. I think it tells a little story.

Kate

A Colorful Doorway

For Sunday Sketches I decided to play with color. This doorway was drawn in pen and then I used InkTense pencils and water and then pen again.

Check out other sketchers here,

My Weekend Getaway.

This is the only sketch I managed to make this past weekend.  Sitting on the back porch of my friends house, just a view of the trees.

I spent a lot of time spinning and knitting and visiting we friends old and new.  A very relaxing place to be. Sometimes a weekend away is just what you need to get a new perspective on life. I felt very proud of myself because I still managed to write the three days I was there, and even took two walks. Sometimes its the little things that are big accomplishments.

I fell in love with this tree, it was in the front yard of the house I stayed at. It had incredible energy about it. I took tons of pictures. I think I need to paint it at some point.

We replaced some sidewalk and I had to leave my mark. It is not that easy to write in concrete. My spiral symbol came out a little wonky.

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Kate

Using Pinterest For Inspiration

I went to  one of my Pinterest boards this morning for inspiration. I knew I wanted to draw something in church today.

I loved this image, it is actually a quilt and not a painting. It's called the Ravens of Angel Crest by Thom Atkins. Isn't it gorgeous.

For my version I separated the birds, made the trees a little less developed, added birds to the second tree and added a mountain.  I like my little drawing, it was fun to make. I find Pinterest is fun for collecting images but its also great to use all that collecting for something. I think I may use this image again in the future. Maybe elaborate on the image, or tackle the idea in acrylic, or even on canvas. Or even make the one tree recede further into the background, or make the bird bigger and more of a focal point. There are lots of different things you can do with an initial idea to make it your own.

Linking to Sunday Sketches today.

How do you use images for inspiration? Tell me in the comments.

Kate

Drawing My Kitchen

My kitchen, oh my there are so many mistakes in this drawing.  Nothing is the right size or shape but I kept hearing Tommy Kane's voice in my head saying "finish the drawing" so I kept plugging away. The handles on the cupboard are different for a reason. I when I made the error on the left I was dismayed but decided to make the other side correct. I learned a lot with this drawing. Its always encouraging to realize that the next drawing is going to be better.

I got my Derwent Pencil Bag in the mail yesterday.  I love it.  It will hold 130 pencils, a sketchbook, watercolor box and more. There are three sleeves to hold pencils and you can add more.  Right now I added all my Inktense pencils and my Graphitint pencils.  Whenever I get to the zoo to do animal drawing I'll take it for a real test run.  Just using it at home has been great because everything is right there in the bag.  I don't have to go looking for anything.

New Books Are The Best

I got an order of books in the mail today.  That is always such fun.  I have been watching Jennifer Lee's Right Brainers in Business so I just had to get a copy of her book.  It looks like its going to be excellent.

I had taken Joanne class a few years ago and have always be enamored of her lettering style.  The book is a gem, full of examples, techniques and so inspiring.

On Wednesday in 21 Secrets Live we played with watercolors through the tutelage of Diana Trout. What fun that was.

WRITING

Today I found out that I received the scholarship to Beth Barany's Group Coaching for Novelists that I applied for a few months ago.  This gave me 50% off the price of the group and elevated me to the second tier.  A really good value. I am so excited to take the next step. To invest in myself, to make my dream come true. I believe if we really want something and don't know how to get there, we find a way.  This is a big step for me. Its going to be pretty all consuming and I know I will need to give up some things to have the time to do it.  I'm ready though, its time to take the plunge and really invest in this dream of mine.

Do you find there is something holding you back from achieving something? Maybe its time for you to step up, to take the leap, to go for it.  Reach for the sky my friends.

Sunday Sketches - Just Playing.

For today's post, I was just playing with windows  and watercolors and shapes.  Its not exactly what I had in mind but it engaged my creativity and was still fun.

Check out some other artists at Blue Chair Diary 

Pulse - Paint Party Friday

The theme for this section for Spectrum is pulse and rhythm and the heart. These images began with liquid watercolors. I chose blue and red to symbolize veins and blood. From and old dictionary I  cut out heart pictures and transferred them to the page using a packing tape transfer method. I added additional watercolors and acrylic paints.  It was very organic, just taking my time to determine what to bring out an what to let recede. Some of the outlining is done in black paint and some with the scarlet lime pen.

I love looking at some of the details and pulling out sections for viewing.  To look at those sweet spots brings a smile to my face.

This piece seemed very floral, I saw flowers right away.  They may be leaves or they may be seed pods.  It's had to tell sometimes, I will just let the be whatever the viewer wants them to be. I enjoyed working on this piece in a way I haven't on any other in a long time. In giving myself permission to take it slow and work on it for a long time if needed I felt it go in places it wouldn't have otherwise.

Sunday Sketches

I saw something similar to these on the net so I had to give it a try.  Making these rings was really satisfying.

First in black and white.

Then I added some watercolor.  What fun this was to do.

You can check out other sketchers at Alex'x blog

Sunday Sketches

The hubby and I headed down to Pocatello a town an hour from here to have a Valentine lunch. We headed to McKenzie River Pizza Co.  They are building one in Idaho Falls but it taking forever to open.  So we headed south to go to the one that has just been built there. We became fans when our daughter was going to school in Montana. You can't get a good pizza around here so I was so excited when I heard they were going to build a location here.

While waiting for our food.  I drew this woman in a small notebook I carry in my purse.

Then I put some watercolor on her.

Here is the pizza I had. Alfredo sauce, spinach, fresh tomato and chicken, it was so good.

They gave us a free dessert, that is red velvet cake with creame inside.  Its too bad I had to share.

Afterwards I spent the night with an old favorite.  That's Humphrey Bogart with the Maltese Falcon.  Actually my cinema group met at my house for a showing of the 1941 classic. I love vintage films and this is one of the best. I watched this so many times as a kid with my parents, it reminded me of them so much. Good memories and fun times.

Check out Blue Chair Diary to see what others are sketching today.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway in this post

Sunday Sketches - Pencil and Watercolor

I took my inspiration from another artist who did something similar on Pinterest but I could not fine her name. There's was much more elaborate that mine.  I liked the idea of just doing the hair in color and leaving the rest in pencil.  I used Koi watercolors for the hair.  Then I drew the patterns in with a micron pen.


Check out other sketchers' are doing on Alexandra's blog 

Mapping 2014 Artfully

When I saw that Jill Berry who wrote Personal Geographies had a Facebook group so I joined at once. I have had her book for a long time but never managed to make any maps. Which is something I want to do. I figured that being in the group would inspire me to get going. Right away I learned about the Mapping 2014 Artfully project so I figured if I joined that would force me to act and it did.

I chose SELF CARE as my word to focus on this year. So I decided to use the map making idea to explore ways to focus on self care. I drew the figure in pencil and then used my Copic pens over the pencil marks and then erased.  The parts of the figure were painted with watercolor and then I used acrylic to fill in the background.  I really enjoyed making this map, it was a lot of fun and a great way to explore an idea.

You can check out all the other maps being shared today by going here to Jill Berry's blog.

New Journals And A Surprise

I ordered the larger size Venzia Journal after seeing it at Dirty Footprint Studio.  Then I signed up for Connie's class on painting the Feminine so I was saving it for that class that starts in January. At Michaels I found the smaller size so I grabbed it right away. This sketchbook is just lovely. I didn't have that much time for art this week so I would go in my art room and just pet the paper, anxiously awaiting some time with it.

My first page in my new Venzia Fabriano Journal.  I used watercolor for the background and then I drew doodles over the top and added WC crayons on top. The paper buckled a little at the amount of water I was adding but I just took my iron to it and wala its back to normal.

My friend Amy called and told me she had something I was looking for.  She runs a charity thrift store and I always tell her what I am looking for.  Sooner or later it seems to show up.  Now what could be in this little case.

Well not the vintage typewriter I would like but it will do.  It was made in the 60's, and even came with some old paper and a manual.  There are a couple cover letters and a resume in the case too. Always makes me wonder about the previous owner.  I found out that I can get old ribbons online so I am all set.  No I don't plan to write a novel on it. I plan to use it to type up collaged words for my mixed media work.

Monoprinting with Glass

I've been doing my exercises for my painting class with Pauline Agnew today.  We are working on monoprinting with a glass plate and then adding ink on top of the print.

It was an interesting exercise that I need tons more practice to master. We painted with watercolor paints, pulled off the print and then used india ink and other inks on top.  This class is making me grow artistically in ways I could not imagine. I haven't shared everything, but its all been great. We have 2 more weeks so I wonder what I'll be doing next.

Then we did monoprints with shapes and different inks and so forth. I pulled the following prints.

 

This is quite a bit fun. Like working with a gelli print but a little different. I am linking to Art Everyday Month and Paint Party Friday

Playing Along WIth Lynn and Google Maps

My friend Lynn started this new blog so I wanted to play along. I didn't really read the directions and just picked to of the images to do. The idea is to sketch an area using google maps. I really want to do more watercolor so I decided to just play a little.

The first location is this pic at 1 Litchdon St Barnstable England UK

I am using a very small journal so I captured just part of the house.

This is the second image I did, its at 128 Boutport St Barnstable, England.  I loved the red on this picture.

This was fun.  Then I realized what you are supposed to do is not paint what others posted but to use google maps for the location and then you pick your own location to paint.  It sure helps if you read the directions.

I really don't know how to navigate Google Maps, I was stuck in this one corner and couldn't  look elsewhere.  I thought this building looked fun with all its color.

Once again the small journal made it hard but its just a play exercise so I think I am ok. I have a lot to learn about watercolor but it will be fun learning.