Express Your Creativity - Week 5

   

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 made this page this morning in an old book.  I am teaching a class on art journaling and we are using an old book for a journal.  This started out with distress ink and then I collaged a lot of thing on to the page.. The face was black and I added colored pencil to that face to spice it up a bit.

This is an exercise in the Mandala Magic course I am part of.  Needless to say it is to symbolize me but not be realistic.  It was fun to do.  That's all I have to share today.  

Catching Up With Sketchbook Skool Bootcamp

I had gotten way behind in this bootcamp course so it was time to catch up. We were to choose an artist and see what we could learn.  This is by John William Waterhouse and its called The Soul of the Rose.

We were to do a simple sketch and record what we learned.  Wow I was humbled by this project. The painting is really complex when you start drawing it.  I love how the bun in her hair even looks like a rose and her dressing gown mimic flowers too. The colors used in the piece fascinated me too. The red of her hair is repeated all over the painting. So many shades of green are also used.  The background seems simple but really it is not simple at all

The next two exercises are about your personal history.  I was drawing from tiny little photos but learned a lot from this too. I could see my same eyes in every photo.

Here we were to go to google earth and find our childhood home.  To record the differences. Another fun exercise that had me going down memory lane.

Next we were on to selfies using the fast slow technique. First with watercolor in 60 seconds or less and then in pen for a long time.  Someday I'll make a selfie that I think really looks like me.

This selfie is one continuous line, I look a little scary. A good exercise to practice seeing before you put pen to paper. Its hard not to lift that pen off the paper.

Making Stitch Markers

This past weekend I had one of my pajama party weekends. This is where my friends Cyndi and Shirley come down from Salt Lake City for the weekend. Its a pajama party because we don't get dressed unless we want to. I invite a few other friends over and we have a great time.

One of the things that often happens in these weekends is the stashes of yarn come out and new projects get planned.  My friend Cyndi on the right is a knitter extraordinaire.  She is great at designing and coming up with ideas. That is Shirley in the background.

I came up with a project that w all could do.  We made beaded knitting stitch markers. The instructions can be found here.  This is the first batch I made. I made about 20 more the next day.  So I have a great collection now. We also do a lot of spinning and knitting too.  Its a great time and I always either get a lot done or come away with ideas for new projects or get help with something that I might be stuck on.  Always a great time.

How did you spend your weekend?

Kate

Express Your Creativity Week 4

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. 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.

Here is one of the drawings I created this week.

This is a page in my Strathmore toned tan sketchbook.  First I drew the basket, I didn't get the shape quite right but its still a good representation of the basket I was looking at.  I used sepia Faber-Castel pitt artist pens. Then I added the Owl feather.  Its is the most special feather I have.  It was found in mb backyard the year I had cancer. The great horned owls in my yard were a part of my healing and truly gave me a wonderful gift.  I use it often on altars and just like looking at it because on one hand it is beautiful and the other it is so meaningful to me. I started out with the sepia pens again and then turned to colored pencil.  I love the way it looks on the tan paper.

Kate

Sketching On Toned Paper

I have been looking at these for some time. When Michaels had a buy 1 get 1 free deal last week I knew it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

This is my first drawing in the toned grey one, I think the camera does not want to make it look grey though. I used Prismacolor colored pencils. I really enjoyed making this. From layering several pinks and reds to get the paint color to recreating the wood of the brushes. I think I may have fallen in love with colored pencil again.

The New Moon

My dream board for the New Moon.  This is the  first time I have made a board for the new moon so I did a quick google search to guide me.

I found this on this site:

The new moon is the birthing cycle of the moon's various phases. Are you ready to attract your heartfelt longings by doing a moon ritual focused on manifestation? The new moon phase is an optimal time for planning and seeding your intentions. Seedlings need a period of gestation before they break through the soil and reach for the sunlight. This is also true for our cultivating our ideas and clearing the way for our visions to surface in reality. The dark side of the moon, with its mysterious unseen forces, offers a nurturing environment where our intentions can establish roots before their miraculous manifestations begin to sprout and reach out to the stars.

As a result I think I cemented ideas from my last board and things I want in my life.  I really want to thrive so I liked choosing that word. All the images speak to me on some level.

I have had an issue lately of not liking the magazines I have for collage.  I usually pick them up at a library sale so I am limited to what people donate. So today I went and spent a little bit.  I bought some inexpensive magazines, 5-6.00 each.  I am seeing it as an investment, like buying art supplies.  I also am cutting up old art magazines. They have wonderful images to use in collage.  Artful blogging is great for it. I figure I could also buy a really nice magazine once a month.  Before you know it I will have such a collection of magazines that collage will be a dream to do. 

What are your favorite magazines to use for collage?

Kate

Books and A Vision Come True

I have started off the new year with some fantastic reading. In this first pile are all the non-fiction books. Show your work by Austin Kleon takes off where Steal Like An Artist began.  It has the same format and is full of gems. The Art of Work is an ARC the book does not come out till March. I am part of a launch team for the book. I'll post  a  proper review at the time. It is all about finding you path or calling and it covers it all.  Excellent book. Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces by Jane Davenport is fantastic. One peeve of mine on mixed media books is when its full of many artists when you want to see the work of the person whose name is on the cover, not all their friends. Jane delivers here, everything is hers.  She covers her style of faces in many different mediums. There will be an online course to match the book in July. Both The Art of Everyday Photography and The Urban Sketcher are ones I have not gotten into yet but they look great.

Here is a short pile of fiction. Well Women Who Run With the Wolves is not fiction but its part of this pile anyways. The Dragon Heir is the 3rd book is a series by Cinda Williams Chima. Its a YA fantasy set in the modern world. She creates a magical world that is fun to read. Clariel by Garth Nix is a prequel to his classic Fantasy series that starts with Sabriel. I am looking forward to re entering that interesting world. Women Who Run With the Wolves is a book I have had for years but have never read completely. I decided this is the year for it. I found a group of women on Facebook who are discussing it. So that should be a great group to part of.

Remember this vision card I made about self care.  Well its come true.  Initially I wasn't sure why I was attracted to that glass of water but I put it on there anyways.

Then I thought of I should be drinking more water. Perhaps if I had a pretty glass instead of a water bottle I would enjoy it more. So I went out and bought this glass and then threw in a slice of lemon. It feels like I am out to dinner now, its more festive. Its one of the other steps I wanted to take which is to buy things for myself that are pretty. That are more than just functional.  I love this new glass.  It feels nice in my hands as I hold it.

I also picked up this beautiful bowl from Japan.  I am not sure how I will use it yet but that doesn't matter.  Right  now its almost like a symbol of the good things I am promising myself this yeat.

How do you nurture yourself?

Sunday Sketches - A Mandala

I am getting ready to take the course Mandala Magic with Julie Gibbons. It starts on the 20th. So of course mandalas are on my mind. This page started with a face and I painted black gesso around it. Then I painted the whole page black which led to the idea of a black and white mandala. I started with a spiral and then just kept adding patterns. The drawing of this was very meditative. I used a Uniball Signo Broad white gel pen.

Express Your Creativity Week 3

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. 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 t
his on your blog. You'll find it on the sidebar to your right.

My offering for this week. I took Jamie Ridler's workshop on making vision cards.  I picked 3 focus areas I wanted to work with and made these cards.  They are for writing, self care and painting.

I start my day and end my day by looking at the cards.  They have been very motivating.

The Perfect Sketchbook

I headed to Michaels today to see if they had any of these Pitt Artist Pens in Sepia.  I was in luck because they had them and I had a 50% off coupon.  Perfect combination in my opinion.  I am going to try using these to draw on my drum.

When I got the mail at home to my delight I got this package from Singapore.  Pretty exciting I think.

I have been waiting to get this in the mail. I had no clue how long it would take mail to get here from Singapore but it was pretty quick. I backed this Kickstarter project for the Perfect Sketchbook,  so it was nice to get the product and see how nice it is.  Its small enough to fit in a purse or pocket.  Its like having a moleskine but the paper is better.  It has 72 sheets of 100% cotton rag watercolor paper 190 gsm. a side pocket, ribbon bookmark, a greyvalue chart on one of the pages and a coptic binding so it opens flat.  The cover is grey and is nice and soft.  A quality product.  I am pleased, now for some time to try out the paper.  I even got some scraps of the paper tp play with.  One of the best things I have backed.

Bootcamp Begins

Its January so a new session of Sketchbook Skool has started.  Since I have taken all three courses I was invited to take Bootcamp.  It s free course open to those who have taken all three courses.  They plan on covering aspects of all three previous lessons. We have 3 sessions a week.

This first exercise involved fruit and drawing at various steps.  It was quite a fun little exercise. I drew it in ink and then painted it in watercolor.  It was fun stopping and eating between each drawing.

This one I drew on Saturday while watching football. I drew it from some images on Pinterest.  I combine two different ideas.  I made the nose way to short but kept going anyways. I colored her in with InkTense pencils and a waterbrush. Simple but fun.

What did you do to express your creativity today?

Express Your Creativity Week 2

Welcome to Express Your Creativity. 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.

Collage Night

I'm still sick so there hasn't been much art this week.  I did this collage tonight though. I laid down some book page scraps and then covered it with Neocolor II watercolor crayons. I activate the crayon with gesso and then stenciled with distress stain.  Then I added lots of different collage elements.   Journaling went on top after I took this picture.

I'll be posting to Express Your Creativity on this tomorrow.  Be sure to check back here to see how others have been creative this week.

Wolf Full Moon

Here are my pages for the Full Wolf Moon. It's also called the Birch Moon. Things to think about are your wild nature as in the wolf, I just had to add this little wolf pup howling. The Birch moon is all about clearing away things from life to make space for something new. That seems so like January to me, people are always looking for new storage solutions, de- cluttering and deciding what they would like their year to be. What steps can I make to clear space from my life is the question I will be asking myself this month.

I recently took Jamie Ridler's offering on planning called Design Your Year.  It was really good, it helped me determine my priorities and see how to plan for them.  One of the things that I want to bring into focus this year is my garden,  I always seem to be so busy when the time to work in it is most important.  This year I am working my schedule around gardening time. It's just one of the insights I learned from this workshop. Information can be found here. The course is only available till Jan 31st but it only takes a few hours to go through.  So check it  out while you can.

Navigating Through The New Year

On January 1st I chose 3 cards for the year from the Awakening Your Divine Self oracle card deck. I got Daughter, Waiting and Intention.  A pretty powerful set of cards to guide me.  The other thing I plan to do is to choose a card at the beginning of the month. Some great wisdom can be found in an Oracle Deck.  I picked a card one my animal card decks and got Raven so magic is afoot for January indeed. For anyone interested, I now have more oracle decks in stock.  You can purchase your own here.

I have been sick since boxing day and in those moments when I felt better I created some pages in my recycled paintings journal.  Its so fun working in this journal since there is already paint on some of the pages.  I tend to play in it more, having no preconceived notions of what will be there it is very freeing.

This page started from cleaning up in my studio.  I found  scrap with lots of overstamping and brayer marks on it. I glued it right into the journal and started working over it.  I ended up journaling about those unseen guides and how they offer assistance which led to thoughts on bravery and courage and just where does it come from.  Where do you think you get your courage from?

Sunday Sketches - A Hare

I felt the need to be sketching again.  I am so out of practice. This little hare needed to come play today.  Posting to Sunday sketches today.  You can check out other sketches over here.

A New Feature On This Blog

EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY

I am excited to announce a new feature at The Queen of Creativity.  I am calling it Express Your Creativity.  It will be a weekly way for you to share your creative pursuits and connect with others. Every Friday I will create a post and upload it.  You can share paintings, sketches, art journal pages, poetry, fiber arts like knitting and weaving, favorite recipes, organizational and decorating ideas, The sky is the limit here.  The only requirement is that it is something that you have created in some way. I hope you will join me 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.