Thursday, May 29, 2014

Stamps are Fun Too!

I've been reorganizing my Artist Trading Card binders so that each artist has a page dedicated to their art, rather than having them presented in date order.  This has inspired me to create a few ATC's of my own and has rekindled a love for some of my favorite rubber stamps:


Image by Maryse Carrier
Pencil Crayon


Image by Maryse Carrier
Pencil Crayon


Image by Rubber Moon
Pencil Crayon


Pencil Crayon

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Recycling Art

Today I'm recycling untraded Artist Trading Cards to make birthday cards:


Hand-carved Crocus Stamp
Greeting by Daisy Bucket Designs


Image by Snag 'em Stamps
Greeting by Hero Arts


Greeting by Biblical Impressions

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Sketching in the Park




My friend Janice has reminded me that this month is skipping away without enough art.  I did ride up to Queen Elizabeth Park last week to do some sketching, though.

I'm linking this up to Dion Dior's Friday Sketches and to the Artists' Play Room and Julie Balzer's Art Journal Every Day if I remember!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Shells from Sunset Beach



I'm linking this sketch of shells to Dion Dior's Friday Sketches.  I find Dion's blog very inspirational - her sketchbook paintings are gorgeous! 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

ATC's from the 29 Cactus Series





These ATC's began in my journal as a series of 29 cacti sketches I did while vacationing in Palm Springs.  The backgrounds are stamped with gelatos and the cacti are painted with gouache.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

The Trees of the Fields



The mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song
and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands
- Isaiah 55:12

Sometimes a journal page background sits for months without any inspiration to finish it.  Although I love doing this saran wrap watercolour technique, so it was with this page. I saw mountains in there but nothing came. 

Last week, I flipped through my journal, stopped (with a sigh) at this page and suddenly this song from Isaiah 55 ran through my head.  The rest was completed in minutes.  Joy!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Artist Trading Card



This is another example of a journal sketch ending up on an Artist Trading Card.  This one is going to my sister, Dianne, who sent me four beauties last week.  I better get crackin' on some more!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Happy Accidents



These drips look like poppies, and I couldn't have drawn nicer ones if I'd tried.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

First Ride to the Beach!



About a week ago, I rode my bike to the beach for the first time this year and sketched a little.  I communed with the sea gulls and picked up some shells to draw inside when the weather isn't so nice.



Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tulips



Here I caught a few of the tulips in my garden at their prime, before they faded and fell.  Spring moves so quickly once it arrives! 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Abstract Rhododendron


I decided to use my sketch of a rhododendron to experiment with abstract painting.  First I chose a section of my sketch:


and I enlarged it by painting it on an artist trading card:


Then I tried another color:


and after that, I tried another medium:  gelatos.


Again, a few more colors:


There were more, but I'll spare you.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Rhododendrons



May flowers are blooming everywhere in Vancouver!  It is hard to know where to start with your sketchbook.  This is a rhododendron bush from my garden.  I'll put some journaling on the bottom. 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Draw Your Awesome Year


April is finished......


...and May is underway.  This is my April journaling for Joanne Sharpe's Draw Your Awesome Year class.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Tulips



I took advantage of a quiet few minutes to capture the tulips on our living room coffee table.  This page is done in gouache, and I'll add some journaling  down the right hand side.

I hope you are all having a great weekend!