Monday, March 30, 2015

My Favorite City


I have been very fortunate to visit Europe several times.  My favorite city will likely always be Paris, and the Eiffel Tower is one of my favorite iconic images.


I had an irresistible urge to stamp this Tim Holtz stamp on scrapbook paper from the same pad.  Each one has a slightly different pattern on it.


Sunday, March 29, 2015

Saturday, March 28, 2015

I Couldn't Stop at Just One


After I made my last 8 fold book, I saw an article in the Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild journal for a larger 8 fold book.  My first was made from an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper.  This one was made from an 11" x 17" piece.


The article provided some different decorating prompts:  watercolor, collage, and pencil crayon, in addition to letters.

These really are addictive.  What I love most about them is that you begin the process by decorating the full sheet of paper, before folding.  After you have folded your book, you have partially decorated pages on which to write additional quotes and apply finishing touches.



Friday, March 27, 2015

A Collaborative Calligraphy 8 Fold Book Project


At a recent Westcoast Calligraphy Society we started a collaborative 8 fold book project.


Our homework was to finish decorating them at home.


If you've never made an 8 fold book, here's a video.  Easy peasy, and such fun!


Friday, March 20, 2015

More Ducks


It's a good thing that I don't mind whether or not they look realistic.


I've always thought that ducks look like they have real personality.  Mine certainly do. LOL


Thursday, March 19, 2015

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

This One is Acrylic


I found this unpublished blog post lurking in the list.  It is one of my recent attempts at trying this process with acrylics.


I woke up at 6:19 thinking about "junque" journals.  This weekend I'll try to execute.  That means both execute a plan (make another journal) and execute that voice in my ahead that keeps waking me up early. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Better Colours


I wasn't completely happy with the colours on the last batch, so that pushed me to do another.  The colours here are clearer, and that makes me happy.  The background could be a bit more interesting, though.


I do have another background done, but I've been preoccupied with "junque journals" the past few days.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

These Ones are Gelatos


a jumble of organic shapes


a cactus crept in


hearts as flowers


I'm not sure I'm done yet.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

I Thought I Was Done With These


I guess not.  But I've been feeling rather uninspired lately.  The voice in my head says "no, not those again".  But for lack of anything else, I gave in to my muse and a few more of these came out.  This one is acrylic paint.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Monday, March 9, 2015

Pigments of Your Imagination: Creating With Alcohol Inks Now Released

I've been playing with alcohol inks this year, and Pigments of Your Imagination: Creating With Alcohol Inks by Cathy Taylor has been a great resource.  Alcohol ink is a relatively new fine art medium, and there aren't many books on the subject.  (I could only find two on Amazon).  Internet videos have their place, but wading through them all is time consuming and there is no way to guarantee their quality or appropriateness for your learning level or project.  I prefer books for this type of learning.

Unfortunately, I could only obtain an electronic review copy, and this publication format is not ideal for an art book, in my opinion.  However, I spent enough time with the book to give it a high recommendation for those interested in trying alcohol ink.  The art in this book is plentiful, large, and absolutely beautiful and I hope the print quality of the book is high enough to show it off.  It is very inspiring stuff.

My favorite parts of this book are the first two chapters:  Simply Start and Special Effects.  In Simply Start, Taylor shows eleven different basic techniques for applying and moving alcohol inks.  I could happily play with just these eleven for months!  In Special Effects eight more effects are demonstrated with a few more advanced supplies (mediums, laminate, etc.).

Chapters 3 and 4 provide more detailed instructions on how to do landscapes, and flora and fauna-scapes.  These chapters will appeal to those who like to learn by following step by step instructions for specific projects.

Most of these first projects are done on Yupo paper, and then Chapter 5 moves on to instructions and projects for using alcohol ink on fabric:  batik, madras, marbling and tie-dye, for example.  Chapter 6 covers additional surfaces like alcohol skins, metals, ceramic tiles and glass.  It also delves into mixed media collage, marbling, and monoprinting.  I'll definitely be trying some of these too!

In addition to all of the beautiful pictures throughout the book, a nine page art gallery is included at the end.  All in all, this is a most inspiring publication that will provide hours of fun!  I'll be dipping into this for many months, I can tell.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Inspiration


Inspiration is a strange thing.  It comes from so many places.  Earlier this week, I was looking through a box of stamps and had the urge to use this one from Hero Arts.  I made a couple of Artist Trading Cards and a small bookmark.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Sometimes I Only Have a Few Minutes.....


....but I do try and do something creative every day.  It's sort of like making sure I get some exercise every day - if you miss one day it is easier to miss the second...and then the third......

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Monday, March 2, 2015

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Another Acrylic Experiment


I like the colours in this one a little more than the last one.  The process was the same, but I added blue, green, and white over a purple/ochre/light blue background.