Sunday, January 31, 2016

Thank You


It's always good to show your appreciation for things that others do for you.  And they do so much!



Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A Little Encouragement

 
Don't underestimate the power of a little encouragement.

 
A lovely lady at the Vancouver Artist Trading Card Group, Rose, told me that she loved the ATC's I had made with postage stamps.

 
That's all it took.

 
Before I knew it, I'd made six new ones!

 
How can I offer encouragement today?  A kind word to a friend or stranger.....a "like" or a "heart" on social media.....a comment on a blog - there are lots of ways!  I'll try to remember to take the time.



Monday, January 25, 2016

A Little Salt and Some Doodles

 
Strathmore Watercolor Journal

 
I added a little salt to the wet watercolor and let it dry. 


Friday, January 22, 2016

Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Cacti Are Still Showing Up


 
Collage Artist Trading Cards
 
I used to fuss that I don't have a recognizable style, but I'm coming to realize that a recognizable style has recurring colors, images, or other art elements.  I've done a big enough body of work now that I'm beginning to see some recurring images.  These cacti are one of them. 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Soon and Very Soon.....

we're going to see the spring!

 
Strathmore Watercolor Journal
Inktense Blocks, Uni-ball Fine, Dip Pen and Sumi Ink
 
 

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Monday, January 18, 2016

Gelatos, Saran Wrap and Acrylic Paint

 
 
What happens when you put Saran Wrap on wet gelatos?  This is what this page looked like before I added the drawing:
 
 
 
 
Red gelato would not cover up the black on this, so I added some acrylic paint to the mix.  Such fun!



Thursday, January 14, 2016

Collage Card

 
Gelli Print Collage
 
I'm starting to feel more confident about making greeting cards that are a little more, well, arty.  Does this make any sense at all?? 
 
As Salvidor Dali said "Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."


Monday, January 11, 2016

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 
In a new art journal, of course!
 
I have bound all of my loose gelato and other similar-sized pieces from late 2014 and 2015 into an art journal.  I love flipping through it, and I'm eager to have more gelato fun on the back-sides.
 
 
 
Front Cover, Gelli Print
 




Sunday, January 10, 2016

Is It Possible to Have Too Many Pencil Cases?

 
Alisa Burke makes the most beautiful pencil cases from hand-painted canvas.  She doesn't ship outside the USA, however, so I've decided to make my own!  Before I buy some supplies, I rummaged through a suitcase of left-over sewing bits and found a zipper and some upholstery fabric.  The zipper wasn't quite as long as I wanted, but it did for a prototype.
 
Is it possible to have too many pencil cases?  


Saturday, January 9, 2016

The Upside Down Sketchbook Project

 
 
I saw this great idea on Andrea Joseph's blog, based on Betty Edwards great book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  Andrea's idea spoke to me because upside down drawing was one of my favorite exercises in the book, and also because I have three of the Dover Art Sticker Books.  I bought them about a hundred years ago without an idea of what to do with them.
 
My first attempt was dismal, but it will help to explain the project:
 
 
 
You stick the stickers on the left side pages, turn the book upside down, and copy the picture.  It works best if you don't know what the picture depicts; that way the left side of the brain can't engage and attempt to tell you how the picture should be drawn.   I wasn't able to quiet my left brain, but I'll keep trying, just copying the lines exactly as I see them.
 
A new project for a new year.  Happy New Year, everyone!