Doodling Like You Did When You Were Two!

Greetings & Salutations!

It's Monday, It's a Hot Day, It's a Work Day, It's a Windy Day, It's a Java Day, It's a Studio Day, It's a Creative Day, 

It's a GREAT DAY!

Okay, grab your markers, grab your paper, and start doodling like you did you when you were two!

I just signed up for an online workshop at The Land of Lost Luggage, which is taught by Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. 

Sign-up over at Julie Prichard's Blog

I'm really looking forward to kicking up my painting techniques. I did the first assignment, but have to go back and re-do it. LOL  Hey, that is how we learn right?

Have a great Week!

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!

Who isn't Addicted To Art Supplies?

GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS

Okay, who isn't addicted to Art Supplies...I know I am! I have been working on various projects using different mediums.  I am so freaking in love with SHIVA OIL PAINT STICKS! These are absolutely wonderful, and they dry in 24 hours (unlike oil paint) LOL

I was looking through my old issues of Cloth, Paper & Scissors, and they have a workshop describing various techniques using these beautiful oil sticks.

I have to get all of the colors, but for now here is my stash!

They are just so creamy, and blend so evenly. I LOVE THEM!

Various Brands of Oil Pastels.  I really like the Crayola Brand. They are really easy to use. You can add water, just like watercolor paints.  For the Shiva Oil Sticks, you CANNOT USE WATER WITH THOSE, so if you want to dab and play with water, use the Crayola Pastels. 

Ohhhhhh Watercolor Crayons. These are so awesome. I use them all the time in my projects.  Especially my art journals. I love playing and mixing the various colors to get great skin tones.  Plus they dry fast! 

Look at the dreamy colors!

Now onto felting...I made a few of these for my friend Anita, and for her granddaughters.  I also made one for myself! I followed the technique in Betz White's Book entitled "Warm Fuzzies."  If you are into felting, this is a fabulous technique/workshop book.  The instructions are very clear and lots of photographs.  So grab some old wool sweaters and get felting!

Last but not least...do you TANGLE?  Well...if you don't you will start once you get this great book. There are so many different tangle books out there, but this one is very simple, great photos to follow and practice. Love this Book!

Until Next Time...Enjoy the rest of the week and have a creative and wonderful WEEKEND!

CHEERS

Art Journals, Painting and Sketching

Greetings & Salutations Everyone!

Happy Friday...Well, I've kicked up my Friday and currently working on some File Folders for my Journal that I'm doing for the Journal Junkin Workshop. I haven't made my cover yet, but will get to that soon. I'm having way to much fun with these folders.  It's amazing how you can keep adding, and adding and keep adding to these fabulous folders.  This is a very inexpensive way to test out new products, work out ideas and to see what colors look good together. I have the first layer down, which is the paint and now I'm adding the 2nd Layer with lots of different stencils, rubber stamps, found objects for added textures.  The 3rd layer will be more paint, and more paint! I would really like to have at least 5 or 6 layers on these before I start adding collage pages, magazine pages, etc. Give it a Go! LOL

I am also working on playing with my Shiva Oil Sticks. I learned how to use these when I took Misty Mawn's Workshop over the Winter. LOVE THESE OIL STICKS.  You can also use your oil paints after the first layer is dry.  I'm waiting for this piece to dry and then go back in and add more coloring and shading to her features. Can't wait to see this done!My girlfriend, Anita, had this book sent to me from my favorite place...AMAZON.COM! If this is the only drawing and/or art book that you get, get this one. IT's broken down into 52 Chapters which gives you 52 weeks of various drawing techniques, etc. The First Chapter is "Draw Cats in Bed." I have been a big fan of Carla Sonheim and her little girls that she draws. I'm so glad she put this book out. Apparently this is a new series of books entitled "Lab Series" by Quarry Books and they have another one entitled "Collage Lab" by Bee Shay, and yes that is in my Amazon Cart! LOLHere are some new sketches that I'm working on.  There is nothing like lots of sketch art books and a ton of pencils and art goodies all around you. I have this big bucket with all kinds of pencils, colored pencils, etc...and I carry that damn thing around like it's Linus' Blanket! LOL  You should see me when I take my bucket to the local Pubs! LOL

Playing in the Studio

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but my tummy could use a break from all of the eating that I've been doing for the past few days! LOL One of the things that I absolutely love about having Thanksgiving Day at our house...LEFTOVERS for the next few days! There is absolutely nothing like waking up after a kip and walking into the kitchen and making yourself another plate or a big fresh sandwich, popping in some old movies, and settling back in for another kip!

However, I did manage to get up to the Studio and work on ... "My Art Journals." My newest obsession. This lovely art form is such a relaxing and fun way to just let your mind and fingers play. There is no pressure, no final image that you have in your head, no rush, no agenda...it's just you and your Art Journal(s) having fun together. I have noticed that a lot of my pages that I start, just keep getting busier and busier. I like to get a bunch of pages down... collage papers, tissue papers, magazine pages, stencils, found objects to stamp with and of course stamps, before I start adding paint over the images.

As you can see from this picture, I have many Art Journals going at once. I strictly use my Moleskine (to the right), for my sketches and then I will go in and add paint, collages papers, etc. I also go back in and add more depth to my sketches and continue to add more elements to the pages.

This page here is not done...there is so much more to do with this page, but sometimes you want to move on to the next page...so you leave your page for awhile and wait for it to speak to you. This is the beauty of Art Journaling...no rush, just you and your pages whenever your muse speaks to you!

Here are some pages, that for some reason or another, loads up on Blogger sideways...Sorry...can't seem to fix this!

Remember my "DAG" Journal that I had custom made...well over Thanksgiving Break...I broke it out and started adding paint, collage papers, etc. the pages...Magazines are great! You already have them in your arsenal, so why not use them!

This Page I started laying down oil pastels on the pages. Get yourself a box of the Crayola Oil Pastels. You can get a box of 24 different colors for under $8.00! Mix them with paint, water and start finger painting...it's so much fun!

I also did a bit of sculpting...I finished "Weeping Hag" I thought she needed some hair, but she informed me that she didn't want any...so she is bald!

This little thing is not completed. This is part of the 4 part workshop over at www.suziblu.ning.com that Suzi has offered us. My little Skull Girl. I should have her finished up by next weekend.

These little gals..."Alice"... have been in the WIP for awhile now. I am working on some sitter dolls and these are the two that came together over the weekend. I love how the crackle came out these gals. It's so easy to get this effect on cloth & clay. Make sure you get DecoArt One Step Crackle. This product seems to work best for me, but if you have another source...do share!

Okay, who hasn't seen "YOU GOT MAIL?" If you haven't get this movie and add it to your collection. This movie kept me company as worked away in the Studio! LOVE THIS MOVIE! LOL

I sure hope that my Art Journal Pages have inspired you to break open your Art Journals and get busy! Remember, there is no agenda...JUST HAVE FUN and REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU WERE FIVE YEARS OLD...FINGER PAINTING!

UNTIL NEXT TIME

CHEERS!

NO FEAR...JUST DO IT!

Greetings and Salutations Everyone! I hope that you all are having a wonderful, creative weekend! It's been raining here all week! I don't mind...I actually really enjoy hearing the rain. I find it extremely peaceful.

So, remember last weekend when I posted the mini workshop from Cloth, Paper & Scissors? Well, I made you all wait for step 9, the finished piece of my painting. It actually turned out to be Step 10! LOL

Here is STEP 10...The Finished Piece.

I'm very happy how this piece turned out, considering it was my first painting in this style. The Artist, Pam Carriker who did the Mini Workshop for Cloth, Paper & Scissors, is starting a Workshop on July 7, 2009 over at Creative Workshops (http://www.creativeworkshops.ning.com/) entitled "Pursuing Portraits. If you haven't been over there, and have always wanted to learn portrait painting, check it out! I know I'll be taking the Workshop. I am currently taking two (2) other Workshops with Pam, Visual Journals and Shades of Grey. I can't say enough about these courses. WOW...I'm learning so much! Fun, Fun, Fun!

Hey remember the Manila Folders????? hmmmm ....Have you guys started doing this yet? LOL Here is one example of how to clean your paint brushes and not waste the paint! Just take your paint brush and clean it on your Manila Folder...Look at the texture and colors you get! This simple technique will make great backgrounds on your pages and even on your canvas!

Now, here is another really cool technique. Take Watercolor paper, sketch paper, your manila folders and take only 5 or 6 colors that you like and make your scrap pages for your journals. What a fun and exciting way to add to your collages and journals and it's your own hand in your pages!

YES BLANK, FRESH CANVAS... YEAH FOR ME....WHAT A BETTER WAY TO GET OVER THE BLANK CANVAS SYNDROME! WHOOOHOOOO...Now, let's see what I do with these!!! LOL

OLD BOOKS, I know you all have them laying around or you can get them at Garage Sales...Tis the Season for Garage Sales! Get yourself some old books and go to town with them. Collage, paint, stamp, doodle, create ART...JUST DO IT! Even if you just throw Gesso on them...for now! Go back and just keep adding layers, layers, and layers...You will be amazed at what you can do with old books...BREATH NEW LIFE INTO THEM...CREATE A STORY...LEARN, GROW...JUST DO IT!

I know I have been talking about Workshops and the amazing things I'm learning, and I'm so excited as I walk down this new path of learning a different skill...However, I'm scared, frustrated and little sad at times, but ...A BIG BUT!!!!! It's a CHALLENGE, and therefore we must push forward and JUST DO IT! FACING OUR FEARS of the unknown sometimes is a little scary, but if I can do this, SO CAN YOU! If you have been thinking about any type of Art Form (i.e., needle felting, painting, drawing, sculpting, mixed-media, knitting, quilting, etc.) there is a reason that you are thinking about it...so why not JUST DO IT! Hey, and if you think you aren't good enough, or you can't do it...Then read the quote from Vincent Van Gogh

"IF YOU HEAR A VOICE WITHIN YOU SAY "YOU CAN'T PAINT...THEN BY ALL MEANS PAINT, AND THE VOICE WILL BE SILENCED"

Three Cheers to Van Gogh!

This saying goes for any type of ART FORM!!!!

One last thing before I go and Paint my Butt off! LOL I'm involved over at Hands and Heart. (Website- http://www.handsandheart.ning.com/) Monica Zuniga has started a Ning Group and is offering AMAZING WORKSHOPS. I'm actually signed up for all of her workshops and I can't wait until my pieces are done so I can show you all what I have learned from this very talented Artist. She has breathed new life into me and has changed my life forever...For that, I will be FOREVER GRATEFUL! Monica is simply wonderful with her approach to teaching. Her videos will knock you off your chair while you are watching them! They are very clear and you feel like you are sitting right next to her! Simply wonderful!

I can share with you some of my Altered Book Pages that I have been doing over there on one of her Groups entitled "Altered Books." Please make sure you stop by and just check out what Monica is offering...You won't be sorry and I guarantee it...IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!

I can't get this picture right...arrrghhh...Oh well, you can still see it! LOL

So with that said...I'm off to Paint those fears away!

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!

Gifts At My Door and Awards!

Why is it every time I have a rough work day, I come home to find treasurers at my door step? LOL How freaking cool is that? What excitement the day turns into on these bad days! LOL Pattee Graham from Odd Dolls sent me some of her precious watercolor postcards that she has been working on and sent some my way! What a wonderful surprise to get and open up! These postcards are just absolutely adorable and my pictures do not give them the justice they deserve. I believe she is going to be offering originals on her Etsy Shop, so make sure you visit her. You can get updates on her Blog over at http://www.odd-dolls.blogspot.com/.

Thank you so much Pattee for the lovely surprise. I'm forever grateful and honored that you sent these precious cards my way. I will be putting these in frames for sure!

THANK YOU AGAIN PATTEE FOR THESE AMAZING GIFTS!

Now... I'm a little behind on my Award passing, and Zan from http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/ bestowed on me a wonderful Award. Oh by the way, she plays awesome music on her Blog and she is going to be featured on PBS...Yes, PBS...so make sure you visit her Blog so you can get up to date on when we will be able to see it! She is absolutely breath taking, knock down gorgeous, talented little thing you have ever seen! I can't wait to give her a BIG HUG! hehehehehe

This award was developed by Tessa in honor of Dr Maithri Goonetilleke's birthday. Tessa was inspired by the way Dr Goonetileke reaches out to others and, with his humanity as her guide, she created this award "to acknowledge the depth and breadth of the warm open-heartedness from bloggers all over the world who reach out and touch their readers with their words."Tessa goes on to quote Dr Goonetilleke: "It has been my experience that whenever one human being reaches out to another in compassion, a bridge is built. A bridge which leads out of despair, into the light of hope and the possibility that tomorrow will hold a few less tears than yesterday." (Taken from Zan's Blog)

Zan, thank you so much for thinking of me and passing this on to me...I love it and it means a lot to me ... my little friend! So thank you very much!

How the Award works: Pass this Award on to 3 others (This is always the difficult part, but if we keep the Award alive, everyone will eventually get it!), so I would like to pass this Award to:

Jacqui - www.Odd-Dollz.blogspot.com (She is a crazy, carefree, giving, talented human being who would do anything for you..even cross the border for you! LOL)

Pattee - www.Odd-Dolls.blogspot.com (Amazing and wonderful Artist, loves nature, always seems to know exactly what to say, is there for you and inspires us all, plus she raises some the best looking chickens you have ever seen! LOL)

Michelle - www.3rdeyemuse.blogspot.com (Is the most compassionate human being I've ever met, has the biggest heart, always a cheerleader for her fellow artists, and is always there at the right time, a fantastic artist and all around wonderful person, who I'm so honored to know and grateful that she is in my life)

Enjoy your Awards ladies...WELL DESERVED!

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!