Poppies

My interpretation of Donna Downey's Poppy journal page.  Done on canvas using the gel medium transfer technique.  I drew and painted the flowers, used a different quote and made some other changes.  In the center of the flowers, I did french knots with embroidery thread.  This gives the IRL piece so much dimension.  I love working on the canvas.

Paris Dreams on Canvas

Today is my granddaughter Emma's ninth birthday.  She saw a version of this "Paris Dreams" posted on FB from my art journal. She's redoing her bedroom in a Paris theme and said she really wanted this done for her wall.  It is done on a canvas and varies a little from the original posted earlier on this blog.  Happy birthday my sweet Emma, love Gramie.

Psyco Poppy

                                                                 Having fun with flowers.

Birdsong

I took the piece Birdsong posted a few days ago and made a shadow box out of the inside of a stretched canvas frame.  Thought it turned out very well, since my goal was to create this at a very low cost.  I used paint, paper decoupage and ribbon.

Eagle

This is a framed eagle I did for my dad a few years before he passed away. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of him.  He loved eagles and was thrilled when I presented this to him for a gift.  It now hangs at my house.

 

                                                                 INTERESTING FACTS:

• The Bald Eagle has been the symbol of the United States of America since 1782.
• At one time, the word “bald” (balde) meant white—not hairless—referring to the white head and upper neck of the adult Bald Eagle.
• They can live up to 40 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.
• A group of eagles has many collective nouns, including an "aerie", "convocation", "jubilee", "soar", and "tower" of eagles.

Birdsong

This started out as textured gesso background (actually it was a scrap from the cover of a magazine), adding fibers and paint.  I saw some wooden leaves my dad had made on the scroll saw which I had pulled several weeks ago and laid on my table to be used for inspiration at some point.  Then the image begun to form in my mind of a bird on branches.  The rest sort of just evolved.  I knew I needed something for the bird nest and was mulling over in my mind what to use.  I had walked outside to empty the trash and saw some outer pecan shells laying on the ground.  On the tree they wrap the pecan and fall off in quarters as the tree drops the matured pecan.  Our yard is full of them.  Yep, that made the perfect nest.  Not necessarily on my table but surely was scrap.  I was really pleased with the outcome and think I will buy a shadow box and hang this on the wall.  It is so textural that it really needs a frame with depth.  Thanks, Christy for this challenge because otherwise I'd probably never even thought of this idea.


I just received this awesome comment from the lady who posted the PAO challenge.  This is quite a compliment coming from her as she is an inspiration to me.  From Christy, "Jaw dropingly stunning! Awesome awesome take on this challenge".

Spring

What a beautiful day we're having.  The trees and bushes are starting to bloom.  My tulip tree is blooming, a sure sign of spring is beginning.  I love the first signs of spring after a long, cold winter.

                             In honor of spring, here's a journal page with some abstract flowers.  

            

Giveaway

Found a great giveaway today:

Wanna WIN a YEAR's worth of WeScrap Kits?

Click the blinkie to be taken directly to the GIVEAWAY post!

I came across this quote by Marit  "This is what I learned on my creative journey and this is what you should keep in mind: Call it "scrapbook every day." Call it "art journal every day." Call it "create every day." Call it "write something every day"...call it as you like, but create the way YOU like best. Mix and match and don’t bother how it’s called. Don’t be afraid of the word "Art." Just be free and have fun!".

It expresses the way I feel about art.   I have had a fear of calling myself an artist.  I am afraid that other people will not think my work worthy of that title.  But I have taken possession of the title and decided that as the quote says, I won't be afraid of the word "ART".  I am just doing what makes me happy and scratching that creative itch.

Be Fearless

   I had many comments on this art journal page but the one that meant the most to me was from Kristin who said "That is beautiful. Did you do this yourself? I need a copy,to frame, it is very very touching, just what i needed to see this evening. Very powerful.".

Flowers for my Garden

Flower fun.  Acrylic and pen.  Button center.

As artists we are explorers. We explore how we can make the world prettier, funnier, nicer, more interesting and more colorful.  Color can be a significient part of the creative process.  Sometimes, I struggle with color but I find that if I am observant of the world around me, color unfolds naturally.

Flowers for my Garden

Water color flowers

Bird Song

Add caption

I was playing with a new technique in this one.  Stamp images with paint, then use the TH distress inks to create the background and rub over the stamped image with a cloth.  This allows the stamped image to create a resist.  The blue crown in the lower right corner doesn't show as well in the photo as IRL, probably should have used a darker blue.  The swirls are painted chipboard, vintage stamps, and has some collage and other stamped elements.  The key is chipboard that was distressed to have the look and feel of rust.  Everything in this collage is created in layers.

Messy workspace

This is my messy workspace this week as I have been working on my art journals.  I posted this one earlier in the week as "Eye on You".  As you can see, I have plenty of mixed media out on my space.  You just can't see the pile of other supplies not pictured.  I've had inky fingers and hands splattered with paint. It's been a fun and productive week but now I'm going to take a break and have some time in the sunshine.  Hard to believe that yesterday morning we had snow and tomorrow it is going to be in the 60's maybe if we are lucky in the 70's.

Pretty in Pink

I just love this one.  It was fun to create and makes me smile every time I look at it.  Done in acrylic and collage.

Still life

Journal challenge

Another challenge for my art journal.  Create a grid of 1" squares and paint with watercolor, then collage and use the quote.  The challenge is fun because it gives you a jumping off point from which to begin.

ATC

Started these ATC's by spending time just making collaged backgrounds.  I knew when I began that I wanted a vintage background.  After the backgrounds were done, all I had to do was layer the vintage images.  I think working in the two stages made everything go faster and flow better.

The Dance

Snowy Day

We woke up this morning to a light ground covering of snow.  I watched out my window as the huge black birds scrounged for food.  I tried to capture them in film but the slightest movement make them scatter in all directions. The wintry scene makes everything look so clean and fresh.  It reminds me of a clean slate and the anticipation of what today will hold.  I am waiting for the new art journal challenge to be posted and excited to see what challenge awaits my paints and inks.  The challenge was to freehand doodle circle flowers with pen.  Option to create a journal page using the saying "Bloom where you are planted".  I used my new water soluble wax pastels,  I really like the effect whether used wet or dry.

Paris Dreams

Here's another fun one. Created with mixed media. Has watercolor, stamping, vintage photos, lace, buttons, stamps, etc. I really love the way this turned out. Gives me the feeling of Paris.

Update from several days later.  I posted this one on FB and my granddaughter saw it.  She is into the Paris thing right now and wants me to create this for her bedroom.  Think I will purchase a framed canvas and make one for her on the canvas.

Eye on You

Ok, I'm on a roll. Finally got the software downloaded so I could post some pictures of the art I've been working on lately. I am working on several art journals at one time so I can work on something while another one may be drying or perking. Here is one titled "Eye on You" that was done in watercolors. It is so much fun to begin drawing again. Hope you like it, I do 'cause it makes me smile.

Altered Photo

One of the ladies on PAO posted an altered photo challenge for our art journals. Played around with this and had so much fun. Don't think I'll go long and red anytime soon. Take a photo, scratch with wet sandpaper, scratch with a pin and then alter with watercolor crayons. You can give yourself any look you wish. It's a lot of fun, give it a try.

My goal for this blog is to update it more often. When I woke up this morning, I had no real artistic goal for today. But you never know where you'll find inspiration. Sometimes it is just a thought, or an image. It just takes a flicker to get the creative juices flowing, to make my mind reel. Sometimes this gets the ideas flowing at the speed of light. Then again, not so much. So on the times it does, I just try to go with it.

I am enjoying the lessons I am learning from working in my art journals. I haven't posted anything lately but it doesn't mean I have created anything lately. I have been working in my journals for a couple of weeks now and am having a blast. It is like creative therapy. I am growing, and developing as an artist. I am learning to be more spontaneous and to just go with the flow. I'll post some of the work I've been doing lately as soon as I get the chance. Right now, I'm just enjoying getting all of this inspiration down on paper.