Donna Downey Class

 Yay!  Today was Donna Downey day at She Scrapbooks in the Villages, Fl.  Even though I had planned to get up early (5am), my dog, Barney, started barking at the thunder at around 3am!  So, I had to just get up, since the thunder would continue until I had to leave at 7:30.  Needless to say, my day wasn't the best - I felt like I had a hangover!  Oh well - I just had to suck it up and go!  If you ever get the chance, go to one of Donna's workshops!  She is so friendly - it feels like you've known her forever!  And, her whole family was with her - what a great bunch!

 So, this was how our paintings began.  Lots and lots of sprayed on stencils in all sorts of different, but compatible colors!  Looks like a hot mess, right?

 This photo shows the addition of lines, circles and all other sorts of things adding to said hot mess!

Then, we added the flower outlines, and started finger painting!  Hard to describe, but in the end, a really great painting emerges!

Another Face

It seems that every time I either draw a face in my sketchbook, or paint one in my journal - I like it better than the one I did before! Below is the girl I sketched before painting the one above.  I must admit, I do like her better! I think it's the eyes - so much better when I can erase until I like them!

Painting Faces

Yesterday, I bought the new Somerset Studio Gallery magazine.  One of the first articles is by Pam Carriker about "Pursuing Portraits".  She talks about portraits becoming the new face of mixed media arts.  Then, the dilemma of trying to make yours, "your own".  She goes on to say,"To create a look of your own, a bit of yourself must be added to your portraits, making it a self-portrait of sorts.  This can be small, and the goal isn't that your painting looks like you, but by mimicking one of your own features in your artwork, you're putting your own stamp on it."

So, for me, I believe what makes my faces "mine" would be always the inclusion of collage, which I love to do.  Birds, flowers, words, tape - you get the picture!  Anyway, I had fun doing this journal page, which is always a delight in itself!

Jumping For Joy!

Just signed up for a class by Donna Downey - "Paint Like An Artist".  I've tried to do this technique by myself, and not had very good luck - so I'm so excited that I will actually be in her presence to try again!

Usually, artists who travel around with their workshops don't land in my neck of the woods - but on June 14 & 15, she will be at "She Scrapbooks" in the Villages!  That's only a one hour drive from me, so I'll be there!  Found out there is already 18 others in the class - should be fun!

Doing my happy dance now!