Creative Collage Class

I'll be teaching the class: "Creative Collage" at Under the Cherry Blossoms in Mount Dora on Saturday, August 3, from Noon - 4pm.

Price: $40 - almost everything is included.  I'll supply the substrates (we'll do 2 collages!), and have lots of paints, papers, stamps and tapes on hand!  You can bring anything you'd like to add to your collage, and we'll discuss color and composition theory and have an afternoon filled with fun!

Contact "Under the Cherry Blossoms" or call them at 352-735-3090 to sign up.

Yet another face

After watching Jane Davenport's little video, I decided to try some of her techniques.  I really like the way she teaches drawing eyes.  I did the background by tearing up some napkin, but I don't like where it overlapped, so that's probably not going to happen again.

I'm feeling a lot more confidant about painting these faces - not really sure what to do with them - but I'm getting a nice assortment in my art journal.

I'm getting ready to paint and update my bathroom.  I've got an idea for a couple of abstract paintings to do for it.  Anyone want to place bets on if that will be come a reality?  With my track record, the odds are pretty slim!

A Practice Face

So today, I downloaded a little video from Cloth, Paper, Scissors about painting faces from Jane Davenport.  The audio and video skips about every other word, so it was kinda hard to follow, but I did get some great info!  I played around with this sketch while I was watching - and I really like her!  But, of course, when I try to paint these faces, something always goes wrong.  I'm going to try to paint one again tomorrow - so we'll see!

Refill With Love

Playing with another face today in my art journal.  I still need so much more practice, but I do enjoy making the faces.  It's kinda like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you're going to get!

I do especially love the quote:  "Note to Self:  When empty, refill with love"!  I do this regularly by calling my kids, hugging my husband or petting my kitty or doggie!  There is so much love around - no use letting it go to waste!  I bought a page of stickers with "love quotes" on it, and I love every one of them!

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!

A Crazy Departure

 

 

 

Earlier, I spoke of  Teesha Moore and the fun I had watching her art journal videos.  Well, I just had to make some for myself!  It's all about coming up with "Faux People", changing things up and actually just being silly!  Mine are nowhere near her actual art, but I did have a fun time coming up with these little pages!  I used some mat boards for my substrate, which turned out to be a pretty good thing to play with.

 

 

 

 



Do More!

Well, this little dragonfly didn't turn out so well - but, at least I got my fingers in some paint today!  And, I love the quote: "Do More of What Makes You Happy"!  Hopefully, I'll do more, soon!

Also, I spent the better part of last night watching journaling videos from Teesha Moore!  What a fun way she has!  If you haven't had the pleasure, go here!