AEDM #1-4

Art Every Day Month (hosted by Leah at Creative Every Day) starts today and runs for the WHOLE ENTIRE month of November.  I'm in.  I think that what's behind this commitment is the fact that I haven't been in my art room in over a week as I've been dealing with computer issues.  I miss it.  I need a kick in the pants to get back in there. [ed: my computer issues have continued and I was without for several days so I'm playing catch up]



Like all challenges, Leah is providing a link place each day where you can show off what you've been up to. I absolutely know I won't be able to visit everyone - there's just not enough hours in the day.  But I figure if I visit 6-8 new-to-me folks every time I link in, I'll meet some new people, find some inspiration and stay connected.  Wanna join?

Let the creative frenzy begin! :)

Day 1 & 2:
I am working on completing my inspiration deck for the challenge hosted by Jessica at InSearchofDessert.  It goes in the mail today!

Day 3:
I work at a large custom cabinet/wood shop and bring home all sorts of scraps of various materials. I've got quite a stash of various veneers and I'm toying with several projects to make that incorporate veneer. I made a mock up to see how sturdy it is and how much abuse it can take.  This is about 3x6".

Day 4:
Time for long overdue mail art - here's the beginnings..........

My intention is to make time EVERY day this month and not let the computer suck up all my free time....we'll see how I do. :)

artful alphas

After taking Joanne Sharpe's first Lettering Love class (open forever so I can go back and review the videos whenever...), I signed up for her second class as well - Artful Alphabets.  We'll be learning 25 alphas over 5 weeks....I'm moving a little slowly - I think she's on alpha 10 and I'm only on 5, but I like that I can proceed at my own pace - the videos will always be there.

She starts off very basic (won't bother showing you those) then starts building and encouraging us to show some flair.

The cursive alpha is one that seems to have given others trouble, but since I still use most of the cursive letters in my writing, it wasn't too tough.  The hard part is to connect them all and not lift the pen.  Hmmm

Take our print alpha and fatten one segment, then add doodles - she shows 4 but encourages us to experiment....Here are my trials.

Take your own print and thicken it up.  Then I tried some phrases.

Still need work, but fun so far.....  (I'm sure you can join Joanne's class at any time - she makes each alpha easy with a video and PDF).

I'm sharing this with Artists in Blogland Saturday roundup and also Creative Every Day.  This week I worked on my lettering, on my photography (IA words prompt), my ALAW project using Zentangles, and shared progress in my altered book.  A fun week!

foliage, spring, and more

I did it.  I actually made a piece of art to submit for Seth Apter's open call for art in conjunction with the publication of his book (read all about it here).  I read about it weeks ago but decided I couldn't participate - you know all the usual 'I'm not good enough' thoughts rolling around.  Then I saw the entry by my blogging buddy Karen at IamRushmore and had to tell her how great hers was - but that I am a big chicken so wouldn't be sending anything.  W-e-l-l that didn't fly.  She immediately responded with some very encouraging words, ending with "you are worthy".

I thought. I ruminated. I daydreamed. I mused. I embraced "you are worthy".  I got busy.

I started my 5x5 piece with a layer of tissue paper printed with "I am worthy" over and over to completely cover the watercolor paper. Then I layered on pieces of a dress pattern tissue. Then some paint and stencil layers, mostly obscuring the original words (cuz I'm not really sure I'm worthy).  Then, draw the branches, collage on the leaves in a combo of new growth colors (representing my growth as an artist).  Finally, I decided to add a layer of vellum to further obscure the image and add some mystery.  The beads serve as the blooms on the branches....

It went out in the mail to Seth today.  All I can say is a huge thanks to Karen for the kick in the butt and the reminder that we're all amazingly worthy, we're all incredibly capable, we're all deliciously creative.  Just give yourself permission.  THANKS KAREN.

So this little gem is also showing up for Inspiration Avenue's foliage prompt, Artist's PlayRoom (a new weekly challenge offered by Jenn at Just Add Water Silly) spring prompt and Creative Every Day.

altered book: step 1

I'm so excited to be following along with Elizabeth's altered book class - it's free and she is sharing the most detailed instructions imaginable.  If this is something you've wanted to try, now's the time.  She's moving at a slow and steady pace to give us all time to get the materials and prepare them, step by step - we're only on lesson 2, so there's still time to join in.

Here's my step 1 - obtain a book with a STITCHED binding, remove some pages (about 1/3).

Not too exciting photos yet, but just wait.... :)   The rubber banded section will become a niche to hold a little treasure - mine's going to have to be pretty narrow; I didn't reserve many pages.  Today's lesson came out and covers making the niche and preparing the cover and inside pages. I can't wait to get started....

Oh yeah, we were also supposed to decide on a theme and start collecting paper/photos, etc. to go in the book.  My theme is Daydreams.

This and all my other posts this week are shared with Creative Every Day where Leah encourages and reminds us to create something every day, whether it's cooking, writing or painting.  Stretch those creative muscles!  Leave your link so we can see how you're being creative.

exploring with the camera: windows

I love architecture - the lines, the texture of walls, the shapes of shadows and light.  However, I find it very difficult to photograph a whole building so I've discovered it's much more interesting to focus on the details.....what, in particular, made me look twice at that particular building.  Usually it's a window or door.  I find them endlessly fascinating.

Kat over at KatEye Studio is focusing on how windows can be used in photography and her tutorial will help you visualize how a window can be used effectively in composing an interesting photo.  As I searched my archives (I actually have a window 'tag' because I take so many), I found many old favorites that I'd forgotten about.

Most recently, I took this out my window during an ice storm here in Seattle.

I love old weathered buildings and the windows that punctuate them.

Both photos Shelburne Museum, Vermont

As Kat explains, windows can capture, reflect, or show the light - here the interplay of shadows makes the architecture that much more interesting.

Albany, NY airport

Capturing interesting reflections in a window is a great technique to show a different perspective on the surroundings.

Bellagio reflected in a nearby window, Las Vegas

Windows can serve as a design element, a way to anchor a subject like a textured wall or flower garden (above).

San Juan Capistrano

Texture and reflection in San Juan Capistrano

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Sorento, Italy

Repetition is always a good tool for creating an interesting composition.  When windows are the repeating element, magic!

Burano, Italy

Las Vegas

If you haven't fallen in love with using windows in your photos yet, make that a goal this year.....feature a window or a piece of a window in your compositions and see if you don't start a love affair that will last.  Thanks Kat for the walk down memory lane as I enjoyed my window photos all over again.
Also sharing with Creative Every Day.

sketching: dogs

Back to my sketching - working from 52 Drawing Labs by Carla Sonheim (my new fun book) and today I worked on exercise #6, drawing an image repetitively on index cards.  I didn't have index cards but do have an abundance of postcard paper.  Her example in the book was of a dog, so I imitated her subject and did a series of quick sketches.  Some look more sheep like than dog like, but the exercise was so NOT intimidating that I totally forgot I was trying to draw a dog and just had fun.

Cute little things, huh?  Except the sheepy ones of course.  Moving forward with sketching...YAY!  I'm sharing my little pups with Creative Every Day and the flickr group Draw, Sketch, Doodle.