week 13 for 365-2 (part 2)

March 24-30 - Here's the wrap up for week 13.

#87 - documented life theme for this week is to have someone else draw on your page - hmmm guess I'll ask Dan...wonder if I can get him to scribble, draw or glue something down.......

So, look at this adorable bird Dan drew!  Who knew?  He has real skills! :)  You can see from the journal side of the layout that we had one nice sunny day and RAIN the rest of the week.  Sigh.  Spring in Seattle.... better than the snow some of you are still getting!

#88 - I did about 20+ pages in my restraint journal. This is a simple journal to keep inspirational pics enhanced with a few scraps from my table....quick and no-thought and a great place to turn when I'm searching for a kick start.  These particular pieces are using gelli prints and I'm always looking for ways to use what I make with gelli......

#89 - a couple more 'map' theme cards for MMSA.  I wanted to make more and more but Karen wisely set a limit of 4 per theme so the rest of my map cards will be just hitting other mailboxes because I think they're fun to make!

Hope you're finding time to stay creative - Actually I know many of you are because I read your blogs and find inspiration and motivation and reasons to keep moving forward each time I read them.  What a great community!

365 in 2013: #184 - 187

It's easy to get the numbering of this challenge mixed up with ICAD numbering, especially since so many are doing double duty.  Here are some collages withOUT the double duty:

#184 - Bird Song  -  inspired by Hanna's style and the many scraps on my table top.

#185 - Shades of Summer  - another Hanna-inspired collage (click her name to see her great style in person) - this whole 365 challenge thing was her idea, after all.  Magazine pic, envelope, gum wrapper, painted paper towel, painted papers.

#186 - restraint journal page - another of Hanna's ideas from last year I think......she keeps an inspiration or restraint journal.....simple layouts, simple ideas, a place to keep inspiration.  At least that's how I've interpreted her idea.  Sometimes even when I pin something on Pinterest, I print out a hard copy for inspiration and it ends up in this journal - this is actually my second book!

#187 - restraint journal

I think I've found my happy place - making collages.  I just love the vast variety of looks and materials and compositions for me to try.  I've really maximized my arting over this long 4th July weekend and am just having a blast!

365 in 2013: #144 - 153

Most of my collages this week are double duty pieces so far.  My mail art "respond" pile is getting a little out of control, so some of my collages are going in the mail.  My restraint journal (thanks to Hanna for the idea) inspiration pieces were REALLY piled up so I had a marathon morning of making lots of simple collages - some of which I really liked.  I keep reminding myself that collage doesn't necessarily mean that every square inch of the substrate is covered......

#144 - So Much Better

Did you ever read the Griffin and Sabine books?  Remember the story was told in a series of correspondence? I came across 2 of the books at a yard sale and picked them up with the intention of using them as collage fodder. I'd forgotten how beautiful the books are!  Lots of images and words and envelopes and a treasure trove of fun stuff that you'll be seeing show up in my pieces.  #145 and 147 are using pieces from the books.

#145 - Handmade Postcards

#146 - Harold Hummingbird

#147 - Griffin & Sabine

#148 - restraint journal page (inspiration photos from online)

#149 - restraint journal

 #150 - restraint journal

 #151 - restraint journal

#152 - restraint journal - art image from a home decor magazine room, tissue paper, washi

#153 - restraint journal;  Donna Downey painting for inspiration

Still not caught up, but I'm working on it.......How's your 365 project shaping up?

artful progress

I found time this weekend to work a little more on my large canvas - still not done, but moving along.....

At the end of last weekend it was here:

This weekend I added some tiny dots for more size variety (hole punch size from a pepsi box), gessoed over the circles to push them back a bit, added my "stem" drips with india ink.

I think the next step is to add more depth again by creating some contrast around some of the circles and layer a bit of something over them....not quite sure.....

In between and around working on this, I also dug out the stash of fall leaves I pressed and dried last year.  I haven't known what to do with them, they're just pretty.  I tried an experiment and coated a few in gel medium and attached to postcards and sent them off into the world.  They survived!  So, I picked my prettiest leaves and coated them all in preparation for more art uses.

Early this year Karen (I am Rushmore) participated in a swap of Inspiration Card Deck cards and I wanted to participate but found it too late.  Now I'm on top of it and eager to join in.  There's lots of time because it's not due til 11/15 - you can check her site and see how she's tackling the task of altering/decorating 52 playing cards and then adding a bit of inspiration to each card.  At the end of the swap you'll have an entirely different deck, filled with 52 creative sound bites of creative love! (whew, a bit flowery doncha think?)  Anyway, I got started.  My thought is to keep a few cards in progress at all times on my desk and add to them with bits and pieces of ongoing projects - very different from how Karen is approaching hers.  If you think it sounds like fun and want to join in, visit here.  It's going to be FUN!

Host Jessica says:

 

Using gesso (black and white) and starting with a base....

Last, but not least, I tackled a solution to a long standing problem.  I can't draw bodies, human forms, anything remotely like that but sometimes I wish I could add a body/form to my journal page or art.  So I finally tried something I'd been mulling around for awhile.  I'm sure I've seen it somewhere online but when or where, I have no idea.

I went through my photos looking only at body positions, printed them in black and white and traced the body shape with a marker.  Cut it out.  Traced it onto my art. Easy.  THEN, how about if I make a stamp of it?  So I traced it onto that thin little craft foam, cut it out and glued it to a piece of foam core.  Instant stamp. Cool results.  I have more body shapes that will be showing up.  Hooray - this was a fun, easy project with great results.....

Started with a reworked piece of art on 8x6 watercolor paper - collage and paint.

Make some cutup body shapes.....

Traced and painted figure & words added.... (maybe some day I'll get brave enough to try adding hair!)

Added to the art on the right, body cutout and foam stamp in center and stamped image on left.

So, once again I had a fruitful weekend.....all this plus time for a beach combing walk, an afternoon spent with friends watching college football and a Netflix movie to unwind at night.  All in all, a great weekend.
Hope yours was fabulous too.