365/3 work continues

As I wrote last week, I'm starting to find my mojo again and a big step in helping me was taking a class with Seth Apter (the Altered Page). He actually came to teach in north Seattle so, of course, I took a day off work so I could attend the workshop.  Remember I said I was ready to have painty hands again?  They are truly painty!

We spent the morning learning, working, playing and trying new techniques as we covered our papers with paint, stencils, stamps, and whatever we had on hand. 

My pages underway:  (#110, 111, 112)

After creating all this painty goodness, we stitched and folded, tucked and glued, and ended up with charming pocket books.  Mine drying (#113):

Above is a sample book showing how the pockets can fill up with treasures, making this book a wonderful showpiece as a place to display postcards, photos, memories/treasures of your choice.

Here's a few closeups of the delicious texture I was able to create:

Such a great class and it was such a pleasure to meet Seth in person after following his blog for so long. He's a warm, genuine, delightful man and I'm here to say - if you get an opportunity, take a class with him; you'll love it!

365/3 continues #98-102

I feel like I've been away forever!  But I've been keeping busy with my Jane Davies class work in Dynamic Composition.  This week was all about the cruciform - an exciting style that has intrigued me for a long time......and now I'm forced to get out of my head and actually give it a try.

I started by creating the basic shape in collage using my own gelli prints and a few magazine pages - then painting, obscuring, making some marks, used some bubble wrap or stencils, scribbled with graphite, stamped and whatever else grabbed my attention.  The whole process was quite fun.

I think the one above ended up straying a bit too far from a cruciform shape - the side arms are too far apart which means the central core of a focal area isn't there.  The crimson dribble down the center was the result of a leaky bottle of ink and my attempt to deal with it :)

On a personal note, Dan has a job!  After almost 3 years of unemployment and discouraging job hunting, he is employed as a management consultant here in Seattle.  Woohoo!  It's been a tough few years at a time in our lives when we expected to be almost retired.  With the serious depletion of our savings over the last few years, that won't be possible for a while, BUT hopefully we're back on track.  He's been working for 2 weeks and feels like the job is a good fit for him and his skills.  We're so thankful something has come along that provides us with income again, but just as importantly, is something he'll enjoy doing.

week 37 of 365/2

Aug 8-14

#250 - further work on my canvas.....couldn't figure out where to take it and then realized what it needs.....collage!  Now I have an idea of where to go next.

#251 - gelli printing for a swap

#252 - documented life week 36, black and white theme

#253 - sometimes my creative activity is prep work for a project.  I'm committed to making a few journals as Christmas gifts and so am getting started.  I began by pulling some of my stash of scrapbook papers and cutting.....I decided on a 6x9 size and have 4 journals to make.  Lots to do but this is a beginning.

Also this week, I went to the annual library overstock book sale.  I love that sale!  I spent 2 hours and $44 and came away with 42 books.  I have novels, non-fiction travel essays, art books, a couple to cut up for collage, and a few for gifts - a fabulous couple of hours.  I got there after it had been open about 45 minutes and there were over 1000 people there already.  I have a couple familiar authors, but most are ones I don't know and books I've never heard of.....I just picked up things that sounded different and interesting.

AND - our little local beach (Seahurst) is open again after the removal of the sea wall that took all summer, so of course Dan and I had to go spend some time.  We went after work Friday and didn't have much time because it was almost high tide....you can see we're losing our beach!

week 21 for 365/2 (part 2)

Blogger has been really screwy the last couple weeks and today it's not letting me put a title to this post.....but onward I go, title-less!  Well, maybe.....I've been trying to publish for over an hour day and it won't let me - I can write and edit but it won't save and won't publish - ARGHHHH!

May 19-25 - the next installment of my 365 efforts......

#141 -still trying to figure out this painting...... added a few scribbles with oil pastels then covered the whole mess with a neutral layer then started adding again.  There's actually no blue cast to the background....it's a beige color.  (those are my fingerprints across the bottom)

#142 - playing with my spray inks - they've been sitting on a shelf for months and now I'm finding out how much fun they are....great effects!  Some tags to play.....

#143 -  art journal page.....hmmmm, don't like the spray ink through a stencil....a bit blurry.

#144 - Documented Life this week had the theme of "use embroidery floss", so I did - on one of my gelli prints w/ an image from an old Reader's Digest book.

Happy Memorial Day to all of you - Hope it's sunny where you are.  (it's not here in Seattle, overcast with chance of rain, but what's new?  - We're headed to a Mariners baseball game this afternoon so will have to dress warmly.)

week 18 for 365/2 (part 1)

April 28 - May 4

#118 - I found this fun, quick project on Pinterest (here's her tutorial) and I wanted to make a prototype to see how it would work - I'm thinking I might use something like this to save mail art postcards.....or it could be good for a travel journal addition to keep tickets and ephemera with maybe notes about the day written on the front, or in a small version, it could be a fun birthday card...... Obviously any size envelope would work - it's a simple process of gluing the envelope flap to the back of each preceding envelope so that all the glued flaps are on one side (the back) and the open pockets on the other, then folding it accordion style.

I used distress spray and stamps, a stencil and washi to decorate the backs (below) and collaged text on the front but then decided it was too busy so softened it with gesso.  Then I decorated just the pocket edges so they stood out more.  This would be a fun project with kids.

#119 - finally did last week's Documented Life page - it was a drawing challenge and that's not my forte` so I procrastinated.  The challenge was to draw (or photo) your fave shoes.....

I bought these cute smooshy floral ballet flats for spring but haven't had a chance to wear them much yet - but the Sketcher Go Walk shoes have to be the most comfy shoes in the world! I'd have a pair in every color if I could!

#120 - started work on a new canvas - it's 12x12" and I have an idea of the kind of smooshy background I want and even have a composition in mind.  But, when I added this gear stencil I don't like it.....so more layers to come....

Here's a heads up - Tammy has started posting reminders that ICAD time is coming up before we know it.  This will be my third year of playing and I highly recommend you join the fun.  Create as much as you can for June and July - each day on a index card!  Easy, right?  Quick, right? Non-threatening, right?

Here's my stack of 2 years of daily summer ICAD....

See, I've even bought my package of index cards so I'm ready to go!

week 17 for 365/2 (part2)

April 21-27

#114 - I thought I'd work in a couple different sizes to see if I can figure out if I'm more comfortable working big or small.  I know, you'd think I'd know that by now - and while I'm equally uncertain in all sizes, I'm trying to figure out if I have a comfort zone in size (not content).

Working on watercolor paper - 6" square and 12" square.  I kinda thought to try working in series, but I got this far and then worked on the 12"........so does that tell me that's my size preference?

I added deli paper marks and lots of paint and spritz layers.  The burlap, photo and feather aren't glued down yet; I'm still toying with composition and finishing this.

#115 - I printed off a number of photos in about 3x2" size to try to use them more often in my art.  I feel like that is a direction I need to explore more. I have so many photos I love, it seems I should be able to incorporate them into my  mixed media....  Below I used primarily distress inks and color wash sprays with lots of water.  I bought them ages ago and then have hardly tried using them. I found I REALLY like the way they move with water and blend together.  I mounted the bird on a torn map page and then used a metallic bronze marker to wander around the painting. Not sure if it's quite done......

#116 - some abstract and mark making fun practice - 6" square on watercolor paper

#117 -  and, another one

My cold seems to be getting better finally - I can't believe I got this much done when I had SO little energy this week.  But, a few minutes here, a half hour there adds up - and before you know it, progress!

Here's hoping for good health for all of us this week (and month, and year!).  (you may have noticed I didn't get my Documented Life Project page done - ah well....I'll have to do 2 this coming week)