art journal work

I had a couple days off last week and spend several hours catching up on the free art journaling videos offered by Effy for Book of Days.  She's sharing her process of creating altered books to use as a journal for every day of 2012.  Talk about ambitious!


While I haven't made my altered book yet (I'm working through that with Elizabeth's class that's just starting up-find the info in her sidebar), I am exploring some of the techniques and inspirations that Effy is sharing, just in my art journal.  Here's what I accomplished the last couple days.

 This one is still in progress - I tried my glossy medium for the first time - I like it but then painted a coat of white over it and will layer more on so it was all covered up - guess I was a bit premature so will use it as a final coating.  (I'm thinking something to represent Valentine's since I never work with pinks.....)

 Effy makes the most delightfully complex background layers; I'm working on it....  A technique learned here was to use my Inktense pencils and color/scribble on the page, squirt it with water and wipe it down with a paper towel for a wonderfully smooshy first layer.

The above page is opposite the below page in my journal - I used the left over paint from the stencil and cleaned the purple on my brush as the beginning layers here.

She likes to do lots of tip ins which is to add an extra page or fold in on a page by gluing or taping a different paper (postcard or watercolor or something from the mail) into the pages of the book.  My little foldover flap was a beginner effort on that.  I made it a little bigger than my page size so it would stick out from the pages of the journal.

This is an ongoing class, is well organized, filled with inspiration for topics as well as techniques and has something for everyone.  It's not too late to join in....

Also sharing with Artists in Blogland.

lettering class practice

Still working on my Lettering Love class with Joanne Sharpe.  Another thing that requires practice, practice, practice.  You see, I'm thinkin' this.  I have opened many avenues so far this year that really stretch me:  ALAW (create a letter a week), Lettering Love to develop create lettering techniques, BOD (book of days art journaling), whimsical drawing from my 52 Lab book, PAF and Texture Tuesday for photo texture play, as well as continuing with zentangles and collage efforts started last year.

I'm a novice at every one of these endeavors.  BUT, the advantage of trying so many things (in my eyes) is that if I get bored with lettering or frustrated with my progress, I can switch to art journaling or zentangles.  I love that I have options.  It may take me longer to get proficient at any of the methods, but that's okay.....it's more fun along the way.  Plus, you guys won't get tired of seeing me post the same things over and over. Right? :)

So here are my recent lettering practice runs.....

 
From lesson 5, drawing wavy lines, filling from top to bottom with lettering and painting in (I used my watercolor pencils & water pen).

This is my first attempt from lesson 11, abstracted - working from my name (do you see it hidden in there?). I kinda like this process so will try it again with a little more of a plan next time. Seems like it would lend itself to zentangle principles.........

PAF: layer mask

OMG, how cool is this?!!  I've read tons about layer masks and knew PSE didn't have an easy way to do it so I always just created a layer and erased what I didn't want to show.  But, if I changed my mind, the pixels were already altered and in order to add more of the image or texture back in, I basically had to start over.  This way is SO much better!

Bonnie over at Pixel Dust very generously shared a link for a free action to add a layer mask function to PSE.  I decided to embrace her challenge and try to download and use this action.  Easy!  Now I want to try it on everything!!! :)

I used layer mask on a couple of images:

Original

Adjusted with Bonnie's new Dream Wonder texture and then used the layer mask to remove the texture from the flowers.  Genius!  (can you tell I like this new function?!)

This image was taken using my newly homemade light box (thanks to a challenge by Ashley).

Then I applied Bonnie's texture Season Greetings (darker color @ 82%) and Artist Easel (soft light @100%) and a chinese text page I picked up somewhere.  Season Greetings gave the green tint and light branches on the left while Artist Easel warmed it up and gave the rusty glow on the right.

Bonnie, thanks for nudging me (okay, pushing) into trying the layer mask.  The free action from Coffeeshop Blog works perfectly!

zentangle: diamonds #58

Challenge #58 is to use the diamond logo created by the Millard's to represent the fight against pediatric cancer. We were also encouraged to use diamond-ish tangles in the work.  You can read more about the organization and their goals to fight cancer here.
  here's the logo we were to incorporate/interpret

I tried several versions, getting progressively looser & more interpretive rather than literal.  I love how Laura finds and creates awareness for various causes by encouraging the zentangle community to draw, draw, draw.

 

a personal plug

Some of you may know that my first foray into blogging was a about interior design, Your Decorating Hotline.  It's been going and growing for almost 3 years.  Today we received a nice boost in the form of an interview from a site that does monthly interviews of successful bloggers.  If you'd like to read it, click here.

texture tuesday: happiness

Kim Klassen's theme for today is happiness - what brings or represents happiness to me?  My family, my boys (ahem, men!)  I don't usually add textures to photos of people so this was a bit of a challenge and I'm not sure about the results, but.......it's a learning exercise, right?  So here are my boys last month at the oldest's (left) 30th birthday party, being all cheesy for Mom.
Original image:

I tried converting it to black and white using an action from Coffeeshop Blog that brightened, etc all in one click of the mouse (pretty cool!), then added Kim's textures rusty vignette (don't think that's the actual name but I lost what it really is) at soft light 100% and then erased it over their clothes; then I added texture AndThenSome at screen 20%.

So then I tried it by using an action called Boost to heighten the contrast etc and then added textures:  Rusty Vignette at multiply 33% and Black words (again lost the real name - if you know it let me know) soft light at 60% to arrive at this:

Then, just because I wasn't really loving either of these results - interesting but not great - I fell back to a nature picture to illustrate my family happiness:

A simple, basic treatment using Rusty Vignette (again wrong name I'm sure) at soft light 100% and added the quote, which I love.  :)

Be sure to visit Texture Tuesday for even more visions of happiness!

zentangle: sanibelle #57

Challenge #57 from Laura over at I am the Diva is to use the tangle Sanibelle (designed by CZT Tricia).  Though I finished it a couple days ago, I'm finally getting around to posting it.  It's a fun and easy tangle - think it would lend itself well to color though I didn't try that.  I did experiment with scale a bit.....

The top one is only sanibelle (with a few circles) and the bottom has prestwood & artoo added.  Quick and easy this week....

inspiration ave: sun

Here Comes the Sun - a great prompt from IA this week of gray, gray, gray in Seattle.  I had some backgrounds started in my journal that I thought I'd put to use for this prompt.  I also used the opportunity to practice my Lettering Love (for the class by Joanne).

This page was a total experiment.  Carla Sonheim suggests making random paint dribbles and marks and then letting your imagination turn those shapes into something that you see - kind of like rorschach tests.  While she encourages imaginary animals, I saw flowers and then had this great quote just waiting for the right art.

slice of life: what matters

I was lucky enough to win a place in Darrah Parker's Slice of Life photo class and the first assignment focuses on the why of taking photos - the emotional connection.  We're to find and record things in our home that have meaning to us......here are a few of mine:

Probably one of THE most favorite things in my home is this wall of inexpensive Ikea bookcases.  I jazzed up the plain jane bookcases by adding lighting and covering the backs of the lit shelves with a green textured rice paper. The frame might be inexpensive, but what it holds is priceless.  Just a few of the fave things here are the wood bowl from Tahiti and next to it a couple of Chinese figurines that belonged to my mom, leaning behind the rock collection is a poem Dan's mom wrote about him that's been hand written in calligraphy (makes me tear up every time I read it!), my collection of blue vases, some art glass, and of course, my books.  Love my books!

I just LOVE this amythest that I gave to my husband a number of years ago for our anniversary.  Or was it for me?  Hmmmm......

A portion of my blue vase collection.

This large raku vase gives me pleasure every day - the colors and texture are exquisite and behind it is one of a series of photos from a European trip - great memories.

I recently bought some orchids for the kitchen window and I enjoy them every day as I stand by the sink - unfortunately the gray Seattle days didn't give me perfect light today, but the flowers are no less pretty.

I collect wine glasses and these two were a gift from my husband - picked up on a business trip and a reminder that he thinks of me all the time!  They are just the coolest!  (still experimenting with my lightbox and fighting getting a whiter background - more practice required)

I have a few more sentimental favorites in upstairs rooms that I'll share another time.....

a little recognition

Jo Murray shared a delightful surprise with me.  She awarded me the "Liebster Blog Award" and I'm so pleased to share the recognition.  Jo lives in Australia and creates the most delightful art in collage and mixed media. She paints beautiful Australian landscapes or creates fanciful abstract collages. She's the artist that introduced me to the ALAW (a letter a week) project last year and now I'm participating.  (it's really fun, you can join too - join in any time!)

Who knows where The Liebster Blog Award originated? It is meant to showcase those who have fewer than 200 followers. (Liebster means "favourite" or "dearest" in German.) This is done in the spirit of pay-it-forward. In accepting this award, the recipient agrees to:

• Thank the person that gave them the award and link back to their blog  (that's easy!  THANKS Jo)
• Copy and paste the award to their blog
• Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog

For those I am about to award, I should also point out there is no obligation to continue this award. If this is not your cup of tea, don’t worry.

The value behind this award is for us to get to know other bloggers who might not be well known, yet have a lot to share. Each of us has our own following, for various reasons. Those who read our blogs might benefit from being introduced to other sorts of art practice. It is all part of the blogging concept of sharing knowledge.

Without further ado, here are five of my favorite blogs with under 200 followers.  Give them a visit and revel in all they have to share (be sure to visit Jo too!)

Dosfishes  A mixed media artist, I love how she usually shows the steps in her process and how a blank sheet evolves to a great mixed media piece filled with texture and color.

I Am Rushmore  I love her irreverent humor and that she shares her bloopers as well as her successes.  She makes a little bit of everything and is willing to try everything.  Love that!

 

Nathalie Nayer has been a favorite of mine from the beginning.  I LOVE her art.  She lives in France, has a toddler and a stressful job (it sounds like), but when she does paint/draw something, it's astounding! Gray and industrial equipment/buildings never looked so good yet she is amazing in glowing colors too!

Pixel Dust Photo Art is one of my newer favorite photographic playgrounds.  Bonnie offers FREE unusual artistic textures now and then (also has an array for sale), offers occasional tutorials about layering and working with textures in PS or PSE, but mostly just rocks the whole photo texture scene.  She ekes in just under the 200 limit of followers, will you be the one to push her over?

Susan Goetter is an extraordinary Zentangle artist and card maker.  Like many of us she has multiple interests and you never know which is going to take center court.  

So there are my five 'nominations' for the Liebster Award!  I have lots of interests so picked a selection from each so if you visit each of them you'll have an opportunity to meet some fabulous women and artists.

And, even though she's over the 200 followers, I want to make sure you're aware of Kat over at KatEye View .  Recently moved back to Oregon from Italy, she has more photography inspiration and help to share than you can shake a  stick at.  She doesn't focus so much on technique (f-stops etc) but more on the emotion and what the photo is saying - how to develop your photographic eye.  Definitely worth checking out.

Thanks for sticking with me for all this info - hope you enjoy your wander through the blogs of these terrific ladies.