New art

"Friends"

I am making some new art and I am getting ready for opening my etsy shop again. My new work will feature watercolor illustrations. The sizes will be 8 x 10, and I am creating them on watercolor paper. I hope to have them in my shop by the end of the week. These offerings will be different than my previous acrylic work, but will still be characteristic of my "touch of whimsy". I am excited about my new direction!

She waited patiently...

My collab with Syd

"You have my heart"

  created by talented artist Syd

If you have been following my blog for a while you will see that I am doing an art collaborative journal with my friend Syd. I am so lucky to have her work in my journal. We have been working in our journals since last year. It is really fun, no stress of time frames, we just create in them when we can and exchange them back and fourth every couple of weeks. When something comes up in our lives, the journals go on the back burner, but we have no expectations of each other, or time deadlines, and that just works out so great for me. I am on "task" now, and will be sending my journal to her every two to three weeks. That seems to work for us! Syd is so talented but, you really have to know her to know that. She is so busy with life, but her artwork shines through. Xo...to Syd.

From my archives

 

This measures 8 x 10 and is on cold press watercolor paper. Created with watercolors and a Pitt Pen.  Pitt pens are great for using with paint, they don't bleed and make a nice line.  I love using watercolors because I like they way they flow, unlike acrylics.  I just love this piece that I made a couple of years ago!

Artist Journal

I have been neglecting my etsy shop to be able to create more art in my art journal. I just love creating through each page and adding more,,,until I can finish and go on to the next one. These pages are about painting face profiles. I am really not happy with the way these came out. I need to work on face profiles more. I am obsessed with images with hearts in them right now, so a lot of my art has hearts. I tend to go with a theme until I get tired of it, and think of something else.

I think these characters have a lot of personality, but they just aren't "me" yet.   They had a need to be painted though, so here they are.  That is what journaling is about for me,,,exploring, creating, and becoming better at what I do.
xo...

Journal love

Journal pages

I created a couple of new pages in my journal. I really like how these are turning out. I wanted to show you the leather journal itself. It is made by Susie Shipman over at Island Bound Books (you can google her). The craftsmanship of her journals is amazing! Look at the stitching! And the fabulous hand made iron forged button! The paper is thick, can hold any medium, (I use acrylics),,,and they are works of art within themselves. I love them!  Since I loved the journal more than my old artwork, I decided to paint over the old pages.  I really love all the old texture showing through underneath.  I am happy I took a chance to re-do these.  Never be afraid to paint over something you have and start over.  I am sure you will be happy with your new results. 

More of my leather journal

I have been busy painting on canvases, and I am getting ready to fill my shop with lots of goodies. In the meantime, I have been working in this journal,,,that I LOVE. There is so much texture and see through words/images from my old journaling. I am covering up the old stuff and adding new. (click on image to make large)

Have a nice weekend.

Art journal collaborative

Syd's and mine

Syd's

Syd and I have been working in our collaborative journal project. We each do 3-4 pages and send them back and forth to each other. We have a style that compliments each other. I will be sending mine back to her very soon.

2 new journal pages

Yikes!

I ate like a girl today

Here are my latest journal pages. In the first photo "Yikes", I was experimenting with Peerless Watercolors. They are watercolors that are made on tablets of paper strips. I simply wet my brush and pick up the amount of color I want for my page, then paint it on. This booklet of watercolors is terrific to travel with. There are no paint tubes or pans of paint.  It looks like a little book with watercolor paint samples in it. I used it for the background in this journal page. The rest of the painting is done with acrylics. I added a touch of scrapbook paper for their mask and ears.

Here is another idea for your art journal. (2nd photo)   When your BF says something cute, journal about it. (and then paint a silly picture of him!)  Oh, and make sure he is wearing bunny slippers!

xo...

A Happy Day

"A happy day when you can paint, eat ice cream or go for a swing. It's a happy day when the birds sing." Created on heavy 140lb watercolor paper, 8 x 10.
(in my shop)

Tara

Meet Tara,,,, (no not me),,, she looks sweet but she is up to something...
Created on lovely 140 lb watercolor paper, graphite, size = 9 x 12

This way...

Or that way...
This page has a total different look depending on which way you turn it... I like that.

Some new art...

I have been working on some new techniques with watercolor. I took a wonderful class with Alex Shur and discovered a new way of looking at hidden images and working with watercolor.
I used a more textured paper for the middle piece. It is 140lb,and I am not sure of the brand name.  The one on the top is Fabriano.
The last piece is in my journal and the paper seems a little thin.  I used acrylic grounds to coat the page before I put watercolor on, but I think I need to coat it more thickly.  I'll start journaling on this page very soon.

I am hoping to paint with a new artist paper line that Strathmore is putting out in a couple of weeks. Some of my work will be featured in the Strathmore Artist Paper booth at NAMTA I can't wait to try it and let you all know the results!!