Do you find yourself as an artist going through different phases?

This is my art journal page that I made after watching Faber Castell's live streaming show featuring Tiare Smith Woods. I might have added a few things of my own ( like I have to add details for a face, lol ) I enjoy creating in someone else's style occasionally. It's fun to do things that you might not ordinarily do, keeps you fresh that way. You can find the recording of Tiare's show HERE. (Margarita Mix and an Angel)

I added my whimsical angel on this background that I already had created which is a combination of left over acrylic paint brayered onto the paper and then an alcohol ghost print on top of that.

Phases

Do you find yourself as an artist going through different phases? Sometimes it's techniques like typography, gel printing, or maybe alcohol ghost printing? I know personally I have been rolling through several of these techniques lately. Or sometimes it's playing with all those techniques but doing it in an art journal.

I must be going through an art journaling phase right now, I can't seem to get enough of it. You can find the techniques to the bee page on the left HERE.

What phase are you going through?

Thanks for being there for me

Yesterday's card, the "Make Your Own Fireworks" was the first pull and today's card is the second pull or "ghost print" which are usually my favorites. I am really enjoying mono-printing with my Gel Press® plate directly onto the front of the card base.

I stamped an image on the left side and then re-stamped the butterfly onto a sheet of "run-off paper", you know, the paper where you run your brayer onto after spreading your paint onto the plate. I then covered the butterfly with Faber-Castell Glass Bead Glitter gel to hide the seam, which it did an awesome job doing! 

What seam you ask? Well you can see that the stamp is a "side stamp" and it didn't have a full butterfly, so after stamping the image on my "run-off" paper and cutting it out, I then took a picture of it, reversed the image on my computer and printed it out and voila I had the other side. I then glued them together but you could see the seam so I covered it with the glass bead medium. I don't think you can even tell.

entering my card in:

Simon Says: Add Some Shimmer

#mixedmedialove

 It's a rare thing for me to be able to just sit down and do something fun...just for me.

So I wanted to make sure that it expressed how I feel.

Carefree and grateful basically sums it up.

I love Pooh's expression, he looks like he is a state of bliss, doesn't it?

Like he is skipping through the air with clouds under his feet. 

I began by gessoing my page first because I knew I was going to be using Faber Castell's gelatos as the base of my page and they just glide over a gesso'd page with a little water. Don't add too much water or they will slide right off the page too, lol I drew Pooh on a piece of text and colored him in with gelots also.

I used Faber Castell's gesso to color in the circles too, now it takes several coats if you do the gesso over the gelatos...or you can add a coat of varnish over the gelatos like I did to speed up the process. Faber Castell PITT pens were used to color in the letters.

Here is my journal laid open with my Wizard of Oz page on the opposite side. I do believe I am going back through my childhood visiting some of my favorite characters that I grew up with.

Yesterday is history.

Tommorow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present.

Charcoal

Compressed burned wood used for drawing

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Here is my cover page for The Art of Whimsical Lettering with Joanne Sharpe online class. It's free if you have her new book :) I am using an old calender for my journal, that way I can hang it up to look at when I need the inspiration!

One of the highlights to my design was writing Joanne's name inside the spoon, and then wouldn't you know it....I had forgotten to add the e on the end of her name...lol So I had to go back and squeeze it in and added the small flower on the other side to hopefully balance it out.

The most tedious part was using a stencil to create the alphabet soup in the background, I had to make myself finish it cause I was bored, bored, bored. I have discovered I love the conceptual part of designing however I don't like coloring it in.

Dylusions journal, inks ( black, white )

Lindy's Stamp Gang - Starburst Spray Cocoa Bean
Koi waterbrush - small and large

Sakura -Pigma Sensei Manga Drawing Set

Faber Castel PITT Pen

Signo - white pen

various old watercolors, a letter stencil

Ranger Distress stain - silver

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and I am giving away a jar of Helmar Decoupage & Craft paste....those that visit my blog can earn extra entries by posting a project that you created during the "lettering to wall hanging" videos on the Frosted Designs FB page or by visiting me and I will give you ways to earn your extra entries.

Vicki earns an extra entry by using her tracking skills as a border on this colorful page and posting it over on the FD FB page.

Here are the totals so far for the extra entries:

Tamiko - 3

Sharon  - 2

Vicki L. -1

Vicki ( SB ) - 1
Janis - 1

Bright brush

Refers to a brush that has the same shape as a “flat” however the hairs are not as long as those on the flat brush.
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The Journal52 prompt for week 7 is

 When I Grow Up

I did end up 50 years later actually doing something art related which had been a childhood fantasy job, so I am living out one of my dreams....but I also like most children had multiple thoughts on the subject of what I envisioned I could become. I ghost journaled all those jobs and dreams...don't see them, well, hang on and you will!

The art brush symbolizes my art, selling it at the Art Mob has been a dream come true for me. I have been successfully doing it for over a year now and loving every minute of it!

Each set of words are written 3 different ways. The largest is my title " In the end I just became me", and the pink ink flows out from the heart surrounding the words with the negative spaces not colored in, then we have the background circles saying "I am a work in progress", both written in all capitals but 2 things differ....first the circles go clockwise and counter clockwise. All the writing going clockwise have white colored in the negative spaces and those going counter clockwise are colored in with black ink. Still not seeing the under journaling??.....you will....promise...lol

Next the heart is more solid and serene for while I am a work in progress

 ( probably until the day I die ) I am happy and content where my life has lead me, so I wanted the heart to look peaceful and not cluttered, also not finished because there is always room in my heart for more.

And now for the surprise under journaling, something I didn't mean to happen this way, but sometimes it happens when we aren't expecting it. I wrote with my Faber Castell Big Stamp pen over the layer of inks and gesso and it kinda sunk in and dissappeared, well, that is until the light hits the page just right and then, BAM....!!

Seriously, almost kinda freaky, really! Here's a close up

Fun prompt with unexpected results!

Ranger - Dylusion Inks
Faber Castell Big Brush pen
Sakura -Pigma Sensie pens
white Signo pen
Ranger - Dylusions journal
Sheena Douglas - Silhoutte Garden stamps ( butterfly )
Close to my Heart - Scrapbook Setiments-Poets ( sentiment )


entering my art journal page in:

Blog Quick Quotes - Friday Challenge 36

Asymmetrical balance

Placement of non-identical forms to either side of a balancing point in such a way that the two sides seem to be of the same visual weight.

I tried to use this design principle with the sentiment being the balancing point and the stamped images and doodling to give visual weight.

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The background was washed with a light water color and the colored PITT pens to color in the smaller areas. I used my Sakura Pigma Sensei Magna pen for the black.

I like the written happy birthday sentiment coming out from the grass horizon. Now that I am looking at it, I think the y needs a little daisy added to the end of it.
What do you think?

I think I like the black and white doodled background the best.

  

I love the doodled cloud and sun!

Paper Smooches -Anything Goes Challenge

Paper Smooches - Happy Camper and 

Helmar - Liquid Scrap Dots

Faber Castell - PITT pens and watercolor crayons

Artist

A practitioner in the arts, generally recognized as a professional by critics and peers

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Faber Castell - Take the challenge with Mou
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Have a heart

To create any project related to Valentine's Day.

So here is another altered box of chocolates that I made to sell in the Art MoB.

I used Sakura Glaze pens to color in, Faber Castell PITT pens to outline and layers of Ranger Distress Crackle, stickles and lace to finish it off.

Accent

To stress, single out as important. As applied to art it is the emphasis given to certain elements in a painting that allows them to attract more attention. Details that define an object or piece of art.

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This card will be entered in:

Paper Smooches - Anything Goes Wk. 1 challenge

I love my whimsical bear...I think the "giggle" is the perfect accent to bring out the humor of the colorful zentangled bear and zen dangled heart leads you right to it.

Paper Smooches - bear stamp

Darkroom Door - sentiment

- giggle

Sakura Glaze pen - heart

Faber Castell - watercolors

Sakura pens - doodles

Dean Crouser

Dean Crouser creates vivid watercolor paintings of wildlife. His animal portraits are made up of bright splashes of color that give the painting a lively, fun appeal. Gone are the days of boring true-to-life animal paintings; Crouser’s abstract style is a creative, extravagant which reflects the energetic essence of nature, bringing the busy-ness of wild animals indoors.

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 Design Memory Crafts, Mou Saha challenge:   Pick an art piece and let it inspire you to create.

I figure I need to loosen up and try a new style and I love Crouser's work and I happen to have taken a photo of this cardinal on Christmas day, so I thought I'd give his style a whirl. Also, Journal52's prompt is Up,Up and Away -  things that float or fly through the air - and as best said by the character,  the infamous cigar-chomping leader, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith on the A Team....
"I love it when a plan comes together."

Dylusion Sprays

Faber Castell watercolor crayons

Faber Castell Gelatos

Trying to pick out which quality of Crouser's work that I wanted to emulate was easy but trying to replicate it was very hard...I couldn't make myself get that loose and carefree, I kept wanting to outline and to contain my image. I am a line artist...I am in a box.

Abstract Expressionism

Art that rejects true visual representation. It has few recognizable images with great emphasis on line, color, shape, texture, value; putting the expression of the feelings or emotions of the artist above all else.

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entering my 6 x 12" Blue wall hanging in:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Blues

 I love my little lady balancing on the telephone wire with her crow friends, sometimes it's fun to

 think abstract.

Of course, getting a few zen dangles in also makes me smile! 

I enjoyed all the different layers, the molding paste rain drops, the painted and inked girl with her puffy paint hair, the layers of lace, twine and buttons and the doodling: are all my favorite elements in one piece.

Sakura pens

November Frosted Designs kit - buttons, lace, flower

October Frosted Designs kit - pattern paper

Golden - Molding Paste

Crafters Workshop - raindrop stencil

Deco Arts acrylic paints

Faber Castell PITT pens

crow stamps - misc. ( old )

Frosted Designs tutorial using inks

I love, love LOVE the 2013 November Mixed Media Kit from Frosted Designs! I made this 6 x 12" wall hanging using most of everything from the kit!

and a short video explaining the different ways I used the inks:

( OK, so I am still learning how to edit my videos, the caption that comes up saying "opps I meant to say Lemon Zest"..is suppose to be when I am showing the Lemon Zest spray but calling it Fresh Lime!!.. All I can say is, it was in the right spot when I saved the changes!!...ugh!! )

I love the Faber Castel watercolor crayons, they sure made coloring in my digital image easy! I love how you can mix the crayon colors together to get a custom look like I did with her hair.

And the Faber Castell PITT pens made coloring in those tight small spaces a snap!

None of my projects are complete without the use of my Helmar products and popping up her head is one of my most favorites...Liquid Scrap Dots!

Frosted Designs - November Mixed Media Kit
October Mixed Media Kit ( sticker phrase )
Helmar - 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Tacky Craft Glue and Liquid Scrap Dots

Sakura - Pigma Sensei waterproof pens

Faber Castell - Watercolor crayons, Gesso and Pitt Pens

Dilly Beans - #381 Isabella Fairy digital image
Ranger - Dylusion Spray inks, stickles, liquid pearls
Chipboard clouds

Don't forget that you can sign up for the
Mixed Media Paper Kit subscription
and then we play together each month!!
*FREE Dylusions Creative Journal ($24.99 value) with any first time 
mixed media paper kit subscription! 
Offer expires November 30th.

entering this wall hanging in:
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

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Whether you are a journaler, mixed media artist, scrapbooker, or other type of crafter, hand lettering is a visually dynamic way to add textural elements to your work. I have a book review of

Creative Lettering that I'd love for you to check out.

Let's learn to love our handwriting!
♥

Succubus: noun

a demon assuming female form in order to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep
pronunciation

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Playing along with 

Papercrafting Inspiration - #29 Magazine Mondays

I love combining pop art designs and fonts with bright colors into my art journal. It's a great combination! Are you having a playful day?

Loving my new Sakura waterproof pens and Faber Castel Watercolor crayons!

Kakorrhaphiophobia: noun

An abnormal fear of failure.

pronunciation

I hope you enjoyed this months phobia words :)

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So, I'm taking a course called Draw Your Awesome Life by Joanne Sharpe and the first thing I learned is....it's good to have a nice artist eraser! lol I haven't water colored in years so I admit to doing quite a bit of erasing, especially on the page on the left. Heck, I had so many problems with it, I actually gessoed over a third of it, and then learned that pencil marks do not erase well at all on top of gesso.

 My first thought...are they ready? lol I'm a little fun loving and kooky ( ::gasp::...I know, right? ) and this is a new group who does not know me. 

There is only one person I know so I am wondering...

should I behave? ...

probably, for awhile anyway! lol

 Who would have thought that steam would be so hard to do? Not me, but this was the second attempt 

( after gessoing the page over)...I went for whimsical art colored steam this time. lol

 Then I was real disappointed that Snoopy looks like he has a pink mustache! lol Oh well, the best laid plans sometimes go awry! But I have had this Snoopy mug since I was in college, which is like 30+ years ago and I really wanted it in there. Stubborn, aren't I? Go ahead, it's OK to nod your head yes!

 If you check out the post from the day before, that's when I broke in ( literally ) my Faber Castell water  color crayons. I have fallen in love with them...( notice what I wrote on the yellow one? ) I can either draw directly on the page with them, or rub my wet paintbrush against them and use them in a more traditional way!! BONUS!

also used:

Pens - Sakura, Sharpie, Reminisce

Happy Halloween!

Winner for the Mixed Media Kit will be announced later today, please come back to see the video announcing the winner :)

Paper Playtime - google eyes

I love googlie eyes, they just make me smile and can deliver even the snarkiest statements in a friendly and fun way, like this birthday tag saying, "you're how old? "...lol

I used my paper which had a cute little monster to create a balloon shape and added the goggle eyes to it and some twine for a bow.

I filled in the negative space with glossy accents after filling in the centers of the A's....( not sure what this says about me, but I don't deal with negative space very well, I guess I want happy space )....::eye roll::

Pink Paislee - watercolor paper tags

Faber Castell - water color crayons

Bella Blvd. - arrow stickers

Reminisce white pen

CardsTv - stamp

Ranger - glossy accents

Really Reasonable Ribbon - twine

Helmar - Craft & Hobby PVA glue

Cricut - Stretch Your Imagination, p. 60

also entering my birthday tag in:
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes