A painted lady

Not sure what to think about this girl - sometimes I think she is fabulous and other times she kinda spooks me out. 

Wanted to use a lot of color and reach outside of my comfort zone a bit. 

She was originally painted on graph paper but you can't see it except where it peeks through just a bit on her neck. 

Linking to Art Journal Every Day,

Paint Party Friday,

Art Every Day Month,

Paper Saturday

Bad lighting girl. . .

The problem with drawing at night is attemping to take a picture on the kitchen table with horrible lighting.   

Do you have any easy solutions to this dilemma?  Besides the obvious - take your pics in the daytime!

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Mini Wax Canvas

Look at my teeny-tiny wax canvas!  

This critter is only 2" x 4".

Colored directly onto the canvas with some cheap-o crayons.  If I were to do this again I'd use better quality crayons - they would have more pigment. 

Melted the first layer with my heat gun.  The wax is shiny cause it is still hot.

Added more colors and kinda swirled it a bit -  

Finished off with some India Ink droplets and a book quote.  It is residing in the living room keeping company with some shells, rocks, a geode and a tiny pinecone.

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Illustration Friday - SHADOW

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."

         - Helen Keller

Linking to Art Every Day Month and

Illustration Friday - SHADOW 

Don't let your brains drop out. . .

Love this quote by Richard Dawkins! 

Quick art journal page using my new leaf stamp. 

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Geometric Abstract

A silly little abstract painted in my art journal that for some unknown reason makes me ridiculously happy. 

Maybe it is the colors . . .

or the way the shapes overlap - Not sure what it is but I like it!

Linking to Art Every Day Month,

Paint Party Friday,

Art Journal Every Day, and 

Paper Saturday

Leaf stamp

Carved up a leaf stamp out of a pink eraser.  My younger son was scandalized that I used some of his precious school supplies - LOL! 

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Choose the daring adventure. . .

 

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."  - Helen Keller

A simple art journal page that expresses a profound thought!! (plus it uses papercut "scraps")

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Use your papercut "garbage". . .

I've been making an effort to use all my "artsy" scraps.  These white pieces are the computer paper patterns that were cut while making my recent papercuts.

In the past I would've probably tossed these "leftovers" in the trash but after all the back scrunching, eye squinting, cutting work it was time to figure out how I could recycle them. 

Ink spray gives these pieces an entirely different look than the original and can easily be featured in your art journal or as scraps in other mixed media pieces. 

How you do reuse "scraps" in your art?

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Papercut #2

My second papercut - a little more intricate than the first one.  I really should've taken up these types of crafting before my eyes starting going south on me. . .

Linking to Art Every Day Month

My First Papercut. . .

Hands down one of my favorite artists is Elsa Mora - her talent is abundant in so many different medias - painting, jewelry, papercuts, ceramics, bookmaking, etc.  A particular favorite of mine is her intricate, detailed papercuts.  They are not only beautiful but tell such amazing stories.

I was thrilled when she started her newest blog "All About Papercutting" that includes an online shop featuring several collections of downloadable patterns that you can cut yourself!  I've always wanted to try this art but was intimidated at trying to come up with a pattern.  For my first attempt I chose Collection #1 of the flower patterns. 

There is an easy to follow tutorial on the site and I am happy to report it was great fun!!  Not nearly as scary as I thought it would be and my very first attempt turned out great!  The only problem I had (if you would call this a problem) is that I cut my pattern from super thick Papertrey Ink cardstock - while this cardstock is the best in my opinion for papercrafting it was a bit thick for cutting but it makes for a sturdy end product.

Be sure and visit Elsa Mora's new blog Art Is A Way where she features not only her work but the work of other artists that she admires.  

This won't be my only papercut - I'm off now to decide which one I want to tackle next!!

Linking to Art Every Day Month

Blue Pilot Ball Sketch -

Quickly sketched gal on a scrap of paper - not sure what to name her?  Got any ideas? 

Linking to Art Every Day Month and

Sunday Sketches

The problem with the world is. . .

"The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubt, while the stupid people are full of confidence."  -  Charles Bukowski

Quick sketch with a black Stabilo pencil - did you know that Dina Wakley calls these "magic pencils"?

Look what happens when a little bit of water is added!  The pencil is designed to mark on most surfaces including glass and does amazing stuff when melted with the water.

First layer of paint added with paint markers.

Hair was colored with Neocolor Crayons - I always return to these fabulous sticks of water-soluble color!  Finished up by writing the quote with Gelli Roll Pen and Stabilo pencil.

She looks a bit creeped out by the tired critter (I filed down those dangerous, sharp teeth!)

CHECK IT OUT - One of my pics made it onto Julie's blog today!!

Linking to Art Every Day Month,

Paint Party Friday,

Art Journal Every Day, and 

Paper Saturday