Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Disney on the brain




First off, I'd like to give a big shout out to the fabulous ladies who came to my art journal class on Saturday. I sure had a great time, and I hope you did, too. I'd love to make this into an on-going class, with a focus next time on quick ink backgrounds and composing pages. Tell me what you think. Also, if any questions have come up as you have been working on your pages (please tell me you are working on pages!), feel free to leave a comment or email me from my web page link on the right. This is an on-going process, and we are all in it together! I have been working on four pages, although only one is complete. Those who were in the class may recognize the background; it was one of the unfinished ones in the journal I brought. After a series of layers of ink, gesso and old rub-ons, I found a small photo left over from a previous art project, and taped that on. I wasn't quite sure where to go from there, when I noticed the shadow of my hand on the paper. I grabbed a pencil and voila, done!

But what really has me occupied this week is thoughts of Disneyland. I can't wait. I decided this year to try an 8x8 three ring album. It was a present from Matt several Christmases ago, and it came with black pages. I added patterned paper dividers and some watercolor pages for sketching. I figured I'd take a hole punch with me and just stick ephemera in as we go. I also finished a page about a little incident during our first Disney trip. The plastic bucket did not make for great photography, so I decided to sketch it, instead. I liked it so much, I think I'll do more scrapbook pages with sketches (and look, it's in ink!)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

3...2...1...


Take a box, a few paper bags and two creative kids, and you have a trip into space. It reminds me of the simple, charming book, Not A Box. Some much imagination. Why do so many adults spend a lifetime trying to get it back?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Art Journal Pages





A few recent journal pages - the first three highlight some of the painting techniques I'll be teaching in my art journal class on the 27th (see info to the right). I'm super excited about this one, because I really love technique classes and I'm hoping to introduce many to the joys of art journaling. I love it so much, I decided to make it my GATE art class this year at school (but all of the kids know I let anyone come. Art should not be the exclusive property of gifted and talented students).

The last two pages are from our trip this weekend to the de Young museum in San Francisco to see the Chihuly glass exhibit. It was good fodder for this week's Mixed Media Monday topic, famous people. I must first give props to the de Young for their teacher membership discount. For just $55 I was able to get a membership for two adults to both the de Young and Legion of Honor. I had one BC (before children) and it's good to have one again. We went without the kids this time (Max and glass are NOT a good combination), but I'm looking forward to going back with them for an art scavenger hunt. My parents always took us to museums and galleries when we were growing up, and it made a lasting impression.

But the show -OH! I have been a big fan for many years, and seeing the works in person was absolutely amazing. He is brilliant, absolute genius! The color, he scale, the organic shapes, the staging... I could go on and on. I think the color may have been one of the most inspiring aspects of the show; that, and the pure imagination. If you are in the bay area, you'd better catch it fast - it leaves on the 28th. The downside - the masses of people. You have to get a timed ticket (much easier if you are a member!), then wait in line at your time to get in, and then contend with all of the crowds once you are inside. The smell of that many people is not my ideal way of viewing art, and I wouldn't do it for most artists. But for Chihuly, it's worth it!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Monday Night Football


I was so excited for the start of football season. Matt's at the Raider game with John, and for once I think I'm glad it's not me. Boy, it looks like another loooooong season. Ugh! So I found this very old drawing (1992!) in a sketchbook and felt it was quite appropriate. Let's hope it gets better as the season goes on...

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

A Nice Surprise

I found this in my mailbox this afternoon:
Now, I don't subscribe to Take Ten, so I knew I must have gotten a card published. But I couldn't recall sending one in, and we were late for gymnastics, so I couldn't take a peek. Finally, at the gym, I was able to find this:

This was one of the first cards I sent in for publication - at least two years ago! What a nice surprise! I looked through the issue and as I closed it, I found this one the back:

There, the ad for the current stamping magazines. And I have cards in both, including the cover. It feels good. Yah, I'm tooting my own horn. But it's my blog. Toot, toot!

(why is the text underlined? dunno. not for the emphasis, really! Blogger is acting up again)


Monday, September 1, 2008

Finally finished!









Whew! (that starts with a "w", right?) I have finally finished my 20 ATCs for this month's exchange. The theme, as I mentioned previously, is "w", which has now morphed from "whatever" to "whatever the hell I want." (You'd feel the same way, too after making 20 different ATCs.)  I can say that I'm very proud of the lot. Mixed Media Monday's theme this week is nature, and I'm sneaking it in here with the sunrise and tiger because I do want to mention again the rusty paper technique I learned on their forum. I really loved illustrating over it - it has such a unique, beautiful tonal range. Thanks, Diane!

Creative Therapy's catalyst this week is fear, and as I've stated before, drawing in ink was a huge fear of mine. HUGE. That may sound silly, but I've spent the years working in looser mediums - pencil, paint, pastels, and the thought of that ink line just scared the shit out of me. Pardon the language, but it's true. So I've been filling my ink journal, drawing ATCs, sketching in pen right in my copy of The Creative License, by Danny Gregory (LOVE it!) and I can now say, I am no longer afraid of ink. In fact, I find I am reaching for a pen more often then a pencil when I sketch. I'm even liking some of the people I've drawn. In ink. No pencil. It still kinda amazes me. I have a long way to go, but lesson learned. Just do it. and do it. and do it...

p.s. - You still have time to post for the Ugly Paper challenge on the MDW blog! I'll be giving away the RAK on Sept. 7. Check it out here!