Live Your Art: mixed media monday

Showing posts with label mixed media monday. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

A couple of small things

I've been knee deep in projects this week - a Thanksgiving book (you can see the pictures and tutorial on the MDW blog, here), a new art journal for an online class, some fiber bookmarks for a trade, an altered jumper, another altered book, and since the sewing machine is out, I finally stitched a little skirt from a vintage tablecloth to protect my beautiful desk chair. (breathing now...)

Since the theme this week for Mixed Media Monday is body parts, I thought I'd share my new journal page from the Christmas journal class:

and a sketch I did for my Alice In Wonderland paper dolls (I sent those in for publication, so no pics of those yet). I didn't end up going with this Alice face, but I still like the sketch:

I suppose that will have to be all for now - the kids have little gift certificates from Build A Bear for their stuffed animal's birthdays (yes, their STUFFED animal's birthday - great marketing!), and the day off from school, so a trip to Build A Bear is in order. I hope my pocketbook survives the trip!

Monday, November 3, 2008

journal pages

I've kept a journal, on and off, since I was a girl. It was just the written word; sketches remained in sketchbooks. In college, I started writing in my sketchbooks, and visa versa. Now I find that the words are secondary to the images. The words let me run off at the mouth, but the images have more meaning, more impact now. Images speak to the subconscious in a way that words never will. It's an evolution.

The theme for Mixed Media Monday is fall colors. Check out Debbie's beautiful sample.

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 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!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Much Ado...

So it has been awhile again, hasn't it? The start of school this year has taken a lot out of me, I must admit. The last few days, however, have been a flurry of creation. Journal pages, ATCs, and most importantly, a lot of time sketching. I really love illustration. It simply makes me happy to draw. But I have long harbored a fear - a fear of the pen. Yes, I've done tons of ink illustrations, but always in pencil first. Matt had a drawing instructor that made them fill a sketchbook with ballpoint pen only. Ballpoint pen? I could never sketch in ballpoint pen! The thought just terrified me. So, except for the doodles made during meetings and staff development days, I stuck with pencil. Yesterday, however, was a breakthrough.

Yesterday, I sketched in ballpoint. I was reading the Signatures Art Journal book while Max was in gymnastics class (great book, by the way), and I felt inspired to sketch Piggy. So right there, in the book (I am a frequent book defacer) I drew in ballpoint. And I liked it. Matt thought it was part of the page itself!

That led to a flurry of sketches for my next ATC exchange. The theme is "w", which I have interpreted as whatever - whatever is on my desk, or my mind, at the moment. I started with rusted paper using malt vinegar (from the Mixed Media Monday forum, and numbers are this week's theme), and Twinkling H2Os for color. I haven't played with those much, but I sooooo enjoyed it! Unfortunately you can't see the iridescence in the scans, which is too bad, because it's lovely.

I am also sponsoring the challenge for My Daughter's Wish this time. It's the ugly paper technique I posted a few months back, but any use of your "ugly" paper will qualify! Check it out here, and you could win a prize!

So, tomorrow it's back to work, with IEPs to write, papers to grade and fires to put out, but maybe tonight I can draw a few more. A little more time in Wonderland, please.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Gutter Girlz, Mixed Media Monday and Arty Girlz

Gutter Girlz is a rockin' new challenge blog, and with a name like that, how could I refuse? The theme is what makes you feel like a woman (aka Man, I Feel Like A Woman song) AND to use pantyhose! I've used a lot of things in my art, but never hose! How appropriate that the theme for Mixed Media Monday is trying something new. Arty Girlz has the theme of a touch of pink this week; lovely how they all worked together! I think my favorite part of this piece is the photograph. I used my daughter's pink boa around my heel, and I love the color reflection on the shoe. Again, props to my dad! (See Sunday's post about his photographs here, and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered for my RAK!!!)

I read on the internet that pantyhose are out, but I still think they're sexy (well, at least the kind that hook onto a garter belt. I did work at Victoria's Secret back in the day, ya know...;) At least they can be damn sexy on a scrapbook page, and a good use for the ones with holes in them. I love recycling.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Summer Explorations

Whew! Summer's here, and I've been able to play a little. I sent off a package to Somerset at the last minute (but still by the deadline!) for their black and white call. I am finally starting to get back on track with projects for the Artist's Circle Yahoo group, and we're doing Beryl Taylor again. Happy about that one, since I was too busy to play round one. I actually ordered Mixed Media Explorations this time, and I'm so glad I did! Beryl gives great examples, and more importantly to me, lots of instruction on technique! I highly recommend it. I do want to give a brief plug for my upcoming mini-album class on June 21. Check it out at the right! Okay, on to the challenges!

First up, Laura's wonderful Wishchick challenge for My Daughter's Wish - PAINT! Is there anything better??? GPP Street Team has crayon rubbings this month, so I used some paper I made for that on my layout. I used a lego base for the pattern, then covered it with yellow paint. I glued some hand dyed paper towel over that, then edged it with white crayon. I also edged the LO in white paint. Check out her fab pages and challenge here - you could win a RAK! The topic - thanking someone - is catalyst #13 at Creative Therapy this week. So many people came to mind, but I settled on my husband. I think I usually give him more grief then thanks, but he is the light of my life. Thanks, babe!

A few samples of rubbings - I've just started to play with this, but I find I prefer just the crayon texture under paint to an actual design. It gives a great background layer! I think I'll make several texture papers to keep on hand for projects. The card was made from a rubbing I took from my brush cup! It's a fabulous little ceramic cup with glazed fish around it that my brother gave me. I used a paper scrap from my desk that had ink remnants on it and embossed over it. It fit so nicely with the By the Sea theme at Mixed Media Monday, so I made a simple card.

Now I really must clean my house. Art and house keeping seem to be diametrically opposed. I try to ignore it when I'm working, but after awhile the clutter (not to mention the dog hair on the floor) crawls up my spine like an army of red ants and I have to submerge myself in domestic duties. But maybe I'll make more more sheet of fabric paper first...

Saturday, May 24, 2008

another try at jewelry

The theme for mixed media Monday was maps, and created by hand had pins, so I put them both together and here is the result. Even though I have a box full of maps, I used a 7Gypsies rub-on map for the vintage look. The numbers are the new mini grungeboard that have been embossed with silver, and the frame got the alcohol ink treatment.

It's good to be back with the art challenges again. I've been on a scrapbooking binge for awhile, and I miss my sketchbook. But that will still have to wait, because I have 20 kindergarten scrapbooks to finish and assemble this weekend, and some finishing touches on 150 wedding invitations. Thank goodness summer vacation is two weeks away! (and the bottle of wine is only a few feet;)