Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! - Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

"Joy" Journal Page

Hi,  I am taking a workshop by Laura Thykeson entitled "Embrace the Day" - journalling your emotions.
I just started last week and have some catch up to do but I wanted to show you my first page - Joy.
Anyone who knows me that my favourite colour is orange so that in itself is an indication of joy.  On the page, I tried to inbcorporate some collage, painting and stamping as well as some fabric (the heart).  A note, you cannot tell but the fish are stamped on a clear plastic sheet to add some depth.  Rather than write paragraphs, I decided just to put spot labels on.  I stamped the big sunflowers and then placed the boys' pictures in the centers.

This is a closer look at the watercoloured face (a representation of me - not a portrait).
I hope you like this page.  It was so much fun to do.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A Girl!!

I finally did it.....I painted a person.  I have been feverishly taking classes and this canvas is directly a result of the Summer Girls class I took on line by Tam.  Here she is:
She is sketched and then painted with watercolor crayons and pencils.
Here is a closeup of her head:
I am quite happy with her for my first ever person.  I think she is pretty.  I am a bit disappointed in the page though.  I should have used a smaller canvas rather than the 9X12 watercolor paper for the background.
Please let me know what you think and thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

A Water Color of Sorts - Just a Beginning

Good Sunday Afternoon!
I have decided that I want to expand my horizons and explore some painting.  To that end, I am taking several courses on line.  I am taking an art journalling course by Junelle Jacobsen and the first part is about water colour.  Here is my first effort.
Part of the process is choosing a word which means something to me.  I chose "forty".  Steven and I have been married for 40 years and I am always amazed that we are happier now than we have ever been.  I wanted to show that and also bring in our love of the Caribbean and our vacations - just the two of us.  So I decided to show a couple of bright, colorful, tropical birds.
Now, this is my first ever water color and, although primitive, I am pretty sure it is a perfect addition to my journal.
I promise I will improve.  But after all, my journal is for me and I am happy I included it.
Thanks so much for visiting!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Frankie Halloween Canvas

It has been a bit of time since I could do any mixed media work but I got a chance to work on another Halloween canvas the last couple of days.  This one is a cute Frankenstein.
When I got him done, I looked at changing his stubby fists but decided I kind of like them.  They remind me that he was put together of different body parts.  Contrary to the original Frank, he is a bit shorter so that his big head can draw a lot of the attention.  I love his juvenile expression.  He is pretty close to my original sketch other than I added striped socks (just because I like them).  Here is my sketch:
I think this is the last of my Halloween canvases but - if I have time - I want to do a haunted house...my favourite symbol of Halloween.
Bye for now!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Autumn Bumbles

  I love taking pictures and have a great camera which goes with me practically everywhere I go.
I would like to show you a couple of photos I took this morning of a bumble bee on one of the marigolds in our front garden.  
I love the top picture as I was able to get in so close that you can even see its eyes.
This is an art blog but from time to time I will include photos.  They really do inspire me.
Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

More Halloween Art

I am back at it again. Another Halloween canvas.....this time a witch.
My little witch is a cross between grumpy and sweet (if that is possible).  Her face looks a tad stern or "witchy" if you want but the rest of her is like a little girl.  I used sheet music for the background and I could not get one wrinkle out - but, oh well, I can live with that.
Here is my original sketch:You will notice that my final work is very different from it.  I decided to soften her nose and make her much taller and thinner than the original. I also did not include the bat and moved the jack-o-lantern to the middle and to put a black cat in it.  I also liked the idea of making her pumpkin and cat 3-d so that is what I did.  Since the witch has darker clothes, I decided to make the background base yellow with orange and green accents.  The raised dots are molding paste mixed with orange paint.
Hope you have enjoyed my Halloween pieces as much as I have.  I may be finished with them - but, then again, maybe not.
Thanks for stopping by.