Finally got to paint!

Well, I have been following Sharon Tomlinson at Norah's and I have been intrigued by the process she is using to paint over magazine pictures to get a completely different picture.  I have a huge stack of cardboard from work.  These are 81/2x11 because they are the cardboard at the bottom of the packs of forms we use at work.  Usually we just throw them out, but I started saving them and in a month had more than I will ever use.

Anyway, I pasted pictures on the cardboard and then painted over it.  I have to say it is not as easy as she makes it look.  I will need to practice and practice some more to ever be satisfied with this artform, but it was pretty fun and I had no expectations, so I could just have fun!  At least I finally got back to the paint table.  I think tomorrow I will try another.  But in the meantime, here's what I did:

Can you tell that I started with a close-up of a man's face?  I can, but I just wonder if anyone else can.  She is certainly no beauty, but I am pleased with her.  I really enjoyed the collage of her hair.

Let me know what you think about her, won't you?

Watercolors to go -- from Tip Junkie

Here is a wonderful tutorial for a wonderful idea!  This is something I want to try myself because maybe if I have this handy, I will be able to grab those moments when I feel inspired.  As it is, those moments are simply lost while I try to find things, or set up a place to work, or something. 

This is a great handmade gift to give to any children on your Christmas list, too.  I know I would have loved to receive one of these when I was younger.  Think how many hours of use this little kit will get from the busy and creative imagination of a child.

Hope you like it.  Hope you try it.  If so, leave me a note about the process, won't you?  You can visit the original site here to check out other ideas.

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Every winter my dear friend Catherine Newman gives my kids the most inspired gifts- both handmade and boughten.  Last year she gave Ava a fantastic book called An Illustrated Life, a book about illustrated journaling and sketchbooking and it was a huge source of inspiration for her.  When I get her permission, I will post some things she has been working on, but for now I will share with you a little gift that I am currently making for her as she fills her personal sketchbook with beautiful and funny and original work of her own.  There was an idea for this in the book that an artist shared that I have changed a bit but it will allow her to carry water colors with her and as long as she can find some water (usually not difficult) she can transform her black line drawings into something even more spectacular.  And, it's easy, to boot.

1.  a metal tin (I used a tin that a pair of scissors came in, which was a perfect fit for the "fantastix") polymer clay (sculpey or fimo- go for the soft type).
2. tubes of watercolors (I went for the cheap type from Michael's for this first try but you could use fancy ones)
3. Coloring tools such as "fantastix", which are inexpensive and you can find at any art or craft store. They are basically pens without the ink.  The body is filled with a sponge that holds water so you fill it with water and then can use it with the water colors without having a jar of water for your paintbrush.  You could even watercolor in the car!
4. White metal paint OR a piece of white plastic cut from a tofu or yogurt container that is large enough to fill (or mostly fill) the top of the tin (this is for mixing colors- you want white for that).
5. A tube of lip balm (you'll see why).

How to make it:

1. Take one pack of white polymer clay and break in half.  Roll each half into a snake as long as your tin.

Smoosh them so they are flattened along both long sides and then take your lip balm and press 6 wells into each smooshed snake of clay (use the top of the lip balm that is flat).

2. Follow the manufacturer's directions and bake the clay inside of the tin.  After this cools, you can fill the wells with paint.

3. Fill the wells with paint.  Tap the whole thing to flatten the paint into the wells, or use something (like a paintbrush) to flatten it.  Allow this to dry and it will be ready to use.

4. Paint the top of the lid with white metal paint or glue in a piece of white plastic to provide a white area to mix colors.

5. Now it is ready to go.  If you need to, tie a piece of string or use a rubberband to keep the lid secure.  

If you can't find a long tin like this one, you could always just carry the color sticks in your pencil/pen bag.

Posted by a golden apple at 6:03 AM

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Videos for a lazy Friday!

 Since I am having so much trouble getting started, I think I will go back to basics.  Art journaling is a great way to get your mind free and loose.  Here are some videos from a few of my favorite artists online.  I hope you enjoy!

 

Window Shopping Wednesday -- Wall Dancers

Here's a look at a wonderful polymer clay artist that I truly admire.  Her work is funky, funny, unique, and particularly beautiful.  Just looking at her work makes me smile and feel good.  I have been reading her blog for quite some time and for a short while I thought she had quit blogging.  She is dealing with a health issue and so I worried about her status.  Imagine my pleasure to see that she is back and she is better than ever.

So, with no further ado, I give you Wall Dancers for your visual pleasure.

Great, huh?  Don't forget to visit her blog and maybe drop by her Etsy store to see even more beautiful items!

More on my prayer dolls

I have been working on my prayer dolls and they really are looking pretty.  I stayed up until after 1AM the other night painting on them and I have to say I had a ball.  The next morning, I took pictures to show my progress.

Here they are:

I still lack painting their hair and adding collage items so I can cover them entirely with a sealer.  I think they are really cute and I plan to make many more.

 For my friend, Rebecca

 For my sister

 For my friend, Kenita

 For my friend, Elizabeth

and hopefully, this one will be for me!

Window Shopping Wednesday

Another Wednesday.  Now to show you the work of another of my favorite artists here on the web.  I hope you are enjoying these trips to visit websites.  I hope you like these artists so much that you begin to follow their work as I do.  So, here we go....
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Christine Alvarado makes the most beautiful and delicate dolls I have ever seen.  She obviously loves what she does.  Her dolls are exquisite. To visit, just click on any of the images and you will be taken to her site.

Please visit her site and look at all the beauties she has made.  These are just a few.

Alice in Wonderland Dolls by Cart Before the Horse Etsy Shop

Here is an article I found about one of my favorite doll artist couples.  I visit their blog regularly and am always pleasantly surprised by the work available for viewing there.  They certainly are talented and really enjoy what they do.  Whimsy and fantasy abound in their collective imaginations.  Please visit them and tell them I sent you.

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Contemporary Folk Art Dolls



Here's the link to the original article 

By: Katie Cordrey (Rockstar) Apr 11, 10
Oregon-based Etsy Artists Dylan and Jo make one-of-a-kind contemporary folk art pieces which they sell in their Etsy shop, CartBeforetheHorse. One of their creations is a set of Alice in Wonderland dolls. The contemporary folk-art set comes with Alice, her pink flamingo, the Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire Cat. It is made-to-order through the couple’s CartBeforetheHorse shop on Etsy.
Alice in Wonderland dolls are just one set in the couple’s joyful, quirky collection of contemporary folk art pieces.


Source: thecartbeforethehorse.blogspot
Readmore: etsy

I've started another painting

Just getting started on this one

This one is for practice but I like it

I wanted to take a minute to post a picture of my newest painting.  It is just in the "roughing out" stage, but I wanted to have a visual of the work in progress.

I am using the long one to practice my face painting skills I learned in my online class, so it really isn't a new picture, just practice.  But I really like it so far.
The first lady's face is just  really started, there are several more layers to add, but I thought I'd show her here.  She really reminds me of ladies I have seen in old photographs from the 1800's.  I think it is because of her hair.  I'm thinking of giving each face on this page a distinct look from a specific time period.  I just don't know if I can do it, but that's what practice is for, right?

The top one is going to be really nice if I can pull it off.  One of the videos Sharon put up in our class was on how to paint skin other than for a fair skinned lady.  I hope to use her teachings here and have this lovely lady be very dark skinned.  We'll see.

I think she looks like an old photograph, don't you?

This online class has really been great and I highly recommend it.  You can still join the fun.  Visit us at All Norah's Art on Ning.  The cost is minimal and you will learn so much about painting faces with acrylic paint.  I can't wait for Sharon to come up with another class so I can take it!

I told you about my new pottery class I started last week.  Well, I found an online class that is about hand-building faces.  I can hardly wait to sign up for that one, too.

I finally finished my first face painting in my class

Here is a picture of my first finished painting from the online class I have been taking.  I am so far behind in this class, but that is the nice thing about taking a class online.  You can work at your own pace.

I watch the class videos over and over and I have really learned quite a lot.  Now, I just have to take that information and practice, practice, practice...until it becomes second nature to me.

I just had to show you my picture.  I am so proud of her.