A Puzzler

I love to experiment with color and patterns, as you may already know! I find it very meditating.

I recently completed this doodle:

One of the things I did differently with this doodle was I added three flowers on top of my doodle that I printed on deli paper using my Gelli plate and a stencil.

What is really fun about printing on deli paper with fluid acrylics is that the pattern is transparent when you glue it down to your paper. You don’t see the deli paper. I printed my flowers in a light red color.

This time I took my experiment a step further and glued it over my doodle (with a glue stick). I next added further details with Copic markers and color pencils on top of the deli printed flowers. I didn’t know I could do that!

I also experimented creating patterns with color pencils in my doodle and coloring Copic markers over them.

Another great thing about creating a colorful doodle is making copies to use as collage. The colors came out exceptionally bright with the Copic markers.

And behold! I found a rabbit:

And a bird (think swan–like):

The journal is for my online class I’m taking with Carla Sonheim, The Year of the Rabbit. I added some postage stamps from other countries to add interest to my pages.

I hope you have fun doing some art experiments today! I’d love to hear what you are working on.

Happy Wednesday!

Cheers! 😃

A Large Handmade Journal

This summer I want to work in several art journals and a couple of other projects while I take a weird bird break.

I started this handmade journal last November when I took an online class with Pam Garrison. It is made with 140 lb hot press watercolor paper.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the pages in a video before I fill them:

The journal size measures 15.25 inches in length by 11 inches in width for each page.

As you can see in the video, I made some marks on some of my pages as a starting off point.

Here are a few pages I’ve been working on:

I used stencils with watercolor in the bottom of the first page. And the page below is shown closed over the above page with some doodles and a butterfly.

Sometimes I like experimenting with collage and adding a quote:

A fish collage using my Gelli-printed papers inspired by the artist, Clare Youngs:

I used the watercolor circles to experiment with drawings in color pencils. And I added some whimsical lettering:

The insert papers are good for experimentation also. I used a stencil for the first one and collage for the second photo.

I was inspired by a wall calendar by the artist, Caroline Simas for the page below. I liked her color choices:

I am experimenting with collage, color pencils and water soluble crayons for this page…it is a work in progress! I find circles meditative.

I hope my art journal inspires you in your own art making.

What art projects are you working on? I’d love to hear about them!

Cheers!

Poodles On Parade

My neighbor recently got a poodle in “party” colors (black and white) that inspired me to create a whimsical series in acrylic paint and watercolor.

I started by making random marks on a 22″x30″ sheet of hot press watercolor paper. I used golden fluid acrylics and permanent black ink with different size brushes.

Note: This is a great way to get over the fear of a white sheet of paper!

Next, I cut my large sheet of paper into smaller sizes. I had a total of 18 pieces of paper to creat my drawings.

Here are a five of my favorites:

I drew my poodles in pencil first and then used a permanent black pen. I used the marks on the paper to help me draw my poodles so they turned out a bit wonky! I finished them with watercolor.

Do you have a favorite?

One idea leads to another…

I made this birthday card for a friend:

And a weird bird showed up with a poodle do:

Dog gone it! I hope you have a happy Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

Signs Of Spring

I saw a Quail in my yard the other day poking around underneath a fir tree.

Our snow is melting and lately we are having warmer temperatures in the 40’s. It felt like signs of Spring and inspired me to create this mixed media collage in my sketchbook:

I know the male Quail has the top plume but I couldn’t resist giving him a dress! I drew the Quail’s head and feet.

I was also inspired by the collage artist, Katherine Streeter. I hope you check out her art at KatherineStreeter.com She is also on Instagram. She has a playful style that I really enjoy. She helped me “think outside the box.”

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

May you be inspired to create something different today!

Cheers! 😃

Easter Flowers

I started a watercolor recently that reminded me of colorful Easter eggs:

Then I added some flower doodles to my watercolor with a micron pen:

The flowers were inspired by this bouquet of Easter flowers:

Wishing you a happy Easter!

Cheers! 🙂

An Amazing Day

I have been enjoying the free online art class:

“The Layered Page” with Kellee Wynne Studios! I discovered it on Instagram. You can find it at KelleeWynneStudios.com

I have been creating larger pages with acrylic paint and stencils that will become mini books. Kellee shows you how to do this in her videos.

This led to experimenting in my sketchbook with marks and bubble wrap:

And creating smaller cards that are 5.5 x 3.5 inches:

I decided to make positive affirmation cards with some of the smaller cards:

And I created my own layered pages with paper collage in my art journal:

Perhaps my art will inspire you to create art you enjoy!

I hope you have an amazing day!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. I have decided to take a blogging break so I can focus on creating art. There are some awesome free online art classes right now that I want to take advantage of!

If you are needing some additional creative inspiration, Carla Sonheim is offering a free pdf with 22 artists sharing their ideas. You can find it at CarlaSonheim.com Great ideas for all ages!

Have fun and stay safe! 🙂

Glow Worm

Last Friday, I showed you the beginning of this journal page:

I added a drawing of a weird looking bug and then discovered the dictionary definition for a Glow Worm on my page.I decided to explore this idea further.

Next, I added some acrylic paint and colored part of my bug with Tombow markers:

I added some interesting facts about a Glow Worm to my page and finished coloring my “beetle” wearing a hat… why not! 😉

I enjoyed learning something new while playing in my art journal.

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. I have decided to blog 1-2 days a week. I will be posting on Mondays and possibly Wednesday. I will be posting more on Instagram where you can find me at art_jill_kuhn

Creative Play

Sometimes creative play in an art journal can be quite fulfilling.

I am discovering the joy of adding collage papers and marks without a outcome in mind.

This page I used a greeting card of a Ladybug that someone sent me. I altered it a little with my whole punch:

I had fun exploring funky flower shapes in this one and black and white stems:

My last one is a work in progress. As you can see, it involves BUGS!

I will show my completed page to you next week!

I encourage you to make time for creative play in your art making.

Happy Friday!

Cheers! 🙂

Walking Stick

I recently discovered the imaginative art of Stefan G Bucher.

Stefan drew a daily monster for years. If you’d like to see some of his art, he has a couple of YouTube videos. Google his name to find them. His art is also on Instagram.

His method of creating monsters with ink and a compressed can of air inspired my Walking Stick:

Did you know that Walking Stick insects are also known as stick insects, stick bugs or bug sticks?

My insect is a little on the strange side but that makes it all the more interesting to me!

Happy Creating!

Cheers! 🙂

Meet Linda and Bob

Remember my Journal Prompts post last month? I had so much fun completing my journal page that I decided to continue this challenge for myself in the new year. If you don’t remember my post, you can see it here, Art Journal Prompts – Part 2

Meet Linda and Bob:

I know they have a story to tell! If you missed it, they were part of my most recent post.

Perhaps you want to write your own story about Linda and Bob and share it with me next week?

I will be revealing my completed journal page and story next Monday, January 6.

I hope you join me!

Cheers! 🙂