Stop A Moment

I created this journal page before my surgery using this foam stamp, that I showed you how to make previously here.

Instead of using paint, I stamped my paper with gesso and then finished it with watercolor.

Today, I wrote this quote by Leo Tolstoy:

I have been forced to stop a moment as I recover from foot surgery and I miss my daily art practice a great deal.  I realize it has only been a week since the surgery yet I long to be able to sit again at my art table without my foot screaming in pain.  I must be patient…

Taking a break does have a positive aspect too as it allows time for me to evaluate where I am currently on my art journey and where I would like to be headed in the future.

Do you take the time to assess your creative practice from time to time?  I realize that it’s not easy for me to do this assessment but important.

Cheers!  🙂

‘Tis The Season

‘Tis the season…when elves start appearing!  🙂

Fun to play in my art journal today…drawing a face of an elf from my imagination.  And adding a little glitter for magic!

I think everyone that has freckles wishes they could look like this!  😉

I didn’t get my doodle painted from yesterday as I cleaned my art room and my house!  It is rare that I’m in the mooood!  Lol!

Cheers!  🙂

In Lieu of Flowers

My father-in-law recently passed away.

Although we were not close, I still wanted him to die peacefully.

I was thankful that his wishes were met and he is no longer suffering.

I started my mixed media collage by gluing my Gelli printed papers with Matte Medium onto 140 lb hot press paper.   I added gesso around the flowers and textured it while it was still wet with the end of my paint brush and syran wrap.

After the gesso was dry, I added watercolor:

Adding several more layers of watercolor, I buffed it with a damp cloth to bring out the texture.

I added watercolor pencil to define the flowers at the end.

In lieu of flowers, 🌹 – my father-in-law would love if you planted a tree.   🌲

I would love to know how YOU celebrated and remembered your family and friends that have died – thank you for sharing your stories with me.

Hugs!  ❤️

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

I like this saying… probably because I like flowers!  And it applies to art too!

In 2013, I started taking online art classes.  I had never done it before but I wanted to nurture my creative side.  I was working full-time so I didn’t have the time to take a live class or workshop.  I’m so glad I took the risk!

I’ve taken MANY classes from Carla Sonheim and have learned so much!  The above painting I did on wood with gesso first then watercolors.  I never would have thought to try this without her class called, “Flower Crazy.”

I learned other techniques such as this one:

I created texture with gesso and then painted it with watercolor and buffed it with a soft cloth.  Very fun!

And I learned more about negative painting in this one:

I painted the wood panel with watercolors first.  Then I created my flowers by painting the negative background in gesso.

One of the things I enjoy about taking an online art class is I still get to learn from others!  I make new online friends too.  🙂

If you have never taken an online art class, I encourage you to give it a try!

Happy Creating!  🙂

Robin Egg Blue

I created a bird nest with gesso and clear bead gel on a wood panel.  I then painted it in layers of watercolor.  This is how it looked when I started:

The eggs are the color of an egg for the American Robin.  Did you know that there is a Crayola crayon that was named Robin Egg Blue in the early 1990’s?

I added several more layers of watercolors:

I then buffed it with a soft damp cloth:

But I found it needed more contrast so I added more paint and defined some of the twigs in the nest with soft vine charcoal:

I’m not sure if it is done so I will set it aside for a few days and then look at it again.

Have you ever found a Robin’s blue egg shell?