It’s Finished!

Hooray!!

I finished my Priest Lake Sampler painting on Sunday. I am pleased with how it turned out:

I made a few changes since I last posted my painting…

I removed the pine cones and added trees. I learned that I can use a second stencil over the first one and therefore I added patterns to my trees.

Next, I added the wildflowers, huckleberries and beach rocks.

I feel there is a good balance with color, patterns and design. I think I also represented all 4 seasons.

It took me about 3 months to complete but I’m glad I kept going!

Thanks for all your support and encouragement!!

Now, what to work on next…

Cheers! 😃

Hawk, Pine Cones and Ferns

I’m getting closer to being done with my Priest Lake Sampler painting! Hooray!

I added a yellow highlight to the water for the sun and a black hawk:

A bouquet of pine cones:

And a few ferns:

Only 3 sections left to complete…

I think blogging has motivated me to keep working on it because I’m kind of tired of it! Lol

I appreciate your encouragement, THANK YOU!!

Cheers! 😃

Making Progress

I decided to change the lake water on my Priest Lake Sampler painting.

I like the stencil pattern of the lake much better now!

Some weeks it doesn’t feel like I’m making progress but I know I am!

I changed the mountains a little bit with gelli-printed collage papers, to add the appearance of trees and added the sun.

It is fun to add a little something when I have a few minutes. I always have my Gelli Plate out and ready to go!

Next, I want to add some yellow below the sun so it doesn’t look like it is floating in the air!

I am so ready for Spring, how about you? Tulips are in the stores which is always a good sign!

Wishing you a happy day!

Cheers! 😃

Peaceful Waters…

As I continued my Priest Lake Sampler painting this week, I focused on the lake.

First, I changed the background color for the lake:

But when I taped my masking papers to the board to protect the other painted sections, I accidentally ripped part of my mountains when I pulled off the tape.

This required some fixing with collage papers to cover up the torn sections so I decided to add some specific details to the light gray mountain in the background. I added “Chimney Rock” which is a well-known landmark at Priest Lake.

You can see “Chimney Rock” in the distance of this photo at Priest Lake, Idaho taken on a lovely summer day:

I used a stencil for the lake but I wasn’t happy with the choppy water… (see above)

So I tried to soften it with a paint brush. I am letting the peaceful waters simmer for a little while to see what direction I want to go next.

Tip for the day: Never waste leftover paint! It has potential for future collage material:

Wishing you a peaceful day…

Cheers! 😃

The Mountains

I have been experimenting with the mountains for my Priest Lake Sampler painting.

I tried several different ideas before I landed on this one in collage:

I tried painting the stencil directly onto my painting but I wasn’t happy with the intensity of my colors:

So I decided to try collage…

Which meant I needed to get out my Gelli plate.

I LOVE printing on the Gelli plate, as many of you know… So much fun!

I looked at previous lake photos to help me with colors and patterns, like this photo:

I used a stencil for the two darker green sections of the mountains and created a pattern with Saran Wrap for the middle mountain. I painted the trees onto the middle section of the mountain which I had never done on a Gelli “print” before!

I think I will work on the section below the mountains next…

And on a side note, I made these yummy Chocolate and Zucchini muffins for a little sweetness on Valentine’s Day!

If you are looking for a chocolate muffin recipe, this is IT! I found it on Pinterest from Ambitious Kitchen. They are called, “Healthy Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins.”

But they don’t taste healthy! And why not start the day with a little chocolate for breakfast! They are fabulous with a cup of coffee. ☕️

Have an extra sweet day!

Cheers! 😃

Progress Not Perfection

I have made progress on my Priest Lake Sampler painting that I showed you last week.

This is where I left off last Wednesday:

First, I stenciled one of the squares with this pattern:

But I didn’t like it…

So I repainted these two squares (and the sun) in Naples yellow to give it some warmth:

I stenciled the backgrounds and stenciled a tree in one square:

Can you see how the copper paint gives it a little sparkle?!

In the other square I stenciled similar colors with a different pattern. I am liking these colors much better.

I added a deer and a bear in my own printed papers to finish these two squares:

I cut out several different collage papers of deer and bear but went with my original choice in the end! Trying to remember progress not perfection!

Sometimes I think too much and drive myself crazy…

How do you get past perfection in your creative practice? I hope you will share your wisdom with me!

Cheers! 😃

A Priest Lake Sampler

I am finally starting this “sampler” painting…

Yesterday, I stenciled the birch trees. This is the end result for this section:

I am painting in acrylic and gouache. I want to add collage too. And maybe color pencils.

Each colored section will have a stenciled image that reminds me of Priest Lake, Idaho.

The idea has been percolating in my brain for about 6 months. I like the idea of creating a sampler of different images that remind me of the lake. Kind of like a quilt sampler.

I have started over on it several times… here is my humble beginning:

I haven’t done a lot of stenciling except with the Gelli Plate. It is fun to try something new…

The birch stencil has 2 parts. I purchased it from Stencil Girl online. They have an amazing selection of stencils!!

Below is the first part of the stencil. I used white and gray paint:

It covers up my background but I’m Ok with it.

And the second part overlays the first stencil, I painted it in black:

I’m not sure it is done but I am ready to move on to another square!

I look forward to showing you my progress as it unfolds…

It is a large painting (for me), 24 x 24 inches on gesso board.

Have you ever created a large painting or project? I’d like to hear about it!

Happy Wednesday!

Cheers! 😃

Happy New Year!

I hope 2023 will be a good year for us all!

I’d like to start your first Wednesday of the new year with a smile 😃

May this weird bird inspire YOU to be your BEST!

Happy Weird Bird 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!

Squeeze The Day!

I saw some cute paper napkins with lemons at the grocery store yesterday…

It was my inspiration for today’s weird bird:

Squeeze the day!

Something silly to brighten your day!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 😃