Video " Painting In My Journal" All That Jazz

I posted this on You Tube, but if you don't subscribe to my channel you probably missed it. I just edited this journal video last week. You can see me painting "All That Jazz". It has lots of layers. If you would like to see the original post its right here with more details. I hope you enjoy the video.

I will be back next week with some photography from the botanical gardens in San Luis Obispo, CA. The flora looks so much different in winter, but there are things starting to blossom. You are sure to enjoy them if you like nature!

Here is a snap shot of the original completed. I tried to add it here for you to see, but Blogger hates me and won't let me add it! That is why I will be moving off this platform soon!  Until next time, or visit me at DearCreatives.com too! I have a weekly link up you can join in! Love to have you there too! All my best, xo

Wednesday ReMix Deer Painting & Fabriano Papers & A Giveaway

Mid week check in! Hope this finds you doing well. After many days of cold gloomy weather & a bit of rain the sun has popped out! Ya! I always love painting in the bright of natural light and I have some things  I sketched out to work on. Today I thought I would share my deer girl reworked. And don't forget to enter the giveaway before you go today! xo

 This one with my phone at night was better than my camera, go figure!

Yes, practice makes perfect even if she is not! The thing is, nothing has to be perfect.When it comes to finding my own voice with my art, characters it is just that. I have stepped back from taking classes a bit and am really trying to stretch me, organically. Ha! Well, that and the budget right now isn't for taking some. Although I have been tempted by a few. I am going to the library with Sammie soon. I am going to check out some books that I have been wanting to see and practice some illustration. (hope they have the one I am looking for as our library is so small, I miss the city library!! I digress)

{comparison new on the left}

{taken at night sorry about lighting}

So here is how the story really goes....I did really like my girl without her background, but what really spawned me reworking her was a request. I got an email from my daughter who lives in NYC she said,  I really love your deer girl and she reminds me so much of .......So to recreate one that I thought would be just to her liking or hopefully so! This girl has a little more pencil work, watercolor pencils that was washed over parts, lots of color pencil and a touch of acrylics. I created this one on some {Fabriano paper} the feel and touch of it is Amazing! If you use it be sure not to overwork any areas. (Not a mixed media paper, but can take paints, pencils, it has a thickness and depth to it * also don't dig to deep with sharp drawing pencils, not meant for being heavy handed)

her colors are lime green, bright pink, hair red brown

I am going to share what I used and some alternate options in case you are interested in trying this {juicy}
paper! This is truly affordable quality without spending a lot of money.

{heavenly}

 

This is what I used for my painting. Fabriano Studio Watercolor Paper Fabriano Rosapina White, with a name like that, heavenly! Say no more.

 
Fabriano Italian Watercolor Paper Value Pack

All I can say is love, love love! 

For all you journalers I just found they also make a journal! This is next on my list when I complete my new one!

Fabriano Artist’s Journal

 

 
Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencil Sets

I am also wanting to try these pastel pencils! Who knew? I am intrigued as I am loving pastels lately although I didn't use any in these smaller paintings. Have you used these? More about pencils later! Now, I don't have sketches of what is next as I am charging my camera battery today. I hadn't charged it in a month, woops! But, I promise to have more tid bits soon!

Oh, if you made it to here a little treat enter my giveaway from my other site DearCreatives.com for Sibu Beauty's Organic Facial Cleanser it truly is Amazing! I got to try it. I will be having another more artsy giveaway in February so stay tuned!! I hope you enter I'd love for you to have the chance. If you want to see more about the products visit my site or Sibu Beauty!

Winter Musings & No Sew Tutorial

I have some photos of a lovely winters walk. With the lack of rain the leaves still are on some of the vines in all their glory and color, a few winter's musings and where you can grab my tutorial. 

 

Beautiful Healdsburg, CA.

On another day we took a walk with Audrey to the park. I showed her a raised garden bed they had and we talked about plants, she smelled herbs and discovered nature.These moments captured are precious.

Speaking of precious meet my new little grandson. Sometimes it is hard to believe I have kids old enough to have kids. I am so lucky to be young enough to enjoy this and old enough to appreciate it even more.

 Jade is all ears for Sammie to come home from school and she patiently waits until she is done with her homework to play. Our kitty is growing into a cat, but still is very playful. 

I do have some new drawings and such to share later this week. I need to charge the camera and have proper daylight to snap the photos, edit and then I'll be ready to share. I made a tutorial for Pin cushion-sewing kit it is a no sew tutorial and I used wide mouth mason jars on DearCreatives today if your interested hop over, take a peek and bookmark it for when your ready to make your own. Hope you are having a great start to your week! xo

Journal Page & New Beginnings

Hello again, I pulled out the water color pencils & pastels & fine tip felt pen to create this journal page. Magical beginnings happen when you grow them from the heart. I went into this page with no ideas & expectations, just a quick page to refresh my rusty self. I remembered a flower design I had drawn years ago for a stained glass window I created. I wonder what happened to it over the years? The moves & changes life gives you. Oh, well....

Then I started to write some of my feelings down. I put five things I would like to focus on, not necessarily resolutions. I try to give myself goals monthly. There is plenty of pressure without having to have a resolution for an entire year. Not to mention if things change we need to be able to adjust. Right? I am all about being flexible & in the moment, probably why a year long commitment at this point doesn't feel right for me. I have had plenty of long commitments personal & work.

I have started to draw again. I wanted to nurture something new that would help me in my paintings. I can't wait to share with you even if I am hiding under a mushroom due to my lack of drawing skills. Sharing from a place of where I start & where I go along with my journal pages, paintings & photography this year. I want to re-start my daily journaling, painting.....

I created a digital, super quick too. I have to go clean my art & craft room so I can get working again on a daily basis,but I had wanted you to know I didn't go any where. I am here, just filled with lots to do. I am adding things to my shop, planning & also working hard on my other site for creativity & crafts.If you are interested in a great list of top ten photography tips & tutorials and where to get them from you can visit DearCreatives.com,

 Here is the digital I made.

This is a new year, with new opportunities & unexplored creativity waiting to be nurtured. Envisioning my dreams onto canvas & bringing it to reality is filling my soul; Creating from the place of my heart.~ Theresa Huse 2012

What magical beginnings are you starting this year?

Technology vs Artist

I created this journal page Technology vs artist to represent me the artist vs me when dealing with technology.
Down the road I may do a few blog posts that may help you when you decide to create a website and also share some more resources.( If you have any questions before then just ask in comments. )

I started DearCreatives.com a website for Creativity, Crafts & Inspired Living. I created the site with the intention of then building a portfolio web site & linking it over along with this blog after experiencing the blogger crash. I also did this to gain experience on how to create a website, allow me the freedom to share other types of creativity and shops... I enjoy.

I didn't know if you wanted to read about all that in between my art postings. I also wanted to run a business focused site with shopping. It is now nearing completion and hope to share the news when it is live. This is part of why I have been gone these past few weeks.

(I have a link up every Friday and if you are creative and have something you would like to link up feel free to It is open Fri-Thurs mid day weekely.)
If you stop by DearCreatives.com , please do leave me a comment so I can thank you and visit when I get the chance.
I am thinking of making a few changes here after the beginning of the new year. It seems funny to even talk about time, that far out. I will try my best to be more consistent with posting. Next week Sammie has all short days and I am hoping to create some art with her along side me. I can't wait to share more of what I love doing! Until next time, stay creative and have a great weekend!!

What projects have you been working on?

All That Jazz

Friday! Paint Party Time and I didn't think I'd make it, but a short post to link up with a group of fellow creatives! Come check it out if you like the link is in the resources page.

 Click Image to see large

This has been a week of all that jazz! Music and art can be so interwoven. Especially in my house. At my house we all have our corners of creativity surrounding music and art. So while the Mr. is off playing music I got my own jazz going on! If you know me I love music, but can't carry a tune!

So I put one on paper! 

Happy Paint Party Friday & All that jazz~ 

This was created with pencil sketch first, paint, more paint, watercolor pencil, colored pencil, pencil and a touch pastels. I went back & surrounded the silver writing on the dotted journal page with black to make it pop! 

And a cool rendition Jazz metal of Adele singing Rolling In The Deep! Enjoy

"Everybody came. Everybody came to the Cotton Club."  Cab Callaway

"What we play is life." Louis Armstrong

Whose jazz art or music has influenced you?

Part 2 Art Journaling Video

Hi there, thanks for stopping in! I thought I would post the Part 2 art journaling video of me painting "Spring" in the Season's Series. I am also going to post "Summer. " You can see more "Summer" sketched out in post prior to this post if you would like to see more. I hope you enjoy the video. I tried to share some in sites to the details of when I was painting or penciling.

If you have any questions just ask in the comment section and I will answer.

Set 2 of photos of "Summer" 

 

Click on image to enlarge

To see the finished full size visit my Flickr page

I'll be linking up with Paint Party Friday! Feel free to join a lovely group of people the link is in my resources page. I hope to take Sammie to the pumpkin patch this weekend, to wonder and choose a pumpkin or two.Then do a little visiting of everyone's blogs in the early morning or evening. Be sure and leave a comment so I can stop by. Let me know if you follow me and I will follow you back too!

Summer of Love

In the laziness of a summer day I sat on the grass and pondered my true loves caress, to whether he holds me in his heart or not. He loves me, he loves me not. I hope his love does not fade with the seasons end.  Theresa Huse 2011 

Are you finding the time to sit down and create art, craft or do something creative? 

What is your favorite medium right now?

Journal Pages Work In Progress

Hello, I thought I would share some work in progress photographs of the journal page "Summer" in the Seasons Series. I have been doing.

This is the sketch from which I began the process of the Summer page. Thinking back to how we would make those daisy chains & pluck flowers saying, "he loves me, he loves me not."

 

Click on image to enlarge

1. I sketched out the idea. 

2. I have added dark blue for the shadows.

3. I have added yellow for some of the highlights & mid tones.

I usually try different techniques with acrylics in my pages. This allows me to see what I can do if I was to take it to canvas or another medium. I am taking a few more wip photographs to share with you. So be sure & visit to see how it morphs! I also hope to get to editing the part 2 video of how I created the spring page to share with you soon, but didn't want to keep you waiting on a post. If you want to see part 1video you can visit here.

I really enjoyed finding this journal page. By Elizabeth M. who creates pages in a different style. I just bought a few pens and would love to get some tapes to create a few pages like this. I created this pattern at ColourLovers from the colors on Elizabeth's page.

The link goes to the pattern and palette.

Now I have to get settled back in from being away for 5 days so I can get to editing, thinking of what new to be painting and start the process, along with some new journal pages. I will also share with you soon the "Seasons Series" all together. So much to do and always something needing attention. 

What are your biggest challenges that keep you from creating new pages in your journal?

Creativity & Growth In Creativity

Hi Everybody! I Came across this video today and thought I have to share it. It speaks to creativity and the learning curves we go through. I hope you watch it!  I posted my completed "Winter" season journal page earlier today & full post with photo collage of progress and other things if you would like to see it click here when you are done with the video. But here is just one photograph in case you don't have time.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Ira does say years, Years, YEARS!  Do a volume of work, huge amounts of work! So go create something! Fight your way through! Thanks for those words of wisdom and encouragement Ira Glass!

I can so relate to this, sometimes struggling, sometimes hard on myself, aching to grow creatively to produce quality work. I am going to fight my way through! Now going to create! Sketch, Draw, Paint and repeat! Paint, photograph, Paint, Photograph repeat!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead! Linking up with Paint Party Friday come check it out if you like!  Leave a comment so I can visit you back! Follow along if you like! But, be sure and be creative!

How do you work through your creative obstacles?

Journal Page "Winter" from Seasons Series

How this week is flying by! I hope this is finding you well.I did a photo collage & another shot of my "Winter" page completed.

 Winter from the journal page series "Seasons"

She is my favorite so far, I just finished spring & am going to be *editing video of painting that journal page.  Kelly asked, "winter already?" But, no! I want fall as long as possible. I am only doing a series of girls for the seasons then back to journaling & painting other things. I am sure those things may have some fall inspiration, as it is my favorite season!

When I get a chance I will upload a larger version so you can look close up at the detailing. It will be posted to my Flickr account. Link is on the side bar to follow along if you like.

On another note:
Part of why I haven't been around I just had gotten back up hard drive & hadn't finished moving files..... when I lost a majority of my files to a computer hiccup! Two years of photography & art! Can you see me crying!? Any how, the Mr. found a program & reset the computer a few days prior to that to recover images. But things seem to still be missing! I am devastated, but still hoping to recover more!
Photography Storage Tips: 
Never keep your work just on one hard drive! Always back up! & if you use Flickr or some other hosting site add in your edited work as soon as you are done & hold private until needed! Take my advice & don't chance losing your work!

Tomorrow I have an award ceremony at Sammie's school & I will probably add this post to Paint Party Friday, but I might not be able to visit until the weekend. Just let me know you dropped by and I will return the visit! If you want to link up something you made with PPF just look in the resources page and then go pop it in their linky on Friday morning! There is lots of creativity going on with PPF! PS I have some new art quilt blocks to share soon too! 

What have you been painting, journaling or working on lately? 

Do you have a photography storage tip to share? (obviously I could use more!)

Beginnings of Winter Journal Page

I took out my journal and was thinking of how I just made my Autumn girl * (you can see her in the previous post if you missed her) and how maybe I should do a girl for each of the seasons. And so the story begins.

I knew I wanted winter to be a girl who was pale like snow, with jet black hair and ruby red lips.

I had this wonderful scrapbook paper that had deer, birds, trees and snow. I added it to give the page interest and dimension. I wrapped it around my girl like winter wraps snow around nature in winter.

I wanted the sky to be blue with snow and maybe have the appearance of rain falling. This was the beginning concepts for my winter pages.

I love how sometimes things just flow better when you sit down on a different days and on different weeks. I can't wait to share with you the finished pages. Here she is with a few layers and sorry the image was taken at night so its not the clearest, but when I post the pages done I will take the photographs in day light.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead! We've been having our typical late CA. summer, which as me indoors under a fan and trying to paint more! If you like to visit other artists and see what they created this week this post is linked up with Paint Party Friday and the link is in resources. See you soon!

Did you get any creative projects done this past week? What is your favorite season? 

Autumn Journal Page

Hello friends & creatives! I am getting back into a little bit of a routine here and trying to paint a bit more. I created this page first by just sketching the outline of the face. I meant to take some work in progress photos but didn't. I will have some on the next journal page, but I did take a few different shots of this one to share with you.

There are many things about Autumn I love. The late afternoon breeze bringing the fog in, the leaves blowing, the changing colors and the clouds in the sky.

 

I layered pressed dried leaves and dictionary pages around my pages

I made sure to give lots of detailing to her face and lips. Some bold, some subtle

Wonky camera angle but wanted to show a face close up

I wanted my page to have the feel of Autumn winds blowing and  beautiful colors ~

Sorry I have not been on a regular posting routine. I could explain all the details but don't want to bore you. I will have more journal art and more to share with you soon. I hope you are enjoying the beginnings of Autumn.

What is your favorite part of Autumn? What have you been working on journals, art, photography? Let me know, I'd love to see! 

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. George Elliot

Journal Pages

Hello fellow creatives. I am trying to journal again daily, as I have been doing other things and hadn't made that a priority lately. What a difference it has made almost like taking steps backwards. I pushed through this page and yesterdays feeling pretty frustrated. I must of done her face about five times.

This evening I worked on some pages that I think were feeling less forced and more at ease for me mentally if that makes sense. I guess what I am trying to say is it flowed better and  the results ended up much better too. I'll be sharing those pages later.

Although she has a party hat on she isn't altogether a happy gal. I wouldn't be either if I had to get made over five times!  lol Oh, well it has been one of those weeks I am glad it is almost over and ready for the weekend! So I am making a wish for a good weekend and better week ahead! And am wishing you the same! Happy Paint Party Friday!

If you want to visit other creative folks drawing, painting and creating just visit the link for Paint Party Friday in the resource page here and join in with everyone if you like.

Morphing My Journal Page

Days seem to be flying by. I don't know where time is going. Do you ever feel that way? I been re evaluating my time and where it is spent. I created a journal page that took the complexity and detours from my daily life and let it out on the page. Big "me" topics are time management, focus & simplifying.  I actually used chalk board paint and chalk ink for this journal page. My journal page morphed several times.

But, then like my daily mindset and routine right now it felt so complicated. I want to simplify, focus, change to make things more productive. And of course compare less! How many times a day do you come across some great artwork, artist, illustrator and just think wow and then you feel like your work is not good enough?

I have been all over the place in my work and thoughts. Focusing on other things yet in my heart I know I want to reshape things to be more clear for myself. Which in of itself can be complicated! Almost like a puzzle.

Sometimes the page can handle the complexity of life more than you can. Let it feel your frustration, pain and take you away from it when you let go.

But the reality of life is you need Focus! 

 

And that is up to ones self 

  Full Journal Page Completed

In life it seems so easy to over complicate, carry burdens and feel mixed up about what direction to go in artisically. For me, right now I know I need to simplify, focus and there is no perfect time like now! Maybe you have heard it before from me or even said it to yourself and even attempted to simplify and focus. I don't know about you, but for me it sure isn't coming easy!

So today I am sharing my unedited, morphed many times page with you as I still look for these things within and for myself. I don't know that I am happy with the outcome of this page, but I do know I feel so much better after creating it. 

Do you ever feel like you need more focus? What is one way that you create more focus or simplicity in your life or for your art?

Artist Quotes:

"The further I go, the sorrier I am about how little I know: It is this that bothers me the most," Claude Monet

"It may be that the deep necessity of art is the examination of self- deception." Robert Motherwell

"Artistic temperament sometimes seems a battleground, a dark angel of destruction, and a bright angel of creativity wrestling." Madeleine L Engle