Artwork in Progress

Here is a photo collage of my work in progress, if you want to see the details just click to enlarge image.Below are images that I will explain where I am at with this mixed media acrylic painting.

This image is showing the detail of the papers mixed in for layers and texture of the hair below shows hair prior to layering of papers.

From this point I felt my  painting needing spaces filled with textures. You can see in the image below that I have layered more papers onto the canvas.

Here is where I am working with charcoal  pencil to the background over layers of paint and papers.

I am being brave and showing you this. Here I am unhappy with the eye, but working on the background.

First adding elements of paint that is very wet and dripping I go on to morph it some more with inks and changing  the eye and other aspects of the painting. The third image in the photo collage at the top of the post shows you part of the end results. I will post more for you to see later. Honestly I don't know that I am in love with this painting but I can tell you there were many times I almost stopped, just not knowing where to go but then I would just say to myself. OK, what is the worst thing that could happen? You just paint over the whole canvas. So push on and experiment!

I must say I had to grab Sammie as my model for the side view of the eye and nose. Try getting an 8yr old to sit still while her friends are waiting online for her to take a turn in a magical land of games that she loves to create creatures and play in! It was short lived but helped.

I almost was going to post what some of my day looks like with photos, but I have to organize, re-size and upload so maybe in a week or so.

Do you ever find yourself just not in love with something you made? Do you keep pushing on?

Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties. ~ Gail Sheehy

Angel "She Gave Me Her Wings"

Hello friends and new followers! I thought I would share the angel acrylic painting that was inspired from my journal page.

 I created this angel's piece in the purple and rose color palette. On the bottom of the acrylic canvas I wrote "her voice was in my heart, she gave me wings."

 Sorry about the color on this one taken for close up and exposure isn't the best

If you look closely at the top *first angel photo you can see there is mixed media papers are all across the top of the canvas of this angel acrylic painting. Also the right angels wing in painted on paper that is glued to the canvas. On this image you can see where the paper was laid on the canvas and I placed her wing on the purple angel.

Today without loading my image to COLOURlovers  I tried to match the acrylic painting palette. I thought I might like to make some designs for fabric from the angel color palette. I will post what I come up with later. I did make one design with the three lightest colors but want to make a few with all the colors combined.

If you missed my free journal page post "She gave me wings" it is right here and you can learn the inspiration behind this angel painting. I will post the angel images in full size on my Flickr page so if you want to take a better look at the full size image hop on over when you are done, but they won't be up until later today.You'll be able to see more of the details of the angels and their wings there.

Please don't forget to post on what day you would enjoy the journal prompt if I change it. Poll is on the side bar. I am trying to figure out a better schedule as life is getting busier while I am on this journey. Sammie has a science fair, talent show and book report where I have to help her make a puppet. here is also wedding stuff going on (my oldest is getting married!), some baby showers, Easter, then the wedding! Yes, that time of year. Not to mention new things right around the corner! More to come about that later. PS.  I think the puppet part will be fun, but she wants to do life science and hatch brine shrimp. Hm-mm....That one is for hubby. I love science but not that project! lol

I must admit have been painting but, not enjoying the results. I will try and be brave and share them any way later on. Hopefully I can get creative with my acrylic painting and create something I like and don't struggle with! But when you are pushing ideas that frustration can be common right?  I hope you are finding the time to get creative! What projects are you working on right now? I would love to know~

When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings nor fell the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts. Author Unknown

Journal Prompt- Spring Into Action

This week I created a journal page that has a creative action plan. Spring is the perfect time to step into action and what better way than to list things you want to accomplish on your journal page. At first I had a lovely die cut paper that had lines on half the page.

If you look close you can see the cuts in the paper. I ended up painting flowers right over everything. The lines just bored me in the moment and I thought color was more important. Like a flower in spring this year I want to continue to bloom creatively. And the butterfly represents me ready to fly.

I haven't used a lot of pens lately but took out a fine tip non bleeding pen and wrote around the petals giving them definition from the rest of the page. Then to make it pop a bit more I added the white around the outside edges here and there.

I created leaves with the pen here and there and lines with hearts in a pattern running down from the top of the page to the bottom.

 The die cut paper under the paint add a lot of visual texture. I also used tissue paper here and there.

I am considering changing my free journal post day to during the week. I am interested in feed back. So I put a poll on the side bar. Do let me know what you think about that. If you want me to keep it on Sundays just tell me in the comments section.  It is gloomy, windy and rainy here right now and if you are experiencing this pre-spring weather I hope these colors brighten your day! I hope you find time to create your journal page~ 

Two questions: If I create a group to share your pages from using my journal prompts would you post your pages there? *free group
It would be great if you did poll or indicate keeping journal posts on Sundays!


Journal Prompt: Spring Into Action - create an action plan in a creative way! 

Quotes: He who has begun is half done. Horace

You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great."~ Les Brown

Food For Thought: Small Chestnut Pocket Journal with handmade paper 

Green Photography

Since it is St. Patrick's Day I thought I would do a post of some of my green photography. And also share some photography from  Ireland. What a lovely day to be seeing green all around in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Each of these photographs are different shades of green. What is not to love about the color green? Did you know that the color green has a great healing power and symbolizes growth, harmony and freshness among other things. I hope you enjoy all the green~

 Now on to seeing green from Ireland....

Source: None via Lena on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: farm3.static.flickr.com  on Pinterest

Source: find.myrecipes.com on Pinterest

I wish I could have you over for some tea or some of my family's favorite Irish coffee. But, since I can't I will leave you with a Irish blessing; May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone and brightest blessings! I have always wanted to travel to Ireland. What about you? What is your favorite shade of green?

*more artwork posting soon!

Art Goodness and Color Inspiration

Hello friends I hope your week is off to a good start! Mine sure was as I have just received a package with goodies from winning a drawing on Tara Leaver's blog Aquamarine. She is also a mixed media artist. I was so thankful when I received it as she popped in extra goodies knowing I created art. She added some art papers, a handmade sachet, lace, doilies, a ceramic heart, a mini circus tent painting and a package of her art cards! How sweet is that?! Take a peek at some of the things Tara has created. The first two included in my package.

Tara's art cards

The Sweetest Tiny-est Painting

Some of Tara's art for sale in a shop in England

Seven for sale in Tara's Etsy Shop

So if you would like to find some of Tara's lovely artwork  or cards for yourself just visit her Etsy shop, it is lovely!

And here onto Tuesdays color inspiration. Want to get creating in lovely palettes of color which I have named "Lilac Love"? I thought it matches parts of Tara's painting Seven quite well  and as another example of stretching this color palette. I had previously  pulled it together this pallet from this creative commons photography image by D.Sharon Pruitt seen below. 

Image by Pink Sherbet Photography

D Sharon Pruitt

 

Did I ever tell you that purples are some of my favorite colors? What are your favorite colors? 

Free Journal Prompt "She Gave Me Wings"

Hello friends, journalers and anyone visiting for the first time. This is a journal page that I created using images of faces that I had already drawn in separate drawings. I photo copied, cut them out and then pasted them on the page with matte medium. Once glued down I painted and used stamps, charcoal pencil to outline and also add lines for hair, wings and words. My words were inspired from thinking of my mom. March 8 it would of been her birthday she passed away four years ago this summer. It is hard for me to think of it still but I feel close to her when working on my art. Her loss is what really spurred me on to making big changes in my life, it took over a year to take the leap to make big changes. There was a lot of reflection of what was currently going on in my life at the time and growing unhappiness with my career at the time. I can always hear my mom saying you can do what ever you set out to do. You have talents and I would love to see you be able to use your talents! Well unfortunately she will never be able to see what changes I have made here, unless she is looking down on me and I hope she is!

This page is created from the words she put in my heart and how she gave me wings. So written on my journal page is, "She gave me wings her voice was in my heart." I will always feel her in my heart and remember her voice of wisdom. I am happy to say that I have also made a new painting inspired from this journal page. I can't wait to share it with you. But until then I hope you challenge yourself to make a journal page of your own and if you are having a road block it is great to take something you have already made, copy it and change it up to suit your thoughts in the moment. It may be just what you need to break free and evolve your page into something else!
Who has influenced your art journey?


Journal Prompt: Take an image you already have created and transform its purpose. Write something inspired from your page onto your page. Or create a background and add t an angel quote to your page.

Quote: Angels lend us their wings so we can find our way home.~ Author Unknown

Food For Thought: Readings; Sacred Voices  and Soul Sisters

Illustration Love

Spring Illustration Love

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Theresa on Pinterest

I am in love with this Vogue cover that had been illustrated from 1935.

Nancy

Nancy is an illustrator who thrives off of the love of fashion. She shares the fashion images she draws from.

Holli  

I just love Holli's illustrations she is inspired by and draws children. 

These are just a few spring illustrations inspiring me tonight. I will have a  new journal prompt post on Sunday for you. Its been a bit of a week for me, migraines have been kicking up.... today is the first day all week where I don't have to deal with my head heavy so I let Sammie have a friend over night. Since they are entertaining each other I thought I would share what I found. Now back to some reading. How do you spend your quiet evenings? Who are some of your favorite illustrators?