Journal Girl......

Okay - by popular request I am sharing my "Journal Girl" here with you today! *smile*

I am on a mission to be happy with FACES so I have been practicing different ways of doing them.  I started a "faces journal" in a Dylusions Creative Journal to keep my try-sees (sp?) all in one place.  I love it!!  This is where I did this figure.

The girl's face was completely shaded to get the look she has.  There were no sketch lines , no nothing ...  I used a picture of a girl I liked and used it as a guide to where the shading should go and...   this is what I got.  NOW...   I HAVE TO PRACTICE MORE!!   cause I don't think I would be able to do this again with any more ease.   It's a process - one that I am enjoying!

For those who are interested.  The background is watercolour.  The girl was silhouetted with Gesso and then shaded in with Prisma Premier Pencils and blended with solvent and a paper stomp.  The foreground was some Dylusions ink sprays (Turquoise)  though a Donna Downey Poppies & Peonies Stencil (Mix 6) and an old Plastic Alpha Stencil - Yummy

I did this during our last ART JOURNAL DAY here in the studio.  There is another journal day THIS THURSDAY...  if you are interested in coming, contact me in the studio and I will save you a space.  Love to create with you.  Its a studio fee only ($2/hour) come and play with us.  Maybe even do a face!  *giggle*

Have a creative day!

InLinkz.com

Art Journaling in the Studio

 I love my Art Journal...  but then again, you all know that *wink*
Here's a page I did tonight (Wed) using some vintage images I got from a book highlighting the decade between 1910 - 1920.  Love these ladies taking photos in the park.

Art Journaling reads (yes, all that handwriting is mine)
We have a need to capture moments in our lives, the people we love and the places we hold most dear.  Technology may change but the result is the same - photos say we've been here.


Product used to create this spread:

InLinkz.com

"The Whatevers" - Ustream Follow Up

Hello all!!  Thanks for joining me again for another great Friday Night at the Studio!!

Last night I worked in my journal trying a new background technique inspired by a link that one of you sent me by an artist named De Gallet AND I worked with the first "Whatevers" photo.

What's "Whatevers"?  Here's the video introduction for you to enjoy (posted on Nat's Blog)

Here is how it works if you want to play along:

• Nat, Cat and Vicki have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
• Every month – if possible always on the 15th – each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
• If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you - just right click on it to safe it to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
• There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
• There is no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
• There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an art journal page – WHATEVER
• Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to usandshow us your story.
• These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
• If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
• You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

Here's this month's photo

And Here's what I created LIVE on USTREAM

And the story reads:

Are you kidding me? Another photo? I hope Great Aunt Jean appreciates this.

It's 30 degrees inside the studio and, if that weren't bad enough, I have to sit shoulder to shoulder with my little brother William who, despite wearing his good clothes, smells like he just came from mucking the barn. He probably did.

Just one more picture.

One more picture and then I can move. I feel like my fingers have completely atrophied. What I wouldn't give to be able to straighten them out and wiggle the digits and take this hideous bow off my head. It's so heavy but I dare not touch it because mom is standing off in the wings watching me like a hawk. Images flash through my mind from earlier today as she brushed my hair for this “special” occasion. I kept telling her my hair wasn't long enough to be pulled back like this but no matter how much I protested she insisted and dragged the brush hard through my scalp so that all the little fly away hairs would be trapped in this ridiculous looking satin bow. It's pulled back so tight I know that's what giving me this headache. I quickly glance over at her and she's sending me the most awful disapproving look. It's like she knows what I'm thinking. Darn.

Just one more picture

Hurry up already. I hear a faint sigh of exasperation from William. Good. 'At least I'm not alone in the suffering' I muse as I sense him gripping the end of the bench we are sitting on silently pleading the photographer to take that last picture.

Then there it is. The blinding flash of light from the camera bulb signifying the photo was taken. “Okay, that should do it.” says the photographer. Finally! I turn my head and look at my mom for final approval which thankfully she gives. Sweet relief! I can move. Now, will she help me get this thing off my head?

Here's the recording of last night's broadcast

Video streaming by Ustream

Art Journaling .......

So Christy -- Do you recognize the people?  They are from the Napkin set we split last time you were in Ontario.

Napkin?  Yes, napkin!!  The couple is an image from a napkin that I adhered to my painted page with gel medium.  Love it!   Paper is paper -- it's all good.   TRY IT!!  You'll never look at a napkin the same way again.   Here's the original:

Have a creative day!

Art Journaling and the Canadian Scrapbooker

Did you see this on the Canadian Scrapbooker Blog today?
Love my art Journal.

My article in the summer issue of the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine steps out how you can create your own Art Journal.  ....something that I LOVE!!

As many of you know, I like to provide a video that corresponds with my article in the magazine -- so here is this issue's video - How to Create a Signature and Sew a 3 Hole Binding.
The Magazine shows 4 different books -- all the covers are created in different ways -- BUT ..  here is another one:  Using a child's artwork!  I hope you enjoy the video and try making some books on your own.  Let me know if you do -- I'd love to see!



The next video showcases how I created stamped journal covers seen in the magazine. We did this on USTREAM last Friday night. I broadcast live from the studio most Friday nights so I hope you join us one day soon!




 Have a creative day!

Oh, Eleanor.....

I love Eleanor Roosevelt. I think she was not only a strong woman but an inspiration. So many of the inspirational quotes we commonly hear today were said by her. Her strength, her optimism, her outlook on life fascinates me.

Here is the journal page I created on Wednesday night with the Art Journaling gals.

It was inspired by Donna Downey's Inspiration Wedensday this week and one of Eleanor's less famous but fabulous quotes.

Now, I HATE my pen work here. But, I thought I'd share anyway. this would be so much nicer if the pen work was done in a finer pen but, oh well.... live, learn and embrace the "flopportunity" hehehehe

The Eleanor paper doll is from a Paper Poll book published in 1990 that I found in a re-store -- I cherish that paper doll book!!! hehehe... you never know what you'll find!

Hope you have a creative day AND if you'd like to join us for Art Journaling night.. let me know. It's the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Love to see you there!!

NEW Stamp Heaven!!

Last night was Art Journal Night -- there were just a few of us creating but BOY, did we have fun!

We got out the Pan Pastels and broke open some of Christy Tomlinson's new SheArt Stamps with Unity.. Love love love!!! And so do you apparently ... I already have to re-order some! *wink* The samples here are in various stages of completion. Thanks for letting me take photos, ladies!

I just wanted to make special mention of something we all loved....

Leanne created a page using a reverse inked mask (new from Prima) and the SheArt stamp... Wanting to keep her in "shades", we love how she shaded the girl stamp with black Pan Pastel. So stunning... don't you think?
Can't wait to see it when she's done!!

Hope you have a creative day!

AND DON'T FORGET.....

Drop on by the studio this Saturday for a little customer appreciation day. I'll have bevies and snacks, some specials and some door prizes too.

xoxo

Art Journaling Night

I had a wonderful evening with the "kid" and the girls creating in our Art Journals last night. I decided that I was going to work in a new book. New Year (well almost...) - New Book *smile*

So, out came the paints and the Crafter's Workshop Stencils and I set to work:

Tulips have always made me happy...

It's true - Tulips and Poppies. Not sure why ... but I've always loved them

Hope you like the page!

Have a creative day!

Mona, Mona, Mona .. how festive you look!

I had a WONDERFUL evening last night with the "journaling girls"!

We had so much fun playing with gelatos and watercolours and paints and inks.... well.... lets just say - WE HAD FUN CREATING!

I did step outside my journal for a bit last night and created this "tag - sized" Christmas Mona Lisa. You like? It's layers of paints and ink with a little bit of Perfect Pearl Mist. I LOVE IT! The Mona stamp is one of the La Blanche collage stamps. I used green painters tape to mask off the areas of the stamp I did't want to use. Love doing that! And the Christmas Tree on her head? That was one of Leanne's great ideas..... I made a triangle stencil and stamped snowflakes in it, removed the stencil and stamped outside the edges to make it look a little less perfectly triangled. How'd I do? *smile*

Hope you're having a creative day!

Be sure to pop by tomorrow -- I have a special post to share!

PanPastel and Graphic 45 Goodness!

Okay -- today was the day! I can now say that my PanPastel virginity is GONE and oh my - what have I been waiting for? *smile* Lots of Pigmenty goodness! So smooth, so lush... I heart PanPastel!! You should have heard me squeal with delight! *hehe*

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way they blend!! AND -- Check out how Fabulous three of the colours go with the NEW MAGIC OF OZ paper line from Graphic 45

Gotta love my new Journal Page :) hehe

So - what did we learn from this today (other than Karen has completely lost it! hehe) PanPastels ROCK, and the New Graphic 45 is IN and, well, it's Fabulous!

Have a creative day everyone!

BUT -- before I go -- Just had to show you that Ms. Bonnie loved it too (and so did Deanna and Judy who also made a Magic of Oz journal page - not shown here)

I Love Art Journaling!

Thank you girls for a lovely night "arting" at the studio!

As you know, last night was Art Journaling Night and this month our inspirational artist was Dina Wakely. Did you check out that video montage? :)

Anyway, Deanna gave the girls a little tutorial on how she uses Dina's process in her art journaling and then we were "set loose" to create in our own books. Here's how she does it-

First paint your page with gesso

then use some edging tools to create lines and texture in the wet gesso. Here she is using a comb
and here she is using a metal stylus tool (I have those here and use them for my metal art - yay, I like multi functional tools! *smile*)
Let it dry (or dry with a heat tool)

and then wash paint over it. you can use a contrasting colour over the original paint layer to get in the cracks of the etched gesso (but make sure the first layer is dry first)

Then play play play. Layer with paints, colour washes and spritzes. Here is one of Deanna's backgrounds. See the texture? Very cool

I was "on a roll" LOVING my New Colour Wash Sprays that arrived in the studio this week. You know me and texture and layers! I think I have next month's Technique of the Month Gals....cause I'll be doing this A LOT!! hehe)

The leaves on this one are done using light molding paste. The colour wash seeped through it -- I LOVE IT!!!! Such a happy finding!!
Can you see the gesso etchings?? There are lines in this one and all about the circles in the one above.
This one is super cool too!

Thanks Deanna!!!! ....And Dina Wakely for the inspiration. Now, what to journal about?!

Have a creative day everyone!!

Art Journaling..... Life IS Good!

Last night was our first ART JOURNALING group "meeting". And what a wonderful evening it was! Thank you to everyone who came. I thoroughly enjoyed creating with you all!

On the 3rd Wednesday of the Month we will be meeting, sharing ideas, thoughts, techniques, and working in our art journals. Each month we will highlight the Art Journaling styles of a different artist and, someone from our group will show us their favourite techniques and pages -- then challenge us all to be inspired by that technique. How fun.

This month - the fabulously funky Teesha Moore. Teesha loves to collage in her journals using magazines and bits of other fun papers like wallpaper, cards, gift wrap, you name it. Above is my "go at it". And, please note.... it's not finished. I'll be adding more and more to it as the fancy strikes. *smile*

Now, where's my pens?? I ahve another idea!!
Have a creative day everyone!

journal making.....

Perhaps this is the time of year BUT I have been asked to create a lot of journals and altered book for people. It's been a frequent conversation -- ESPECIALLY when people see these: my new Art Journal and one I made for my kid's stocking :)

Yes, they are made out of an old pair of my jeans -- I soooo love this!

For those of you who don't know -- A NEW MONTHLY GATHERING WILL BE STARTING AT THE ART HOUSE STUDIO in the new year.-- an ART JOURNALING GROUP!! This will work much like a book club -- Bring your Art Journals, we'll create in them for a few hours together, share ideas and learn new techniques, have fun with challenges.... $10/month. We'll meet on the Third Wednesday of the Month (6:30 - 9:30 - come anytime after 5) and I'm open to a Friday night too if some of you are interested on a Weekend.

So... having said that -- I decided that with all the questions, interest and this group starting up.... I'd make the first Technique of the Month Club Meeting of 2011 a Book Binding Theme. I will show you how to create your own "jean journal" AND re purpose an old book using a coil binding too -- made popular by me using an old Golden Book for our Christmas Wish Book this year. SO!!! Ladies (and Gents), if you are interested, dig out an old pair of jeans (or buddy up with a friend (you only need one pant leg *smile*) and your favourite "golden" book and reserve your space at January's Technique of the Month Club (First OR Second Wednesday of the Month). To reserve your seat call 519 954 6620 or email me your request.

Have a creative day