New techniques...labor of love.

So I had this 24"x 36" canvas just waiting for me to paint - really wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it so I covered the piece with vintage clothing pattern tissue paper and covered that with gesso... from there I used my brightest colors and just started painting (see above)

From there...I just kept adding layers.  Layer after layer of beautiful color.  I would stop and and look and decide what color I wanted next...and just kept adding layers...

 I never really knew when I was done with the background...so I added some stencil layers...some white ink...dripped some white ink...just got lost in it :)

After I felt the background layering was complete I decided I wanted to create flowers out of the background colors...initially I was going to paint some white flowers on top of the background...but I have been wanting to try a new technique of creating layers and then painting over the layers...Flora Bowley, world known artist (and a De Pere, WI native!) is known for this.  So..I tried it.   Initially, honestly, I really wasn't happy with what was going on but I just keep working on it...and working on it.  Getting lost in the piece and the ideas just kept coming to me.  I love...love...LOVE when I get lost in my work.

After adding to it some more I started looking through my paper mixed media stash and found some card tags...I started writing words...just inspirational words that I was feeling at the moment.  I aged the cards with stain and started gluing them on the piece....

I still felt the piece needed some more loving and broke out my oil pastels...outlined the paper cards...outlined the flowers...again...just got lost. 

I am sooooooo in love with this piece...it is truly a labor of love...I love working on a piece from start to finish - there were times I just didn't like the piece and just kept working on it - using techniques, using color, using what I know...just letting my creative side take over.

Card tags...stained...before oil pastel outline...

This piece taught me...patience...it truly did.  It also made me love my skills and appreciate what I know.  It keeps me excited and wanting to learn more...can't get enough!

Heart #2 & #3 Tutorial :)

Short post~

Two more video tutorials on my Sixteen Canvases project :)

Super short videos so they won't take long for you to watch~

Sixteen canvases...

So I ordered all of these 6"x6" canvases from Dick Blick mostly because they were on sale and were cheap and I always love a good sale...ESPECIALLY on art supplies.

As I was looking at them I started thinking what if I painted each of these with a similar theme yet each was somewhat unique (makes sense...right?) and then put them together into one LARGE canvas.  Whammo, Sixteen Canvases was born.

Why sixteen?  Well, that's how many I just happen to have on hand AND its an even number so it will be easier to put them together into a large canvas...whether its 4 x 4  or 2 x 8...just easier :)

I also purchased my first set of Golden Acrylics...I know, I know - WHY has it taken me so long?!  Well, I was happy with my el cheapo acrylics from Hobby Lobby and have quite a few shades as well. I mean, really, HOW much better could these Golden Acrylics be?

OH. MY. GOODNESS.  They are SO awesome - the vibrancy of their colors is just astounding and the fluid consistency of the paint is just awesome.  I am in love.  Never turning back...again.  I may use the other acrylics in combo with the Golden - but I am sold.  I am a Golden Acrylics fan forever. :)

I currently have eight completed.  Love having to come up with new ideas and get that feeling in my stomach every time I sketch something exciting!

Over the course of the next couple of weeks I will be sharing very short video tutorials of the canvases. I hope to get videos of each one but it all depends on how my little Bloggie video camera holds up (the battery life isn't very good :( )

Here is my first short video tutorial on my first canvas :)

Mixed Media Cereal Box Tutorial

So I have FINALLY mastered the 'art' of putting videos together, adding music, editing and uploading to YouTube....WHEW!  What a process!  But once you get the hang of it, its easier...I guess! :)

Here is my latest tutorial on a painting I recently did for a gift for a couple for their anniversary.  I have to say...I LOVE the way it turned out.

I really wanted a flat surface to work on so I dug into my cut up cereal boxes (yep, cereal boxes) and started working.

I really wasn't sure what I wanted for the piece so I just started painting my most favorite colors and it all just started coming together...

I placed it in a mat for a frame and added wording around the edges of the mat - I seriously could not stop looking at it every time I walked by it.

I used the following materials:

Golden Acrylic paints (THE best paints out there - so vibrant!)
Donna Downey watercolor flower stamp
Background stencil for the white
Heart cookie cutter shape dipped in white paint for the heart
Dr. Ph. Martin India Ink for the drippy orange color
Cereal box cut up into an 8x10 piece

Here is the video tutorial - give it a try!  So fun to do :)

Out of tragedy..India ink - HOPE - tutorial

Like everyone in the country I was devastated when I read and watched the events unfold at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.  Just devastated not only for the parents of the children who were killed, but for the autism community as well after the media reported the killer as having asperger syndrome, a form of autism.

As we were driving to my Mom's home for a Christmas celebration the day after the shootings I couldn't help but try to alleviate the anxiety I felt within my heart by using my creativity as my therapy ...so I started to sketch...

My heart just ached for the families that lost a loved one...for the autism community...for my son who was diagnosed with autism at age three.  I just felt that we all needed some kind of Hope...something we could hold on to and to try to release the pain.

I decided to use my Dr. Ph. Martin's India Ink set as the paint because of the bright, bold colors they had to offer.  The inks are very similar to watercolors so they are very easy to work with...

I didn't have a plan on what I wanted the piece to look like with the inks.  That is what is so amazing and therapeutic about art...just let yourself go and whatever comes to your mind, paint, get it down on your canvas...

I used beautiful, bright, warm colors in the flower...

Colorful, cool greens and blues in the stem and leaves...

Finally I used aquamarine blue and violet in the background to help the flower really pop and to give the piece a more soothing feeling.

I went back over the black outline of the initial sketch with more dark outlines and I wanted to highlight more areas of the flower to add depth (Wite out pens work really well for this!)

While a simple piece of art cannot take away the heartache, the pain, the fear of that day - it did help me sort through the different emotions I was experiencing.

We cannot change the events of that day - the one quote I remember reading that day was one from (of all people) Mr. Rogers.  His mother used to tell him not to focus not the bad things that were on TV but to focus on the people that were helping and how people come together so quickly in a crisis situation.  So true...so very, very true.

Looking back and soooo looking forward...

2012 was a good year...my children grew, especially Brady and his progression with all of his therapies.  My husband and I have many things to be thankful for, most of all of our wonderful little family :)

My art progressed...

                                From doodles...

To button monograms :)

To my most favorite, mixed media...

And it continues to progress and grow...

A wise friend once told me that in order to become the artist you always wanted to be...

You must practice everyday...

And you must share your passion with others...

So that is what I plan in 2013...

To practice....

And to share with others :)

Can't wait to show everyone what is in store...from jewelry...

to painting...

the ideas are endless :)

Happy, Happy New Year everyone.

2013 WILL be a great year!!