ICAD Summer 2013

Pictures of the Index cards I created from June 1st to July 31st. ICAD 2013 was created and curated by Tammy Garica of Daily Yellow.  Tammy has many projects for the creative spirit.  It was wonderful to be part of a group of really artistic ladies.  Each week we were given prompts to use to inspire the daily card.  You had the choice to use the card or make up your own.  My cards are a combination of the prompts and things that just popped into my head.  Please visit Tammy's blog/website www.daisyyellowart.com.

I am truly inspired by the kindness and encouragement I received from many members of the group. I know that I will participate again next year (Lord willing). 

Dear Reader, if you have the opportunity, sit down and think about something you have dreamed about doing and for what ever reason put it to the side.  Pick it up and try it.  Enjoy the process of learning, enjoy the process of making crap as you move on to something you really like.  Allow yourself to just plain old have fun.  You will not regret it.

Inner peace

Inner peace, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

I am posting this today because I like it a lot. This is another lesson in using what you have. The painting is related to week 31 of lifebook 2013. Jeanette House was the teacher and she presented three wonderful videos.

I have to tell the truth because I was herring tired of doing faces. Not because they are not fun, but because I was committing a cardinal sin----comparing my work with others. I look at many portraits and they look so life like, in my eyes mine don't. So I have an inner struggle before I draw one.

This project kept calling me so I decided to use one of my journals to give it a try. Lo and behold, I fell in love with the finished product. Now I cannot wait to get home and really work the portrait. It will be so much fun, but in the mean time, I am happy that I tried.

Random thoughts tuesday

My beautiful grandchildren Lauren and Kellen.  It has been so fun spending this time with them.

Today's thoughts are truly random.  So much has been going through my mind lately, from how we should treat ourselves and others, friends who are ill and anniversaries of those who have died that meant a lot to me.  In fact last Thursday I spend the day quietly in honor of friends who are on the journey of cancer treatment.

When I woke up today I decided to spend the day in relative quiet and peace for two friends that I just found out need to have surgery later this month.  People are going through so many trials and they just need a hug, or a prayer or both.

ICAD:  later this week I will post some pictures related to the 61 day Index Card Art Project that will end on July 31st, tomorrow.  It was a lot of fun to do and allowed me to work on a small art project daily.  I find that it has improved my technique.

DOODLE CAMP:  doodle camp is over but I am on day 19 of the 24 days of concentrating on one concept, drawing something everyday.  I chose doodles and zentangles and it has been very revealing.  My plan has been to interpret and existing zentangle on one day and the next make up my own.  Will post picture next week.

LIFE BOOK 2013:  I have not done anything for this project while in Michigan, but will play catch up when I get home.  I am really excited to get started again and my main goal is to complete the Mitzi B project.  When I left home I did not like it at all, but I was looking at it from a very negative space.  After watching the Jeannette House video yesterday, my perspective has changed and I will look at it with fresh eyes.

You know sometimes you just do not have anything really profound to say.  Life just moves on at it's own pace and basically you go along for the ride.  At least that is how I feel today.  It is coming up on the 7th Anniversary of my Mom's death and I just realized that the last time I heard her voice was August 2nd, 2006.  She has a bad cold/cough and was very busy with meetings that week.  I remember I finished the conversation with Love You Mom, and I am so glad that I did.

Well dear reader, that is about it for this week. Time to finish my art projects for today and work on my knitting homework for Stitches Midwest.  Take care and be blessed.

Photo Friday - Market Day in Orvieto

Random Thought Tuesday - Stretching Myself

Pink Flower

Last September I painted this picture as part of the Art Retreat class I took in Orvieto, Italy.  I had one of the most patient teachers in the world, TracieLynn Huskamp.  She was so encouraging as I stretched myself beyond belief.  To say I was a nervous wreck is putting it mildly. 

First we went on a photo shoot throughout Orvieto, I was drawn to the flowers in the flower shop, they were fantastic.  Then we picked out the photos that we liked and they were printed so we could race them on muslin and then paint them.  When I first painted the picture above I absolutely hated.  I could not get the shading right.  Infact, I just could not comprehend the concept of shading at all.  Internally I wanted to quit, but I just couldn't.  I had to stretch beyond my comfort zone.

I look at the painting now and cannot believe I actually did it.  I am so happy that I did not give up, that I listened to Tracie and embraced the work.  I have grown so much in the past year.  I have continued to take classes and try new things.  I am stretching in ways I cannot imagine.

I have made books with multiple signatures, I have finally learned how to draw zentangles.  Faces, forget about it......I am getting more comfortable with each portrait.

Face Drawn for Radical Wellness Class

 

What does stretching yourself mean?  For me it means attempting to do things that either I have never done before or have been afraid to attempt.  Over the past couple of days, I have given this a lot of thought.  A friend named Monica encouraged me to just be me.  Spend time doing what I love to do, not as a job or work, but as a time to give peace to myself and just be.  It really feels good to take her advice.  Orly Avineri, one of my favorite painters and bloggers gave this concept in the last class I had with her:  :Create, do not Produce."  These words mean so much.  Creativity should not be a production line, rather, for me it must be a time of discovery, allowing myself to be imperfect and love it.

 

Stretching myself has given me peace and joy.  When was the last time you stretched yourself dear reader?  Tell me about it.



Photo Friday -

Today starts a new series, Photo Friday.  I have taken a lot of photos throughout the years and for the most part they just sit on my camera or computer.  Photo Friday gives me an opportunity so share some of them.  No words other than a basic theme.  Just sit and enjoy.

Flowers of San Lodovico in Orvieto, Italy

Random Thoughts.....Using What You Have

I read a post this morning by Danny Gregory (http://dannygregory.wordpress.com/author/dannygregory/.  You should go and read it, it is very good.

This post started my mind churning, thinking about what I have been doing lately.  I am currently in Michigan visiting family.  I packed a limited amount of art supplies for the trip.  If an outsider were to look at my "stash" it would seem like I brought the house with me, but it is really just a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  I participated in Doodle Camp from July 8th to the 12th and found that with imagination and letting go you can make do with what you have.  You can also learn to use those items more creatively.  I am now really comfortable with using a watercolor brush.  This really neat tool is great for traveling, you fill the barrel with water and paint away with your watercolors.  I have used Tombow watercolor markers for years but never to their full potential.  The colors are so rich when scribbled on watercolor paper and activated with a watercolor brush.

I cut squares of freezer paper and used them as a really inexpensive and easy to carry palette (saw this idea on pinterest).  I took my water soluble crayons and colored on the palette and then activated it with water from a mini spray bottle.  whoo boy the colors are so vibrant and I solved the problem of writing over the painted area.  You see  these crayons are waxy and when you color directly to your paper and then wet them, they leave a waxy film.  If you want to write over it, your options can be limited.  BUT......if you rub them on the palette paper and then activate, the act just like any other watercolor and can be written on with anything.  Of course a lot of people probably know about this, but it is news to me and what makes it more pleasing is that I was willing to experiment and try something new.

One other aspect of my art that I have found interesting is the color palette I have developed.  I find that I am liking vibrant colors, reds, oranges, turquoise are so yummy.  It is so fun to paint backgrounds for future work and these colors as a base just sing to me.  Plus that is pretty much what I have with me in various shades and hues. 

Since January of this year, I have been really exploring my creativity and Using what you have has been buzzing in my head for quite some time.  But it was more of a "suggestion" rather than a must do for me.

Now "Use what you have" has taken on a whole new meaning.  I will be taking a class Mastering Twinkling H2O 101 when I return home in August.  I purchased some Twinks, but I have some paints in pots called Angel wings (this may not be absolutely right because I can never remember off the top of my head).  They are little cakes of shimmering paints similar to twinks, so I figured I would use them as well as the Twinkling H2O's.  Colors are just as vibrant and they have the same shimmering quality.  We shall see how it works.

Using what I have has been a learning experience and it makes so much sense.  Why make life harder than it has to be?  Well those are my random thoughts for today..

Peace to you dear reader, thanks for stopping by.

Faces

Faces, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

I am learning how to doodle. I know it should come naturally and anyone can do it. While this is true, I find it hard to just sit and doodle and then not compare my doodles to others. I participated in an online Doodle Camp last week hosted by Dawn Devries Sokol. Let me tell you that it was so much fun.

The photo here is part of that class. We had to draw a random series of wavy lines and then find areas where we could draw faces. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and the camp. It lasted 5 days and we had assignments each day. I find that I am still working on them tweaking color, adding more doodles and just plain old enjoying myself.

I made the book that I used for the camp. Making a book was a part of the process and some really great books were designed by my fellow campers. I do hope that we have camp next year. It was a really inexpensive treat.

Art Has Become a Major Part of My Life

Art has become a major part of my life.  I find that things I did not know exist are coming forth and it is so interesting.  I started the process wanting to develop backgrounds for my greeting cards and the entire journey has taken on a life of its own.  Which is so amazing to me.  I love to try and see what I can do.  I love the colors and the mixtures as they appear on the page.  I love the words, the symbols, everything about it.

The one thing I need to learn is how to relax and let go of expectations.  Just let the emotions and feelings flow.  That will be my goal for the last six months of the year.  To paint without a prescribed agenda, just let it flow and see where it goes.  As Donna Downey says on Inspiration Wednesday, I do not have any idea what I am going to do, so we will just have to see.

So dear reader, I have no idea where the next six months will lead me artistically, we will just have to wait and see.

--Pilgrim

Thoughtful lady

Thoughtful lady, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Portrait drawn on page in journal I won as part of a blog giveaway. Jessica Sporn created the journal. The portrait started out as a circle painted white and blue. I saw a face in he circle and this is the result.

Be Willing To Be Me

Try to please
 It doesn't work.
Try to appease
To no avail.

All I have is me.

Try to anticipate
And get it wrong.
Try to guess
It takes too long.

All I have is me.

Being strong
To meet someone else's goal
While losing sight
of my real role.

All I have is me.

Yes, all I have is me
Who is enough
Me....
Who knows
Me, just me.

I have to
No, I must be,
Willing to listen
Think
Understand
And then...
Be willing to do me

Because all I have is me.

Landscape

Landscape, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Painting done during art demonstration at Desert Art Supply in Henderson, NV

Inspirational Quote swap cards

Inspirational Quote swap cards, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

The above picture represents a group of inspiration cards I received as a part of the Inspiration Card Swap in March of this year.  It was a lot of fun.  A new swap has started and I will be working on new cards and posting them here during the month of July.  Stay tuned.

The eyes tell the story

The eyes tell the story, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Week 24 of Lifebook 2013 - As I write this entry, my eye is staring back at me.  The eye that I drew and painted for the emotions theme for week 24 of Lifebook.  We were instructed to take a picture of our eyes and then paint a portrait.  It took me a while to get up the nerve to do this one.  I had given encouragement to a fellow lifebooker who was having a problem getting started.  Quietly, I was having  a problem also.  I took the photo(it really felt strange to take a photo of me)  and realized that my eyes were quite a bit smaller than most of the eyes that had been painted by fellow classmates.  Oh horror of horrors, small and almond in shape, what was I going to do.  You see I first had to trace your eye on transparent paper and then collage paper that would be painted over.  Could I have enlarged my eye?  Probably, but then it would not have been the real me, it would have been a "photoshopped" version of me.  So, after a rather interesting conversation with myself I traced the eye, iris and teeny weeny pupil and began to collage with small bits of paper.  It was looking good.  Whew I was on a roll.

My fave part was painting the background (learned another cool technique).  Prepping the page; wet it with water and then lay on a light coating of gesso.  Since the paper was curling, I turned it over and wet the back so that it would lay evenly (think I got this hint from one of my facebook buddies).  Once the page was dry, following Kelly's (our instructor) instruction, I wet the page and then painted my flesh tone.  Since I am a person of color, I used a deeper color flesh tone paint (can you tell I am too lazy to get up and look for the name), and dabbed it with paper towel to create texture.  I love how it came out, I mean love it.  Background textures just sing to me.  Anyhoo, once the page was dry I glued my eye onto the page with Matte Medium and painted the eyeball, Iris and pupil.  To add drama to the eye I used a stencil to add drama and texture in cobalt turquoise and cobalt teal.  I also added shading to give more emphasis to my eye since it was so small.  The shading around the eye lid gave it depth.  The words "The eyes tell the story" are so true for me.  I have been told that people can really tell what I am thinking by looking at my eyes.

I was a little heavy handed making my lines in the Iris, need to practice using a lighter touch, but over all I am really pleased with this painting.

 I have learned so much in the past six months about painting and myself.  My goal for the remainder of the year is to just paint for the heck of it.  It has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks that I need to paint and draw outside of weekly assignments and just see what I can do.  I am going to make a book to take to China, it should be fun to make.  Will post a copy when I am done.

Take care dear reader.  Pilgrim

Letraset flexmarkers

Ltreaset flexmarkers , a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

I also won these markers by posting a comment. I really wanted to win these because they are markers in ethnic skintones. Since I am learning to draw faces, I thought they would be a really great addition to my markers. I really like them, Letraset us a great company with excellent products,

I will post a picture soon

Journal made by Jessica Sporn

Front cover of book, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

I am so blessed. I received this lovely art journal from the talented Jessica Sporn. I normally do not sign up for contests on blogs, but I watched the video of Jessica creating a similar journal and really liked it so I thought I would leave a comment. A fellow facebook artist had to tell me that I should check Jessica's blog because I had won, I was very excited, however the day that I found out was the day of the terrible tornado in Moore, Oklahoma so I did not write about it, The words on the cover "Bloom where you are planed." are a favorite of mine. I was the title of a luncheon hosted at my church in Detroit, Michigan many years ago. It has stayed with me and been a driving force in my life.

I may post pictures of this book at as I work in it, but for now, it is sitting where I can look at it and just enjoy.

Sketching

image, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Today I decided to start practicing sketching. I want to do some sketching while in China, so I better get started practicing. I have to loosen up, but I like what was done here.

Stardust ATC's

Stardust ATC's, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Week 22 of Lifebook 2013 project, Artist Trading Cards. So fun to make.

Peace Cuddler - My Guardian friend

Peace Cuddler, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

   There have been times when I have really doubted my ability to create.  Today is not one of them to be sure.  I think creative people often struggle with self doubt because we are really vulnerable when exhibiting our work. Today, however, I had so much fun creating the above portrait which is the week 23 assignment for Lifebook 2013.

Lifebook is really an online class about introspection and then using art to heal and grow.  I signed up for Lifebook 2012 and did not complete one assignment, because I was afraid I could not create anything of substance.  What is the difference between last year and this year?  Me!!!!  I am the difference.  I am not taking myself too seriously.  I am enjoying the process and I am opening myself up to learn.  Isn't that is what life is really all about learning?  When I open myself up to all that life has to offer, I have a really great time.  When I close myself off, I find that negative self talk takes over and that is not good for me or anyone else for that matter.

The thought that came to me today is that it is simply amazing to see the things that have been coming out of me over the course of this year.  I laugh, I cry, I feel happy all because I am willing to be open, to search my soul and then create pictures that pretty much reflect where I am at present.  I have been blogging more, reading more, participating in more projects and just plain having fun.

I have given myself permission to enjoy my life and I am so glad.

Until next time, on a really pleasant journey......Pilgrim

3/4 side view

3/4 side view, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Continuing to practice with faces. This time I was able to try a different presentation of the nose. Very enjoyable.

Purple lady

Purple lady, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Learning to control color

Winning smile

Winning smile, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Practicing drawing a smile.

Journey continues

Journey continues, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

This portrait is on the last page of a memoir I wrote and mailed today for the Arthouse Coop memoir project.

Journey begins-through Breast Cancer

Journey begins, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Post for today. This portrait was drawn and colored yesterday and I forgot to post.

Daisy

Daisy, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Art post for today. Live this type of flower.

Pages 120 -121 completed

Pages 120 -121 completed, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

The Post today is the completion of the week of faces challenge in the Art Doodle Love book by Dawn Sokol.  I love this book and have been using it almost daily.  It is a book for doodling and drawing.  It is not a book to merely sit on your shelf, it is a book to handle, mark in, practice techniques, and if your are like me learn how to doodle.  I look at zentangles done by others and wonder if I will ever get it.  I know that I will but sometime I can be a slow learner.

Another cool thing about this book is that you can skip around and draw on a page that calls to you.  I took a class in April called Expressions Ecourse taught by Regina Lord.  I have learned to much and ADL allows me to practice I will keep on posting my work here as I complete pages that I love.

Keep checking back.   Pilgrim

Day 6 of ADL face challenge

Day 6 of ADL face challenge, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Art post of face. Her name is Laurah

Living room wall

Living room wall, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

First attempt at sketching. Part of my year of firsts

Janay day 5 of ADL faces.

Janay day 5 of ADL faces., a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Art post for the day. This is day 5 of Art Doodle Live face challenge. I live the eyes on this drawing.

Divine Color

Divine Color, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Week 21 project for lifebook....Honoring my divine color.

There is a story behind this painting.  Tulips are my favorite flower and I love purple tulips so it felt perfect to draw and paint this picture.  However, getting to this place was not easy, in fact it was downright hard.

For years I have used rubber stamps and traced copyright free pictures because I did not believe that I could draw the objects.  When I did try to draw it looked very childish and i was sorely discouraged.  For this project I wanted to draw and paint my tulips.  On Friday I did a test run (pictured in another post) by drawing Nasturiums and Oriental Poppies.  I used various types of Media to color the flowers. they looked pretty good.  I was sure that I would have not problem with my tulips.

'Hold your horses Sparky', my muse seemed to say.  "Just what in all that is holy makes you think you can do this and post it?"  Looking at the pictures posted by other artists, I immediately got intimidated and discouraged.  There was just no way I could draw and paint on a large scale.  All day long there was this ongoing dialogue; "no one will like it, does it really matter, will you at least try?"  So at 10 pm, I sat down to create.  I drew a test in my journal and then copied by test onto my canvas (note to self 140 lb watercolor paper does not hold up well with a lot of water.)

I got my supplies together, had my iPad next to me with the instructional video running, tape on paper, let's get this show on the road.

1.  Wet your paper then draw outline of flower and leaves with watercolor crayons
2.  Keep the paper wet by spritzing it and start to paint with broad strokes the colors of twinkling h2o's. I used colors complementary to purple for the tulip leaves and colors complementary to green for the leaves
3.  the colors are going to meld, keep on spritzing.  I looked at the canvas and thought "what in the Hell?  This is an awful mess."  One week ago I would have stopped.  Not tonight, I allowed it to dry and it still looked like a purple and green blob.
4.  take watercolor crayons and put highlights in the petals and leaves, keep on spritzing.  Uh Oh, colors still mingling and paper is becoming rolling hills.
5.  Put saran wrap peices on the leaves, gauze on the leaves to get texture.  Put extra colors on the leaves cover entire canvas with saran wrap and put a heavy object on top while it dries.  Let it dry for a half an hour,
6.  Remove heavy object, pull back large saran wrap and spritz with gold
7.  put saran wrap back and heavy object let dry for  couple of hours
There are more steps, but it still looked like a hilly blob.  Idea surfaced why not outline the flowers with black posca pen to give definition.  Enhance the background with some yellow.  Put in white highlights and add more water color crayon.  Discovered that the crayon will melt under heat gun.  You can take a tissue to smooth the crayon---it is really a cool discovery.

I like the randomness and softness of this piece.  I like the fact that I stuck with it, I like the fact that I am growing and not giving in to the negative self talk.

Heck, I just love this painting.  I am pretty proud of me for this one.  I am getting ready to go and sign it.

Oriental poppy

Oriental poppy, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Second practice painting with watercolor crayons

Nasturtium

Nasturtium , a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Practice flower painting using prisma color pencils.

Mirid

Art Post for today.  Whimsical drawing inspired by Mindy Lacefield.  Day 4 of the 7 day face challenge in ADL.  I wanted to do something different .
Mirid, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Bookbinding

Bookbinding, a set on Flickr.

Art post for today.  The photos above are of the first book I have made using a cereal box.  I sewed 4 signatures in to the cover.  It was an interesting process.  It took a lot of nerve and courage for me to do this book.

HOW DID I DO IT?

First I cut off the excess edges from the box which left a wonderful structure.  Next I gessoed the front back and spine.  I then made a template with the number of holes I wanted in the Spine for sewing.  I used a 5 hole straight stitch design using black waxed linen thread. The signatures are independent of each other (I did not use a copic stitch or anything like that).  I sewed in each signature and then rounded the corners to give it a finished look.

I still need to work on the cover and spine little more and then I am going to use this book for sketching.  I have never really sketched, but I want to practice before my trip to China.  I am going to make a travel journal similar to this one, just a little smaller for ease of transport.  This book is about 9x12 and is a bit cumbersome for travel.

My next book will have a mixture of papers and I may use binding tape for the spine.  We shall see.

Anyway, I enjoyed this project and my bookbinding skills are definitely improving.  WooHoo.

Chrissy

Chrissy, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Art post for today. I have been practicing for nearly two months and I am starting to see a marked improvement. Have not really tried copying a picture. The portraits I am drawing now are from the imagination. Maybe next month the goal will be using pictures as a guide.

I have been able to accomplish another marvel, I am blogging everyday and that is nice.  I mean really nice.  I have had this blog since 2006, that is seven years dear reader and I have not been consistent, truly I have been basically absent on the blog scene and that is a shame.  But now I have a reason, I have a voice, I have seen the need to put my thoughts out into the universe even it I am the only one who sees them.

This morning I sat on the patio and read with a light breeze blowing.  It was exquisite.  Last year I promised myself that I would do what I did today and just did not follow through.  This week I have been in my chair, feet up, watching videos, writing and reading just about everyday and I love it.  Living in Henderson Nevada and facing the west, I have morning cool and afternoon heat, so my time for enjoying this space are early morning and late evening and that is just fine.  My challenge is to keep my pledge to myself and add this process to my self care program.  I am going to be 64 this year and I intend to spend the next 18 months preparing myself physically, spiritually and emotionally for the glorious 65 in November 2014.

What does all of this have to do with the picture posted above?  A lot really and at the same time not much.  It means a lot if I follow through with my goals and plans; not much if I fall back to habits that keep me doubting myself, not doing what I am called to do and making excuses.

Let's see and measure how I do.  Hold me accountable dear reader.  Pilgrim

Karina

Karina, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

Day 2 of a week of faces in Art Doode Love. Her name is Katrina.