Be Daring Journal Pages

...and now for something a bit different than you usually see from me.  What?  Is there actually a person...err...bird....err... woman who's very fond of birds, in some art of mine?  You betcha.

I started this art journal spread several years ago, but it never felt finished, so I doodled on it a bit more.  Still not done.  I added the words "Be daring.  Be unique.  Just be you".

It still wasn't quite done.

Finally I gave in to the idea that was wanting to be manifest every time I'd look at her... she wanted a feathered collar so very badly but I kept ignoring her thinking ... yeah right... but finally after hearing her plea with me over the past few years (!!) I gave in. 

 And she was right.  It was just what she needed to complete her statement.

I admire her style... her confidence... her passion.

Her bird

She's definitely daring and unique.

She's not afraid of being herself.  Not afraid of what others might think.

I want to be just like her when I grow up ;-)

Textured Painting: Just Be

Just Be.  Just be what?  Well... let's brainstorm a bit shall we?

Just be_____________.  (Fill in the blank)

still, silly, interesting, silent, loud, motivated,  unique, artsy,  spontaneous, strong, vibrant, juicy, magic, constantly growing and evolving, comfortable in your skin, bold, daring, humble, childlike, fearless, free, a bit of a loon, etc...
















Just be... whatever you want to be.  Even if you have to pretend.... even if just for a few minutes here and there.  Example #1.  If, when I said Just Be ________, you thought "The Queen of England", then go ahead and get or make your self a crown and pretend to be the Queen.  Grab a chair/throne, announce to anyone in the room (your royal subjects) that you are the Queen and you are not to be bothered, unless they are going to tend to you or entertain you...etc...  Go with it.  "Pardon me, Rick, but would you please spit shine my shoes and bring me a spot of tea?".  Now I'm not saying your royal subjects will be as entertained with this as you are, but they'll probably get over it.  Eventually.


Example #2.  If you thought "A real artist", then go and get your art supplies (if you don't have any then go buy some, or a pencil and paper can work just fine) and pretend that you know exactly what you're doing and just have fun.

Oh, by the way, you are a real artist.

We all are.  Everyone is born as such and just needs to find their confidence and particular medium that helps them to express themselves and get back to the childlike sense of wonder they had at the beginning stages of their life.  But that's a whole different post in itself.

So once again, just be.  Just be what?

 Just be...

YOU

Paris On My Mind (Another Petite Eiffel Tower)

I've had Paris on my mind lately.  

I can't escape it.  I want to go back so bad!  Last time I was there was 12 years ago for our honeymoon. It's calling me back.  So is Italy.  So since I won't be going anytime soon, I'll let my dreams of travel spill out onto my canvases instead.

   I've been wanting to work on a Europe series, inspired by my photos from my travels, for a while now. I think now's the time to get started on it.  I still have other non-Europe pieces to finish up first...or during.. but I'm excited to see what comes from this inspiration.  It's been brewing in my brain for a long time and now it's time to take action!

Speaking of... here's a sweet little textured Eiffel Tower piece that I just finished. I started it for the Petite Valentine art show at Zinnia, but it didn't get finished at the time so I pushed it aside for a bit. 

This is done on a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch piece of wood.  I copied one of my personal photos of the Eiffel and glued it down onto the wood.  The heart and the 'ribbon" across the bottom are both made from plaster cloth. I used Heavy Gel Medium to create raised stenciling and the rest of the texture, then painted over it all with acrylic paints and glazes.  I also drew over my photo with a Pitt Artist Pen to bring out some details.

 

So I know making these pieces is not the same as traveling there, but it still inspires me.  Maybe if I make enough art inspired by Europe, and sell them, I'll be able to go there again sooner than I think? 

  Maybe? 

 A girl could dream right? 

And while I'm dreaming, I'll continue to create these pieces so you can enjoy them and dream along with me.  

Deal?

Au revoir!

L'Artiste Texture Painting (For The Love Of Art)

Hello there.

I have a new textured painting to share.  Well, ok, it was finished a month or two ago but it's new to you because you haven't seen it yet... unless you've been sneaking around my studio ;-)

This painting came about because I wanted to use one of my paint palette hearts.  I use paper palettes often to squeeze and/or mix my paint onto, and quite a while ago I really liked the way one of my paint palette papers (say that fast 5xs) looked, so I didn't want to throw it out.  It was loaded with globs of dried paint on both sides.  I remembered seeing some birds done by Robert Burridge in which he used dried paint globs that were peeled up from plastic (or something like that).  Very cool.  So, inspired, I cut the paint-loaded paper into a big heart shape, knowing that I'd use it sometime later in my art.

And that's just what I did.  I glued the heart onto a canvas with heavy gel medium, then proceeded to add texture all over the canvas with the medium.

I also glued down some lace, dried flower pods from the tree in our front yard, a very old square nail, and  a bit of mesh.  

 I was struggling with the colors on this for a bit.  There were so many colors on the heart that I wasn't sure which color(s) to bring out.  In the very bad photo below you can see what it looked like for a bit, kind of a terra-cota color.  I ended up painting it mostly red after that (no photo) and hated it, so I painted most of it out with an off-white.  

I love how it looks with the red peeking through, not as the main focus.  To make it all blend together better I went over the heart with the white also.  I'm really loving the red/cream combo!

This piece to me is about my love of being an artist.  

There's nothing like it. 

 I love being able to paint and play, and to know that it's what I am meant to do.  

It is truly a blessing!

You Are Strong And You Matter

 Hi there.

I wanted to share some photos of a few healing art journal pages I made recently.  There's been a lot going on around here, so I had to get some paint on my hands for a bit of therapy!   There have been many days when I needed a reminder like this, and I knew I wasn't alone, so I did the page above for many people I love who are going through hard times.  You are stronger than you think!

The above page was done in all acrylic paints, with my hands, then stencils and brushes.  I added a touch of charcoal to create shadows.

Here's another reminder for anyone who needs it, because yes, you really do matter!

This page was done with acrylics for the background.  I used my hands again to smear the paint (good therapy!) then I stamped on paint to create the swirls. I used oil pastels to draw out the lettering.

The page on the left isn't done yet.  Sometimes I like to leave pages in various stages, so when I have time I can jump in at whatever stage I want.. start a background, work on the middle stage, or finish a page.  So far it has acrylic paint, parts of a magazine page and the image is part of a plastic bag that pasta comes in from Trader Joes.  I love to use unusual things!  Hey, why not... it's my journal!

My mom has not been well for a while and it's been weighing on me heavily.  Then two weeks ago she wound up in the hospital.  They let her go home that night after tons of tests, but while I was waiting for news about her that night, I started this journal page below.  I drew the images with a charcoal pencil.  The page next to it says  "Do you ever feel like you are carrying the weight of the whole world on your shoulders.... and then some?"

I still have to finish it, but I really like it so far.  It's a bit different for me, but it's an image that I had to get out and on the page to help me feel better.  There's that art therapy again!

Things are looking up over here though.  My mom is finally getting better and now we KNOW she's going to be OK... even if it takes a while. 

So with that said, I have a lot to be thankful for!  And speaking of... yesterday was our anniversary!  My husband and I got married 12 years ago!!  That seems so crazy that it's been that long, but it has!  Happy Anniversary Honey!  One of my dear friends (Hi Manya!) watched our kiddo Sunday so we could get out for a bit.  We went out to Newport Beach and had such a nice time.  Thanks Manya, we love you!

So with that I'm signing off.  Just remember, you ARE stronger than you think!  

And so am I....

 I think.