Taking Flight

November 8, 2011

I just can’t leave it alone!

Remember the post about the mixed media piece I did from the book, “Taking Flight” by Kelli Rae Roberts?  I wasn’t thrilled with it because there were too many colors going on and the colors I’d chosen weren’t making me happy either.  I’m definitely a novice when it comes to color mixing.

But still, I couldn’t just leave it as is and move on – I had to try to improve it somehow- that, or completely cover the canvas with gesso.

I attempted to play down some of the colors by adding more blue to it and I was ok with that but still not lovin’ it.  I usually take pictures of the art-making process to help me remember what steps I’d taken along the way and I’d done that with this piece also.

After adding more blue and a couple of highlights and before covering it and starting over I decided to drop the image into Photoshop to see what I could do to change it in that way.

Here are the results.

I know I keep talking about filters but I just think being able to see something in a completely different light can be helpful.  These changes are easy to make and very forgiving – since you’re only working on the digital file while leaving the original art intact.

Check it out…

October 16, 2011

Speak your Passion Out Loud

OK, I did spend nearly the whole weekend in the studio…so YAY! on that note.

But clearly the whole color thing has me frustrated.

I’ve got issues.  Mud, to be specific.

So you can imagine how relieved I was to read in Mary Beth’s book that she, too, had ‘mud issues’ early on.  Seeing her fantastic art (and knowing that) is a great BIG relief for me.  I am REALLY looking forward to her class (I know I’m repeating my self here but it is worth repeating!).  Thank goodness I had my head on straight when I was choosing classes for ARtfest – when I decided to focus on ‘color’ – it couldn’t be coming at a better time! 

So today I switched gears…

Fortunately I have SEVERAL books to choose from in the Art Reference section of my library (see ‘when I get a little money‘ post).  Note: I don’t have a real library – just like I don’t have a real secret garden – but you get the idea…

So TODAY I decided to focus on Kelly Rae Roberts book – ‘Taking Flight‘. Its a great book too and full of inspiration.  I chose an assignment where you cover the substrate with collage papers and I decided I’d use papers from one of those scrapbooking albums so at least the papers I selected would be complimentary to each other – to help me with my color ‘situation’.

Okay, so…I don’t hate it.  But I’m not in love either.  There are too many colors going on for my taste.  I’m more of a monochromatic kinda girl.   But I wanted to experiment and see what I’d get.  Also, in the book she painted in her subject (which would’ve toned down some of the busyness going on – but I decided not to.

But I have to say I did ‘get into’ the whole just doing it thing.  I think I was even (dare I say) in the zone for well over an hour!!

And no one says we have to create masterpieces on the first day.  It IS about the journey after all.

It was a beautiful day – the weather was perfect – the sky was my kinda blue and I even had a bird drop in to the studio for a brief, albeit, a bit frantic, visit.

So all in all – it was a great day!

Hope yours was too!

October 9, 2011

Kitty Realized…

I actually got out into the studio and created something!  And before the weekend was over! I’m surprising even myself these days!

So…I bought the book “Taking Flight” (as mentioned in last night’s post) and bought a few supplies (’cause I’m so sure I didn’t have something just like it or very similar to it in my studio already) …yeah right.

I’m (kinda) following along with the project in the back of the book…the encaustic one – because ENCAUSTIC ROCKS! – and because I knew I had most of the supplies I needed already and well, because, ENCAUSTIC ROCKS!

Oh, and let me mention I cleaned my studio this morning so it was all pretty and organized and stuff.  I love working in a clean studio!

Ok, back to the project..

Here is the art board with a bit of paint on it and some markmaking attempts…I quickly realized I didn’t have any heavy bodied acrylics in the studio (how could that be?? I have every thing else you could buy in the studio).  I know you can make heavy bodied acrylics but pretty sure I didn’t have any medium (that, I’m pretty sure of).

I realized my stamping wasn’t working too well due to the lack of a more textural background – i.e. no heavy bodied paint.

And as I was sitting there staring at the board (with no heavy bodied paint on it) I decided it didn’t need any more stamps anyway.

Cause I’m a minimalist.  If I haven’t mentioned it before. (A minimalist who collects stuff).

This can be a problem.

Ok, so now I’m at the point where you’re supposed to ‘paint your subject in’.  That part always gets me.  I considered the fact that since I’m a minimalist – I should be able to just put the pen down and call it a day – but decided against it (a good example of the ‘problem’ part).

So… I’m looking at the pile of catalogs on the table (I can’t throw them away – there’s so much good stuff in ’em and I don’t mean stuff to buy – I mean good inspiration stuff, all the colors and patterns, etc.) – I start flipping through them…

and I find this (kitty) and decide that there is no rule that says I have to paint my subject in…

So here it is – my subject – adhered to the board.

I write a few meaningful words…then head out to the encaustic studio to do the fun stuff

And here it is…

‘Kitty realized it was time to start living her life’

October 8, 2011

Creative Weekend update

Ok, I know I said that I felt a creative weekend coming on…(that was on Wednesday) and here it is Saturday (what’s left of it) so I thought I’d share an ‘update’ on how the weekend is going.

Well, it’s going.

Quickly (!)

But even though I haven’t created anything yet – I do plan on being creative tomorrow.  And tomorrow is still the weekend even though technically it is the first day of the week.  (isn’t that funny?)

But, regardless – before my weekend is over – I WILL BE CREATIVE!!

I did spend the day browsing at a couple of art supply stores and the bookstore – looking for inspiration.

And here is what I found…

 

 

 

And you should be happy to know I’ve already started.

 

 

Eating the gummy bears!