05/12/2011

Work In Progress (WIP)

Hello and welcome to the start of another week and it's also Handmade Monday #45.  It's getting much colder here and we've had nothing but rain and hail- thankfully no sign of snow.............yet.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't get any until the end of the week as I still have a couple of fairs to attend.  Last Friday was the annual craft fair at the Rams Head pub in Disley which coincides with the light switch on - you can read about it on my website.

As well as my jewellery projects I have been making some ATC's (Artists Trading Cards) for a swap/trade on ATCsforAll and another on the juried sister site iATCs.  I haven't made any ATC's for over 12 months because I've been concentrating on the jewellery and haven't had that urge to create anything arty.  However recently I've been having a "craving" to do something and I wanted to get back into the ATC communitly - I have made some lasting friendships on both sites and I've even met quite a few of them in June (2010) at the artfest in Rochester New York.  So the 2 swaps I've put my name down for are My Sacred Heart on ATCsforAll and a Trees Swap on iATCs. 

I've made a start on the heart themed swap yesterday by sketching out a few designs to see how I can incorporate a few of the essential items that are part of the rules of this trade: we have to add 3 of the 4 item listed - crown, thorns, wings or fire.  I think I have the start of one of them using crown, wings and fire.

Here are some of my ideas - not sure how they will turn out but at least I've made a start on them especially as I have to make 3 for the swap and I always include 1 for the host.  These are on watercolour paper and I've used my favourite Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils.




As you can see they are at the early stages and still rough around the edges but it gives you an idea of where I'm going with this swap.  I don't know about you but I always find getting the initial idea the hardest to do.  Once I've got the idea the actual making up of the art isn't as time consuming and it all seems to fall into place.

Well that's enough from me for today.  Why not pop on over to Wendy's and see what everyone else has been up to and if you're a crafter and want to join in we'd love to see your work.


11 comments:

lovetartan said...

love the heart one! Mich :)

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

The heart looks gorgeous. I recently used Derwent watercolour pencils and was very pleased with the results.

Wendy said...

I love your art - these are fab. I love the Inktense pencils too, such brilliant colour for a pencil.

Unknown said...

I love watching work in progress and seeing how people get to the final result... mind you I never put my workings out on my Maths homework, so what hope is there for me!

itsamistry said...

Thank you:)

I love my inktense watercolour pencils. They are the only watercolours I can use without the colours getting muddy. I've used tubes & blocks but the results were a mess. I really admire watercolour artist.

Jam Dalory said...

I've not heard of watercolour pencils before but they look like they work great. The heart is looking really good. x

Your Friend Susie said...

Love the flames! I cannot draw, but so admire people who can. Love the intense colors. :)

Jan said...

Great colours. Watercolour pencils are great and you can get some lovely effects with them.
Good luck with your fairs.

Jan x

Whitney-Anne Baker said...

now that sounds like fun! Those pencils look like they give a really nice intense colour - might have to look out for those!

Martha said...

gorgous colours and motifs in your paintings :) x x

Carolee Crafts said...

I love your heart the colours pop of the page. Good luck in your ATC swap. Your designs are beautiful you should do some ACEO's