Day 4 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

I'm having to blog in the evenings due to work.  Today's painting is an abstract on 5 x 7 inch canvas board.  I had some odd paint in my collection I think it may be fabric paint but I'm not sure as they are those little pots which come as a group and I seem to have mislaid the cover.  The reason I'm thinking they are fabric paint is because they are tacky to when touched.  Anyway I'll probably paint over it again at some point but for now I'll leave it to see if it "untacks" itself.

I could actually try an acrylic sealant to see if that helps.  I also wanted to add some black to make parts stand out.  Pop over to Leslie Saeta's blog for more eye candy.

Catch you tomorrow.

Anita

Jigsaw Puzzle Collaboration

While I was at ArtDiego earlier this year I was part of a jigsaw art collaboration.  We were all given a whole jigsaw (35 pieces) which we decorated in anyway we liked.  These were then all broken up and mixed up so that each artist received a piece or puzzle from each artist.  I received mine this week and it looks amazing.  

Here is a pic of the puzzles before they were taken apart and mixed up.

Here is what I received back.

A big thank you to Jackie (aka Jazzie) and Helene for rearranging all the puzzles.

29 Faces Art Challenge

I've not had much time to blog the last few days.  Here are the latest faces for the challenge.  

Day 9 a fun doodle 

Day 10 acrylic paints and coloured pencils.

Day 11 inktense blocks

Day 12 was a rough day

Day 13 Derwent sketching graphite and acrylic

Find out more on the 29 Faces Art Challenge blog.

Day 6 - 29 Faces Art Challenge Sept 2015

Day 6 flowers in my hair.  Some say she looks sad.  I think she looks thoughtful, maybe dreaming of another place and time. 

Find out more about the 29 faces challenge here. 

Summer of Colour 2015 Week 3

The colours for week 3 of SOC5 are 2 purples and 1 yellow.  I have to admit this isn't my favourite combination of colours because when applied over each other while wet will create mud - or at least that's been my experience in the past.    I did find a solution to this - if you seal either of the colours before painting over the top it will stop this from happening - I use a matt medium by Daler-Rowney.  

I promise I've only used one shade of yellow however when applied over the purple background it comes up darker than it does on white (stars in the middle of the heart).

Well here it is this weeks heart canvas in 2 shades of purple and one yellow.

Want to see more purple and yellow creations?  

Then head on over to Twinkle Twinkle Like a Star blog.

Summer Of Colour 2015 Week 1 & 2

Last week saw the start of the Summer of colour challenge over at Twinkle, Twinkle blog.  Every week for the next 6 weeks the challenge is to use only the specified colours in our artwork.  Last week the colours we could use were 2 shades of blue and one of green - our choice of shade.  This week we have 2 pinks and one orange.  Last year I made random designs using the colours however this year I've decided to make a collection of 5 x 8 wrapped canvases using hearts and butterflies as the main design.

Week 1 - 2 blues 1 green (I still need to add some text)

"Be Fearless" Week 2 - 2 pinks 1 orange

If you'd like to know more why not pop on over to Kirstin's blog Twinkle, Twinkle.  

What's On Your Work Desk? Wednesday 291

Well this is the last WOYWW for 2014.  I missed last weeks as I was ill (spent all of Christmas in bed) I had all good intentions of writing a very quick post but it just didn't happen.  To see what WOYWW is all about then pop over to see Julia she'll explain it all over at the Stamping Ground.

So what's on this weeks desk well I can't really share what's on my desk as it's for a magazine article.  I can however show you what I had left on the desk yesterday (and was still there this morning) so technically it still counts right?  This is another painting I started last week.  It's on a much bigger scale than the one I made in the 5x7 journal - very daunting to have all that white space staring at you.  

Well that's it from me short and sweet.  I hope everyone has a wonderful New Years eve and brings in 2015 with a massive flurry of sparkle.

Stage 2 adding colour and details

The beginning- stage 1 

Gelli prints from last week.  The bottom 2 right prints are on Daler Rowney cartridge paper - ghost/clean off pages they always seem to be my favourites.  The other prints are on fusible interfacing.  I used Stewart Gill textile paints.

Happy New Year

Anita

What's On Your Work Desk? Wednesday 284

Here we go again with another look at WOYWW - want to know more and how to participate?  Then pop over to the Stamping Ground where Julia will explain all.

My desk this morning consists of a painting I'm trying to finish for the Flood the Street with Art project - find out more about that and how you can take part on the face book page.  This is how I left it last night after adding black outlines around the flowers and painting the cogs green in the center of each flower - they were stenciled in using texture paste.  To the left there is a female figure cut out and painted in black which is now made up into an altered clothes pin (made this morning while my computer had a hissy fit).  Sitting on the handle of the pots at the back you can see the two dress altered clothes pins I made yesterday.

The finished clothes pin "Don't forget me"

That's it from me I'm off to see what everyone has on their desks

Anita

Art Every Day Month - November Day 6

No I didn't miss a day I just posted on the facebook group yesterday as I'd already had a post up for WOYWW (what's on your work desk Wednesday).

One of my Gelli art prints 

Today I've made some progress on the canvas I'm making for Flood The Street with Art, I've added some texture with stencils and a light texture paste, I've also added some stencil elements with acrylic paint.  A canvas which I'm prepping with colour and I found a page in my altered book where I'd cleaned off my brushes of excess paint and found that there were a couple of shape so I've started to outline them and fill in the spaces for facial features.  I may just have them so they indicate a face - we'll see.

Pages in my altered book - can you see the 3 images on the right hand side page?

Canvas being prepped but not sure what I'll be doing on it yet.

Painting for Flood the streets with Art - texture paste and stencils.  I've also changed the colour of the flowers and lightened the background.

Have fun and if you'd like to join in with Art Every Day Month or Flood the streets with Art then please do pop over and have a look at the details.

Enjoy your evening 

Anita

Create Art Every Day November Day 1

New month, new challenge.  November's challenge is to create art everyday - check out the details here on the Create Every Day blog.  I did this challenge back in May of this year and found it a little difficult to create something new everyday.  So for this months challenge I have decided to work on one piece of art which will eventually be left in a public space to be picked up and taken to a new home as part of "FLOOD the streets with ART".  The day of abandoning the art work is 28th November or as it's known in the USA as Black Friday.  There are nearly 4000 participants from all over the world.

So this is what I have started today and hope to work on everyday and have it finished for the 28th.  It will be a mixed media piece.  The colours aren't quite right as it's more pink than orange but that will probably change as I work on it.  It measures 12 x 9 inches.  

Anita

Travelling Journal - Live Your Dream

Here is another travelling journal which I have added my art to.  This little lady is hand drawn into the journal page and painted with water colour pencils, water soluble wax crayons a little bit of acrylic paint.  I've added some rubber stamped elements to the page to add some texture and interest to the background.  I like her dreamy look and the words "Live Your Dream" seemed appropriate.  I haven't drawn a face in ages so I'm really pleased with the way she's come out.  I'm also not very good with water colours due to the nature of them. 

Anita

#blogtoberfest14 day 30

Halloween Costume - Corpse Bride

Today I've been doing my auntie duties and making my niece a halloween costume in the style of the Corpse Bride.  Having traipsed around the local market and not finding anything that was suitable we decided to go ahead and make the dress instead.  First thing to do was dye the fabric to a similar blue that is shown in the film -we or should I say I did this by mixing turquoise and ultramarine brusho powder paint in some cold water.  This was a total experiment as they're not meant to be used as fabric paint but this was the more economical way of colouring the fabric and I'm happy to say it worked.  Not sure the colour will stay if washed but as this is only going to be worn for a few hours I can't see it being a problem.  

Next step cutting out the pattern - well there is no pattern so I had to adhoc it using one of my nieces dress as a template for size.

Then onto sewing and fitting - after a few nips and tucks dress is ready to wear...but hang on it looks too plain.  Okay so we (that is I) have some skeletons in my little magic box - so we take them apart limb by limb - team effort here by auntie and niece.  

Next - they're going to look lost on their own.............okay bright spark..........lets make a bone stencil and add some along the border and waist of the dress.  Out comes silver acrylic and black paint.  Bones stenciled next step........................that's tomorrows post.

Decapitated skeleton

Sewing begins

All made up

Stenciling begins

Nearly there

Checking to see how the decapitated skeleton parts look on the dress.

Anita

Linking up with - 

Handmade Harbour - Handmade Monday

Claire Justine - Creative Mondays

#blogtoberfest14 day 27

Gelli Prints

Day #13 of #blogtoberfest14 

Gelli printing is the rage at the moment with the endless possibilities of creating unique one off background prints.  You can cut them up, to use in your art work, journaling pages, bookmarks, gift tags the list is endless. I used a mix of rubber stamps, cut out stencil block shapes, the owl greeting card which I bought from Paperchase and a cocktail stick. My paint of choice was Liquitex acrylic paints.

The top 2 prints are made on glossy photo paper and the larger pieces below are made on copy paper.

More about #blogtoberfest14 can be found over on Shells in the Bush

Anita

Halloween Cuteness

Day 6 of Blogtoberfest14 and today I have been finishing off a Artist Trading Card for a Halloween swap I am hosting over on Art With A Heart - our theme is a mix of Halloween or Autumn.

This young man is made on mixed media card and I've used in most part Faber Castell polychromo coloured pencils.  I've added some white acrylic paint for the stripes and used a black copic pen (04) for the outlines.

I also made this 6 x 6 inch boxed canvas with a similar Halloween figure - we're going to name him Edgar Bertrand as suggested by a couple of my friends over on facebook.  On the canvas I've used mainly acrylic paint and added a few stencil elements.  I took the picture before I finished off the eyes so he does have the bloodshot look.

Want to know more about #blogtoberfest14 then pop on over to Shells in the Bush 

Till tomorrow

Anita

Journal Page - Cats

Well one cat - he's a funky purple and blue cat with odd eyes and stenciled trees.  He is in one of the traveling journals that I am collaborating on.  I got to play with some of my new larger sized stencils that I brought back from America back in August.  I hope he will be happy in his new home.  

I seem to be doing okay up to now we're onto day 4 of #Blogtoberfest14 - 31 days of blogging.  Want to join in or know what it's all about then pop on over to Shells in the Bush. 

See you Sunday

~Anita

Practice, Practice and Practice Some More

Following on from my post yesterday (WOYWW) I have had another play with the acrylic inks.  I think I'm getting the hang of them.  I've found that if I let the inks dry before adding more it works better.  The other thing I've found is that the colour looks different once it's dried and that I can layer the inks much better than trying to do it while wet.  

I toned down yesterdays painted face with white acrylic paint (tube not ink) so it doesn't look yellow.  I think it looks much better.  I'm still practicing the facial features and trying to get the shading correct.  I'm pretty pleased with the rough pencil sketch and shading I've done in the top right hand corner.  

Well I'm off to do some more practicing- catch you later.

Anita

Travelling Journal

Phew what a busy week it's been.  I've had a day out just for me then a day out with some ladies for a networking lunch, Saturday I went to the Stitch and Craft Fair in Manchester and today I added my page to a travelling journal.  

What is a travelling journal?  We are a group of ladies from all corners of the world (UK, USA, Germany) who are collaborating in each others journal.  The idea is to make a piece of art in each others journals by posting them to each other over a course of a couple of weeks - in an ideal world this would work perfectly but as we are reliant on our postal system to get the journals safely to their next destination it we have had a few hiccups along the way but this has added to the experience.

Our journals measure 5 x 7 inches everyone has sent a page to be worked on by each member of the group.  Some have made specific requests, some have given an idea of what they would like to have for example their favourite colours.  But the main focus is to put our own mark on the journal.

Here are some of the pages I've worked on.

Anita

I'm linking up with Handmade Monday and Creative Mondays  I hope you'll pop over to these lovely blogs and see what other crafters are getting up to.

Back From My Holiday & Design Team Announcement

Hey lovely peeps I'm back from my holiday in Rochester NYC.  I was there for an art convention with 26 other artist who I know from ATCsforALL.  We had a weekend of making and trading art - although I'm sure there was much more socialising being done than art as most of us had made our art for trading before we arrived in Rochester. 

Now onto the Design Team - before I left for Rochester I applied to Oak House Studio's call out for new Design Team members and while I was on holiday I received an email from Lynnda who owns Oak House Studio to say I had been successful.  Now to keep quiet about it for nearly 3 weeks has been really difficult - but yay now I can shout it out to everyone and I can tell you that you are in for a treat as the stamps and inks are just lovely and I get to play and get creative with them.  So don't forget to subscribe to this blog or get email notifications to keep up to date with what's happening and not to miss out on the tutorials/instructions I'll be posting.

Before I go here are some photo's from the art convention.

Huggles with Sarah 

Outside the Brainery with Cindy, Ann, Sarah and Karen

Collage of the art room and the artists 

Day 4 of the 30 paintings in 30 days

So today is day 4 of the 30 paintings in 30 days and I'm already behind with my blog posts.  I'm slowly getting back into some kind of routine.  I have made the paintings for each day but as it got dark early I wasn't able to take any pictures until today.  Also it was the first week back at work.  Thursday was my first day back after nearly 2 1/2 weeks.  Yesterday I took my niece out and had a great time - we went to see WANTED Robin Hood at the Lowry theater Salford.  It was an alternative play to the original - most enjoyable.  

Here are my paintings for days 2,3 and 4.

Day 2 and 3 -these are similar to day one - I needed to make a set of these for trading.  They are Artist Trading Cards 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size.

Day 4 - Faber Castell polychromo pencils, acrylic, white and black pen, rubber stamped words - water colour paper. 15x11 cms

If you fancy joining in the fun or just want to see what others are creating then pop on over to Slices of Life blog.

Anita

Art Every Day and Gritty Jane's 40 Portraits

I've not really kept up with posting everyday for this challenge because I've been busy with a couple of commissions.  I have been creating every day and I'm including the commissions as part of this - I can't show you them as they are for presents.  I can however show you a couple of drawings I've done in the last few days.  They're what is described as whimsical and they are part of another challenge on facebook called "Gritty Jane's 40 Portrait Challenge". Fortunately there is no time limit on this one so no pressure to produce something everyday.  You'd think I had enough to do coming up to Christmas - but hey I like a challenge and I've met some amazing artists on my "challenge" journey.

#1/40

This one is in my altered book.  I gessoed the page but I found that watercolour and gesso do not like each other.  

#2/40

This one is on water colour paper and is painted with inktense pencils and neo colours.  The white highlights are acrylic and I've added some stamped images to fill in the background.

Fancy a challenge? Here are the links to both pages - 

Art Everyday Month -blog

Gritty Jane's 40 Portrait - facebook

Anita