Art Journal Cover

Hello Bloggers:

I started a new art journal this month and wanted to share the cover with you.....

Pretty boring, huh?   Yep - it's crying for a mult-media treatment!

Really what I want to share with you are the pictures I took during the decorating process - so here goes......

Step One: Paint the cover and glue on paper (protect the journal pages with waxed paper and tape the binding).  I used magazine clippings of similar colours that I sanded over stencils - you might want to use a single piece of scrap-booking paper.

 Step Two:  Add depth with a border, doodles and stenciled designs using paint, ink, markers, ... (note: the make-up sponge I use for stencil work rather than a brush). I selected three paint colours for my theme and I keep those handy to remind me not to go crazy with other colours - what an exercise in self control!

 Step Three: Add another layer - some gesso, paint, doodles and more stenciled designs.

 Step Four: Add texture and determine placement of embellishments.  I have a large stash of embellishments - they're just weird colours, soo.........

 Step Five: Paint embellishments to match, and adhere with LOTS of Modge Podge.

Finally: Blend in your embellishments with gesso, paint, Distress Ink, markers, etc. and add a fun fringe (feathers, beads, buttons, jewelry pieces, etc.).

Now, I'm inspired even before I open the journal.

Happy crafting...

~ Terry ~

It's Time for a Change - from Drab to Fab !!!

Bright, Bold Colour ... that's the March, 2014 challenge at Paint My Photo.  The reference photos are all black and white and the challenge is to paint them, anyway you want to, in any medium...but in bright, blazing color!!!

Well .... isn't this an opportune time to learn how to use my new Derwent Inktense Blocks, along with all the new watercolour supplies I received at Christmas.....

This is my first attempt at using the Inktense Blocks - "Michael's Cat". The painting is 10" x 7" on 90lb watercolor paper. I also used a white gel pen.

The reference photo is Michael Klinkermallie's "My Cat".

Spring is in the Air ..... soon!

Hello Bloggers....

Winter seems to keep hanging on - did Wiarton Willy see his shadow or not???  Having enjoyed a winter vacation in sunny Mexico I needed some additional brightness once I got home....and Edward Robertson's photo "Slice of Citrus" is certainly bright and sunny.  The photo is Colored Pencil Magazine's March 2014 challenge.

This is a scanned copy of my submission to the challenge .....

Here are some behind the scene pictures of the process. Again, I used the grisaille method - sketching directly on yellow cardstock.

It's a New Year.....

and my word for 2014 is "Balance"!

I intend to add Balance to My Mind, My Body, My Spirit, My Relationships, and My Art.....

In pursuit of balancing abstract and realism in my art I've watched a few YouTube "how to" videos on coloured pencil drawings of animals.  My favourites feature artist Sandra Angelo. ( http://vimeopro.com/user3269094/discover-art-with-sandra-art-workshops-to-go/video/69047158)  

Then lo and behold Colored Pencil Magazine published their Feb. 2014 monthly art challenge and it's "Portrait of a Cat" - perfect - I'm up for the challenge!!!

This is my submission and what follows are the drawing steps .....