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 .....

Remembering 2013

Hello Bloggers:

As I prepare our annual newsletter and think back over the events of 2013 it occurred to me that, as an artist, I accomplished a great many things.  My word for 2013 was "Explore" ...

and that's exactly what I did - explored creating art! ...  This journal page contains some of my favourite 2013 creations  ...

(click to enlarge)

... it was completed with coloured pencils, water coloured pencils, lots of Gesso, artist pens, metallic pens, markers, home-made stamps and stencils, and even a bit of pastels.

Have you made a "2013 in Review" project?

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

~ Terry ~

November Art Blitz

Hello Bloggers, first up is the latest tag in Tim Holtz' "12 Tags of 2013" on which he uses a chalkboard technique.  OMG! there's only one tag left this year!!

http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-november/

 I had to give this technique a go and here's my chalk board tag. ...  Let me know what you think!







I'm continuing to explore creating art with coloured pencils and participating in Colored Pencil Magazine's monthly art challenge (http://coloredpencilmag.com/contest/monthly-art-challenge).

This was my submission for the Oct-13 challenge - glass and cellophane are very tricky subjects.....

The November challenge was a grey toned portrait and I created a trilogy of interpretations.....

Grey Girl - Fantasy

Oh Yeah Baby, It's Fall!!

Hello Bloggers,

Fall ... time for harvest festivals, Thanksgiving, Halloween, coloured leaves, and long walks.  I've been inspired to paint the colours of the season, and wanted to share the results with you.

First up is an ink and watercolour sketch of Nelson, BC.  Lots of contrast in this journal page - detail and impression, B&W and colour, and organic and architectural. 

Next up is a coloured pencil "painting".  I'm really enjoying working with these Prismacolor pencils.  The process is slow, but I'm loving the outcome...

And to wind things up is my take on Tim Holtz Oct-13 tag of the "12 tags of 2013".  It's all about the glitter - Distress Glitter that is!!  Check out Tim's blog for his awesome tutorial on his Halloween inspired tag.
http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-october/

Here's Terry's Take On Tim's Tag.......



Trust you enjoyed your visit, and

Happy crafting!

Terry 



Coloured Pencil "Paintings"

Hello Bloggers, I want to share with you my new passion - coloured pencil "paintings".  I'm hooked - it's fun to draw your own picture, then colour it (it is a lengthy process though).  The trick lies in applying the colour in layers to achieve depth.  In August I watched a YouTube technique tutorial, and the rest (they say) is history.......

 "Peonies and Roses" is my first "painting"

"Frog Peak" depicts a scene a few miles from my home (I need to work on landscapes)

"Wet Leaves" is my third "painting" and I'm rather proud of how it turned out.  I drew the cream coloured veins quite heavy in one of the first layers and they're still visible 3 layers later.

I use Prismacolor artist quality pencils, a colourless pencil crayon or solvent for blending, and touches of white acrylic paint.

Thanks for visiting,
Terry

Summer Crafts

... ahh, summer weddings ... I've made two special cards ...

one couple are traditional (although their colours are green and purple) ...

Oh Those Lazy Days of Summer.....

June officially kicks off summer and Ranger Ink has another Seasonal Colour Palette Challenge. http://rangerink.com/seasonal-color-palette-june/

Here's my interpretation of Summer Memories using Ranger's colour palette - a birthday card for a special guy.....

... and "yes" I did colour the black and white vintage clipart.

Thanks for visiting, and
Happy crafting
~ Terry ~

June 2013 Tag Inspired by Tim Holtz

Love, love, love this "colour it" tag using distress markers.  Tim included a lot of tips and tricks for using the markers in his tag demo this month.  The background is a mixture of stains, inks and paint - gorgeous!.

The technique is to stamp an image on watercolour paper, colour and blend it with distress markers, then attach it to the coloured tag that is stamped with various images.  I added a spray of Perfect Pearls to finish it off!

Here's my colourful creation (reminds me of our flower garden) ......

Happy crafting :D
~ Terry ~

Princess Dresses

I LoVe garage sales ... Last week I peeked inside a grocery bag at a sale and saw glittery fabric; sure I could use that fabric in a project I added it to my pile of treasures (I got the bag for free).  At home I discovered seven little costumes - all wet, dirty, and torn.  The first order of business was laundry.  They cleaned up not bad - so I ironed them and identified the repairs required.  Some parts had to be removed, others were salvageable, and they all needed a little bling.  I starched the outside materials, rebuilt wings, made ribbon flowers, added lace, ribbon, glitter and sequins and sewed and glued and ..... ta da - here's pictures of the dresses.  (I regret not having taken any "before" pics).

Some little girls are going to be very happy to get this little bundle.

Enjoy your crafting!!

~ Terry ~

My Mona Lisa

Had a lot of fun creating this eclectic multi-media journal page.

Thanks for visiting.
~ Terry ~

Memories of Mom

Hello Bloggers - I wanted to share with you this journal page I finished today.  With Mother's Day fast approaching I was thinking of the Moms who have passed through my life - Mom, Mother-in-law, Grandmothers, Aunties, Great-aunties, Step-Mom, and friends from an earlier generation.
Happy Mother's Day
~ Terry ~

May 2013 Tag Inspired by Tim Holtz

Love Tim's tag using a "remnant rub resist technique" (remnant rubs are Tim's rub-on transfers - GoRgEoUs!).  The process is to rub random small transfers on the tag, then swipe the tag through various distress stains, ink the edges and stamp a variety of images.  The stamping ink can be removed from the rub-ons (or left on).  It's quite a fun technique.  Finish off with various embellishments and some coloured crinkle ribbon.
Voila!!
Here's my take on Tim's May-13 tag technique:

Mon Ami

Another fun to create journal page - water colour portraiture surrounded by collage, stenciling, and stamping

Welcome to MY World

LoTs of FUN creating this layout ...
multi-media includes everything (but the kitchen sink) : doodles, acrylic paint, markers, stencils, drawings, stamps, drywall spackle, coloured pencils, scrapbook paper, magazine cutouts, Mod Podge, gesso, water pastels, washi tape, .....

Remembering.....

feelings, thoughts, memories from days gone by...

collage of a water coloured face, acrylic paint background, doodling, stamping, and letters cut from magazines.

With Spring around the corner - where are your thoughts?

Happy Earth Day 2013 - April 22nd

THE EARTH WITHOUT ART IS JUST EH

photo credit: The Ranger Ink Blog, Seasonal Color Palette: April

Ranger Ink has posted an April challenge to create projects that feature Ranger Ink's earthy color palette.  The quote on their photo speaks volumes to me as a Canadian, eh.  Seriously I love the palette and was overwhelmed with inspiration.

My project began as an art journal page and finished as a greeting card.

Photo Memory Box

Hello Bloggers, today I am sharing  with you a tutorial for an altered wooden photo memory box I made using Graphic 45’s French Country collection paper.  The box has a 4”x 6” photo insert, with lots of room inside to hold treasures.  The techniques are versatile and can be used for a number of projects.  Let your imagination soar.