Paint Mojo was so much fun!!!

Hi pals!  Holy Moly!  Where is October rushing off to?  Eeeek!  It's slipping between my fingers!  Today I'm snuggled up warm and cozy in the family room, getting caught up on paperwork and "computer stuff."  Took the doggies to the dog park to run...and it was COLD out there!  They are predicting snow here in Iowa tomorrow....ugh!  I'm so not ready for that.  Not before Halloween, please!!!  Well, I've been meaning to share some pics from a recent outing I had with my dear friend, Erin. 

In early October, we attended a Paint Mojo workshop with the wonderful, fabulous Tracy Verdugo!!

The class was held in the lovely countryside outside Spring Green, Wisconsin.  (not far from The House on the Rock)  Rolling hills, fresh air, and a REALLY fun group of ladies ready to get down and dirty with their paints! 

It was an amazing, eye opening experience for me, with several uncomfortable moments that I had to push through.  We worked a lot with symbols that were important to us, and learning to create how a "feeling" looks in paint.  It was very intuitive, and took some bravery!

These two sassy ladies were our table mates for the weekend, and we had SO much fun with them!  Vivacious Viv!  I found out I had a lot in common with her, as we both have creative businesses.  We are so used to producing things for other people....making things that sell....that we often forget to make for the sake of making.  Creating for our own enjoyment, without an end result in mind.

And Vanessa the art fairy joined us at our table too!  She was prolific!  She completed six paintings that weekend!  I marveled at how free and crazy she was with her painting.....and she let me borrow her Montana paint markers....now I need to buy THOSE!!!

 

We started by putting symbols on our canvas that had meaning for us...using paints, and various mark making tools...including this stamp that I carved out of foam.....oh, and I used my hand too! 

 

 

Lots and lots of layering....turning the canvas constantly, and not getting too attached to anything we've already placed there.

 

 

This is me, in my painting overalls (my favorite thing to paint in!) at the end of the first day!

It was so hard to stop!!!

 

 

The next day, we spent some time as a group, doing show and tell, and talking about what we saw in each others paintings.  That was a lot of fun!  I ended up working on something abstract, which is unusual for m.  I started covering different parts of the canvas up...revealing and adding value to the lovely layers I had created.

 

 

And here we are, at the end of the workshop, with our pretty much finished pieces.  I still want to tweak mine a little bit...but for now, am enjoying staring at it now and then.  I don't think I want to part with it....so will hang it in the living room.  This was such a GREAT weekend, and I was so happy to share it with Erin, a true blue friend whom I always enjoy spending time with...and it's fun to be with like minded individuals who get excited about the same things.

 

 

Tracy was a fabulous instructor, and I would gladly spend time with her in class again and again!  So inspiring, so warm, and so much FUN!!!

 

 

Tracy has a new book coming out!  You can pre-order it on Amazon HERE! 

Check it out!  You won't regret it!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Magic Hand Journal Page, and I love October!

Hi again, friends!  We have a lot to catch up on, as I just returned from a fabulous art retreat this past weekend, with my friend Erin.....but I'm still getting caught up on my photos, emails, work, etc...so for now, I'm going to share another journal page in my Canson Mixed Media book.  I'm not entirely sure this one is complete...its doesn't feel like it is....but I'm letting it rest for now.

 

This one was made with acrylic paints (as always!) tissue papers, and washi tape.

 

The "eye" showed up in some hand painted paper I had in my stash.  And the scalloped edge is actually a cut scalloped edge, allowing the page behind it to peek through. 

 

And I love adding my little pencil markings here and there for good measure!

 

More to come soon!  How are you?  Are the leaves changing beautifully? 

It's getting gorgeous and chilly here.  Love it!

2013 Harvest Moon Chocolate Walk!

 

It's tomorrow night!  Don't miss it!!

 

True Heroes Journal Page

 

I swear, I haven't been shirking on my responsibilities!  These are pages I got done early last month, and I'm finally getting around to sharing them!  HA!  This page in my journal started out with some spray ink through a stencil, layered with bits of paper, and lots of acrylics.  The flower developed next, using papers and paint, and a bit of charcoal pencil which I am currently addicted to.  I've found it a quick easy way to add definition to my art, and give it a casual, smudgy look. 

 

 

The quote came later, after looking through my notebook of inspiring words/quotes.  I love the idea of dissecting my pages too...."chopping" it up and focusing on different parts of the page individually.  This will be fun to reprint and use on other pieces.

 

Lift On Up Journal Page

 

Hi friends!  When I can, I've been dabbling in my art journal again, and having a ball!  As I said previously, I'm using things up....and my journal is the perfect place for excess paint that I can't afford to waste, scraps of paper I can't bear to throw away, etc.  Just thought I'd pop in and share a recent page I completed in my Canson XL 9x12 Mixed Media book.  I love this book!!  I glue only two pages together at a time, and it's plenty sturdy for all the layers I like to throw in there!

 

 

 

 

I was feeling REALLY happy the day I made this. 

 

 

 

Do you ever feel like you could just lift right up off the ground?

 

 

 

Look out! I'm using up my supplies!

I am on one of those tangents again....that is, trying to use up supplies that I've had lying around forever.  Just grabbing things that are in my way, and using them up....painting them up, slapping things together and making them work.  My family seriously needs to keep moving and stay out of my way, for fear of being painted or embellished!  Part of this kick is wanting to be out with the old, in with the new....creating new energy...shifting things around.  Know what I mean?  Just thought I'd give you a little peek at what I've been getting done in the studio these days......

 

Here are some Halloweeny items in progress....candlesticks and funky witch hats will make fab dinner party decorations! 

 

 

This is an old window shutter that I turned into wall art with some paint, collage papers and doodling with various pens/charcoal pencils......

 

 

Some itty bitty gift boxes, perfect for a little dab of candy...yes?

 

And a super fun "pouting" chair......

 

And these are a couple of canvases that I had started months ago....but became bored with them, and stashed them away.  I revisited them last week.  Some drips and scribbles, and inspiring words made me feel a little better about everything. 

 

What are you redoing, and giving a new lease on life?

 

Recycled Mini Art Journal - Part 1

As I mentioned before, I've fallen in love again with art journaling.  I've been playing on a more regular basis in my altered books and journals for the past few weeks.  And it feels so good!  I have some sharing to do here on the blog...but we will need to catch up on that another day. 

For now, I have to tell you about this little "challenge" that my super fun, super cool, super artsy friend, Erin and I are doing! 

 



Last year, for my birthday, my hubby treated me to a most wonderful gift indeed....a visit to a high end ladies undergarment store in Chicago.  Now before you get all hot under the collar, this was just so I could get some good bras that actually fit!  When you are ahem, well endowed, certain sizes are hard to find around here...not to mention it's hard to find any salespeople who really know how to fit bras properly.  Anyway, this was such a wonderful gift....I got some great items, and was truly pampered while I was there.  Loved it, would absolutely go back!  Click HERE for their website.

 

 

Soooo....what does this have to do with art journaling, you ask?  Well....along with my newly bought treasures, they included some small booklets, promoting certain lines they carry.....and I don't know why....I just hung onto them....I loved the size and feel of them.

 

  I wasn't planning to buy from them, but I just couldn't part with them.  There are two booklets, approximately five and half inches square, made from a heavy quality paper.  Just a fun size! Finally, a light bulb went off, and I remembered my friend Erin talking about how she wanted to challenge herself creatively this year.

 

 

I am also ready to shake some things up, creatively speaking.

 

  I enjoy seeing blog posts from artists like Samie and Roben Marie, doing swaps and challenges with their friends....so I proposed to Erin that she take one of the booklets, and we would each turn them into a mini art journal.  We do not yet have our themes nailed down....I'm not even sure how "strict" we will be with our themes/journal prompts.  For now, we are prepping the pages. 

 

 

Tonight, I got most of the pages prepped with gesso, and dried them with the heat gun.

Goodbye, beautiful girl!  I must cover you up and have some fun!!

 

 

Stay tuned, we will share what develops again soon!!! 

You can find Erin over at her blog HERE.

What sorts of "recycled items" do you like to journal with?

 

 

 

Painted Paper Love

 

I have been falling in love with art journaling again....and digging through my supply stash, I came across some of my painted papers.  I use these in some of my collage work...especially the faces.

 

 

They simply make me smile.  And stare.  Above page was just watercolors being dripped randomly onto the paper, then a wash of yellow to brighten it up.

 

This one was stamping, repeatedly with various foam stamps...store bought and handmade.

Then painted around the shapes with acrylics.

 

This is random brush strokes, then a pattern painted over the top with white gesso.  I love how the gesso absorbed some of the colors underneath it.

 

 

This one is my fave!  All acrylic paints....random brush strokes, then "obliterated" with a pop of fresh pink mixed with white gesso.  I almost love this one too much to cut it up.

 

I know, I know....I should use it.  Someday! 

But for now I will hoard it.

Happy Friday!

New Etsy Goodies!

 

 

 

Got some new goodies added to the Etsy shop!

Click HERE to go check them out!

Candlesticks, postcards, ornaments!  Oh my!

 

 



I Choose Joy

Don't care what anybody says....happiness is a decision.

Period.

Luna's fun house!

Hi there!  Happy Thursday!  Just a quick show and tell today....this is a dog house I painted for this crazy little pup with an underbite, named Luna!  I had so much fun doing this for her.  If you met Luna, you would understand fully why she needs a pad like this!  My process was really easy, since this is going to be an indoor playhouse for Luna.  (Luna's mom has the condo TRICKED OUT in Dreaming Bear creations already, so this fit right in!)

To start,  I gave it a light sanding, added a couple coats of primer, and painted it with bright water based acrylic paints.  A couple coats of Polycrylic sealed the deal and gave it a nice shine.  I'm hoping to receive some pics of Luna in her house soon!  Have a great day!

Derby Fun

 

Wow, what a weekend!  Saturday morning, Lovin Man got up and competed in the Squaw Creek Army Challenge.  He did great!  I'm so proud of him!  And in the afternoon, my team and I traveled to Leaf River, IL to play the River Demons on their home turf.  It was amazing!  We came back from a 40 point deficit, to win!  Very cool, very exciting to get our act together, figure out what needs to be done, and get it done!

 

There's something special about these ladies. 

 

 

 

Derby has brought out a part of me that I love.  I'm constantly challenging myself, pushing myself, and trying new things.  It's not just a challenge physically....it's a challenge mentally and emotionally.  You are really putting yourself out there when you play.  And that takes guts.  And bravery. And moxie.  These ladies have got that, and then some.  I'm blessed to have some of it rub off on me!  Lovin Man and I have both come a long way in the past year on our path to over all wellness and fitness.  We are doing things we never would have dreamed of last year.

 

 

And that's just plain fun.  :)