Using Stencils or Masks in My Art Journal

This is a journal spread I did a few days ago. I created this one with a butterfly stencil and mask I made myself. I enjoy making my own stencils, I find images on-line, print them out, put a piece of clear acetate ontop (usually I use those 3-ring binder subject dividers, I had a bunch I bought for my kids that were not used), then cut them out with my handy dandy exacto knife. Sometimes I just use a cereal box, cut a square just the size I need, place packing tape over the square then use my exacto knife to cut out my image. I have made several stencils and masks myself and I love using them. I do buy stencils and really enjoy using those too - some things I just can't cut out myself, so I purchase them instead. This spread started out with me just trying out the butterfly stencil and mask after I finished cutting then went from there. I hadn't intended to make a journal page, the plan was to only cut some stencils on this day, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow and let it happen. So I used portfolios, rubber stamps, acrylic paint, distress ink, cut out more butterflies and thought I was done. But it needed something more so I found and added a quote that seemed to fit. I really like how it turned out. I definitely surprised myself with this one, it just happened. Love it when it does!

Recent Journal Spread

This is my most recent journal spread from an Art Geeks prompt "Flowers For Her Hair". The prompt called for some kind of quilting effect in the spread. I started by putting gesso on my pages, once that was dry I chose two colors of blue and painted the pages (I didn't cover all of it with the blues, left some white spots), I tore small squares from several different scrap papers and then glued them down with matte medium in a random pattern making sure I didn't put the same designs next to each other and leaving a few blocks of the blue paint showing. After that dried I put a watery wash of gesso on top, then wiped some of it away with a baby wipe. I used stamps and stencils with different colors of acrylic paint to add more effects to the background. On a separate piece of sketch paper I drew my girls face and a bit of her hair, then cut her out and glued her to the page using matte medium. I then colored her and her hair using watercolor pencils and acrylic paints. I used a homemade rose stencil with several colors of purple to add some juicy layers to her hair, then used a purple gel pen to outline. I added some cute little blue flowers to kind of bring her together with the background and using my fingers to wipe paint on added some light blue paint to take a few areas down a bit. I like how it turned out but also see some areas I would like to improve but I'm not going to touch this one anymore it will be improved on in the next spread. I am calling this one finished. Thanks for viewing!

Update

I don't know why I can't just keep my blog updated. I do apologize for being off for so long. I have still been making art but I just have not been posting much. I am going to try to make more of an effort to post what I have been up to and keep this up-to-date, I guess I just wonder if what I say is very important. I wonder sometimes if I have anything to say that is interesting? Hmmm. I really just want to get my art seen and maybe have some people comment that aren't relatives that are being nice to me. Lol!

I recently was part of a challenge for Dede Willingham (inkiwell) who has a regular Ustream show on Weds and Thurs mornings at 9am. I found her in March, have been inspired by her and learned a lot, met a lot of other wonderful artists, discovered a lot of new things. So she was working out of a bin containing a bunch of her scraps, leftovers she didn't use in her artwork and she said she was willing to send out 2 ATCs and a handful of scraps to anyone who wanted to try to put something together then send it back to her to swap. I had never done anything like it before and decided to participate. She sent me my ATCs and scraps, then fear set in. What could I make? Would it look okay? Would anyone want my ATCs? But I got inspired and got over it. I all of a sudden had a theme and then I was able to create 5 ATCs - I surprised myself! Then before I could change my minde I mailed them out to Dede.

ATCs are Artist Trading Cards, they are the size of baseball cards, playing cards and are traded not sold.

Here are the ATCs I created. I went with a ballerina theme, its what came to me when I started working on them even though I don't watch a lot of ballet and have never been in a dance class. It was a lot of fun and I did get positive comments. Now I am looking forward to participating in more art challenges.

Here is Dede's website: www.inkiwell.blogspot.com and she had mixed media streams on Ustream on Weds and Thurs at 9am, she is found at inkiwell.

More faces #25 - 29 Thanks for viewing and any comments are welcomed!! :)

More faces #17 - 24. Thanks for viewing :)

I'm Back!

I can't believe how fast the time got away from me! I just got busy with Mother's Day, then putting in a brand new garden (that was harder than I thought it was gonna be!), then my husband Tim hurt his left knee which was followed up with an ER visit, x-rays, doctor appt, MRI, another doctor appt, then surgery and me taking care of him while he was recovering until he went back to work. During this time we had issues with our computer and then internet issues, as well. Since Tim's issues were more urgent we let the computer/internet slide for a bit. Now he is back to work and the computer and internet are good to go. I kept up with 29 Faces in May and posted my faces on the FaceBook group by using my cell phone but couldn't post them on my blog until now. So I am going to get my faces posted and try to be more active on my blog. Thanks for following me, checking in on me and I am sorry I let it go for so long. Here are some faces: 12 - 16

Face #11. For 29 Faces I have been trying something different everyday. I look at different faces on youtube, magazines, internet, and even our 29 Faces group and then try to do something similar. This one isn't as cute as the ones I was looking at and I will have to try again. I used Prisma colored pencils for this one. I am not liking it very much. Tomorrow is another day.....thanks for viewing!

Here is my Face #10. I was trying to capture a screaming face. Some days I feel just like this! I used Neocolor II watersoluble crayons, Prismacolor watercolor pencils and acrylic paints for this one. It was a tough one for me because I have never done a face at an angle, this was my first one. But I am proud of myself for doing something different. Thanks for viewing! :)

Here is my Face #9. I had a busy day yesturday and just didn't get to it so I am posting it today. I am working on the next face and will be posting it later today. I wanted to try something scary. I think it turned out kind of okay. I was inspired by Christine E. Striemer, she creates some pretty scary faces that will give you nightmares. I don't think mine is quite as scary as hers but it was fun creating it. Thanks for viewing!

Here is Face #8. I have a confession to make, I wasn't planning on making a face today because I was in such a bad mood and wasn't feeling creative AT ALL. But I was so upset that the only thing to put me in a better mood would be to draw something so I did. I'm glad I did because she turned out better than I thought. With this face I just used a woodless graphite pencil, a stump, and an eraser. Thanks for viewing! <3

Here is Face #7. Decided to try something different and make a pixie face. I have been working on a lot of different backgrounds and everyday decide on what kind of face I want to make. Today, I was looking at the artwork of Amy Brown and I was inspired to try my hand at it. I am not even near as good as she is, but I just keep on practicing. Thanks for viewing!

Here it is....Face #6. Another busy day kept me from working on it sooner. I almost didn't work on one today and was going to make two faces tomorrow but I felt like going ahead with it. I did a sketch,  used colored pencils and black pen. Thanks for viewing!

Here is my Face #5. Had a very busy day trying to get some neglected housework done and also trying to get some sun since it finally decided to come out today. Played with my doggies outside and searched through the mess in my huge garage/storage building and found some art books, old magazines and canvases I totally forgot about!! It's like I found treasure!! So late start on my face but still keeping up. I just did a charcoal sketch today. Thanks for viewing! <3

Here is my Face #4. I did this one with a combination of Neo II watercolor crayons and acrylic paint. I like how she turned out. I am still worried about the hair, I need to get over it! I am having so much fun with these faces and I feel like I am getting a bit better everyday. Thanks for viewing!

Why does it seem that no matter how early I start I just keep getting later and later finishing my faces? Tomorrow I will start even earlier!!! Anyhow, here is Face #3. I drew my face then colored it with prisma colored pencils but it didn't show up so well in the picture. I then cut it out and used matte medium to glue it to the background. Then I used acrylic paint for the hair, which I'm not so good at, hair that is. I wonder if I should have used a larger background? Hmmm....Anyway, tomorrow is another day. Thanks for viewing!

Here is Face #2. It took a couple of tries but I like the outcome. I used only one color!! Got this from an Art Geeks prompt for April that I didn't end up doing but has been on my mind ever since. So I figured I would give it a try. I saw a youtube video from missmitchell1986 and it gave me some inspiration. She is very good and if you have the chance give her a look. She does a lot of faces. This has been so much fun and I am happy I am participating. Thanks for viewing!

Okay, so here is my first face. It's a bit late but I had a busy day today so I started on it later than I wanted. I tried sort of a sketchy look but I am not really loving it but the good thing is there is always tomorrow.......:) Thanks for looking!

Starting tomorrow! Yay!

29 Faces in May

So I have decided that I am going to participate in 29 Faces in May. Basically we are going to draw, paint, make 29 faces in 31 days and post them to our blogs. It sounds pretty cool and it will require me to do some art everyday which is what I need to do! I figured I should participate in something that will force me to be creative as much as possible. I plan on keeping up and I am excited and nervous but that's okay!

Newbie blogger

Hello! I am new to this blogging thing so forgive me if I am slow at getting started. I am editing this and that, will be uploading some pictures soon, making changes and hopefully getting things going with my new blog. It's pretty exciting and scary too, as I have never done this before! Bear with me and thanks for stopping by. ;)