Painting With Bloom Stamps: A Quick and Easy Step by Step

I have been having so much fun with Prima's new line of stamps by Jamie Doughtery ... and I wanted to share the fun I had painting these stamps with watercolors. For this project I am currently working on, I am using PH Martin's Hydra watercolors. Papers are by Prima - The Romantique Collection - "Hedgerow"

SOUL FOOD Lessons 2014 - Zorana Technique

Brrrrr...it's cold out there baby!! 17 degrees here in the Northern Virginia area! While I am waiting for Spring to officially arrive, I am keeping busy with the Soul Food 2014 Lessons. This lesson by artist Zorana, was interesting using bronze acrylics and our chalk pencils. It's fascinating to me how these mediums can be manipulated. This lesson showcased the hidden patina in the paint. I love simple palettes too ... so I was very happy with how Zorana's lesson turned out for me.

SOUL FOOD 2014: Lesson Two

Lesson 2 on Soul Food is by artist Gwenn Seemel, who encourages us to sketch using our markers. I felt much more comfortable with this exercise - and I chose to draw my reflection from my Kindle. I used my Pitt Pens, going from light to dark as Gwen instructed. This is definitely something I will do more of - sketching and drawing with not just my pencils - but my markers.

SOUL FOOD 2014: Starting The New Year Off Creatively

The beginning of 2014 is starting off with a creative bang for me. I am currently doing Mystele's Soul Food course - and so far it is taking me far out of my comfort zone.

The first lesson, was a warm up = using a Gelli plate and finding inspiration in the shapes and colors of our print. Well ... I don't have a Gelli Plate - so I used what I had - which was a recycled mouse pad from years ag0, when I suffered from carpal tunnel. This particular mouse pad is almost the exact consistency of the Gelli Plate - so it was perfect for Lesson 1.

While Mystele used an embossing stamp, I chose to add texture using a stencil and Decoart Modeling Paste - then I added color with some gelato sticks.

Since this lesson is a fun - warm up - I tried to go with it...and chose my shapes from what I saw with the paint. I'm not sure this is what I was looking to create - but this is what came out ... I may have to revisit the Gelli Plate method later on - at leaast experiment more with backgrounds.

Trying Bigger Canvas

I've been in such a slump ... and FINALLY I have the urge to paint again. Normally I paint canvas boards and mini canvas ... but this time, I decided to really take my time and try a larger canvas. The size I'm painting on now, is 12x30 ... and it's called a Studio Canvas - the sides are about 3.5 inches wide. This piece is slated for my bedroom ... it will be an angel. PHASE ONE:

PHASE TWO - working on my skintone

What's On My Paint Table

I am using up my stash .... and this weekend I decided to create a cover for my new Summer Art Journal. it will be the cover to my Summer Art Journal. The surface is an 8x8 canvas board - the back is covered with scrap paper from my stash (not shown). As you can see, I've already added eyelets. Also used from my stash - luminare glitter spray that I have had for over 3 years...and this was the spray that convinced me not to ever buy spray again. Well, I transferred the spray to larger Ranger Mister bottles ... and they worked. Another thing on this cover are the little flowers....flowers I've had for about 5 years, LOL. They are the ones you dye .... so I dyed them with the Luminare glitter spray. Her dress and leggings are cut from old papers (Studio Calico) that I've has in my stash for about 3 years. Everything else, I painted using Jo Sonya acrylics.

Trying to Find a Balance

After 15 months I finally started doing mini albums again. I love making mini albums ... but I think I set myself up to fail, when I begin watching all the youtube wonder gals churn out masterpiece, after masterpiece .. and I feel as if what I am doing will never compare.

And then I began to ask myself - why should it?

I need to stay on the path I set for myself ... slowly incorporating my designs into all that I do.

This mini album is one that I started a couple of weeks ago - to get back in the wing of scrappin' and making mini albums. I gave this one to my sister, who is here visiting me from Brooklyn.

I used all old papers that I had ... I haven't bought ANY new supplies in a long time ... and I refuse to by more until I get rid of what I have. So ... for now ... I will busy myself with using the YouTube Wonder Gals for learning the marvelous techniques that they share. Though, I will not let myself be deterred from incorporating my art into all that I do.

Playing with Watercolor

Color me surprised!!!...but I had no idea watercolors could be so vibrant! I'm finally getting around to playing with my collection of Dr. PH Martin's Hydrus line. Right now I'm really just trying to get used to the "feel" of the medium ... but I must say - I'm impressed with the vibrancy of these colors!

Painting with Stamps_Journal in Progress_Part 3

Hello out there ... I've started working on the body of my image - incorporating scrapbook papers and other embellishments. It's a work in progress ... so stay tuned!

Painting With Stamps_Journal in Progress_Painting Faces Part 2

Hello! I get so many messages and emails regarding painting faces -in particular - African American skin tones. So, here is a more detailed and close up look at how I build the layers for a darker skinned face. I always start off with a medium flesh/skin tone paint - in this clip I'm using Jo Sonja skintone (med) for my base coat...then I'm building layers with yellow, green, burgundy, raw sienna and burnt sienna.

Enjoy ... and thanks for watching. Stay tuned for more painted journals... :)

Painting With Stamps_The Journal Cover Part One

Instead of talking through the painting process - which can sometimes be distracting for me - I've opted to just paint ... and added some license free music from Beatpick.com

I am going to let you follow me through my creative process, as I try and decide what I'm going to do with this journal cover ... so stay tuned....and thanks for tuning in.

Playing With Stamps_Art Deco

Sketching the design for this stamp, I was talking to my younger sister Sam. She's always on the go ... pursing her career as a sous chef in New York.

As I was carving the stamp, I thought about how she always seemed to keep her eye on the prize - even if she got a little off course ... nothing really has deterred her from her dream.

She's young ... she's artistic ... feminine ... beautiful.

I am finding inspiration all around me this year ... hope you are too.

Playing With Stamps

I'm having so much fun carving stamps and bringing them to life with the paint brush. Carving is very addictive ... I seem to lose myself in the process ... but I love the results!

New Year ... New Direction

Happy New Year!

It's a wonderful thing to wake up to a new day ... a New Year! I hope everyone brought in the New Year with loved ones, whether at church, at a party or at home tucked in bed warm and comfy!

I am happy to bring in the new year creatively rejuvenated - and going in a new direction this year with my hand carved stamps.

Look for many things int he future from journals, cards...and lots of fun things with fabric! I'm excited and can't wait to share!

Quick and Easy Santa

Painting For Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of the year ... and I could paint for this holiday all year round. On my painting table this week is my tin angel. It's a surface that I have had for a long time - a very nice size - about 16 inches. It comes primed - so all I had to do was start painting. Light pencil sketch:

First base coat:

Adding shading:

Time to change my palette!! (just plain ol' freezer paper)

Adding the hair:

GIVE AWAY TIME!

I am the feature of the October Monthly Artist Interview...on the Merry Whatever blog! Drop by and sign up to win my Giveaway prize ... and then stop by Wymzee Art Friends Blog and read my story.

Updating Those Canvas Bags

If you're like me, over the years you've collected little tote bags...some have logos - some are plain .. but they all seem to pop up here and there.

Now, I'm not one to recycle (SSSHHHH!!!) but while cleaning up my basement, I kept moving a pile of canvas bags from one chair to another ... and I just decided I'd join the wave of bag toting ditching the plastic grocery tote folks.

I normally start with a pencil sketch ... I'e used transfer pencils, charcoal pencils and reg ol' number 2 pencils.

Now I know there are tons of fabric paints out there on the market ... but I ditched those long ago in favor of plain acrylic paint. These bags will be used to tote groceries to and from ... and will most likely rarely see the washing machine. The first layers, I'll scrub in to my fabric with water and glazing medium. I've found glazing medium to work wonderfully in sealing the paint into the fabric, while keeping the painted surface pliable.

Shading on fabric, at least for me, is just as easy as on paper. This is where I left off with my tote last night ... I'll post the finished bag soon!

Here is a pic of another canvas messenger bag that I painted last weekend .. . I love painting on fabric - and painting on canvas is actually my favorite.

For Sherise ... Painting Faces

This is for Sherise who commented on my double canvas post regarding painting with acrylics and darker skintones. I haven't done a video in a while - I need to get back to them - but here is a video I have on my youtube channel where I'm painting a face :

Double Canvas in Progress

Can you believe we are beginning the sixth month of the year!!!! I know I need to kick some things up a notch - the year is 1/2 way complete!! ...so not one to let time go a-wasting ... I'm working on my double canvas today - and so far so good.

Have a great weekend everyone~