Showing posts with label mixed media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mixed media. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2020

last watercolors for awhile



Although I haven't posted for three weeks, I have spent a little time each weekend creating. The pieces here are from weeks one and two. I don't care for either of them and am about ready to throw in the towel on watercolor. After eight months there continue to be more flops than gems. It's time to move on. This past weekend I put the watercolor supplies away and started my first improvisational quilting project. I had thoroughly enjoyed it and time flew by. I'll post photos, probably my next post. 

Sunday, February 2, 2020

catch up post


It's been nearly three weeks since my last post. I joined a new yoga program that started January 12 and it's been taking increasingly more and more time - far more than I originally anticipated. However, my health is my #1 priority so I'm giving this new program the time it needs. Things will level out a bit after the intensive initial training is complete (end of February) and I transition to "just" continue the practice each day. I've been practicing yoga for 15+ years and have wanted to take it to the next level for the last few years, but didn't act on it until an opportunity appeared late December and rather than overthink it, I jumped on it. So glad I did! The program is beyond excellent. 

Back to creating....  so, I haven't had time to post but I have made time to create here and there. The photo above shows my recent efforts. The landscape was actually done in December, but I didn't get it posted until now. I think it's my favorite to-date. 

Next weekend I'm attending another all-day watercolor workshop. I hope it ignites my waning creativity. There have been many times this month I could've spent more time creating, but just didn't have the energy/drive for it. Part of that was likely work hours/stress, but it's not entirely to blame. We are all in control of our lives, whether we always admit it or not.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

it's all learning


This is a mixed media piece I created this past weekend. I do not like it, BUT, I learned some things while making it, and I do like that. Taking a cue from one of the quotes on my 2020 vision board: Make something today even if it sucks. 👍😊

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

dream the dream


The piece above is one of three galaxy ones I created a couple weekends ago. I've always been mesmerized by space, and decided to try my hand at creating images. It's a fun process with cool results -- pretty sure this will become a regular part of my art. 

Monday, December 2, 2019

discover and joy


I finished the WIP I shared last week. Taking a cue from Gina Lee Kim's book, I added sail boats. It was fun to get my alcohol inks out and play with them on photo paper. The masks are washi tape I trimmed down. The "Discover" is copper I cut, engraved and then burned before using brads to attach it to the piece. 

The Joy piece, below, was a quick little thing I did yesterday - just playing around and experimenting. It reflected how I felt about my Thanksgiving weekend.

 

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

crackin rose


This is the "red" exercise from Gina Lee Kim's book that I'd been following. A vase of flowers isn't something I'd typically choose, but the point is to practice various techniques. I like the way the crackle medium worked on the vase, although it doesn't show up so well in the photograph. 

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

the magic of beginnings


This past weekend I finished the piece I shared as a WIP last week, adding texture and dimension to the tree trunks, more leaves here and there, and a quote.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

fall trees WIP


This week I worked some more on a WIP I started a couple weeks ago. It's slow going, but that's ok. Progress is progress. 

Sunday, September 22, 2019

red poppies


I wasn't in the mood to finish last week's WIP so I started a couple new ones this week, both exercises in Gina Lee Kim's book. I like how the poppy exercise turned out. 

Sunday, September 8, 2019

watercolor stained glass


When I sat down to practice watercolor this week, I was inspired by the beautiful landscape panels at Glass Art Stories.

Monday, September 2, 2019

the trouble is...


I finished two watercolor courses in August, and this month I'm learning from a watercolor book by Gina Lee Kim. I followed her work a few years ago and then forgot about her when I wasn't creating for a couple years. Thankfully, I stumbled on her work again and ordered her book. She reminded me watercolor doesn't have to strictly be watercolor. It can be augmented with other mediums. DUH. I do this all the time with my art but it hadn't yet dawned on me for watercolor. And it was exactly the inspiration I needed after failing miserably at my watercolor practice last week (see below). I felt good for practicing but was very disappointed in the results, frustrated to the point of wanting to return to acrylics. Gina Lee Kim to the rescue! 😊

 

Monday, June 17, 2019

all stitched up


I'm pleased to say my first beaded fabric landscape collage (boy, is that a mouthful) is complete. Is it perfect? Ha! Far from it. Am I happy with it? You bet I am. I dove in and saw this project through to completion, even though there were times when I questioned my sanity. The point is I tried something new, experimented, watched videos for tips (especially helpful for the binding, which I ripped out and started over more than once) and didn't overthink things like I have a tendency to do. I learned a lot on this project but more importantly, had fun and am eager to try my hand at another one. 

Monday, May 27, 2019

decisions


I finished beading the sun this week and debated whether to stop there, making the sun the one focal point, or continue beading other parts of the collage (and if so, which other parts). Knowing when to stop and when to keep going has always been a challenge when I create. As I pondered what to do, I realized if I stopped, I'd never know if adding more would've improved it. If I add more and don't like it, I can undo it or toss it. At least I'll have tried and in the process, practiced the skills I'm seeking to improve. My theme this year is practice, so the decision was then easy. I kept beading. I don't yet know if I like it, but I'm not done. 😉

Sunday, May 19, 2019

beaded fabric landscape collage

This is my current WIP - beading a landscape fabric collage. It's my first venture into sewing (other than mending) for many, many years. A friend who quilts gifted the fabric scraps to me, I watched a couple instructional videos and got started. Once the fabric was all sewn, I decided it needed more oomph so out came the seed beads! I haven't applied seed beads to fabric for over 30 years. 

My mom was an excellent seamstress and I now have her machine alongside mine. I feel her with me as I venture back into sewing, and I remember the younger, more carefree me as I bead. The project is not just fun, but therapeutic.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

creating again

Greetings! Thank you for being patient while I took some time off from creating this year. I had no intention of being away this long, but you know how life goes. If we don't manage our time and energy it manages us and boy, did I learn some lessons this year in that regard. I'm slowly working my way back and with as much grace as I can muster, intend to continue. 

Here are a couple pics from when I made it into the studio recently. The first one was playing with metal and the second one is something new I'm experimenting with. I really like it but haven't completed a piece as yet. The glaze I used the first time was apparently old (go figure, huh? ha!), and ate away at my work so I had to start over. I actually like the colors of the second version more than the first (no photos from that). They look a little like the cosmos to me. Anyway, I ordered some new glaze to try and am anxious to play around some more with the process. If the results are good, I'll add some pieces to the shop. 



Oh, and for those of you who like the stained glass pendants in the shop, I haven't stopped making those. A few are ready to solder but I'd like more ready before getting out the soldering supplies. To make more means replenishing my glass supply, which will require servicing the grinder. Sounds like I'm complaining but it's helpful to know what all is involved when making things. It's not like I'm buying kits from the store and assembling them. As much as possible, I create from scratch. This doesn't make what I do better than what someone else does, it just makes it more authentic for me - more enjoyable and rewarding. And heck, isn't that why we create to begin with? To have fun, express ourselves, learn, explore and refine not just our skills but who we are on the inside? 

"True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done,
the zest of creating things new." ~ Antoine d Saint-Exupery

Believe, 
Di

Sunday, October 27, 2013

life is a medley



The mixed media piece I started 9/15 is complete. It's called "life is a medley" and it was a good reintroduction to several techniques and mediums I hadn't used in quite a while. Not having done much in the craft studio the past year or two, I've gotten quite rusty. The old saying of "use it or lose it" rings true. Last night I ruined one of my favorite brass stencils using it with Friendly Plastic. Silly me forgot to apply a releasing agent of any kind first. Live and learn. If anyone knows how to remove FP from a brass stencil, would you please let me know? I've already spent more time on it than the stencil is worth, but they apparently don't make this one anymore. I searched online as well as our local Michael's and Joann's today to no avail. The local stores no longer carry brass stencils at all. It would seem they had to make room for the hundreds of new items they've added since my last shopping trip many moons ago. GEESH -- talk about being a kid in a candy store! I couldn't believe all the cool stuff the stores are carrying these days. I'm going to have to get busy setting up my Etsy shop in order to earn some spending money! 

On that note, I'm putting on the craft apron and heading to that side of the room. I hope you all have a glorious week ahead. If you're a Snoopy fan like me, don't forget "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will air 7pm CT this Thursday, 10/31. Happy Halloween, everyone! 

Believe, 
Di 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

art for self-improvement

Patience is not one of my strengths, which is why mixed media is good for me. The drying time necessary between layers forces me to practice patience. Of course, there's nothing that says I have to succumb without a bit of a fight -- like a fan rigged up to hasten the drying time. 


Today is my first time getting paint on my fingers for many months. Feels good! My thanks go out to my pal Sheila who had an old board game at her altered art supply sale yesterday, which looked like an excellent beginning background to me. It will be interesting to see how this piece evolves. Heck, it's always interesting -- they rarely end up how I envision them to begin with, IF I even have a beginning vision - ha! Sometimes, you just have to start somewhere. Hey, that makes me think of a quote... 

"I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew.
Writing a poem is discovering."  ~ Robert Frost 

If you create mixed media (or any other art/craft that can't be completed in one sitting), what do you do during the drying time? Do you have several pieces in various stages so you can move from one to another? Is that tough to shift gears? I'd like hearing from you. 

Believe, 
Di

Monday, March 14, 2011

get your craft on

The last few days I've taken a break from job search stuff to nourish my creative side, which, quite frankly, was getting pretty darn cranky about not getting any attention. My husband gave a Zentangle kit to me for Valentine's Day (he rocks!) so I've started playing around a bit with Zentangles. I created and sent holiday cards (yes, I was so late with Christmas/New Year's cards that I sent St. Patrick's Day cards instead ... hey, better late than never, right?), and worked on two backgrounds for new pieces:



I'll share the pieces once completed.

On the book front, I finished reading Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts (excellent!). The last couple of chapters were definitely my favorites, and this book is now residing in my craft room, within easy reach whenever I need inspiration. I started Room by Emma Donoghue (love it!) and will finish Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston tonight. What have you been reading?

Now, in honor of March being National Craft Month, I encourage you to go forth and get your craft on! {smile}

Believe,
Di

Monday, December 20, 2010

haiku expressions - part 4

This is the last post for the collaborative challenge Phyll & I did. Here is the piece I created, followed by two haiku she wrote to express her interpretation of it:



The black hole confounds.
Man ponders its mystery,
But what if it's white?



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I cut the black hole.
A total absence of light
Reflects in my eyes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Aren't these haiku thought-provoking? I really like what Phyll did with them!

As for the art, the background is something I started nearly a year ago and have added various layers to and tinkered with off and on for months, never quite sure what I'd use it for. When it came time for me to create a piece for our collaboration, I knew it would be the perfect starting place. I toyed with making it an underwater scene of some sort, but my love of moon and sun items won and thus it became cosmic space. The sun was made from Friendly Plastic (both stick and pellets) & alcohol inks. The moon too was made of FP. The photo doesn't show it well, but there's pearl ink forming craters. While I liked it the overall piece just like that, my intent was to illustrate balance.... internal balance.... but how? The idea of something busting through intrigued me, so I pursued it, adding the mirror to reflect on the viewer and imply the internal/personal balance breakthrough. Something like that anyway.... When my hubby saw it, his initial reaction was a black hole had consumed our earth. Then he saw it was a mirror and made some wisecrack about the universe revolving around him... LOL!! I like all our interpretations, and love that the piece has a voice at an individual level. It has become one of my favorites.

My thanks go out to Phyll for her creative talents, open mind, willingness to try anything and loads of patience! You are a true gem, Phyll!

Believe...
Di

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

haiku expressions - part 2

Phyll received my art piece so I can safely post a photo of it now. Phyll has a way with words, so I had a difficult time picking just one of several haiku she wrote. One, in particular, touched me, but my muse wasn't successful coming up with just the right visual representation to do it justice so I stepped away a few days and came back. This time, another haiku called to a part of me, and my muse was game! Here's the haiku Phyll wrote along with the piece I made to represent it:

I'm remembering
How mother loved fresh flowers
Tucked in every room.
She left me all her vases.
They don't fill the same.


Next up... we each create something artistic and the other writes a haiku to represent it. This should prove interesting! *smile*

Believe...
Di