Two Inspiration Wednesdays

Here are two spreads for the past two Inspiration Wednesdays which I completed this week…..I got behind.  I love doing art with other artists because then I get ideas that I have a record of so I can look back and repeat them.  I love these circles with the glaze and shading; it makes them pop off the page.  Donna Downey's left hand page didn't have a butterfly or anything on it except the paint and paste, but I wanted to add something and found this butterfly that I had stamped onto  a clear window sheet.  I coloured it with the glazes/paint I used on the pages, but I put the paint on the underside of the window sheet so that the ink wouldn't be disturbed, or I didn't have to worry quite so much about painting inside the lines.

I'm trying to keep my word of the year "Release" on every page.  My "Find Release" was done with a bronze sharpie.

Donna Downey covered her pages, for this week with two kinds of patterned wrapping paper.  I used a new roll of paper that I got just for arting, so I was happy to open it up.  Then I found so fun funky coloured letters for form my "Release" and an arrow pointing the way.  The stamps were a random addition, but I like the ones from Spain because they're so bright and go with the paper.

The paper I used on my second page was from Stampin'Up! last year - it was cotton paper  and is nice to use in arting although I never used it for cards.  I found three white feathers in my stash from my walks and I coloured them with both "Stained" or "Brush Tipped" Sharpies to go along with the feathers on the wrapping paper.

These were both fun pages to do.

Create something everyday…..even if I don't get things posted everyday.

Joan

"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web. "

Pablo Picasso

Ode to Orange

Here is my completed orange piece.  After I outlined all the pieces, I went in a wrote how I felt about orange.  It is not a colour that I use very often in art, but I do like it in nature.  And, to be honest, most of the pieces I have done with orange have been ones that I don't mind.

The writing is in sentences, but the words jump around from piece to piece  so it takes a bit to make some sense of it.

Create something everyday.

Joan

No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist. 

Oscar Wilde

One Finished, Three works in progress

I created another set of houses on a mint background.  I made my own mint paint so that the trees didn't clash.  I like these wonky little villages.

I came in close to take a picture of this mandala; which is  on a canvas.  I have a bit more to do on it before I add a quote or word of some sort.

I always take an altered book to a doctor's office so I can pas the time creating.  I'm bling to outline all the dark pieces and then write words inside of them…..I think.

Finally  here s another neighbourhood underway - this time a neutral background and I will be keeping the houses sort of neutral too.

Create something everyday.

Joan

"An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way."

 Charles Bukowski

Zentangle on Canvas

I created this background with leftover paint from another project last week and have been working on this zentangle.  I find it very relaxing to sit and do the tangles, and I'm getting better now at embellishing them a wee bit too.  Practice, Practice, Practice.

Create something everyday - even if it's continuing to work on something over a number of days.

Joan

"Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.

Leo Tolstoy

Patchwork and Texture

Last week I created a random patchwork pattern on a canvas thinking I paint another set of houses on it.  I decided that the background was too busy and too many colours so I decided to just create the mixed media canvas you see below.

First I put a light wash of creamy coloured paint over the patches to push them into the background.  Next I added some stencilling in two different colours.  I had some corrugated cardboard for IKEA, along with some other specialty papers which I layered and this cool straw like "paper" which I tore apart to add.  I've been debating whether to add words or not - but I think I'll just leave it the way it is.

Create something everyday - remember there's no mistakes - only creative opportunities.

Joan

Plaid and Transparent Muse

                                      

Well I had fun with this Muse prompt  - Plaid.  As soon as I saw it I knew I had to pull out the few little scraps of tartans that I have….from my wedding 30 years ago.  Annnnnyway - I fashioned little kilts/skirts and drew little people  - who are suppose to have their hands behind their backs!!

This prompt for Muse30 was Transparent.  I had fun with this one!  I sprayed some metallic inks onto the background and then added printed tissue papers, napkins and washi tape.  For the lettering I stamped the letters of the word with permanent ink onto clear window sheets and punched them out; adhering them to the page with Self Leveling Gel because I know for sure they will stay stuck.  Tons of fun.

Create something everyday.

Joan

"To be an artist is to believe in life"  Henry Moore

Sunny Flowers

I had started this background a number of days ago and this past Wednesday evening I couldn't help but go outside onto the deck to start filling in the colour.  It was 8:00pm and the sun was still well above the horizon so I took my book, paints and tunes and had a very pleasant evening.

I did end up coming inside to finish things up and put the words on.  I think I need a lot of practise blending colours - some of the colour changes on these flowers are pretty "square" and abrupt.  Oh well, practise, practise, practise!

Create something everyday - even if it's something you've created before.

Joan

"Art is a natural as sunshine and a vital as nourishment."

MaryAnn F. Kohl