Strathmore Visual Journal week one class

 My selection of art to use for week 1

 Gearing up for a Visual journal class I am taking. I ordered my Strathmore watercolor 140# visual journal and can't wait to get started. In lesson one we are to copy and use artwork we have created and pull together other bits of paper, type, words etc.to add to our page. Many of the originals are in ink from my sketchbooks and some of the Zentangles(R) I have done lately. I think we will be building up the page from this point.

Here are a few of the pieces I have chosen. I am looking at color combinations and possible a black/white look for a completely different effect on an other page.

My journal isn't here yet so I got started on a 140# paper to slip in when it does.

Here I cut pieces and played with the layout.

I used matte medium to attach the pieces down. Another light layer over top.

Turtles ACEO hatching and a swimming for a cause

Ink on Watercolor 2.5 x 3.5

The turtle eggs barred deep in the sand on the beaches of the Gulf are being relocated with hope of better survival.

To read details go to http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/gulf_oil_spill/sea-turtles'-eggs-relocated-due-to-oil 

Art for the rescue of the Wildlife effected by the Oil spill in the Gulf.

A few ACEO cards I contributed along with my 8year old daughter to the web site Ripple. Each sketch card on this blog is $10.00. The $10.00 is a donation to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Every penny is donated. The two Non-Profits that are benefiting are The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center. The artist will mail you the signed card. Be sure to check out older posts as there are many fabulous pieces still available.


i worked in in and watercolor on watercolor paper for the 'Happy town " pieces, all ink work on the Laughing Gull. Taylor used colored pencil on bristol board.
Our contributions: http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/2010/06/89.html and http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/2010/06/family-ripples.html


At the time of this post: $1500. raised!

Open Studio- Model Me, the otherside of the drawing board

                                                      

 all art used with permission from artist

Yikes! My turn when a model did not appear for open studio. The time went fast than I thought it might. I found the sounds of the ticking timer, scratching charcoal, dippen of brushes pleasant from the other side of the drawing board.

Happy New Year!

A little New Years post card I did for Artswappers .

Happy New Year to All of you! Thank you to all of you for stopping by and your support. Here is to a creative year!

Did You Know?

While picking up a few things to finish up the bracelets the kids are giving for Christmas, I had to go through the art department. Did you know- they have packs of paper- watercolor,illustration board,canvas, watercolor and envelopes all ready for a ATC card! I couldn't resist getting a few. Yeah, I cut my scraps down for just this purpose but I just couldn't resist. They are from Strathmore. I found them at my near by Pat Catan's. ($1.57/pk, the ones I picked up:watercolor 10/pk,Smooth Bristol 20/pk).

Maybe you to will enjoy them too.

I plan on not letting weeks get to far away when I can show you some results with them! Hold me to it will ya?

Mini sketchbook to make

OK- I am hooked on the habit of journaling. Or at least trying to journal.I i am now beginging a collection of journals to do 'something wonderful" in. I am picking up wonderful books as I have a hard time risisting. Now I have taken the scraps of watercolor,bristol-whatever good paper i have that I just couldn't toss and began making little matchbook journals for sketching or give away.

I began with trimming them to size. keeping them as big as possible yet, small. The sizes I have going:2.5 x 3 and 3 x 3.5. Using card stock I got in the scrap booking section for the covers I trim it 1/4" wider than the paper on the 11" side. I can get at least 2 'books' out of it with my chosen sizes. My cut cover size for the 3x3.5 s-paper is 3.5 x 8.5.

I then lay my stack of 6 pieces of 140# watercolor paper on the cover. Holding it in place fold one edge over the length. You should have extra at the other side. Folding like a match book. Fold over the edge where you will staple. Remember to staple close to the bottom allowing room for the cover to slip in. I intended on making some embellishments for the covers. Maybe get into some inchies.

making a Recipe Card for the EDM swap

Now that the swap is done I wanted to share my experience with my first swap and how I created my cards.As i was working on them i intended on post the process as I went but not getting to that...I put the notes and images together here.

I gathered some of my favorite cookbooks and a few magizines I have held on to and began the 'study'. i was looking for images of the food, layout on other recipes,just food for the brain.

.
Sketching the recipe card Laying out a couple of 4 x 6 spaces I began to layout my card. I changed recipes though...No longer Strawberry Spinach Salad but some Chicken Skewers. We loves these and make them for all kinds of occasions. I visualized them across the entire card with type over them. Thinking how easy they are to make yet when I am writing the recipe and all of the suggested ingredient choices. It is becoming much more type and over small images than I visually pictured in the beginning.
You know just what package of this or that you buy. Have you ever had to write it? For this exchange I found I didn't know details of size or amounts. My art office is downstairs and I kept running up to the pantry over to the mudroom freezer to look up package sizes. Well, at least I am getting much needed excersize!

After the sketching i scanned and copied it in a very light pencil line. I painted one but found I didn't like that i could change up the veggies as I went because the copy doesn't erase. so back to the old fashioned way. On my light box I traced the lines on the back with a soft 2b pencil and becag to transfere the image to my paper. i had a lot to write so I cut the Strathmore 140# paper to 6"w and left the rest (11") I will trim when they are writen in. Boy I wish we could have used the computer for this part! From the stand point of the doing. On the recieving end...I LOVE

seeing everyones handwriting. After each painting was completed i traced down my title. With Pigma pen I began the writng. (took way to long...) When all was completed I trimmed the bottom off.I then measured 4" down from the top, scored across on the paintng side with, well, a kinda dull steak knife,folded. One or two needed it done again 4 more inches down as i didn"t not write as small as I should have.

Here is a link to all the cards in the swap. hope you enjoyed!http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodlandcreatures/sets/72157605946636504/