Starting The May Art Swap

Just a quick post this morning as I have started to work on my May art swap and am feeling quite excited by it! The theme this month is bunting/banners and we have to create 5 standard envelope sized flags.

Since I am going camping next week I have started to work on mine straight away even though I haven't yet been assigned a partner so I can get it done in time. I have nearly finished two flags and made a start on the remaining three. I am using a mixed media background with some paintings of songbirds, collage, paper flowers and some textile pieces.

I cannot post a photo as I wouldn't want to spoil any suprises but I have decided to film the last three so there should be a video on the way!

Since I cannot post an arty picture, here is one crazy one of me taken from my weekend trip to Ikea :Z

Pretending to be one of the storms from big trouble in little china - got some very strange looks!

The after shot

Hello all! The other day I posted a picture of a background I had painted so I could show you a before and after shot..... well here is the finished painting!

I am feeling really inspired at the moment and really enjoying painting again. I think I even have managed to get a commision from a lady who would like a portrait with mixed media. I will definitley be doing more! Just have to keep in mind I still have many journals to make for my upcoming craft stall and some more classses to arrange! Plus I have signed up for this months art swap on journal workshops and this time it is to make some arty bunting/banners, so that should be good fun.
I am going camping next week with family for half term so not going to be able to get a great deal done then, but I will take my Art Journaling travel kit and try and do a few pages.
Bye for now! xx

Spring Dreams

Hello all! so here is the finished piece! I decided to use it as my monthly challenge piece, the theme of which was 'Spring Dreams'

 

The text is a quote by Brian Andreas which reads "The birds brought seeds and flowers and bits of brightly coloured string and placed them in her hair while she slept so that she would remember the wild joy of spring when she finally awoke."

I am really pleased with how the whole thing has turned out and it has inspired me to do more!

Background

Hello all, Feeling so inspired since my painting the other day. I loved trying to combine it with the mixed media and can't wait to try out another piece. Last night I set about creating a background for another painting. I thought I would share this so you will be able to see a before and after (hoping that the painting goes well now :z)

 

I started the background by making up some gelli plate prints and then ripping these and sticking down the pieces. I then added acrylic paint and some stencilling over the top.

Picking those paint brushes back up!

Lately I have really felt like I need to get back to doing some more painting. I used to paint landscapes all the time but since having kids I haven't had the time. Now that they are 6 and 3 it is time to get back into it!

I have often felt that I would like to try more portraits in combination with the art journaling and mixed media work. So I made a start over this last week .....

This is just a detail of a larger piece I am working on, it is not finished but I wanted to share this. I have really enjoyed painting this girly, it has really inspired me to do more! I will share the finished piece soon!

And another one!

Hello all, I decided to film my late monthly challenge page (create a mythical creature) as I wanted to try out the new camera and desk tripod. So here it is, another one already!

Please feel free to leave me a comment, it would be nice to get some feedback so I can carry on improving!

New Vid!

Well at last here it is! It is a lot better than the first I think but still could be better. The more I do the better I will get at it. I got a tripod for my birthday so will be trying another tonight with that. This Video shows me making two mixed media index cards, one of which I sent to Katie Reid as part of the Art Swap group as I mentioned in my last post.

This is the piece I sent to Katie Reid 

Better late than never!

Hello all! So I ran out of time on April's monthly challenge but decided to go ahead and still have a go. The theme was 'create a mythical creature' so this is what I came up with.

The name Dewrder is Welsh for courage, I came up with that because he seems to be clenching his fists as if trying to pluck up the courage or in an attempt to be brave!
The new monthly challenge theme for May is 'Spring Dreams' so I will get my thinking cap on for that one!

My Swap

Here is what I received from the lovely Katie Reid as part of the Art Swap Group (at journalworkshops.ning.com)

I really like it and it arrived on my birthday so it was a lovely extra present for me. I have really enjoyed this swap and already looking forward to this months! I will post up what I sent to Katie and a video tutorial once I have confirmation that she has received it.