A bit of painting keeps me happy!

Hello All,

Phew after a frantic week I was very ready for a nice quiet weekend. I have been busy at work having recently taken on a new role which is challenging so I am still trying to get my head around it all. Then I had something on every evening and it all left me totally frazzled. A spot of painting was just what I needed. The kids were playing nicely so I set myself up with a cuppa and worked on my ongoing commission. Here is where I got to:

My daughter who is 7 said looking at it made her feel she was inside the middle of a rainbow where it is raining and sunny at the same time. I love that description :)

Recently I have also taken up a new hobby.... aerial hoops. I love it (despite the inevitable bruises) I love doing something so different and exciting. With this in mind I also, whilst I had my paints out, did a journal spread about it.

page in progress

The figure is me, taken from a photo taken at one of the classes. I like the textured background with the relatively simple spread. It definitely expresses how I feel when I am up on the hoops. 

Back to another busy week now, especially good cause it's my birthday on Friday!

Bye for now xxx 

New pieces in progress

Hello All,

I have been feeling a lot chirpier this week, the sun is shining, its by birthday next week and life is good. Busy but good :)

This weekend I started the third little canvas of my commission. I have added the first few layers, trying to tie it in with the patterns and colours of the two I have done so far. Here is where I got to:

I am not entirely happy with the left hand side yet but it is coming along. I have mostly used inks and pigment powders so far. 

I was enjoying the Moroccan pattern so much I decided to start a journal page using the same:

I started with a really vivid pink but then decided to layer it with the copper colour. I really like the shine on it and it feels like something you might find abroad somewhere like Morocco or Tunisia. I am just not sure where to go next with it. I am letting it sit for a while until I decide.

Its a busy week this week and next but I will try and find some time to finish it off. (and work on the canvas)

Bye for now xxx

Self Esteem

Hello All,

Sometimes I go through periods of low self esteem as I am sure most people do. I have put on a little weight, not enough that would be noticeable to anyone but me but it knocks you a bit. I have to kick myself and be grateful for what I have. Everyone is a different shape and size. Wouldn't it be boring to all be the same! I am active and healthy and that is what should matter. I felt I had to do a art journal spread to give me that kick I needed to snap out of it:

This spread really has many many layers and I just kept adding to it. I started by sticking torn paper towels soaked in ink down then used a pallet knife and acrylic over that. then stencils, doodles, more paint, more stencils  more doodles etc. Finally decided I wanted to do a portrait to represent my self esteem and how I ought to feel about myself. She doesn't look like me she just expresses the confidence I need.

It did help and I do feel much better. That's the beauty of art journaling! 

Bye for now xxxx

Time for a spot of art journaling

Hello All,

There is nothing like finding time for some art journaling. Art journaling is something I love, it really helps to get things into perspective. I use it as a diary or just a place to play with my creativity freely.

Here are a few pages from this last week:

This was definitely a page for experimenting. I found a lovely bright pink acrylic paint that I couldn't wait to use and had carved a little handmade tear drop stamp. I also had made some collage pieces earlier in the week and decided to use one to create a little embellishment with a quote I found that seemed to suit the page perfectly.

This one is in my altered book journal and it was the original background image of a girl looking out of the window that decided where the page was going. I was enjoying playing with texture. My mother in law had given me some old torn lace which I wanted to try out and I also used modelling paste through a stencil. I kept adding colour with acrylics, inks sprays and mica pigment powders but it wasn't quite right. My husband liked the stencil pattern and suggested I add the flowers. It worked brilliantly and reflects my mood at the time, which was happy and peaceful. I finished it with the text 'take a look outside' to express my excitement that spring is finally here!

I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed doing them.

Bye for now! xxx

March Art Swap

Hello All,

Apologies for not posting for a while, it has been the Easter hols and have been busy busy busy with the kids at home.

I did manage to get quite a bit of creating done over the holiday and this included the March art swap. I was partnered with the lovely Lyndsay from Truro and the challenge was to create mixed media bookmarks based on our favorite books. Here is what I made:

The first is one of my favorite quotes from Dr Seuss, the second is Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and the third is Pride and Prejudice. It was difficult to choose my favorites as I do love books but these are ones I have read several times and always come back to when I want a nice read. Lyndsay received them the other day and was very pleased with them.

Here is what she sent me:

Lyndsay chose Pride and Prejudice as well and the other is based on fairy tales. I also got a lovely little bundle of goodies. I really love these, they are full of colour and texture and I especially like the paper beads.

The swap is always good fun, I love getting a surprise parcel each month and trying to create something special for someone else! I look forward to what this month will bring.

Bye for now xxxx