Getting Back To The Little Things

Hello All,

Sometimes it's the small scale projects which have the biggest impact. I love working on either index or post cards. They are a small piece of creativity that can be done when you don't have a lot of time for anything else and the results can be really exciting. By restricting yourself to a small area you can really focus on a particular medium or technique and I love seeing where they take me. Here are a few recent cards

In this one I added modelling paste through a stencil then used inks and metallic paint to add colour and gel pens to bring out some of the pattern. I found the text in a magazine which suited it perfectly.

This one is an experiment of adding layers of circles using different mediums and techniques. I finished it with some bottle top art (an even smaller canvas to work on!) and again some text from a magazine.

I hope you like them and hope they inspire you to go out and buy a pack of index cards to have a go!

Bye for now xxx

Creative play

Hello All,

Today I thought I would share a process that I sometimes like to do when I am feeling uninspired. Sometimes I go through a lull and my motivation to create just isn't there. This is when I turn to what I call creative play. I delve into my art supplies and just pick some things that catch my eye..not too much or it is easy to get overwhelmed. On this last occasion I chose spray inks, modeling paste and some stencils, glass bead texture gel, iridescent medium, some ecoline watercolour inks, a few stamps and an ink pad, a few old book pages, and four tubes of craft acrylic.

I then prep some A3 plain paper with some gesso and get to work. Using only what I have picked I just let go and do whatever comes to mind. I don't think too much about it, simply just letting myself play with the colours and mediums and see what happens. Here's what came from this process at the weekend:

Sometimes I really like how they turn out and may add to them to create a finished piece. Other times I just stash them or cut them up and use them in other projects. What is important is that it gets the creative juices flowing again and straight away I feel more inspired. It is very therapeutic to just relax and play with the materials and even if I don't like the results I have spent a happy afternoon anyway.

I definitely recommend it if you have lost your motivation!

Bye for now! xxx 

New painting

Hi All,

I have tried to start the new year as I mean to go on with the start of a new mixed media abstract painting.

I started with the texture with modelling paste and glass bead texture gel both free hand and through various stencils. I then started adding colour to the smooth areas using pigment powders. I decided to use a box canvas and I am enjoying the texture spreading around the sides.

My aim is to ensure that I put aside time every week for painting and hopefully get some of them exhibited somewhere. fingers crossed.

Bye for now xxx

Change

Hello All,

Today I thought I would share an art journaling page I finished at the weekend. I was playing around with layers. This is in my altered book so there is already text on the page to start with. To this I added gesso then modeling paste through a stencil from stencilgirl products designed by Carolyn Dube  Once this had dried I added layer after layer of ink and paint keeping it quite wet and allowing it to drip through the modelling paste. I then drew some circles and added a layer of gesso to everything but these so that the circles really stand out.

I decided to add the butterflies and the word 'change' to reflect the changes in my life recently with my youngest finishing nursery and my eldest finishing infant school. I used stamps on tissue paper to create these and adhered them to the circles using matte medium. Lastly I brightened some areas of the background with ecoline watercolour inks.

I hope you like it! let me know what you think.

Bye for now xxx

Sorting, Tidying, Pies and Rats

Hello All,

This weekend was not a creative one! Most time was spent tidying, sorting, getting rid of rats (grim!) gardening and making pie (yum) When I got around to some art work it was mainly to tidy up the edges of my canvasses.

I did put together a parcel of ephemera as part of this months art swap, which fit in quite nicely with sorting and tidying! And I did manage to start a background for an art journal spread:

Whilst sorting I came across this journal which to be honest I had forgotten about. It is made of brown paper so it is quite different to work with and the fact that it is ring bound creates a different feel to the pages too. It feels a bit disjointed so its not my favorite to work with but I decided to not give in on it and therefore made a start on a background by adding modelling paste through a stencil and adding different stripes of colour over the top. Next I added circles and splats. It felt right to leave some of the brown showing and I have left it as it is now. Where it will take me next who knows but I quite like it so far.

I am in France next week (can't wait) and apart from drinking too much wine, and eating too much cheese I hope to take some art stuff with me and perhaps do some sketching or mini journaling or something....I'll see what I have time for.

I will post when I get back!

Bye for now xxx

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

Starting my new commission.

Hello All,

This weekend I managed to get quite a bit done. I finished the journal a friend had asked me to make for mothers day. And made a heart shaped journal as part of February's art swap (I will post photos at a later date) I also started on the first of three commissioned abstract mixed media canvasses:

This is the first layer of one of the two small canvasses and has been done with modelling paste, pigment powders and silver acrylic. 

Can't wait to get back to it and keep adding those layers!!

Bye for now! xxx

Detail of new piece

Hello All!

I was working on my new canvas last night and using mica powders and brusho pigment powders to add depth and colour (with added shimmer) I really like these at the moment. You only need a tiny amount to create some great effects and they can be used in many different ways. They have a transparency to them which is great for layering. You can add them to different mediums such as modelling paste, gells, pva or water to get different results.

The texture is a combination of modelling paste, paper towels and glass bead texture paste.

More to follow...

Bye for now x x x

Finished piece and straight into a new one!

Hello All,

I finished my canvas! After much deliberation I decided to keep it abstract. I have decided I am obviously into an abstract phase. I am loving playing with colour and texture and seeing where it takes me and when browsing instagram/google etc. it is definitely abstract that has been inspiring me recently.

Here is the finished piece:

I have enjoyed getting my teeth into this one so much and was quite sad when I decided it was finished.... so I immediately started another!

I am really enjoying this one and especially like the glass bead texture gel I have added to the circles, which look fantastic with the light bouncing off them. Like a good book I can't wait to get back to it and see where it takes me next!

Bye for now! xx

Abstract or not?

Hello All,

I have been working a bit more on my new canvas and have now reached that point. You know the one I mean ..... do I carry on or leave it be? do I keep it abstract or add an image? Since last time I have blended in the patterns with inks and you can't tell but it is really shimmery and totally yummy. It reminds me of a stained glass window in the rain.
But is it done? If I add more will I ruin it? Do I add an image or more patterns and texture?

Answers on a postcard please?!?

Bye for now! xxx

New Canvas

Hello All!

This last week I started a new mixed media canvas. I have a pile of canvases in my cupboard that have been there ages, probably years and I thought it was about time I used them. 

I have used modelling paste, stencils, brusho pigment powders, acrylic, ink sprays, ink, gelatos and water colours ..... so far! Really enjoying the colours and textures in this one! The photos don't really show the shimmer that is in places.

I have reached a point now where I am unsure if I should add an image in or leave it abstract. At the moment I am leaning towards the latter as I love the colours and don't want to detract from that. I have it up in the kitchen, I look at it everytime I pass it, usually that helps me to decide. 

What is your vote, image or abstract?!?

Bye for now! xxx

Christmas pom poms and stencil play.

Hello All,

I love Christmas crafts and always try and make something new with my girls each year. This year we went a bit pom pom mad. We made ones to hang on the tree plus enough little ones to make this:

Which is now hanging on my wall :) I wrapped a picture frame and stuck the pom poms on the top. 

My eldest who is 6 has obviously inherited my love for all things creative and loves to draw all the time. She decided this year to draw me pictures to go in my advent calendar. Here a few of them:

It has been fab to find out what she has drawn each day and she has even written little notes on the back for me too! :)

Apart from all things Christmassy I have had time to play with one of my new stencils and created this background:

I used modelling paste, acrylic paint, brusho pigment powers and irridescent ink on this so far. I don't know where it is going to take me next. I felt I had to leave it a while to see where I wanted to go with it. I love the stencil though which was made for me in the last art swap. It may well become one of my favourites! 

If I don't get chance to blog before Christmas now I hope you all have a fantastic one! I for one am really looking forward to it all!

Bye for now! xxx

Show Page

Hello All,

Last weekend I took part in a dance show set in a 1920s speakeasy. It was great fun and I even did my first ever solo eeek! The people involved are such a lovely group and I have really enjoyed working with them and getting to know them all. I am still on quite a high from it all but at the same time feeling quite sad that it is all over. I decided it needed a page in my journal to help me remember, so here it is:

The girl is me in my costume and the other pictures a shots taken at the dress rehearsal. I also used some washi tape and modelling paste through a handmade stencil, acrylic paint, plus a bit of ephemera. Hopefully i'll look back in years to come and remember it all :)

Bye for now. xx