Painting Peek: Without

Another deadline is coming up next month, and so I'm pushing through ideas, any ideas, whatever comes to mind. I feel like I'm setting my bar a little higher than usual, and have not quite been reaching it. I have three weeks to come up with something I can be proud of. 



I like this little painting! So fascinated by the raised texture of the buttons and the papers. Love the edge where the white paint stops and I can see the colourful layers underneath. It almost makes it look like a print. She might not be perfect enough for this deadline though.



Quick garden update:  We had some gusty winds yesterday but everyone's alright (blueberry spent the night indoors). The mini roses are very unhappy though and turning yellow. I don't know why.

Art Journal -Simple Rain

Fly Away

I am so in love with these wooden panels thanks to Nolwenn.  I love the smooth, solid texture of them. I love the way the image wraps around the side so that it is truly ready for hanging, no framing necessary.



Artists who just wrap the edges with black tape, take note: you are missing out on a beautiful effect! It can be hard to remember though... to continue the pattern around a corner, to spread the gel medium along the side of the panel only to accidentally squash it when you pick it up later. It happens.



But I'm also leaving the realm of Compact Storage. I originally went back to painting on paper so that I could keep painting without having to take up storage space. But these... these I almost want to make hundreds and line my walls with them!

Daydream Prisoner

Music: "Travel Light" Kevin MacLeod

Available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/130379791/original-art-mixed-media-daydream

For many of us, an innocent daydream is our way of getting through the day. Our dream house, our dream career... The first step to getting what you want is knowing what you want.

But daydreams can be dangerous too. They are an escape from reality which brings us comfort. Don't get too comfortable in the daydream... or you may forget to turn your dream into reality.

Balcony Garden - April 2013

I'm not very good at gardening at all, so I feel super self-conscious when out on the balcony, fussing away. I often wonder if the many people who can see me are shaking their heads and wondering what new plant I'm going to kill this year? Are you also a black thumb? There are a few plants which seem impossible to kill.

Tomatoes are good! That is, they generally survive the summer. Sometimes I will get some tiny, undersized tomatoes and they taste so incredibly sweet that going back to flavourless grocery store tomatoes is awfully depressing. I try to keep an eye out for "patio" tomatoes, because that can only help me, right?

Strawberries are also a winner. For me, they are the easiest thing to grow. I haven't lost a single one! And sometimes they multiply! If my balcony is covered with nothing but strawberries I think I would be okay with that. 

This is last year's clover. I thought it died. That would have been embarrassing. Yes, I can even kill weeds. This guy is actually starting to perk up after lots of water. I actually cut him in half since I considered him a lost cause but he's looking way better now. 

Here's another perennial that I can't keep alive. What. Most 4" mini roses are actually four roses in one container. Two of them came back last year, and this year, they both turned into sticks. I don't know why I'm so terrible with them. One of this year's roses is already dying, but it hardly had any roots to begin with so no mystery there! 

Well it's more like "baby" chard, because I put them in such small containers. I've already eaten some and it was yummy. 

For a super duper risk-taking adventure, I have a blueberry! Aaah! I already have him in the wrong shape of container (way to go, me). From what I hear, they need other blueberry plants to make fruit, so if this one survives next year, I can find him a buddy. I have to pinch all of his flowers off, anyway. Fingers crossed. 

Other friends: hopefully some nasturtiums (another weed I can't keep alive) and cat grass for the kittehs. And somehow the calamondin is still alive after three years! Not well, mind you, but alive! 

Future updates will likely be grim. Though I have a good feeling about this one. 

In actual art news, the two little wood paintings are listed in the shop!

Art Journal Page - Daydream

Adventures in Scrapbooking

I figured I might as well try out this fancy scrapbooking stuff, since it's really only one step away from art journaling. I really like working around a photo. I mean... with art journaling, everything is from scratch and I have to come up with some kind of focus point. In a scrapbook, the focus point is the photograph!



I still occasionally collect photos for what is commonly known as "365" project. Except instead of taking a photo every day, it's more like... five a month. At the most. But who's counting?

I love the little pictures though I can never decide how to keep them!

It's not as fancy as a lot of the pages I see, but I think this could work!

Seasons Change

A couple of new little mini paintings in the shop!  Sweet little pastel watercolour patterns with tiny little sketches over them.



I'm digging the "pale" look of these.
  
So at the show in Delta, apparently I received an Award of Merit! Cool! I don't actually know what an award of Merit is, but I'm more than happy to receive one!



Today I am feeling the world spinning much faster than I can follow. A bit dazed from recent tragedies in the news. A bit tired from the weather changes, late nights and other excitement. But I also feel somewhat determined to enjoy every little bit of what I've got.

Art Journal Page - Smile

Uplands Elementary Craft fair

Just about to head out to the Uplands Elementary Craft Fair. It will be a long, fun day. If you're in the area, come hang out! 4471 207a Street, Langley BC

Journal Post - 4/9/13

Here's an extra journal page this week. I've been rather non-enthusiastic about preparing for this saturday's craft show and this grey weather has me wiped out. When I'm not inspecting frames and building props, I'm digging around in the planterboxes! 

I doodled my spindly little chard plants I bought cheap at a grocery store... floppy and awkward and now, being pelted with rain. I... I don't know what to do with them. The whole balcony needs a wash and reorganize so I'll post garden pics later. 

(They will not be impressive :P )

In the meantime, I'm in the last signature of this journal and in a few weeks I will be playing with a journal that was created by someone else! 

*Gasp*

It will be very very different. And challenging. And frustrating. Such is life.

Prep for Uplands Elementary Fair

Today I'm trying to finish off the second little wood panel painting in time for the craft fair at Uplands Elementary this weekend. Will you be there to see it?

I hope I get a wall space this time so I can play with some fun booth display ideas!

Art Journal Video - Instant Photo

Foreboding

I'm testing out the Golden Absorbent Ground on a couple of wood panels (with collage underneath, of course) and it is interesting! 

Lay it on thick enough and it will absorb paint nearly as readily as paper, though it still definitely has a "gesso" texture to it. If I get any more panels next time I'd like to try applying the ground with a paint roller or something... Not really digging the paintbrush textures. 

 

The thing about being able to use watercolours on panels is that it means they are no longer protected by glass! I covered the whole thing in a layer of glaze medium. Makes it look kind of "rich" and "watery". I like it!

Clipper Street Haul

I got to be on the receiving end of a giveaway this week!!  Clipper Street gave me a $25 gift certificate and I practically flew out the door! It's a scrapbooking store that carries a lot of the fun stuff and that fun stuff isn't cheap, so I definitely brought a little extra of my own money to play with. 

I don't even know what people do with brads or wooden shapes, but I seriously couldn't resist grabbing some.

I started playing by testing out the new stencil. The Distress Paint dabber didn't work very well with the stencil, so I will have to play more with it later. Maybe watch a few tutorials online? I sprayed it with a water bottle instead. This colour is "Wild Honey".

Here is the Dylusions Ink Spray in "After Midnight". Soooooo nice! It does reactivate when it gets wet again, though. Will have to be careful!

Here is the lovely Glimmer Mist in "Olive Vine". It's really shimmery. I'm super glad they were on clearance because to buy this exact bottle at Michaels will set you back about $13. Crazy. I didn't spray water on this one so I'm not sure how it would react. 

Thanks Clipper! I'm so excited to play with these!