mommy camp day 1

This week my daughter is attending a dance theater camp. So, I decided to have a Mommy camp week. I cleaned my jewelry studio, set out all of my favorite supplies and jumped back into Life Book.

The lesson that I am working on is called "Overcoming the Inner Critic" with Wyanne. Our first job was to sketch a simple tree with pencil, then lightly erase it so that just a hint of the drawing remained.  The next step was to paint with water over the tree and using acrylic paints, paint over the water. The next step was very interesting...after letting the tree dry for a few minutes (you don't want the painting completely dry it should be wet in spots) you spray the painting with a water bottle.  Here is the result:

I love how the water created such cool patterns in the paints. 

For the next step I cut leaf shapes from coffee filters (coffee again, see why I love this class!).  Using clear water I painted the background of the page around the top of the tree.  While the page is still wet, I laid down the leaves.  Using water color paints, I painted the coffee filter shaped leaves.  

 This painting was my second attempt at the lesson.  The first time I tried spraying the painting with water I used a bottle that was filled with alcohol ink! Opps! I did like how my opps turned out, so I am continuing to work on it.

I watched the remaining videos for this lesson last week while I was working on jewelry and did see that we do something really cool with the background and coffee!  So I did want to redo my opps so I can continue the lesson.
 
I am also working on my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project 2013, so I did a similar page in that journal.

The final step for today was to paint the bottom of the page with water.  While wet, paint with watercolor paints and then cover with coffee filters. 

Now it's time to let everything dry and pick up my daughter from camp. I hope you'll join me for day 2 of Mommy Camp tomorrow!

"Dreaming is a vacation in your home." by Madi

My 2012 Sketchbook is digitized!

 

My 2012 Sketchbook from Art House Co-op is available to view digitally! Here is the link: 

"My Artist Path Begins". It is really fun to look at my sketchbook online. I did sign up for the 

2013 Sketchbook project, just haven't started it yet. I decided to try and have an artistic summer this year once the kids get out of school. Looking forward to working on my online art classes and sketchbook.

"Color in your life." by Madi

Zentangle Art Journal Photo Transfer Watch

Here is the other photo transfer watch that I created using drawings from my art journal. I listed this one in my Etsy shop, so it's for sale!

Here is the drawing from my sketchbook:

This was one of the pages that I did for my sketchbook for The Sketchbook project by Art House Co-op. I'm working on my sketchbook now for the limited edition project.

Hope everyone has a creative day!

"Celebrate everyday." by Madi

2012 Quotes by Madi & more Sketchbook pages

Christmas break was great. Madi and I spent lots of time in the studio creating and making a wonderful mess. Here are a few pages from my Sketchbook and the new 2012 Quotes by Madi. Enjoy!

We also spent time finishing up some of the lessons from 21 Secrets. One of my favorites was Child Play by Alma Stoller. The idea was to turn old magazine pages into awesome collage pages. Here are a few I made:

I enjoyed the class so much I signed up for the new 21 Secrets that starts this April! Here's the link if you'd like to join us. 21 Secrets: An Art Journal Playground

I also started the spectacular Life Book class this week that I was lucky enough to win over at Dirty Footprints Studio. We started working on a 3/4 portrait "Goddess" page. Madi is working on it with me too. I'll post the photos when we finish our pages.

Wishing you a creative day!

New Journal Pages!

I finally had some time to work on my journal for The Sketchbook project. The first page I used a credit card to paint with acrylics. I was inspired to create this page after doing sun salutations at my yoga class this week. The next page is of course full of Zentangle! I had to include a Zentangle page. The silver page was created with acrylic paint and Pitt marker. The birds are made from a fabric paper that I made a while back.

Looking forward to working on more pages over the holiday break. Hope you are enjoying the season!

"The only treat that is healthy is Art." by Madi

A Spark of Motivation

 

A motivating day today. I listened to a great podcast on The Creative Coconuts that introduced me to the teachings of Joesph Campbell. Why I've never heard of this amazing man, I'll never know. During the podcast Marisa and Sean discussed a new Film called Finding Joe. Here is the trailer of the movie:

The movie is only being released in select cities right now. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. I also spent part of my day watching the documentary about Joseph Campbell's life called The Hero's Journey. What a incredibly intelligent and interesting man. As you can see I was feeling quite motivated about all this and it all spilled over into my Sketchbook. I created the background for the pages using my new favorite drawing tool, Derwent Inktense Pencils. I love them! They are amazing water color pencils that when wet create a permanent ink vivid translucent effect. Here are a few more photo's of my pages:

Last week I was really into drawing with charcoal and graphic pencils. Here is a look at the forest I got lost in while I was drawing:

I hope you find a spark of motivation somewhere today.

"Breathing out is emptying your mind. Breathing in is filling your mind with new thoughts." by Madi

I did it!

I started my sketchbook! Really exciting. Feel lots better after actually taking pen to paper. Hope you are having a creative day!

"Exciting thing are also exciting for others." by Madi

I'm afraid

The Scream by Edvard Munch

So this is how I feel when I look at my new really white sketchbook. I signed up for The Sketchbook Project 2012 which looks like so much fun,but I'm afraid of this...

My Sketchbook Day 1

Look how white and blank it looks!?!? So how do you get over that fear of starting a new sketchbook? Do you just dive in and start drawing? painting? I'd love to know your ideas. Because for some reason, I'm just keep looking at this blank book and thinking what if I mess it up? What if it looks like something that a really little kid might draw?

I learned about the Sketchbook project from my Creative Coconut friend, Bel Fireman. She just had the opportunity to visit the home of the collection of completed sketchbooks from last year at the Brooklyn Art Library. Take a hop over to her last blog post The Real-Life Sketchbook Project to read about her visit. She created an amazing sketchbook for last years project. You can take a look at the digital version of her sketchbook here. Bel was also my featured artist last year if you'd like to read more about her incredible artwork, check out the post here.

If you'd like to sign up to be a part of the Sketchbook project, visit their website at the Art House Coop to sign up. Then I won't be the only one staring at a blank sketchbook, we can stare together!

I think I need to remember this quote of Madi's when I sit down to draw today. I will be sharing my sketchbook journey with you along the way. So stay tuned for a new Page 1!

"Drawing is still magic." by  Madi