Using Pastels!

The past couple of weeks have been difficult ones for me.  I've been pretty tired and exhausted.  I never realized that cancer of the blood can actually make someone this tired!  I've been working on a mixed media collage still life, but I've had to put it aside until I can concentrate on it!  The good news is that we have started the testing and process for a possible stem cell transplant.  I go tomorrow morning for blood work and my two sisters and brother are also getting their blood tests done tomorrow. 

I was getting pretty bored with laying in bed!  I decided to check out some YouTube videos and came across a great tutorial on a simple still life.  I often use pastel to do colour and composition studies for my non-objective abstract paintings and collage, so I thought I would give it a try!

To do my study, I used an 8x8 canvas. I would normally use watercolour paper but I was too lazy to cut it and prepare it!  I then did a simple grey background wash in watercolour and added a coat of Dry Ground Medium.  Then I followed the tutorial and this is what I came up with!

 

I know I do not like the background colour!  So, that will change when I sit down and actually paint this in acrylic.  But overall, I am happy.  It's not ment to be realistic or to have a lot of detail.  It is a simple, loose way to test out composition and colour before I do an actual painting.  

The pastels I used are a cheap brand I picked up off Amazon.  I think I am going to invest in a more expensive, artist quality set.  I really enjoyed doing this.

"Blue Vase"

This painting was inspired by the works of Annie O'Brien Gonzales. I love taking online workshops and decided to take a class in Expressive Mixed Media.  I certainly had fun and Annie really is inspiring!  Her work is amazing and I enjoyed adding some of her tips and techniques into this piece!  Although most of the original flowers I had painted on ended up disappearing in the end, I think the piece really is reflective on how passionate a simple vase of flowers can be!  I can imagine sitting at the table, mint tea in hand, and breathing in the beauty of this simple vase of flowers.  

 

 

  

"Blue Vase"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 16x12

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$350.00

Granny's Bouquet

"Granny's Bouquet" was simply a fun piece to create!  Sometimes the simple paintings can make the biggest impact.  Creating this piece certainly did that for me!  It was created on a 8x8 canvas and the texture in the painting was achieved by using handmade paper, rice paper and my own texture fiber.  This was completely an intuitive creation arising from my own imagination.  

 

"Granny's Bouquet"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 8x8

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$200.00

SOLD

New Works Progress

It's been a while since I have updated!  So many things happening!  I wanted to quickly post some of the new paintings and progress photos that I have been working on in the studio.  Currently, I am working a lot on still life paintings.  I am finding it hard to be very active right now as I just completed radiation treatment and am still doing chemo treatments.  My energy levels have been at the minimum.  I find I am struggling to paint daily and Ted to do a lot of my work late in the evenings.

This first piece is titled "Roses". It was done on 140 lb watercolour paper.  I really enjoyed the process of creating this piece. It was a mixture of collage and acrylic paint.  

 

 

 

 

"Roses"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Paper 8x10

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$300.00

SOLD

Earth and Water

 I've posted this painting earlier, but I thought I would repost with a better photograph and a different room!

"Earth and Water"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 20x16

Acrylic, handmade collage paper, water soluble pastels, metal, texture paste, texture gel, cheese cloth

SOLD

 

 

I began a series of paintings exploring textures and colours of the earth and it's layers. This painting was created to symbolize the relationship between the earth and water. It is highly textured and implements an under painting collage of my handmade papers. 

 

 

 

The Golden Cross

Many of my paintings start off with an underpainting of handmade or hand painted/stained papers. I normally do not have a pre conceived idea of composition and like to allow the painting to become what it wants to be. In other words, I like to paint intuitively. "The Golden Cross" started out with monochromatic shades of hand painted papers in cerulean blue. I wanted to do a complimentary colour pallet so I used papers in shades of quinacridone gold as the complimentary colour. I tend to use the quinacridone gold as an yellow-orange and I love the way it makes the cerulean blue pop!

      
 

"The Golden Cross"

Mixed Media Abstract

Canvas, 20x20

Acrylic, hand painted paper, metal, texture paste, watercolour, ink

SOLD

  I also used an acrylic skin to create the circular, coin shaped emblem. I don't use acrylic skins a lot, but in this case, I wanted something to offset the grid composition that seemed to be appearing. As I was letting the layers dry, I noticed a cross had appeared. I decided to play on that and let the cross become the focal point. I also added some design and visual interest using handmade stamps and stencils. Over all, I am very pleased with the end result and think it turned out great!

New Work

I love texture.  I love both visual and physical texture.  But, I do have to admit that paintings with lots of physical texture really sparks my interest. I think it is the sculptor in me!  I've recently been exploring both texture and colour.  I've never been one who followed colour theory.  Partly because it bored me and also because I didn't completely grasp it.  As I am growing in my art and as an artist, I wanted to change that.  So, I began a series where I explored texture and colour.  The painting below is a reflection of this exploration.    

"Earth and Water"

Mixed Media Abstract

Canvas - 16"x20"

Sold

 

I need to work on my photography!  But I really love this painting.  I noticed that I tend to gravitate towards darker, muted, earthy colours.  I love the splash of metallic turquoise and I love the way the painting is subtle but speaks strongly the story I was trying to tell.  

 

 

On a personal note - today is my last radiation treatment for a few weeks!  I am so excited!  I am doing pretty good and I feel very optimistic!

Long Lost Update!

 
I know I have not been updating on a regular basis.  So today, I dedicate this post to updates! On a personal note, I've started chemotherapy again.  Radiation treatments to my right breast and foot start again tomorrow.  I'll go through 10 sessions of radiation, have a few weeks break and then start radiation treatment on the left side.  You might be wondering why it's being done in split treatments.  I have had SLE Lupus since I was a child.  We finally managed to get the Lupus levels into reasonable levels and radiation and Lupus are normally not friendly!  In other words, Lupus and light is not a good mix.  My oncologist and radiologist have decided it is too risky to do all the treatments as once.  I can't wait until it's all over and I can have some of my life back!  Between cancer treatments, not feeling good and lack of energy, my blog has taken back seat to everything else. When I don't feel well, it's hard for me to be creative.  I'm hoping that changes soon!  

 I entered the Fort Saskatchewan Art in Public Places 2015.  And I won!  Yipeeee!  My piece "Roots" won and was purchased by the city.  I have to say it was honestly a great honour and I really never thought I would win.  Abstract art is something you either really love or really hate and I wasn't sure it would be liked.  You can visit www.fortsask.ca for more information.

I've completed another painting titled "Hidden Layers".  It is a mixed media collage abstract piece.  It's done on canvas (16x20) and was create using my hand painted papers, acrylic and watercolour paints, watercolour crayons and texture paste.  I still need to sand down the sides of the canvas, paint the sides and frame it.  Once that is done, I will be listing it for sale.

 
 

I'm working on a tutorial on how I create and use my hand painted papers.  I hope to have it posted as soon as my radiation treatments are done and before the next set begins!  

I have been quite busy the past while with some really fun and interesting projects.  I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog posts but I simply haven't been feeling the greatest.  I have always said I did not want cancer to be the focus of my blog or my art, but having cancer of the blood really has affected how I feel and my energy level is not what is should be.  I am going to really try to post more often.

One painting I did want to share is an abstract, mixed media painting I created for my town's Art in Public Places 2015 submissions.  I wanted to enter this contest because I really believe in supporting our local artists and I honestly can not think of a better way to contribute to my community.

This painting was created using watercolour, acrylic paint, various acrylic mediums, and other various mediums.  I added Zentangle inspired elements, as well.

 

10 Lip Smacking, Easy D.I.Y. Lip Balm Recipes

I live in Alberta, Canada.  Summer season is short here and winter seems to never end!  It's only the beginning of September and we are already cooling down and the pending doom of winter can be felt in the air.  Our winters are long, very cold and super dry!  Lip balm is not an option here, it is a must!

I have a few favourite brands of lip balm.  Burt's Bees and Baby Lips are just a couple that I love to wear and use.  But, as a die hard crafter and D.I.Y. enthusiast, I have decided to try and make my own!  

Below is a list of handmade lip balm recipes that I found on the wild web.  I am looking forward to trying a few of them out!  Hopefully, you will find one or two recipes that you will like too!

1.  Beautylish has a great recipe for a peppermint and bees wax lip balm in a recycled Altoids tin!  I know where I live in Canada, Altiods are not easy to find.  Another alternative for the Altoids tin could be a Tic Tac container or Ice Breakers Sour Mints container.  You would need to be a bit cautious because the containers are made from plastic, but, I think with a little care and caution, they could be a great alternative!

2.  Gingerlymade has a super easy and super yummy recipe for Kool-Aid Lip Balm!  Who can resist the yummy flavours of Kool-Aid?  Another alternative would be to use other drink powders, such as Crystal Light or Jolly Ranchers!  

3.   Food + Words has come up with a Chocolate Mint Lip Gloss!  How super yummy!  This recipe uses real chocolate chips!  So, it is like a dessert on your lips!  All the glorious sweet taste of Chocolate Mint, minus the calories on the hips!

4.  Enjoying This Journey has created a dreamy Dreamcicle lip balm recipe that is sure to please!  It sounds absolutely dreamy!  Looking for containers to keep your handmade lip balm in?  Try checking out the dollar store!  They often have packages of small plastic containers to keep seed beads in!

5.  Beautylish has made the list again!  I love the idea of using a locket to hold your handmade lip balm!  This might be a great idea for Etsy sellers!  Or to make and sell at craft fairs!  This particular recipe uses coconut oil and grated lip stick for added tint!  

6.  The Happier Homemaker has posted a lovely recipe for a Lavendar Lip Balm.  I love Lavendar and I think this would make a very lovely, relaxing lip balm.  If you have anxiety, try dabbing some of this balm on your lips, and let the beauty of lavendar calm you!  And, as an added bonus, there are free, printable labels!

7.  Nerds and Nomsense offers an interesting recipe for their "Good Night Kiss" lip balm.  Some of the flavours included in this recipe are mango, cinnamon, vanilla, honey and more!  I am very excited about this recipe because it sounds super yummy and is quite different from the other recipes!

8.  Hello Natural has posted a Pumpkin Spice lip balm recipe that is simply lip smacking yummy!  Who can resist pumpkin spice?  I know I can't! This lip balm sounds so delicious and it's the perfect time of year for anything pumpkin!

9.   Happy Money Saver has a great copycat recipe for one of my favorite commercial lip balms!  Burt's Bees!  

10.  This last post is for D.I.Y. Baby lips lip balm!  

5 Easy D.I.Y. Watercolour Paint Recipes!

I love paint!  As a mixed media artist, I am always on the hunt for awesome paints to try out and experiment with.  And, even though I absolutely love my artist quality paint palettes ( I love M. Graham's watercolour), sometimes it's fun to play around with different paints! I've collected 5 awesomely super simple watercolour recipes from around the web. Each of these 5 posts will provide you with the directions on how to make your own watercolour paints from simple ingredients that you probably already have laying around the house!

 

 

 

 

1.  designsponge.com has a great tutorial on how to make make pan style watercolour using an ice cube tray!

 

 

 

2.  stirthewonder.com will show you how to create easy to make liquid watercolours!  I love the colours!

 

 

3. growingajeweledrose.com  will provide you with the perfect recipe for creating washable liquid watercolours from kid's watercolour pallets!  Crayola never looked better!

 

 

 

 

 4.  craftingagreenworld.com will show you how to use markers to create unique liquid watercolours!  Now you can repurpose those dried out water based markers and create beautiful art!

 

5.   tinkerlab.com has a fantastic post on how to create squeezable, dimensional paint made from flour and salt!  Great idea for both kids and adults alike!  

If you have any other cool homemade watercolour recipes, please feel free to leave a link in the comments below!  Homemade paints are not only fun to make, but fun to use and a project the whole family can really enjoy!

Commision Elephant Mommy and Baby

I recently recieved a commision request for a mother and baby elephant.  I created this painting using watercolour and ink.  I normally work exclusively on 140lb cold press watercolour paper, but the lighting in this photo does not show the texture of the paper well.  I am not traditionally a realist painter.  I love whimsical paintings that are filled with imagination and loads of colour and shapes.  But, on occasion, I enjoy the challenge of more realistic renders.  

I have found a printer that will be doing all my giclee reprints!  I am excited!  And they drop ship too!  So I expect to have my etsy store up and running sometime soon!

If I Were an Elephant

If I were an elephant, how lucky I would be!  Actually, with my luck, I would get a peanut stuck in my long nose and choke to death!

I love elephants!  My latest paintings and drawings seem to be focused on the beauty of the elephant. I have been experimenting with combining watercolor, ink, pencil crayon and graphite together.  I love the effect I have been getting and it seemed so very suited for the textured skin of the elephant.

This painting is a work in progress.  I started it a couple of weeks ago and have been slowly working on it.  I saw a photo on Pinterest of an elephant face and was mesmerized by the beauty of shadow and texture.  Deep lines that seem to tell an ancient story engraved deeply into an almost knowing face.  Beautiful and breath taking are two words I would use to describe it.  I wanted to capture the depth of the shadow but all also focus on the texture of the skin.  I did a rough sketch and used my Sakura Pigma Micron pen in Black size 02 to outline the comtours of the face.  Then, I used my Sakura Brush pen in black to establish deep shadow.  Using my watercolor paint, I added an under painting of deep blue and grey, building the colour through multiple layers of watery paint.  I am at the stage where I am ready to add pencil crayon in a slate grey.  So far, it is working out as planned!  I will update with the final results soon.