Going with my Gut

I started this years sketchbook with the grand plan to use a much bigger 

sketchbook. 9x11".  I thought it would give me the chance to experiment 

with new techniques and I would have to loosen up more to fit a painting 

in more space in 30 minutes. It did do those things.. But I felt stressed and 

that isn't the point of this project at all. After a month and a half I finally gave 

myself permission to go back to a smaller book, 5x8". 

I could have increased my time limit, it is my project after all. But I have 

lots of other work,  paid work, other personal projects, getting ready for 

Surtex, living my life. It's hard to admit I can't handle what I set out to do 

but life is about making the compromises that make me happy. I am so 

much happier painting the sketchbook at this size. I can do larger paintings 

at other times. 

My moral is to go with your gut and do what makes you happy!

New Things

Week 3 of #Make Art That Sells class is children's books. We had to illustrate the cover of this fable by Aesop. I haven't done too much character development and it was fun working on this fox. Of course the
decorative stuff always comes into my work.  I paint all the icons separately and scan them in and do the background in photoshop.

Week 4 is Wall Art. I don't have much to say about this one, It's not the direction I want to be going so
even though I like it I will be moving on from here.
Thank you for voting for me in the ecojot cover contest, I came in 2nd place!!!
Jen

Catching Up

I've painfully neglected my blog here lately so I'm making a commitment today to post
at least 2 times per week if not more. (Now I have to!)
I seem to be an ecourse junkie, I signed up for another round of Lilla Rogers Make Art
That Sells class. I thought at first no way, I don't have time, but isn't it amazing that the
more there is to do, the more you can get done. Week one was Bolt fabric, Tropical Fruits
and Vintage Pyrex. I have some ideas to expand upon the white ground coordinate but first
I'm onto week 2, Mini Succulents, my favorite!!
Here Is another version of the assignment.

I also signed up to do MatiRose's Daring Adventures in Paint again. I love the structure
of the class, I learn more each time and I get so much done. I just finished this painting
which is now hanging in the Preview Show exhibit for the studio tour which will be
happening at the end of April.

Off to work, I'll be back in a few days!

Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

I've been thinking about stitching things lately. Then along came the stitched
Postcard swap with Do What You Love. #GBSPS
So I dug into my stash of fabric and found this lovely piece of linen. I only
had about 4 colors of thread so thats what I used. The last time I did this
was many years ago.. I don't really remember how to make the different
stitches.. So I pulled out whats comfortable to me.. Paint.
I have loads of beads and buttons so I stitched them on, cut paper flowers
and added them.
I also got to use the sewing machine a friend gave me for the first time. I want
to do more. Now I need to find the time. This is getting mailed up to Maine
today.

Truth

As the end of the year approaches I'm thinking alot about finding
what I truly love, finding my joy and my voice. I was never one
for using inspirational words in my art but for some reason it's
resonating right now for me. So I'm going to explore it and see where it
takes me. This is still a work in process, it will say Truth. That is where
I am right now, to find my truth.

IF-Moustache

When the word moustache came up for Illustration Friday I just jumped
right on that bandwagon, what fun! I've been wanting to work on portraits
and flowers and incorporate the collage and painting techniques I've been
playing with the last month. Here he is, the urban farmer hipster as coffee
cup (?) and all the ideas brewing.

Finding the Way

The more I paint and collage these canvases, the closer I seem to get to
being a little bit satisfied. It's a big struggle sometimes being an artist. The
slow, down times seem to last forever and I really feel like I'll never get out
of it. But I just keep going, feeling annoyed and upset and unsure. But then
a little spot emerges that I like. And then things start to change, my attitude,
my joy and the work. It's a never ending process.
How do you get out of your slumps?

Week 4 is Wall Art

This was a great week in Lilla's class! Wall Art = tons of paint, textures,
collage. This turned out to be a really wild fun adventure. We had to make
a square piece of abstract art, with a floral element and a word or quote.
I made a huge mess, stayed up very late and woke up very early every day
to get completely involved in this. I worked on about 6 canvases at once.

This was great because whenever I felt stuck I just moved onto another
one.  I forgot to mention, we all got assigned a limited color pallet. Mine
was blue and yellow. This was amazing.. 1 because it was incredibly
focusing, 2 because I used colors I an not accustomed to working with.
I think I will self impose this type of restriction on myself more often.

I went through all sorts of stages, hating them, liking and sometimes
loving them... I finally submitted the top one, Sunshine. I painted all the
textures and then scanned them and I put it together in photoshop. I felt it
popped the most and would look good an a thumbnail. I'm very happy
with it and plan to work like this more. I really got into the painting and
collaging and love the the magical atmosphere of Dream. I know I have
lots of playing time ahead of me!
Here are a few more that I'm working on. Lots of layers to go!

IF-Messenger

A wish to all:
Have a wonderful, healthy, peaceful and happy New Year!

Morran

This is a collage portrait of Morran, done for Camilla Engman"s,
Studio Morran. Some of the submissions will be chosen for a
book full of Morran and the proceeds will go to charity.
I became close to him as I was doing the collage. I feel like
I know him.

Collage and Resin Necklaces

I've been taking a journey experimenting with collage and resin,
on wood panels but also in some jewelry pieces. I love playing with
the shine and textures and colors, when the resin hits the paper, it
blends the colors together, to create something a little
different than what I expected.
I love that randomness.
I'm making these long, about 29-30" chains. They are fun all layered up.
I will start putting them in my shop later this week.

IF-Obsession

Obsession, I was going to draw
something I was obsessed about,
like tea or books but I decided
to post something that I'm obsessed
with  doing. I've really been more of
a literal artist, always drawing
something that I can see or explain
but in the past year I've become
crazy about gluing bits of paper
onto all different surfaces. Rocks,
Blocks, Sticks, Paper, Canvas, and
I've made some jewelry too. I can't
explain it, When I'm working this way
the time passes so quickly and it
feels so right!!

Nature Collage Project

I crave color in my garden....
but I have lots of shade
and and lots of animals that come and eat up whatever
I'm trying to grow. (Although, this year so far I've been
combating that with the wonderful motion water sensor
machine that startles them away.
http://www.amazon.com/Havahart-5265-Detector-Sprinkler-Repellent/dp/B000BO71NY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1305806737&sr=1-2

So I began collaging rocks and sticks and placing them
around the garden, surprising me, and catching my eye.
I had a party this weekend and people were asking about them.. they are a fun conversation starter. Next up,
some BIG ones.

IF-Swept

I got some pretty new papers this weekend
so I went back to collage which I haven't
done for a few weeks.
The word that comes to mind with butterflies
is really flutter more than sweep but I was able
 to get a 2 degree of separation in the thesaurus,
so I just went with it....

IF-Beginner

Trying to post this today made me

feel like a "beginner". It just wouldn't

post properly for some reason..

Anyway, The first level of swim lessons

are called the beginner level. I also wanted to try to capture the movement of water and the look of the body underneath. This is collage with

acrylic painting overlay.

Ferns

I have done many of these digital collages, using photography and drawing
in illustrator, using transparencies, and I love the effects and I've been very
happy with the series.(ie:The bottom one) Lately though I've been doing a lot
of painting and collage and I just started wondering what would happen
if I just took the image I already made and and kept working it in a new
technique. It's a completely different piece now and I sort of vacillate between
liking it and not. I don't really plan on doing too many like this but I'm curious
what anyone else might think?

Teacup Collages

These teacups were passed down to me from my Grandmother,
They've been tucked away in the closet for years. I don't drink
from them very often at all. So I felt it was time to pull them out
and start a series based on something I love. 

IF-Swarm

 I had such frustrating trouble with my scanner 

today which always gets me off balance 

and totally is a waste of time. I have serious

 "baddies" swarming in my head now too....

 need to go off to yoga.

IF-Layers

A layer cake...

IF-Reverse

I realized I want to be doing more of my imagery and artwork 

as collage and painting and maybe a little less digital for the

moment anyway...