More journal page creations from the online course

with Katie Kendrik - "Grit and Grace"

There are numerous assignments each week

that for now I am completing the ones that grab me 

and I have time for - this may be a year long project! 

I started another new journal 

(I have SO many on the go right now!)

This one is an old book that I am collaging and painting on

..... trying for a looser style 

and letting out whatever shows up.

I really enjoyed this exercise on a paper bag.

Emerging

 

 

 

 

 

 

After many hours and many layers of paint  she emerged.

 

 

 

She is created from a piece of wood that I covered with paper and tea bags to provide some texture.

 

 

 

 

I continue to be comfortable working on pieces around this size or smaller. 

And so for now that is where I will stay.

 

 

I love the idea of scribbling on a creation, so I continued to try it out here.

 

 

 

Some of the leaves were made from a hand carved stamp I made,

I then continued to add leaves by scribbling them on with my pen.

 

I wonder what will emerge from the next project???

 

I have many things started, so I hope to finish one of them before beginning anything else brand new.

Stumbling Along

 

 

Lately art making seems to be difficult for me.

 

 I seem to be stumbling through it.

 

Having such difficulty finding my way.

 

 

 

I  painted this piece. Then added bits of collage.

 

Decided I didn't like it.

 

Moved on.

 

 

Added some other scribbles and paint.

 

Still not content

 

Moved on.

 

 

 

Added more darker marks, -  some more subtle colour and some letters

 

better .... not great

 

 

 

Decided it was done away.

 

 

 

Moving on . . . in a stumbling kind of way.

 

 







Finished . . . . I Think

 

 

I have had this creation in the works for some time, and have been slowly adding to it.

Today I think it is finished.

 

 

It is an 8X10 inch piece made on tea bags which I then drew on and painted with white acrylic paint and pan pastels.  Then more scribbling was added... then more pastels... then more scribbling... then more paint. 

 

I think you can see the slight texture that the tea bag gives it.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally how it looks in a mat.

Buried Treasure

Seth Apter at The Altered Page is hosting a Buried Treasurer event - and having bloggers re-post an entry from the past.  I searched and searched through my early posts, and after what took me far to long, I decided on the following from January 2011.  .... I continue to work at believing and being brave.

Early in January (2011) I choose the word BELIEVE to guide me through the upcoming year. I could believe and stay safely in my comfort zone, but that is not what I want. Instead I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and believe in myself there. Being Brave has become part of my believing mantra. I need to be brave, push myself a bit, and still believe.

AND so bravely, I took the face I had drawn and decided to paint it.
It is a bit different process then what I have done in the past, and I pushed myself forward. I believe that these tiny steps forward will help move me forward with bigger steps that are to come this year. I will continue to be brave and believe - one step at a time.

Constant State of Becoming

This piece is one that is presently on my desk.

I started it many months ago. It is a painting on a plaster covered cradle board.

and although it has had many different looks I forgot to take pictures along the way.

This is how it looks today. I am not sure if it is finished or not

as she, like me is in a constant state of becoming....

I did hang her on the wall to take a picture .... which usually means the piece is done, but I have taken an "on the wall picture" of her three times already, (which I deleted so I don't have them to share) and continued to add to her. I will leave her for a while and see what she becomes....

On The Wall

There is something so very satisfying about finishing a piece and being able to have a look at it hanging on your wall.

Below are some paintings on plaster, that I finally painted the backs, added something to hang them up with, and tried them out on my wall.

and now they are ready to go on my table for sale at this weekend's sale.

The Gift of Time

Today I gave myself a gift of time. I had other things I could have done, but when I woke up this morning, I decided I should give myself a gift of time and I decided this time was going to be spent working on a painting on plaster that has been sitting on my desk for some time.
This is how the piece looked this morning when I sat down at my desk.

And a few hours later - that went by in a blink of an eye - this is what emerged. I am not sure if it is finished yet, but I will leave it there for now and let time tell me if it is done or not.

Here are some close ups....

in which you can see a bit more of the detail.

I enjoyed my day... and wish for you all a chance to give yourself the gift of time.

Future Looks Inviting

I had a busy day today, but as I didn't have time to create yesterday, I knew it was essential that I do at least a bit of creating today. And this was the little piece that came out of me.

It is based on a drawing/painting I did a long time ago, but looks completely different this time around. I enjoyed making it, and now can happily relax and get some sleep.
The painting reads..... future looks inviting ........ I'm ready

Getting Closer...

I have been very busy in all aspects of my life lately. When I began this painting, the numbers that surrounded her represented that busyness. The to do lists, the dates and appointments, the fears and accomplishments, and the minutes and hours and days that rushed by. When I looked at her again, she almost looked relieved as the numbers seemed to be pouring off of her, and I realized that all of the things we do daily help us grow....

and so I added some stitched leaves that I coloured in with pan pastels after I they were sewn on. Is it finished?.... I don't know - time will tell.....But I do know that it is closer.

Unfinished Face Painting.

I decided it was time to paint a face. I haven't done that for so long, and I usually enjoy it so much.

Here is a drawing I did some time ago, but I hadn't painted her yet.

And here she is.... Although I enjoyed painting her, she is not finished. I don't know where she wants to go from here, and so far she hasn't told me. But every time I look at her she says "I am not finished yet" I hope she tells me soon. Sometimes I find it hard to be patient.