I have long been a sketchbook junkie and try to sketch every day, the two journal pages shown above done in my new Strathmore Mixed Media 500 Series Journal and I LOVE it!  The paper is so smooth and is such a fine quality that it is a joy to work on and really makes me want to do something to show off, not my usual sketchbook work in progress.  LOL.  These were completed using my Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils, Tombow Markers, and black permanent markers.  These bees may look familiar as they were done a few years ago on a number of patterns as well as in Scrap and Stamp Magazine.  I'm fond of these little guys.  Hope you enjoy them as well.  

Mixed Media Class Part 2

As a teacher it is wonderful to know that students take away from the class the goals that were planned.   This is a frame that one student completed on her own after our Saturday Mixed Media Class.  I was so proud and thrilled that this student chose to share her finished frame with me.

Mixed Media Class

I had the best time on Saturday, I had the pleasure of teaching a Mixed Media Background class at Memory Lane Scrapbooking in Missoula, Montana and had the BEST time.  What a talented great group and such a joy to teach.  They were engaged and wanted to know more!!!  So thrilling for me as a teacher and what a joy.  We spent the two hours playing with paint, stencils, inks, paper, and developed amazing canvases which I am sharing with you.  I can't tell you how fun and engaging the class was.  All of my students went away from the class with a gorgeous canvas and a new set of skills that they can use on their own as well as a new appreciation for the use of stencils.  We used a variety of Crafter's Workshop Stencils which included the Mini Punchinello. I love that stencil and it is one of my go to stencils in my own personal work.  I wanted to give them the opportunity to use a variety of stencils and brought many from my own personal collection.  

Staci at Memory Lane Scrapbooking was go gracious to share her space with me and allow me to take over the classroom with my supplies and samples.  If you have not been to Memory Lane and are ever in the area take the time to stop by.  Staci is committed to her customers and providing superb customer service.  It is definitely worth stopping by, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Here I am in teacher mode and having a ball.  As an Art Teacher I have committed my professional life to teaching younger students but always love having the chance to interact with adults.  What a joy and what a marvelous inquisitive group.  Couldn't have asked for a better day.

Here are  the canvases that we completed.  You can see that we were obviously working on backgrounds but you can also see that each student put their own flair and personality into each canvas and each one is stunning.  Thank you for sharing your talent with me on such a special day.  

Faces in 2014

I'm not a big believer in setting goals, I always seem to lose sight of those goals after January is over.  LOL.  But it is one of my goals this year to improve my ability to paint faces.  I did this page this weekend as a part of my first Lifebook 2014 lessons and thought I did ok.  I wasn't as happy with some of the features as I'd have liked and thought she lacked any personality but definitely have room for improvement.  I used watercolor crayons though on the journal page and loved those, then of course added acrylics, scrapbooking papers and some stamping which made for a fun afternoon.  I'm posting this so I keep track of my progress. 

Journaling for 2014

When I was younger I did a lot of journaling, wrote a diary when I was young, recording major events in my life as I went through the teen and college years, writing about concerns or worries seemed to make the problem easier to deal with.  I've written about memories from my childhood that I wanted to share with my children and have interviewed and recorded some of my Grandmother's memories before she passed away.  Each one of these brought me joy and helped me to process life events in a healthy way.  I have gotten away from journaling on a regular basis largely due to life getting in the way.  In 2013 I was able to take a number of journaling classes and one of them encouraged us to draw our daily lives and I found myself inspired once again to begin recording those life events that occur on a daily basis, no matter how mundane they seem to be.  In fact signed up for other classes for 2014 but through Facebook heard about another journaling class called the Documented Life Project and was curious as to the content. 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/ I did some research and thought hmmmmm.......  Wondering if I would be able to be consistent enough to keep this going but it was FREE so I decided to give it a shot.  I found that I connected with the ideas presented by the four artists in the group, I am very organized and keep a planner and thought this could work for me.  Not to mention the fact that I could begin to document things that go on in my day in a quick easy manner and save it for future reference.  A number of years ago my sister made me a Christmas Journal that I record Christmas information in that I love. So.... I was hooked. 

To make a long story short after reading the posts and watching some of the other members develop their journals, playing around with my own ideas for developing a journal decided to give it a go.  I found a Moleskine Daily Planner on sale for 50% off at Barnes and Noble after Christmas and started altering the book according to the instructions in the paid portion of the project.  Yes, there is a paid tutorial on how to set up your planner, I found it to be very helpful, you may not need it however. 

You can see in the photos above that my Moleskine Planner no longer resembles the 50% off Star Wars Planner that I purchased at Barnes and Noble.  I added monthly tabs, tip outs to sketch and journal on and altered with paint and collage the front and back covers.  I purchased a hard cover journal which may cause problems as I proceed, the instructions suggested a soft cover, but will see how this one does and may change for next year.  I couldn't resist 505 off, the fact that it was a Star Wars theme didn't bother me in the least.  I anticipate that I am going to really love this process, imagine not having to carry with me 4 different journals when we travel or go out for the day.  Hmmmmm.......  Interesting concept. 

Jump for Joy Angel Copic Tutorial Part 2

 

I was surprised when I sat down to write this blog post how long it has been since I last blogged.  I guess that the holidays got the best of me.  LOL. 

 

This is the second in the Copic tutorial and I thought you might like to color your angels, if you are coloring along with me.  I used the following Copic Markers on this dress:  R81, R83, R85, and R89.  The socks are YG00, YG03, YG05, YG07, and YG09.  The toes and heel of the socks are the darker red used in the dress.   

 

I also realized that I colored a different angel for this second tutorial.  I'd love to say that I had that planned but honestly I didn't.  Once I colored these angels I cut them out, decoupaged them onto a mini canvas that I had painted, added some glitter paint, a hanger and gave them away as Christmas Gifts to some of my friends.  Using the Copic Markers was such an easy way to add color to the angels and because they are permanent, didn't fade or bleed when I decoupaged them onto the canvas. 

 

Give it a try.  I'm sure your friends will love them as well.