Another Tree...and landscape

So, I am getting VERY addicted to this alcohol ink art.  What happens is I get mesmorized with how each layer reacts with the next and for the first time in weeks, I am relaxed.... in the "zone"... totally right brained.   And I need it more than the left handed artists which have the right brain access a little more naturally. If you don't know what I am talking about, read THIS BOOK.
Here is my tree in a larger format

and an alien landscape

Altered Books

Today is my daughter's 10th birthday.  She is my only child who loves art as much as I do.  She drew this direwolf for me.  (My husband lavished me with gifts for mother's day this year.  One of the gifts was a Game of Thrones House Stark T-shirt which has a similar wolf on it, which she used for inspiration. )


During the past two weeks, I was asked to judge two art fairs.  I love seeing the projects that other art teachers develop.  The ironic thing is that I was asked to judge the show at my old school and I totally messed up and totally forgot.  I don't forget things like that.  Anyway, yesterday, the show at another school, was so extremely difficult to judge because all the entries were all so excellent.  This particular art instructor is a kindred spirit in that she loves trees like I do.  One of the projects ... for third grade, was inspired by tree circles.  Another multi-stepped project was a tree with metallic borders and watercolored backgrounds, they looked like they should be in a medieval manuscript.  If I get permission, I will post pictures of them here, or I may try to recreate them on my own.

On another ramble, I have been playing around with my altered book and art journal.  Here are some new pages....

 Rather random concoction of things French, and fairies, and calligraphy...

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

For many reasons, the largest being that our house is on the market, I have been truly uninspired lately.  You can't really have a messy place when you are selling a house.  And now, I am not trying to sell anything, so I tried a few different drawings, doodles, projects and just can't get into them.  However, last night I had this epiphany that I should do a painting with text or a quote.  Sooo....

Now, for the true LOTR fans,   I realize the true quote is "not all those who wander are lost".  But I felt it may have been too cluttered with the extra word.  I probably should have used a smaller font, or different type of letters, I don't know. Tonight I may paint over the whole thing and try again. Remember, I am uninspired at the moment.  Now to pick up the trail of debris left by my three wonderful kids.

So say we all... (art journaling)

Lately, I have been working on pages in my art journals.  It is a great outlet, since I can't get things too messy around here (our house is for sale).  Also breaking my toe last week has caused me to be more stationary than I am used to.   Art journals don't require anything more than the book, pen, or pencil, and you don't need a lot of space to work.
For me, I have put aside my acrylics and been working on my nemesis.... watercolors.
The paper in my journal is handmade (not by me) and reacts so uniquely to the paint.  I am really liking the affect.

BSG fans may appreciate this page...

Below is a page inspired by Kandinsky's composition paintings.  In a recent class, I had my students look at a few of his paintings and create their own similar piece of art.  This is my interpretation.  I guess I was craving olives...

Altered Art Paintings - (Art Teacher Files)

As a private art instructor, my latest "project" with my students has been an altered art painting with text.  The original idea was to use sticker letters on a shiny paper, such as a map, and paint over the whole paper white, dry, then lift off the letters to reveal the map or print.  It was basically what is called a "masking technique".  However, I decided to change it.  I didn't have the letters, but I have a lot of stencils and letter stamps.  I wanted to use what I had.

We began during our first session by using acrylic paints, and the students altered and painted the backgrounds using various texture and painting techniques.  They particularly enjoyed laying bubble wrap and textured paper towel in the wet paint.  

The first painting below, was completed by using letter stamps with black acrylic paint.

The second student used stencils, sharpies and vintage music paper to create the letters.

 The Boyfriend refers to a popular song, so the sheet music worked well.  Although, I am not a Justin Bieber fan, allowing the students to bring some element of what they love, and then transform it into art, brings students into a deeper experience with the process.  It helps them "connect".
Any words, phrases, lyrics, quotes could be used in a project like this.  The letters could be made out of wrapping paper, maps, sheet music, old cookbook paper, the possibilities are endless.   The letters were glued on with acrylic matte medium and sealed with matte varnish.
Both of the students were very happy with their pieces and are going to hang them in their room.  

Visual Journaling

I have been thinking that I need to organize my blog posts into a couple of different blogs.  The problem with that is that I would end up with 60 different categories.  It probably would be good to have a new blog for my art and visual journals.  I hope that I am able to use visual journals in some type of workshop format, for the use of art therapy in the future. 

With my journaling, I try to do a thematic approach, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to keep any cohesive theme to my pages.  Just like my blog, my journals end up being slightly  schizophrenic in nature. 

 

artistic doodling

 steampunk collage

more traditional watercolor, and conte crayon using a photograph I took in a local garden as a base.

Visual Journals

On Saturday, I attended a Visual Journal workshop with the local Art Guild that I am a member of.  It was great.  Visual Journals can serve so many purposes, and can be created by anyone.  Following the same type of idea that I use with old recycled books, I began a journal with blank handmade paper from India.  I splurged on it because I fell in love with the leather embossed cover.  I felt it may help inspire me.

The Instructor, Leigh, is an awesome art teacher, who taught highschool art for years at a local private school.  When she taught high school, she encouraged her students to journal, sketch, and brainstorm ideas in altered books and visual journals.

To begin our journals, she encouraged us to use different painting techniques  to create interesting backgrounds.  She often creates a few backgrounds, and then brings the journal with her to sketch and write over the creative backgrounds.  After our backgrounds were dry, she showed us a few different transfer techniques, and we painted and collaged.  The handmade paper I used ended up drinking up the paint very nicely.

 The below method includes gesso, writing text (I chose some Narnia quotes) and smudging. The quotes are two of my favorite interactions from the Last Battle. On a funny note, my daughter asked me a while back, who my favorite fictional animal was, and without thinking I said "Jewel the Unicorn", yes, I really haven't changed much since 6th grade.
To finish the page, I added watercolor paint over it.  Highschool students love this creative activity.

 A background I created today, not sure what I will do to finish it. 

I have a student who is creating an art journal for her confirmation.  I am looking forward to sharing some of these new techniques with her. 

Altered Journal pages and Peacocks

 Some new pages in my altered book.  This is nothing but therapy for me.  And trying to free up some creativity.  Getting past the mental blocks and all.

And here are the watercolor fowl that I have been working on.  Trying to let the paint do its own thing is a difficult thing for me.  I think its about control.  Anyway, any suggestions, critiques or feedback is appreciated.