GPP Crusade 28: Portion Control Part 5

Here's another installment of my portion controlled shape, circles. This first image is a large piece of waxed paper that I used to blot paint from the surface of my painting several times. The last blotting was when I used gesso to stamp circles on the canvas. I think I used a cardboard tube to make the circles. The paint was rather juicy, so I blotted the surface with the waxed paper. When I lifted it up, I was happy with both surfaces. I set the waxed paper aside. I'd like to use it in a collage, but I'm not sure I can successfully adhere it since it IS waxed paper. If anyone has a tip on this, please leave a comment. BTW - this blotting was taken from one of the layers of the painted canvas board I showed you in my last post.

This is a journal page I started last Saturday. I lightly drew a circle, then I wrote the words, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever" around the circle. I was in the middle of a Bible study where I came across that verse. I thought it was perfect for a circle. I've added paint to the paper different times this week. You can see that the writing is pretty much gone. I may or may not add more paint. I might journal on it or not.
In my last post I showed how I played with a color palette for my latest painting. Here are a couple more examples. I was using up the last dabs of paint on the palette so it wouldn't go to waste. If I use my stay wet palette, I can save paint for several days. However, I have a different color scheme on in right now, so it's not available. I'm really getting excited about the possibilities all my circle play will give me for digital manipulations. By avoiding journaling (at least at this stage), I've got images that I can explore further with Photoshop Elements. Now that's another crusade for another day.

Need some Inspiration - Google Themes

iGoogle is my home page and I love all the ways it can be customized. One of my favorites is the variety of themes you can choose. Fractals has been my theme for the past few weeks since I put Christmas to rest. The fractals changes every so often and they are astoundingly beautiful.
I suppose I could have captured this better, but I just used my camera because I forgot how to do a screen shot at the time this one was up.

Art Journal Day 23 - Vincent Van Gogh

Misty Mawn prompted us to do a journal entry inspired by a favorite artist. There was little hesitation for me. I went straight to Vincent Van Gogh. In 2003, Hubby & I were invited to a wedding in Germany, but Hubby said we should go somewhere else, too. I didn't think twice when he asked where to go. We spent a few days in the Netherlands so we could go to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. It was amazing to be surrounded by his work. I highly recommend this museum if you are ever in Amsterdam.
As moving as that experience was, the painting that stands out in my mind is found at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. When we first visited the museum our time was limited and my only goal was to see the Impressionist galleries. I didn't know there was a Van Gogh until the shimmering colors of "Olive Trees" drew me in.
My interpretation drew on my landscape and Van Gogh's style. I used acrylic paint on heavy paper. It was a thrilling experience to do this exercise. Thank you, Misty, for your prompt!

Pitt Pen Variation on the Prairie Fire Theme

I've recently been greatly inspired by artist Pam Carriker. I discovered her blog earlier this month. When she wrote about her new Pitt Pens and posted a video demonstration I was curious. I remembered I'd purchased a similar set several months ago thinking they would be useful for value studies, but I had never gone very far with them. More often my art is very spontaneous. That's not a big deal when working on paper that can be cropped to improve a composition. But as I work on stretched canvases, I don't have that "luxury". It's frustrating to realize that once again I've put the focal area of a painting right in the bulls-eye zone of the canvas. Not cool. So - I'm trying to plan better.
Pam's post was timely because the technique is very quiet and relaxing for me. It was mental therapy for me while I rested my body during my recent illness. I will continue to do this sort of thing in the coming days as my stamina and health improve.
I've been using the Pitt brush markers on Strathmore Bristol smooth that I cut into ATC's. After lightly sketching outline strokes with graphite, I follow through with the Pitt brush pens starting with the lightest shade and progressing to black. I added accents with white charcoal pencil and black gel pen.
Be sure to check out Pam's blog to see her amazing work!
Do you have any forgotten treasures in your art supplies?

Variations on a Theme - Photoshop Play

It's nice to have quiet activities to occupy myself with while recouperating from a prolonged respiratory virus. Even though I am longing to paint on canvas, it can become a very physical activity. Instead, I've been going through digital files looking for reference photos. I found myself drawn to images of our Prairie Fire Crabapple blossoms. Tonight I played with Photoshop Elements and applied various filters to this image. Then I put the variations together in this collage.

Poppy Jasper & the Petrified Forest

Photography - I've been playing with different backgrounds behind my jewelry so my Etsy listings would have more color. "What if?" could be my motto. I paired a photo from the Petrified Forest with a Poppy Jasper necklace and was pleased with the results which you can see by clicking on my Etsy store to the right. Today's picture is what is behind the necklace. It's AMAZING to see all those colors in the petrified logs. Magnificent!

I still have problems to work out with my photo set-up. I'm getting a lot of hot spots on the polished stones. But I can't complain much, because my set-up was very inexpensive as compared to the commercial products available. It was fun brainstorming with hubby at Lowes & Hobby Lobby for what we could use to build it.

Petrified Forest

A friend emailed me plains/badlands photos that reminded me of the vast, wild spaces of Arizona's Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Hubby & I were there in late May 2006, 24 years after our first time there. I LOVE this place. It's so different from the lush, moist, green of the Midwest. The soil is chalky white, purple, green, red, tan, and black. Simply amazing! We marvel at the imagination and diversity of God's creation. Photos just don't capture the atmosphere and mood of the place, but I've posted one anyway.
I have a set of Daniel Smith watercolors that are made from genuine earth pigments such as Lapis Lazuli, Minnesota Pipestone, Amazonite, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, and Hematite. I use some of these same stone as beads in my jewelry. I found that many of these paints were perfect for rendering the Western landscape. So far, I've just played with some ideas, but hope to do a more detailed painting in the future.

More Sunflowers - New Etsy Listing

Here's a peek at one of my summer projects. I handpainted this tote bag with Setacolor paints and embellished it with beads, ribbons, crystals and sequins. I've just listed it on Etsy. Hubby noticed that I paint and sketch a lot of sunflowers. I just love them. But I do paint other flowers. I was inspired by a hummingbird and Siberian irises for another tote I painted. It's currently on display in my friend's store - The Prairie Fiber Company - on Main St. in Ames. There's a link to Kimberly's blog on my side bar.

Nevada Uncorked!

Great news! I will have a booth selling my jewelry designs at "Nevada Uncorked - An Event of Art & Wine" on Sat. October 6 from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. A $10 admission fee includes a wine tasting glass and hors d'oeuvres. The event will feature the talents of local artists and the tastes of native Iowa wines. Live music and food will complete the "stage" - downtown Nevada.

This will be my first outdoor event. We picked up an EZ Up canopy tent last night. Hopefully we will only need it for shade!

I've posted a shot of one of my favorite necklaces. The larger green beads are jade. The photo doesn't capture their true beauty. I was VERY excited when I found these beads at my favorite supplier - these beads HAD to come home with me. I wasn't really sure what I would do with them until one day when I was visiting Reiman Gardens. While enjoying the flowers, these beads came to mind and I knew just what I would do. Not all my designs come together this way. It's usually more trial and error until I'm pleased with the combination.