Mixed-Media Memory Project

I've been taking the Mixed-Media Memory Painting Project class by Heather Murray  at          http://thetroddenpath.ning.com/ and the following photos show my progress from beginning to end of my first project. My learning piece, if you will.

 

 Covering the 9x12" gallery canvas with acrylic paint and cutting out the printed off subject pieces while it dries...

 

Deciding where I want to place the pieces, gluing down, and leaving to dry...

Adding more paint...

 

More paint and some writing...

 



 

 

I have several bought palettes and I still tend to use whatever is handy...

 



More paint, gel medium, and words, and it's finished! At least, I think it is! The photo isn't the best, but I'm happy with the portrait.

 In the background stands the old Ross Hotel, which used to stand at the end of Main Street, overlooking the TN River. It was torn down in the late 1970's, I think (a total shame!). The Pekingese was my constant companion for almost 16 years. Her name was Kibbles Marie, and she was given to me as a tiny puppy by two of my dearest friends. She left me in 1997 and not a day goes by that I don't still miss her. The man is one of my dad's ancestor's, and the photo was given to me by my uncle. I loved the photo of my ancestor sitting cross-legged on the grass playing his fiddle with the faraway look on his face and thought it fit with the old hotel. For some reason, the fiddle needed to be red...

Close up of the words cut from the Anne Rice novel, Violin...

 

I painted the sides of the canvas black and called it done!

 

I really enjoyed this project and can't wait to make more. Ideas are zipping around in my head like crazy! :)

 

Go over to Creative Every Day to see lots of wonderful art in all media by some awesome artists!





Quirky Doodle Sketches

Merry Monday! I know I have been sharing mostly my weaving projects so far on this new blog, but that is by no means all that I am going to share. I have not abandoned, nor will I ever, my other interests, as long as I am able to type or hold a paintbrush or pen. As I have said before, I don't claim to do things perfectly, but nobody enjoys doing creative things more than I do! :)

I am in the process of re-organizing my workspace. It's going very slowly, because I keep getting sidetracked by my various works in progress. The other day I did some quirky doodle sketches (nothing like looking through old sketchbooks for inspiration!), which I hadn't done in a while. I love doing these!

What I call quirky doodles is where I close my eyes and meditate for a few minutes, then make very light line shapes and swirls with my pencil, all over the page. When I feel ready, I open my eyes and study the page to see what image jumps out at me, and I outline it in darker pencil, often adding bits and lines to it to make a line drawing, which I can then use as a jumping off point for mixed media, journal pages, coloring books, patterns, etc... I often use a Stabilo pencil, then go over it with Niji water brush.

I learned this from Judy somebody (I'm sorry I can't remember her last name, but she does this to make abstract paintings), and I'm so grateful to her for sharing it.

 

 

 

The original lines are still very much in the background. They're just not showing up well on here. The front bird appeared first, then the head of the other one peeked out from behind for a pair of Quirky Birds!

 

The images are often whimsical for me, or something that I would never think to draw myself...

Quirky Boy with Ball-The star shape appeared first, then the two balls, and the rest followed...

Quirky Foxy Cat-This character looks like a cross between a fox and a cat to me. I like him!

 

 

Quirky Homeless Dog-I didn't darken the eyes enough and he's kind of lop sided, which made me think of some of the stray dogs that adopt us. He looks sort of hopeless and sad to me.

 

I do quirky doodles often when I can't get focused on anything else, and they often unblock my creative juices to carry on with something else, and I never know what is going to emerge. Sometimes I see them right away, and sometimes they hide for a while, but they come forth sooner or later!

 

I also have a work in progress canvas portrait in mixed media going, inspired by Heather Murray, plus a large bed doll, who is needing her face painted and her arms and legs attached, and a loom that needs warping. So I'm off to work on one or the other now!

 

Hope you enjoyed your visit, because I sure enjoyed having you here! :)



Weaving a New Scarf...I Think!

I have a scarf warped and started using Red Heart Homespun acrylic/rayon variegated yarn. I LOVE the softness, texture, and colors, but I made a mistake using it to warp my loom. VERY difficult to weave, and I'm now trying to decide whether to continue as it is or cut it loose, re-warp it with cotton thread, and start over, weaving the weft with this yarn. 

Also, I'm wondering about how the tassels are going to turn out. Look how soft and unraveled the tail at the bottom of the picture is. :/

Or I could just take a new art class. I'm beginning to have painting withdrawals...

 

Beige and White small scarf-2 shuttles

Weaving practice using two shuttles of yarn. First attempt at doing the pinwheel pattern, which I messed up and wound up with checks. I stopped weaving at placemat/small scarf size. I used Peaches and Crème white and panorama cotton yarn.

Same scarf, different light...Below is close up...the panorama is beige with flecks of various colors mixed in.

The Weaver's Idea Book by Jane Patrick

Wonderful book for all weavers, but especially for new ones. If I had bought this one first I wouldn't have bought a couple of others that I have. There is also a dvd of this book that I've read good things about.

Happy Sox, a New Purse, and a Bag of Fun

Shopping with mama and hubby. I splurged on some feel good stuff! :)