You Can Not Use It Up

Creativity that is...they say the more you use the more you have. I am finding this to be true. VERY true and I am very happy about that fact. When I first started The Sketchbook Project I was scared to death I would not have enough ideas to fill all the pages and I would just end up scribbling with crayons on the remaining pages to get it done by the deadline. (That or I would just give up and not send the book in at all.) I counted all of the pages and made a list of ideas. Every idea got written on a sticky note and put on a page in my book. At first I did not have enough ideas to fill all of the pages which of course just reinforced my fears but I started to work on the ideas I had and as I worked new ideas came to me. Onto their sticky note and into the book they went. Eventually I had an idea on every page and I almost could not believe it. I double checked to make sure that the same idea was not on two pages. As I continued to work even more ideas came to me. Some of the sticky notes got removed from the book and replaced with new ones. Those that I removed I stuck on the wall in my studio. The deadline is January 15, 2013 but I am almost done with my sketchbook which turned out not to be a sketchbook at all. It's really a multi media art journal if I have to put a label on it. When it's done I will share all of the pages like a proud momma shares photos of her first baby. Which in all honesty this is my very first project since declaring myself an artist and there is a part of me that does not want to send it in. I have a feeling I might cry just like the day I sent my oldest son to kindergarten. Until I finish it I will share a page from my inspiration journal...yep, not only are there enough ideas for my sketchbook there are enough that I have three other art journals in progress!

For this page I just wanted to play with mixing colors. I intended to use only red, yellow and blue to create all twelve colors on the extended color wheel. I chickened out and added the three secondary colors as well as blue-green. I did do a lot of mixing on the page and learned a lot about color theory. I just used my fingers to mix the paints right on the pages so it was totally fun which was my other objective! Then I wanted to play with the black and white India Ink I had just purchased. When you blow on the ink through a straw it spreads differently on acrylic paint that it does on gesso or plain paper.  I didn't get the result I was looking for with the white splotches but I learned something new.

Thanks for stopping by and if you feel moved please leave a comment. Your words mean the world to me!

Another Page From My Sketchbook

A tribute to pink...one of my favorite colors!!

The Altered Brush Project

My brush arrived in the mail the other day. I am going to alter my brush into a piece of artwork and send it back to Donna Downey to display in the bathroom gallery of her new studio. I am so excited to get started but have a couple of ideas I need to decide between. To see other brushes that are ready to be hung take a look The Altered Brush Project. There are some amazingly talented artists out there!

Here's a look at another page in my sketchbook. I used gesso to prime the page and then scribbled with Watercolor Wonder Crayons from Stampin' Up. I used a water brush to wet the color. I didn't realize how the color would pool on the primed surface so it didn't turn out how I envisioned it. I let it sit for a few weeks trying to decide if I was happy with it anyway or if I wanted to do something else on top of it....then I happened upon the stamp in the clearance bin at Michael's. I loved the quote from Picasso and I decided the page was perfect the way it was!

P.S. If you have any tips on how to better photograph my work or better share it here I welcome any suggestions! Thanks!

Have a colorful day!!

I'm baaaaack....

on my blog that is (I don't think that I was ever missing from any other aspect of my life but I guess I can't be sure myself, can I?) and I've made some changes! Not nearly enough changes but it will suffice for now. I have spent this summer doing many things...We have had "Make It Mondays", "Take A Trip Tuesdays" (which almost never actually occurred on Tuesday, whatever), "Wet Wednesdays" and "Frozen Fridays". The frozen refers to ice cream so of course Fridays were my favorite! We've seen movies, attended soccer camps, made s'mores, played golf, redecorated Sam's room, attended a Fire game, took the train downtown to see Doug's office and have lunch at The Mart, enjoyed time with friends, had a PJ day (or 3) and took our annual trip to Castlerock Lake in Wisconsin to camp with the Bennetts. I think it is safe to say a good summer was had by all and the kids were sad to see summer come to an end.

I have also done one other very important thing this summer...I have decided what I want to be when I grow up! After much soul searching, contemplating, researching, journaling and reflecting I have decided I am going to be an Artist or that I am an Artist (depending on who you ask I suppose).

I posted this to my friends on Facebook:

What are the "requirements" for calling yourself an artist? Do you have to have taken classes, sold a piece of your work, have your work on display somewhere? Is is a title where there are no "requirements" unlike that of say a doctor? I'm curious...what do you think?

My favorite answer came from my friend Jennifer who happens to be an art teacher. She said if you create an original piece you are an artist.  

There you have it, I am an artist!

One other response that I got from my friend Craig who is a performing artist said that for other people to take me seriously as an artist I need to sell my work or have it displayed in a gallery setting. His is a respectable opinion and one I took seriously even though it did not come with the instant gratification that I so loved of Jennifer's.

To that end I have gotten to work! I am participating in what is called The Sketchbook Project 2013. I was sent this humble sketchbook to fill with whatever my heart desires.

When it is complete I will mail it back to the Art House Co-op. My book will be cataloged and then taken on a tour of the country. It will be on display in numerous locations including Chicago during 2013. Once the tour is over it will live forever at the Brooklyn Art Library therefore putting my work on display. This project is making me very happy! It might not be exactly what Craig had in mind when leaving his comment but I'm working towards a goal and goals are good!

If you have interest in this project you can find information or sign up here The Sketchbook Project 2013.

I just received the materials for another project in the mail today! Since it just came I don't have a picture to share yet. When finished this one will be on display in Huntersville, South Carolina at Donna Downey Studios. Donna Downey is a fun and fantastic multi media artist that I had the pleasure of taking a class with this summer. 

Finally, (if you've made it this far thank you!) I have returned to my blog here and figure in this age of the internet I can make this my own public "gallery" of sorts. I am on an Art Journey! Care to come along?

 

Razzberries or Zerberts?

Whatever you call them Bennett has learned to make them...he's cracking me up right now as I type blowing on my leg. It may not be the noise so much as the fact that he's cracking himself up with each blow! Gotta love kids!

Plan B...

Well....Larry let me down on the Hilton Head trip for Doug's birthday. Not in the budget for this year on such short notice. So...Plan B is for the two of them to go to Wisconsin for the weekend, I've requested the time off and looked into courses and tee times. Not sure if they are going to stay at Larry's dad's or at the Bennett's camper. Either place would be fun for the two of them, the camper although less luxurious than Larry Sr.'s new house, is on the lake and they would have access to a boat a couple of really cool bars. Larry can decide...Doug will be happy just to be going away. I'm not as happy as if I were sending him to Hilton Head but I will get over it.

There is just one more wrench threatening to be thrown into my plan...when will Sam's first soccer game of the season be? His coaches are deciding whether or not to play in a tournament Labor Day weekend. If they do that will be great...if not I may have to spoil my surprise and tell Doug of my plans and let him choose if he wants to go away and miss Sam's first game or cancel the trip. GGGRRRRRR.

Shhhhhh....It's A Surprise!

I have secretly been planning a trip for Doug...he wants to play golf on Hilton Head island and I am gonna make that happen. I have a room booked for him and his friend Larry for November. I'm checking on flights and Larry is actually checking his budget, if it doesn't pan out for him I'm not sure who I'll invite, yikes! But I'm pretty sure he'll make it work...his wife is my best friend and Larry loves a good round of golf! Anyway...I've started looking at courses and making a list to call and reserve tee times. I want him to play at Harbor Town...the PGA holds a tournament there each year I believe and he would think I am so COOL! (He thinks I'm cool anyway but you know where I'm going with this...). I am checking on rental cars and I am going to request the time off of work for him from his boss. It helps that his boss is also a personal friend so I have no problem sending him an email to say "Hey Jim, Doug needs 4 days off in November cuz I am a really cool wife and am sending him on a mancation!" I hope I'm not forgetting anything...I've never been on a mancation myself, or even a golf weekend for that matter. Trip to Disney, no problem, got it covered right down to the last character buffet dinner and where to find the coolest penny smashing machine...but golf is not really in my realm of expertise. Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

The best part about planning this trip for him is that I am going to pay for it all MYSELF. Since I have been working at Meijer I have been stashing away the cash (except for the expenses that I got the job to cover in the first place). His birthday is September 23rd and he is going to be shocked! He thought the 40" LCD Hi-def TV he got for Father's Day was cool? Just wait!

I do have to admit that I am a little bit afraid of his reaction...what if he would have rather me used this money for something else? Like the credit card we're trying to pay off...I think he'll get over it but I'm still a little bit reserved...