Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Day 16: Something that Floats

Well, I have been MIA from the 365 project for a few days....but I have a great excuse because I have gotten several commissions & I am getting paid to make art !!! Yahoo. So that takes precedence right now. (plus I am working on my website to showcase my art & create a place for clients to request commissions).

Today's assignment was to make something that floats. But, being a true rule breaker I decided to DRAW  something that floats : an apple still life. I figured I can use all the drawing practice I can get,  so it was "two birds with one stone."

Here is today's result:

Monday, August 29, 2011

Day 15: Stuff In My Car

Today's assignment was to use things from my car (which was surpisingly uncluttered)....so all I came up with was a biodegradble spoon, a bread closer tag thing (why was that in my car????) & a penny. So I mixed up some Golden Clear Tar Gel & added in some colors. I poured the gel into the spoon that I had taped upright against my studio wall.

Here is the result:




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Day 14: The Eyes Have It

Today's assignment was to make something related to the eyes or for use with the eyes. I chose to practice my Manga drawing skillz (which are non existent)....so after some practice runs I came up with a Manga eye set based on an instructional video by Mark Crilley. The drawing is done in pen, H2O pencils, gouache, Neocolor II & graphite. In an ironic turn of events these crying eyes soon became very meaningful after Zoe hit her head on our dining table & her pretty blue eyes were streaming tears just like these.

Here is today's result:

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Day 13: Carved Stamp (Hideous Crabby Kissy Blobby)

Todays assignment was to carve a stamp from a sponge or potato. "Easy" I thought, because I have carved lots of stamps from lino-blocks. Well, the sponge proved to be more difficult than I thought. I tried to carve out a radiation symbol (because I happened to be listening to a documentary about Chernobyl), that was a disaster. So I just carved out a leaf & smooshed it around some watercolor paper. I added some eyes & claws and made the mess into a Crabby Kissy Blobby. It's weird, but hey....I did my homework!

Here is today's result:


the stamp


the tramp


Monday, August 22, 2011

Day 12: Dollar Bill

Well last week was toast & I didn't do very well...only two days. Oh well, life happens. So, today's assignment was to do something with a dollar bill. It's probably some type of crime to deface a dollar bill....oops.

Here is the result:

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Day 11: Work in Miniature

Todays assignment was to work in minature. We had a super busy day here at the house with a post school playdate- so working in miniature was a great relief. I did a small watercolor paiting of a subject I have done many times: a lone tree... I was originally going to have a white border around it, but the stupid drafting tape ripped the watercolor paper edges....so I had to border it with black marker. Lesson learned.

It measures about 1.25" x 1"

Here is the result:


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 10: Tea

Today's assignment was to use TEA, either brewed or dry and/or tea bags. I chose to work small today since this is a very busy week. I cut open the bottom of a large tea bag & placed the tea leaves in a bowl w/ vodka. I used vodka rather than water to extract the tea dye because then I wouldn't have to wait for the liquid to cool before I used it. Also, by using vodka for the dye it evaporated more quickly after I soaked the actual tea bag in it. I soaked the tea bag in the extract & then left it to dry. Next I splattered watercolor paints, ink & bronze paint on the bag.

Here is the result:



Friday, August 12, 2011

Day 9: Hideous Sparkly Baby Monster

Today's assignment was for me to use a medium I am comfortable with (I chose drawing tools & watercolors) and to make something using only my non dominant hand (my left hand). The results speak for themselves (hideous).

For your viewing pleasure I submit the famous 3 legged : Hideous Sparkly Baby Monster


Ga Ga Goo Goo


I look like Poo Poo


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Day 8: Use Water

Today's assignment was to use water as my "medium/inspiration". I chose to practice my "skillz" with my camera & paint shop pro. So, I put water in my favorite wine glass & set it in front of my favorite curtains.

I altered the photo in PSP just for fun.

Here is today's result:

Before tweaking (w/ software not drugs)


After tweaking


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Day 7: Use your breakfast

Today's assignment said to "use your breakfast" before you eat it. I don't normally eat much of a breakfast. I like to spend my calories on my daily Coffee Toddy w/ cream (cold brewed coffee).

I decided to take the spent coffee grounds I had from the Toddy I brewed last night & use that in my project. I spread the grounds on the paper, some I brushed off right away & others remained. With the coffee stain image I made a "Blobby" which is what I call this type of drawing. I have been drawing Blobbys for awhile using paint & inks....they are fun because you just let the blobs of color dictate the image without a pre-conceived image in mind. I did add a little color with watercolor pencils too!

Here is today's result:

"Blobby" the COFFEE monster

Monday, August 8, 2011

Day 6: Stencil- AKA- You can't get away with murder Dexter

Did you know that when you put watery paint in a graffiti marker & squeeze really hard that it can & WILL explode ALL over your house?

Yep its true ! Keep reading......

So- today's assignment was to make a stencil & then use it in your art. Well I tried to make my own stencil but that didn't go so well, so since I am trying to use up some of my forgotten supplies I pulled out some chipboard pieces I have and popped out the design & used the negative spaces as stencils.

I found another unfinished canvas in my closet & I decided to pretty it up. I made a paste out of Golden's Light Molding Paste, cadmium orange & just a touch of pthalo blue to grey it down.

I spread the paste onto the stencil & voilla !!!

Then,  I had this great idea to fill one of my "On The Run" graffiti markers with copper colored paint & let it drip down the canvas. But, I must not have thinned the paint out enough because when I squeezed the marker... KABOOM... the paint exploded everywhere.

While I was cleaning it out of everything within a 15 foot radius, a Dexter episode ran through my head wherein he demonstrates blood splatter evidence. "A-ha" I thought, ...,"this is why you can't get away with murder.......when something liquid-y explodes it goes EVERYWHERE". So kids let this be a lesson to you-luminol will find EVERYTHING !!!

So here are the results, but the work is UNFINISHED!!! It still needs a few more things and I had trouble photographing it, because parts of it are still wet.



Before

During

Crime Scene Photo, when good paint goes bad

Work in Progress

Work in Progress

Work in progress, texture/depth shot

Work in progress


Friday, August 5, 2011

Day 5: Veggies or Fruits (Oh no, GMO)

Todays assignment was something I thought would be fairly quick & easy. The task called for me to do
something with the first fruit or vegetable I found in my kitchen. Mine turned out to be a banana. So I thought, cool I will set up my camera and do something in Paint Shop Pro (aka: poor girls Photoshop). I need to spend more time learning photo editing so this fit the bill nicely. I decided to merge my photo of a banana w/ an animal to make a statement about GMO's (genetically modified organisms).

This little photo editing adventure took WAY too long, basically because I have no idea what I am doing. This was my first time doing a morph like this. It turned out OK, I would have liked to spend more time on it, but in the end I learned a lot & next time will be better.

Here is today's result:


Original Photo

Franken- Photo




Thursday, August 4, 2011

Day 4: A Collection

In all honesty....I cheated, sort of. Today's assignment originally called for an outside project-but its hot as heck & I have a 6 year old with me so outside was not an option & this assignment will be moved to another day. I did however do the assignment that came next on the list.

Today's assignment was to use something you have in a collection. Well, I don't really collect chachkies or anything so I chose an odd collection: glitter glue. Last year I bought a bunch of glitter glues on clearance from Michael's (for what I do not know)...they have been waiting for their own assignment so I decided to use them as my "collection".

I immediately thought Dia De Los Muertos....that's usually sparkly stuff. I remembered I had an unfinished painting of a pierced heart, so I decided to glitter it up. This was a fun project, not necessarily a stellar artwork example, but that is not what this journal is about.

For those of you who might be thinking I have abandoned my daughter to do these projects.....never fear, each day I let her do her own project which I help her with. Today she glittered up a coloring book page. She is also having lots of fun with these assignments & loves to put her 2 cents worth in.

Here is today's result: 


The Collection


Before


After Glitter- (I know many of you will like it better before...but it was just gathering dust in the closet)


Zoe glittering her coloring page


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Day 3 : Paper

Todays assignment from  365: A Daily Creativity Journal  was to use paper as the medium and to not draw on it, or use glue or scissors. Mission accepted sir and I also added additional criteria that I could not use tape or any other adhesive. So, I set off trolling through my scrapbook paper collection & found some beautiful double sided papers by Amy Butler. I knew I wanted to make paper cones out of the gorgeous papers because yesterdays assignment was originally going to include a canvas cone.

Materials used: double sided paper by K&Company (Amy Butler Design), Bazzil Basics peach colored paper (for the background), staples, Making Memories eyelets. The paper was torn by hand & never cut with any sharp implement. 

Here is today's result:



Day 3: Use paper, no adhesives
 


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Day 2 : Favorite Animal

Todays prompt from the 365: A Daily Creativity Journal mentions using your favorite animal.....so of course I picked chickens. I chose a picture of our hen Aurora since she is my favorite ( we nursed her back to health 9 months ago from death's doorstep).

This project has been so much fun already. Yesterday I really felt a lot of gratitude for the blessings I have been given by being able to travel so much. Making the Passport Collage Journal helped me remember all of the wonderful places I have been privileged to visit. I am forever grateful to those who made it possible.

The following project is acrylic & pastel on canvas. I have had a set of pastels for quite awhile, I just haven't spent a lot of time working with them. It was great to explore this medium on canvas (thanks due to Golden's Pastel Ground for allowing me to do pastels on canvas).

Here is todays result:

Monday, August 1, 2011

Day 1: Something Small

Today's assignment from the 365: A Daily Creativity Journal was for something small-ish. It is supposed to be something that can fit in your hand & made with stuff in your immediate environment.

So, I began fishing through the drawers of my desk & lo and behold I found my old expired passport. Woo-hoo, this was just the inspiration I needed. That passport has been in my desk for years. I knew I wanted to do something cool with it someday, but I had no idea where to start. Since I have never really journalled or made memory books for the trips that were in that passport I chose to make a memory pages in the passport based on each entry visa I had.

Admittedly I took way too much time on this project, but what a great day it has been. It forced me to go back through my memory banks & relive the GOOD (trips with my family), the BAD (trip to Mexico) & the UGLY (moving to London to be with a nasty guy & only staying 6 days)....wow as a bonus to all this creativity I'm working through some cobwebs.

Thankfully, I am blessed with an enormous amount of art products & ephemera....so everything I needed was right here in my den.

Here are the results:


My Desk


My altered passport

See it fits in the palm of my hand...kind of

























Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Day Before............

I am creating this blog to hopefully document my progress through the book : 365 A Daily Creative Journal by Noah Scalin. I hope to be inspired to create something new everyday. The book has a different prompt each day to lead the creative mind on an adventure. I need this so much. I need to reconnect to my creative soul so I don't drown in self pity.

In addition to this book, I am working through the book The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. I am part of a small creativity group of 4 people who are working through this amazing book for creative recovery. Our official start date was Saturday, so I thought my 365 journey would be great to do along with it.

My head has been in a fog for awhile & I know that my best bet for pulling out of my depression is through art (and prayer of course too).

So.....tomorrow it begins. Wish me luck.