Saturday 30 April 2016

Transformation Painting - Mixed Media Art - Pearl


I was slightly late in posting this, wanted to share another painting transformed from a background.  Check out the video of the process.  I had a lot of fun creating her




It is great what you can create from scrap papers.  You can see the shapes of the papers that went into creating the background.


But you can transform it any way you please.  And create a piece of Art that speaks to you, I've called her Pearl, as she loves wearing pearl necklaces.



Do check out some of my other art and videos.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Quote Wednesday - Sara Teasdale - and news

Welcome to quote Wednesday for today, and I hope that wherever you find yourself you are blessed and able to be a blessing.  The quote today is from Sara Teasdale and reads:

Life will have given  me the truth, and taken in exchange my youth.....


For me this is a reminder to make the most of every opportunity.  We are learning all the time, and we have to value the process that gets us from one point to the next, and hopefully with reflection we grow and learn.


We all age and get old it is a universal occurrence, just make sure you use the truths that come from this journey wisely and continue to step out what ever stage of life you are!

Want to be motivated each and every week, Quote Wednesday will be moving to my inspiration quote blog from next week. 

Realityarts Quotes!

My quote blog will have a wide variety of images and quotes for you to feast your eyes on!  I hope that you will go away each week feeling inspired and encouraged.

Saturday 23 April 2016

Recycled Projects - Recycled 101 - Create a trinket bowl!




Welcome to another week of recycled projects, where I have taken a plastic drinks container and turned it into a bowl that can be used to display some of your favorite things.


I have taken newspaper rolls and wound them round the bottom of the bottle, creating a base




 I have then painted it with a water resistant paint product called powertex, and then added a gold finish around the bowl.



It is now a great place to store my stones that are waiting to be painted.  Check out the video below to see it up a bit closer.




Friday 22 April 2016

Transformation Friday - Rest - Mixed Media Art video

Welcome to another Transformation Friday.  I have been enjoying painting portraits and the process that it involves, where we see it come to shape from start to finish.  It is a reminder to me that we are also works in progress, not having yet reached our destination but all on that journey, picking up the lessons that life teaches us.



The painting today reminds me that we need to be mindful of rest and taking that time out for ourselves to allow our bodies to renew.  Those things that nurture us and help us grow can often be found in the times where we reflect and take the time to listen.

'the before'
This is where the painting started out, the 'before' stage.  Come with me on the journey as the story unfolds, the painting makes a few stops, every now and then before coming to a place of peace.

Check out the video to see the process, hope you enjoy it




Tuesday 19 April 2016

One BadAss Art Journal Workshop - Fear and Courage Art Journal Page

The One BadAss Art Journal workshop is coming to a close and it has been a very insightful journey.  As one of the teachers I have been blessed to be among so many talented artists who each gave so much of themselves during their lessons.  I have really enjoyed creating alongside them and all the others who took part on the course.

I did a journal page inspired by the session that Keri Sallee did during her week, and this is what I came up with in my journal.  

Fear comes, remind you of ALL your limitations

My piece started out with background colors, then figures started to appear as I worked on it.  It addresses the journey that I feel that we all make at sometime or another, of stepping out into something challenging, and allowing the doubts and negative voices to put you off course.

Fear is represented in the picture as a one-eyed monster type figure, staring, and behaving as if there is concern really at the center of it and it really wants to support.

We have all dealt with fear in one shape or another, we know what it looks like, some of us can handle different situations that for the rest of us we can only look on in admiration from a place of safety.  Fear can remind us to be careful in some situations, and reminds me that sticking my head into a crocodiles mouth should be handled with caution.

Essentially we have to find ways of tackling with fearful situations especially where the critic is involved, disguised as a voice of reason, especially as we may not always see a plan, route, or steps that we can take.



Have the courage to take the step...you know you want to

When I come across these situations I try and see what fear is saying, and why these emotions are coming up at this particular moment.  I think about what it is that I am trying to achieve and some of the ways in which it can play out.

I look at what support I have around me, sometimes there is none and in those situations you have to brave uncharted waters.  Other times you have support around you, but they are coming from a place of fear, as they don't want you to change.


Are you brave enough to take the first step on the tightrope?

At the end of the day you have to take the step, make a decision, hold on to what you got and put one foot in front of the other.  It might feel as if you are walking the tightrope, but armed with your pole to help keep your balance, and keeping your eye on your goal, you can make it to the other side.

All that from a journal page!!!  I always find it amazing what stories want to be told on the page.  I hope if you are dealing with a situation that currently seems impossible that you take a look at it from a different perspective before you make your decision to quit.

Stay blessed always and I will be showing you some of the other art that I have created from The One BadAss Art Journal workshop.




Sunday 17 April 2016

Word for the Week - Deuteronomy 31:8


Welcome to the word for the week.  Taken from Deuteronomy 31:8 and reads - 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.


The last few months have been a hard one where we have had to stand with two people who were battling health issues and they past within a few months of each other.  Since we have been in Barbados we have already attended 3 funerals with one just on Saturday.  At each of the funerals, the life of the individual was celebrated and there was a joy for having got to know them in such a short time, obviously tinged with sadness for the family no longer having them around.

One thing that gives me comfort is that the Lord is always with me, I have no doubt, and can testify to many incidents where if not for the Lord I wouldn't be here.  It is that faith that gave me strength when my own brother was ill with multiple myeloma and eventually was take from us.


I want to encourage and lift up those who are going through sickness, longstanding illnesses and friends and family who support you that you are not alone.  Make the most of every opportunity that you have to speak to those around you and tell them how much you love them, share special moments, build the memories, for these are what we can hold on to, and that you can look back on.  Don't leave it to tomorrow, next year or 'when the time is right', for tomorrow for some will never come.

Saturday 16 April 2016

Recycled Projects - Are Back! - Crafting a Cup

Happy Saturday!   So great that you could join me today.  I wanted to let you know that the Recycled Project posts are back and I will be sharing things that you can do with recycled materials.  There are a lot of crafty things that you can do with recycled materials.   You will have endless amounts of fun re-purposing, reusing and just making stuff that you might be able to use around the home or in your crafting space.



This is also useful if you are creating on a budget and want to find some inexpensive ways of creating the products or equipment that you might need for a fraction of the cost.

In one of my previous posts I shared a book case I made from Cardboard boxes

Cardboard Bookcase

which was made from packing boxes below!

The foundation of the bookcase made from Cardboard

I had great fun making it, was able to make it fit the space I had in mind.  I have since been making other things, and there seems to be more recycled material than time to make something new and exciting, but I am giving it a go.

I have come up with a few ideas for things to do with plastic bottles and newspaper, and again it is quite exciting what you can do with a little bit of imagination.

I have made a storage container this week, which will be used to hold some of my tools in the studio, see photos below, you can also see the video so that you can see it from a different view point.



So many things can be made from these two materials

So many things you can do with plastic and paper!

There is a wealth of things that you can create with plastic and paper, here is one way in which you can create an inexpensive storage container, that can be used in a variety of ways in your creative space or around the home.

The design formed itself and began to take shape once the paper was added.

It is made using the top of a plastic container and newspaper.

I love the way the paper lays on the plastic

The newspaper is rolled and covers the plastic to get the textured effect.

I created a stand from the rolled paper

It is dried and painted then given the brushed gold effect with metallic paint. I really like the detail on the handle and the pattern around the container.

Painted cup, which is varnished

It is then sealed with varnish and is water resistant, but to preserve it don't actually use it as a cup (lol).

With some thought you could allow your imagination to run away with you and create other shapes and styles - how about a series.

Do come back next week to see what else can be made, subscribe and sign up to the emails, so that you don't miss out on a post!


Friday 15 April 2016

Transformation Friday - Let Peace Reign


Here is a page I did recently for my transformation Friday art pieces.  I took an image and worked on it until the story came out.  I tell the story through video, I hope that you enjoy!





This is how she came into the story, wanting a change, but not knowing where to go, so I helped her with her transformation using my art supplies and gave her the tools she needed to tell her story..


Her journey was filled with doubt but she kept going, kept trying to understand her full potential..



With each step and sweep of the paint brush she became who she knew she could be



Come back for more Transformation art journal pages



Wednesday 13 April 2016

Quote Wednesday - Don't give up

Welcome to Quote Wednesday, and I hope that it finds you in a good place.  Despite where we think we are there is always room for improvement, even if it is just a little tweak here or there.

I have been on a journey (another one!) trying to find where I fit with my work and where I want to take it, it meant that I removed myself from my blog to a certain extent.  I realize that it didn't quite make how I feel any clearer, just left me with so many things I wanted to share.  

Anyway, that I will do, I hope to continue to inspire, encourage and be real.

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

Don't give up on your dreams, just change your perspective a little.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

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