Mixed Media Art page - Transformation Friday - Shona

I love creating artwork that begins one way and then goes through a total transformation.  I don't set out to draw a particular image, but allow the image to come out of the backgrounds.

Shona - Mixed media page - Every image has it's own story!

I did a video so that you can see the changes in sequence for this one, 

Check out this video

This is basically how it all starts off, from putting down materials on a page and then making the decision that you are going to tell the story.

A loose image appear and then built on, allowing yourself to be open and not bound by what you think it should look like.

If you keep pushing you start to see the image take place and the story begins

Not being afraid of change

Knowing that you will know when it is time to let go

For anything to grow you have to put in the work, nurture and water when necessary.  Creating is as important to me as my breath, it is part of who I am.

I take the time to refine, to bringing out the colors and allowing her to begin to tell her story, through her gaze, the expression on her face, until I can let go and let her stand in her own right and tell her story without any insecurities or doubt.

Mixed Media Art Page - Shona

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.

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

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

Embrace Your Art - Prompt 7 (Tutorial tuesday's)

Last year I was asked by Tiare Smith to be one of the guest artists on the Embrace Your Art a weekly challenge where you are giving a prompt and a challenge supply or technique to use and the sessions are posted each Friday, you can join in as she shows you the techniques that she is using, and it is a great way to give yourself ideas of things to try.  I also find it good for getting you to use different supplies.

Here is my latest one that I did and the video of how I completed the page.   I have also included images of the other pages that I have done so far.

Goals you have and use some stitching

I have been playing along with some of the other weeks as well, and here are my pages from the past few weeks:

Favorite color

Hometown

Names your known by..

What does your name mean/Nickname

As you can see we are creating on round pages, why not join in the fun, you can dip in or out as you want, set yourself a challenge to complete a certain amount of pages, or do the lot.  I would love to see what you create!  

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Bird on my shoulder - process video

I wanted to share this short video with you today that shows you how I created this piece, hope you like it.

click on the video below to see how I made it.

I have lots to share with you over the coming weeks, sit back, relax and enjoy.  Blessings

Tutorial Tuesdays - Doodle day!

Thought I would share this page, another one that can be done when you get a spare moment, want to do something creative that can be used as a warm up.  

These pave the way for the more detailed doodle that is more detailed.  I really do encourage you to spend some time to unwind by doodling, you will enjoy it and be amazed at some of the things that you come up with.  You might even decide to make a painting of it, or take it into another direction.

Have a look at the video to see how I doodled this page, and how about creating your own.

Have fun and stay blessed and be a blessing!

Dream, Create, Enjoy - Art Journal Video process

I created this page a while back for my Gratitude's and Celebration Journal, and thought I would share the video of how it came together.  The great thing about working in journals is that you can come back to a page if you wish and see it change and take on a new direction.  Much like life we have to be flexible and sometimes make changes to a plan that seems immovable.  But you never know when making changes or taking a new route will unfold something really great that you never thought possible.

With the pages in this journal the majority of them have some mark on them, where I have cleaned a brush off that had excess paint, or I just wanted to make some marks and spend a quick creative 5 minutes.

Don't be afraid to let your journals work how you want them to work and in the process much will be revealed and you will have much fun.  Hope you enjoy the video.

Tutorial Tuesday - Doodles

After coming back from the States and the cold but sunny weather I am getting back into the swing of things and have a quick little exercise to share.  Its organised doodling, it is a great way to get started in a creative activity, taking time out or just creating on a small scale.

I did a little video for you, and hope you enjoy, why not get your pens out and start to doodle, share what you do, or use it as the basis for another piece of art, attach it to card and send it to a friend!

I have so much to share with you, new courses, videos, artwork, supplies and artwork from friends far and wide, you will need to come back as I share some of these on the blog.

For now, stay blessed and be a blessing!

Art Journal Page - I can move mountains - Page and video process

This Journal page was great to do.  It is nice once in a while to work with a limited palette and really stretch yourself once in a while, and every now and then I like to work like this as we can sometimes take what we have for granted.

Working in an art journal enables me to work through ideas, try new techniques and see what works, and there is some pages that I will take a step further and work on canvas with them.

Here is the completed page, check out the video to see the work in progress, leave a comment, let me know what you think, what are you working on and how do you challenge yourself in your work?

I can move mountains

Background 2 - My Color is Beautiful Art - I will always Love You Background and Journal Page

Here is the second background that I did and then turned it into a journal page, I used a limited palette to produce this page.

I couldn't resist taking this photo, the sunlight was shining through my window and I thought it looked cool

Lots of texture added to the page

Hope you enjoyed the video, let me know what you think, how do you approach your backgrounds?

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

My Color is Beautiful Art Online Course - Week 1 - Courage

We have been having a great time on the first week of My Color is Beautiful Art Online Course, and despite drawing on a regular basis, it is quite easy to forget to play and enjoy the work, rather than stick to rigid routines.

You can watch me in action in the video below to see how I got from a blank piece of paper to the image below.

This week saw me starting out playing with backgrounds and using a limited palette and enjoying the process. The colors I chose to use were ones that I rarely take out and they have been sitting at the back and out of the way, and together they seem to blend well.  This is a great exercise and one that I want to keep up and creating background pages.

After I had finished the background page, I then went on to create an image from the page, seeing what I could pull out of the paint,  Little by little a character began to come forth and had a message or a reminder to me, and that was to take courage.  I guess at some point or another we all have to face things that can be a bit challenging, but once we take that step we can be surprised at how much we had in side that was better than we had originally thought.

Here is some of the detail of the piece, I created a lot of texture just by using gesso and mark making tools

And the message of courage came shining through

Week 1 of My Color is Beautiful Art has started and there is still time to sign up, you will receive:

• 10 positive, creative energy boosts and exercises, videos and/or pdf’s provided.  

• 1 exercise per week for 10 weeks, resulting in feelings of joy, confidence, happiness, acceptance and love!

• Fun giveaways/prizes! and much more!

• The Classroom access will be open until December 31, 2015.

If you would like to sign up, you can REGISTER HERE and it will take you to the page.  

Looking forward to having you create with us!

Art Journal ....Loved

The background for this page started out very simply with writing out encouraging words on the page, which was then covered with gesso and a selection of paints.

I used an old credit card to spread the paint and began to add some shapes using the edge of the card.  The good thing about working in an art journal is that you can work to any size that suits, and you can be so expressive either with lots of images and words or keep it simple.

I had made silhouettes from painted card and applied to the surface of the journal page.

Take a look at the video of the process, I hope it inspires you to work in your own journal, I would love to see your results.

Video process - Art Journal

Video - Art Journal Process - Walking into your blessings

I have been busy creating and recording some of the processes from my Art Journal.  This page is about walking into your blessings.  Many people started challenges and new years resolutions at the beginning of January and as they complete their challenges and step out each and every day they will be changed by the process, and see many things unfold.

As you 'change your mind' about your situation and take steps towards making a difference I am in your corner cheering you on!

Take a look at the video and see how the journal page came together

I Lift My Eyes - Art Journal

I am opening the doors to the studio again so that you can see how I created this journal page.  I hope you enjoy.

Here are the finished images

I Lift up my eyes....

I am enough - Journal Page Process Video

I am enough 

Art Journal Page and process

You are the Light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every one in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.  

Matthew 5:14-16

We can often get lost in worrying about what other people say and think about us.  We grow up having so much spoken about us from very young.  Even if you have grown up with positive reinforcements, as you go into mainstream school there are those whose environment wasn't as encouraging - from other pupils to teachers, and it takes a toll on your self esteem and confidence and you constantly look for approval from those who are just not able to give it to you.

As you get older you can find that a mindless negative comment spoken to you in childhood still shapes how you feel about yourself today, and you unconsciously prevent yourself from moving forward, and I thought I would remind you that there is so much to your life that you have yet to see and experience that right now, right where you are at this very moment you are enough!

As you unravel the negativity, and the cruel words that were spoken over you, start speaking encouraging words over your life.  Recognize the accomplishments that you have made, how you have taken a step forward despite the obstacles, and made it through coming out the other end. 

Think about all the people that you have encouraged, and when you are feeling 'off' remember that you are loved, treasured and you are enough!

You are a light in this world!

Stay blessed and be a blessing!