Embrace Your Art - 2016 Your Favorite Book and Non Dominant Hand

It is great to be one of the guest artists for the Embrace Your Art 2016 - Journal About Me .  My challenge was to think about my favorite book and use my non dominant hand to create my page.

One of my favorite books is called Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo by Ntozake Shange, about 3 sisters, all 3 creative in their own way.  

The book is a lovely read, and captures so well the creative gifts of the sisters, which is what I felt I wanted to capture on my page, and Ntozake Shange is a very talented writer.

The other challenge I had was to use my non dominant hand which for me is my left.  I love challenging myself especially using my left hand to create, and need to do it more as it enables you to see your work in a different way.

I used Inktense blocks and Art bars for the background, just getting some color down and then blended it with gesso, which muted some of the colors.

I then sketched a loose image, not being left handed the emphasis was on loose and focused on the impression of a figure standing rather than having to be an accurate representation of a figure

I then started to add some color using the inktense blocks and refine the image a bit more.

As I painted the background just came on its own, she was standing with her back to the ocean, and it was as if she was in that place where she refueled and got her creative perspective.

When drawing with your non dominant hand, don't try and be exact, continue to play, and focus on just having fun with the piece.

I imagined myself by the waters, just feeling the breeze blow about me and shutting my eyes to sensations and the sounds

I then added the finishing touches that nurture me in that creative space, the sun, the birds

Check out the full process in the video below and see the full art journal page done in the round.  Thanks for watching and remember to have fun!

Embrace Your Art 2016 runs every Friday for a whole year. Check out some of the challenges, and see some of the other guest artists and it is totally free to join!

Mixed Media Art Painting - Transformation - Dala

Transformation Series  

Welcome to the series, it is great to have you back again this week to see what else I have in store for you.  This week we meet another character, with her own story and we meet her in what looks like a snapshot of her life..

'Dala sat in her garden surrounded by red flowers and blue skies, and at that moment she felt at peace gazing at the flowers she breathed deeply trying to soak in everything that her senses could pick up.  The delicate aromas, the breeze that made the hairs on her skin dance, and the warmth of the sun that made her feel part of something so much bigger'

A week doesn't go by where I create a painting on what looks like a scrap of paint spattered paper, card or fabric.  I guess it is part of the challenge for myself to be flexible and work with what I have.

It is important to spend how ever long you have creating, whether you pick up a paint brush, or just sort through some supplies, it is a good idea to make a regular practice that feeds the creative soul.

Finding that quiet space that you can get lost in the creative process, and not worry about what something will look like, or as you are creating what unfolding before you.

I play with textures, colors, and when it feels right I stop, or I take the painting in a different direction.  If you check out some of the videos on my youtube, you will see that some start out one way and then totally change.  Feeling comfortable and not getting too precious over the painting helps the flow.  There have been times that I looked back at a video and thought I loved the painting before I totally changed it, but that is all part of the growing process.

She sat in her garden surrounded by red flowers and blue skies

I hope you enjoyed watching the video, check out my others when you get a chance.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Mixed Media Art Video Process - Transformation

I am still doing the video transformation series, but have started calling it Transformation Thursdays, had a better ring to it!  

Essentially I start off with a background card that I embellished with scraps of paper then after drawing a loose image and applying paint the card transforms on as you will see in the video below and then you are a participant in the transformation.

The main thing to remember to do is to have fun while you are painting, and I see these mini paintings as a way to keep me creating, especially when time is limited.

I have been doing the paintings in the morning, and is a way to set the creative tone.  I usually allow 30 minutes to creatively unwind, but sometimes end up giving myself a bit longer.

 You have to do what and where suits you.  I'm an early riser so, usually this part of my creative practice is done between 6.30am and 8.30am, and its also really lovely to hear the first morning sounds, the birds and other noisy critters:)

As you can see there is lots of lovely texture going on and then I have added color as suits.

I hope you enjoyed the video, if you decide to give it a try, do let me know how you get on with the process.  I shall at some point be sharing a start to finish painting in this style with you.  For now stay blessed and be a blessing!

Book Festival, 1000 year old tree and Dementia Talk - What a week!

It has been a very busy week for me and I am quite amazed at how quickly the time has gone

Had a friend stay from Jamaica, A-dZiko Simba Gegele the author of All Over Again. She was running a few workshops as part of Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair 

Here she is talking about her book and inspiration:

There were also some great authors over the course of the week for the festival.  One person on the lineup was one of my favorites Paula Marshall and I have practically everyone of her books (I guess I am a big fan!)

We went to see one of the oldest trees in Barbados, the Baobab Tree 90 feet high and 81 feet  around its circumference - it is amazing!

It is know as the Tree of Life and has so many healthy benefits and is being called a superfood as it is a good source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, thiamin, fibre and vitamin B6.

The fruit is thought to also to have more than double the antioxidants per gram of goji berries and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined.

New shoots

Flower of the Baobab tree

On top of that,  I was also asked to do be on a panel doing a talk about dementia to Theology students at Codrington College  I spoke on how we can change our perspective when thinking about dementia.  I looked at ways in which individuals could find similar emotional experiences to better relate to the emotional expressions of someone living with dementia.

It was a beautiful venue

and so peaceful....

I am so thankful for so many things.  I want to also encourage those of you  who are at the point of stepping out into unknown territory to make that step.  We are not promised tomorrow and just have to have courage to do those things that can bless others and ultimately bless us as well.

Taking a stroll

Encouragement for today - What are you going to do about it?

Welcome to Wednesday!  I just wanted to encourage you on your journey today.  Sometimes the middle of the week can send you either way in your thinking.  You are either in the flow of things and really excited about where you are going on your journey.  The other end of the spectrum is to look at today and wander what on earth you have been doing, with half of the week nearly over and nothing to show for it!

Whatever your state of mind is today we all need encouragement, granted of different sorts.  I encourage those who have not yet recognized their abilities and skills and who may feel that it is just 'too late' to try something new or to step out.

At the end of the day time will pass (and I know I've said this before), but you will age whether you like it or not.  So why not look back and see all the things you accomplished 'at your age', the things you got to enjoy, the miracles that began to unfold in your life just because you said 'YES' to you and your creative journey.

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought, Realityarts

I hope whatever you decide or decided to do today utilized all of your abilities and you were able to identify new ways of working and opportunities for growth.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Word for the Week - Hebrews 13:6 and Happy Mothers Day!

Welcome to Word for the Week.  Today we not only celebrate that we get to live another day, but that we also have an opportunity to be a blessing.

I want to start out by saying HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I wish to celebrate the life of a beautiful woman, who gave me life, who showed me what sacrifice and generosity was, who cherished, treasured and loved me unconditionally, who gave, blessed, had courage, and still despite living with dementia shows her determination, grace, her beauty and her love.

Mavis Elizabeth Trought

Love you to bits mum!  

I also want to celebrate the lives of all mothers around the world, my sister, sister-in-law, friends, family.  I celebrate my own life and how far I have come, I treasure and nurture myself and know that God has placed a light within me that has to shine, despite and in-spite of the circumstances

The scripture word for the week says says...'So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

We have so many circumstances where we operate in fear rather than in strength.  Coming through the situation, you learn exactly where you buckled in your weakness, but also where you showed strength and courage.  It is that courage that keeps you going so hold tight! 

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Recycled Project - Supplies Storage Container from Toilet Roll Tube

Welcome to Creating on a Budget, a look at ways in which you can create fun, stylish things using recycled materials.

Today I want to show you the storage container that I created using the inner cardboard of the toilet rolls.  Toilet rolls tubes are something we normally toss into the recycling bin, but they have a wealth of things that they can be used for and today I will show you one of those things.

If you need a flexible storage solution - I am always looking for things that help me organize my studio space.  I find there are specific tools that I want to have at hand without having to put them away in draws, and then spend time looking for them when I need them.  I found that creating this storage container, it provided with the much needed tool that could be hung and out of the way or placed on the desk space.  Check out the video to see more of it in action.

So for something that would be discarded, you can find greater use with just a little bit of imagination.

I really enjoy having the storage container as it can be hung and out of the way as well as being placed on the desk.  There is a space for everything and everything in it's place

It is time to look at recycling in a different way, there is so many space and money saving things that can be done or created with recycled products, there is no limit with a little bit of imagination.

Come back and see what other ways in which we can use recycled products.

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

Sculpture - Work in progress - sneak peak

I thought I would share with you a sneak peak of a piece that I am working on.  I have got the structure, with the armature  and the first layer of clay.  I have pre-molded the faces so these were added on at this point.  

I wasn't really sure where I wanted to take it initially, and what story the figures were telling.  One figure I guess is being rescued, I am not sure that it is the obvious choice though, and I think that the story has a twist.

Sculpture - to rescue or be rescued?

I really enjoy working on this piece and have a few others that I want to get finished, they are all at different stages.  I enjoy working on more than one piece at a time as it fits with the way I like to work.  

I find when you have to wait for pieces to dry, it enables you to go on to another piece and do what needs to be done.

Sculpture - work in progress

If all goes well with the time I should have some sculptures complete by next week, so will be sharing here, so do check back.  Why not subscribe or join the mailing list and you will be updated with any new posts.

If you get a chance, hop on over to my Inspirational quotes blog to get this weeks encouragement and see if the art work inspires you.

Word for the Week - Happy Monday!

Welcome to word for the week, where the scripture is taken from Proverb 3:24 and reads:

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet

It reminds us to not allow worry as to disturb our sleep.  What is it that you are mulling over and over in your mind that stops you from getting that rest that you need?

  Maybe we need to go to the core of that which makes us worry, strip it back to the bare bones and take a good look.  There are some things that we have control over and others that we don't.  Let us focus on the things in our control, deal with them and the other things have a way of falling into place

I hope that you are spending your Monday nurturing yourself.  It is a bank holiday for many, although I know of a few that have to work today, but whatever you are doing make sure you spend some time nurturing yourself, taking time out to bless yourself in some way.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

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.