One of the things that I love doing is spending time in my garden. I have been creating a 'Food Forest' for the past 5 years and have a range of trees and plants.
I try and spend time on a daily basis to take note of what is happening, how plants are growing and check up on the birds that call my garden home.
We have around 7 species of bird in the garden and the main ones that seem to build their nests in the trees are the 'Banana Quits'.
In the video above I share with you the different families that we currently have boarding with us. Check out some of the other videos I have on my channel HERE.
Foam Stamps
I am also on day 53 of the 100 Days of Foam stamps and they too happen to be a series of birds that I am sharing over the next week or so.
Here are the birds that have been shared over the past few days
If you would like to see the stamps daily you can check out my Instagram HERE
Here is the latest video which shows the most recent stamps created. I am also now at the half way mark for the 100 Day Project, of 100 Handmade Foam Stamps.
One of the reason I started to create my own stamps was the price of stamps and the lack of variety of the kind that I like, and having the stamp I needed for what ever project I was working on. I kept seeing designs in my head and after practicing a few different techniques found a style that helped me create the stamps that I wanted to bring forth.
50 Stamps
Here are the first 50 stamps, they have been organized, had a foamboard backing and image printed for easy identification. I am on the home stretch with 50 more to go for the challenge. I have probably sketched just a bit over 100 and there is inspiration all around when it comes to creating designs.
1-25
26 - 50
If you would like to see the stamps daily you can check out my Instagram HERE
You can check out the supplies used to create the paintings and foam stamps HERE
Welcome to the Arts and Wellness Café for the month of April where the theme is Growth and Peace. What areas of your life are you looking to make a change and what things have you put in place in order for you to get the results that you are looking for? I have found that when I organize my day to day schedule I achieve a lot more. I have over time learnt that I like both online and paper based planning, and coming up with a system which works well for me. Anything you go for will take time to be established in your work, but
I also share some art - mixed media paintings and textile work, share 'Tip for the week' where we consider how things would turn out if we wrote down our goals and in 'Quick Question' we look at the important creative lessons we have learnt, and there is more. I have put the time stamp for the sections for easy access. Let me know what goals you are working on in your creative practice and a lesson that you have learnt.
I have continued to explore a drawing style - inspired originally by Neurographic Art - you can check out my video below
I have since created more and find it such a therapeutic way of creating and worked on a painting that you will see in the video called Voyage
There is something about creating the line that has drawn me to adding this to my paintings, I love the effect you get. I always encourage people to explore and experiment, try out different styles to see what you like and just go for it.
If you get a chance, check out the book by Brian Tracey - Eat That Frog, to look at way to organise yourself and you work.
Art Courses
All course have $10 OFF until the end of April when you use the coupon code create2 - HERE
Day 2
It is Day 2 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge you can check out the other posts in the tab at the top of the page or HERE
100 Day Project
You can catch the weekly videos of the stamps used each week HERE
So I am taking part in April's Ultimate Blog Challenge where we blog every day for the next 30 Days - today marks the first day!!. It coincides with my current 100 Day Project which I am half way through, so you will be seeing some of these posts included as well, and much of the other things that I have going on.
I thought for my challenge this time round on the blog I would share all the projects that I am involved with, from art collaborations, course creation, publishing a poetry book and more and you get in blog form to be in on some of the wonderful creativity, I will share some of the videos and reflect on some of the work that I am doing.
It is a great way to stretch yourself, and do some of the things that you have always wanted to do. I like the challenge as it gets me to stretch myself a bit and really step out of my comfort zone. One of my challenges this month is to type up my poetry and publish a book, I will keep you posted to how this is going along the way.
I have been enjoying doing the Homemade Foam Stamps, as an artist you never have too many supplies (ok as a collector then) so creating my own stamps was a great way to get some new designs without breaking the bank (all I needed was a sheet of sleeping bag foam). You will see some of the designs, will be showing the past 50 at the weekend - that halfway mark. I just need somewhere to store them now, might have to make something - I love creating and upcycling.
Next up you can see last weeks selection of stamps and the mixed media art piece that was created with them.
Home Made Foam Stamps Week 6 - The 100 Day Project,
Here is the art page for this current week. I will resume to share the pages on Saturday, but wanted you to get caught up with all the deliciousness that has been going on. It has been a pleasure creating the pages, and I have loved how the stamps have turned out. I have some ideas for future projects once I have completed the 100 Days.
Explore, Imagine, Dream
You can catch the Handmade foams stamps daily on my Instagram - HERE
As well as creating I have been reviewing some of the books that I have on my shelf and sharing them, you can see the latest one The Drawing Lab, which has tons of great ideas in it, and was a good investment as you can continually dip in and out of it.
In this video I review the book 'Drawing Lab' by Carla Sonheim
Thank you so much for hanging out with me today and checking out some of the videos that I have shared. You can also check out some of the courses that I am teaching on, and the current discount available for the month of April.
Blessings.
Courses to Check out
Courses - Enjoy $10 OFF all courses until 30th April Click on the image to see the course.
Filling the Creative Well is a self paced course Mixed Media Art Course with lifetime access, that will help you establish your creative practice while helping you to increase your Creativity & unlock your hidden talents!
There are over 40 Mixed Media Arts Video and Audio resources to help you establish your Creative Practice, 90 Page Meditative Mandalas, Collages, Mixed Media Art Background papers, Art Journaling practice and more. See the Easter Special details below
Some of
the things you will learn
Creating
your own backgrounds
Creating
your own ephemera for your art journals and art activities
Creating
your own set of cards - for encouragement and motivation
Learn
a selection of ways to encourage yourself with your creativity
Learn
to repurpose your art work and create gorgeous collages
Learn
mixed media art techniques to create bowls from fabric and paper
Learn
to nurture yourself
Private Facebook group to get feedback or share your work
·Learn to use art and words to
encourage yourself on a day to day basis and much more
You get several downloads to use in
your creative practice
90
Page PDF of Mandalas and Affirmations
Mixed
Media Art Background Pages PDF
Encouraging
Words PDF
Inspirational
Shorts Audio
Daily
words of self care PDF
Daily
Questions to side step the critic PDF
Ideas
and prompts for self care PDF
Phrases and Affirmations of Success
PDF
1:1 Session to talk about your creative development
Easter Special - Receive $10 OFF the cost of the course when you use the code - create2 at the checkout (Until the end of April 2022)
Here is Week 5 Handmade Foam Stamps and the art piece created with the stamps. The image says Soar, and it has been great re-establishing myself with the stamps and taking them to their next level and mounting them properly and creating some new designs.
Here are the stamps with their backing and the art piece crating using them. The ink used is waterproof, so this enables me to add paint on top and create layers so that you can see hints of the stamps peeping through.
Slow stitching is one of the things that I love to do when creating. I have been thinking about designing my own figures and started playing about with some ideas.
Here is one that I worked on. It started out as a simple line drawing, then I transferred it to fabric and worked on it as you can see in the video.
The fabric has been wax resisted, dyed and then stitched and I am really enjoying this part. I still have a backing to put on and my beads are singing to me but I think that it is quite full on at the moment.
You can see some of my other textile work in the Playlist HERE
In my latest video you join me in the studio as we reflect on what we need to be doing to bring more fulfillment into our lives.
What are your dreams? Have you listed them as unattainable or are you breaking them up to make them more doable chunks.
I have been listening to an audio book called 'Eat that Frog' by Brian Tracy and looking at areas of my life that need more focus. I am naturally a list maker but I don't always get everything done, or have a system for addressing it. So I have been working through the book - you can either check it out on YouTube, or Audible list it for free, you can check it out HERE - https://amzn.to/3iGCgQ4
You need to identify where you want your journey to take you, what are those creative dreams or goals do you have. Are the things that would make you feel fulfilled right in front of your face?
Hope you enjoy this reflection and it gets you thinking about your own journey
Join me for my Neurographic Art Tutorial - Making my way.
I recently came across Bethany Thieles Art Teacher - Channel where she gives you a Neurographic art Tutorial - mindfulness in art. She goes into detail and gives her interpretation of the technique - but also check out the founder Pavel Piskarev's website - HERE
What drew me to it was the shapes that are created on the page and used it as a meditative tool. I have added my own spice, and used an already created background page with an image, and at the end of the piece I add additional color in some of the sections.
The technique known as Neurographica was founded by Pavel Piskarev in 2014 and is known as an art and stress reduction therapy. They have courses that you can take from Beginner to Instructor level and worth taking a look - the next statement from their website tells you about the theory behind it:
"The Theory of Neurographica is built on scientific principles using the knowledge of visual thinking in combination with the laws and patterns identified by various schools of psychology. Namely: neuropsychology, analytical psychology, Gestalt psychology, Psychosynthesis, social psychology and modern management theory." https://www.neurographica.us/
I really enjoyed creating the pages that I created - I love doodling and mark making. I use black ink and paint brush to create my lines and I love the addition of the faces. I find creating art really relaxing, and will be using it in that way when I want to relax and be mindful.
You can check out Bethany's video HERE: https://youtu.be/NoIgdt-uQR0 For more information about Neurographica check out : https://www.neurographica.us/
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
Affiliate Links
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