Adventure Awaits - Mini Card Transformation Series and Video

Watch the Video below

They say that time will not wait for no man.  Often in my walk as an artist I get the feeling of time running out.  I am always chasing after myself, with so many things that I would like to do, learn and experiment with.  I often find myself becoming overwhelmed with the 'stuff of stuffness'

Stuffness is a word I think I made up, but don't quote me on that.  All this stuff we surround ourselves with, what we really should do is to get rid of them, cut back and focus on the things that really matter.

This little painting is part of my daily practice and what it reminds me to do is stop focusing on the things that perhaps don't look right and focus on that which is to come.

A couple of years ago I wrote on a paper a word for that year and stuck it up in my kitchen, it said 'WHAT IF'.  I feel that the answers to this question are what is on the other end of stuckness!

What if you were able to do all those things that you wanted to do, but convinced yourself that you couldn't.  What if you wanted to change, and to stop the negative voices from rearing their ugly heads?

All you have to really do is let go, take that step, have faith, and you can truly move mountains!

So the question is, what are you stuck in, what do you need to change, to do differently that could potentially change the course of your life - why play small!

Mixed Media Art 'Minis'

Transformation Thursdays - Mixed Media Art Painting

Transformation - what does it mean to you?  Do you think of dramatic change or small change, is there something that you can think about that you can remember showing this transformation that took place.

For me transformation is about change from one thing to the next.  If we consider the flower, starting from a seed, and after a period of time what emerges from the ground is totally different from what was planted, and will change as it matures into what it is supposed to be..  Change can take place in many different ways.

I see the way that creativity transforms a blank canvas to an amazing work of art.  I would like to think that I am part of the big transformation that takes place, adding my 'two pennies' worth and making a difference in the world. 

These paintings over the course of the weeks that I produced them was about simply looking at a card and creating something totally different.

In each painting a character came forth and had their own story to tell about transformation, and what it could now mean for the life of a painting.  It could be sold, kept in a draw, displayed for all to see with special meaning and purpose. 

Anyway, my girl with the flower has her story of transformation that brought her this far, gracing the pages of this blog and into your homes.  What she cannot express through words she shares with her expression.

Knowing that you can create why don't you get out your favorite art supplies and spend some time playing with colour and texture, it could be the very thing that you need right at this moment.

Mixed Media Art - Girl with the flower

Stay blessed and be a blessing

Creating on a Budget - Figure Vase

Well here we are for another week of working with vases.  Here is the video of this weeks vase and what it looks like physically.

 This is the third vase that I had found at a thrift store, and it had a floral pattern on, I wish I had taken a photograph of it before I had altered it.

 I find that once I get a creative idea I get so caught up in it I just have to go all out, until I have no choice but to stop.  These vases have turned out far better than I had hoped, and you can see the other vases that I altered HERE and HERE

The idea behind creating them is to show you how you can create a tight budget, and with a little bit of imagination you can still produce some beautiful pieces, if not for yourself you can give them as gifts or even sell them! 

So armed with my paper clay I covered this vase and then formed a figure around the sides.  Paper clay was great to work with, and it gives you additional texture that for me works well with this piece.

I hope to work on some larger pieces, whether it is my own vase or bowl that I make from start to finish or alter something else.

I painted this one with black paint then buffed it over with Rub 'n Buff which gives you a gold finish (they come in a variety of finishes) and a little goes a long way.  You can also use gold or silver paint, by dry brushing.

I will at some point be doing a tutorial of the process, and keep a look out for my paper clay tutorial.

So this is the finished piece.  I could have also scraped some details into the clay before it dried, and you can do this with a variety of materials that you find around the home, that you can incorporate into your studio supplies.

I really like how they turned out and will definitely be doing some more.  Here is a link to the two posts for you to see how they turned out Here and Here

Stay blessed and be a blessing

Transformation Thursdays - Mixed Media Painting - Bird Friend

Where we currently live we constantly hear the sound of the birds in the morning.  We have two large trees at the front of our house known as 'Bearded Fig Trees' and there are 3 different types of birds that seem to nest quite happily in their branches.  

Obviously while they frolic in the trees they are usually tweeting away at different pitches and tones and it is quite a beautiful way to start the day as I flow into my normal morning routine and start my day.

The other thing they seem to bring here as well as in my old house are seeds of unknown trees.  I just found out today that the thing that I thought was a weed is actually a pomegranate tree!  I couldn't be happier as I had actually just brought one after contemplating growing from seeds but the plant was cheaper than buying just one fruit.

Anyway along with bringing seeds and song they also leave their calling card on the back of chairs and the hand rail, so that part of their morning joy is not appreciated, but I guess I can live with it.

I wanted to share my latest of the series of paintings that I had done on small cards. 

They start out with the scraps of paper collage on card and a loose shape for the body is then outlined.  You can take a look at the video below to see it from start to finish as well.

Because of the background colours I try and keep the paint I use to a minimum and do a lot of blending to get the shades and colours that I like.

The ladys then take on a life of their own and come with their stories to be told.  This young one came with a friend, not sure of the breed of bird it is, but it seems to have a lot of character

Perhaps it is related to one of those birds that come and tell all first thing in the morning.

I encourage you to start a daily practice whether you paint, draw, or take photographs while out on your walk.

Bird Friend

You can also check out some of the courses that I have been teaching on, The Journey Within, One BadAss Journal and Embrace Your Art Jam, for ways in which you can tap into your creativity.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.