Sunday 27 February 2011

New techniques....

I came across Colin Reef site recently, and he inspired me to have a go at assemblage art, among other techniques.  I have realised that as an artist I have found mixed media allows me to express my many areas of interest.  I still sketch every day and on my other blog http://amandatroughtart.blogspot.com/  I will be showing my sketches and how they develop over the coming weeks. 

I find immense joy thinking about different ideas and techniques for projects. Due to space I can't work on too many at the same time, but I do enjoy having a continuous flow of ideas to work on.  There are some paintings I'd like to do but at the moment they are just sketches in waiting.  I have tried out two techniques that Colin showed on his you tube site.

The first one foil art, this just uses supplies around the house to create the layers underneath the foil. I might make this into a journal cover.  Apparently you can cover anything so will be doing some more....



Here is my first attempt at an assemblage box.  My box started its' life as paint tube container and I have added imagery from stampington magazines.  I am toying between a silver or gold frame which I will engrave.  The gold frame had been initially covered with polyfiller and painted..


This shows you some of the layers.


 A close up of the curtain


I hope to do a few more, been collecting boxes and running out of space around the house, not one to be a horder!....an artist needs to collect for future ideas, so creative storing is a must.  Been reading Organising Your Craft Space by Jo Packham, perhaps I'll be further inspired, there are some gorgeous studios in the book.  What new techniques have you been trying? be great to see:)  Have a blessed week.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Where did February Go?

Who can believe that we are nearly at the end of February!  I keep reminding myself that I need to make the most of what I am doing now, and try not to get side-lined - there are so many techniques I want to try, books to read, courses to do and ideas to develop.  I've been recovering from a bad cold over the past couple of weeks and I think I tried to get back to the swing of things too soon.  I'm still feeling the effects on my throat, its started to get sore again, but the 'family remedy' of garlic, honey, lemon and ginger have always been a fail safe and what my body needs is rest.  It is so easy for us to go into automatic mode and forget to really see all that is around us and what we need to hear.  Hearing the 'hard way' meant I had to cancel quite a few meetings last week as I was just too tired - even to be creative!

The constant things I've been working on is sketching at least once a day in order to develop and refine my style.  I have more examples of my work on my mixed media blog  http://amandatroughtart.blogspot.com and will be showing the daily sketches there.  I'm also trying my hand at assemblage art and a host of other things........





I am currently coming to the end of the 'Soul Restoration' - Brave Girls Club course, it's definitely been an eye opener and I will share in a separate post, but major reconstruction is going on and being ill reminded me that like on a construction site foundations need time to set and plaster and cement needs to harden so that the next team can come in and do their work. 

I realise that I need to give myself time to get back into the swing of things and get back to a healthier way of living as well as working on the creative sides.....so..... more exercise, more healthy food, fresh air and most importantly 'me time' to come!...what about you?

Monday 7 February 2011

The One Flaw in Women

I think I saw this as a video, and also in email, not sure who the author is but I was blessed by it, thought I'd share it here.  To all the beautiful, inspiring and talented women who sometimes forget how valued and treasured they are. Also, check out the Brave Girls Club for a community of supportive and encouraging women.


One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.  They smile when they want to scream.  They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have.  They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.  They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member,  yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.  They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colours.  They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.  The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.  They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideas. They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN.....IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH..

Friday 4 February 2011

Strathmore Workshops - Recycled Journal Pages

I've just finished my redesigned piece for the Strathmore workshop 1.  Found it really interesting being able to use art and journal pages that I had previously done to make a new page and direction.  Here is my efforts over the 4 weeks. 

Week 1 and 2
Recycle journal pages - reusing artwork, this was taken from 3 different pages
that I had done and brought together

Week 2
Redirect - giving pages a new voice - using oil pastels, pencils etc


Week 3
Reuse - adding drama to pages using things you might throw away - sequin waste,
stamps paint, pastels, other textures

Week 4
Re-purpose - Finalising your pages and using creative lettering



I am going to start another one, and see where it leads...


Lots more to show and tell from the other on-line courses that I have been doing over the next few weeks.  Have a blessed weekend

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Creative Every Day Challenge


Decided to take the plung and sign up for the Creative Every Day Challenge  as a way of encouraging myself to keep my focus as an artist, and give my creativity the front seat this year.  The optional theme for this month is Cosmos,  and it can be done in any form, which is good as  I have been taking quite a lot of photographs and writing over the past couple of years and it would be great to share them at some point, I have also been thinking a bit about digital art and combining some of my pieces.....so much to do and time is of the essense!  Hope your day is blessed and if you decide to take the challenge check out the link above.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Unexpected

I noticed how isolated you can get as an artist when you don’t take the time to venture out within the community.  Trying to spend more time on my art means that you spend large amounts of time on your own, so to fit in walking allows me to get out and about.  I had a meeting to go to today and would usually take the car to the station, as its not as cold as I thought it would be, decided to leave it and start my walk earlier.  Spoke to 2 people I didn’t know on the way, felt the rays of sunshine on my face, and had a brisk walk to the station.


The new fingerless gloves I brought worked a treat and my hands were surprisingly warm. For this trip part of my journey involves going into central London, round the corner from where I use to work so it brings back memories.  The train journey wasn’t too bad, got quite busy but because it’s no longer a daily journey it didn’t matter.  I was able to be observant and take note of the different characters that spend a fraction of their day closer to strangers than they would normally!
Meeting done,  I was also looking forward to visiting one of my favourite shops where I get some of my US magazines like Somerset Studios. 

At Blade Rubber Stamps, they have a range of stamps, papers and many other things.  I  brought Green Craft and Cloth Paper Scissors - I brought some supplies as well,  suppose this can also count as my ‘artist date’......

Saturday 8 January 2011

One Way?

I had originally thought that I would start this in December, but the best intentions can often go by the wayside.   I also thought I would change the title to walking thoughts instead of challenge, thinking that it should be part of my every day, rather than something that I have to overcome ‘challenge’ and fight with myself to complete, although in a way it is!  I guess we all have something, or many things that we are challenging ourselves with this year.....
One Way???!!!!!



I wanted to continue my drive for fitness regardless of the weather, enjoy the scenery and use the time to think about the creative work I was doing and take some pictures of the things I observed on the way.  This this sign came to my notice.  I had grown up thinking that there was one way, though an internal dialogue was simmering underneath insisting that other ways existed.  The thoughts of being an artist was discouraged, inside I wanted to try many things meet new people and many places to go see.  Its took me a lot of reflection and searching before I realised I could give myself the permission to break out of the constraints and shine my light into the world! It’s funny what can come out of a simple stroll. 




New horizons  - 
Here is some local graffiti art that I passed on my walk, not sure who the artist is, but if I find out will let you know they have quite a few bits of art dotted around north london.  I have definitely grown as an artist over the last 3 years and more recently since 2010.  I took quite a few on-line courses last year, Art, Heart and Healing, Flying lessons, Believers Truth, Crafting Your best life - Crescendoh, which all opened up a new way of looking at my art and just making that step as an artist.  Will be sharing some of the work that I did both here and on my website.

Thursday 23 December 2010

Friday 10 December 2010

Complacency


A big thank you goes out to all those who have been an inspiration, who are currently an inspiration and those who will some day be an inspiration.  I hope your day has been a blessing, and the weekend will reveal untold treasures and blessings in your life!

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Standing out....

This was taken on one of my many walks as part of my walking challenge.... Will be posting more images and reflections this week.

Saturday 20 November 2010

Change

Going for a walk the other day, partly for my fitness but essentially to catch the last glimpse of autumn as the leaves fall and the seasons go into another change.

Change is good....
I remind myself it was only a few months ago that I was enjoying the warm breeze of the caribbean sea, and feeling the sunshine against my skin, and now we have to wrap up in our warm clothes, gloves scarfs, waking up to dark frosty mornings and cold wet evenings....  We too go through change and need to take stock of what needs to be altered, moved, rescheduled or stopped in our lives.

   As I walk I am amazed at the colours that still remain, the beauty
in the shedding of the leaves from the trees


  that once stood amass with colour, now only the branches remain. 

 The colours of the remaining leaves waiting to be taken along in the next gust of
wind with the ones that have fallen. 
 We are filled with so many talents, abilities and gifts not all of them are meant to
be used at the same time, some are to remain constant, 
but some are just for a season.

There are trees that haven't shed their leaves, but hang on another year graceful
and tall....there are differences in their purpose.


 Having a plan, direction, purpose enables us to make informed decisions,
be spontaneous, letting our light and beauty shine..... 
even in those seemingly grey, cold days!

 
Taking time to reflect, refresh and renew our thoughts....

We look forward to another year of growth, laughter, beauty, creativity, love, joy



Saturday 16 October 2010

Saturday Pick-me-up......Garden inspiration

Its amazing how time flies,  we are nearing the end of the year, ending of seasons, ways of thinking, new chapters beginning, new life.  Congratulations to Laura Stanton, Tanya (neighbour), Kelly Rae Roberts and the many other women that have been blessed with giving birth. 

I was quite amazed and thankful - with it being October how much sun we were still getting, and how much we can take for granted even in the small things, so armed with my camera I took a walk round the garden to delight myself in how much colour and scents I still had in my own back garden.....


Our plum tree, didn't get a very good crop this year, it needs prunning for next year, but the plums are always sweet!
This plant has lovely bright red berries in the winter for the birds.
My Jasmine plant, I was given a cutting around 8 years ago has given plants for the front garden (covering the fence) and many more areas in an around the garden and produces lovely smelling white flowers especially in the evening.
 Rosemary, this sits beside the Jasmine plant and another plant and is fighting for space at the moment, the flowers are dying off and it could do with a prune!




Acers - I love these plants, their red colour and the delicateness of the leaves, had them for two years they were in pots to begin with, finally planted them this year and they are slowly establishing themselves.




Lavender a lovely smelling plant, flowers are great!



This plant is awash with yellow flowers in the summer and grey leaves in the winter...

Orange Blossom - I have allowed this one to grow quite large (7ft high and about 10 ft across), lovely smelling leaves when rubbed and pretty white flowers in the summer



   Unexpected surprises - I think I found some wheat growing!



Pretty Colours to delight the eyes






 Cordyline Australis - I have two of these trees that I planted as small plants and they have grown considerably over the years, they produce a beautiful smelling clusters of flowers (similar to jasmine in scent), The tree is surrounded by orange poppies that grow every year.



I haven't spent the time that I would usually spend in my garden this year, but what I have seen is the results of time spent over the years in preparing the soil, planting, nurturing and pruning unfolding before my eyes.  Plants establishing themselves and needing less attention, and  new ones that I have planted and hoping to get through the winter, and the surprises that sometimes come....

I am thankful to the birds that have blessed me with two new trees, they dropped the seeds into pots that I had left with soil in, when the plants started to grow I decided to see what they would be, and they have turned out to be a Sugar Maple tree and a Silver Birch...blessings or what!  .... This is how the garden looks in winter


I realise in my own artist journey, just as the seasons change and have such a dramatic effect on the landscape, so too is my creative development going through change - I am currently working on a number of e-courses, which have been very inspiring and encouraging and I see this period of my life as gathering information for growth, preparing the good ground to plant the ideas that will take shape.

As we take a walk through our own lives, we remind ourselves the efforts that we have put in for growth, welcoming change by stepping out of our comfort zones, preparing our hearts - weeding out negativity, surround ourselves with good nurturing fertiliser that can direct and inspire and encourage (our friends, family, word of God) receiving unexpected blessings and stepping into the lives that God wants us to lead, that can be a blessing to others...... 

Have a blessed weekend! 

Saturday 2 October 2010

Saturday Pick-me-up......Pictures from Barbados

I'd been meaning to put some more pictures from my holiday in Barbados.  As the weather is getting cold and its raining today, memories of the times by the sea, on the beach is fast drifting into the distance.  So this is my little Saturday 'pick me up'

Church on the Beach.  This area is called Bath and the church we visited that sunday had a lovely idea to take the whole church on a picnic and have the usual service on the beach.  We had a blessed time.


Cropover - Spring Gardens, St Michael.  Carnival celebrations, sunshine, soca, good food, lively participants, interesting costumes and more!  These are the only costumes I could find where people were covered up, the rest were very revealing and you definitely got an eyeful!



A shot of my future back garden (I wish) This is North Point in St Lucy

Ok, this is my future back garden!


 There are some beautiful houses in Barbados
Oh my! a bug - welcoming us to Barbados, just as well it was outside the window, it actually looks bigger than it was.
The flowers had a beautiful scent, and there were some amazing colours



Stepping to my own beat!


Coming back from Spring Gardens with the boys after listening to some great music and sampling some tasty food. 




Ok suitably picked-up. Off to do something creative, while I listen to my son Sekani tell me how much he has really done in his bedroom that he was supposed to be cleaning up from this morning! - teenagers!
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