iPhoneography Inspiration To Paint

Last night, I was going through my iPhone photos and kept coming back to this photo I took of the blooming Cherry Blossoms that are starting to make its appearance everywhere. I love the colors of the pink and white against the blue sky. It is so gorgeous.... Spring is definitely in the air and I cannot wait to see more signs of spring reveal itself as we begin to see flowers in bloom and hopefully more sunshine... Because this girl needs me some SUN and I'm so looking forward to feeling its warmth up here in Northern California.

Spring, just come now already!!!

Anyways, onto what I was saying.... with Instagram and my latest favorite photo app, Tadaa, photos are instantly turned into works of art. I love playing around with the filter affects and making colors pop or give it that retro affect. If you think about it, long gone are those days when cell phones were merely used for just calling peeps, but now its used for almost everything from email, shopping, social media, planning, listening to music, watching videos.... my goodness, technology has definitely changed and evolved. But, I absolutely love the fact that smart phones have the ability to transform into a camera or video recorder. NOW, that is such a huge breakthrough for us photo geeks.:)

One thing I knew I had to do when I came across the photo above was to paint it and practice my still life painting skills. I came across another artist on Instagram--@bettyann--who has truly inspired me to learn this other concept of painting. I'm sure there are many still life artists out there who are amazing, but seeing this lady's work led me to give my hand a try at it... Betty, if you're reading, thank you for inspiring me :)

Down below is my painted picture of Spring Blossoms using Caran d' Ache Neocolor II crayons and a water brush pen and that's it. I lightly sketched out the branches and from there I painted the flowers first, then branches, and then filled in the blue sky last. I wasn't sure how it would turn out as I randomly painted the blooms with no predetermined idea of how to do it. Everything just flowed so freely, something that doesn't happen too often as I'd like. To me, although it may not seem like a big thing, it's a pretty huge accomplishment. Yay! So, here's to my first watercolor still life painting in my art journal! I have lots of practicing to do and as I go about life, I'm going to keep my eyes open and will continue to be inspired by the beauty around me and paint, paint, paint...

{Doodles Unleashed} Stylized Faces | SHE Knew...

Hello!

Gah... This last week, my son and I got sick with the flu :( Hence, my long absence and lack of motivation to create... But, thank goodness we are recovering and life is slowly getting back to normal.

Just want to briefly share my final project from the last two lessons of Traci Bautista's Doodle Unleashed workshop at Strathmore. It was definitely a fun class and enjoyed every minute of it! The last two lessons were about preparing and painting a stylized face on a doodled background. I must say, I am not the best at painting faces and feel like I have a lot to work on, but overall I thought I did pretty good for an amateur. :)

I totally forgot to take photos during the whole process of creating this page so I only have photos of the final outcome. I did follow along in Traci's videos using some of her techniques so if it's not too late for you to join the workshop, you can register and still see all the videos.  I hope this inspires you and if you like what you see, please leave me a comment! No harsh criticism, k? LOL.

{Doodles Unleashed Workshop}

Stylized Faces

 SHE KNEW....

 "She was stronger than She thought She was."

Flower power.

 "SHE finally knew who she was meant to BE."

EYES. 

 LIPS.

 FACE.

 Layers and layers...

TRANSFORMED.

{CREATIVELY MADE} Week One : Altered Journal

{CREATIVELY MADE WITH JEANNE OLIVER}

WEEK ONE: Altered Journal Cover

Just letting you peek on my current project for Creatively Made, workshop by Jeanne Oliver. The first week has really been amazing as I watched some of the videos from Jeanne sharing some of her wisdom and insight about the creative gifts that have been instilled in us. I sometimes had moments where I would choke up and feel like crying because a lot of her messages were very relational to what I had gone through as I began my journey towards discovering my dreams and desires to become an artist. The challenges of balancing life with family, to overcoming fears about finding my purpose in what I do, to not giving up on the dreams I have for myself and family and some of the realities that she and many women struggle with, was very encouraging and eye-opening that it taught me the importance of finding that voice in ourselves and connecting with the God-given gifts that was placed in us. We all have a gift and it is to inspire and bless, not only ourselves, but to inspire and bless others. One thing that really resonated in my heart, was her insight that our gifts and creativity, will always be in line with our family values and dynamics, it will never oppose and conflict with what's important to our family. Simply an amazing revelation, at least to me. It just felt so good to have that affirmation that I am not alone. Hearing her stories, as well as the stories shared by everyone in the class, has been such a blessing to me so far and really uplifted my spirit and soul in an immeasurable way. 

***

We had already finished Week Two, but I am still behind in creating an Altered Journal cover from Week One's lesson. I had such a busy week that I couldn't begin on it right away, but I am determined to work on it and finish at my own pace. 

I spent today looking through magazines and found some clippings of words, quotes, titles, and also images of models and cool backgrounds, like the peacock feathers which I love. This is my first time actually doing a mixed media collage using cut outs from magazines, so I'm not that familiar with this technique, but I'm really excited to finally experiment with it and see how it turns out.

So, here is a peek at what I've done midway, using this lady that I cut out from a magazine ad, ephemera, acrylic paints, stickers, rubber stamps, and a butterfly die cut. Will share more details on that once I complete this project. :)

I'm about to leave to watch the Niners playoff game, so this is going to be sitting on my table until I get back! Woot, woot!!

GO NINERS!!!!!!

Doodles Unleashed : Inspired By Traci Bautista

Traci Bautista's Doodles Unleashed online workshop is a free class on Strathmore's website that I am currently taking and because I've been so inspired by her work already, it was a great chance for me to get to know Traci and learn from her. Doodling comes so naturally to me already which is why I was so excited to join in and I'm so glad I did because I am having so much fun with it. So far, I've created a few pieces from the last two lessons that were posted and wanted to share my take on them as I applied some of her cool techniques in my art work. There are two more weeks of her workshop and I will also be posting about that as well, so don't forget to come back and check out my blog!

***

Lesson 1: Playful Printmaking

In lesson 1, it was about printmaking and creating doodles shapes for the background, but I didn't really create too many doodles because I was more focused on creating a theme for an art journal page and wanted to incorporate a title as you can see above and some writing onto the page. However, I did love this lesson because one of my favorite things to doodle, are flowers and botanicals. 

Dream: "Never let go of your dreams...you and only you can live out your dreams."

One of the dreams I have is to 'write a book' and to 'teach'. 

I know that these dreams can bloom, grow, and flourish if I hold on and never give up.

I used a white gel pen to journal with, but Traci has a list of her favorite white ink pens + markers on her blog which I want  to try out in the future.

As I was experimenting with letters, the letter 'd' was actually not freehanded like the rest of the word. I used a chipboard letter as a mask when I sprayed ink over it and then traced and painted it. I think I will do that with all the letters next time to give it a more cleaner look... But, it is what it is and that's okay :)

***

Lesson 2: Creating Spontaneous Watercolor Backgrounds

Lesson 2, was all about playing with watercolor and creating watercolor backgrounds with doodles and stamps. I particularly LOVED this lesson since I primarily work with acrylics in my art and never really use watercolors very much. But, I think this class turned it all around for me and I absolutely love the whimsical, dreamy feel to this project. I used watered down acrylics and watercolor crayons.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

I used a butterfly rubber stamp and inked it up with my paintbrush, being careful to not mix the colors on the rubber stamp before applying it onto the page. It came out beautifully.... When everything was dry, I went in and added some detail with a white gel pen and black india ink pen.

Of course, I had to add journaling... "With God all things are possible."

Hand painted the words with watercolor took some practice.

Used a round metal cap to add circles. Then journaled, "Spread your wings and fly away."

Close up on the butterfly.

I went in and splattered paint in different colors...

The splatters left a trail in the right place which I think gave the butterfly a sense of movement and direction. 

THANKS to Traci for being an amazing inspiration to the art community. Looking forward to creating a stylized face in the remaining lessons of Doodles Unleashed online workshop :)

He{Art} Canvas | Faith + Hope + Love Revealed

 

Materials Used: Gesso, heavy body acrylics, liquitex fluid paint, spray inks, alcohol inks, pan pastels, watercolor crayons, cling stamps, white ink pens, faber castell pitt pens, chipboard letters, fixative spray, and matte UV sealant spray.

A while back, I posted a sneak peek of a art canvas I made for a friend. Actually, it was a request that my lovely friend, Juby , wanted to give to her sweetheart, Mark, a mutual friend of mine as well, as a surprise present for Christmas. When she contacted me about it, I was really surprised and of course happy that someone totally unexpected even considered my work. As a newbie who has only been doing this for several months, it really helped motivate me to keep doing my best in all that I create and not be so caught up on trying so hard to be perfect or exactly like other artists. With each project, I can begin to define my signature style and learn what unique methods or techniques I am comfortable with. Not to say, that I won't try out new ones because I am always eager to keep learning new things, but at least I can have a basic feel of what makes me who I am when it comes to my art.

Fast forward three months later, I was able to finally hand this gift to them and it really uplifted my heart to know that my work is truly appreciated.  Mark has a strong connection to the verse in Corinthians 13:13 and has found a deep desire to live his life according to "Faith, Hope, and Love". So, Juby was very thoughtful in giving him something very precious and meaningful to him... So sweeeeet!!!

In the canvas, I didn't put those words in the exact order, but I ended up centering 'Love' as the main focus. I really love this piece, in fact, it's one of my favorites so far. I absolutely love the colors and the texture of background, the graffiti style and grungy feel of the letters and details, and simply because it speaks such a beautiful message.

Although this gift was for someone else, I felt that it was a gift to me as well... It pushed my limits and allowed me the opportunity to experiment and learn to let my creativity go. I seriously want to make another one like it, just for ME <3  

Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to share what I've done :) I really hope it inspires you! It's just the beginning!

xoxo,

Happy New Year + Art Journaling Winter Edition 2012 by Somerset Studio

I know I'm a day late, but just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

The holidays have flown by so quickly and I had so much going on with our move and the sale of our old home. It's still on the market and we're still waiting for an offer. We did have a buyer who submitted an offer back in November, but they backed out 2 weeks before the transaction was scheduled to close on 12/30. Talk about being SO disappointed! I was crushed. Yet, I completely understood that they had valid reasons to do whats best for them. So, here we are back to square one. Granted though, we have had a big number of potential buyers showing up over the holidays and there are a few who are saying they are seriously in love with the property... Praying and hoping the right one will come along and follow through!

Financially, we are still finding it a struggle with our 'new' home and the limited income we have. It's funny, how after donating, recycling, and dumping so much stuff that we used to have during our move, we now are living SIMPLY, both within our home and our lifestyle. It has really put a lot into perspective about how we spend our money and how easy it is to fall into debt. This year, we are all about cooking at home, thrift shopping, saving as much as possible, and just finding joy in the littlest things. By the way, Craigslist is such a lifesaver in my opinion :) 

Also, my hubby and I are being challenged to finally take the leap of faith to work with what we have--our creative passions and endeavors. My husband has a passion for plants and photography. He went from two small greenhouses at our old property to a 1500 sq ft nursery that is being rented out just down the street from our new location. If you read his story and how his journey always seems to bring him closer and closer to his dream, it dawned on us that it isn't just coincidence that this move has brought us to live literally a block away by this nursery. One day, he is hoping to open up as a public wholesale nursery, a vision he has had for many years. You can read more about his journey on his blog, The Pitcher Plant Project. 

For me, our new home is smaller, but it has just the right amount of space for our family. We went from a 5 bedroom to a 3 bedroom house, yet it feels adequate. I love the coziness of having a place that is smaller. And, it also has a pantry with a window which I've turned into my very own ART STUDIO.

It's still in progress, but I already see myself getting busy and working playing in it! So far, I've been working on my goals for 2012 and it has a lot to do with my art and desire to build a business around it. Last year, I finished my background in Graphic Design and then discovered my love for mixed media. Somehow, I look forward to bringing them together and opening up a shop. Possibilities are endless, right? I am always eager to learn and grow my skills as I search for ways to be inspired whether it be through books, online tutorials, joining workshops, and/or being inspired by so many amazing artists. This year, it's all about growing and letting my creativity flow....

Now, for the special news...

I am SO excited to announce that I have a special feature in the current issue of Art Journaling by Somerset Studio. After taking Christy Tomlinson's -- She Had Three Hearts Workshop back in May 2011, I posted my work on Flickr. In August 2011, I received an email to request my artwork for submission, from the Managing Editor, Amber Demien. Oh. Em. Gee.... REALLY?? I was not expecting it at all and was really stunned because I have NEVER been published in any major publication in my entire life! Already a fan of Somerset Studio of Stampington & Company, for the longest time, I remember being at the bookstore reading their books and being inspired to learn, I remember wishfully saying to myself that "one day, I hope to get my work published." Well, that wish definitely came true! It made me realize that maybe I've found my niche, or shall I say my 'calling in life.' Whatever my destiny holds, I know that I will eventually get there if I focus on doing what I love. I know that this is just scratching the surface and who knows what this 'opened door' will lead to. Anything is possible!! So, if you're interested be sure to check it out (I'm on Page 46) when they become available at your nearest major bookstore! I'm still waiting for my copy in the mail and have been checking stores every now and then, but the stores in my area haven't stocked their shelves yet. They are available online, though! If you happen to grab a copy, please don't hesitate to let me know what you think! Thank you in advance for your support :)

Creatively Made With Jeanne Oliver

Source: jeanneoliverdesigns.com via Dahlia on Pinterest

As you all know, my journey in mixed media began with Christy Tomlinson's --- She Had Three Hearts Workshop. Never did I expect this to take me to places within my heart and soul, that I never knew existed. Today, I opened an email and read about this new e-course, Creatively Made, that Christy has teamed up with Jeanne Oliver of Jeanne Oliver Designs. After watching the video intro, I was completely filled with so much excitement and joy because right now, as you all know, I'm going through such a difficult transition with our move. I so need this and feel that so many of us who are searching for their God-given gifts can really benefit from this course. I know I am. I struggle all the time with my past and emotions that still linger and haunt me. Creativity has alway been one of my strongest antidotes other than my spiritual journey as a Christian.  And what has been my most trusted remedy in helping me overcome my struggles and fears, is my FAITH and my ART.  I hope that you will join me in this course and together we can discover a deeper understanding of our purpose, our gifts, and the blessings that our past, whether good or bad, has to offer to others in need of the same blessing of hope, faith, and love. 

He{Art} Canvas | SNEAK PEEK

::SNEAK PEEK::

He{Art} Canvas | FaithLoveHope

Hey y'all. Just wanted to share a little peek at my latest project. It was inspired by a dear friend. I think it's one of my favorite pieces so far and I cannot wait to share it with you. So stay tuned :) 

XOXO,

He{Art} Journal | Let It Rain...

My recent He{Art} Journal -- LET IT RAIN...

Its been over a month since we realized the fact that it's time to sell our home and move. Most of my art supplies were already boxed up to get our home in order for the open house showings.  I was dealing with so many emotions that I needed to paint and express it through art. It was a cold and rainy week, so it only added to my depression. But, in between those days I had caught a glimpse of a rainbow which reminded me of God's promise in the Bible, only to remind me of the promises He personally gave me a long time ago... So, I went and dug through my art box and got what I needed to create this page. 

Rain.

So many times I forget how important it is for us to have RAIN. Rain makes things grow and washes the earth. Rain cleans the air and refreshes it. Without rain, there are no rainbows. :) To me, I relate it to the moments that I struggle with problems and go through trials. But, then how could I appreciate my blessings if I have never suffered grief or felt pain? If we had a perfect life, how can we be thankful for what we have? Could it be that God puts us in these situations where we're cornered by our worldly problems only to find ourselves in desperate need of Him AND to not take anything for granted? I believe so. At least, that's the pattern I've recalled in my past experiences. The times that I've been most vulnerable and broken, were the times that I felt the closest to God. He would show me in ways through loved ones, strangers, through unexpected places or things that I am loved and not alone in my suffering. I've also found what it means to exercise our faith, how to live a life of hope, and most of all, how to receive His perfect love. He promised us He would never leave or forsake us. I sometimes think to myself, "God, do you even care? Where are you when I need you, God?" But, as always He does come through. Just not on my terms or my timing, because His plans for me and His timing is always perfect.

Real life lessons are never learned the easy way, at least for me, it was always the hard way. If being shaken up by our circumstances causes us to stop and wake up from complacency and indifference, I know it's only because He loves me too much to allow me to live a life apart from Him. So when troubles arise and I'm stuck between a rock and hard place, there's only one place I can run to... to Jesus. As much as my stubbornness wants to tell me, I don't need ANYONE to fix my problems, I can do it ALL. BY. MYSELF. (Something my kids tell me all the time!) Ha! But, what do you know, I don't have all the answers and I don't exactly have all the strength to fight a battle that is bigger than I. So, if God is bigger than my problems and His power and strength is greater than mine, than I need to surrender it all to Him. 

So although, I am still human and life will never be perfect, I have to choose each and every day if I'm going to trust in Him or give up, even in the most precarious moments. Rainy days are blessings in disguise and when it rains, I have to remember that I need the rain as well. I need to be tested and walk through valleys if I want to gain a heart of wisdom and increase my faith. And when the rain ends, I hope to see the growth in my life. When I've finished the test, I hope to see the rewards. When I've finished crossing the deep valleys, I hope that I'll reach the mountain top and have a clearer understanding of the big picture. Then, I can testify that GOD is GOOD, not sometimes, but ALL THE TIME. Most of all, I will know that I was never alone and that God's grace has carried me through it all, and it was only to get me to a better place and to become a better person.... Selah.

Here is a video that my dear friend, Juby (thank you Juby!), shared with me that has blessed me immeasurably. Listen to the words and take time to know that you are blessed, even through the raindrops and the tears:

"Blessings" by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

3 Hearts Workshop | Art Journal In Progress Slideshow

Hey there...

About a month ago, Christy Tomlinson of Scarlet Lime, opened up an online workshop called--She Had 3 Hearts. This class has really given me an opportunity to dig deeper, not only into my creativity, but also within myself. So far, I've grown in my confidence and found courage to step out and explore who I am and who I've become. Not only does she teach all these amazing techniques with paint, pastels, watercolors, doodling, ephemera, and other mediums, but she is so down to earth, sweet, and inspiring as a person. I just LOVE her! She also has another workshop called She Art which I really want to take down the road. :)

On Flickr, I've joined the 3 Hearts Workshop group pool to share photos of my work with the community and also be inspired by others who are also taking the class. I've come to meet so many talented artists as well and love connecting with them. It's been so exciting and I just thought I'd share a slideshow featuring what I've done so far. It's something I really do feel proud of, knowing that lately I've been dealing with a lot of emotional issues about myself and dealing with personal struggles in my life. So, hope you enjoy this little clip and I will be adding more to this as I continue making more pages about the "3 Hearts" that I share with the world, my family, and myself.

xoxo,

Simply ME | Believe Art Canvas

Hello!!!

Today I wanted to share one of my mixed media art canvases that I recently worked on. It wasn't at all what I thought it would turn out to be. I seriously just took a leap of faith and experimented with it. After watching a few video tutorials that I searched on You Tube, I knew that I wanted to dig deeper into my creativity and let whatever I had inside, flow. If you read my post about my very first art canvas--My Creative Voice, taking a blank canvas to make something out of it can be very intimidating and scary. This being my second project, I had a little bit more confidence than before and learned to not fear mistakes. We all want to be perfect, but it's just not possible when we are all imperfect one way or another and that is perfectly normal because we are human. Right? Every little details, strengths and weaknesses, are what makes life beautiful as a whole....

The process that this took for me to create this, was really liberating. In the end, I felt like I had discovered a hidden part of me that I never knew existed. It was such an awakening for me since I struggled at times with my insecurities that I am not good enough or not as artistic like some of the most admirable artists that I have come to respect and love. Deep down, I crave to be different and to be able to achieve my own individual style.  Often at times, I think about whether or not I'm being who I'm supposed to be and not trying to be like everyone else. Part of me wants to be just like those who have inspired me, but then I also don't want to get too caught up in trying to be like others, that I end up failing to be true to me, which is why I tend to feel lost and frustrated at times when I create. I want to be original, real, and authentic, someone who is comfortable in her own skin without the need to be exactly like others in order to be satisfied and content with who I am.  Simply put, I don't want to be molded into someone else's shoes. Easier said than done, but I know I have to choose to look beyond my imperfections in order to embrace my uniqueness and stick to my own personal style. Like I mentioned above, our mistakes and flaws that we see in ourselves, all plays a part in becoming that unique and special person that we are.  All those little bits and pieces of good and bad, are what develops our character and qualities that set us apart from everyone else.  So, that is what I have learned so far in my journey in becoming a true artist, but simply being ME and who I truly am as a person...

 After applying gesso to the canvas, I randomly squeezed out acrylic and craft paint all over

 I used a old plastic card to spread the paint, mixing some of the colors up.

 While paint is still slightly damp, I splattered water on it and dabbed it dry with paper towel. I also used bubble wrap to add more texture and dimension.

 Once the paint was dry. I tore out hearts out of text book paper and planned where I was going to place them onto the canvas.

 I crumpled the hearts up for that aged and worn feel.

 I adhered the hearts using gel medium then, gave it some color using alcohol inks. I also added other stenciled shapes using paint.

Throughout the next few days, I added finishing touches with doodles, journaling, stamps, and paint splatters before I sealed it all with Mod Podge.

Title is BELIEVE | MATHEW 6:21 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Journaling: "Living your best life takes passion to see your dreams come true. It takes passion to LIVE, to LOVE, and to CREATE the person you are meant to be. God destined you for an AMAZING purpose... Be true to yourself"

Thank you so much for reading through and hope you were inspired! I also have an upcoming post of some of my first Art Journal pages that I am creating for Christy Tomlinson's workshop--She Has Three Hearts. So don't forget to come back and visit!

xo,