[Video] Paint With Me: Art Collab

Hey Friends,
Late last year, Martha aka Ayala Art and I decided to do an art collab.  If you visit her YouTube channel you will see that she's been doing them for a while now.  We each start a painting and then mail it to one another to finish (and then send it back).

I painted on top her her background and now this painting is ready to go back to Ayala.

I really hope she likes it.

It was relaxing painting her.  Lately, I'm trying my best to go with the flow and not panic when I run into an issue.  I was able to finish the portrait in one afternoon with drying times which is not normal for me.   

Please enjoy my process video.  The process portion got cut a little short because it started to get late but I hope you are inspired.  I talk about what colors I used for her skin and hair.

Click to see part 1

Book mentioned: http://amzn.to/23i48Mx

Paint mentioned:
Americana Jack-o-lantern
Antique White
Titanium White
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Ceramcoat - Butter Cream
Grumbacher - Raw Umber & Ultramarine Blue

I don't normally use all craft paints but again...I'm just going with the flow!

Hello to my new followers!  I love all the comments and interactions I got from last weeks post.  It feels like we are all on the same wavelength.  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

P.S. I want to switch over my comments plug-in to Disqus or Facebook comments so let me know what you think.

Sharing with Paint Party Friday/Show Your Face

How to Flatten a Watercolor Painting

Good Morning!

Today I wanted to share how to flatten a watercolor painting.  I just finished up this fall inspired portrait and before I package her up I took a few photos of my process.  It's pretty straight forward and easy to do!

I first saw artist Joe Cartwright do this technique on his YouTube video.  I just switched up my process and used things I had on hand.  

I took a short break from my art journal to complete this gouache and watercolor painting.  Each afternoon I set aside an hour or so to work on her.  Watercolor forces you to be patient and wait for each layer to dry.  Since I normally paint in acrylic I tried my best not to overwork the paint.  I have another one planned before all the leaves are gone.  

Tip: Make sure the watercolor paper and books are the same size of the painting so you don't create unwanted creases.

The original painting is no longer available but I will have prints just in time for the holidays.  If you would like notifications of when prints are in the shop please sign up for my newsletter!

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Do you know if any other tricks for flattening watercolor paper?  Let us know down in the comments.
Thanks for visiting! Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Art It Friday

29 Faces #1 | Curly Girl Painting

I just have a quick share for today.  I've started the 29 faces challenge for September (a little late) and here is my first girl!  Please enjoy my process video below.

Have a great day!

Sharing with Art it Friday/Paint Party Friday

Visual Journal Girls + New Items In The Shop

It's been a while since I've been in my journal or painted faces.  It felt really good to put some paint down.  These were the last two blank pages...this journal is now complete.  Hopefully my new SD card comes in soon so I can do a YouTube Journal Flip video.

I just played with lots of layers.  This is the direction I plan to go in my new journal.  My work feels so random sometimes.  I get discouraged because I guess I'm supposed to be building a consistent body of work but I end up painting whatever comes to mind.  Oh well, one thing I know for sure is that I love painting faces...it's a challenge for me every time.  

For now, I'll go where my creativity takes me.     

I've been fascinated by space lately...I had some wooden door signs in the vault so I pulled them out and started painting.  I would like to paint more signs and incorporate portraits in some how.  I think that eventually all the ideas I have in my head will come together at some point!

I have these posted in my ETSY.  Please take advantage of this coupon code APAINTEDCOUPON as it will take $3.00 off of your purchase!  The couple code will be good until the end of September.  I have a few more paintings going up next week.  Have a great weekend!

Linking to Paint Party Friday/Art Journal Everyday/Mixed Media World/Art It Friday

100 Painted Faces - #2

Um....to say I went 10 rounds with this painting is an understatement.  For painted face no. 2, I just went around and around in circles.  In the past, when this happened I would give up and walk away. Shove the canvas in a drawer so I didn't have to look at it.

I took a bunch of progress photos along the way and was doing fine until I decided to add more layers.  I don't like when you can see through to the canvas.  But all of a sudden she turned into mud and I know what happened.

1.  I was tired.
2.  Because I was tired I wasn't actually mixing colors.
3.  I didn't pay attention to where my colors were going.
4.  I was trying to force it.

I decided to stop painting, set it a side, and then 

start again the next day.  

Maybe sometimes I fear if I mess up I won't 

be able to find my way back again.

I found my way back.  Each step wasn't perfect but I got there.  She sat for about 3 days before I actually started again.

I would like to recommend the podcast I've been listening to while I paint.  It's called the Sarah Bagley Podcast...she is a recovering perfectionist and her podcast has really helped me push past my need for perfection.  I will give it my best shot and be okay with that.

Do you feel me?  What do you do when you get stuck in a project?  What do you think about her purple highlights?  If you like this please feel free to share this post with your friends!  

Sharing with Paint Party Friday & Art it Friday

Click to Tweet: I will not be creatively paralyzed by fear and perfection.

100 Painted Faces - #1

I've decided to take on the 100 faces challenge.  It's late in the year so I might not be done by December but that's my goal.

I would like to name her...what do you think of Camilla?  This name means born-free.  I'm really feeling that it suits her.

I took progress shots along the way.

For some reason the flower wasn't doin' it for me so I covered it.

I've already started on my next face along with all the other projects I'm working on.

*Coming Soon* My first online class!

It's not quite finished yet so follow me on Etsy for updates.  

Click here to see more paintings from me!   

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every Day, Art It Friday

Have a wonderful weekend.

Completed Visual Journal Page - Hummingbird

This page from last week is all done.  I remember when I used to draw something and the painting looked nothing like sketch.  I tried to remain calm during the painting process.  Sometimes I panic, so I keep my reference photos close to guide me along.

Each painting is like solving a puzzle.  You have to keep trying pieces until they fit.  The more I paint the more I learn about myself and what I like.  I remember being stuck in my cubicle thinking  "I should be outside right now".

When I came to the backside of the tag I had this complex design in mind but it looked forced.  I photographed these flowers on my last walk...it was odd how they were dead while everything else was just blooming.

Well, hope you have a good day!

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

Mixed Media Tags

I have a few projects going on right now.  These tags have been patiently waiting on my desk for attention.  Hopefully you are able to see through my scribbly sketches. 

I set the timer to 15 minutes for each sketch.  This forced me to put down the first thing that came to mind and then move on.  I plan to add paint so they probably won't look the same once I'm finished.

We are off to a gloomy weekend here so I'm off to watch more Alias on Netflix! :)

Click here to see my previous mixed media tags.

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Creative Every Day

Work In Progress - Hidden Tag Pages

Last week work was so crazy.  I didn't have a lot of time in my sketchbook.  The page on the left is further along and I feel good about it so I decided to share it today.

I used tags and washi tape to create hidden pages.  Spring inspired of course.

I like to use a white charcoal pencil to sketch out my ideas (and to make corrections).  If it doesn't work I can just wipe it away. 

Do you have a WIP?  Please share!

See my tips for Painting Everyday

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every Day

Click here to see the completed page.

Back Cover Art Joural - Cicada

Thank goodness for Spring.  It seems like everything is waking up.  I finished the back cover this morning.  I go through highs and lows.  Half the time it's like what am I doing and then it's, oh ok I like it now... What do you like most about early spring?

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Visual Journal Cover

My journal is almost full.  I have three or four pages I'm still working on.  The back cover is coming along as well.  I'm experimenting with ideas for an upcoming series. 

I like where this is going so you will probably see more work based on winged creatures here on the blog.  Have a great weekend.

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30 Day Painting Challenge - Final Week

Well, I made it.  After 101 days of painting I reached the end.  I went over the 30 days a bit, lol.

#25 - My must haves for a good workout.

#26 - Bricks - nice texture study.

How I feel....

• Adjusted.  Towards the end I nearly stopped painting and blogging altogether.  I was overwhelmed.  It's fine, I'm not a factory pumping out art.  I have my ups and downs.
  
• Curious.  I have a desire to find my own style.  I plan to work on a series so I can focus one idea instead of jumping around.
• Happy.  The list of prompts took the guess work out of what I should do each day.  I like to look back and see my strengths and weaknesses.  

#27 - I have the worst struggle with brown paint.  This took 3 days to figure out.

#28 - I've been on-line window shopping for chairs lately.

#29 - Flock - carefree

What I learned...

• I need to mix more colors and not use them straight out of the tube. 
• There is nothing wrong with changing my original idea if it's not working out.
• I prefer a looser brush stroke. 
• Creativity needs patience.

#30  - Can't wait to paint more faces.

Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement through this challenge!  I'm off to work in my art journal.  Click here to see all previous pages.

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every Day

Altered Clipboards

Good Morning, last week I put the final touches on two altered projects.  

I used my favorite stencils and mixed media mediums on this one.

I was really just experimenting at first and then I decided to push it as far as I could.

back

The second one I made is more abstract then the first.  I didn't want to be confined.

I chose to write "today is a new day" because I want to be able to start fresh each day.

back

Both items are now available on my ETSY.  Please hop over and check it out.  

Hope you have a creative weekend!

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