finally….

On the way back from our trip to Edinburgh we stopped off at the Angel of the North. I have wanted to see it in person since it was commissioned, and all I have to say is “ wow”.  We even got blue skies for the occasion.

    

a couple of works in progress…

I’m still drawing/doodling, which ever you want to call it.  I’m not quite doing something everyday, but here are a couple of no where near finished pages in my A4 moleskine.  They are at the basic drawing stage awaiting lots more colour and me to have a clue where to take them next. Still gives, me something to do!

meeting a few friends…

Tien Tien (also known as Sweetie in english)

There is nothing like being back in your own bed, but we had a lovely time away in Edinburgh. Such a fascinating city and, in all honesty, we ran out of time to see and do everything we wanted to do. With two small kids in tow and a Panda’s at the zoo, Edinburgh Zoo was top of our list to visit. 

As lovely as Panda’s are, and we had a very enthusiastic guide, who furnished us with loads of information and made it great visit, my heart lies with the big cats.  In particular the Jaguar. Edinburgh Zoo even has a male with a black coat. Heaven for me.  I could have stayed and watched them all day.

be back soon....

water birds

One thing that I have promised myself recently is that I will draw more. A lot more, so my art journal is doubling up as a playground to experiment with my drawing.  First thing this morning I opened my journal to a nice new page and quickly sketched n some more birds, this time three of them tottering on top of each other – bit of a metaphor for how life is feeling at the moment.  But what to do with them… I had a little think about how I’m feeling at the moment, trying to stay on two feet, living like a single parent during the week with two kids in primary school whilst running the house and a business.  It can sometime feel like I’m about to be swept away by it all…enter waves crashing on the tiny island of sanity my birds are standing on.  

I’ll probably tweak this page a wee bit yet, and I’m not sure if I need to journal on it.  I’ve used watercolours on this one and I’m falling in love with them all over again.  It’s been a very long time since I last used any. Then again, it’s been a very long time since I stopped drawing.  Feels good to start again.

Thanks for stopping by!

mop up page…

This weeks class, by yours truly, for UKS Art Journey is now up.  I won’t show the page or the class here, but it’s all about using acrylic paints (Liquitex Heavy Body in my case) and other permanent medium to create layers. 

As always I had extra paints and ink so rather than waste them I used them on a second page, adding in the spare scraps of papers that I used. Now I have a finished page, which is waiting for me to add some journalling to. 

The bird (not the prettiest is he…LOL), was drawn and coloured with neocolor II crayons, with some extra detailing with posca pens. I’ve used Dylusions Around the Edge stamps for foliage, stamped with Archival Ink in Blue Violet. Followed by a quick whip round the edge with a Jenni Bowlin Dabber – Spiced Tin, my absolute favourite dabber colour, and there are a few to choose from!

Now, what shall I rant about on this page…there’s plenty of room!

Thanks for stopping by.

getting ready..

 

…for the next class I’m doing for UKS Art Journey….

makes for a nice afternoon of messing about with paints.

looking for inspiration

One of my favourite pass times is to spend way too much time online, trawling websites, blog hopping and generally letting myself be bounced around while looking for inspiration. Colours, textures, techniques, things to help spark my creativity, leaving me with pages and pages of notes and idea’s and sketches for future projects (some very future projects looking at my notes) . 

Today though I wanted to share this video with you from Brett Weldele, a US Comic Book Artist, using Distress Inks and Stains and produces beautiful work with them.   Enjoy!

 

Brette Weldele Distress Inks

Time

Not a lot of creating going on at the moment as the lurgy is still lingering and leaving me somewhat shattered.  It’s the second posting of the “Journal Your Art” CJ next week, so if I do nothing else I have to get my pages done so I can pop it in the post.  The theme for this one is “Time” and this is a peek of my page. There is another Time CJ in the group so I’m looking forward to seeing how people interpret, and having done this one I have lots of idea’s for the next one. 

a little prima sneak of what’s due in store…

 

new trims

 

new pins

 

and papers..

 

The lurgy is starting to retreat now, and I’m hoping to get back to making a mess in the next few days.  Thank you to all those who sent me get well wishes. It’s much appreciated.

time out

Image by Karsten Schneider/Science Photo Library

We’ve been hit by the lurgy, so I’m doing my best to keep up with orders from the store and all the forums we sponsor.  Very sorry if I’ve been slow in getting back to you, hopefully normal service will resume shortly and I’ll get back to playing with inks and paints and all the things that make me happy.

playing with colour

This is a new double page in my large molekine note book.  I never used to like pink, but for some reason I love it in my journals.  It seems yellow has crept up on me as well.  So, I’ve spent half an hour today, playing with colour, a quick and simple page with lots of white space. Quite like it.

DIY Jenni Bowlin style

 

As a scrapper, one of my favourite alphabet sticker sheets are the 12x12 Jenni Bowlin ones.  I just love the style of the alphabet, so imagine how chuffed I was when I saw that there are stamps, in the same style! Yay!! Had to, I mean, just had to get them in for the shop.

 

At the same time as ordering the alphabet set, I had to get these Weekday stamps. So many “record your every waking moment” projects out there, you cannot tell me that these would not be well used and loved.  You can find both sets online in the store now in the Jenni Bowlin Stamps section.

 

Whilst on the subject of stamps – yes we will be getting the Whisker Monster stamps in from Stampotique.  Our order is already in we’re just waiting to find out when they will be shipping. We have restocks of your favourites and we’re adding some more designs to the range. 

 

Right then, it’s windy and that means we need a beach walk today. Post office first though for all those scrummy stash orders from you fabulous people!

works in progress

A couple of pages to share, they are both unfinished in that “it’s not done but I’m not sure I know what to do to finish it off" type not done. Although you’ll notice I have already journalled on the first page, so maybe it is done, or maybe I just don’t overly like it. I’ll look at them again soon and it will come to me.  In the meantime, here’s something to freak out the neatest amongst you….

ooooh, who works in a mess like this. ME!!  I do!!! Now do you see why I don’t do WOYWW! Hey-ho, feels quite good to have created though!

loving…..

 

More sneak from Prima, the new Nature Garden collection.  Genie Stones and Art Tiles. This also make me smile….