30/30 January Challenge #20

For today's painting I am using another of the quilled paper birds that I made before Christmas. The quilled birds are all made with 1/4 inch strips of my own painted papers using patterns of my own drawings.

#995 - Rufous Hummingbird - 5 x 7 mixed media

I think this would have worked better if the flowers had been blue as it would make a nicer contrast to the rust coloured bird. Oh, well, what is done is done!

I think this will be the last of the quilled pieces, at least, for the challenge: they just are not ringing any bells for me. I don't know why I am not liking any of them because I was happy with the quilled pieces but once I added them to the paintings, I was disappointed.

Today is the 20th day of the challenge so we only have 10 more paintings to do. Check out the work of the other artists on Leslie's 30/30 page and stay tuned for my next painting!

30/30 January Challenge 2017 - Post #1

Well, I did it again - signed up for Leslie's Painting Challenge.

What was I thinking of? There never seems to be enough time and my house is already full to bursting with paintings, but oh no, I have to sign on to do 30 paintings in 30 days. I think I need help!

Here is my piece for the first day of the 2017 challenge.

#978 - Yellow-rumped Warbler with Wisteria

I did a card for a Christmas card exchange and liked it so much I decided to do one a bit bigger and frame it. This is a combination of watercolour and paper quilling framed to 6 x 12.

Now I just have to post this and then it is back to housework - no rest for me on this first day of the new year. Oh well, better busy than bored!

A Shift in Focus

My mind really hasn't been on art for the last few months!

Since my husband's heart attack, I have been focused more on health and our diets. The second day Bob was in the hospital a friend loaned us "To Your Health" by Dr. Hans Diehl and I started reading. A few days later, another friend gave me "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. We also got a book when Bob got out of the hospital - "Living Well with Heart Disease" from the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

I won't go into details about what I read but it was enough to get me started on a new diet lifestyle. The goal was to reduce sodium, fats and sugars which would improve blood pressure and promote weight loss. Using the recipes in the books and from the internet, I have been including many more vegetables as well as beans and lentils into our meals. There have been a few "I can't eat that" meals but most have worked out well and I now have about 20 recipes that will become staples. I have also modified a number of our favourite 'pre-heart attack' recipes to meet with the changes in our needs.

I know how easy it is to slide back into old habits so I am keeping a record of almost everything we eat and the nutrition information - sodium, fibre, calories, fat, sugar. So far things seem to be working; Bob has lost 10 lbs and I have lost 6. And, we are both feeling good about the changes - so, here's to a better future!

And, to show that I haven't completely ignored my art, here are a few of my latest quilling projects.

They are all made with my own painted paper cut to 1/4" and they are all about 3" x 3". These make super little ornaments for the Christmas tree or for year round. They can be hung, mounted and framed or fixed with some sticky tak to go on the wall or a mirror

I have a few other things on the go as well and maybe I will find the time to write about them soon . Now, I am off to figure out the nutrition for tonight's dinner - lol.

Quilling Workshop

I remembered to take photos! Many of them didn't turn out as I was in too much of a hurry but one of the ladies kindly shared her pics which were much better.

Carol's card

Joanne's card

Jeanne's card

Eileen's card

Carrie's card

Carolyn's card

Eleanor's card

Unfortunately, we didn't get a good photo of Vicki's card and many of them were not finished as we were running out of time and I wanted everyone to have a chance to work on another project.

There were 8 participants which makes for a nice sized class, giving me time to check with and help everyone as needed. I supplied all of the materials and had a number of samples to use as guides. Here are more pics:

Vicki working on a butterfly

Carrie working on her flower

Eileen working on her flower

Carol, Joanne and Jeanne

Carolyn working on her flower

Eleanor working on her flower

I should have planned a longer workshop as everyone had to take their second projects home to finish. Fortunately, most of the participants are Art Club members so getting things back won't be a problem. Everyone seemed to have a good time and most were very happy with what they created so I guess the workshop was a success.

Now I have to get to work figuring out what to take for my table at -

This is a new venture for Creston and my first time as a vendor with them. Let's hope that the day is worthwhile because it has been a slow winter with sales.

I will let you know and, hopefully, have photos lol!

A New Month - A New Challenge

I didn't think it would be a challenge but was I ever wrong!

Yesterday I did a mini workshop on card making with paper flowers and quilling for the Creston TAPS group. TAPS is Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors and it is a great organization to help get seniors out of their homes and active. For the last few years they have had a program where elementary school students join the seniors for some of their events and yesterday was one of those times.

I thought I was prepared! I had a variety of flower parts in various colors cut out and some extras, like butterflies, hearts and stars.

I had some of my painted papers available for those who wanted to use them.

I had blank cards, quilling paper, glue, paper-towels, scissors and everything I could think of that we would need. I also had a number of my own finished cards to show people what they could accomplish.

The lady who asked me to do the workshop told me there would probably be 6 adults and some students participating in the 'art project'. I figured one student for every adult to help and to share - no problem!

Was I ever wrong! A whole classroom of students arrived, happy and noisy, many of them determined to get in on the art. All of a sudden, instead of the twelve I expected, I had closer to twenty people sitting at the art tables. I was definitely overwhelmed. Fortunately, 3 ladies were there to help or I would have possibly committed some serious offences; swearing, screaming or crying to name a few. At any rate, for an hour and 15 minutes I bounced from table to table, side to side, constantly talking, demonstrating, helping and making suggestions. I was so focused on the card making that I didn't even have time to take photos.

I will try to do better in 2 weeks when I do a mini workshop about 'drawing one of the places we lived' using alphabet art.

2016 Day 19

I really didn't think I was going to get my piece finished in time - actually the glue is still wet in some places - but it is done enough to take a photo.

Spotted Sea Serpent

I have been working on designs for more quilled pieces and finally decided to get some quilling done. I can see a few places on this piece that I would change if I could: the yellow should have been small highlights and the dull green should not have been used at all. Although there are 2 or 3 tones of green, they all seem to be dark, especially in the photo, so I might even add some white next time.

"Spotted Sea Serpent" is approximately 5 x 6" and made with 1/4" hand made quilling paper. To give him lots of room it will probably be mounted on a 10 x 13 mat for framing. I have found that the these quilled pieces fit metal frames (just) once they are mounted on mat, have a separator of foam board and a finish mat. So there is no need for a special deep shadow box frame which is nice.

Back to painting for tomorrow but I am sure I will get another quilled piece done before the end of the 30 days.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

2016 Day 13

I am really happy with today's piece. Once again it is not a traditional painting but a quilled paper piece. I have seen this type of quilling a few times - on YouTube, Pinterest and on Facebook and thought I would try it myself.

Quilled Paper Seahorse

I mostly used my own painted papers and an expanded design from my Quilled Critters. This piece is made with 1/4 inch paper on a painted paper background. It is approximately 7.5" x 3.75" and will be mounted on an 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 mat.

Quilled Critter Seahorse

I am sure that I will be doing more of these - I just have to come up with some designs that work well with quilling patterns.

2016 Day 11

My piece today is a Quilled painting.

Quilled Owl

The owl is 4.5 x 5.25 inches made with 1/8" quilling paper and mounted in an 8 x 10 mat. I worked on this piece off and on for 4 days. This is my second quilled painting and a valuable learning experience.

2016 Day 9

It is not a painting although paint was involved, as well as a number of other things. I suppose 30 Paintings in 30 Days makes a better title for the challenge than something like '30 Things that you have created using painting supplies....'

At any rate, as I am not feeling too well today (I think I have spent too much time with people with the flu, coming down with the flu or just getting over the flu) I just did one of my cards.

handmade card #35

I stuck one of my own painted and stamped papers on a 5 x 7 card then added some quilling. I paint the paper with watered down acrylics and love playing with different mixes of color. It is fun to see how they change as they dry. I've made most of my own stamps and use the same paints instead of ink pads.

Here is a angled view so you can see the quilling better. I find it difficult to get a good photo of any of my quilling projects. When you see them in person a straight on view works fine but the camera does not work the same way I guess.

Don't forget to check out Leslie's blog to see what the other artists have been up to - http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/blog

I hope tomorrow will be a better day!

2016 Day 2

Am I every glad I did a bit of work last week when I had some time, because I certainly haven't had time to paint today! I spent most of the morning at the Creston Public Library setting up a new art display and then part of the afternoon my husband and I were down in the crawl space under the living room checking and fixing insulation. We are always trying hard to become more energy efficient.

At any rate, last week I spent some time in my studio cleaning up and  I found some interesting pages in an old book I have been using as a palette. I have never been one to let 'interesting' go to waste so...

Book Art #8 With Flowers

 I stuck a page from the book onto a white painted gallery wrap canvas, added some of my paper flowers and Quilling paper and voilà - a finished painting!

I hope that I get some time tomorrow and some inspiration so that I can really get into the spirit of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.

Something New

I have found a new creative outlet! Quilled Critters and Other Things!

quilled paper Ant

This is my first 'critter' and he has already been sold!

When I started making my critters, I hoped they would sell but I was surprised that a number of them sold the first time I really displayed them.

Stationwagon & Caravan

I have been having fun making my own patterns and developing those found on the internet. I am using 1/4" and 1/8" paper for my creations.  As I am too impatient to wait for my order of quilling paper to arrive I have been painting and cutting my own paper or just using stock paper that I have on hand.

Blue Bull (sold)

I have a number of different animals that I plan to make; everything from raccoons to butterflies. I hope to have a whole ark of critters ready for the Wynndel Christmas Craft Fair on December 5. I think most of my quilled pieces would make fun ornaments, either for the Christmas tree or hanging in a child's room. People could even put a few of them together and make a mobile or they can mount and frame them.

Going on Holiday

Just for fun, I took a photo of the car and trailer with one of my watercolor paintings in the background. From an angle the whole thing looks like fun but straight on - not so much.

This way the quilled pieces look pretty ghostly so I think they will do better on a plain background.

Anyway, I will continue to play with strips of paper and glue and let my other creative media take a backseat for a while. As always I will probably go overboard and make too many things, but I figure that as long as I am having fun it doesn't matter.

I Really Should be PAINTING!

Tourist season is fast approaching and I am going to be exhibiting my art in a couple of venues over the summer and early fall, so I should have some new work to show. Also, my home gallery is going to be part of a self-guided art tour and I should have some new art available at home too.

BUT, I am having too much fun playing with cards to want to paint.

I made a couple of birthday cards for two of the cat-lovers in my life: my friend Linda and my daughter, Susan.

 I did a few pen & ink drawings of cats, added some watercolor and then used paper flowers and quilling to finish. I made one extra and added one of my crocheted butterflies.

For something a little different, I made a card using designs from my "Decorative Papercutting" book and added some paper flowers that were brightened with some silver gel pen.

As I quite liked the cards with the cats, I looked through my sketches to see what I had that would work the same way. The sketches become pen & ink drawings that will be painted and incorporated into more cards.

Hopefully, some of these cards will sell and I won't feel too bad about not painting more. The creative urge can be satisfied many ways - painting is just one of those ways!

Making Do

I have a tendency to be parsimonious  (read cheap) and will make do with materials I have around the house rather than going out and buying the products recommended.

For instance, when I decided to try paper quilling I bought a book and watched a few Youtube videos - for everything else I made do!

 

Using ordinary copy paper and acrylic paint, I painted some paper to get some interesting colours.

I cut the paper into 1/8 inch strips using a ruler and an exacto knife.

Instead of buying a quilling tool, I use a darning needle or my fingers; I estimate sizes instead of using a quilling board.

I also "make do" while I am making cards (see this blog post - http://mellowoodgallery.blogspot.ca/2015/02/learning-and-adapting.html)
There are hundreds of items available for card making, scrapbooking and journaling but I only have a few so, once again, I make do. Instead of using stamps for the salutations for my cards, I use the computer to make up a bunch of different saying with different fonts and print them out on card stock.

I cut out the saying that works and attach it to the card, most often with mounting foam.

Many of my 'making do' creations may take me longer to do than they would if I had all of the right equipment but they have the advantage of being unique and completely my own. I think I feel more satisfaction this way than by using someone's else's designs, words and patterns. But, the bottom line is that I am enjoying myself and that is what counts the most!

Learning and Adapting

I think that artists are always interested in learning new things; things that can be used as taught or that can be adapted to the artist's own taste.

Last Saturday I went down to Bonners Ferry, Idaho for a class at the Bamboo Room - https://www.facebook.com/BambooRoomCrafts. This is the second class I have taken with Linda on card making and I really enjoyed myself. The focus this week was flowers, using die-cuts and other products that I don't remember the names of.

class cards

These are the cards I made in class. Linda always has most of the materials ready for students to just color and put together, but this time we had the chance to use the die-cut plates and the cutter. She also taught us how to mold the flowers so they have depth and dimension.

I took what I learned home with me and created my own card. However, I don't have any of the fancy equipment, so everything was done by hand.

my card

I used the flowers from the class as a guide and made my own patterns out of heavy card. Then I used the patterns and drew the flowers on one of my own painted papers, drawing in the detail on one set of petals with pen & ink. Each flower uses 3 sets of petals so I spent a fair amount of time cutting things out. I used another of my painted papers for the leaves, molded the petals, glued things together and once they were dry mounted them on a card. I finished it off with some paper quilling and a few extras.

it different view

Here is a view from an angle which shows the quilling a bit better.

I am already working on more patterns to make more flowers. As I don't intend for this to be a major part of my artistic life, I won't be buying all the equipment to make these cards or flowers the same way dedicated card makers make them. I have adapted what I learned to the materials I have on hand. It may take longer but the enjoyment is the same.

On to New Challenges!

The winter months of each new year have always been a time for me to try new things. In the past I have taken workshops by talented local artists (http://windinnart.blogspot.ca/ andhttp://www.artfoamies.com/ to name two) but this year I am going to teach myself. And that is the challenge!

I have already worked on Oriental Style painting: now I am moving on to Paper Quilling and Anime.

Valentine Card

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I decided to try my hand at a few cards. I have used my own painted paper for the hearts, some of the quills, and the leaves. 

Valentine Card #2

I will have to practice taking photos of my quilling work to find a way to show it off to better advantage. I think the cards look much better in person!

 I don't know if I will incorporate this skill in my regular art but It has definite possibilities for mixed media. Whether I use quilling just to make cards and to play or whether I add it to paintings, I figure all knowledge is useful - if only to keep the mind alive!