Catching up: Some Mindy Lacefield-inspired art

I've been so remiss in posting to this blog, mostly because Facebook is so right there and easy. But I do want to maintain this art blog better, and I think I've figured out a way to more consistently post regularly by linking my two favorite art sharing mediums: Facebook and Blogger.


But before that, let me catch up with some posts highlighting my favorite art endeavors over the past year. It's interesting to look back and see the directions I've taken or certain areas I've evolved. But one thing is clear: I love creating art! I just wish I had more time!


Here are a couple of pieces I started in a Mindy Lacefield workshop at Art & Soul last year in Kansas City, the last year that conference was held there. Theses are 12x12 on wood panels.

My latest Inspiration Wednesday pages, starring Burnt Sienna, Teal and a little Serendipity

 These pages have an old-timey western feel to them. Love them. Need to get a script stencil, though. Raised letters made using light molding paste. It was completely serendipitous that the blocked out words inside the flower happened to be a dictionary definition of "flower." Click the photo to view larger.

Some Klimt inspiration using my Citra Solv backgrounds

Went to an advanced Citra Solv class with Kayann Ausherman of From Victory Road today to see what I could do with my stash of Citra Solv sheets I made a few months back. Kayann was working on a Klimt-inspired canvas, which then inspired me to do this. Still a work in progress...

Grungy, messy, awesome!

This is my latest Inspiration Wednesday journal layout. I love the colors and the grungy, messy, graffiti-like feel to it. In case you're not familiar, Donna Downey hosts an Inspiration Wednesday year-long workshop where every two weeks she demonstrates techniques, supplies and color challenges for the year. It's great fun to watch the videos and try your hand with her. I'm endeavoring to stay caught up this year with my various projects and not get behind! Stay tuned!

P.S. My camera phone washes out the color on these photos. This is much brighter in person.

A homemade smash book, Reader's Digest style

I made a little smash book tonight! Took an old Reader's Digest book, cut out the innards, lined the inside, attached a Tim Holtz two-ring binder and added many pages, tags and other goodies. Will probably fill it out with cool stuff like washi tape, rub-ons and maybe some dry-ish stenciling, quotes and other pretty things.

New year, more art - starting with Inspiration Wednesday pages!

Every new year I get motivated to get better at posting my art and thoughts about my mixed media explorations. I start off ... and then fizzle with just a few posts here and there. BUT THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT! Right? Right?

Here's my first post of 2015. At least I got it up while it was still January! I have much to share and will, yet again, endeavor to be more consistent at posting.

Here are my first two spreads in my Inspiration Wednesday 2015 journal, a year-long technique exploration with the talented and prolific Donna Downey. I just met her in person this month at a shop near Oklahoma City and very  much enjoyed her weekend workshop, Metamorphosis. I'll post those pics soon, I promise! :)

Week #1:

Week #2:
 

Lots of gesso here! And acrylic glazing.

Accordian Art Book - no rules, just fun

Finished my first Accordion Art Book for a swap. This was so much fun. No rules, no pressure -- just gluing, collaging, stamping, stenciling and doodling wherever I fancied.

Be Kind to Yourself

I've been on an art journal kick lately. Mostly leftover motivation from an in-person Dina Wakley class a few weeks ago -- finally jumped the art journal hurdle.

Do Something You've Never done

A little art journaling tonight

Still immensely motivated by a Dina Wakley workshop I went to July 26 in Edmond, Okla. She's amazing and has helped me break down the barriers I was having to really get into art journaling. While I have never minded a blank canvas, I haven't been able to get a good fix on what art journaling means to me and how I should approach it. I now know it has to be a messy, sometimes grungy, non-perfect, wonderfully satisfying approach.

Alice and the tunnel: Some altered book fun!

Some altered book fun tonight. My friend's theme was "Once Upon a Time..." I cut the holes in these pages, was going for a "tunnel" effect using transparencies, cardstock and vellum. 

A new year, a new lease on creative expression!

Finally -- FINALLY -- creating again after what feels like months of artistic inertia brought on by stress, holiday obligations, tiredness, etc. So much peace and inspiration today!

This journaling calendar is something I tried to do last year and got behind. I'm resolving to keep up this year. It's so easy to write a sentence or two as long as you get your monthly page done in advance.

A Mother's Heart canvas (9x12)

Scrumptious tags

Had a fun afternoon making this lovely tag in a class taught by my dear friend, Jo. Can't think of anything more fun that relaxing with friends and creating, especially when the temperature broached 106 degrees in my backyard!

Two new things for me: The large canvas flower on the left was much easier to make than I would've thought -- it basically involved cutting a flower out of canvas, spritzing it with various colors and rolling in my palms after each application. It frayed all on its own. The second new technique involved the smaller flower just to the right of the canvas one -- the rolled paper flower. It involved cutting a spiral out of text or music paper and hand rolling it. Made a cool looking rose-style flower that I then spritzed with bronze.

What makes a house a home? Mixed media altered book.

Really loving getting into houses in my art. This is a spread in an altered book I did for a member of my art group. Love how her book substrate is cut into a house shape!

Tulips: My May canvas

 

 

Part of my monthly canvas series. This is May, or spring.

In a Tulips frame of mind: Artist Trading Cards

 

Part of a batch of ATCs I made for my art group. I've been in a tulip mood lately!
 

Easter joy: my March canvas | My Monthly Canvas Project

My March canvas, celebrating Easter. This is part of my monthly themed canvas project for my home. These are 12 x 12 canvases, mixed media, acrylics. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)