Creative Everyday 2011 ~ Week 9

I have been taking photos of the beauty of winter and would like to share what I've collected so far...

Click here to check it out:

Winter Project 2011

CED2011 ~ Wk7...my art

This week I participated in Art Journal Love Day Party at Dirty Footprints Studio and this is my art for the party. OH, and the huge bonus - I actually WON one of the giveaways. Super excited!!! I get a Creating My Goddess Year workbook, planner & calendar from Godess Leonie. Can't wait to check it out!!

I was inspired by a Rumi quote - "only from the heart can you touch the sky". When I started the journal page, I had an idea in mind. I was blending some of the red, pink & white on another piece of paper to add to the page when I dediced to put my hand in the colors. In the palm of my hand was a heart shape where the paint did not stick. It didn't transfer to the page that way so I added a heart. If you look in the top right of the page you can also see a heart among the clouds.

I had no intention of using my hand when I was thinking of what to create, but I like how it fits perfectly with the quote -- reaching with your heart for the sky. I like when something unplanned works out better than what you planned. :-)

Below are some left over hearts that I'm going to save for another project. I'm sure they'll fit perfectly.



Check out Dirty Footprints Studio: http://networkedblogs.com/exbIm
Check out Goddes Leonie: http://networkedblogs.com/exbIm

Creative Everday ~ Wk7...my art

This week is a special piece of art since it was created for a friend's 40th birthday. She decided to make this milestone birthday a rejuvenation for herself. These milestones always make you reflect. I know 40 was one that made me take a good look at life and realize how quickly it passes by.

I tried to make this meaningful for her...and with her journey.

I felt a butterfly as the focal point was perfect. To me, a butterfly signifies emergence.

(Update: after giving the picture to her, she told me many people saw an angel instead of the butterfly...interesting - I can see it now! I love when things like that happen.)

Closer view of the butterfly, which is the rolled newspaper techinque I've been working on.

Under the butterfly, I incorporated positive, affirming words onto paper - leaving the little tabs from the sketch pad. I burned the edges to give them a free flowing appearance. Then adhered it to the painting, covering it in paint and wiping off as much as I could. I left some of the dark burn marks visible.

The words that I wanted to stand out were "be true"...

I'm having lunch with her tomorrow to give it to her...can't wait!

Creative Everday ~ Wk6...my art

This week my creativity was sticking to a bold color in my bathroom. Each room at my house is a different color and I love darker, warmer colors. And lately, I'm all about gray!! I needed to work with the exisiting white tile in the bathroom, so I choose a dark gray - charcoal.

I was freaking out a bit as the color went up on the wall - totally second guessing my decision - but....I love it!!!

A big thanks to my Dad and his girlfriend for all their help getting things done & finished around my house. It just feels good.

Creative Everday ~ Wk4...my art

This week I re-purposed a painting that had been in my house for awhile. It was one I just threw some color on to have an accent in the room. I had applied plaster on the canvas before the paint to give it some texture.

Here's the original...
On Friday night, I decided to change it. I started painting an off white over the whole canvas but it wasn't taking very well. As my brush went over it, some of the white paint would pull off...and I loved it. The old background shows thru where I dry brushed over the white paint I applied...a great 'mistake'.
A close up...
Now to figure out what else to add...

Creative Everyday ~ Wk3...my art

My art for Week 3 - a tree on 16x20 canvas with dark blue background. Again, the tree is made out of newspaper. Continuing to practice my technique.

Here's a close up of the tree so you can see the newspaper...

Creative Everday ~ Wk2...my art

Working on my art for Week 2 of Creative Everyday 2011 & starting another...


Continuing to work with my tree theme - made from rolled newpaper - I'm loving the process and excited people seem to really like it.

The background was definitely an experiment with newspaper too! I think it's a bit to textured and takes away from the tree itself. I will work with it some more and see what I can do...:-)

Winter Solace

One of my resolutions this year was to post a piece of art for the Creative Everyday 2011 challenge at least weekly. Once a week didn't seem overwhelming to me and it would get me back into making time for my art.

This week...a tree, which if you've read any of my posts, I love trees. I had an idea of rolling pieces of newspaper to create the tree to give it a lot of texture to resemble the bark. Originally, I thought I'd paint it after applying the newspaper, but I really liked the natural color created from the newspaper and left it as is.

The leafless tree and the cool, windy sky remind me of the quiet days of Winter, so I labeled it 'solace' - to find comfort. Trees are grounded, strong, always reaching towards the heavens. Their branches sway with the fierce Winter winds flowing with the turbulence...not fighting it. Other days they display the grandeur of a fresh fallen snow or glistening ice.

As we become recluse to the warmth of our homes during the cold Winter months and the New Year begins, we in turn are recluse with our thoughts. Thoughts of the year & years past and what it is we want to bring into our lives. I think of how a tree is strong and beautiful - uniquely its own. How it moves with the winds - not resisting - flowing until they subside. A lesson we could all use in our life's journey.

Be strong & beautiful - uniquely you - stand firm & the winds will pass.

(did i just create a quote? maybe so - i love quotes :)