Art Journal Page 16

Having a difficult day has a way of showing itself on everything you say or do at the end of that day.  I guess I’m not making any sense…it started with a very crazy day at work.  Everyone was at each other’s throat and nothing seem to go right.  Arguing, yelling and just difficult customers is a great start to ruin your day and after 8 hours it did not improved! 

As soon as I got home I took care of the family, went and took a long shower and closed myself behind my studio doors.  The result was a a little angry kind art journal page, or at least in comparison to the others. 

I took all kinds of different green shades and gesso and created the background first.  I had this piece of scrap of paper from an old book and glue it to the corner and from the same page took strips of paper and glued forming square around the page.  I also used my trusty drywall tape to add more texture.

“There are times when dreams can seem far and dark…But only our hearts will get us there…”

That’s my quote for this page because I do believe that in order to get through the difficult times we must let our hearts guide us and that the road to make our dreams come through can seem dark and far.  We need to make our own reality and let our heart guide us through the road to make those dreams come true.

Just remember to look at yourself in the mirror once in a while so that you do not loose sight of who you are.

Have a safe journey finding your reality.

WonderingMindField

Bookmark #6

Color!!! One of my most intimidating things to do.  I see other artist use color as if it was part of their hand, with flow and grace.  Me?  Not so much...my daughter who is a art major recently gave me a color wheel to help with color decisions.  A nice useful tool that is helping take some of the guess work out but I'm still hesitant when using color and in my Zentangle®.

This is one of my first attempts at using color and I guess is a start.  I need to just tell myself to not be afraid to experiment.  What is the work that can happen...I mess up the colors, just toss it and start over.

I just got a mixed media journal (travel size) that I plan to use to do some Zentangle®.  The idea is not to judge myself too much and allow more room for mistakes. If I want to keep creating I need to venture out of my comfort zone and allow new things ideas to take form.

On this bookmark I used watercolor pencils and a water brush pen to apply color to the tangles.  Honestly I had no idea  how to paint this patterns...just took a pencil and went at it.  The one thing I did find out is to be very careful when using the water on a non-watercolor paper.  Too much water and the ink from the pen start smudging and the paper can start peeling.

My favorite is the blue, that color came out nice... just need to work on the others.

Hope you are able to step out of your comfort zone and let the ideas guide your creative journey...have a safe day and follow your heart!

WonderingMindField

Art Journal Page 15

I was looking at some pictures of my days in high school and realized how much I have learned in the last 25 years (yes.. that makes me old..do the math!)  This page was in honor of that 17-year-old girl who did not know what was waiting for her down the road of life but hoped her dreams would come true.

Creative process notes:

• I decoupage the page with some old book pages using mod podge and a heat gun to dry.  Some wrinkles occur but that was just part of the charm.  It added texture and a more aged feel.

• With a dry foam brush lightly dipped it in gesso and cover the entire page with a very light touch.    The idea was to mute the harshness of the pages lines. 

• Added some washi tape strips top an bottom of the page and then randomly on the page to add texture to the background.  I also used small strips of my trusty drywall tape to add more texture.  I love this tape as much as I love stencils!

• I took a face drawing I had on my computer that looked a little like me at 17 and printed it.  Then using carbon paper I traced the image into the page and with black acrylic paint I went over the lines to make.

• With a opaque marker I highlighted the hair lines to make them stand out and give the hair a softer look.  I also colored in the inside of the eyes to make them stand out.

• With yellow ink spays I sprayed on palette paper and them with a brush colored the entire page.  I sprayed on the palette paper so I would have more control on where I wanted it to be more or less brighter.

•  Using Dylusion “crushed grape” ink spray I colored the hair and random spots on the page.  Again I sprayed on palette paper and then with a brush colored the hair so that it looked smother instead of spray on.

• To finish I stamped some swirls and then using Tim Holtz™ Distressed ink pad (“mustard seed”) and a felt sponged distressed the page to blend everything together.

I visited my past self while creating this page so emotions ranged from happy to sad to accepting that not all dreams come true but that the lessons learned shape the heart and soul of the girl and the woman.

Have a great day and create to bring peace to your soul.

WonderingMindField

Zentangle Tile #12

Just a quick and easy tile this week!  I am trying to be more clean on my tile and not to cram too much into them.  I find myself putting too many tangles into just one little tile that my tiles have been looking a little crowded.

I took my stencil (yes, that word again!!) and traced it on a “apprentice” tile and went to town with some tangles.  I did realize with this tile that  need to get going on learning more patterns.  Sometimes I get so comfortable with a method or in this case some patterns that I keep using them over and over.  I keep using the little bubbles and still haven’t found the name for it!  Is to cute and versatile that it keeps finding its way into many or my creations.

I did find some great patterns on Pinterest® so I created a board to keep all the great patterns handy for practice time.  So it is time to get my binder out and explore some more patterns.

I did colored the flower shape with “tumbled glass” color market from Tim Holtz™ Distressed Marker, then drew my patterns in.  Sometimes is nice to create something simple and sit back and enjoy a quite moment in time.

As always, take time to find your creative joy and nourish your soul!

WonderingMindField

Zentangle Tile #13

The official Zentangle® tiles are really a of great quality.  The ink shows off so well and the texture is just yummy!  I only use these when I really want to created sometime for display.  I have a binder where I keep all my nicer tiles.  Grant you there are not that many but the I’m hoping to fill it up.

I just went with the flow on this tile I started with the ribbon on the middle and just added the pods on each side with some swirls.  If you have read my blog before or looked at some of the other tiles and are I’ve made you will know my obsession with stencils.  I’m very proud to say I did not use one on this tile!!!!  Yohoo for me!  I kept the tangles to a minimum and just enjoy the simplicity of the lines.

I got these plastic sheet inserts at www.cropstop.com (Zentangles® Supplies) and the pockets fit the 3 ®1/2 x 3 1/2 tiles perfectly.  The only think I had to due was trimmed the plastic sheet a little in order to fit my binder I have.  I wanted the sheets to be 8 1/2 wide from the tab on the left to the edge on the right.  The pages are thick, and the tiles look nice and clear.   The 144 tile packet is $15 and the 60 tile packet is $7.50. (If anyone knows a cheaper price please share!! 

I highly recommend them to keep your best tiles nicely protected to show off to friends and family.

Remember have fun and laugh with your heart.
WonderingMindField

Bookmark #5

I've been a little busy lately working on some handmade journals that I have been neglecting my Zentangle®!  But I have a few minutes of quiet while waiting for my last load of laundry to finish and decided to create this little bookmark.

I drew a large leaf then decorated with some tangles, then I took a red Prismacolor® marker and added some color.  I also used a black Sakura® Glaze pen and outline the leaf.

With the tangle "planteen" I surrounded the leaf and finished the bookmark with "shar" and the little leaves vines.  I did some light shading around the little leaves and along all the other tangles to add a little depth.

A quick and fun bookmark to relax me before having to fold my laundry.  Did I mention laundry is the one thing I hate doing the most? I don't mind doing the cleaning and the cooking, but laundry? NOT.

Anyway, I will add this one to my collection and hope you like it!  Be safe and always express your creative soul...

WonderingMindField

Art Journal Page 14

Simple but vibrant!  I had only about an hour and wanted to create something quick and simple. I know! more stencils, but I love them.  I got “Poppies” by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and created this simple page that was quick but happy!

Creative Notes:

• Using some Dylusions spray inks (Cherry box and squeezed orange) I created the background on the page. 

• After the ink was dry with a mister I sprayed water on the page to create texture and them with just a regular piece of small bubble wrap I pressed it down to add all the different blotchy texture on the background.

• With a black sharpie® I drew the curved lines around the page and then traced again with a white opaque pen to make them blend on the background.

• With the same Sharpie® I took the stencil and traced the flowers in the page.

• With gouache paints I colored the flowers with orange, yellow and green.

• Using the white opaque gel pen and traced some line on the leaves.

• I typed the phrase: “it’s the inspiration in my soul that keeps me nourished” in word.  Leaving a few spaces in between the words to allow for cutting.  I also printed in different sizes to fill the blank space better.

• I took a distressed ink pad by Tim Holtz™ (“barn door”) and with a piece of felt distressed the page even more so everything look blended and aged.

• The date stamped at the bottom is the day I wrote the phrase on another journal I keep by my bedside table.

The lesson here is that all you need is a little time, a few supplies and some quiet time and we can create something pretty that brings us creative joy.

Have a great day and keep your soul nourished!

WonderingMindField

Zentangle® Tile #11:

I recently went to a Zentangle Basics class with Emily Classon and learned a new a couple of tangles.  The problem is that I forgot to write the names down.    I have to do some research and find the names so I can add them to my Zentangle Binder.  In the meantime this is my very simple but I think is kind of cute Zentangle Tile for this week.

I kept this tile simple and used a flower stencil for the outline.  I know I use a lot of stencils when I create these tiles but the truth is that I do use them because I find inspiration in them.  I like my drawings to have a form and I’m still very much a beginner when it comes to drawing. 

Drawing with just the tangles still something I am working on and hopefully someday I can be half as good as some of the other artists who just draw with the tangles on a blank page and create crazy good pictures.

 In the meantime I find stencils a great help and my way of creating something pretty without stressing too much about how to tackle that blank page.  Some of the tangles I used on this tile are crescent moon, w2, hollibaugh, and squid (variation).  The stencil is again from my little stash of paper stencil from Plaid™.

I guess my lesson with this tile is that I don’t have to be super talented at drawing to still have a nice quite time creating something pretty.  Isn’t there a saying that says “practice makes perfect?”  Well perfection is overrated but practice isn’t. 

Have a great day and keep on practicing!!!

WonderingMindField

Art Journal Page #13

Can you tell I was really in a “Spring” kind of mood?  I used an inexpensive stencil I got at a flea market.  It did not have a label, so I’m sorry to say I can’t give credit to the manufacturer.  Instead of going the conventional way and use paint to stencil the design on my page, I used modeling paste. This gave the page dimension and texture. 

I had no real idea of what I going to put on the page with the exception of the stencil, so I got my box of scraps and just pulled things out and laying them down.  What can I say is cheaper that therapy on a stressful day!
Here are my creative notes:

• Using Dylusions “cut grass” spray ink and water I colored the background of the page using a sponge to spread the ink on the page and a heat gun to dry it.  I’m a little impatient.
• I position the stencil where I wanted and using painter’s tape I  secured it down on the page.
• With a small painter’s spatula I spread the modeling paste over the stencil.  Carefully!  So that the modeling paste did not spread too much underneath the stencil.  Using the spatula I carefully took off the excess.  It’s like spreading icing on a cake!
• Let the modeling paste set for a minute and then remove the stencil.  You do not want to wait too long because the paste will set and may crack, plus the  stencil can get stuck and crack the paste when removing.
• Using Mod Podge I glue little scraps of printed pages, washi tape, handmade paper, and my favorite drywall tape, randomly around the page.  I was going for sort of a cloud effect on the top and wind blowing around the tree.
• I had a $0.50 stamp in the shape of a feather and just stamp over my paper scraps groupings. 

I had either seen or heard that when doing a art journal page that you should create balance on the page.  I sometimes have a little hard time achieving this, so for this page I tried that by forming the small groupings of scraps paper around the tree.

• I cut some little leaves and glue them to the bottom of the tree just to fill in more of the page.
• After the modeling paste is completely dry I colored the entire design using a small brush and water-down acrylic paints.

If you want deep colors a few coats might be needed and less water.  I was going for a light touch since the green on the background is more vibrant.

• I took the foam brush and lightly dipped it on the gesso and sort of dry brush around the page, again to give it a cloud wind effect.
• I used glaze medium and brush it on the entire page to protect it. 

Oh!  I forgot, I stamped “A good Life” on the page from yet another flea market find.  It is not fancy but it makes me smile.  And isn’t that what you art is supposed to do?

Stay safe and keep creating so that your soul can smile!

WonderingMindField

Zenspirations™ Art

I am a subscriber for Sakura channel on  YouTube® and came across a interesting video by Joanne Fink where she shows her “Zenspirations™” method and techniques.  Instead of giving you a long explanation about this method created by Ms. Fink clink the link for the story behind her art:  ttp://www.zenspirations.com/thestory.

What I like about this artist is what a soothing and calming effect she has when speaking and describing the steps to create the art.  It really a matter of using string and small patterns she often refers to as “dangles.”

Is it like Zentangle®? My personal opinion is that philosophy is similar when it comes to using the method to relax and enter a meditate state while creating art.  One of the major differences is that with Zenspirations™ there is more use of color and words that with the Zentangle® method.  I think Zenspirations™ is just an evolution or extension of the Zentangle® method, a artist own personal interpretation and evolution of another artist.

Ms. Fink art reflects a more spiritual foundation but has she has said that she was inspired by the Zentangle® method.

“Zenspirations is the multi-faceted creation of designer/writer/spiritual seeker Joanne Fink. At its simplest level, Zenspirations is a way of enhancing any illustration by adding patterns to the spaces formed when the exterior lines are double stroked.”

“I LOVE the interaction of ink on paper” Joanne says. “The joy I get from drawing and lettering Zenspirations has INSPIREd me to GIVE of myself to help HEAL and TRANSFORM the world. Zenspirations helps me remember to look for God in the face of every person I meet, and to reach out to them in love.”

This is a great new way to develop more techniques for my art and I will continue to explore more and pass it along.  If you are interested in more about this artist and her method this is the video link for the video I watched to create my tile:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cuekq4lFUo

Have a great day and enjoy your creative journey.!
WonderingMindField