Calliigra-FUN Online Class Givaway

I have been wanting to give away a free Calligra-FUN class so here it is. I will "random. org-it" so if you think you might like a chance to will a Calligra-FUN online class just leave me a comment and on Thursday, October 1, at 8:00pm EST I will pick a winner. You will then receive an email from Gail at Creative Workshops inviting you to join the class. Thanks!!!

Background and Calligraphy Combined

I love this Scripture and I love combining calligraphy with backgrounds that I have created.

I have not been able to paint very much lately and I am ready to just not be so busy with other things. I bought the supplies to hook a rug with strips of fabric. There was a lady at the quilt show hooking one with fabric strips and I was mesmerized and just had to buy the supplies to make one. I told her I wanted to be a hooker too and she said ok but this was her corner and I should find another one!

Copic Poppy Ditty

Well, I have finally gotten my Copics on a chart so now I can see what I have. The thing I like about these markers is that you can make a 10 minute little ditty. I am hoping my little ditties will get better as I learn more about these markers. I love the illustrative look they give with the vibrant colors. And it's fun to add a little calligraphy too.

Oh, and I went to the Jacksonville Quilt Show yesterday and all I have to say is ,"Oh my my my...!!!"" Sensory overload as well as budget busting overload too. I have decided to become a hooker! hee hee You'll see.

Copic Apples

In our drawing class today we drew this apple still life and I decided to brave it and color them with Copics. Copics are very different from watercolors or acrylics and you have to really think about highlights, color blending and layering. It's extremely fun but challenging, especially since I have not had my beginning Copics class---but I have watched many Youtube videos. This one looks better in person ---and from a distance! So in viewing this---please back up! I'm learning---and Hobby Lobby is having a 30%off sale on these very expensive Copics. Unfortunately, you need lots of them and you have to understand the letter and numeric label system. If you buy any, start off with the light ones and build from there because if you just buy several random colors that you like you will be disappointed with the results. Gradations of color value is the key.

Gina Lee Kim Givaway

My blog friend, Gina Lee Kim, is giving this painting away! Isn't it just beautiful!? I love her work and I do hope I win this one. She will enter your name 3 times if you announce it on your blog. I wish I had two blogs! Or you can just leave her a comment.

I also wanted to thank all of you wonderful BFFBF (best friends forever blog friends) for all the support and well-wishing for my upcoming art show. As I dropped off the art yesterday and saw all the other wonderful art that would go up I had "shrinking violet syndrome" --> (oh no, I'm not worthy...).but then I had to readjust and say yes, I am worthy to hang my little art among these wonderful (and big!) pieces of art.

...just a little...........yikes!

All packed up and ready...

Yesterday I had very much indecision finalizing the pieces that would go into this upcoming show at the Women's Center. The pieces that are due for delivery today were finished but... which ones should go? ...and what price?... and do I really want to sell that even if it sells (a big IF there) ...and what represents me most as an artist---and so on and so on. So I finally settled on the 10 that I thought would be the best for this show. The name of the show is;"From the Studio Of..." So anything goes. I have some calligraphy, some poppies and some girls. I think that represents at least some of me. I have several shows coming up in the next few months and two that overlap so I guess I need to produce a few more if I can. This is new for me....yikes....putting my babies out there...

Canvas Collages

I have been working on some backgrounds on non gessoed canvas. I love how it frays and love the texture although it makes it more difficult to use a nib for calligraphy but I figured out if you just press real hard it works better. You only get about 1/2 a letter with the acrylic on the nib but you just keep dipping--alot. I used No Flow by Jacquard so I could have a better surface for the FW white acrylic ink. Neither one of the pieces are finished. The top one is closer than the bottom one but I am not sure which direction to go in. I know that I want to do some sewing on them. I have it sitting out and when I walk by I try different things but haven't found just the right thing yet. If I do I will blog them. This is a bit out of my comfort zone but my motto is---

"Make it work!" Famous quote by Tim Gunn---I get such a kick out of him on "Project Runway"--my new favorite show. Where have I been for the last few years? I need to order all the back shows.

Copic Flowers #2

For me the Copics seem easy but it's deceiving. You really have to be careful because they layer so well that if you have picked up the wrong color then your little picture is non fixable. I had that problem with the purple flower. That's why you need so many colors---gradual gradations and shades of color. Hobby Lobby 40% coupon here I come. For me, this is a good way to create a little colorful eye candy piece when you don't feel like pulling out the acrylics or watercolors or if you have a new manicure and you are in need of a quick color fix. (Like I ever get manicures!)

Hey--and guess what---Zach passed the bar!! WOO HOO! He's an official lawyer now!

Guess where I am right now???

Hi Y'all,

Well, I bet you could never guess! I am in an airplane on an Air Tran flight heading back to Jacksonville from Atlanta. Imagine that! WiFi--way above the clouds! I had to pay $10 and it's only an hour flight but I just had to do it to blog that I was doing it! I did check my email too---and looked at all you wonderful bloggers and your Monday posts. I am anxious to get back into the studio and get my hands into some paint and Bernie is also getting a bit restless. I just have one more lesson to film for the calligraphy class and then I will be finished. I did the capitals on Saturday and I breathed a big sigh of relief after I did that.

And also today our son, Zach will find out if he passed the bar----yikes! Why am I worried ---that one was prayed over!

The glory of the Lord

I am beginning a bible study soon on prophesy with a wonderful Bible teacher here named Cindy Zeigler. She is an artist too and makes wonderful things. As I was reading about the time with the Lord will return I just wrote this calligraphy, very quickly with my Parallel Pen , scanned it and put it on this background I had. It is enhanced with some digital brushes and the calligraphy has undergone a color change from it's original red to gold. I tried white, light blue off white and settled on gold for the contrast. I haven't printed one of these digi works but I am planning to do that at some point. I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Sunday!

My soul waits...

I was reading a blog post that was a link inside someone else's blog which was a link inside that blog etc...( I guess you call this blog surfing) and this Scripture was in that post. If I could find that post again I would like it but I could but can't find it---but it was good. This Scripture was so fitting for that post--God's Word is like that. He can speak to all our circumstances. So I decided to write it, scan it and place it into this background that I created in the Layer Love background class but actually pretty much digi-brushed it and altered it quite a bit. Since I have been filming the Italic Calligraphy class I have been writing some quotes and Scriptures to add as some examples for the class. I am about finished with the filming of the classes--just need to do the capitals---then the editing begins....

Hand Carved Alphabet stamps

I haven't used these in a while---I felt like stamping and rummaged into my art stuff and found them. I carved these alphabet stamps several years ago and for some reason I haven't used them very much. I outlined with a black marker and put a little shading from my Copics. It was quick, fun, and easy--art du jour. I love the Scripture too---it's one of my favorites. The rest of it goes..."and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5.

Digi-collage --last one---really

Really, this is the last one I created. I think I have said all I can say about the digi-collages--they're just fun and it kinda like a creative computer game.

What is the world is this?

I have tried to resist... yes, I have... tried and tried with all my might but I guess I have given in to my weakness for trying something new---can you guess what I colored this with?? Now don't read any further...can you guess? So, before I tell you (have you read down further yet?) I wanted to first say that these are the calligraphic letterforms that I am teaching in my new upcoming online "Italic Calligraphy" class coming November 2nd. We will learn this basic letterform and a few little variations.

Ok, they are Copic markers. I really don't know what the heck I am doing even after looking at several Youtube videos and a DVD but I must say, they really are fun. You know how I love markers anyway! I need to take a class and there is one here in Jax soon that I am planning to take. The problem is....oh so many colors and oh so expensive! And you really do need many colors to do the shading correctly. I bought some at Hobby Lobby on sale and I guess I will have to get more. There are about 350 colors! Oh goodness....goodness me...

Digital-Brushes

I have had a few requests for digital brushes. I know that Donna Downey recommended this one which I love. For the other digital brushes --(I call them digital brushes) but they are actually just different downloadable plug-in brushes for Photoshop. There are many many many plug-in brushes for Photoshop and most are free but some I paid a small amount for. That's where I have gotten all of these brushes to do my digi-collages. Do a google search of "Photoshop plug in brushes and see what comes up because for the life of me I can remember where I downloaded them. You have to have a knowledge of Photoshop also to import the brushes.

Just one more--

Well, maybe this will be the last one. I think maybe I will see what these look like printed. I think it is a really good practice for making colors, shapes and my lettering work together. Maybe this has helped me with "real" collages. I will try some like this with real paper when I get home. Have a nice Monday!

Diaper Cake

Here is the diaper cake Macaulay and I made. It was really cute. I sure some of you just might guess what those are on the top. Actually Macaulay and I decided we should take them off. It was a really nice party. A good time was had by all.

Digi-collage lll--Are ya sick of them yet?

As you see I am addicted to creating these digi- collages. I only have a few background images that I am pulling from here on my laptop while up here in Greenville. I guess I could change he colors in Photoshop but I am liking these bright colors. They are beginning to look the same somewhat but I will just go ahead and exhaust this obsession with these backgrounds and colors and then move on. As you see I am loving the swirl and the heart and the dragonfly.

We are having a baby shower today and we made the most adorable diaper cake--out of diapers of course. I will take a picture of the cake and the table. We have worked hard to make everything special for Macaulay's friend expecting in November.

Digi-collage ll

Here is another one I have created here while baby and mama are taking a little nap. When I make these collages it is totally intuitive and is a great exercise for just making things work together in a collage format. The problem is---when to stop! This one may have gone just a bit too far but I do like the colors. I have all sorts of digi-stamp brushes (I just call them digi-stamps they are really just different brushes) which I have downloaded from various sites

(Donna Downey recommended some great ones). There is so much you can do with these brushes that it will make your head spin. To start off a digi-collage I bring in several backgrounds or sections/areas from these backgrounds or artwork onto a black document. When you get them in and arranged then start adding the brushes and changing colors and sizes and moving pieces around just like you would do if you were using the real paper. It really is a lesson in restraint because there are so many possibilities that you just can't quit. That's where you have to let your creative self tell you when it is finished. And if you don't like it you can delete a few layers and try something new---no gesso here---just the delete button!

Digicollage-

This is a collage of my different painted backgrounds with digi stamps and cool erasers and all created in Photoshop. I love making these collages because you don't have to get your hands messy or even open a jar of Golden soft gel (but oh how I love soft gel!) And no clean up when you are done. I love to do this because it is like exercising and practicing for when you do feel like getting out the soft gel, all the backgrounds and getting messy.

I am up in Greenville with our daughter, hubby and my precious little peanut, baby Marc.

I really didn't feel like dragging out all the art supplies here today. It's fun and it's still an original created by my clean hands---my clean hands are just doing different things. But actually as fun as this is...it probably takes just about as long or longer to assemble the collage this way!

Age is just a number...

Well, yes it is just a number isn't it? And I am getting where I think mine will be unlisted also.

This is an example of the Italic letterforms that I am teaching in my upcoming "Italic Calligraphy" class where I will take you through the steps to teach you "the art of beautiful handwriting" and then I will help you to figure out just what in the world to do with it! There are so many things you can do with your beautiful handwriting but you just need to have some knowledge of how to do that. For example, when you have written out a quote like this you can scan it and with some Photoshop knowledge you can put it on any background you have saved in your files...and voila!! finished piece ready for framing! If you can do this then that opens up a new world to you with cards, prints, collage pieces...it goes on and on. Or you can put it directly on to your background or your journal page. I will show you how to do that! This is a background from an art journal that I used this scan and paste technique. Really very simple!

More backgrounds...love to do backgrounds...

I really do love to put color on paper then add stuff...and more stuff---and sometimes I over-stuff then have to gesso over the over-stuffed stuff.

These are about 9x11 each and I painted them on Arches hot press 140 paper because that was what was right in front of me here at the closet of creation at the house. Tomorrow afternoon I plan to film lesson three. I think I have hit some procrastination-ing because I was planning to have that done today. Well, I will be Scarlet and just think about that tomorrow. Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day!!

Little Mini Hand Book

I made this little video today while I actually should have been filming Lesson 3 of my online class. I really did want to see how my new light and background would look. I like the green so now I will use it for the rest of the lessons. Then after I made this video and was all ready to start filming I decided that I would be really smart and organize my files that come from Movie maker in the Imovie events. Apparently you can't do that because I lost all of my editing and had to export all of the clips back in one by one and still I didn't get them all---so that required refilming of some parts. I knew things were going just a little bit too smoothly. Well, maybe tomorrow I can get to lesson three. But hey, I just thought of something, if I had filmed lesson 3 then I would have lost that one too. Actually in a strange way, God is looking after me! Of course He always is.

Art hath an enemy

This is just a little quote which will be added as an example in the online class. Today I will be filming lesson three--the letterforms. So far so good!

More practice and filming..

Lesson Two is in the can! Hopefully lesson 3 will be finished up and edited by Saturday. This is been great for me--it's made me practice which is something I need to do much more often. If you don't use it--you lose it! And that a fact! Y'all have a great day!

New Online Class Coming!

I have been practicing my Italic letterforms so I could teach this online class.  It is very much like a musician practicing a particular piece for a concert. It takes practice. In fact, the whole art of calligraphy takes just one thing---practice. As as with any art, this is just what it takes. But I do want to present the correct foundation so that anyone who takes this class  will have started on the right track and not go on a path with stray strokes, pitfalls, and just all around-- bad letters. Lesson one is in the can and I hope how it will go much faster since I don't have to learn Moviemaker this time!  So, I haven't had a chance to create any art but maybe I can sneak in something in between filming. So if you wonder when the Art du Jour is---now you will know!

PS  I am pretty sure that by November I should have it all ready but just don't write that with ink yet. And of course it is all--God willing.

Tag Time!

I am trying to use my stuff---got lots of stuff so I decided to do some monoprinting.

In years past I have done some monoprinting in Charleston, SC and fell in love with the process. The studio closed where I did the monoprints :(. but I recently bought some paint for monoprinting and thought I'd give it a try. I was planning to use my book press but I just rolled out the paint on waxed paper with a brayer then put the paper down then I brayered it. It's really messy and not all sheets were a success but I got some areas that worked---as with these tags.