The Big Grid Journal, etc...

Sometimes I get so focused on painting that I forget my big journal. 

I love creating these journal pages because I get to use all those stamps 

and supplies that I just HAD to have.

I also like to put little snippets of artwork that I have created into it and

to draw some girls.  Drawing faces is one of the most fun things of all.

It's funny about my faces...they are all either cousins or sisters.

I use Pan Pastels for the backgrounds, my calligraphy markers, Calligra-FUN

letters with Brushables markers, stamps I have carved and stamps I have bought, 

glitter and gel pens...and the list goes on and on. Sometimes I even use Puffy paint.

Every page is different and it's like a puzzle---where to fit in the next thing.

This one is about a week behind because I forgot to post it last time.

Also, I will be sending out the  September "Artsy Update" newsletter Saturday, Sept 1st. 

Among other artsy things, I am offering a 24 hour art sale.
 If by chance you wanted to purchase

any of my 6x6 daily oil paintings this will be
your chance to get one at a very low price.
They are piling up and some of these little children
just must be adopted out!

ALSO: If you don't receive your newsletter on Saturday,
check your spam folder. It might be there. Sometimes email
settings will do that.

And with that purchase
 you will also receive password access to my re-released tutorial,

"5 Minute Watercolor Flowers" 

 It a good compliment to my "Color Drop Flowers" class.

Here is a little sneak peak.

5 minute promo from Martha Lever on Vimeo.

So until next time...

Come Journey with Me

 

I had an itch today to carve a stamp.

I had to stop and think a minute how to transfer it onto the stamp. Xylene did the trick.

I also like the smell of it. It's like smelling gasoline---but maybe I am just weird.

 It is such an easy transfer. You have to have a toner based printer (I have a cheap HP one), then do your flip horizontal thing in an editing program, place the printed paper on the stamp eraser and coat some xylene on the back of the print with a paper towel. Go over it with a bone folder to crisp it up. It makes a very crisp transfer. 

It was rather tricky. I am not practiced up on my stamp carving skills but it was fun.
Nice change from the smell of my oil paints. I like that smell too.

:))

UPDATE:

Marjorie has commented that xylene is toxic, so just to be clear---
I am NOT recommending this product. 
She says it's also in Sharpies.

NEWSLETTER DAY!

I hope everyone received their newsletter today and I and so excited about the subscriber response. Thank you all so much. I knew that I wanted to expand my outreach but just didn't quite know how to do it. Now that I have found the Fine Art Newsletter format I am really excited and had a blast creating it for this week.

If you want to subscribe it's never too late to see a back issue because you can find all of them in the "Read Past Issues" area
HERE

Here is another little ditty I did this week. It's just one of those late night "gotta scratch my art itch" paintings.
It's a 5x5.

Hope you enjoy the newsletter!
PS...If any of you Subscribed after 7:00 AM today, August 10,
go HERE and scroll to the bottom to "Read Past Issues"

NEWSLETTER IS COMING!!

I have been thinking about doing a newsletter for quite some time but really didn't know how to go about it. My new web site is from FASO and they offer a newsletter format which comes with my package so I thought now's the time. 

 Don't worry because your email will never be sold or given out by by FASO to any other company.

Here are some things that I will be including in the newsletter:
Giveaways, tips, videos, supply suggestions and the supplies that I think are the best, daily paintings, calligraphy, insights into my art journey, my art inspirations, updates on new classes and discounts on art work, and much more.

If you get tired or bored of me you can delete me when I come in or you can unsubscribe. 
No worries!

When you subscribe you will receive an email in your box saying that you have subscribed to me and when you open that up you will have an area that says, "Quick Reply." If you want to, I would love for you to send me a little note as to who you are and what kind of art you do and what things you would like to see from my newsletter.

So with all that being said:
If you are so inclined...
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER
I am working on Friday's letter so when you sign up you will receive it in your inbox on Friday.
Thank you! 

And the Winner Is...

STEPHANIE!
http://stephanieestrin.blogspot.com/

Congratulations! Daisy is excited about comeing to your house!
Send me your address and I will send her right off to you.

Thank you all for your sweet comments and I wish I had a Daily for everyone.

The View from Friday Part 3--and a giveaway!

Hey Y'all. Hope everyone had a good week. I can't believe it's already August. It's surely the Dog Days of August here in Jacksonville. Almost too hot to go outside but I know that I am not the only one so I know that others can join my summer heat pity party.

I didn't paint a daily painting every day because I am also going through the workbook of "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain," by Betty Edwards...because if you can't draw you can't paint. That's the sad truth. Well, I will rephrase that--if you are trying to paint what you see, that is. I also got stuck with my nose in my book (no it's not 50 Shades of Grey--and I understand that is not an art book on learning to paint a value study!) :))

So first off, here is a little video that I filmed yesterday of my new toy.
This box is the Belly River.



I am extremely excited about my new pochade box but as I said--- now I have to bit the bullet and go do it YIKES!. When the weather gets cooler then I will go. Chauncey said he would go with me so he can fend off the gators.


Here is one called "Ethereal Flowers" that I painted at 11:00 the other night. I painted on some Japanese paper that I had glued to a panel. Love this paper.

Andbelow is the other one called "Daisies in Red" that I painted after doing Lesson 6 of Dan Edmondson classes. This one was also painted on Japanese paper so it would peek through. This doesn't look too much like the still life we were suppose to paint but he has given us permission to translate any way we want.

And here is a cute little book Lori and I made at a workshop the other day. It's Coptic stitching a book using single sheets. It was rather complicated but you can see the cute braids down the spine. I enjoyed making it though and it's always fun to be with Lori.

And if you are interested, here is how I shoot my photos. You can get the set up here:

It works great and you can fold it up in a snap and put it away. The lamps are not included of course but the little lights are.

So now for the giveaway. These daily paintings are certainly piling up so I thought I would start to give some away.

This is "Daisy" and she would love to come and live with you. She is 6x6 in oil.

Just leave me a comment and Sunday night I will let Mr. Random.org pick a number and I will post  the winner on Sunday night.

Have a wonderful week and I will leave you with this quote:

"The older I become, the more I realize that drawing

 is the most important of all the problems of picture-making."

--Joaquin Sorolla