Saturday, April 18, 2015

Citrasolv/National Geographic Abstraction...


Today we ran around doing errands all morning and after a little nap I set out to experiment with Citrasolv(an organic cleaner/degreaser) and National Geographic magazines. I have to shout out to Ashley at FeathersUnleashed.blogspot.com for talking about this awesome technique and trying it out the first time around. You can find a link to her blog in my "Favorite Blogs" on the right. Hearing about the process and seeing her amazing results inspired me! It was a messy project but well worth it! I watched Mixed Media Artist Cathy Taylor's video on the process before getting started and it helped a lot, since I am a visual learner. Here is the video, if you wanna check it out too!





I set everything up in my carport and set to work. I was out there for at least two hrs and I am still shocked at the results. Each page has interest in different ways!

My little set-up 

All you need is Citrasolv, National Geographics, and a old towel. 

One soaked magazine...I completed THREE today!

Starting to see a change on some pages

Once the pages had progressed and changed I tore each page out and laid it on the table to dry.


Once the pieces were dry enough to move without dripping ink everywhere I placed them at the side of the carport and made room for new wet pieces.







These portraits truly caught my eye and I kept a close watch on their progress, because I wanted to keep the actual look of the portrait. They were too beautiful to destroy all of the features and details. Not sure what I will do with them, but they really struck a chord with me.





Here are some final abstracts...



 By this point my hands were a complete wreck and the Citrasolv is so strong that it was eating away the paint on the cheap-o tablecloth that I used to cover my table.





My last magazine took FOREVER to show any progress or change. I took the opportunity to move the process along and learn some new ways to make changes to images.

This one was slowly changing, but the colors were so interesting
 that I didn't want it to go to waste

About 15 mins later it had progressed a bit more

Instead of waiting around I decided to smudge the ink with my finger

I shut the pages back together and reopened them to THIS!

Here are a few other things that I picked up along the way...

Taking away the text with your finger or a rag makes for a much more
interesting page overall.

Another slow changing, colorful page


Smear ink with a towel/rag 

Making the image indiscernible before closing the pages helps the ink to spread
in a more abstract manner.


Here is the final stack from my three National Geographics!! Cant wait to start using them in new projects :)
Truly AMAZING technique!





Creative Weekend...

This has already been an AMAZING weekend and its only Saturday night! Friday evening I was a part of the local Art Walk that happens each month in the Argenta District. It was a nice relaxing experience that I will definitely try again. I knew going in that selling anything would just be a perk. Well, I did sell one piece for $10 and that was enough for me! Not to mention the fact that a lot of people took business cards and were interested in commission portraits. Its all about trying new things and meeting new people :) I set out to finish the portrait of my lovely ladies before this show and I did just THAT!

My little set-up


Final piece


View from my chair


Business cards and pricing info


Box of zentangle goodies


Cute, colorful paintings
I had some SUPER sweet, wonderful friends stop by while I was out there. A BIG thank you to Keenan and Christy for coming out and looking through my art. Also, to Ashley for providing me with the plastic to cover my art in exchange for the humongous stack of National Geographic magazines that I stumbled on at school. I will explain the FUN that we have been having with the magazines in my next post! Last but not least a BIG thanks to JT for calling and checking on me even though she is out of town this weekend ;) It was a great experience and I am very proud that I took the opportunity.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Things are really coming TOGETHER...

Alright, so I have enjoyed every second that I have been able to work on these current portraits. It has been an amazing experience and I cannot wait to decide what the next compilation will hold! Anyway, don't let me get too ahead of myself just yet. I have been finishing out the ladies and here is the progress on that piece...

Skin tone is DONE

Completely FINISHED


All Together...ONE more to go


Eyes and Lips 


Just the hair and background left

I feel that with each face I have completed on this piece my abilities have grown. Being self-taught is such a challenge and now that I have a set way of doing things it has made the process so much simpler. Makes for a much more enjoyable time, rather than just feeling like work...Blah!

I am working on a beautiful commission piece for a lovely friend, but I can't post pics yet since it is a Mothers Day present. I will definitely do a post all about it as soon as I can. I linked my instagram to my blog tonight, because I have been using it more often and it is truly for my artwork. I also added some of my favorite blogs that are SUPER inspirational. Check them out on the right under "Favorite Blogs"! I hope that you will follow me, while I take on this crazy journey ;)

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Ideas are FLOWING...

I have so many ideas floating around in my head, so I decided to break the weekend up with different projects. First I finished the teeth and got some layers on the skin tone...

4 Layers of color on the skin...6 more to go 

Next, I spent some time painting. I haven't painted since it snowed, so it was definitely time. I found a color inspiration image on pinterest and ran with it. I bought a large amount of colorful tulle at a flea market for cheap, so I knew I wanted to try and incorporate that somehow. This is what I ended the session with on my 4"x11"x1.5" canvas.

Love the color COMBO!



I added tulle around that 1.5" edge of the canvas after collaging and painting

Then, I have been slowly working on this small heart painting. I still need to finish adding shadows to all the dots in the background, but today I finally chose and added song lyrics.

Love this HEART!!



"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same" <3
This has been a productive weekend, but its really tough to have all of these things started and unfinished. I know that if I just stay focused I can get it done and start new things along the way.




Friday, April 3, 2015

Working THROUGH the Craziness...

Things are NEVER perfect, so even when school is completely awful, my personal life consists of running here and there, and things just start piling up I am still trying to accomplish my goal of getting projects completed. It is so difficult to balance everything, but I am doing the best that I possibly can. This first week back to work has definitely been an insane journey. I did complete the 3rd figure in my portrait of beautiful ladies...

#3 COMPLETE
This past week I haven't had a ton of time to spend on my 4th figure, but I have certainly tried to get some finished! Here are the beginning stages and a layer-by-layer example of how I add color to my portraits.

This is the ONE that I have been dying to work on since I started the piece!
Layer ONE - Pink

Layer TWO - Carmine Red

Layer THREE - Poppy Red 

Layer FOUR - Scarlet Lake

Layer FIVE - Crimson Red

Layer SIX - Tucson Red

Layer SEVEN - Black Cherry

Layer EIGHT - Dark Umber
Gel Pen for highlights

Overall, this week has had MANY ups and downs. I have managed to apply for an Artist grant, apply and get accepted to a local ArtWalk themed toward portraits on April 17th, find TWO art contests that I am interested in competing in, and listed my commission portraits in 6 sizes/prices onto my Etsy Shop! Im very proud, but completely WORN OUT...LOL! Here's hoping for a very CREATIVE weekend ;)