I'm A Bad Blogger

Ok, so it has been forever since I have posted anything...sorry about that!! I feel like I spend so much time on Facebook and Pinterest that I seem to have little time to blog. If you would like to follow my Facebook page, please click here. I post most of the things I am working on there.

I have been working on Christmas ornaments like crazy since September. I sold some of them at a craft fair and the rest of them I have listed in my Etsy shop.

Here are some of them:

Ho Ho Ho!!
Shonna
 

You Matter!

Ok, so life totally got in the way of my art these past few weeks. My son had different things going on at school that I volunteered to help out with and then he graduated from Kindergarten!! I'm kind of sad about it to be honest, he is growing up way too fast. We went camping for a few days at the beach and my son had closing ceremonies for little league. I also just completed a 10 day kick start to weight loss challenge through a trainer at my gym. Last year I lost 65 lbs. and was doing really great!! (I still had about 30 more lbs. to go) Then I had some issues with my heart (so they thought) that I let derail my weight loss efforts. I could use my health as an excuse, but I'm not going to. My Dr. told me to stop working out until they figured out what was going on, but I stopped watching what I was eating as well and gained back about 20 lbs. within a 6 month period. Eating healthy is 80% of the battle, Exercise is 10% and genetics is 10%. So I totally had the control and chose not to use it. Anyway, I digress...after the 10 day challenge, I lost 6 lbs. and 2 1/2 inches all around. I feel like I am on the right track again. As far as my health goes, they performed every heart test you can think of and couldn't find anything wrong. I feel fine, so I am going to continue to exercise. I'm one of those strange people who actually enjoy it. :)


                      Camping at Carlsbad State Beach. How about the ocean as your backyard!!

                                     Closing Ceremonies (Escondido National Little League)

                                           "Spring Sing" performance at Jordan's School.

            I went with Jordan's school to Legoland Sea Life Aquarium. It was a lot of fun!!

Sorry about the rambling. Today I finally finished the art journal page I was working on in my last post. I decided to write little messages to myself on this page so I can look at it and be encouraged to keep working hard on my health! If any of you are struggling with weight issues, I hope this page will inspire you. "You Matter" enough to be the best version of you that you can be!! You are strong!!! You are powerful! Believe in yourself!! You can do anything you put your mind to!! Stay the course! And Don't ever give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Work In Progress

Here is a picture of an art journal page I am working on right now. I started out by sketching out a portrait on some paper I use to soak up the ink on my stencils when I am using them. I have a problem with the "white" page, so it helps me to loosen my mind a little by sketching on something with color. I then collaged her on a 9X12 piece of watercolor paper and then took some scrap pieces of paper and collaged them around the rest of the page. I stamped a "Chevron" design (a stamp that I made myself) in turquoise all over. I used a little bit of Gesso over some of the stamped areas and the edges of the paper to help blend them into the page (I used my index finger to do this). This is all I have done for now, but I thought I would share the process a little with you. This is something I want to do more often, but I always seem to forget to take pictures. I guess I tend to get in the "zone" and I don't think about taking pictures until it is too late.

Art Journal Page and Pic Monkey Does It Again!

Here is another super whimsy page...

 And Pic Monkey has added a new Collage feature. If you want a great "Free" photo editing site for your pictures, I highly suggest Pic Monkey.

I've Got The Doodle Bug!

Here is my latest page for the online class "Life Book." I have found a place in my heart for doodling!!

Do you Doodle in your artwork???? I would love to know.

Accomplishments

If I haven't mentioned it before, I am taking the online course "Life Book" hosted by Tamara LaPorte of Willowing. Every week is a different Artist, teaching a different technique. Each month has a different theme as well. I am a little bit behind and I just finished the lesson from February which was "Celebrating your accomplishments." This was a little difficult for me. I don't feel like I've done anything great and wonderful as far as accomplishments. But then I started thinking about my family and what I contribute to it. Especially when it comes to my Step-daughter. I have helped raise her since she was 5 years old. If any of you are step parents, you know how difficult and complex it can be. She is now 18 years old and there have been many ups and downs throughout the years. But overall I think our relationship is great and it is only going to get stronger as the years go on. My life is forever changed for the better because she is in it! I hope she would say the same about me.

Here is my Journal page "Accomplishment."

New Commissioned Piece

I was commissioned to paint a piece for a middle school aged girl who is graduating from 8th grade this month. She really liked my other recent piece "Soar" and wanted it to look similar. The concept was the same, but I changed it up. She also wanted the Bible verse Hebrews 11:1 on it. So here is the finished piece. It is on 8X10 cradled wood. I used a Sharpie marker for the doodles and colored pencils and Caran D'ache water soluble crayons on the face (I really love how the shading came out). I also used watercolor for the background and acrylic paint to color in the doodles and shirt. I then finished the piece with hot beeswax (which I haven't used in awhile). I hope you like it...

My First Time Lapse Video!!!

Here is my very first video of my art journaling process. It was quite a learning experience, but I worked my way through the whole video editing process. I probably could have just fit everything into one video, but oh well, there is a part one and part two.

I also ended up adding more to the piece after the filming, so here is a picture of the final piece.

Part One

Part Two

I hope you enjoy watching the videos. I will definitely make more in the near future.

I have had this drawing of the girlie in a cat mask in my sketchbook for about 2 years. I finally decided to cut her out and paint her in my journal. The doodles are new. I hope you like...

Video of My Art Journal

I have been wanting to make videos of how I make my art for awhile, but thought it would be too daunting. Well, I got together with my husband (who is somewhat of a computer savant) and he showed me how to do the basics. It was easier than I thought, so I made a simple journal flip. Next, I am going to try and make a video of me working on a page in my journal...wish me luck!

Doodling and Art Journaling

I have discovered that I really like mixing doodling into my Art Journal pages. It is very relaxing and therapeutic to me. Do you like to doodle in your journals?

New Art Journal Page!

Soar...

The face was done with Stabilo pencil and white heavy body paint. I used Caran D'ache II Crayons for the background and then sprayed some yellow ink on the whole piece (including her face). I added some doodling and the stitches and letters are some really old rubons I have had forever.

Guard Your Heart Journal Page

Here is my latest journal page...

Life Without Art is Stupid!

I added some new prints to my shop including this new art journal page.

I found this quote on Pinterest and loved it. Here is a picture with the original quote.

I love it!!!

Another Journal Page...

It's raining here and I am still in my PJ's (at 3:30pm); I have paint all over my hands and my heart is full!!!

In Honor Of Spring

Here is a new page in my journal. It is titled "Grow." It was inspired by artist Flora Bowley. I would love to take her online workshop in June, but funds are a little tight right now. I felt like doing something that was flowery since Spring is right around the corner (although it doesn't feel like spring around San Diego, it is raining and even hailing at times today).

Believe All Things Are Possible!

Here is a new piece I completed in my art journal. I am still practicing a more loose painting style for the face.

Looser Style

I have always wished I could have more of a "loose" look to my portraits. A more painterly look (if you will). This, plus my desire to always learn more led me to "Little Glimpses" Studio ran by the very kind and loving artist Mystele. She is teaching a class called "The Hub Too" and I signed up for it. Here are the two pieces I made in the class. How do you like the more loose style of the faces? I am very pleased with them and the process was extremely easy (thanks to Myste).

So you are upset about Picnik closing?

My favorite free online photo editing program "Picnik" is being closed as of April 19, 2012.  I could never really grasp the whole Photoshop thing, so Picnik was my go to place for all of my editing needs. I stumbled across Picnik about a year ago and couldn't believe how user friendly it was. So I have been editing ALL of my artwork photos using this website. When I found out it was closing, I seriously almost cried!!

I have been doing some research on other free photo editing sites and I found none of them to be as cool as Picnik...UNTIL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that I stumbled across a blog that informed me that the people who worked on Picnik have started their own site called "Picmonkey" . It is almost identical to Picnik which means it is just as user friendly. I tested it out today and I LOVE IT!!!!

I did a few cool things with my most recent journal page to show you an example of what you can do.

Here is the original with no editing:

Here is is using "Picmonkey"- I cropped the page, adjusted the exposure (darkened), temperature, softened the image and added a shadow border.

Here I changed the whole image to a Sepia tone.

Here I changed the image to "Cross Process."

And finally, I added a white cloudy border and a thought bubble with text.

The possibilities are endless with Picmonkey and they haven't even finished adding all of the features to the site. Go and play around with your own images (or they even have their own pictures you can practice with)!

Guardian Angel Journal Page

Here is my new journal page "The Guardian." Before the ending of each church service, my pastor always says the same thing. "I pray that God sends his guardian Angels to look after you this week and that you arrive back safely to worship with us next Sunday." That was the inspiration for this page. I wanted to portray the fact that even though the world can be a dark, dirty and dangerous place, that God has his angels looking out for us. I hope you like it...

Art Journal Page-Wisdom

Here is a new art journal page from "one" of my journals. It was inspired by the very talented Donna Downey. Every Wednesday she puts out an art journal video on her blog. Go check her out, she is very inspiring.

The quote says "The doors of wisdom are never shut." - Benjamin Franklin

I'm an Art Journal Makin' Fool!!

I have been making a ton of journals lately and I have found that I really love the process. Now I need to start filling them with my thoughts!!!