MARINE LIFE TOTEM

When I was in High School my favorite medium was pen and ink.  Back then, (those two words make me sound ancient don't they?) we used dip pens to draw…now, I use a felt tip or gel pen. I still occasionally use a dip pen when doing calligraphy or creating a grunge look but the new pens really save a lot of time by not having to constantly dip the pen in and out of the ink bottle.  Plus, you don't have to worry about ink mishaps when the tip runs out of ink or decides to drop a big glob of ink where you least want it.  

This particular drawing was done using a sepia tone 0.3 size Copic Multiliner SP pen. One of my favorites!  The pen, in my opinion, has many super qualities; it has a metal casing that feels wonderful in the hand, it is refillable with an inexpensive ink cartridge, and it comes in different point sizes.  This pen should last FOREVER!!!

Enough about the pen…how about the art work?  This is my continuing series of Totems.  This time, I decided to do pen and ink drawings on paper that I first distressed with Walnut Inks.  Did you know that Walnut Inks come in different colors?  They sure do!!!  For these, I used the usual brown tone Walnut Ink, Terra Cotta which is a reddish brown, Java...a blackish brown, Eucalyptus...a green tone and Cherry Blossom….you guessed it…a pinkish color.  I prepared both sides of the paper and plan to use them loosely and folded in a fabric journal with pockets.

Here is the completed Totem:

Now...time to get started on the back side of the paper.  Hmmmm…what will it be?  Maybe birds…or cats…how about African animals or frogs and lizards.  Soooo many ideas……

Until next time!

Hugs,
Ginny

FISH, MERMAIDS, OH MY!!!

This page is a page from my altered "Potpourri" journal.  For some reason it just looked like a fish to me so it naturally became an underwater scene to include mermaids.

First, I have to say that I am not usually drawn to mermaids, faeries or the fantasy world but lately...they have been included in my life...a LOT!  If you believe that all things happen for a reason, that your universe is planned and that there are signs all around you that hint at what is yet to come...then I suppose it was only natural that while standing in the check out line at a HomeGoods Store that I spied paper napkins with mermaids printed on them.  I immediately purchased them... planning to use them on the Random Acts of kindness cards but as you can see...they made their way into my altered book journal.

I make the statement that mermaids and the fantasy world have been included in my life a lot because I recently signed up for the on-line class, Mermaid Circus, given by Jane Davenport and Teesha Moore.  It is all about mermaids, the circus and fantasy!!!  Were the paper napkins a premonition of things yet to come? Do..do...do..do!!! (MY Rod Sterling imitation.)  Anyway, I will post more about my class and mermaids later.

Until the next time,
Hugs,
Ginny

ANOTHER PAGE...

I finished another page in my Altered "Potpourri" journal.  

I could really relate to this quote as I used to love mowing the lawn and really found it relaxing...but I had to give something up if I wanted to spend more time being creative.

Until the next time,

Hugs,

Ginny

PAGE THREE OF ALTERED BOOK #2

Page three is done!!!!  I hope that I can keep the momentum going.  I have a tendency to get stuck when it comes to adding the text.  I don't know why...it may be because I wish that I was better with speaking from my heart and letting the words flow without feeling that I would be exposing my personal thoughts.

I know that I can use quotes and I DO!!!  ALL THE TIME!  But somehow, by using quotes it seems that the journal page then becomes an art piece...the significance or meaning of the journal then becomes something different..not what I would hope it to be.  I know that I am not alone in this feeling so if anyone knows of an exercise or class that would be helpful...please let me know.   What do you do?  Do you use quotes or do you write freely from the heart?  Also what do you write about?

Anyway, not meaning to get into a discussion of what a journal should or shouldn't be...this journal like the many others that I own and continue to work in has become a place for me to experiment with different art tools and lettering styles.  It is through this practice that I hope to find a lettering style that flows freely from my hand and without triggering my inner critique.

Doodled over the existing art.

Added color using Inktense pencils and Sharpie Glitter Pens

Added quote over Gesso tinted with acrylic paint.

Until Next Time,
Hugs!
Ginny

ALTERED BOOK NUMBER 2

OMG!  I almost gave these books away and I am sooooo glad that I didn't!!!   

They will make wonderful altered book journals.  

I usually start an altered book by gessoing or paining over the entire page...leaving just a hint of the text showing through but these books are different...they have beautiful watercolor paintings of potpourri, dishes, bottles and such.  I couldn't bear to cover up these little gems so I got the idea to alter them by doodling around the existing paintings and turning them into my own art.  For the text portion of the page I will apply gesso or paint and then add my own hand lettering.  Usually a verse or quote of some kind.

I got the inspiration for the paint over from a book that I am currently reading, Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim.  In her book, Carla explains how to look at cracks and stains in sidewalks in order to find imaginary animals.  Well....when I looked at the paintings of the dishes surrounded by potpourri I began to see something else.  I saw birdhouses, big flowers, ladies with long flowing hair, hearts with wings...something other than what the artist had in mind.  Funny how inspiration comes from so many different places.  It is all around us...if we only pay attention.

This is a sample of what the pages looked like before I added my mark.

 I added a doodled border.  I wanted to keep it fresh so each page has a different design.

I doodled over the existing watercolor painting.  This particular page looked like it needed to be a big flower.  I wonder what you would have seen?

I added tinted gesso to the text side of the page.  For the tinted gesso, I mixed acrylic craft paint with white gesso.

I completed the page by adding lettering, and shading using watercolor, alcohol marker, and pan pastels.

Taa Daaa!  A finished page.  I have only finished two pages and have just about completed the doodling for the remaining pages.  Once I started doodling the ideas just kept coming and I couldn't stop!  I sometimes become obsessed that way!  Ughhh!  My OCD kicking in?  lol!

Here is a peek at some of the incomplete pages (there are 30 in all) to give you an idea of what fun I have been having!  This, in my opinion, is so much more fun than buying one of those journals with the prompts and incomplete drawings that invites you to finish the page with your own doodles.

I will post the completed pages as I finish them.  Keep your eyes open!  Oh....and in case you would like to make an altered journal similar to this one...I found several used Potpourri books by Gail Duff on Amazon.com.

Is this giving you any ideas????

Until next time!
Hugs!
Ginny

TAGS, TAGS, TAGS

What started out as a simple Birthday card to place with a very 

small gift turned into a tag obsession.  

I got the idea to use a folded 3"x 6" tag as a Birthday card 

but when I was done, I wasn't happy with it... so I kept painting 

and doodling and ended up making a really cute tag, which 

led to another painted tag and then another....

These were really fun to make and are something that I 

can whip together in 30 minutes or less...they are great for  

testing a new technique or medium.  

I don't have any plans for how I am going to use them 

but I suspect that they will end up in one of my journals.

Until next time....

Hugs

Ginny

JUST ONE LITTLE WORD

I recently joined a challenge suggested by one of my on-line classmates, Ann Kristen Krier, to pick one word to summarize my intentions for the year.  This word would be used to remind me of things that I need to resolve or work on in my life.  It is like making a News Years Resolution but only expressing it in one little word.  We were to paint our word using the techniques that we learned in Joanne Sharpe's "Letter Love 101" class.

My one little word to focus on for the year 2013 is "BE."  I can't take complete credit for this as I originally had another word picked but when Joanne Sharpe posted her word for the challenge, "BE"....it hit me right between the EYES!!!  This word says everything that I wanted to say...Be tolerant, Be generous, Be grateful, Be happy, Be kind...I could go on and on!  Plus, this is a word that can change meaning throughout the year when I need to add or subtract things that I need to "BE."

I used Tombow and Alcohol markers to paint my word onto Strathmore 300 series, 140 lb watercolor paper.  This paper takes the Tombow markers and water beautifully!!  I then glued this to a canvas painted with Luminart Silks paint.

There you go...my one little word for 2013...to hang on the wall of my studio and to remind me to be more centered throughout the year 2013!!

Won't you join me and paint YOUR one little word as a reminder to resolve what matters most to you?

Until next time!
Ginny

SORRY TO SEE IT GO......

There comes a time when you have to say "goodbye."  

It's time. 

I will be sorry to see her go...she has been with me for a long time. 

It's kind of sad really because she still has a lot of life in her 

and I could keep her and try to make her useful but what's the point?  

She's not as fast as the newer models!

She never had a voice like Siri.

Her lens are not as sharp as they used to be but a good cleaning may remedy that.

Through no fault of her own, 

she can't communicate with her cousin, the new kid on the block.

But it's time to say goodbye.

And.............

Say Hello!

TO A NEW I-PHONE 5!!!!!!

I will be sorry to see her go but I am sooooooo excited about getting a new phone!!!!  YAY!!!! One that will be lighting fast and one that can communicate with my desk-top computer.  I have always had problems with the syncing of the phone and computer due to the error of two different Apple store geniuses.  I won't go into it here but the store manager was able fixed it as best he could.  Now it's up to me to reset my desk-top, download all the pics and apps on my phone, update the software on my phone and sync the two!  Why not just buy a new phone???   It will already be synced and the Apple store can transfer my apps.  Besides, my phone really is ancient.

After much debate as to whether I should buy the new phone or last years model, I decided to order the new phone on-line.  Hey!!!  Who wants to stand in line with all those crazies?  NOT ME!!  Anyway, I am told that they may not even have them available because they already ran out due to the pre-orders.  But that's OK....I am a verrrrry patient lady and can wait the two to four weeks for delivery.

Well...enough gibber jabber about the I-phone....did you notice the picture of the I-Phone case? That is the real reason that I will be sad to see her go!  When I first bought my phone, I bought one of those hard plastic, rubbery, hot pink cases (they didn't have a lot to choose from) to protect it from damage in case it got dropped. After a while, it began to look soiled and there was nothing that I could do to get the oily looking stains off of it.  Sooo....I PAINTED IT!!!  That has been about 2 1/2 years now and there is no sign of wear.

This is how I painted it:

• I was concerned that the type of plastic, with the rubbery feel would not accept the paint well so I decided that I needed to use a primer of some sort.  What better primer than Mod-Podge?  Mod-Podge, I have heard (can't confirm this) is really watered down white glue.  A GLUE!!!!  That should make the paint stick!  So first, I washed the case thoroughly, let it dry and primed it with Mod-Podge.  This probably will not work if you have one of the phone cases that stretches into place.  My case is very hard plastic that snaps into place.  It needs to be a hard case.

• Next, I painted two coats of a craft acrylic paint for the base.  Nothing fancy here, I didn't use my expensive paints.  Also, use a pretty pastel color because you are going to doodle on it with markers.

• Now comes the doodling.  I doodled the entire design first with a black Micron Pen and then colored it with Martha Stewart permanent markers.  I am sure that other brands of markers will work just as well but make sure that they are permanent and not water soluble.

• Time to add DOTS!  For this I used the handle of a paint brush and white acrylic paint. I dipped the brush handle into the paint and then stamped on the design.  If you stamp several times before reloading the paint, the dots will get smaller and smaller. I used this to my advantage and stamped in rows to make graduated sized dots. 

• Seal your masterpiece with two - three coats of Mod-Podge.  YOU'RE DONE!!!! 

What better way to say that you are an Artist than to have a Phone Case painted by YOU with your very own design!!!  ENJOY!

REPEAT THE FOLLOWING S'IL VOUS PLAIT:

I am working in my altered book journal again and this time I decided to do a little collage work.  I have this beautiful hand stamped paper that I rarely use....only because inspiration doesn't hit me.... and I also have bits of ephemera and handmade Washi tape that looks gorgeous with the stamped paper.  Boy...that handmade faux Washi tape has really come in handy!  I seem to be using it in everything!!!  Many times it is just the right accent to add interest to a page.

This is how I made this page:    I scribbled and then rubbed Faber Castell Gelatos over the entire background.  Because the book paper is slick, they moved around with no problem,  No need to add water!!!  Then I started gluing the hand stamped paper and ephemera.  I did a little stenciling with the Gelatos, a chevron design, but covered up most of it with the final layers.

Now it is time to start doodling and adding Zentangle patterns with alcohol markers.  I used Prismacolor markers and fine line Sharpies because the vivid colors do so well on the book paper.  I also own Letraset Promarkers but the colors didn't do as well.  When I applied them the colors seemed a little washed out and they seemed to bleed a little.  I had to experiment with my pens to find the ones that worked the best.  Then I added lots of handmade Washi tape, the text blocks, and white pen accents.  There you have It.....

Just in case you can't tell which is the handmade Washi tape; the ticket and center of the tall flower is tape made from dinner napkins.  The green dotted flower center, the pink and red dotted tape,  the purple tape with squiggles, the blue tape with squiggles and the green and blue chevron design are  all faux Washi tape doodled using alcohol markers.   

Hmm......I wonder if you would get this hand drawn look if you used commercial Washi tape?   

ALTERED BOOK JOURNAL USING ALCOHOL MARKERS

I tried painting a page in my "altered book journal" with alcohol markers, Copic, Prismacolor and Letraset Promarkers...right over a text page that was not gessoed and I like the results.  It didn't bleed through to the backside of the page too bad and I am confident that any bleed through can be gessoed over.  The markers went down smoothly like I was painting on bristol.

The black rectangular area under the purple flower was a B&W photo in the book that I painted over with markers.  You can't tell can you?  I think that it really adds to the overall interest of the page.  It would be flat and look all the same with out it.  You know what they say, "If you can't beat em...join them.  In this case I chose to "join them" and make the photo area part of the design.  The black polka dot washi tape also helped to balance the page.