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

WINK OF STELLA BRUSH

While taking a class with Joanne Sharpe recently, I was introduced to 

a new product, Wink Of Stella Brush by ZIG.  

The only way that I can describe them is that it is a water brush 

filled with sparkly watercolor paint.  They are a bit pricey 

but if you consider the fact that they are a good quality water brush and

 that once empty, they can be refilled with a watercolor of your choice 

like Dylusions, Distress Stains, Ranger Color Wash, etc...

they really are a bargain.  

They come in 12 different colors plus a clear that you can use 

over other products to make them shimmer.  

They are deeeelish!!!!

See the accent of the Winks?

Until next time!
Hugs,
Ginny

I FEEL LIKE CINDERELLA....

I feel like Cinderella who had to leave the ball early!  I just returned from St. Petersbutg, Florida where I attended two classes, Decorative Doodle and Whimsical Watercolor, given by the divine Ms. Joanne Sharpe.  It was MAGICAL!!!  Magical because I finally got to meet Joanne in person after taking ALL her on-line classes and magical because I finally feel like "I got it!"  I finally see how to make deliciously loose paintings by holding the brush differently and by seeing the amount of water needed to float the watercolor pigment.''  No scrubbing with the brush!!!  Two very important things that I just didn't pick up from the videos.  Not that she didn't show us how in the videos but for some reason, it just didn't register with me....but seeing it demonstrated in person ...something just clicked!

If you ever get the chance to take a live class from Joanne...jump on it!  You will just love her!!!  If you are considering taking one of her on-line classes...you will love that too!

Here is a peek at what I worked on in class:

Painting with the Koi Watercolor set

Drawing doodles

Trying out different mediums for backgrounds.

Putting it all together.

Well, it has been a little over a year since I took my first on-line class from Joanne and I can honestly say that my art has loosened up quite a bit....and the COLOR...ooooh, the color...it is much, much brighter.  I used to paint in pastels because I was afraid of going too dark.  You can always darken a light painting by adding more layers but it is more difficult to lighten a dark painting once the darker color hits the paper.  I was playing it safe!!!

Also, I must admit that half way through Joanne's on-line classes, I pretty much gave up and said that my paintings will never be loose and whimsical like hers...I am what I am....a former graphic artist who is used to drawing every line and detail with exactness.  An artist who drew with ruling pens and T-squares and was hung up on neat and clean!!!  Now...after taking a class in person, I see HOPE!
I know that with practice I will eventually achieve the looseness that I was hoping for when I signed up for that first class.  Thanks Joanne!!!!!

Until 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

A GIFT FOR EMILY

Congratulations to my cousin and her husband who have a new baby girl. 

Baby Emily!

I painted something special for her room.  I Hope the parents like it!  

I also hope that they don't read my blog before I get this into the mail 

and they receive it.  I don't think I told her about my blog...hmmn?

My inspiration for the letters came from the book 

Zenspirations Letters and Patterning by Joanne Fink.

This is a great book to spark your creative lettering and

patterning ideas.

Until next time!

Hugs!

Ginny