Random marks & color theory.

Didn't get to my journal and paintings until late tonight, so instead of starting anything new, I pulled out some basics and added to pages that already were near being finished. Do you do that? Add idle doodles or random marks just to get your hand moving, the paint and color flowing, all the while never knowing that, in those moments, you may add just what something was missing? ​

I have a metal leaf adhesive pen that makes my silver leaf look worn and uneven, and I love it. ​

Marks in reddish orange pastel over blue and green. Exploring more color relationships. These are complimentary colors, and create strong contrast. I listened to the TV as I just kept making mark after mark. Repetition. I never appreciated it before. ​

I'm not a huge fan of the color green, but I've been exploring its various shades and hues as I continue to study color theory. I like reading about all the different relationships and then hitting my journal to figure things out. I'm in love with the cadmium red hue I bought a few weeks ago...such a bright, brilliant red...which means I need to find a green to pair with it that doesn't look like Christmas! ​But as you can see here, it goes so well with teal, which is my favorite color, so it all worked out!

The reds on the right are analogous colors​, meaning they're next to each other on the color wheel, with one being a primary. Still some contrast, but not as strong as the others. 

See? All sorts of things to learn, even late at night, making random marks...​

It's okay to be semi-creative.

Some days, despite all the best intentions, you just don't get to do as much creative play as you'd like to. ​

And that's okay. If out of the past 22 days, today is the first that I haven't done much art, then wow, I've really been doing good! I've already accepted that I won't finish​ something each day, but I'm glad that I'm working​.

Instead, I talked offering ideas with a friend, read for a bit, and worked on cleaning up another digital page on my iPad. And went to see Star Trek​ for the second time (when I told my mother, she seemed disappointed​ that I've only seen it twice!) with a friend before a quick dinner of Chinese food. 

Honestly, if there's one thing I've learned this month, it's that we need to take time for ourselves away from the house​. Diving into my art practice is helpful, and has been helping me cope for years, but I'm also learning that I need to get out, clear my head, and be​. 

​I'll leave you with a quick picture I took of the digital work I did today...just clean up, details, and some fun. She'll get more jewelry tomorrow, and a background. I'd like to add a quote or song lyrics....so if she reminds you of any, let me know! 

Day #21 of Everyday in May!

Kinda reached a milestone! 21 days of blogging art everyday. It's certainly lit a fire under me to get creating and put down some color each day.

I've been working on a bunch of digital drawings/paintings/art journal pages on the iPad to put together the final lessons for Digital Adventures as of late. I haven't been able to keep up the pace of one a day, since they take as long as a regular art journal spread or page, but I'm still playing and discovering new things.

For example, I'm toying with a new way to paint hair. What do you think? It's so easy but gives the impression that I've spent a long time with it! Magic!

I'd like to call this one 'Growing Wings,' as they don't sprout all at once, but grow as you do.

Paint & Color.

Today's been a long, exhausting, kind of sucky day. So I turn to paint and color on a canvas and in my art journal to cheer me up. ​

​The first few layers of something​. Done on a Blick Studio Artist's Board....and I have to say, I really, really like it. I grabbed a couple when I was there in Berkeley, and the weight, texture, and way the paint moves/dries on it is awesome. I may have found my new favorite! Plus, they're ready to hang!

I really love the colors, and the gold is yummy, but do you think it's too much? I'm thinking I may paint over a substantial amount, since it seems to be overpowering. What would you do next?​

And some layers in the art journal. I love writing into wet paint, and the new doily I picked up in the dollar bin at Michael's last weekend. It makes such a cool shape. And the gold paint just coated everything so well! Here is where the gold is beautiful, but not over-powering. On the left is some fluorescent pink/red (it's darker in larger concentrations; I flipped a stencil over on the page after spraying through it for a bit). ​Just loving everything about this bit right now. What would you do next? Or would you leave it alone? 

​I'm almost finished with my book (ahem - a really good, long Star Trek​ fanfic, actually! *geek*) and am turning in early to finish it. I'm wiped and it's only 10:30pm. I'm getting old! *grin*

make a pattern. repeat.

I love making patterns...repeated marks on the page to be used as hand-cut stencils, perhaps. It's a bit easier on the iPad than in the physical world, but mark-making has become my newest love.

I also painted a bit on this amazing machine. I've learned so much, and continue to refine my abilities...

How was your weekend?

Like free journal page.

Managed to grab a little time for myself today. I like having one day a week when I can be lazy and ignore my to-do list, and today was that day.

Still, I managed to play. I often find myself grabbing for my journal when I see someone wearing an outfit I like on tv or in a movie, my skills far enough along that I can quickly take down a sketch.

What inspires you right now? How can you capture more of it?

I almost feel like the air is charged with ideas, and I'm running around with a butterfly net. I'm always ready to churn something out!

How far have you come?

Trapped in the waiting room for nearly 20 minutes, I dug my Moleskine out of my purse and searched with my hand for pencil...only to find there was nothing inside. ​

​And then I remembered this post by Alisa's husband Andy, about drawing with a ball point pen, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. 

​Was I scared? You bet! Drawing with a pen is so permanent​....no room to erase or change things if you mess something up, like and eye or part of the nose. Best to draw and erase and strive for perfection -- NOT! I don't know how​ I was able to draw the girl above with a pen, while sitting in one of those uncomfortable waiting room chairs, where time stretches on forever (in a most unpleasant way), but when I sat back and looked at her, all I could think was: 

​When did this ability develop​? 

It's not the best. But the fact that I was able to do it with any sort of proficiency astounded me. While I learned to draw and began keeping an art journal years ago by drawing daily, those were things I was looking at​. I'm still learning to pull more and more from my imagination, but wow! 

In an effort to get a conversation going, I thought I'd end these little posts by inviting you to participate. I've been going back and answering comments, and want to reference them in future posts. ​For today: 

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be in awe of your talent?​

​I'm sure your friends have complimented you, and you may have brushed off the kindness, not believing in how far you've come. If you haven't sat back to see all the steps you've already taken in this journey, perhaps today is a good time to do so. Find some old journals and look at what used to be your "best." How far have you come? How much have you developed? 

Remember: ​

Chart your course and keep to it. ​

This post brought to you by Samie realizing the point to a recent lesson , so we're all going to believe in ourselves this weekend! Go paint/draw/collage/create!​

Reworking layers.

Spent the evening watching the 'Elementary' season finale while working layers on her face...I feel pulled to finish the WIP stack in the corner of my space.