Taking a Traci Bautista Workshop.

I've been a fan of Traci Bautista for awhile.  She is having a 40% off sale on some of her workshops right now.

I signed up for the Girlie Glam Faces workshop.  Lesson #1 is learning to doodle faces with a black pen.  Here's one of mine -

 

For the next lesson, we will move into color.  Choosing the right color combinations is probably one of my biggest problems.  I love all of the bright colors, but I just don't know which ones to pick.

 

Here's some of Traci Bautista's work -

              

 

It's really pretty, isn't it?  She's written a couple books too.  I have both of them, of course, because I am a book hoarder.

 

Here's a link, in case anyone's interested in taking the workshop - Girlie Glam Faces,  The 40% discount code is SUMMER4SALE.

Citra Solv - You can actually use it for cleaning too!

I had never heard of Cita Solv prior to seeing a tutorial on Youtube.  There are so many articles and tutorials about using Citra Solv as a tool for creating some really beautiful art.

I had a hard time finding the right kind of Citra Solv at first.  I finally ordered it online.  I have spent hours pouring and brushing it on National Geographic magazines to alter the photos, turning them into beautiful papers that can be used for collage and other techniques.

A few days ago, I decided to tear my bedroom apart because I had seen 2 spiders and I thought a major cleaning might help.  Did I mention that I HATE spiders?  Anyway, behind my nightstand, I found some kind of disgusting, sticky mess - obviously the remains of something that I spilled a long time ago.  I tried the OxyClean spray, nothing.  I tried to scrape it off and it was so hard that it wouldn't budge.  I was going to go with the, majorly, toxic Goof Off next, but then - wait a minute - Citra Solv practically eats thru paper, maybe I should try it.  I barely touched it and it came right off.  That product is a miracle!  I went through my house like the white tornado.  The stuff smells great.

Who would have thought that you could actually use the product for it's original purpose.

and make art....................................

If you want some, you can buy it online here. 

Just Fooling Around

It was a hot, hot day in Florida.  A great day to stay inside.  I couldn't settle on one thing to work on, so I messed around with a few things.

First, I wanted to try out my Faber Castelle Gelatos again.  I watched a video on using them to make really pretty (and easy) backgrounds.  Basically, you just cover whatever you are using as a substrate (canvas, paper, cereal box, etc.) with gesso.  When the gesso is dry, color all over with different colors of Gelato.  Spritz with water, then brush the colors around.  I also tilted the paper in different directions to let the colors drip down the page.  Let it dry. Voila!

This is an ATC that I used to mop up the Gelato drippings.  Then I pounced alcohol ink around the edges

Next, I moved on to alcohol inks.  I had been wanting to paint a ceramic tile with alcohol ink for some time.  So, today was the day.  I used Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Ink in three colors - Stream, Citris, and Pool.  I just cleaned off the tile really good, then put a couple drops of the first color onto the felt pouncer thingy.  Then I just patted it around the tile.  When I had enough of the first color, I did the same thing with the second color, and the third.  I painted around the edges with a gold paint pen.  I finished up with a coat of glossy sealer.

                                                  

And then, while watching TV, I had to do some drawing that didn't require much thought, just repetition.

And finally, I subscribe to a blog, A Little Lime, by Helen Williams.  She is so talented.  She does Zentangle-inspired art.  This evening I received her most recent post.  She did a beautiful drawing of ribbons tied to a ring.  So I had to give it a shot.  Now, be kind - this was my first try and I only spent about 20 minutes on it.  I plan to do another one when I have more time.

Number 2 of my series of little houses

I just finished another mixed media collage and listed it, for sale, on etsy.

I am doing a series of painting/collages of little houses.  They are fun to do and I really like the way they are turning out.

Check this out at my Etsy store!

 

Here's the first one that I did!

 

I also have another project in the works.  Chalkboards are everywhere now.  People use them to designate seating at parties and weddings.  They are used as home décor.

I have tons of frames that I have picked up over the years, so I decided to try my hand at making some "shabby chic" chalkboards.

More Zendoodling While Watching Dance Moms

In between yelling at the TV while I was watching "Dance Moms" last night, I did a little Zentangle/Doodling. Every week I swear that I will never watch that show again, but I'm weak when it comes to my reality TV.

For those of you who haven't been sucked in by the weekly 60 minute episode of child abuse, here's what you need to know.

1. Abby Lee Miller owns a dance school in Pennsylvania.
2. Every weekend she takes her dance team to compete at various dance competitions.
3. The team consists of 6 very talented girls, ages 6 - 15. (actually one girl is 15, but the rest are between 6 and 12.
4. The girls are charming, polite, kind, and respectful.
5. Abby Lee Miller is nasty, rude, hateful, vindictive, dishonest.....I could go on and on. I wouldn't let this woman near my
dogs, let alone a child. She spends the entire 60 minutes berating these children, telling them to disrespect their mothers, and, basically, turning them into emotional basketcases - but they can dance.

Yes, I'm embarrassed that I support this kind television. However, for every reality show that I watch, I make sure that I watch two informative documentaries or shows on Link or Free Speech TV. It's the only way that I can forgive myself.

Anyway - here they are.....

 

Mercury Glass - I Did It!

I've watched several tutorials on making faux mercury glass.  It took me forever to find the paint - but I found it.  That was about 2 months ago and I've been too afraid to take the cap off the paint.

But........today I said "no more - I'm going to spray mirror paint into a glass jar and no one is going to stop me!"

Drum Roll..............................................

These photos aren't the best, but I am fairly pleased with my first try.

First, I sprayed the Krylon Looking Glass paint into the jar.  I kept turning the jar around to let the paint roll over the inside.  After it was covered with the thin coat, I sprayed water into the jar (using a spray bottle).  Again, I turned the jar around, moving the water.  The glass was still not as covered as I wanted, so I sprayed some more paint, rolled it around, then poured the small amount of paint, that pooled in the jar, out onto some paper towels.  Then I just set the jar aside and waited for it to dry.

I have a glass lamp, that I picked up at Goodwill, that I want to paint with the mirror paint.  I think that I am going to practice on a couple more jars or bottles before I brave the lamp.

Ginger Goddess

It's Game of Thrones night.  Actually, tonight is the finale.

This inspired the following doodle/drawing.

Some New Stuff!

I haven't posted in a while and I have worked on a few new things.

This collage is actually my first item for sale on Etsy.  I have made every excuse in the book to put off listing my art for sale.  Fear of rejection, I guess.  I finally said "to heck with it" and listed a  few things last night.

I went a little "flower crazy" with this collage.  Lots of handmade stamps and stencils.

I made the next two collage on cardstock, using book pages, stamps, washi tape, and pastels.