Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Creative Heart Monday - You're Invited!



Do you have a "creative heart"?  Beginning on January 4, 2016, I will post a new video every Monday morning to get our creative juices flowing for the week.

I will be trying out some new (to me) techniques.....new (to me) products....new subject matter.

I will also be including a quote from a famous artist each week.  Those famous men and women said a lot of inspirational and thoughtful things.  Who knows.....maybe one of those quotes will be the spark that leads to our masterpiece.

2016 is my year to be brave and crazy.  I would like for you to join me.  All of you "creative souls" out there know what it's like to struggle with "I'm not as good as she is" or "what if they don't like my art".  It's easy to let those negative thoughts seep in, but let's REFUSE them this year!  Pick up a brush, a pen, a crayon and start creating!

CREATIVE HEART MONDAY!


Peace,

Cyndi

Monday, December 21, 2015

Face Over Accidental Background

We can make BIG messes and waste LOTS of paint!  Have no fear......save all of those messes.  Last night, I painted this face over a scrap piece of paper that I used to clean off my roller during a gelli printing session.  It just goes to show that you never know what you are going to get.


I used a Stabilo pencil, watercolor crayons, gesso, and a couple paint pens.  That's it.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Peace.

Cyndi

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Vase of Flowers




List of Supplies:

10" X 10" canvas
Golden Fluid Acrylic - Titan Buff
Liquitex Gesso - Black
Charcoal Pencils - Black and White
Pigma Micron Pen
Inkssentials Enamel Accents - Black
Golden Acrylic Paint - Quinacridone Magenta, Turquoise Phalo
Golden Hi-Flow Acrylics - Neon Pink, Neon Yellow, Neon Orange
India Ink


Have a wonderful Sunday Evening.

Peace.

Cyndi

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Gelli Print Birds

Those of us who enjoy using our Gelli Plates know that it's very easy to accumulate an enormous pile of them very quickly.  So, what to do....what to do.....make some birds, of course.


(Excuse the photos.  They are actually much more colorful.)


I started out by attaching the, cut up, gelli prints to a 10" X 10" canvas with Liquitex Matte Medium.


I used the Donna Downey Mini Numbers Repeat stencil and latch hook rug mesh with black paint, randomly, around the canvas.



Then, using a white charcoal pencil, I sketched my birds.

I painted around the birds with Pool Blue craft paint.

More stencilling with Donna Downey Scribble Script, a chickenwire type stencil, bubble wrap and a rubber stamp to create more background texture.

I outlined the birds with a Stabilo All pencil, then went over it with a water brush.  Painted the eyes with gesso and pool blue.  Shaded with a charcoal pencil. Then painted the edges of the canvas with black paint and ran a line of black charcoal to define the edges.



This is a quick and easy project.  I'd like to try some different animals.

Peace,

Cyndi

Saturday, December 12, 2015

My New York City Trip!

My sister and I had a four-day girls vacay last week.  We had so much fun.  I hadn't been there in, at least, ten years and my sister had never been.  Lots of shopping and lots of eating.

We had a wonderful brunch at Anthony Bourdein's restaurant, Les Halles.  We toured the 911 Museum.  I can't even think of a word to describe the feeling that comes over a person in there.  We went up in the Statue of Liberty and we were both very proud of ourselves because we took the stairs, not the elevator.  We strolled around Central Park, Watched the skaters and saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  I would have loved to visit the MOMA, but we just didn't have the time.  We did, however, go into the MOMA gift shop.

My sister loves Good Morning America, so we were determined to get on TV (actually, she was determined to be on TV, my plan was to hide from the camera.)  But, when the cast of my (second) favorite show came out, Downton Abbey, I ended up coming out of hiding and cheering like a 1960"s teenager at a Beatles concert.  We got down to Times Square at 6:00 AM to make sure that we were in the front. That's me in the black hat next to the tree and my, beautiful, sister in the leopard hat.  As you can see, she took a selfie with Robin Roberts.



Some cool art, painted on doorways in Little Italy



Me, trying to be artsy.



Oh, I almost forgot.  I went into an actual Dick Blick store.  I've purchased art supplies online from them for years, but I've never seen an actual "brick and morter" store.  It was heaven.  I did buy a Catalyst wedge thingy and some Golden paint.  The Golden paint was on sale and it never goes on sale at the craft stores here.

We have decided to make this an annual Christmas present to ourselves.  I've told people for years that I believe that I lived in Manhattan in another life.  I just love it and can't wait for next year.


Peace!

Cyndi

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Mixed Media Wooden House #9

I just completed another little mixed media house.  Like the others, I used a 2" X 10' board, cut down into 10" sections.  And......because I'm now addicted to the video camera, I filmed it.












Supply List

2" X 5" X 10" block of wood
Liquitex Gesso
FolkArt craft paint - Silver Sterling
DecoArt Raw Umber
Donna Downey Stencils - Mini Number Repeat, Artist Soul
Piece of latch-hook rug mesh
Metallic trim
Metal "Peace" charm
Golden Heavy Molding Paste
Fabre Castell Big Brush Pens - magenta, scarlet red, permanent green olive, orange glaze
Gelatos - pink, red, orange, yellow
Inkssentials Enamel Accents - Black
Pigma Micron Pen - Black
Gellyroll Pen -White
Minwax Polycrylic- Glossy

These are really fun to make.  You can let your imagination run wild.  

It's December 1st, which means it's that crazy holiday time.  Try to take some time out for yourself.  Relax and create something, read a book, listen to music......just take time to be HAPPY!

Peace.

Cyndi