Your time is Now

Prompt: 1.30.11

The Prompt: Time

THE SONG: Butterflies & Hurricanes by Muse

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Numbers

This is my submission for the
Year in the Life Art Journal

Be the change...

1.15.11 Prompt

Magazine clipping, acrylics, charcoal, gel pen,

chart markers, and oil pastels.

quote by Mahatma Gandhi

THE PROMPT: Starting NOW

THE SONG: Waiting on the World to Change

by John Mayer

PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Foot Photo

Reflecting back on 2010,

I have spent a lot of time, money,

and experimentation on journaling of all sorts.

I currently have several journals going at the same time;

a daily journal that travels with me everywhere;

a small watercolor moleskine,

a handmade watercolor journal,

another type of moleskine (purple band);

a Strathmore mixed media journal;

and a Strathmore 140# watercolor journal.

In addition, I have painted some children's books

which I will to use to practice my painting.

So, I have decided to dedicate one journal to use

for the prompts posted on the 15th and 30th

on the site called

A year in the life of an Art Journal

I'd like to be a little more disciplined,

and a lot less scattered.  I decided

that I like using 90lb watercolor paper the best.

Not too stiff or flimsy, and can absorb

paint and markers well.

So this is the journal I will keep

exclusive for this group's prompts.

Update on Ferral Cat/and heated shelter:

We have had so much snow lately,

which makes it easy to check on our ferral cat.

The shelter stays warm with

a little reptile heating pad.

Evidence of it's daily visits in the snow,

but still doesn't stay long to enjoy it's warmth.

I added a few layers on top of the house,

and more plastic as well,

to help insulate and keep the heat in,

and the plastic to break the wind.

Looking beyond the giant snow mountain,

is where the cat has dug a hole under the shed.

We have named it Spooky (and think it's a she)

and look for her trail in the snow daily.

She only comes at night, and she

is totally black, with a FULL coat of fur.

At least Spooky can count on a meal,

that is sheltered from the rain and cold.

We keep hoping someday to gain it's trust.....

I can't help thinking that a domestic cat

is not meant to live this way.

Children Board Books; Great Backgrounds

Last year I prepped children's board books with gesso....

and got bored....and well they collected dust for a year.

Yesterday, I couldn't decide what kind of project to work on,

so I pulled out a box of old paint bottles  to throw out

the ones that were really old and dried up. 

What the heck, I pulled out the board books,

and started emptying the bottles.

It was relaxing, random and really messy!

I now have some awesome backgrounds.

Notice the newsprint under the books.

I save these for mixed media projects.

Bonus!!!

Here's a great tip.

I used a squeegee that is sold in grocery stores

to clean shower stalls to add paint to the pages.

Hands down, this beats using a credit card any day!

My inspiration for the backgrounds comes from Paulette Insall.

I signed up for her Color Me Beautiful workshop.

She's adorable, her videos are crystal clear,

and she's very good at demonstrating her technique.

I find myself drawn to many styles of woman's faces.

I love sketching them, and now want to

experiment with transferring my sketches to paint.

There is nothing great about this page.

I did it in maybe 10 minutes in my little moleskine,

using water-soluble crayons, a paintbrush,

titanium white paint, and a Lyra skin tone pencil.

My intent was to just do a warm-up exercise.

Nothing, planned or fancy.

In the process I realized how yummy that pencil was,

since it was my first time using it.

I just traced the outline, and added streaks

to the hair.  I thought it would react like a stabilio.

Today I think I'll drag those Lyra pencils out to sketch with!

(After painting with Paulette in my board book that is.)

Sometimes you just have to cut loose!

A new shelter for the ferral cat

We have gotten an awful lot of snow this month!

With the snow, came familiar cat tracks....

Last year when I noticed a stray cat come around

I started leaving food out the back door.

I stopped in the spring when two raccoons

figured out what I was doing!

Well he/she is back, and only comes near the house after dusk.

It's going to be brutally cold this weekend,

so my awesome sweetie built a cat-house!

Woo hoo....AND it has a reptile warming pad inside.

A little plastic to keep the water out,

3 layers of blankets, and a cozy couple pillows

to help keep the heat inside.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed he/she isn't

too spooked to go inside.

I placed the food inside the door, hoping

the warmth will entice him/her to stay.

But maybe it's too wild and scared,

and I have to accept that.

At least we tried....

A glimpse into my sketchbook

I am the lead

Once upon a time, I was the center of your attention;

the king of Graphite.

You squealed with delight the day we met;

            love at first sight.

You held me so close,

the smell of almond on your skin left me intoxicated.

We pressed against the sheets;

exploring hot, cold and Bristol textures.

Making beautiful art together into the wee hours;

leaving me spent, exhausted and hung-over.

Our encounters became less frequent;

until I became a castoff; gathering dust; diminished.

You were shameless with your new obsessions;

Conte, Caran d’Ache, Inktense and Woody Stabilios to name a few.

My pounding heart intensifies when your fingers brush my body;

I smell the hint of almond; desperate for another encounter.

Yet I remain here in the shadows;

used-up, abandoned, and lonely.

I am the lead,

            an object of your fascination, now wallowing in shades of gray.

****

This isn't something you would normally find in my sketchbook.
However, I am taking a workshop with Misty Mawn,
and she suggested an assignment to begin a poem with the words "I am the..."
Including a sketch is optional.....

So with a little imagination, I assumed the character role of a pencil,
and the obsession with it's artist....you get the picture....(I hope)



Progress

Making progress - adding more layers

creating more depth and texture

magazine text, ink, zigg marker,

graphite, oil pastel and gel pen.

Voilà c'est fini!

Sketching when it's not deliberate

Bald woman - after facing breast cancer head-on

HIGHLY PRIZED

Remembering 3 women diagnosed with

breast cancer at the same time.

All three have reached their post 5-year mark;

celebrating life.

They are highly prized.

I decided to sketch...

filled with inspiration from the Sketchbook Challenge

and Misty Mawn's workshop - Stretching within

When I chose a subject to deliberately sketch,

my result was less than satisfactory.

Disappointment.

However,

when I allowed my muse to take over,

I was pleasantly surprised.

Each attempt began with ease.

Simply laying down graphite marks,

stump smudges, and erasing for highlights.

Hat Lady

Voodoo Man

Bird Lady

Shag Lady

These sketches were all done

one after the other.

Relaxed, listening to the TV,

snug under a wool blanket,

with my furry friends lying down with me.

Contentment.

Making progress - Week 2

I'm just getting over a nasty cold that lasted a week

Caused me to be out of work for 2 days

a trip to the doctor

and all my energy zapped!

Worked on this today though.

A little gesso, charcoal and oil pastels.

Slowly making progress....

It's a New Year, and a new day!

Today is DAY #1 of a series of 3 workshops from

Strathamore Artist Journal

There are 3 FREE workshops,
beginning with Pam Carriker (#1 - January 1st)
followed by Linda Blinn (#2 - March 1st)
then Roz Stendahl (#3 - May 1st)

I am feeling so much better today,
and this morning was anxious to check my e-mails.
I knew this workshop series was beginning today,
and sure enough, a video had been posted,
and I felt in the mood to create.

The intent of this warm-up exercise
is to use 140# Strathmore Artist journal
Watercolor paper as your substrate.
It was suggested to use our own recycled art work,
and whatever else ephemera you have around the house.

I altered two of my previously painted angels in Photoshop,
and crropped and desaturated their faces.
I used tissue, wrapping paper and sheet music,
and collaged them all together.

These are my original angels.

I hope you are enjoying your New Year's Day!