Day 12~Chimney Picnic Area

I've completed Day 12, and on the last day of the 2018 Creative Jumpstart online class! I have taken it at a pace that allowed me to really enjoy the process. 

The Day 12 artist was Jessica Sporn whose project was titled Canvas with a Story. Her iconic flag of Puerto Rico was very cool and I enjoyed watching her create it! 

Immediately, I thought of the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park, my favorite place to be when possible. To me, National Parks are indeed American icons, and with that in mind, I wanted my project to give the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a nod.

The brick was intended to represent nearby Gatlinburg, however, the area depicted here is the Park's Chimney Picnic Area. Obviously, the brick could represent it as well! 

Supplies used: canvas from a tablet, gesso, acrylics, watercolors, a map of the Gatlinburg Art Loop, tissue paper, stamp, stencil, Pitt Pens, thread, fabric (for the tree trunks and stream) and rick rack (for the outer edges of the stream). 

Similarly, the fabric stream looks much like a rock wall, and many of those can be found in the Park too. I'll leave the interpretation to the eye of the beholder. 

What do you see? 

A stream or a rock wall?

I personally think it looks like a rock wall. It started out a stream and unintentionally converted right before my very eyes! Stuff like that happens in art, doesn't it? 

I haven't done a lot of painted landscape art but I definitely like the piece, and had a good time creating it. 

Even though it's the last day, I plan to continue trying some of these wonderful projects but I won't be doing them in order. I have two in mind that I want to do next. After those, I'll do others at random in between my other projects. 

I want to thank each and every artist for their delightful, informative videos and a great big thank you to Nathalie Kalbach for hosting. I picked up some informative and very cool things from this experience, and I've learned things about myself and my art making as well. I think I'll have to do this again next year if it is offered! 

May Your Day (or night)

Be Wildly Creative & Extra Bright,

D~~~~

Day 11~Jeanne in Galveston

Catherine Scanlon led the Day 11 workshop which was titled, Traced Flower Painting. The title describes the project, and it immediately reminded me of a photo I took of my sister Jeanne in Galveston, Texas in 2012. 

After the trip, I traced Jeanne onto a journal page and started journaling the trip. I never felt like the page was complete though, so Jeanne has been sitting there for over five years now, and boy is her butt tired! Tee-hee-hee. I knew the second I started Catherine's video, it was time to further journal Jeanne.

This is the photo I traced. 

It was taken in the 

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. 

Restaurant & Market. 

The page in progress in 2012.

The recently finished page. 

I really like it!

Truthfully, I still see more changes and additions that I might like but I'm leaving it here--for now, maybe forever. 

It's time to start working on Day 12.

Tootles My Friends,

D~~~~

Day 10~Monoprinting Backgrounds

Annie O'Brien Gonzales led the Day 10 Workshop, titled Monoprint Collage, in which she demonstrated monoprinting which can be used for future backgrounds or anything your little ole heart desires. 

I did not have the vellum paper or the deli paper. Instead of the vellum, I used the same cardstock that I used for monoprinting on Day 7--the Neenah, smooth finish, super heavyweight (110 lb.) copy paper. In place of the deli paper, I used tissue paper.

The first mono print done on tissue paper.

Ghost prints were done on collaged paper.

I collaged mine together the day before.

The ghost print.

A side-by-side look.

The second monoprint on starry tissue paper.

The ghost print on collaged paper.

It didn't turn out very well.

A side-by-side look.

Since I wasn't happy with the ghost print, 

I decided to print over it.

Still not content, I decided to do another set and print over it again!

Here's that monoprint on teal tissue paper.

Here's the ghost print on top of 

the already twice-printed collage paper.

Of course, the white isn't going to show up very well. If I had known I was going to print on the teal paper and use white, I would have collage some color on the ghost print papers but I was flying by the seat of my pants.

The side-by-side view.

When finished, I took the Gelli plate...

...and turned it over onto my work table paper.

I like it!

When the work table paper is full, it'll be cut up to use for something--background paper, collage pieces, whatever.

I'm enjoying the Gelli printing, and

I really like working with tissue paper! 

The first prints were my favorites. 

Do you have a favorite?

Time for Day 11.

See ya soon,

D~~~~

Day 9~Emerge

The Day 9 video demonstrated another wonderful watercolor project led by Andrea Gomoll. The title was Recipe For Funky and Colorful Mixed Media Projects. Much to my delight, it was indeed funky and colorful! I loved it! 

At first, I didn't want to put a girl on my project. Andrea demoed with a girl and I wanted to do something different. I had something in mind but after some thought, I was drawn to putting a girl on it because I felt it would best help me to get the process down--and I really like faces! I made the right choice because I won't hesitate to go forward with my other ideas now. 

I did do a few things differently. I didn't have the necessary markers so I used a liquid watercolor, and the black line around the piece was sewn on my sewing machine, just to name a couple.

I don't think this photo does the piece complete justice but that's the way it goes sometimes.

The title is Emerge as the page indicates.

All the projects have been great

fun but this one really spoke to me!

I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to do another! I have started sketching out the project that I mentioned above (the one I had in mind). Much to my dismay though, I had to order more supplies so I have to wait for them to arrive before I can move forward. Ho-Hum! 

In the meantime, I'll start on Day 10. 

Tootles Y'All,

D~~~~

Day 8~Fruit of the Spirit

2018 Creative Jumpstart

Artist Diana Trout taught the Day 8 workshop titled, Spice of Life. In the video, she demoed how to paint a very cool watercolor journal page. 

I loved this project and 
I love my journal page!

Working on it was pure joy!

I'm delighted with the texture on the page. 

(I'm not sure if you can see it though.) 

I always enjoy the look of Twinkling H2O's so I used blue on the background. I also dabbed and a few other colors here and there to highlight. 

I was never really sure if I preferred watercolor or acrylics but I always seemed to lean toward watercolor, probably because it's so deliciously vibrant. As a result of this project though, the uncertainty has vanished! Watercolor has completely won me over! I see lots more of it in my future. 

Thank you Diana for your helpful instruction and for introducing me to the Watercolor Light Dimensional stuff! It's fluffy texture reminds me of marshmallow creme. I don't think I want to do a taste test comparison though!

On to Day 9. 

Tootles Y'all,

D~~~~

Day 7~Monoprinting

2018 Creative Jumpstart

The Day 7 workshop, A Recipe For Color and Resist, was led by Rae Missigman.

I started out this project with a brand, spankin' new Gelli plate. I know because I ordered it from Amazon, and I watched the UPS guy spank it as he traipsed across the lawn! He's detail-oriented. Really, where did we get that expression?

After I ordered, I realized that I didn't order the wax-resist crayons that Rae used in her video so I decided to use Elmer's gel glue since I'd seen it used as a resist in the past. 

For the paper, I used Neenah, smooth finish, super heavyweight (110 lb.) copy paper. This decision was based on the fact that, well.. it was just sitting there, looking at me, screaming to be rubbed in paint.

The first print didn't turn out very well. I scribbled horizontally and you can't see much of it. Also, the yellow paint insisted on merging with the purple to create a potpourri of browns. (I forgot to clean my brayer off between colors.) I tried to fix it by adding more yellow to the plate, and it did brighten the browns, however, I ended up with too much paint on the plate which is probably the reason the print didn't turn out.

Here it is.

I didn't do a ghost print for this one.

For the next one, I tried blue

 Hampton Art Studio G glitter glue. 

It turned out better.

The ghost print is rather dull though.

I used Elmer's pink glitter 
glue for the final print.

I love this one!

For the ghost print, I used regular 

copy paper and I really like the result.

I'm guessing that the heavyweight paper

was too thick to get a good ghost print.

Monoprinting is a lot of fun and I look forward to doing more. I will be ordering the wax-resist sticks and a couple of brayers while I'm at it. 

NOTE~I had to know where the expression "brand spankin' new" originated so I Googled it. Well, my friend, think babies! As you know, they're new upon delivery and years ago, the doctors (or nurses) spanked them to clear the lungs. Hah! Who knew? 

The term has been around since the mid seventeenth century though. As you might expect, there are other "alleged" (lol) origins which means nobody really knows. In any event, you can read more by clicking here or the link above. I just happen to like the baby origin. 

Have a wonderfully creative day,
and I'll see you soon with Day 8.

Tootles Y'all,
D~~~~

Day 6~Tangled But Not Zen

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

Andrew's Soupmaking Hodgepodge Style was the name of our Day 6 workshop  taught by Andrew Borloz, and it was very cool! 

I had to wing it for some of this project because I didn't have a few of the necessary supplies like Easy Tack spray (I substituted low tack tape), the necessary pens (I used Sharpie fine points), and stencils with a design that was close together and repetitive (the designs on mine were farther apart for the most part but I tried to fill in areas to make them seem closer). The saying, "fake it till ya make it" truly applies here.

Here is my project: Tangled But Not Zen

The piece reminded me of zentangle art.

Thus, the name.

Because I didn't have the right kind of stencils, the various areas were not distinct so I drew lines to divide them up. I used a wavy ruler too which was neat and if I'd had the proper stencils to accompany it, I think it would have looked pretty cool. Nevertheless, I totally enjoyed this project! In fact, I'm learning all kinds of great things in this class!

I'm waiting on some supplies from Amazon and about to order more. This little break gives me a chance to reorganize my painting area (Yahoo!), and boy does it need it. Also, it's an opportunity to once again try the Day 4 lesson that I jumped over.

See ya soon.

Zentootles!

D~~~~  

Day 4~Jump Over & Day 5~Do You See What I Hear?

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

The Day 4 class by Michelle Ward was titled, Let's Have Take Out. For me, it was a much needed lesson in softening the look of a background and I loved it! Unfortunately, my end result did NOT look like Michelle's page! Not even close. I had ZERO success.

I am not giving up though. Oh no, no, no! I will keep working at it as opportunities arise in this class and beyond because I want to get it! For the moment, however, I'm moving on to Day 5.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Day 5 instructor was Michelle Rydell and her project was named, 7-Step Journal Page Recipe. I had a good time working on this project!

Here it is.

Do You See What I Hear?

(Ignore the ugly, muddy color surrounding the piece. 

I scotch taped it to my quilting design wall to flatten it.  

Actually, it's not a wall at all. It's white felt-like fabric hanging over a door!)

I followed Michelle's 7-step recipe pretty closely but I used a few additional supplies. 

It took a long time to find magazine pics (words were easy) because 99.9% of the magazines around here (not counting hubby's) are instructional ones that I subscribe to so I don't want to cut into them. I finally found a couple of miscellaneous magazines hidden amongst the rest and a few circulars from the mail. YAY! 

I really had fun with the dots, probably because I love dots. Adding them at the end of the process really perked up the page too! Note that a white dot is missing from inside something. I just discovered it. 

Can you find it? 

I guess it's my version of Where's Waldo, only let's call it--Where's the Missing Dotto?

Now on to Day 6, taught by Andrew Borloz. It looks very cool!

Tootles Y'all,

D~~~~

Day 3~Home on Joy Lane

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

Carolyn Dube, our Day 3 instructor, led me on an entertaining journey with this project. 

I call it

Home on Joy Lane

The substrate was a canvas which is just as much fun to sew on as journal pages. Would you believe the windows were tastefully built out of a rice box and the backside of a Ghiradelli chocolate wrapper? Yep, it's true. That's one of the fun parts of mixed media--you can sometimes eat the contents of your art supply packages! It would be a mighty delicious day if I were building a city full of skyscrapers.  

It did take me a little while to get into the groove though. In the end, however, I achieved the color and whimsey I love! Home on Joy Lane makes me smile.  

I really loved Carolyn too! Not only was she cheerful and fun but it looks like she loves color and shine as much as I do!   

Off to do Day 4.

Yeah, I'm behind 

(and there's a good chance I'll stay that way) 

but I'm enjoying the journey!

Tootles,

D~~~~ 

Day 2~Further Embellished

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

I previously posted the Day 2 project, Ms. Bird's Eye View, which was taught by Tina Walker but after sleeping on it, I decided that Ms. Bird's Eye needed further embellishment. 

This is the "Before" Ms. Bird's Eye.

This is the "After."

She's been adorned with yarn feathers 

and a yarn necklace which made her so 

jubilant that she added another "Chirp!"

Here's her close up.

She relishes in the attention!

I'm not thrilled with the background 

but I'm very pleased with Ms. Bird's Eye.

I love couching STUFF down, especially yarns.

This was too much fun!

Day 3 is done as well, and I'll post it very soon.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

D~~~~

Day 2~Ms. Bird's Eye View

2018 Creative Jumpstart

Tina Walker was the creative instructor for day 2 of the Creative Jumpstart class. This mixed media piece, Bird's Eye View, is my project. 

I really enjoyed digging into this one! 

Adding fabric and yarn to the journal page, 

and sewing on it was a blast!

See you soon with Day 3.  

Chirp! Chirp!

D~~~~

Day 1~Creative Jumpstart

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

Day One's instruction in the online 2018 Creative Jumpstart class came from the heart of Mystele Kirkeeng. 

As a result, this is the journal page I created.

It's entitled Window Shopping.

Frankly, the lady frightens me a 

little bit but she sure was fun to paint!

I could have added so much but wanted to move on to Day 2 which could take a couple of days if I let it!  We shall see.  I sure am glad we're able to work at our own pace! 

See you soon.

May Your Day Be Creative & Bright,

D~~~~

2018 Creative Jumpstart Class

Today's the day! 

I signed up for an online class titled 2018 Creative Jumpstart which starts today. The purpose of the class is to provide a jumpstart on this year's mixed media creativity, and oh, do I need it. 

The theme of the class is:

Now We're Cooking: Mixed Media Recipes

Participants get a video a day from a different artist each day for 31 days. The vids are only 15-20 minutes long which I think is perfect! 

Click the logo/icon below to watch a vid about the class. I believe you can still sign up.  

Right now, I'm off to start on Day 1.
See ya soon.

May Your Day Be Creative & Bright,

D~~~~