ZEN for me.

I chose to recycle a canvas box frame for my project.  I got this after Fall/Christmas for clearance at 90% off, so it was ninety cents!   Yes, less than a dollar!  It is 6" x 6" square and 2" deep.

This piece was done while isolating.   We have gorgeous weather in PHX Arizona USA.  So I moved outside to begin my project.  The birds were chirping and the sun was shining, a gentle breeze was gently swaying the leaves in the trees. This is my ZEN.

My first coat of gesso is drying and then I will go back and do another until the image is completely covered.

I am choosing to add items to the canvas in layers.  I will use acrylic paints and foil.  First by using a brush to paint a base color and adding layers of colors.  I use a variety of paint brands and viscosities depending on what I want to accomplish.  Heavy body seems to work best for scraping.

My layers were added by placing paint on a palette knife or scraper and dragging it across the canvas.  This creates lovely irregular shapes with the colors as the feature!

The photo above is with flash so you can see the deep colors, the white was added last.  Blues and purples with yellows and oranges are pleasing to the eye, as you can see on the wheel they are complementary colors. 

Copper Foil strips were added by using double side tape adhered to foil first and then placed on the art and burnished (verb:   to polish (a surface) by friction. to make smooth and bright) onto the surface.

I hope this simple piece gives you the inspiration to throw some paint on a canvas!

Painting Gives me Freedom

I have friends who make THE most beautiful detailed stamped cards that are truly perfection!   

   

  

I have always been more of an abstract kind of person.  Little details give me a headache!  I now feel the freedom to leave the detailed work to those who excel at it.  I always beat myself up for not being as precise as others, maybe an uneven stamped image or an inked image that was partially not inked, you know the ones!

SOPHISTICATED EGGS

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH AN HOUR AND SOME VINTAGE TEXT PAGES?  

Decorate eggs, of course!

Dollar Store plastic eggs are the perfect base for all sorts of embellishments.   I had some in various sizes, try to get large, medium and small.  

I tore vintage text pages into smallish pieces so they could wrap easily around the eggs.  You can mist the paper too, it relaxes the fibers and makes them more pliable.  DO NOT SOAK them, lightly wet/spray them a couple pieces at a time.  

I started by painting the egg with watered down Alene's Tacky glue (get it here).  I used a sparse amount of water just to get it to spread easily.   I adhered the paper and painted it with glue.  You can use your fingers, I used a combination, I don't mind messy!  I also added craft paint to colorize the mod podge in various shades. 

I wanted my eggs a bit embellished and yet varied looks to them.  As an experiment, I tried Farmhouse style with pale color and burlap ribbon and a wood button.   Create an old-world aged style use inks in walnut or brown.

Fashion eggs with rhinestones or gold leaf would be gorgeous in a crystal basket!

Show us your Easter projects on our Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/doityourselfdesignstudio

Use these (copy and paste by right-clicking the image) for your Easter fun.  Thanks for viewing the Blog.

  

   

Creativity takes courage

 

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Whatever your medium, 

whatever your talents, DO IT!

I am in my phase of acrylic painting.

I am a color person, I feel color.  I am not a 'color inside the lines' person and I have always gravitated to abstract art even when using true to life topics.  One technique uses palette knives and scraping, brushes and water.  The other uses pencils, paints, scribblings, mark-making tools.

This piece is titled - Fall Drive in Pennsylvania.

If you look closely you can see a stream, in PA, we call it "a crick" flowing and the vertical trees with leaves of gold and orange.

Below, a work in progress titled ~ Marrakesh Market

I will do some pencil or pen work on this one.

I am taking two classes presently one with Paulette Insall (work above) and the other with Tracy Verdugo, both abstract artists.   They use very different techniques with different results yet both being abstract.

This one is from a class with Tracy Verdugo, titled Meandering.

Practice being FREE and LOOSE

Play with texture and color.

Next time I will show you a progression of work in process from a blank canvas to a finished piece.

Thanks for stopping by,

Might you have a VIRTUAL Galentines Bash?

 Last year I had a Galentines Day party for many girlfriends that was so much fun!  We had 22 ladies join the fun!

Personal stories were told by everyone.  We had prizes for who had been married the longest, who had been divorced the most times, who was single. The prizes were fun gifts such as the Stinky Divorced Husband candle and pampering gifts!

 Everyone got a take home cupids gift or two...

 

  

Last year the food was sort of marvelous!  

The kitchen/family room was casually themed with foods to match. Pomegranate Punch accompanied charcuterie boards. We had brunch foods with mini omelets and pastries. Chocolate scones in heart shapes were popular, raspberry jam was served alongside.

Red cookies and various chocolate treats were for everyone to nosh on. Red, white and black accessories were used on this buffet.

 

The dining room was more formal with crystal, rose gold, pink and ivory foods and decor.  The centerpiece was a lovely floral with Hydrangeas in a vintage wire milk bottle container with moss and greenery.   I was able to get out my vintage table cloths and vintage pink serving dishes.  

Mini desserts included parfaits

A pink mix of white chocolate, popcorn and candies was yummy. We had pink cream cheese pecan fudge.  Angel food cherry cupcakes with marshmallow frosting was a favorite!

There was Pink Cosmos in a crystal decanter.  

With lots of Raspberry Proseco to go around.

The patio was festive with pink floral linens and pink and gold paper lanterns.   Tables were set up in the yard with umbrellas.   

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

This year will be a virtual party.  Maybe we can ZOOM.  I will deliver goodie bags to the front doors of Galentine Friends, filled with treats and little gifts.  Handmade cards will be included.

If you have any great ideas for placing items into this year's goodie bags, leave me a comment. After I fill the bags I will photograph them and will credit you by name with your ideas! I will also list some free
Valentine collages for you to use in your cards and artwork.  We will draw names for Cupid gifts! 

  

A NEW AMERICA!

 INAUGURATION DAY BRINGS A FRESH MOOD!

We are so Proud of our new Adminstration and direction we have.

THANK YOU BIDENS AND HARRIS' FOR STEPPING UP TO MAKE OUR JOURNEY A GREAT ONE!

Crazy times call for crazy creativity!

 Since  Mardi Gras is canceled this year, people are turning their homes into floats!

Normally each float has a Krewe tossing out the beads and such.  They are responsible for the theme and decorations.  This year each neighborhood has a Krewe!  I think these people have gone above and beyond decorating!

Would you do this to your home?   I think it is amazing FUN!    

They are calling it Yardi Gras!

photos courtesy of Kate McPike and Jeffrey Pipes Guice

One of the most EPIC parties I ever threw was a BIG surrpise birthday party for a dear friend.  We had 60+ guests.  It was a Mardi Gras Funeral!  Everyone wore black, I hired high school band members to play dirges, we had a Hurricane fountain of drinks and Krispy Kreme donut pyramid 'cake'.  There were singers, dancers, and much FUN!  

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY MY FRIENDS