Twin-tipped Neon Markers offer brilliant, fluorescent colour in high quality Markers. They are pigmented and lightfast, making them perfect for adding vibrant highlights to art and design work.« January 2012 | Main | March 2012 »
Illustration: Oscar Ramos Orozco from The 99% site
I know that I just recently mentioned The 99% site, but today I found another inspiring article that I think you might like entitled, Collected Wisdom: 25 Bits of Advice on Making Ideas Happen compiled by Todd Anderson. Check out the above, cool illustration from Oscar Ramos Orozco.
These Bits of Advice are so good that I'm going to print them out and regularly refer to them.
I finished my cards for the Desire to Inspire (Inspired) "Inspiration Deck" Swap which is being hosted by Jessica Brogan. Jessica blogs @ In Search of Dessert.
After spending so much time creating the cards (see above), I felt a little sad to send them off on Monday. I actually got attached to the cards. But now I'm anticipating the Bigger Bonus of receiving 52 cards back from the participating artists.
When cleaning up my Studio, I came across this paint swatch. I thought it might be cool to create an Inspiration Deck using paint swatches such as these. You would only have to gesso one side of the card.
If you're like me, you probably have a stash of paint swatch cards. But you might need a few more to create an Inspiration Deck. Now, I'm not advocating raiding all of the Home Improvement Stores to gather up paint swatch cards. But you could pick out a few cards now and then - and ultimately collect enough for a Deck.
What do you think?
Dropmark image from Swiss Miss
I have a new obsession - pen/pencil/sketching blogs - and related companies/sites. Hopefully, you will benefit from my obsession by finding out about some new sites and products that YOU NEED like I NEED. Here's a short roundup:
Via Swiss Miss, I found out about this cool tool:
Dropmark is a simple way to organize and collaborate with anyone in the cloud. Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of Swiss Miss, explains: "Let’s say you want to send a friend a few links to look at. Instead of sending an e-mail and pasting in a bunch of links, you can create a Dropmark collection and instantly have one short link that you can send instead. And the collection can be updated at any time." See above Dropmark example.
Find out about a special offer, from Dropmark, for Swiss Miss Readers here. It's at the end of Tina's post.
Want some tips on sketching? Check out Russell Stutler's Web book on sketching. There's also a Sketching Forum and other links to explore.
Via the Life Imitates Doodles blog, I discovered this article on Revitalizing Colored Pencils from Dick Blick. Thank goodness for Synchronicity! I recently purchased a bunch of Prismacolor Colored Pencils. And every time that I sharpen them, the lead keeps breaking. If you know of other remedies for breaking lead, please let me know.
Last Sunday, our Tidewater Artist Group (TAG) held a Mosaic Workshop hosted by Linda Simon. Linda is founder of Linda Simon Consulting (Illuminating the Essence of Entrepreneurs).
We had over twenty members participating in the Workshop. The Creative Energy was very stimulating. And we learned a lot from the talented Linda. This was my first experience with Mosaics and I loved every minute of it - even the messy grout. As you can see above, I completed a Mosaic Mirror.
I can envision another mixed-media art interest overtaking me. I've already purchased tiles and tile knippers.
Shulamit Golod recently created an Etsy Treasury in one of my favorite colors. Can you guess which color? Why yes - it's PINK of course. Her Treasury is entitled, A Pink Day - and features such lovely pink Shop items - including my art print: Her Royal Chick Highness. Thank you Shulamit!
Shulamit also offers some beautiful, pink-hued jewelry in her own Etsy Shop, Ella Jewelry. Her Sterling Silver Butterfly Garnet Necklace (seen above) is one example.
What kind of Color Day are you having today?
The last few days have been hectic around here. This past Saturday, our Tidewater Artists Group (TAG) held an Art Journaling session in Virginia Beach. This is the page that I began at the Session and later finished at home. I think I may include some additional accents to the lettering on the page.
I was able to achieve some nice shading on the page by rubbing in some pink Portfolio oil pastels. I also used PanPastels in Burnt Sienna.
Image from Michella Marie Blog
Lately, I'm attracted to paper flower tutorials via Pinterest. I must be wishing for the Beauty of Spring Blossoms.
You must check out this Gorgeous, White Paper Peonies Tutorial from Michella Marie. Aren't her flowers beautiful? Now, I need to pick up some coffee filters.
Check out Michella Marie's other popular posts too.
In blog land, I usually reside in the worlds of mixed-media art, drawing and painting. Every now and then I explore different parts of the Internet. It's then that I realize that I'm missing a gazillion other wonderful blogs - and topics of interest. I wish that I could visit/follow many more blogs than I do but then I would never get anything done. Here's a few sites I like:
I love office supplies and stationery. That's how I came across The Pen Addict blog and JetPens. Which led me to Behance Outfitter (Outfitting Creatives to Make Ideas Happen) - and the cool Action Cards seen above. Do I need these cards? Yes, I think I do.
And that site led me to the Free Ebook: 20 Creative Blocks (and How to Break Through Them) by Mark McGuinness.
BTW, check out The 99% (Insights on Making Ideas Happen) by Behance site. Lots of good stuff on creativity here.
So where did your Blog Land Travels lead you to today?
In honor of Valentine's Day, Shulamit Golod (of Ella Jewelry) created the sweetest Etsy Treasury appropriately entitled, A KISS. And she was kind enough to feature my Vintage-Style Votive Candle Holders. Thank You Shulamit! Check out the lovely items that she chose for her Treasury.
Shulamit created the Valentine bracelet that you see above. I love the unique style of her jewelry. All of her pieces are handmade - and of her own unique design. You can see more of her work here.
Are you interested in gaining more exposure for your Art? Then check out Carolyn Edlund's informative Artsy Shark article, Want Some Publicity? How Artists can Finesse the Press.
Carolyn encourages Artists to:
Check out her article for the details.
I'm participating in Jessica Maier's “Inspiration Deck” Swap. Jessica is host of the blog, In Search of Dessert. Participants are to make one Inspiration Deck using a regular pack of playing cards.
The rules are easy and so much fun. First, paint and embellish your cards. Then add one different Inspiring or Motivating phrase to each card. Put your Name and Blog (and/or Web site) address on the back of each card. You can get all the details here from Jessica.
So far, I painted my cards a beautiful, Robin's Egg Blue - and stamped a text image on both sides of the cards. I decided that this shade of blue would be a creative color for an Inspirational Deck.
THE DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE IS FEBRUARY 20th. DECKS NEED TO BE SENT IN BY MARCH 1st!
Here is the Harrington's Spelling Book, with the copyright of 1880, that I mentioned in an earlier post. Can you believe that this book is 132 years old? I can imagine what wonderful stories this book could tell us.
I just love how the book is aged to perfection. So lovingly worn and distressed. I like this cover so much that I think I will transform it into a notebook - filling it with assorted, and decorative pages.
Today, I finished this mixed-media art piece. The vintage childrens' image comes from Cathe Holden's blog, Just Something I Made.
The 'counting' text is from the Harrington's Spelling Book, copyright 1880. I love the worn and distresssed look of this book's pages and cover. I actually found the book in our local library's FREE Bin. And I was thrilled to save it from the trash. I will post an image of the book tomorrow when there is more sunshine.
This mixed-media piece reminds me of all the Little Mamas who took care of their younger brothers and sisters. I was one of those Little Mamas. Were You?
I LOVE Paris - and I was lucky enough to appear in this "Paris Blues" Etsy Treasury. Thank you Bec for featuring my Art Print.
Bec is owner of the SugarCubeVintage Etsy Shop. What a creative name for a Shop!
At the top of my post is her estate-find, Terrarium Apothecary Jar that you can find in her Shop. I have a similar jar and I keep vanilla meringues in them. What would you keep in the jar?
Recent Comments