Cinnamon Pink

Roundup of Links from the About.com Painting site

Today, I was trolling around the Web specifically looking for information on creating real world Inspiration Boards. During my search, I came across the following interesting posts on the About.comPainting site. I'm always amazed at how the lure of countless subjects and sites on the Internet can take a person down so many different browsing paths.

Regardless, there is some good information in these posts so take a few minutes to check them out.

• Ten Techniques for Painting More Loosely

 

• Seven Techniques for Creating a Painting

 

• Techniques of the Impressionists: How to Paint with Broken Color

 

• How to Beat Artist's Block

Pouring Watercolors

painting from Linda Baker's Web site

On Empty Easel, I discovered two videos (featuring artist Linda Baker) on How to Pour Watercolors using masking fluid to control the flow of paint. Linda's videos make the process look very doable even for beginners.

I'm adding this technique to the top of my To Do List.

Nurture Your Ideas

In Bernadette Jiwa's book, Make Your Idea Matter: Stand Out with a Better Story, she offers Twenty Ways to Nurture Your Ideas. 

Here are five of my favorite suggestions from Jiwa's list:

• Understand your creative process. Be aware of what drives you. Reflect on how you make things happen.
• Use tools that inspire you - leather journals, coloured pens, scrapbooks, green ink....
• Be on a mission. Why does the idea excite you? Why this idea, why now? What difference will it make in the world?
• Don't set goals. Just Go!
• Practice blue-sky thinking. Ask "what if?"

How do you nurture your own ideas?

Jumpstart Your Creativity with Ideas from 'Write to Done'

I discovered this post on the write to done site - Seven Steps to Creativity - How to have Ideas written by Simon Townley of WriteMindset. Although the article is targeted primarily to writers, I believe mixed-media artists, and bloggers too, could benefit from the ideas.

Basically, the steps come down to:

• Gather the information
• Sift it
• Let it percolate
• Let the ideas flow
• Shape and mould the ideas
• Share them with others
• Put the feedback into the loop; and repeat the process to strengthen your ideas.

However, to get the full benefit of this article, check out the complete post

I also enjoyed reading another article on the site, 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity written by Katie Tallo of Momentum Gathering. Lots of food for thought here.

Get Your Monday in High Gear and Jumpstart Your Creativity Today!

Reinventing Watercolor Paintings

Today, I was sorting through some of my paper files and found this painting of a pear that I completed a few years ago. I decided to enhance the painting by using punchinella to add a polka dot background. Then I added a script stamp right over the pear. 

In both cases, I masked the pear, and later the background, to avoid getting ink on the wrong areas. I like the way the embellishment turned out. Now, I'll review some of my other watercolor paintings to determine how to reinvent them.

What paintings can you enhance?

Ten Benefits of Keeping a Sketchbook Habit

If you regularly read my blog, you know that I keep a daily sketchbook as well as an art journal. In fact, I keep many sketchbooks and art journals. I believe there are numerous benefits to sketching daily including:

• Records your progress as an artist. That’s why it’s important to date your daily art sketches. When you later look back over your work, you’ll be surprised at the progress that you made in your technical skills.
• Sketching can be a form of art therapy that quiets your left brain while allowing your right brain to express itself. This act can lead to a relaxing, meditative state.
• Provides a handy reference of your body of art work. Making quick notes about a particular sketch will help you remember details or the feelings you had while you were drawing - or even why you chose a specific subject to draw. You might want to make notes on colors, shapes, weather conditions or shadows to help you recreate a specific scene later.
• Record and develop new ideas for larger works of art.
• Experiment with new techniques, mediums or tools. As you try new things, make notes in your sketchbook for future reference. Then, when you have success with various mediums, you will have a record of how you achieved it.
• Provides a place for practice and experimentation. Producing a series of versions of a specific subject, such as a cityscape, helps you grow artistically.
• Sketching daily will sharpen your observational skills.
• Offers a relaxing and informal place in which to work. There is no pressure to be perfect. The sketchbook is your private oasis.
• Set daily sketching goals. Start with one sketch a day and work up to three or more sketches on a daily basis.
• Developing a habit of carrying a sketchbook with you, at all times, helps you to find drawing material in any situation.

What benefits do you gain from sketching?

Gelli Arts Printing Plate Session at TAG

Last night, our Tidewater Artist Group (TAG) met for our monthly Art Journaling session.

One of our members, Carol Edwards, gave a fantastic demonstration on the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate. We learned a lot about different paints, stencils, masks, mark making tools and papers. This was my initial experience with the printing plate - and I love the process. You can see my first prints in the photo above. To add more dimension, I probably will add more paint layers to these sheets.

Carol suggested that we use Kabnet Dry Wax Paper (Deli Wrap) as our substrate. This paper can be purchased via Amazon or at Sam's Club. I really do like the translucent nature of the paper. It enhances the final print. 

There are about 500 sheets in each box of deli wrap. But I'm sure that we can all think of other mixed-media art projects where the deli paper would come in handy.

Pastels: Collage

I recently finished this collage entitled, Pastels. I used both handmade and purchased Washi tape. I may add some words to the collage. I'm still mulling that over.

Consistently Come Up with Great Ideas from the Lifehack site

Image from Lifehack site

If you regularly read my blog, you know that I'm always seeking information on enhancing creativity, innovation - and increasing ideas. I came across a post entitled How to Consistently Come Up with Great Ideas written by Tapha Ngum on the LifeHack site.

Tapha offers an insightful quote from Steve Jobs:

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people.”

Tapha suggests a step-by-step process for consistent idea generation. I like Step 4 in the process. 

Every day, challenge yourself to create an idea quota. Take about 45 minutes to an hour and do nothing but write down ideas related to the area that you have chosen to work on. If it’s ideas for generating innovative blog posts, come up with 50 ideas on unique blog posts within that time frame.

Don’t judge the ideas. Just write them down. Do this task consistently for about ten days. After the ten days are up, analyze your lists and choose the ten best ideas. Check out Tapha's post for more details.

I believe this Idea Quota tool could also work when you want to come up with new ideas for mixed-media art projects.

 

Art Licensing & Networking from Joan Beiriger

I'm passing on this quote that really resonated with me today: "Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."  Napoleon Hill

And, here's an information-rich article from artist Joan Beiriger - Art Licensing Editorial: Why, Where & How to Network. There are many valuable links in her post. Check it out.

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

For Valentine's Day, I created these small matchbox trinkets. The fabrics came from my stash. Before I glued the fabric onto the boxes, I covered them with light-weight cardstock to prevent the glue from seeping through the cloth.

For this art piece, I glued fabric onto a 5" x 7" canvas board. I added ribbon, felt heart shapes and small scraps from the fabric on the right hand side of the canvas.

Wishing You All a Wonderful Valentine's Day! Eat lots of candy.

A Shout Out from The Graphics Fairy

 

Karen, founder of The Graphics Fairy, gave my article, Shabby Chic Book Bundles, which was published in Somerset Life magazine a Shout Out on her blog. Thank You So Much Karen!

Here's the link to the Graphics Fairy post - Published Work - Featured Artist - Darlene Koppel. I used these Graphic Fairy images French Invoice Printable and the French Label Printable for my French-inspired project.

Karen has enhanced the creative life of so many mixed-media artists with her free and beautiful vintage images.

 

Celebrate the Day Butterfly Collage

Yesterday, I finished this collage which I entitled, Celebrate the Day. 

I have a stash of purchased Washi Tape but many times I prefer to make my own handcrafted designs. First, I tinted the tape with blue pigment ink and then stamped some butterflies on top.

Do you use purchased Washi tape or make your own for your mixed-media art projects?

10 Ways to Make Your Art Business Stand Out from Artsy Shark

Image from Artsy Shark site

Carolyn Edlund, founder of Artsy Shark, just posted an informative article on 10 Ways to Make Your Art Business Stand Out.

I especially like her advice on planning and goals:

"When you start a new project, think, 'Does this advance me towards my goal? What results do I want from this? What contacts will I make – and how will I follow up with them?' When you pursue your business plan with focused intent, you will break out from the large group of artists who don’t have focus, and won’t get noticed."

Read Carolyn's article and then choose one of her ideas to start working on today.

French Postmark Script Fabric & the Spoonflower Love Letters Fabric Contest

I entered the Spoonflower Love Letters Fabric Contest and submitted the above design entitled, French Postmark Script (by Darlene Marie).

To create the fabric, I used a lovely Postmark and pink French Stamp image from The Graphics Fairy. I included my own heart image to add a touch of romance. I received my sample fabric swatch from Spoonflower in the mail yesterday. And the fabric is even prettier in person.

If you like my fabric, I would appreciate it if you vote for me on the Spoonflower contest site. 

French Scraps Collage

Yesterday, I finished this collage entitled French Scraps. I incorporated some pages from a vintage Paris Tourist Guide, paint chips, hand-painted papers, French text - and art stamps.

Ron visited the used book store and surprised me with the novel, Dangerous Liaisons - the French version. Now, I have pages and pages of French text to use for my paper art creations.

It's kind of funny. I've been creating mixed-media art for so long that my husband actually knows what ephemera I collect for my art.

What ephemera do you collect?

Valentine Girl Painting

It's February and Valentine's Day will soon be here. In celebration of that day, I created a new painting entitled, Valentine Girl.

I used a combination of watercolor paints and acrylics. Many of my girl paintings include polka dot dresses. I think polka dots are happy designs. That's why I like to include them in my art work. 

What design elements seem to reappear in your own art work?

The Universal Traveler & Creativity

Through my wanderings on the Web, I discovered this now classic book, The Universal Traveler (A Soft-Systems Guide to: Creativity, Problem-Solving, and the Process of Reaching Goals). The book was originally published in 1973 and yet still remains popular today.

The authors, Don Koberg and Jim Bagnall say, "If you wish to solve problems creatively or make your dreams come true, as hundreds of thousands have done in the past, read on."

The book uses the analogy of travel to make the process of problem-solving a familiar activity.

I like what the authors say about creativity: "In brief, creativity doesn't come free. It is not a gift or quirk of birth. Some people don't 'just have it' while others do not. Nor does it come from luck or magic."

"Creativity is learnable behavior requiring steady and determined effort. If you accept the fact that the goal of creativity is innovation, you should realize that creating something 'new' is not normal but different from normal, perhaps even 'abnormal'."

I look forward to learning more about creativity in this book. Check it out!

30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself from Hack Life Blog

Via the Marc & Angel Hack Life Blog (which focuses on Practical Tips for Productive Living), I discovered this inspirational post, 30 Things to Start Doing for Yourself.

I especially liked these two points:

• Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance. – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Most of the time you just have to go for it!  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.

• Start believing that you’re ready for the next step. – You are ready!  Think about it.  You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward.  So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.

Take a few minutes now to read the complete post. Then later, poke around the rest of their site for more inspiration - and informative tidbits.

 

Blue Bird Collage

I just finished creating this Blue Bird Collage. Usually, when I make a collage art piece, I cover the entire background/substrate with decorative papers or images.This time I worked from the center out and I like the final result.

The text page is from an old book entitled, Harrington's Spelling Book, copyright 1895. The book was a gift to a Miss Lossie Alligook. I wonder about all the many people who handled this book since the 1800s. The book is literally falling apart but I think that is what drew me to its pages.