Cinnamon Pink

Fixing Mistakes in Watercolor Paintings from ThoughtCo

Via ThoughtCo, I happened upon this article on How to Fix Mistakes & Make Changes in Watercolor Paintings written by Lisa Marder. Lots of helpful ideas here! I was especially interested in the following tip from Marder:

"Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is an amazing cleaning product that looks like a white sponge and that when moistened is a stable polymer abrasive that acts like an ultra fine sandpaper to remove stains, dirt, grime, and even paint pigment from in between the fibers of paper!"

"Be sure to use the Original brand, because later versions have additional chemical cleaners in them that aren't good for your paper or painting. The original sponge, though works purely physically. When damp it easily lifts the watercolor paint from the surface enabling you to go back in and repaint the area you've erased."

Read the rest of the post for more great ideas on correcting watercolor painting mistakes.    

Paper Scrap Page Edges in Your Art Journal

Happy Memorial Day to All!

Often I will cover the edges of the pages, in my Art Journal, with washi tape to add both color and interest.

Recently I viewed a You Tube tutorial where the host suggested covering the edges of journal pages with paper scraps. Not only does it eliminate the blank page syndrome but it adds a riot of color to unadorned pages. You can also use up all those small paper scraps left over from collage projects.

Alternately cut or tear the paper pieces before you glue them down in your journal. Washi tape works well too with the paper scraps.

 

Staying Inspired from Designer Megan Auman

While visiting Pinterest, I happened upon this article source on SEVEN IDEAS FOR STAYING INSPIRED: THE CARE AND FEEDING OF CREATIVE MINDS  written by designer, Megan Auman. She says that, "Taking in inspiration is the key to creative energy, in much the same way that taking in food is essential for life."

Here are a few of her ideas for staying inspired that caught my interest:

• "LOOK FOR INSPIRATION BEYOND YOUR CATEGORY.......The reason we have a copycat problem is because when most people head off in search of inspiration to design something new, they start with their own product category. They head to Pinterest and search for the thing it is they’re trying to make. This is the opposite of bringing in healthy inspiration."

 

• "BUY BOOKS. I am one of those people that firmly believes that books should never replace screens......However, books force you to focus on really looking and taking in inspiration. There are no online notifications popping up, asking you to go look at something else."

 

• "GO SHOPPING. Spending time in stores is essential if you’re trying to sell what you make. It helps you see how products are merchandised. It helps you spot trends. It lets you observe how people interact with products for sale. And, if you pick the right stores, it can give you a burst of high quality inspiration...... When you go shopping, step outside your category.....You’ll get more creative ideas by looking at products and displays from other categories."

Check out the complete article for more great ideas.

Capture Your Creative Ideas: from Time Magazine

I continue to be mystified by the why and how of creative ideas. Therefore, I was interested in the TIME post, Strokes of Genius: Here’s How the Most Creative People Get Their Ideas written by Eric Barker. In the article, he says:

Researcher Vera John-Steiner wanted to know: What nourishes sustained productivity in the lives of creative individuals? She interviewed over 70 living creative geniuses and analyzed the notebooks of 50 geniuses from the past (including Tolstoy, Einstein, etc.) to look at their work habits. 

She assumed her work was going to end up as a review of Eureka! moments in the greatest creative minds. But she was completely wrong. "Eureka! moments turned out to be a myth. John-Steiner found that strokes of genius happened over time. A great idea comes into the world by drips and drabs, false starts, and rough sketches."

"Creativity started with the notebooks’ sketches and jottings, and only later resulted in a pure, powerful idea. The one characteristic that all of these creatives shared— whether they were painters, actors, or scientists— was how often they put their early thoughts and inklings out into the world, in sketches, dashed-off phrases and observations, bits of dialogue, and quick prototypes."

"Instead of arriving in one giant leap, great creations emerged by zigs and zags as their creators engaged over and over again with these externalized images."

Check out the complete article for more ideas - and then break out your sketch book and start capturing your ideas.

Collage Girl: Art Journal Page

Many times before I begin a series of art work, I enjoy creating a quick collage or painting. I did this quick collage today, in my small Moleskine Art Journal, before I begin my series of collage pieces.

The face and arms come from two different magazines/catalogs.

Improve Your Acrylic Paintings: from ThoughtCo.

Here's a helpful article I found - via the ThoughtCo. site - Twenty-Two Mistakes to Avoid When Painting. The tips come from artist Brain Simons. I'll list just a few of his acrylic painting suggestions but do check the link for more ideas.

• "Using repetitive brush strokes: the latter puts the viewer to sleep. Use a variety of brush strokes.

 

• Changing to small brushes: stay with the larger brushes as long as possible.

 

• Using too many colors: use three or four colors with white paint and see how many variations you can arrive at.
  

 

• Thinking too much: painting is a doing, feeling thing and not a thinking, intellectual thing."

Great information. Check it out.

 

Scribble Sketch: Art Journal Page

Here's a quick scribble sketch that I did using a Stabilo All pencil in my small Moleskine art journal.

Butterfly: Art Journal Page

First, I sketched the butterfly in my small moleskine art journal. Then I added the black accents. To add color, I sprayed on DecoArt Media Misters in Turquoise (Shimmer) and Primary Magenta.

What I like about the DecoArt Media Misters is that the colors are permanent when they are dry. You don't have to be concerned about the colors reactivating if you apply more mediums to your substrate.

Prepping Art Journal Pages with Wall Paint

Instead of prepping my small Moleskine Art Journal pages with gesso, I used Valspar Satin paint (purchased in a sample jar size). The paint color is a very light pink called Exaltation.

To add more color and dimension, I sprayed on some DecoArt Media Mister in Primary Magenta and mixed it into the paint. The photo doesn't show the distinct colors very well.

I prefer to use the lighter shades of Valspar paint. When I used darker shades, the dried paint looked dull - and the resulting color wasn't very attractive.

Happy Mother's Day 2017

Happy Mother's Day, especially to those moms of Fur Babies.

Needless to say, my two editors didn't appreciate posing for Mother's Day photos. Tia has her attitude on for the above picture.

Teddie was just a bit more cooperative. My husband said I was making him into a fruitcake with the flowers on his head.

Enjoy Your Day!

Abstract Painting Tips from Artists Network

Check out the interesting tips in the post on Creative Layering Techniques for Abstract Painting via Artists Network.

Here are some inspiring ideas from artist, Genady Arkhipau that I plan to try:

• "Work on the floor. Outside or inside — it doesn’t matter, but I have to have enough room to move around the piece."
• "Warm up for about an hour with drawing, which helps me loosen up and reach that degree of careless confidence and get in the zone."
• "Work on up to five pieces, one at a time, with the one in the middle usually being the best of the bunch."
• "Start with a theme and build out radically when abstract painting." 
• "I get creative ideas while working, and I explore my creative hunches when they come my way."

Make sure you read the complete article for even more ideas from other artists.

 

 

Creating Fashion Sketches with Nail Polish: from My Modern Met

Image from  My Modern Met - Artist Chan Clayrene 

Recently I was looking for tutorials on sketching fashion designs when I came across the work of artist Chan Clayrene (of Artclaytion) on My Modern Met. I was mesmerized by her beautiful illustrations. Surprisingly, she "uses nail polishes, both matte and sparkly, as the ink for her glamorous illustrations of haute couture gowns." One of her illustrations is shown above.

You can see more of her lovely work by visiting this post, Artist Creates Dazzling High Fashion Sketches with Carefully Coated Nail Polish. Although, Clayrene doesn't provide the details of her process, she does encourage artists to experiment.

Check out the complete article then pull out your favorite bottles of nail polish and get to work. I know that I'm going to try this idea.

Improve Your Lettering Skills from EmptyEasel

Via EmptyEasel, I discovered this post on Three Ways to Improve Your Calligraphy & Lettering Skills written by Phawnda Moore 

One of the tips that I want to work on again is to draw inspirational quotes or phrases....The author suggests working with uplifting words, famous artists, or one-sentence quotes.

Check out the complete article for more ideas.

Art Journaling with Decorative Napkins

I can't believe that so many days have passed since I last blogged. Life has been hectic around here. I've also been doing a lot of de-cluttering in the house recently. It's a great way to freshen up your surroundings.

Last week, our Tidewater Artists Group (TAG) held our monthly Art Journaling session at member Stephanee's home.We always have a group meal before making art. 

Stephanee provided such lovely napkins with the meal that most of us incorporated them into our art journal pages. I coated the napkins with two layers of matte medium. However, when I painted the face on this substrate, the surface was still soft. 

Next time I'm going to coat the napkin pages with clear gesso which is a much stronger medium.