Playing in the Studio

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but my tummy could use a break from all of the eating that I've been doing for the past few days! LOL One of the things that I absolutely love about having Thanksgiving Day at our house...LEFTOVERS for the next few days! There is absolutely nothing like waking up after a kip and walking into the kitchen and making yourself another plate or a big fresh sandwich, popping in some old movies, and settling back in for another kip!

However, I did manage to get up to the Studio and work on ... "My Art Journals." My newest obsession. This lovely art form is such a relaxing and fun way to just let your mind and fingers play. There is no pressure, no final image that you have in your head, no rush, no agenda...it's just you and your Art Journal(s) having fun together. I have noticed that a lot of my pages that I start, just keep getting busier and busier. I like to get a bunch of pages down... collage papers, tissue papers, magazine pages, stencils, found objects to stamp with and of course stamps, before I start adding paint over the images.

As you can see from this picture, I have many Art Journals going at once. I strictly use my Moleskine (to the right), for my sketches and then I will go in and add paint, collages papers, etc. I also go back in and add more depth to my sketches and continue to add more elements to the pages.

This page here is not done...there is so much more to do with this page, but sometimes you want to move on to the next page...so you leave your page for awhile and wait for it to speak to you. This is the beauty of Art Journaling...no rush, just you and your pages whenever your muse speaks to you!

Here are some pages, that for some reason or another, loads up on Blogger sideways...Sorry...can't seem to fix this!

Remember my "DAG" Journal that I had custom made...well over Thanksgiving Break...I broke it out and started adding paint, collage papers, etc. the pages...Magazines are great! You already have them in your arsenal, so why not use them!

This Page I started laying down oil pastels on the pages. Get yourself a box of the Crayola Oil Pastels. You can get a box of 24 different colors for under $8.00! Mix them with paint, water and start finger painting...it's so much fun!

I also did a bit of sculpting...I finished "Weeping Hag" I thought she needed some hair, but she informed me that she didn't want any...so she is bald!

This little thing is not completed. This is part of the 4 part workshop over at www.suziblu.ning.com that Suzi has offered us. My little Skull Girl. I should have her finished up by next weekend.

These little gals..."Alice"... have been in the WIP for awhile now. I am working on some sitter dolls and these are the two that came together over the weekend. I love how the crackle came out these gals. It's so easy to get this effect on cloth & clay. Make sure you get DecoArt One Step Crackle. This product seems to work best for me, but if you have another source...do share!

Okay, who hasn't seen "YOU GOT MAIL?" If you haven't get this movie and add it to your collection. This movie kept me company as worked away in the Studio! LOVE THIS MOVIE! LOL

I sure hope that my Art Journal Pages have inspired you to break open your Art Journals and get busy! Remember, there is no agenda...JUST HAVE FUN and REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU WERE FIVE YEARS OLD...FINGER PAINTING!

UNTIL NEXT TIME

CHEERS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

*****A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL*****

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,is the true measure of our thanksgiving." W.T. Purkiser

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." Albert Barnes
"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got,he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." Frank A. Clark

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup." Sam Lefkowitz

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." W. J. Cameron

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." Albert Schweitzer

"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life." Northrup Christiane

CHEERS!

Monster Swap Exchange, New Workshops and Bella-Dreams Holiday Blog Event

Greetings and Salutations from the Studio.

It's Thursday...One week until Turkey Day! I hope I'm not the only one behind on everything in their lives! LOL So much to do and so little time to get it all done, but hey...Now is NOW and we must live in the moment and that moment is posting on my blog! LOL

Well, our Monster Swap is over and all of the Monsters should be hanging out in their new homes. I know mine is! WHOOOHOOO DellaRae, Bless this artist...Look at my MONSTER! I just love her and she is keeping me company in my studio...watching every move I make and doesn't hesitate to let me know...I need more Java and more Fruit Loops (just because she wants them)...LOL! I want to thank Zan, (a gorgeous little firecracker) who Hosted this wonderful event and my swap partner, DellaRae of www.dellaraedzines.blogspot.com and check out her amazing art dolls over at http://www.dellaraedzines.etsy.com/ for creating such a wonderful Monster for me! I will cherish her forever!

My MONSTER KEEPS ME COMPANY IN MY STUDIO!

It's time for another workshop with the so ever clever Gritty Jane over at www.clothandclay.ning.com. Jane is offering a wonderful workshop for only $15.00. Make sure you check out this awesome workshop. I can't wait to make my dollies for the Holidays!

There is another Blog Event that is coming up shortly. December 5, 2009 to be exact. Denise over at www.bella-dreams.blogspot.com is Hosting a Christmas Event. However, on December 4th she is giving a special preview and hosting a dinner party before the big event! Make sure you stop over and read about the event. Looking forward to seeing every one's creative holiday displays!

If you click on the badge on my side-bar it will take you directly to the Blog Post on the details of this event. Go ahead, click and see the magic that Denise has coming for all of us!

My Continued Journey with my Moleskines

Grab Your Moleskines and Let's Journal...COMING SOON TO THE STUDIO!
Check out www.moleskiners.com I will have announcement coming forthwith! Stay Tuned!

I am so loving my workshops with Suzi Blu www.suziblu.ning.com!

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND CREATIVE WEEK AND WEEKEND

GIGGLE, PLAY and JUST BE!

Until Next Time...

CHEERS!

Taking It Easy...Yeah Right!

Great time to stock up for next year! However, if you are like me, you will have these out ALL YEAR ROUND! WOOOOHOOOO! SKULLS GALORE!

WORKING ON MY JOURNALS...YES, I HAVE ABOUT 4 or 5 GOING at once. I just think of them as my little traveling companions and tuck them in my bag and off we go!

Getting over from being sick...I got out my journals and started to prepare more pages. How I have missed doing this. Just random painting, adding magazine clippings, vintage papers, scrapebooking papers, stamping elements, etc...not really thinking about it to much...just getting the pages covered for the next step...which is lettering!

If you haven't already see Teesha's Videos, hop over to YouTube and put in Teesha Moore. You will get about 12 or so videos that she has recently put up on her journaling techniques. LOVE IT! I'm currently working on 3 regular art journals and 2 Moleskines. My Moleskines are mainly for sketching my portraits from my workshops over at Suzi Blu. (WHICH I ABSOLUTELY AM LOVING). The other journals are for creating random pages with tons of pictures, stamping and collage elements. After watching Teesha's videos, I thought I would get my journals rocking again and try her techniques.

BEWARE...It's ADDICTING!

Try using bubble wrap! Gives your pages great texture!

Here are some pics from My MOLESKINE...God, I love these journals! LOL

Off to learn a new software for our new FORUM over at DAG (Dark Artist Guild)...More to come on that...Stay Tuned!

If you find yourself with idling time, grab your JOURNAL and START SKETCHING! YOU WILL LOVE IT!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND KEEP CREATING ROCKING ART!

CHEERS

Halloween Is Over, But Not For The Studio!

Halloween has come to close, everyone is getting ready for Turkey Day...However, the Studio is alive and well still working on Creepy, Gothic, Spooky Art Dolls and Paintings! I have finished up some pieces that have been collecting in the Studio and needed some fine tuning and embellishments. Here are some completed works from the Studio!

I'm always on the hunt for a SALE, and after Halloween Sales are great...However, I was in need of some foam skulls for my workshop that I'm taking over at www.suziblu.ning.com Didn't come across any, but I found some great ribbon and FABRICS!

I got my painting done from my workshop that I'm taking over at www.suziblu.ning.com

"DAY OF THE DEAD"

Working on my Gothic Series for DAG...Meet Gothic Annie!

"Witches Dance" was created for my Challenge over at DAG

MONSTERS UNDER THE BED

Witches Dance is a Cloth Art Doll with an air dry clay sculpted face. I used numerous collage pages, acrylic paints and beeswax. Her hair is mohair and hand-dyed shawl over her face.

Polly Cloud was hand sculpted out of Polymer Clay and painted with numerous layers of acrylic paints.

I hope you all have a wonderful and creative WEEKEND! Remember, even though a Holiday has passed, it's never to late to create what you love...Halloween art will always be created in my STUDIO all YEAR ROUND!

CHEERS