Hi again, how are you doing this week?
Can you believe Autumn is almost here? For me it means back to my teaching schedule and visiting as many of you as possible! So, would you like to take some Finnabair classes?
Here is your chance! Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain and Scotland are on the list followed with Australia and New Zealand... I couldn't be more excited!
9 September 2018 - Classes at the Skaparlusten, Sjobo, Sweden - bookings here!
21-23 September 2018 - Classes at De Scrapheap, The Netherlands - bookings here!
29-30 September 2018 - Classes at PEQUEÑUS SCRAPBOOKin Valencia, Spain - bookings here!
27-28 October 2018 - Classes at The Mad Scrapper, Edinburgh, Scotland - bookings here!
When we are about to go on holiday, usually we can pack limited supplies only, so many people decide not to create. But holidays are so relaxing that many people are more inspired and could joyfully let themselves to express their creativity. Tanyalee shows us that it is possible to create great art-journal spread with very limited supplies. We hope you would feel inspired <3
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Welcome back to another art journaling tutorial with Tanyalee. Today I am using minimal products to make a dramatic art journal spread.
My art journal pages typically start with laying down ephemera such as magazine clippings, book pages, text, tissue paper or gift wrap – and this spread is no different. I use Soft Matte Gel as an adhesive and to seal the collage so that wet media does not ruin them.
My second layer is generally acrylic paint in coordinating colours to the collage. In this case I have used Art Alchemy Impasto paints in Pitch Black and Azure. One of my favourite ways to use these paints is to blend them with my fingers and to spray them with water to create drips down the page.
I also love to add details to my spreads using dots and ink. Today I have used Opal Magic paint and Metallique Paint using the end of a paint brush, as well as white acrylic ink with a nib pen to create free illustrations.
And to finish off the spread I hand scripted a phrase, and added some ink splatters, because no page is finished without splatters!
And here is my video tutorial:
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial, and I look forward to sharing another tutorial with you again next month.
Hi again my friends.
Oh, what a week it was! More journal pages are done, mind-blowing journaling class with Amanda Grace at The Pilgrim Soul Studio in Sligo, and then finally some good time with friends and the beginning of the pickling season - looks like I was busy!
From all that, making some time for creativity was a priority for me. Intentionally I was trying hard to carve some time to literally stick dome things together and get some pages done - just for my own sanity, pleasure and enjoyment. I was writing a longer post on this topic 2 weeks ago - you can check it here - and now I'm coming back with more pages from my Summerbook - and a bunch of thoughts on the journaling process. And today I'm back with more.
What I confirmed during the RAW art journaling class with Amanda, was the conclusion that we all have our own creative vocabulary - a way of expressing our emotions, feelings and thoughts. What is important and fascinating - if you will let your subconsciousness take control over the creative process you will realise some of the patterns in your works will repeat. We may be using the same set of techniques over and over. Or colour palette. Or certain kind of imaginery. Or tools. You can call it a "creative comfort zone" or "personal style" but what they really are our "words" helping us project our feelings and inner narration onto our artwork, making it visible to others. They are our own creative language, and taking some time to analyze this aspect of our creativity may be really beneficial and inspiring.
It is all starting at the moment when we are gathering our elements and supplies.
No matter how much we love to try new products and techniques there always will be things which will finally land on our table. There is no point in fighting with them - they will come back anyway. I'm sure you know what I mean - even if we are experimenting with new ideas, there will be always something "old" showing through them. And there is nothing wrong with that! Our "vocabulary" will evolve, naturally change in time, some aspects of creations will be more important for us, some choices more natural and easier than others. What is important here we shouldn't be forcing it and pushing ourselves too hard. Being upset with "similarities". It would be better to think there are some stories which still want to be told and this language is the right one to do it... maybe you should explore the topic a bit more? Think through it and see why things are going a certain way? Is it just because it is the "only way you know" or maybe - there is something much deeper in it? And - are they really so "similar" to each other anyway? If you put your heart into them - I'm sure they are not! If there is a need to discover new lands and explore new things - the creative language will naturally start to change, new ideas will stick to your mind, you will be tempted to try colours, techniques or images you've never used before. You will play and create new meanings, new stories and simply - make art the way you like it at the very moment!
Let's take a look at the journal pages I've posted today.
My resources and techniques used were really limited. I've used similar images and tools... Yes, they are ones which are easy to pack and take with me anywhere - but there are some of my "all-time favourites" - naturally! I can agree they are all in a similar mood - but they are certainly telling very different stories!
I like to think the meaning of the artwork, or as I call it - the "story"- is in the eye of the beholder. I create my collages or journal pages expressing my feelings and thoughts, they are my way of communicating with you all, but they are open to interpretation. I can give you some visible hints - but even if I'd like, I cant capture exactly all the nuances which are the ingredients of these projects. It's really up to you what you will see there, projecting your own personality on them. And this is the beauty of creating and admiring the artwork!
What are my "staple" elements in art journaling then? My creative vocabulary? Found objects - I'm sure. They may be just old papers with handwritten notes, pressed flowers or rusty metal parts - but for me, they are all precious an meaningful. As you can see threads and old labels are at the top of the list, recently!
Next - images of people, possibly vintage ones or ones of my family or friends. It may sound a bit creepy, but I LOVE using the photos of the people who are long gone. For me, it is like writing their life story over and over again so they will be never forgotten...
Next favourite - limited colours, often including tea stain brown. Sometimes I think it would b enough just to use this tea infuse, some pen or pencil, and I would be happy with the result. (But - why not?). Other important colours would be red and shades of blue, purple and grey. They just want to go on the page - and I don't fight with them!
One more - dots, splatters and circles. They are perfect, dynamical elements of composition and great finishing touches. Love them all.
Finally - texture! Fabric, paste or paper - it doesn't matter to me but there has to be something for the colour to stick to and stay on. I love the staining effects, different colour saturation depending on the background, the beauty of the layers. I can't help it - and as I said before, it is pointless to fight with that!
There is one more thing that seems to bind all of my journaling pages together - Gesso. The most popular and basic art supply, which makes all the magic possible and creates the best surface to work on with colour and finishing touches. It also does a great job for covering some parts of the projects you don't like that much... I can't imagine working without it!
If you'd like to learn more about different kinds of Gesso and get some tips and ideas - check this FB Live below! I was inspired by the hints and questions you were leaving onr me in Instagram and Facebook - so thank you again for the help!
Here are the links to the products I was talking about - all available in Mixed Media Place Store - and many of your local and online stores as well!
What is your creative vocabulary?
Your habits and techniques you came back to, over and over again? Something you can't imagine work without? Let me know!
I hope I was able to inspire you a bit...
Sending love and hugs
Hello friends,
Are you overwhelmed by the heat wave we have now throughout Europe? We are. Maybe you will feel a little bit of cool breeze, when you take a look at Scandinavia inspired canvas created by our lovely Karolina. The colours are cold and with our artistic, creative imagination, one could think of snow... What a relief, isn't it? Even if only for a moment.
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Today I want to show you canvas in cool colors. I created it after a holiday spent in Norway - I'm completely in love with this country. I tried to convey Scandinavian harsh climate and land forms.
I began my work on canvas I've started creating some time ago. I remember that I applied Art Extravagance – Texture Paste – Graphite through a stencil, and then I made a composition using incredible papers, a piece of frame created with a mold, 7 Dots Studio's stickers and some other tiny goodies. I usually race against time, so I added a piece of clock coloured with Texture Fantasy colors from different sets. I truly love turquoises, Anemone and Coral and Northern Lights sets.
These are my favorites, which are Yours?
Art Alchemy – Impasto Paint – Jade matches these pastes so well and I decided to use it at the background. To make my project a bit warmer I added „Gold” and „Copper” Mica Powders. They match perfectly matte effect of Impasto paint and pastes. Mica shines just like the sun. Tip: to make it shine even more, mix Mica Powder with Gel Medium Glass or add a tiny bit of water.
To fill blank spaces in the background I used something you can do at home or at holidays – splashes, splashes and splashes! Art Alchemy – Impasto Paint – Pitch Black and Snow White and Art Alchemy – Metallique – Steampunk Copper did it great. Remember! The fewer colors, the easier the work. I have chosen calm, subtle and harmonized color palette, but the holiday mode allows me to create less expressive projects, more vivid and vibrant.
Art Alchemy Waxes always make just the perfect finish of every project!
I highlighted with them all the dark elements of my composition and the effect was stunning. You should really try this trick!
