Inspired by…surface pattern everywhere!

My head is in the clouds these days. I am very deep into my Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design course (module 1)  and loving every minute of it. Designing stationary,logos, womans clothing.. even small,smiling creatures ~ there is a need for surface pattern design everywhere. I am so overwhelmed by it all, but in such a good way.

I love learning. If I can teach my children one thing ~ it is to never stop being fascinated. Never give up the enthusiasm for newness, for the unknown.

I have been so impressed with the ABSPD course to date. It is jammed packed with all sorts of goodness. I find inspiration in it everyday. It has also allowed me the opportunity to meet a whole new crew of like-minded individuals, all willing to share, support…and commisserate when the going gets tough. That makes me very happy…

I have spent the past couple of weeks concentrating on the digital aspect of design. It is a creative facet I have played around with, mostly for photography. It fascinates me…and infuriates me. Hence, my blog neglect. I can only spend so many hours a day on the computer. I have actually had to start wearing my glasses!
I laughed when I caught a glance of my study sheet the other day…full of doodles, mind wandering….
Slight ADD perhaps..or maybe I should say AA.
Where my mind is at..

I should be vacuuming. Why is the dog looking at me that way? What am I doing this all for? Coffeee…I need an assistant …who knows Illustrator!What should I make for dinner?Bang head on counter. I just want to paint. If I draw one more daisy…

The digital aspect has added a whole new load of possibility to my artwork. Nothing like having to choose from a thousand different shades of blue. I almost miss painting and my limited knowledge of color mixing.

 I am also loving the opportunity to add my very own handwork to the digital world.All of my sewing, stamping, sticking and spraying has served me well. All of it can be scanned and added in some dimension. My hand painted dragonfly with a collaged background….what color would you like it in? This one needs more texture, but no problem. Will add it in later (when I learn how:). Lots of possibility in the digital world….

My fav to date though….sketching. I forgot how much I loved sitting down, pen in hand, going for it. So much freedom. I am always a bit hesitant with paintbrush in hand, but give me some ink and ahh…I can just let it all roll.

Have found lots of goodness lately that I would like to share ~

First off. Monica Lee and her smart creative women series.Twice weekly interviews of, well, smart, creative women. Awesome. I love listening to her interviews. Making dinner has never been so inspiring. She also makes me laugh.

Secondly… Lynda Weinman and her software tutorial site Lynda.com This site is chock-a-block full of tutorials geared towards the digital world. Photoshop, Illustrator, Aperature…endless learning opportunities. The beauty of this site though is that they charge you a  minimal monthly fee for unlimited usage. I like a good deal and this is definitely one!

Very busy, but  a great couple of weeks. Spring has sprung, the days are long and life is busy. School is out in a month! The time to get all of this done is…NOW!

I will try to blog, but if you don’t hear from me, send me a quick hello on my facebook page. A quick hello and a smile, always makes me happy. Comment with your fan page so I can like you….if I havent already. I am loving having all of my creative connections in one place. I like to know what you are up to at all times!

Have a great weekend!

Inspired by…mother natures fancy free business card

I am often amazed at what mother nature can create. She is a bit of a funny lady…

Twenty photos later of just this one flower…who his laughing now!? She has definitely captured my attention.

I have spent many an hour sketching flowers this past week for my surface pattern design course. It has made me stop to think what is it that I really love about them.

I love their carefree whimsical nature, their texture, their odd shapes.

I love them in any color…especially complementary colors!

I love the attention they demand.They are little pieces of artwork onto themselves.

My friend Lori who is hosting this months flower challenge refers to flowers as natures way of smiling. I like that!

Still patiently waiting for the flowers to bloom here. Mother nature is a bit of a tease….hot, sunny weather all week, but still no leaves or a flower in sight!

Still having fun in the sun…

Inspired by…making mistakes.

My brain is fried. You know that feeling..eyes strained, mind foggy, head woozy…

Paint fumes? I wish!

No, I have been sitting in front of a computer for 4 hours… I know for some of you that is nothing, but for a gal like me that spends maybe a couple of hours a day max, flipping through tabs, surfing pinterest,catching up on the latest blog…  todays mental thought process was exhausting.

Welcome to my new life in the surface pattern design world….Today,I was digi deep into Illustrator and Photoshop.I had two computers, a camera and a scanner on the go. I felt like quite the techie. I also felt way out of my element with many a thought about the futility of it all….

My happy place…

I am 3 weeks in to The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. I have been sketching, stitching, sticking and stamping up a storm. I have been deep into discovery playing with different mediums and marks. I  have been very happy covered in glue and paint.

But, who’s kidding who. This is just a form of procrastination for what I really should be doing now. Tackling Photoshop and Illustrator…the digi world that I have felt lurking in the background.

I need to get all of this hands on goodness into the computer…

Wouldnt he just look so much better full of color?

Our ABSPD Flicker pool is becoming full of digital goodness.I have been quite a good contributor, posting all of my sketching and such, but at week 3 we are a little beyond that now. As a  perpetual student I don’t like to fall behind.. I like to be at the front of the class, hand waving in the air.

So here are my first attempts at digital. For prosperity sake…

Ta da! My first ever digital pattern. I am laughing now as I could have at least scattered them around…but then, I didnt know how…I do now! Practice

A little color…..

My first ever color palette..on photoshop.. made from one of my photos. Ok, I know I have done something wrong as the colors are way too bright. I think I am suppose to change them to RGB for the web.Patience

See what I mean?  Hours of learning to be had…Perseverance

I have so many colorful ideas going on in my head…now to get them into this world.

Practice~ Patience~ Perseverance

Keep reminding me…..

Inspired by…sunlit sugar magnolia

One of my all time favorites…

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell, caught up in sunlight, come on out singing I’ll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey, come along with me.

Shes got everything delightful, she’s got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight, lazing in the sunshine yes
Indeed.

Everybody loves a bunch of flowers ..here is my bouquet for you!

Wouldn’t you love to have a branch or two of these in your entrance way…

And thats only from one tree! Imagine a boulevard lined with these…

Only in beautiful Vancouver , B.C. ~ April showers brings an explosion of May Magnolia flowers…

Do you have some flowers to share? Anything goes.. print, paper, paint and even jewelled.

Head on over to Lori Moon’s blog and join in her May Flower Challenge.

The sun is shining here. The birds are singing. I can even here a lawn mower…

Do I dare say spring is here!?

Inspired by…a case of artistic affliction

I feel a bit of artistic affliction coming on. My blood pressure is up, glue and paper everywhere,ideas are overflowing, I cant sleep… truth be told, I am dreaming in patterns. I have experienced this feeling many times before. First with Flora Bowley and her brave, intuitive way of painting and now with Rachael Taylor and her surface pattern design course.

I know you have heard it all before…. and probably seen it too. But, I am seriously awestruck everytime it all falls apart. It blindsides me! I get caught up in the creative process and BAM..my everyday life starts to fall apart around me. I get lost in my “other” world.

I am stitching, sticking ,stamping, sketching…and now scanning myself into another world. It It is wreaking havoc with my “real” life. Worse still ~ it is destroying my house.

There is sewing happening on the dining room table. There is some stamping and sticking going on in my studio. A bit of  sketching in the living room, Some scanning by the computer. It is mayhem…and I love it

I spared you a shot of the floor because it is even worse.

Tonight it all finally fell apart. The dog came in soaking wet and plopped himself down in the middle of it all.

I lost it….

Something must be done.

I poured myself a big glass of wine, sat myself down amongst it all and observed the situation at hand.  The only way I could see to control the (beautiful) mess was to move up. I need to get things off the floor, off the desk and away, yet I still need to have my work  accessible and front and center. Strategic patience has taught me to leave my work alone and let it slowly develop, but, it must be seen by me. Moments of creativity happen fast around here and I have to be able to react…efficiently and effectively.

My crafty solution…

A bit of airplane wire, some aluminum sleeves, a wire cutter,clothespegs, a couple of nails and a hammer and things are ,literally, looking up…

Stretch the wire, insert and wrap around the aluminum sleeve. Make a loop and  pinch it shut. Hang wire in a reltively straight line on wall, secure with nail on either end.

Clothespeg your art to the wire and there you have it. A”whateveryouwouldliketocallit” wall art display system. The wire is able to withstand quite a bit of weight and keeps everything up off the desk and floor, but easily accessible and within sight.

I then decided to really work the wall and added some “inspiration” clipboards.Anything goes…

Got a little carried away and also made a wire hanger for extra paper I have lying around…

It is probably obvious by now, but I grew up with Ikea.

Ahh…feeling a wee bit better. I have everything off the floor. I have spent a moment and organized my paints back to their shelf.Exacto knife away. I have even taken the paintbrushes out of the water container. Poor things must be water logged by now.

I feel I can breate a bit easier ,my head’s a bit clearer and its definitely safer around here. However, It is by no means finished ….

This pile is growing rapidly. Sketch upon sketch upon sketch.

This is going to need a system…and soon!

As always, any and all organizational suggestions/links are welcome. We need to conquer our scattered ways!

See you again soon!

Inspired by…april showers,may flowers and a little skunk

April showers bring May flowers. Well one can only hope..

Around here all my flowers are painted…not planted. Forecast calling for snow flurries tomorrow. I smile only because it’s almost funny. I dare Mother nature…

In our neck of the woods April showers also brings Skunk Cabbage! A sure sign that more spring is right around the corner..followed by more spring like weather. Lots of spring around here.

Pretty~ Pretty smelly.

Western skunk cabbage is also known as swamp lantern. How pretty is that name?  Want to take a guess as to why its called skunk cabbage? Thats right…for the skunky odor it emits. A favorite saying around our town

You know you’re a local when….when you actually love the smell of skunk cabbage swamp lantern.

I do! For me its Whistler…its spring. A sign of summer to come.

I went for a dog walk yesterday to take pictures of things inspiring me. I knew that once I was out in the fresh air all thoughts of warm breezes,sunny days, bluebird sky would dissipate. Because, truth be told, I am actually quite inspired by death and decay.

I don’t know why..I love the antique, distressed feel, the organic shapes formed?? Maybe its just the experience of getting out there in the rain, at one with nature (insert eye roll).
Soft smelling skunk, a light mist rolling over the mountains and lake, many shades of gray, the anticipation of summer, my goofy dog…..or maybe it’s just my rose-colored glasses. Whatever it is ~ it makes me smile.

Whenever I need a hit of inspiration I get out my camera and start with my birch. I love my birch. They have been the subject of many a photo shoot. Look at all the lovely layers of paper…which of course have made their way into my daily collage.



It’s all good. I don’t know if I could imagine a life without seasons.

Thanks today goes out to Lori Moon. I started this blog post to participate in her May Flower challenge. Look where it led me…to a fine, appreciation of this gloomy rainy day!
If you would like to play along or just need a dose of prettiness, go on over to her blog and have a look!
I hope you have on your rose-colored glasses today! (especially if you live in the pacific northwest:)

Inspired by…this big, wonderful, bloggin’ world

I am not sure how I missed it, but I did. My 100th post. This is it!

Nine months ~ 100 posts~ 17,500 views. All this with only a few hiccups, a bit of cursing, maybe some time spent questioning why and just a few moments of social insecurity…why didnt they comment? how come that post didn’t get a LIKE? why is no one tweeting me?…aghhh…

I am proud to say I am over all that now. I don’t even check my stats!

Just having a proud moment….

I am not sure exactly what it all means, other than I have spent a lot of time blogging.  I am not sure what I am expecting when I hit publish but I am hoping for something BIG. A little confetti and some streamers would be nice too.Maybe a prize? A cheque would be awesome for time spent well, blogging.

I would be very happy with a comment or two wishing me well!

Because when all is said and done… that is the main reason I blog. To connect with other like-minded souls about art, photography and all things creative.That has been my goal all along and I feel that it has been accomplished! I have connected and developed friendships with people from all over the world. I have even been fortunate to meet a few of my online friends in real time and have plans to meet more. I blog now because I just plain old enjoy it. Eventually I am hoping to expand and develop it further, but for now I am content.

And without further ado… Its Friday and time for a little ponder as to what made my heart sing this week.

Ta..da! First and foremost~ I was awarded the Versatile Blogger award! I had the honor of accepting this from the lovely Liza Zeni, another online friend all the way from Australia. A woman I have yet to meet, but feel like I know so much about already. I know our paths will cross one day ~only because I am going to make it happen!

I have to be honest it’s not the first time I have received this award. Sorry. The first time was from Nancy of Delight-filled Leaves. Unfortunately, it was right before Christmas and life was a wee bit to hectic around here to blog. So here I am again (blushing) with appreciation. Thank you girls! Once again I cannot express my gratitude for our community. Look out for the Versatile Blogger blog post next week!

This week also saw the start of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. So far, I have loved every minute.  I have been sketching up a storm. The ideas just keep coming! In my heart of hearts I just know this is the right direction…whatever that might be?

I believe this is going to be my longest post ever….

Finally, this sweet thing…

My lovely 14 yr old daughter~ the she devil herself.

Ok, maybe it wasnt nice to add horns to her, but trust me, as any mother would know, teenage daughters are a breed onto themselves. I added the horns to her a few years ago while we were away travelling on a 6 month sabbatical together. She was a little too over dramatic for my liking back then.

This week though, she is a star in my books. I watched her rise and shine. I had many a proud moment. She is growing up to be a beautiful, sensible and way too smart young woman. Look out!

Wow. I think I could go on, but I wont. Life is good right now. Things are changing fast, but everyone is up for the game.

As your week comes to an end, I hope it finds you happy, healthy and feeling a little blissful. If you would like to share please join us over at Livs blog with your own little Bliss list.

Have a great weekend!

 

Inspired by….playing with color, a tutorial!

What a week! If I had have known what the past week had in store for me I may have increased my caffeine levels a bit.

Lots of very big changes are happening here around our household. All plans in the making up until now, all talk and dreaming rather than action ~ until this past weekend ~ I am not sure what lit the spark, but trust me when I say it has been ignited.  Its go time. The next 6 months will be full of lots of positive change for us as a family.

Pick up the phone and start dialing…

I wont share too many details right now, but they include lots of moving parts. Moving homes, moving lives, moving ~ a 5 year plan is in place. Lots of balls in the air, now just a matter of timing and making sure they all fall in the right places.

Ah.. the ball in the air metaphor. A favorite around this household..

My husband thrives with all his balls in the air. I like mine lined up in a row, preferably color coded and all the same size. The only similarities between us being that we both like momentum and lots of it….

Enough about me. Oh,wait, this blog is about me…it may be the only thing that’s all about me. The rest of me has somehow become all divvied up between life and family.

Today, in my world, my issue is with color. This is not a new issue, but one that I am slowly discovering needs to be addressed. I have the books, the links and all the information I need to be a master colorist. Now is the time to actually absorb all that I have read and instead of haphazardly throwing color around, placing it where it is supposed to be so that my paintings start to SING. Oh goodness…

Somehow it just seems easier to go out and buy the perfect shade!

But, no,I have been told, many times, I only need 12 colors ~ with a bit of black and white mixed in.

Taking that in mind I set out on an exercise to understand just how many colors can be mixed with 12 colors, a bit of titanium white, titan buff and black. This lesson was a little something I picked up from Julie Pritchard. Check out her site for some great online art courses!

All you need here is some white paper, a few transparencies, paintbrush and paint.

On the top of your white paper and transparencies write out your colors and a dark line

Along the side of your transparency and white paper write the following…

pure, white, white++, titan buff, titan buff ++, black, white +, titan buff+

Grab your paints, paintbrush and palette.I used 24 colors because I am not very good at following directions. I laid out my paints according to the color wheel, starting with my yellows and working clockwise to green, blues..and so forth.

Using the example above with Quin Magenta

First square = paint a square of pure color.

Square below= add quin magenta with a bit of white mixed in.

Square below = added the quin magenta+ white + a bit more white. ( ++ white)

Square below = add quin magenta+ titan buff

Square below = add quin magenta + white + a bit more white ( ++titan buff)

Square below = add quin magenta + black

Square below = add quin magenta + black + white

Final square = add quin magenta+ black + titan buff

Proceed on..complete above exercise with all colors. It takes time, but you will be very happy with the results!

1 color + white, titan buff + black = 8 colors

I completed this exercise using 24 colors I had on hand which  = 192 colors.

THIS is before I even began to mix colors…which I wont be doing, but will definitely take into consideration the next time I dive deep into my pocket to buy yet another tube of the perfect shade of green!

Imagine the possibilities!

Why the transparency you ask?

Ever feeling a little lost wondering what color to add to your painting, maybe a little stuck wondering what color to use for glazing, or simply wondering how transparent/opaque your color really is??

The transparent color chart is your friend!

Well friends, that’s all I have to share today. Come back soon for more color info over the next few weeks. Don’t hesitate to comment if you need further explanation!

Off to hit “publish” and wait for the phone to start ringing…..

Inspired by …a little spontaneous expression

For Illustration Friday
Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday on the Illustration Friday site. Then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. Anyone is free to join, regardless of skill or experience – just draw!!

This weeks challenge ~ Puzzled.

The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science ~ Erich Fromm

Playing with a bit of spontaneous expression for this challenge. A bit of spontaneous mark-making, mindless scribbling if you will, with ink on paper.

Lets see what happens…

Add more marks, obliterate others (its only paint!) discover shapes, follow your intuition..explore.
 Add some color..

A color paint chip that has been pegged up on my inspiration board for some time now. Colors I would not usually use, but am intrigued by.

Recipe ~ alizarian crimson, yellow oxide, carbon black, titan buff and titanium white.
(ok…I know there is no yellow in the chip, but I just happen to have some slowly drying out on my palette so thought.. waste not..why not?)

A little spontaneous expression for you!

I can imagine you may be a bit puzzled as to how this all fits into the topic “puzzled”

Well, for me, this whole idea of spontaneous drawing ~ intuitive painting ~ is really just a matter of putting together the pieces of a puzzle. You have your marks, your shapes and your colors. Play with them ~ Move your paper around, discover shapes, add more marks  take away (paint over!) those that are not working. Follow your intuition. It either fits or is doesn’t!

A perfect quick and dirty art journal exercise. Challenge yourself with new colors and  new marks. Be free and most importantly be prepared to possibly discover something new and fantastic!

I am off to find more info on this topic so that I can expand on this topic at a later date. If you have any interesting links on intuitive painting, expressive drawing, spontanous expression…I would love to have a read. This intuitive road to creation definitely intrigues me!

Until next week…

Inspired by…a bit of creative living

I have my little bliss list all ready to go. I am enjoying the moment it takes to stop and reflect  on all the things I am grateful for. Keeps the spin on life positive.

I have to admit I was a bit down at the beginning of the week. It always takes me a little while to recover from vacation time. I love all the change, excitement and discovery that comes with a holiday. I am a creature of habit and tend to get a little stuck in my old ways and routine here at home. I need and crave the fresh perspective that comes with a little change.

Feeling happy now and really making an effort to add a little something new into each and every day. I am calling it Creative Living

Make creative thinking a part of your daily life. Ask questions. Vary routines. Do the unexpected. Creativity becomes more accessible when you learn to act more impulsively in your everyday life. Change starts your creative juices flowing and makes you more observant of whats going on around you. Nita Leland

So my first little big bliss this week ~ Mixing things up to spice it up.

Very appreciative of the time I have had this week to sit and be still. Spent lots of time observing with my camera and then pen in hand. Lots of journaling…

A little collage…Slowly getting back on track with my daily collage.

Also fely very lucky this week to have a little extra special bliss from the lovely Dion Dior and Luminarte . I won a spot in her Mastering Twinkling H20s class!  I am always grateful for the online creative community that I have become a part of. It is such an encouraging (and generous!)  gathering spot to hang out.

Have a look at Dion’s blog for more inspiration! She creates really beautiful work usually accompanied by some inspirational thoughts.. You will definitely be hearing more about this class from me!

As your week comes to an end, I hope it finds you happy, healthy and feeling a little blissful. If you would like to share please join us over at Livs blog with your own little Bliss list.

Have a happy weekend my friends!