Big Fat Art with Jane Davies

Meet Jane.

Jane is fun, quirky, straightforward, very creative and a whole lot spontaneous!

I had the pleasure of spending all last week with Jane Davies on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. Three days of Big Fat Art and another two of Monoprinting with the infamous Gelliplate. I was definitely in my happy place spending long days just creating with no means to an end, making unexpected marks, combining new colours and exploring lots of layers.

A little ukulele playing did not hurt the process….

We spent the week exploring fast, carefree mark-making with various mark making tools, charcoal, water-colour crayons, ink and pastel. We combined unexpected colours, playing with opaque and transparent colours. We added texture through the use of paint and handmade collage papers.We learned how to add lots of depth to our work. We even added a few drips here and there.

We had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun.

Most importantly though we silenced the inner critic within and created with no concern for what is right and what is wrong.

To be truthful, it wasn’t easy. It can be a little disconcerting to try new things and work against principles that have been ingrained in you by every art teacher and book out there.

What I loved about Jane was her constant encouragement to push past what we already know and try something different, and her love for the creative process versus the finished outcome.

For me that included No imagery – no flowers, birds or other whimsical things flying around and, gasp, maybe putting some purple in my work.

Ok, some things I just couldn’t manage to push myself past, BUT look how awesome it looks below with the reds and yellows!

This, once again, reminds me of the importance of keeping an art journal. A safe place to try out new marks, colours and techniques. A place to make some really bad art with hopefully some unexpected surprises of greatness!

Here are a few of my works in progress. A few things I learned about myself:

I love strong, bold colour. I love texture, but not necessarily patterned texture. I love depth.I love discovering little marks hiding underneath different layers.I love organic shapes. I love a wee bit of black in my work. I love contrast.

I am a wee bit scared of the abstract. I still don’t feel comfortable with the tension it often adds to work.

I also learned that I need to add more areas of rest and lightness to my work. I need to take a deep breath and work on the details of each smaller piece within the bigger whole, to be more mindful and to slow down and sit with a piece before I call it finished. I need to add more interestingness to my work either by contrast, line or layering.

What a great week! I could spend all day, everyday, creating.

For more info on Jane please visit her website. Do not miss out on her tutorials tab. Jane is very generous with her knowledge and discoveries and has dozens of great video tutorials to share. Small doses of creative inspiration!

She also offers online and real life workshops. Sign up for her newsletter for more info on upcoming courses.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email.

Have a great week! I hope the sun is shining and the autumn leaves are in full color for you.

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Global Talent Search 2014 RoundUp!

I am very happy to be able to share lots of goodness with you today!
A big thank you and shout out to all involved in todays blog post about Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search 2014. I believe everyone put their heart and soul into this one.
This years theme ~ create a piece of wall art based on “terrariums”
You will be amazed at the many different interpretations. Lots of detail, different medium, techniques and colour used. Beautiful work!

I will start with mine. A mixed media collage piece for you in a style I have been having fun with this summer.

Wendy Flynn

Stephanie Olivieri

Sharon Landon

Lesley Todd

Rebecca Stoner

 

Mary Tanana

Deborah Velasquez

Natalie Alexander

Sherry London

Gabriella Buckingham

Carrie Tasman

Jan Shepherd

Alik Arzoumanian

Barbara Chotiner

Lindsay Buck

Evelyn Cassoli

Brooke Witt

Onneke Van Waardenburg

Lisa Rivas
Nicky Ovitt

And finally Gill Egglestons lovely illustrated piece. I am very happy and proud to say that Gill has made the top 50. I warned her that it was going to happen and it did! She is busy preparing for next weeks submission.

We wish Gill the best of luck and are sending her lots of crazy good, creative vibes.

Well there you have it! A small selection of the 999 entries from 50 countries. To see all of the entries have a visit here. A Pinterest board has also been set up here for your viewing enjoyment.

I spent the morning perusing through all of them and  was amazed at the beautiful composition, colour and diversity all based on one small theme. The talent is staggering!

Thanks so much to all involved today. It’s always nice to share.

Best of luck to all those advancing on to Round 2!

Tangled Weave – the start of a mini collage collection

The long, lazy days of summer are here.
Hours to laze around and work on my art ~ Paint outdoors, sketch by the lake and maybe try some new techniques.
Now that’s some Wishful thinking on my part…

making collage papers

You would think I would be getting lots done over here, but truth be told I am accomplishing little.

It is sweltering hot, the lake is calling,the dog needs to be watered, the kids need to get to camp and work and all the visitors need to be tended too.

Do I dare say I have having a lot of fun despite the compelling urge to sit down and work at my art?

intuitive collage – working with what is presented

I have just recently finished Mati Roses Daring Adventures in Collage.  It really helped inspire me to start working with mixed media again.

I just love the combination of paper,paint and ink. There is something about it that makes my heart pitter patter.

I love all the texture and pattern, with a little this and that peeking through. I love getting my hands dirty.

I am not sure which is more fun – making handmade collage papers or creating the actual collage itself?

I have approached this round of work a bit differently than before. I am now working on paper -Borden & Riley sketch vellum – which is a heavyweight, rather indestructible, paper for mix media. This allows me to cut, paint, spray and stamp to my heart’s content without stressing over another unfinished canvas.

It’s only paper and can either be recycled or cut up for another collage project. If I like it then it is easily affixed onto a wood cradled panel.

 

collage – lots of layered paper. Adding paint next!

This time around I am also working small. Very small for me.
All pieces are 8 by 8″.
I decided to go this route because I find them easy to complete in a day and easy to have many on the go at once.

I have a plan for all of these pieces, but that will be unveiled later.I am not trying to be secretive, just deciding what the best route is for these. A plan is in the makin’..

What I do know about these is that they are a part of my everyday creative life. They keep me playing and trying new techniques which only help spark my imagination and creativity.

I am hoping to be back here soon, but not making any promises. I am just a passenger on this free wheelin’ ride called summer. (even I am rolling my eyes at that one 😉

Enjoy every moment of yours!

PaperLove bloghop

My love for paper runs deep! My heart beats a little faster, my mind starts racing and I get a little giddy. All the colour, texture, pattern and weight is enough to make me a little speechless.

The opportunities with paper are endless. It is for this reason alone that I have become a bit of a paper hoarder. I have stacks upon stacks of different types of paper in my studio ~ old envelopes, cardboard, kraft paper, handmade paper,wallpaper, old magazines,tissue paper,  stationery, maps, and even some good old scrap- booking paper. It has been bought from far away places and travelled the world and it has also been found dumpster diving in my very own community. Interesting paper is everywhere!

floral papercuts for handmade business cards

Paper can be stamped, glued, painted, sprayed, crumpled,cut and of course, written one. Oddly enough, I often forget about the good old traditional method of writing on paper. I am usually to busy ripping it up and gluing it down.

I love to be inspired by my paper collection. I can admit to you, because I know you will understand,  I often sit surrounded by my papers. I put them into pretty piles playing with colour and texture. I imagine them in my art journal or all collaged up onto wall art. I imagine all the different textures that can be made in my paintings with them or how they will look with a transparent dab of paint – a glimpse of their original state peeking through. It makes me want to pull out all my papers right now and get working!

More mood boards focused around scraps of paper. I love the natural feel of paper~ it can be mixed with so many other types of medium such as wood, bamboo,birchbark, and even material, yet still keep its natural feel.

papertags,birchbark,cardboard,old packaging, paint chips, wallpaper,rice paper

Below is one of my “collage everyday” pieces. I hope to continue on with this project again one day. I had fun creating daily collages based around the woodland theme. It’s a great way to put all your paper scraps to good use.

wallpaper,handmade paper,tissue paper,ink and thread

And, of course, we can’t forget the lovely feel of a good, old fashioned dip pen and ink on paper. It almost inspires me to sit down and write a letter , unfortunately, I have a feeling I   would make more of a mess than anything else.,

Guess who else loves paper around our household? Yup~ Cariboo. He wanted to be part of our paper love bloghop today so here he is. Any paper that hits the ground is fair game in his eyes.

The PaperLove Blog Hop is a celebration of all things paper! Follow the links to discover more bloggers who love paper and use it to inspire and delight. And if you want to explore a whole world of paper, and stretch your paper passion further with a host of creative projects, why not join the innovative new online course PaperLove (starts March 31). Led by book artist Rachel Hazell, PaperLove is a five week creative adventure for paper lovers. Find out more here.

Come visit the other paper lovers in our bloghop today. I am sure you will find loads of inspiration!

Participant list

Majo Bautista / Tona Bell / Louise Best / Cathy Bluteau / Jennifer Bomgardner / Giova Brusa / Lindsay Buck / Beka Buckley / Joanna Caskie / Jonathan Chapman (Mr Yen) / Halle Cisco / Sarah Clare / Cathryn Clarge / Dawn Clarkson / Rhiannon Connelly / Jenny D’Fuego / Molly Dhiman / Ian Dudley / Ayisatu Emore / Akmal Farid / Monika Forsberg / Claire Fritz-Domeney / Louise Gale / Chrissy Gaskell / Julie Hamilton / Emma Hawman / Rachel Hazell / Holly Helgeson / Claudine Hellmuth / Kim Henkel / Sarah Hoffman / Joanne Hus / Paula Joerling / Beth Kempton / Julie Kirk / Eos Koch / Katie LaClair / Kristy Lankford / Michelle Manolov / Doreen Marts / Rosie Martinez-Dekker / Tori Mears / Maria Mederios / Lise Meijer / Debbie Miller / MaryJane Mitchell / Suzy Naidoo / Grace Noel / Hannah Nunn / Camilla Olsson / Jo Packham / Rachelle Panagarry / Monette Pangan / Melanie Paul / Nicole Piar / Jen Pitta / Liz Plummer / Julie Reed / Michelle Reynolds / Lisa Rivas / Angee Robertson / Natalie Ryan / Aisling Ryan / Elisabet Sapena / Kyrrha Sevco / Jamie Sprague / Elizabeth Steele / Terri Stephens / Juniper Stokes / Mary Tanana / Maike Thoma / Linda Tieu / Gabrielle Treanor / Tammy Tutterow / Deborah Velasquez / Jordan Vinograd Kim / Cat Whipple / Brooke Witt / Katie Wood / Amelia Woodbridge

Inspired by…creative cat-napping

everything always looks a wee bit better framed...

Taking a little break from intuitive painting. It is definitely my new found love, but one that deserves quick spurts of creative and mental energy. If I spend too long sitting and thinking and trying to see, I find myself getting a wee bit grumpy and frustrated.

I am not a patient person when it comes to creating. I like to work and get it done. Unfortunately, I lose my passion for the creation as time progresses. I then find myself staring longingly at the new blank canvas waiting…patiently.. for its turn.

The other day I had to physically lie down and take a nap. My canvas was leaning up against the wall. Half dozed and fully relaxed I found myself just looking at it, eyes half closed. I was amazed at all the different scenes I saw transforming before my very eyes.

Could this be the secret? Afternoon cat naps?!

I am thinking that they are definitely a thing of my future. I would suggest to all…try it! Instead of throwing up your arms in despair.Take a break. Relax and close your eyes. Let it evolve. When you approach your painting from a clearer, more laid back perspective, great things happen..

My husband is going to love that I am now promoting afternoon cat naps…

Painting does not come easy to me. I struggle with it which is exactly what intrigues me the most about it. I love a challenge and for me, right now, this is it. Slowly I have learned that I do need to step away..and take a deep breath or two ( or a nap now!)

So what’s a girl to do for a little mindless, creative fix??

I play with paper.  I cut, I glue, I sew.

I find inspiration in books and magazines. I find layouts and colors that intrigue me. I go through my paper stash and put things together.

It’s very relaxing  and doesn’t require as much brain power as painting. No worries here about how to mix the perfect shade of purple or create a beautiful distressed back ground.. Just find the piece of paper that best resembles what you are after.

Rip and glue….

There are so many beautiful handmade papers out there.(Dont forget to check out your local paint and paper store too.. have a little read here to find out where most of the paper for these collages came from!)

A great start to the week. Hoping it’s great for you too…