Colour me Creative – Tangy Citrus Summer

It is hot. Oh, so hot. The temperature is rising and doesn’t plan to stop. Sunny skies are here to stay in Whistler.

When I take a look at this weeks colour palette, tangy, sweet citrus sherbets come to mind.

There is definitely the sweet feel of summer going on here.

A few pattern swatches on my desktop. These will be some fun shapes to use when I get a chance to have fun in my art journal.

Unfortunately, the sound of work was calling this week and I didn’t have time to create in my art journal. Instead kitchen wall art was in the making.

I loved this assignment! I have to admit I am just a wee bit in love with all of my fruit and vegetables. I am hoping to get a chance to create some illustrated recipes for They Draw and Cook this summer. With all the fruit and vegetables coming into season, it is hard not to be inspired.

I am also very inspired by my new Photoshop skills and the mix of all of my painted bits and pieces and the digital world. This is a whole new way of working for me and I am loving it. A big shout out to Instructor Sherry London and Pattern Observers Photoshop for Designers.

Photoshop for Designers is a 6 week intensive class that dives deep into the magic of Photoshop. It is full of information, so much information! Videos, PDF’s, a class forum plus a private Facebook group – no question will be left unanswered.

Sherry is a well spoken, very effective instructor willing to give her all to you. She is first to jump in and explain in detail any question you may have, which as you can imagine…is many, when it comes to Photoshop.

The next class starts July 6th. It would be the perfect summer project to dive into! Head on over to Pattern Observers site  for all the details.

Enjoy your week and don’t forget to support your local farmers market!

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Everything I know I learned from my Art Journal

I have been somewhat successful this past week training my creativity to switch on at night. It hasn’t been easy, but I find that once I start it usually leads somewhere. Starting is the hardest part.

Being a bit of a morning person, my muse always has me getting up very early so it has been a nice change trying to switch things up and work at night . I figure it can go either way – I either stay up late fully immersed in my project or I get up super early, excited to get at it. Either way I am losing sleep.

I started Lisa Congdons Sketchbook Explorations on Creative Bug. It was fast, fun and informative.. It is a 4 part program, but easily finished in an evening (especially if you have Netflix TV series training;). Lisa explored lots of different ways to just start and get something down on your page.I loved the way she used lots of different mediums layered together – water-colour, markers and collage work. I also found it encouraging to watch how she incorporated her journal piece into a piece of wall art.

I have included my pages even though they are not really finished and they are rather random.Right from lesson one, inspiration struck and I had to run with it. I have a tendency to go off track when creating and I did just that, rather well I might add..my pages look nothing like the course pages!

Lots of ideas were springing to mind and I managed to try a little bit of everything. I believe that is the beauty of art journalling –  if you tire of one page, start another, I have found myself flitting from one page to another nightly adding marks and colours as I go. At this rate I may never actually finish a page!

I have been  very happy to re-discover my Prismacolor markers and coloured pencils. It is so nice to curl up on the couch and have some colour so easily accessible. No water and no dirty brushes. I will be using them all in my art journal from here on in..

 

My main goal for this experience is to gain some new ideas and hopefully a bit of  insight into some new colour combinations. I am also interested in combining a few different mediums that I will then be able to transfer over into my mixed media work. One thing is for sure and that is…Everything I know, I have learned from my art journal…

Next week I am going to try Dawn Devries Sokols art journal class on Creative Bug. I also have my eye on Yao Chengs water-colour class. There are so many interesting classes there so be sure to take a look.

Also on the learning front I am slowly finishing up Pattern Observers Photoshop for Designers  6 week course.

Wow!

That is the only word that  can sum it all up. Sherry London has poured her heart and soul into this one. It is full of information. Look out for more info here soon.

Well, there you have it! I was in need of something new  to inspire me, to jump start a new project. Happy to say that I found it and have a new series in the works.

The internet has no shortage of awesome classes and inspiring ideas and techniques to try.

Never stop learning:)