Using water colour to produce background papers

This is something I have done in many ways, often using wet-into-wet techniques to produce background papers for my atc's.

However, a challenge was set by MAMMA to use baby wipes ( the sort soaked in alcohol)to produce the papers. It gives a soft, almost cloth-like texture. It was actually taken from one of Bernie Berlin's techniques in her ATC Workshop so you might very well have seen it already. As an extra, we had to use words on the atc but that is by the by for this post. Here are the first two papers I made ... one is a soft, pastel shaded paper and the other is far more vibrant. The technique allows you to choose what you want to see.

The atc's I made from them are:-

I was quite pleased with the first ( operation get a man) but not so sure about the second. I think that I did not quite make the main images stand out enough from the background. (especially the crown which gets lost in this photo - only the three faux gems bring it out when seen close-up). Anyway I hope the recipients of these atc's are happy with them.

relaxing with zentangles

I don't know wether it is because I am an artist, but I find that doodling is so soothing. It can help you relax and can be done when under pressure, or simply just to pass the time. I do not do many Zentangles but I was at a loose end this week and had also agreed to swap a zentangle with an artist friend. SO...... here is the outcome. Couldn't decide which one I wanted to send so decided to send both. After all it's only art, and the recipient was pleased.

The first I called, " Spiral Galaxy"

The second was called, " The Web"

Have to say I do enjoy these but they do take considerable time to finish, and often need more than one sitting. What I want to know is are the fantastic zentangles one sees on the web done free-hand. I can't seem to get the precision that I see in others work, anybody like to comment?

Just a quick posting today, will make up for it next time I promise - cheers

edit: BTW I have gone commercial, just reading up on Adsense and don't know what I have done but I seem to have got some Google adds on my postings. I have had a couple of adverts in the sidebar, etc for a while and was just tinkering with them - but I will let it stand and report on the income that this generates - so watch this space. I don't expect this will make me a millionaire overnight but fingers crossed, might be a few pennies in it. And talking of pennies I am hoping to start selling watercolours on Ebay / Etsy soon, will keep you informed about this also.

recycling vintage scraps to create collages

I am not sure that recycling is the correct word here? The vintage scraps to which I am referring were part of a prize ( competition: pocket packet friday) from Kim Newberg on her Ning web community site, PDA. Anyway I have had these for some time and because of problems with MIL I had not gotten around to using them... and then along comes Margaret Fields MAMMA challenge on Flickr using recycled materials. This presented an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Voila, two atc's made from "recycled" materials and made my first art from my prize packages.

I called this, "Who is Ozro Grant". The main image came from the cover off an old paperback novel, by of course..... Ozro Grant. The background was a vintage postcard. The cigar label and the used postage stamps picked up on the red blouse to cmplete the card.

The second atc I entitled, "It's a Mystery". Again the main image was off the front of an old novel, the postage stamps again picked up on the red dress. The background for this was an order pad from West Side grocery store dating from the 1930's. The 25cent coupon check and a label from Pioneer Lemon Sour reflected the backing, What's the connection between the background and the lady? It's a mystery!

One more atc for this post, it is created using found magazine images. I am still not sure that I am happy using magazines as a source of images but now and again I see something which gies me an idea and I am off before stopping to consider the source, and then I think well why not! It is irrational but I am not totally happy.

This called "Love from Shropshire", an entry to a monthly lottery draw for a small private group. The theme was spring, I had been thinking how to go about an atc for this before I started reading this travel brochure. I saw the images especially the cheeky male statue and started putting ideas together. This is the result. Hope the recipient likes it.

Well it is raining hard outside here and just wondering what to do today.... maybe, get my crafting hat on and make more art - see you again.

playing with watercolours and collography

MIL is still taking up much of my time but she is now in a very good residential home close to us. It is only a four week trial period but we are hoping that she will setle in. It is an ideal solution for us but MIL is still in denial about her abilities to look after herself at home, especially during the night. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it works out.



I have managed to get to my art group this week and although I wasn't feeling particularly inspired, I took my watercolours along and am still getting the feel of the brushes and paper. It has been so long since I did any real painting. I took some photos of a sunset last week and this inspired me to use this theme as a subject. I had intended to do another monochrome painting, but I needed just a little vermillion to help things along. The main colour in these paintings was "neutral tint" for those who care, LOL. The first image is based on the sunset theme..

I was quite pleased with this and surprised myself because I only used a 1 inch flat brush for the whole work. I did use a toothpick to scratch out some minor details in the forground "tree" shapes. As you might be able to see, I used lots of water on the paper before starting to paint. A larger version of the painting can be seen on my Flickr photostream, I called it "Surreal Sunset", there is just something about those cloud shapes. I do wish that I had put a cloud across the moon, but it was added as an afterthought. Note to myself - planning is good!

The next painting, was also wet-into-wet using the same colours, but apart from getting a very good impression of rain.... I am not so happy with this piece.

Mmmm, the rain effect does not really show up in this photo - maybe the flash, washing detail out. However I called it "Rain over a moorland path".

My wife and I ( sounds regal) have just spent a weekend in the Cotswolds and I visited an art gallery in Winchcombe called Winds Of Change and came across a print making technique called collography ( see for details ) and the more I see and read about it the more I am determined to have a go at this technique. I may not have the right materials or equipment but I will be experimenting with what i have over the next few weeks to see what I can do. I will of course be posting my results on here wether they turn out works of art or failures. that is what this blog is really all about, the trials and tribulations of a leisure artist. So watch this space and see what a mess I can make of this new (for me) project.

As an afterthough, here is a photo of that sunset:-

Basque/corset themed challenge atc's

Well I am back after a considerable lay-off. MIL is still in hospital and we are still no closer to knowing wether she will be able to go back to her own home. At 98, wiwth severe arthritis and other issues, the hospital is still not ready to let her back as they are not confident that she will be OK on her own. BUT MIL is adamant that she wants none of care home, the alternative. She is very active mentally and is in complete denial about her capabilities now. She is in a very good "intermediate care home" on the hospital campus, and they say they are not in any hurry to throw her out. But this is not sorting out the problems/ issues that we face as we cannot plan or do anything at the moment and my wife is visiting her mother every day. Leaving no time for anything.

Anyway, enough of my woes. here are a couple of atc's which I created for the MAMMA challenge on Flickr, this weeks theme was basque/corset. (I do wish you would let this subject lay down and die Margaret!). I have taken a male-orientated view on this subject and made what I hope are a couple of humerous cards. No lace or other frivolities from me!

titled: Don't try to figure it out, enjoy!


titled: The finer points of corsetry

While I am her I thought that I would just post a couple of paintings to bring you up to date with my recent output - sparse tho' it has been. the first is a water-colour painting. I decided to do more painting after the acrylic paintings over collage (see below on this post), water colour is my medium of choice so out they came. However I was very nervous about using up a large sheet of paper (I have to consider the expense!) and so decided that for this week, I would simply use a single colour ( sepia) and do a monochrome just to get back into the process of using the brushes. I have done a few aceo/atc sized paintings recently but nothing larger for several months. the result of this practice session can be seen below:

Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Can't wait for next weeks art group session. And that reminds me, I must update our group web-site

The last piece of work is another acylic over collage. very similar in construction to the others and this was based on a photograph of the mill painted by Constable in his work, The Haywain. So I called it, Willie's Cottage. It is not a literal copy, as I saw recently somewhere, I paint an idea NOT an ideal. Must remember that quote when I am next asked about my paintings.

So now we are all up-todate, and I can get on with a little gardening. But what the hell has happened to spring - it is freezing out there. Typical of our unreliable weather, just as I have a few hours to spare the conditions are horrble. Maybe I will fetch a paper and read it by the fire - at least I will be warm and comfortable. Thanks for visiting, I will hopefully be back regularly now - at least until MIL is sorted.

Mailart a la Warhol

Hope Andy doesn't mind me copying his idea - but I guess so many people have already done so, one more can't matter.

I did this for a postage stamp themed challenge, on make it mondays. I am as usual a little late but that is why I like this challenge...... I can do it when I have time, it is never TOO late. I can dip in and create an entry when I need to.

This is a digital collage made using a set of self-made stamps, created using a digital template from Lisa Vollrath.

I used four B&W images of some hirsute gentlemen, and used my photoplus v8 (FREE!!) to give them a colour cast. Adding the legend POSTE ARTIFAXIA and a fictitious cost, I don't know what pts stands for so don't ask - although I seem to remember in the distant past seeing this abbreviation in a certain mediterranean holiday destination. The text additions don't seem to have come out too clearly and I will have to remember this for the next time. Must not be too hurried when creating. I previously did a similar set using geisha images although these were coloured images and didn't require manipulation of the colour. You can see these on my Flickr photostream in the digital creations set. or on this blog.

Acrylic painting over a collaged start.

I am excited.......... I read about a ( to me anyway)new technique in this month's issue of Leisure Painter, which I still read every now and then. It was an article by Lynda White, suggesting using collage (rather than drawing) to loosen up your style. Well since I have what can only be described as a loose style, and I have been collaging for the past 2 years ( is it really that long?) I decided to give it a go. At least it wold get me away from the 2.5x3.5 inch format, which I seem to have been stuck in for so long.

I had a selection of cheap canvasses, which I have bought and never used (???) so I dug out some 24 x 16 inch jobbies and got down and dirty, literally. I was using an acylic based glaze to adhere the images to the canvas and had trouble getting it off my fingers. Don't ask why it was on my fingers! The first painting was really an experiment, but the more I looked at it across the room (especially as the light changed and the texture was shown up) the more I loved it.

You can find a larger version on my Flickr photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadfan66/3306891617/ it really does deserve to be viewed full screen. I love the colours and the light effects in this painting, although the clouds leave a lot to be desired. But the tension created by the multiple focus points moves your eyes across the image from the yellow building on the right to the negative space above the other group of buildings and the red "boat-shape" with the yellowish explosion of colour. I could write a book on the way I feel about this composition. It breaks a number of rules but I think that it works out very well on the whole. It is almost like several different paintings but it hangs together because of the overall blue colour. I painted the whole canvas blue after the collage to get rid of the horrid white of the canvas and I believe it has worked to my advantage.

The second painting,

is also one which I have come to be very fond of. I took a few photos whilst I was painting it and have turned these into a video tutorial which I have posted onto You tube. You can see it here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqLTSBsuz_s

I have also added a lens to my Squiddo portfolio (LOL) which adds a little more detail than is possible in the video, view it here http://www.squidoo.com/painting_over_collage