New Faces and More

This winter has been one of pondering and looking at old things with a new eye. I am moving in a slightly different direction with my art and it has brought about some necessary introspection.  Now, in the description of this blog I say that my art focuses on the delights of life, mostly on the relationship between children and animals.  And that continues to be true.   And in recent years I have spent much more time creating pencil art than painting or working in collage.   And that continues to be true.   The truth is the changes stirring now may seem much bigger to me than to the one viewing the art.   We'll see what you think in time.   As my pondering has been on a very personal level, I've not shared the process.  But soon I will begin sharing the artistic results.

In the meantime, I have completed two more faces for the 100 Faces in 365 Days project.  These faces are quite imperfect as they are journal faces and not polished completed portraits.   But as I perpetually tell my students, journal pages should be fun and free from the confines of perfection. And so I share them here.

This tiger cub is Derwent Graphic Pencil on Moleskine soft cover journal.  The paper is not the best for blending graphite and it is buckled as a layer of paint was added to the back of the page on another day.  I do like the expression in his sweet curious eyes.

This is a pretty small drawing (about 3" x 4") done with Derwent Tinted Charcoal on Strathmore 500 Charcoal Paper.  I've never been fond of charcoal paper as I don't like the grid-like texture.  I was hoping the 500 charcoal paper would have a less invasive texture than what I had experienced previously in lesser charcoal papers.  And it was better.  But the grid still shows more than I prefer.  

I usually use Vellum Bristol Board paper or Mixed Media Paper for charcoal.  It has enough tooth to cooperate with the charcoal but has no distinctive texture to distract from the drawing.  But its white and I yearn to draw on colors.  

I love the colors of the Strathmore Toned Paper.  The particular gray and Kraft brown are so pretty and they look amazing with the Tinted Charcoal.  But the paper is just a bit too smooth to work as well as I would like with charcoal, especially to get detail in shading.   I contacted Strathmore pleading with them to make Bristol Board Vellum in the Toned Paper colors.  They said they would consider it but asked me to consider their 500 Charcoal papers.  Besides the ever present charcoal grid texture, the charcoal paper colors are not the same as the nice pretty Toned Paper colors.  And so, I am back at square one.   So, that's my 2 cents on that matter.  

I am joining the bandwagon for Bloglovin'.  I know, I know.... I'm a little late on this.  But, better late than not at all, right?  I'd love for you to join me there.    Follow my blog with Bloglovin


 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

A display of work testing the Artist Survival Book

 

As an artist, I sometimes have multiple projects bouncing around in my head at once.  Most of those projects are at different levels of progress and details can get lost in the mix.  A working journal like the Artist Survival Book is very helpful for keeping the various elements of many projects all in one tidy place.   You will find them at Jerry's Artarama.

 The Artist Survival Book has a lovely leather cover that feels nice in your hand.  For me, even the cover helps to create the ambiance of a creative moment.   There is an elastic band that helps to keep the book closed as it grows with your use.  The elastic is strong but narrow which is nice because it doesn't get in the way.  The papers turn easily and comfortably on the spiral binding allowing for a completely flat display.  And the journal is a nice size that is easy enough to bring along wherever you go so you can work on those ideas when the thought comes.

The front portion of the book has plain pages ready for you to test drawings and other ideas you might have.   The middle portion has lines for note taking or lists of necessary supplies or even thoughts about future projects.  And the last section of the book is made up of pages with guide-dots to help you with precision drawing.   All of the pages are perforated, making it easy to remove them when necessary for reference.

And between each section there is a leather divider that has pockets.  How fun these pockets are!  You can keep extra small papers or reference photos or even a few pencils if you like.  The papers are suitable for dry media like graphite, colored pencils, pen, or conte' crayons.

Here is a short video demonstration of my Artist Survival Book.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Work By My Students

Wind and Honey Creations

On My Drawing Table Today

This is the beginning of a piece that has been in my head for a while.  Finally I am getting it down on paper.  There will be a surprise finish to it.

Remember this is the first day of Artful Gathering 2012.  You still have a few days to sign up for classes.  My Hopping Into Soft Pastels workshop is fun and anyone can do it, even if you've never drawn before.  You'll be surprised and delighted with what you learn and accomplish. 

Wind and Honey Creations

Living A More Creative Life, Part 3

We've talked about ways to bring creativity into our daily life by taking the time to use more soulful objects in our activities.  Now let's look at ways to bring creativity into our lives and the lives of others around you on a broader scale.  What are ways that we can reach out beyond our own experiences and make a difference for those around us?  Studies have shown that one of the strongest things we can do to lift our own days is to make an effort to lift the days of others.  I find, as a teacher, that the creativity I watch in my students is contagious. Let's look at some ideas for how we can develop creatively contagious moments.

What is it that you enjoy doing?  It doesn't have to be obviously creative.  

Perhaps you are a seamstress, perhaps a cook.  Maybe you are an organizer or communication is your gift.  Maybe you are naturally inclined toward hospitality. How can these gifts be used in a more creative way?

I know of a woman that taught sewing classes to young girls.  She taught 4 at a time with 2 at the sewing machines and 2 sitting on the couch doing handwork.  The teacher would sit on the couch with the ones doing handwork.  As they stitched, she would talk with them about what it meant to grow up to be strong and gracious women.  She found a creative solution to her own need and changed the lives of her students at the same time.  

What if a gifted cook invited 3 or 4 different children (or maybe even adults) over to their kitchen once every couple of months for a cooking lesson?  Many young mothers are swamped and tired from working and don't have time to teach their children and maybe don't even have time to cook.  What a gift of creativity to teach them to make a great pie crust. They would never forget it.

What if a beautician invited young girls over for a day of spa treatments. We live in a time when young girls are struggling to understand what true beauty is.  The spa instructions could be laced with talk about true inner beauty that reaches out to others.

I have a friend who is a very organized person and she has a heart for homeless families.  Determined to find a way to help, she began working with the administration end of a ministry to homeless families.  She not only uses her organizational skills to help make the ministry function, she uses her creativity for 'outside the box' ideas that help the ministry to soar.  She is able to use her creativity to help the people she cares for.  That is creative thinking!

I have another friend who started a ministry in her church based on a creative way of using her gifts.  This woman is a shopper.  She can find a bargain!  And she can talk people into giving her an even better bargain like no one else I know.  A few years back this friend became aware of a need at the local women's shelter in the town where she lived.  The women were only allowed to stay for 30 days at the shelter.  Most of the time they had left home in a hurry and with only what they could carry.  So when the women who had sought refuge in the shelter had completed their time they had nothing to begin setting up a new home.  My friend began going regularly to garage sales and buying furniture and housewares.  She then got permission to store these things in an unused room at her church. She also discovered that if she explained her mission to the garage sale owners, that often they would simply donate their items.  Then as the time comes for each shelter guest, she is invited to the church to "shop" for items needed for her new household and for her children.  And its all free.

Creativity can enrich both our lives and the lives of those around us.  And really, what good is a gift if it can not bless those around us?

So I don't know what your gifts are.  They may not look like the examples I've given.  But maybe these ideas have sparked some thoughts for you.  I don't know what your creativity looks like.  But you can be sure, its there somewhere.  My challenge to you today is to dare to look for it.  Dare to give it some time to develop in you.  And then to dare to step out with creative action to enrich both your life and your world.

Next time we'll look at this more from the perspective of those already living their lives as artists.

Wind and Honey Creations

Art Imitating Life...Or is it the other way around?

My daughter was unable to get her car out of the snow drift to drive to her studio this last week.  Feeling a bit of cabin fever after several days, she decided to express her creativity using the supplies she had on hand.  You can see in this picture that the cats are enjoying the view as the squirrel comes to dine with his frosty friend.

Wind and Honey Creations

Toby

Toby is a Norwegian Forest Cat. They are unusually large and quite smart. Unfortunately, at some point in his life Toby ended up living in a shelter - Felines Inc., located in Chicago. At the shelter Toby met Ingrid, a photographer who sells photographic portraits of cats to raise needed funds for the shelter. Eventually Toby's beautiful portrait was posted in 9livesPhotography on etsy where 50 - 100% of the profits of sales goes to fund either Felines Inc. or Animal Care League, both in Chicago. When I first saw Toby's photo I was captivated by his whole look. He looked almost wild and yet gentle. What I really wanted to do was to drive up to Chicago and adopt him. But since that was impossible, I was so pleased to discover that Toby had been adopted in April of this year. So with Ingrid's permission, I have drawn a graphite pencil portrait of Toby. I will be creating cards and more with this image and 15% of the profit will go to the shelter that helped Toby, Felines Inc. Also, because I find Toby's image so inspiring, I will be using it in more artistic ways in the future. And will always make a donation to his shelter out of the profits from his image.

If you are interested in having a portrait done of your precious cat or maybe even your special dog, check out my portrait website. You will find much information there and can contact me if you have more questions. You will want to start the process soon if the portrait is to be a Christmas present. Wind and Honey Creations

And don't forget the great Weekend Deal Sale for the Melange Team - only 2 more days left!

The ETSY street team "Melange" is having a WEEKEND DEAL of 15% off all or many things, excluding shipping. Melange is a group of Mixed Media Artists, many of whom have been published. Each shop may also have additional sales of their own. The following is a list of active, participating Melange members who are participating in the WEEKEND DEAL from August 7th, through the 9th.

After the item is purchased and paid for, a refund will be issued for the total discount via Pay Pal or other methods in which the payment was made. It is currently not possible to make the adjustments at payment time. Every shop has their own set of policies in place, so please make yourself familiar with each new shop.

We hope you enjoy "Melange" as much we do!"

MaureenTillman.etsy.com
twocooltexans.etsy.com
vanessevaDesigns.etsy.com
Vintagesnapsandscrap.etsy.com
FauveBohemian.etsy.com
Collageartgirl.etsy.com
Whyte.etsy.com
Artsnark.etsy.com
Studio27.etsy.com
WindandHoney.etsy.com
LDPhotography.etsy.com
MidwestieLady.etsy.com
Loudlife.etsy.com
Paperdreamer.etsy.com
Thebagladysart.etsy.com
Mamapainter.etsy.com
http://prettylittlependant.etsy.com

And The Winner Is..........

Well, its almost midnight on Thursday and time to announce a winner for the Name Your Baby Contest.  Baby turtle can hardly wait to have a name and stop being called Baby turtle.  You all came up with very creative names.  As each one came in I would think, Oh, I bet that will be the one.  It has been a much more difficult decision that I expected.

But in the end, there can only be one winner.  So after thinking through each name thoroughly I've made a decision.  

So now, the envelope please..........

Drum roll.............................................................................................................................................

The winning name is Miss Mae after Mae West.  It is fitting that her name be that of a floozy since her daddy was Captain Jack, after all.

Miss Mae was submitted by Pey of peylu.etsy.com and folkartvision.etsy.com.  Pey is from Canada, an active member of EFA/artist helping animals, and a very creative artist. Congratulations Pey!  Convo me with your mailing address and I will get your card in the mail. :)

Here are some of my favorite examples of Pey's work.

Thank you to all who participated.  I hope it was fun for you.

Elizabeth