Journal Pages and a Thank You

Here are two journal pages that are quite different.  They are pages that were not created to be shared with a class but rather my own personal pages.   When I create journal pages for class examples I am careful to guard my privacy.  And, of course, we should all maintain our privacy.  But I have tended to be more guarded than most artists I see with blogs.  

Why?  Well, I'm sure some of it has to do with stuff in my past.  But I think some of it is just part of the "how" that I am.  As a result, I don't share my work nearly as much as I should and I have tons of things I've never shared.  I am currently working on a rather large project that is the culmination of lots of small projects.  I've mentioned that before.  And I will share more later when the time is appropriate.  Right now, it is too soon.  But as I've been working on this project, things have been stirring inside me.  Feelings that call me to share more, to be more transparent.  Or maybe transparent isn't the right word.  Maybe just less invisible.  

So, anyway, I've had the creeping crud for several days and have spent most of my time in either the recliner or on the couch with my attention in my laptop.  Although my nose and cough have not enjoyed these days, they have gifted me with abundant time to look around at other artists.  I'm always in such a hurry that this feels quite the luxury.   It was in this time of exploring that I discovered Jennifer Frith of Jenny's Sketchbook.  Go look at her site.  It is fun.  

Jennifer shares lots of her journal pages.  And she has some demonstration videos that are fun to watch.  Although my style and Jennifer's are not exactly the same, they seem to have a similar heart to them.  We share a love and closeness to animals and I see in her art the delight I hope my art also emits.  I felt quite drawn (no pun intended, haha!) to her journal images and found parts of myself on her pages.  I kept wondering if this is my long lost sister.   LOL!  The funny thing is that, although my name is not "Jennifer", my first name IS Jennie.  -just spelled differently.

So, thank you to Jennifer Frith, whom I have never actually met or spoken to.  

I will be sharing more now.  

I will dare to be out there more.   

And these pages are the beginning.    The elephant began with a compelling urge one day to draw an elephant.  The colored designs came later and took days and days.  I usually only journal for about 20 minutes at a time.  And I do it as a part of my prayer life.  Artist's pencils were used for everything on the page except the writing and the black outlines on the elephant.  Those were done with various markers - Pitt and Sharpie colored pens.  The background was done with watercolor pencils.  I rarely use anything but various pencils in journal pages.  I find it a challenge to get the looks I want using only pencils.  If one is not trying to accomplish a fine art watercolor painting, watercolor pencils will do most of what you want on a journal page.  And, frankly for me, it is about using what I have rather than investing in more supplies.

The vase was drawn in graphite about a year ago.  I'm not sure what was going on that day that I drew a wonky lopsided vase with flowers leaning the other direction.  Freud would probably have a hay day with that!  Just recently I've added the watercolor.  This is very different than my usual style and I am really surprised at how much I like it. 

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Black Friday Weekend Sale

In an attempt to do my part to help you avoid the crowds this Black Friday weekend, I am offering my Cat and Dog Portrait Workshops at a one time amazing price.  You can enroll in the Cat Portrait Workshop or you can enroll in the Dog Portrait Workshop.  And if you are really enthusiastic about both, you can enroll in Both of Them! for an even better bundled price.  

These workshops are cram packed with information about how I draw portraits with a simple graphite pencil. 









I include all my special techniques. I will walk you through each and every step from a plain white piece of paper to a splendid portrait created only in graphite. I will teach you the tricks to create a portrait that will come off the page with depth and with personality.

And the icing on the cake is that you can email me with your questions and with pictures of your work so I can help you along the way. These workshops are so much fun and students that have preceded you have had wonderful success. You can see some of the portraits accomplished by my students here in this video.

These workshops are open "forever".  So, if you are a beginner, you can purchase the workshops at this one time amazing price and save them for when you have completed my Pencils Series.  The Pencils Series 101, 201, & 301 will prepare you thoroughly for these Portrait Workshops.

So, hurry over to Creative Workshops for more information and to sign up.

Sign yourself up, sign your friends and family up.

Just think, you could be finished with your shopping with one click. And then you can spend this hectic weekend reading a good book.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!




Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

A Review of Matisse Structured Artists Acrylic Color

The Matisse Structured Artists Acrylic Colors are fun!  Plain and simple, that's the first thing that comes to my mind.  They are a heavy bodied paint formulated to naturally lay down on the canvas with some bulk.  I purposely chose a project that could be enhanced with some texture.  And I really enjoyed watching that texture appear with very little effort using the Matisse Structured Paint.   It felt like the paint was working with me rather than my needing to manipulate it. 

The tubes have wonderful flip tops making it so much easier on my hands to get to the paint.  And I believe those tops will also create a better seal over time, thereby allowing a longer shelf life for my paints.

The colors are vivid and scrumptious.  There is a wide range to choose from - 96 colors in all.  They mix nicely.  And the colors lay down clearly and beautifully on the canvas.  You will be tempted to try all the colors, as I am.

The Matisse Acrylics have a longer open working time than other acrylic paints I've worked with, allowing me to leave more colors out on my palette.  And also giving more freedom to play with my mixed colors as the painting developed.  The Matisse Structured Acrylics would be perfect for mixed media painting and for mixed media collage work.  The heavy body lends itself easily to the various techniques used in these popular art forms. 

These are the supplies I used for this example.  I got all my supplies at Jerry's Artarama:

Matisse Structured Acrylic Colors
          Raw Sienna
          Magenta Light
          Antique White
          Transparent Venetian Red
          Burnt Sienna
          Naples Yellow Light
          Transparent Yellow Oxide
          Unbleached Titanium
          Phthalo Blue
          Burnt Umber
          Titanium White
Colour Shaper Painting Tool
Jewel Bristle Brushes
Ampersand Artist Panel






Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Rain and Life's Rhythms

 

Its raining today. Everything in me wants to sit with a nice cup of tea and draw while listening to the raindrops tap dancing outside. I am not unique with this thought. I've heard it so many times from others. The rain calls us to be still, to slow down, to be calm.  The birds outside are tucked away somewhere under large tree leaves or the eaves of a house.  Even the dogs and cats inside are more sleepy today.  

Of course slowing down isn't what we do.  We curse the rain or we choose to ignore it as we bustle around trying to get 36 hours squeezed out of 24.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the rhythms of life and how we press so hard against them.  It would seem to me that paying better attention to the patterns set by the Creator might be the wiser route to go.  That isn't an easy task in our culture.  

Our lists for "to do" are longer than our arms, and then just a few moments spent on popular social media is enough to remind you that whatever you might have gotten done today, surely you are behind what everyone else is accomplishing.   

I propose that we proclaim a respite from those dreaded lists and try, at least a little bit, to listen more to the rhythms of nature.  I propose at least one hour of each day be set aside to live life rather than run the list.  I imagine this will be life altering and life giving.  I'm going to try it.  I dare you to join me.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessonshttp://creativepencils.com

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

Kids Drawing Woodland Creatures

In July, I will be teaching a week long art adventure for kids.  The younger ones - ages 5 - 9, will be working in soft pastels.  Our theme will be Woodland Creatures.  This subject - a bear was a request from one of the boys.  Mac, this one's for you!  We will also be drawing a fox, a raccoon, a rabbit, and a fawn.  

In July I will show you some pictures of the kid's work.  They will be wonderful.




Wind and Honey Creations