Artful Prayer in Mini Session

My thoughts have been going in the direction of art journaling a lot lately. For one thing I'm working on a really big project that involves my art journal. But more on that later.   But also I have been preparing to teach at a retreat this weekend and also another one next weekend. I will be teaching a mini session of my Artful Prayer Workshop at each of them.   For the Artful Prayer Workshop we use only artist pencils of various kinds and markers.  I love what I call "paint and paste" work.  But I find that when I work on something with that approach, I get so caught up in the technique of it that I fail at the journaling part.  But when working with the slow medium of artist pencils, my mind has the freedom and space to move forward with my prayer time.

You know I am a self professed paper snob. I have trouble finding a journal made just right with just the right paper to work with my various pencil supplies.  So I've made journals for the weekend participants.  Each one is different so they can choose and be unique.  When I teach classes I'm all about making choices and about being your unique self.

Here is a smidgen sneak peek at a small part of the example for the weekend class.  But one of the things I insist on whether my students are 5 or 75 is that no one can just copy mine.  I teach concepts and techniques not projects.  They must find a way to make it their own.  

 My penmanship is less that ideal.  And sometimes I have students who are naturals when it comes to lovely lettering.  I am not.  And I find that for me to spend too much time focusing on the penmanship can ruin the prayerful mood of the moment.  So, I just don't worry about it.

 

I've also been playing lately with Jennifer Frith's approach to journaling with a weekly calendar.  Its kind of fun and I am thinking about ways to incorporate it into my regular format.  Here are some of my first attempts.  These were created in a hardbound Moleskine using graphite, Derwent Inktense, and Faber Castell Pitt markers.

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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.

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Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Returning to Classes

A bunny in soft pastels by an 8 year old student

Today my local classes resume.

The little ones will be making winter tree sculptures. That will be fun. And the older kids will be drawing again after a short hiatus to design their own pendants.

Clint is a private student who does not like breaks in our weekly meetings. He will be glad to be back.

Clint's interpretation of a lightening storm in watercolor

The adult class will be glad to be back to work as they find it difficult to work drawing time into their busy schedules without class time.

And for those of you who are not close enough to drive over today to join us for class,  Creative Pencils has ongoing workshops.   The Pencils Series 101, 201, & 301 continue providing a solid foundation in graphite skills for drawing, shading, and more. 

Calla lilies - one of the projects for Pencils 201

And Colored Pencils 101 is available for the beginner in colored pencils.  This workshop addresses colored pencil technique, color theory, and a lovely butterfly project.

One of the projects for Colored Pencils 101

New workshops are also coming to Creative Pencils soon!  I am excited about the projects I will be able to offer for 2013.  More information about those is coming....




Wind and Honey Creations

A Little Bit of Christmas

 

I thought I would share a little bit of the touches of Christmas at my house.  My decor is more on the simple side compared to so many beautiful blogs that have lovely displays on the mantle and other homey spots.  I love that style.  I simply don't have time to make it happen.  So we go for a more simple touch and hope that it is still beautiful.

 

I purchased this cup and saucer at an estate sale.  And the vintage ornament is from my childhood.  Actually, I don't know how old it is, perhaps older than me.  I don't even remember where the star came from.  It was not new.  I'm sure it came from a thrift store.  It just seemed a shame for the cups to be empty.  So each one got an ornament or two.

 

I purchased these salt and pepper shakers the first Christmas I was married.  Oh!  How I hate saying they are now considered vintage!  When my daughter was very young, she used to play with them all month.  They would go on adventures around the house, especially on the branches of the Christmas tree. 
 
 

I found this cast stone bunny at a thrift store a few years ago.  I just fell in love with his goofy expression.  But he was painted horribly and someone had hot glued cotton all over his beard and the white parts of his hat and coat.  Then there was spanish moss hot glued to the wreath and basket.  Ugh!  It took a long time to get him cleaned up.  Then I repainted him.  Now, he is one of my favorites.
 
   

This chair came from the estate sale where I got the cups and saucers.  I believe it is handmade.  And the bunny is actually a tree ornament.  I got him at a garage sale several years ago.  I have never seen another like him.  I believe he is papier mache.  But, actually, I'm not sure.  

So, there is a little walk through of some of my favorite things.  I'll show you a little more later.

 

Wind and Honey Creations

Art Has A Way of Healing and Stengthening

Session I of Artful Gathering closes today.  The Hopping Into Soft Pastels workshop was so much fun.  I loved meeting new artist and working with them as they learned to use a new medium.  The bunny shown here was drawn by Cara Letho, one of the students.  I asked Cara if I could share her rabbit and she asked me to also share her story. 


Cara has struggled for a long time with creative block. Creative block haunts the best of us sometimes and is often based in fears.   Cara was determined to beat this block and she enrolled in my workshop.  The wonderful thing is that Cara found that as she worked through the steps of my Hopping Into Soft Pastels workshop, that she was finally able to find the freedom to draw.  She could finally move beyond that blank piece of white paper.  The result was that Cara drew this beautiful rabbit as a gift for someone precious to her. Her tender feelings come through in the rabbit's sweet face.  The exact colors I used in the instructions did not turn out to be available to Cara.  So she improvised and made a different choice in colors.  I think her colors are beautiful.  Such a lovely blending of warm tones.

8" x 10" Giclee print available through my shop.  

I am humbled and over joyed to have been an instrument to help Cara break free to live her creative life.  Yea for you, Cara!  The sky is the limit.  



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Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

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

This is how sweet your Rabbit can look when you frame it.  This bunny is created with a layering technique using soft pastel pencils.   This rabbit is the subject for the Hopping into Soft Pastels workshop in Session 1 of Artful Gathering 2012.  It is for beginner or intermediate students.  I will walk you through the whole project one step at a time.  We'll do it together.   Come and join me!  It'll be fun!

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,
Open for Registration!
Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerrys.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerrys.
   

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing

Cristina Zinnia Galliher

http://zinniasart.blogspot.com

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)


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Wind and Honey Creations

Art Journal - Rabbit

Here is a bunny quickly sketched in my art journal using marker and then colored in watercolor pencil. Do you use your artist pencils in your art journal? Art journals aren't just for mixed media collage artists! It can be fun to draw in a journal with no performance pressure. You discover all kinds of surprises.

Wind and Honey Creations

Merry Christmas Bunny For You

There are so many ways to use your art pencils for the holidays. You can design your own gift tags, tree ornaments, or greeting cards. You can even draw something special and frame it as a gift. Remember to bring your creativity into this wonderful season. You will enjoy it so much more. I've recorded this video demonstration to show you how quick and easy it can be to personalize your items. I am including here the pattern for the little bunny. Please feel free to download him. He is large enough to be used for a greeting card. Or you could print him smaller for gift tags or ornaments. Feel free to add embellishments like more greenery or more ornaments or perhaps some collage elements.

I hope you enjoy him.

Want to learn more about drawing and creating your own pencil art?  Try out my online pencil art learning community at Wind and Honey Classes  We are having a great time there and my students are progressing so well.

I used Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils for this drawing.

Wind and Honey Creations

Just a Bunny

I've been working on this bunny portrait.  This is a crop of the face area.  I've created him in graphite but added just a touch of watercolor on his ears.  I first learned of this technique of adding just a bit of color to a black and white drawing by studying the works of Clare Turlay Newberry.  She was the artist that first inspired me to begin drawing.  Newberry had a wonderful gift of capturing the softness, the fullness, and the delight of an animal with just a few simple lines drawn usually in charcoal.  Time magazine said of Newberry, "Clare T. Newberry is the best cat artist since the Egyptians."  Marshmallow was my first Newberry book and remains my favorite.  It is the true story of the introduction of a bunny to Newberry's own pet tomcat; and of their eventual warm and loving relationship.

Wind and Honey Creations

Panne Kucken

My husband's grandmother and her 3 sister's were Dutch.  When my husband was very little, they would all sit around and talk about the kids in Dutch.  He said they never knew what was being said but every now and then, they would hear their name.  Sounds unsettling to me.

The four sisters - Ella, Nina, Lola, and Ada made lots of great Dutch food for family dinners.  It was rich and it was fattening.  But it was also tasty.  One of our own family favorites is Panne Kucken.  It is kind of like a cross between a quiche and a pancake and a custard.  And now that you are thoroughly confused, here's the recipe.  Most people prefer it served with maple syrup.  But I like it with powdered sugar.  If you notice, it already has quite enough butter.  There is no need to add it to your toppings.  It is also good served with warm peaches!

PANNE KUCKEN

3 eggs

¼ stick butter

¾ C whole wheat or spelt flour

¾ C milk

¾ t honey

1 ½ t vanilla

Melt ¼ stick butter in cast iron skillet.

Beat 3 eggs and add to flour, milk, honey, and vanilla.

Pour in hot skillet and butter.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 min.

ENJOY!

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Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Childish Dreams

This is my newest mixed media collage art. It is the first in a slightly different direction for me and also the first piece I have created as a direct result of my new venture into art journaling. It is a very personal statement on many levels.

The screen door started as a digital image then was embellished with paint. This quaint screen door actually lives propped between 2 trees just like this in the backyard of some artsy friends of ours. The 2 quotes are Dream the dreams of a child and There lies within each of us the potential to be more. The little girl was painted with acrylic gouache and the rest is probably self explanatory.

Although I started this piece a while back, it fits in with this week's Melange challenge 'gateway'. I hope you enjoy it.