AEDM Project 14 Class Samples!

I almost forgot to post my AEDM blog today...I didn't really make anything specifically for the blog because I've been super busy working on my class materials for this weeks lesson of "Texturize This" online course.   Oh my, so many fun techniques, amazing color combinations and a 'room' full of inspiring students in this class.  

Since I am teaching this class, I can't really go into lesson details, but let me show you some of the goodness as a sneak peek...and hope that maybe you can join us!  It's not too late!

Color, Texture...

 Lush details and layers....

 Just plain' ole fun.  

Come join us!:)))

Texturize This!!

 BONUS...you will get a 30.00 coupon for some of the supplies available on the Dreaming Color store for my class.

Art Everyday Month Project 4: Learning Something Creative and New

Hello Tuesday!  

I was a little worried yesterday about creating something to share on the blog with you today because once again, I barely stepped into my studio for the 3rd or 4th day in a row.  

No worries though, I have art goodies all over the house at this point in time. 

Poor Josh, he lives in a living breathing gallery/studio/home!

As it turns out, like most working artists, there are days or weeks that sometimes go by when you have to focus on other things then just your normal repertoire, and for me painting is what I normally do.

Over the weekend and into this week I've been working on some special projects including a book contribution (yay),  a special BIG online webinar for a large publishing company (more about that later), and some art supply/tools I'm designing which will hopefully hit the shelves in the Spring. (fingers crossed).

With that product design, I bought an new Bamboo pen tablet and upgraded several illustration programs. Mind you...I have no idea what I'm doing, never have really used any of these programs or did this sort of designing...EVER.

So I played.

and played.

For hours.

Like 12 hours.

And the end of my playing, I did this little illustration above. Just a square doodle which I changed into a stamp via Photoshop.

I then added some gray tones. and played some more.

Tried something else and loved the chalk board sorta look.

Time to add some color and see what I could come up with.

Did I tell you one of my fantasies is to design fabric down the road?

That wasn't what I was working on yesterday, but with some 

more practice, I think I can do it.

Here's the part that I figured out that I have to pat myself on the back for.

I taught myself to  create my own custom patterns and brushes yesterday.

So I took the above illustration and made it into a pattern.

Which made it easy peezy to repeat and create a larger design. Not perfect though...I can see where I meshed together a bit wrong but hey, it was my first time doing this. Ever.

Once I figured that part out, I went on to change colors and play some more.

It gets addictive. You start to see so many possibilities.

Then I just played.

But the part that I really like in this piece is that I figured out how to use the custom pattern and fill in my outlines of my name, which I see possibilities for creating photo collages and other fun illustrations.

Way too much fun when I should have been doing other things.

The moral of the story is, when you do something totally outside your comfort zone, you sometimes make a breakthrough that can lead to a whole new path  you never considered before.

So no, not creating in my studio yesterday but I did create some magic by simply learning how to do something that can help me achieve one of my goals (if I keep working at it and trying to dig deeper, learn more, and experiment.).

Never be afraid of experiementing.

I made a lot of crap yesterday.

I erased a ton of crazy outrageous junk.

But I also had some revelations and some cool things happen, just because I sat down and tried.

Go out and try something new today. Let me know how it goes:))

xoxo

Artfully yours,

Jodi

Come get "Funky" with me!

Funky Little Cityscapes, an online class that   you don't want to miss!!

AEDM Project 2 Am I Worthy

AEDM Project 2

"Am I Worthy"

Hello friends..it's Sunday and a bit cold outside. The leaves are dancing around the yard carefree and congregating in places that I should be taking care of right now, but here I am warm and cozy inside hibernating on this fall morning. I will be out soon enough, taking care of my chores that I've been putting off all week.  One of these days I will have a full time yard boy:)

For yesterdays project I worked on a portrait on grey toned paper by Strathmore which I love. I've been using it quite frequently as you can build up the tones quicker and the face doesn't look as harsh as when you are sketching on white paper.

Normally I use a reference photo from a magazine and just change the pictures up. I avoid anyone who is smiling with their pearly whites showing at all costs.LOL   I haven't graduated to drawing teeth just yet. Or bodies for that matter.

I do love me some eyes though.

Lips are my next favorite.

I've even come to love and respect hair.  We often rush when it comes to drawing hair, or at least I used to.   Now I enjoy seeing it build up and come to life. I've learned some very valuable tricks along the way and am sure I will continue to learn the more I practice.

The more and more I glazed on the layers of pencil and charcoal, I thought that my girl looked a bit sad. Almost teary eyed.  She was not feeling strong or confidant, questioning herself in many ways.

It's funny how our own emotions can come out in our art even if that wasn't what we intended at first.

I finished off with building depth around the girl by doing some freestyle writing and even scribbles. It's  a good way to get your feelings out and it also gives the background an edgy look.

Am I Worthy.

I know I am, but it doesn't always feel that way..and so I art:)

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, stay warm and make time for YOU.

Artfully Yours,

Jodi

*********************

Stop by my Etsy shop to see what's new!

Can't Sleep Make Art Art Everyday Month Day 30

And so here it is, the end of Art Everyday Month!  Where did the time go? Like an impatient child, time keeps going and going whether or not we keep up with it or not. It moves on whether we are ready or not.  I'm ready for December and so happy for the month that I've had in art. I've learned a lot, I've created a lot and the challenge has  taught me a bit about endurance and routine.  Just like anything, you can make excuses after excuses as to why you can't do something. If you spent a few minutes a day doing things in the same amount of time you complain about not having time do it--you will  be surprised in a good way that you can you accomplish sometihng once your obstacles are removed!   Last year at this time I wrote an article in Cloth Paper Scissors about just BEGINNING (A Beginner's Guide to Beginning  Jan/Feb 2010).  Half the battle is creating good habits and  setting time aside everyday to do what you love alongside with doing what you need to do.  Are you a morning person or a night person. I'm a night person. I just am.  I will get up early though and do stuff but right now, I do most of my work late in the evening just because that's when life settles down, I get home from work, chores are done..yadayada.  

Last night, I couldn't sleep.  I was tired but I couldn't fall asleep.  I grabbed my new journal that is going to be dedicated to faces, and started in that with just a few simple tools.  A couple pencils, pen, marker and eraser.  No magical set up or items and I just started drawing this face. I don't even really care for how it came out, I"m not good at drawing profiles.  But that's all right because one day I will be good at it.  I'll keep on trying and late at night when I can't sleep because too many things are buzzing around my head, I'll have something release my feelings into.  I'll keep this up and other creative techniques I've incoporated into my creative routine so that maybe this time next year, I'll not only be writing about beginning things, I'll be well into a new career path and full time art life. It's going to happen. I can feel it :)   Stay tuned and lets see.

I hope good things come to you with your new creative routines that were forged this month and you continue to be inspired by the friends and connections you have made  during the challenge. I know I will and I am :)

 

Perfectly Imperfect Inspiration Art Everyday Month Day 28

Saturday mornings always start off with so much hope and anticipation. Yesterday was one of those that not only started off that way, it stayed inspiring throughout the day. What a good feeling that is. I worked early in the morning editing pictures and creating this promo for an upcoming class at Swank (January 22nd...it will be a two part class that you can either take one or both sessions) where we will be experimenting in two different journals,  and playing with a variety of techniques and tools in a journey to self discovery. GREAT way to start of the New Year with a dash and splash of creativity.   I might tweak the above promo a bit but I like how it came out so far :)  Creativity started electronically but the moved on to a bit of live action in the afternoon.

 My friends at Swank invited me in to do a demo during the downtown Southern Pines Holiday Open House yesterday.  I have only done a few Live Paints so at first I had butterflies in my stomach. I'm a nervous kind of person anyway but then I had to tell myself that this is what I want to do and this is what I love to do so it WILL be alright!  And it was, it was more than alright.  I had a blast and enjoyed talking with a variety of people from the littlest of wee ones to a grandma type customer who showed me some lovely art work of her own on porcelain. (it was BEAUTIFUL..so tiny but amazing detail). 

 I even had a couple who stopped in from just outside of Raleigh who stayed and talked with me awhile, watching as I painted and inquired about my thought process and vision as I developed the backgrounds using a variety of tools, brushes, and mark making doo dads.   The husband said that he wanted to paint and started awhile ago, bought all the supplies and set up his area then tried to recreate his vision. He tried and tried and it just didn't come out like he saw it in his mind.  So, he put the supplies away and  hasn't touched them for a very long time...but he still has that desire to create...but I think fear is holding him back.  Fear of not being perfect.   Fear is our enemy.   I gave him what words of advice I could, the best analogy I could come up with is that of a runner running a marathon. That's something I can tell you right now, I can't do and may never be able to do.   One does not walk out of there house with their new sneakers on and start running and stay running for 26 miles if you have never done it before.   Okay so there may be a few that have the genetics to go perhaps a few miles and even less out there that can go the whole distance without practice.  The vast majority of us would have to practice, run a  few blocks, then build up to a mile, then run and run for a few more and do it several times a week if not daily so we build up our endurance and our speed and elegence with one foot in front of the other.   After doing it for a long time and condtioning ourselves to practice, we then and only then, may be able to reach the end of the finish line.  

Painting and creating is really no different. The process like running can be so relaxing and meditative that that alone is worth just trying.  But it's with practice daily or as often as possible that we start to stretch our wings and we can finally take that vision and recreate it more easily then if we just tried for the first time. Anytime you try something new, it's not going to be perfect--be okay with that!  It's okay for it not to be perfect or even great.  It will be someday with practice.   There's a lot of not so perfect things in the world (and people for that matter) that people love anyway.  Imagine how uninteresting the world would be if nothing else existed but masterpieces and perfect people.  We'd miss a lot of joy and beauty in the 99% of the world which would not be there because of imperfection.

Go ahead today and allow yourself the permission to just do something you enjoy, whether you are any good at it or not.  The feeling you will have for engaging in a moment of happiness will be so worth it. 

***

Thank you Swank Girls for allowing me to stop by yesterday and have the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful people :) I enjoyed experimenting, sharing and allowing others to see you don't have to be perfect to enjoy the process and create art that make others happy.

OH...one more thing...looky here!  I'll be in the next issue of Somerset Studio!!  Stay tuned for the Jan/Feb issue where I will be writing and showing some cool pieces for their department article, "With One Palette"!! Whooohooo!!

It's All About the Possible Art Everyday Month Day 27

Even when the rest of the world is going crazy.....and the truth is hard to see, when you make time to create, all the nonsense goes away.  You can go anywhere in the world or in a land of make believe and get submersed in a garden of possibility, if you allow it to come to you.

 

Really, it's okay to believe.

Be brave by putting one foot in front of the other to get to where you are supposed to go.

Don't let anyone tell you your dreams are impossible or you're not going to make it.  It IS possible.  

Even if your dreams turn out a bit differently then you originally thought they would be, or the road you take has a few turns and detours along the way...it's all meant to be so you can be the best at what you do, and build a solid foundation for all that is to come.

You need to start somewhere though.  The beginnings don't always have a lot of direction but they are exciting and adventurous.    You know you are going on a fantastic journey and have a vague idea of where and what you want to do along the way....

And then it begins to come together and you see the magic
happen, some parts are not as clear as they started out to be but yet
they are there and you are  building the foundation,
wondering whats next and hoping it'll turn out like you intended, but you
don't know and are a bit fearful that you might not make it.

But you do.  And for the rest of the world who didn't believe you could do it, and didn't have what it takes to stick with it and make something of your dreams, tell them just look at you now...because you were brave and did it anyway, and saw all the possibilities...you conquered and made something imaginary , something in side your head come alive.

It's okay to believe in yourself. 

It's okay to let the world go and just concentrate on yourself and your immediate surroundings for a bit.

It's okay to be brave, in fact, it's necessary to stay on the path you were meant to be on.

It's okay to get to the middle and not know if it's all going to be okay.

You get thru the middle part and the not so pretty and fun part, trust me.

And then at the end,  you can sit back and say, yes this is exactly where I was meant to be.

Freestyle in Progress Art Every Day 23

How does one go from this......




To this...and still keep on going...layering, layering and more?

You just do!
Freestyle Doodle Graffiti :)   I'm still working on this but it's getting late so I'm going have to put the paint away and dream of what else I can do to this fun crazy silly piece.   So what if Turkey day is Thursday and the queen of this palace has done little more than gone grocery shopping??  It'll all get done in good time.  Life has a way of working itself out.  So do paintings.  If you work at them, solve the problems, correct your strokes, life begins to breathe into the piece and it takes off on its on. I really can't say the same about the turkey, but that will get done to.  Us women have a way of multitasking that few can understand and even less dare to attempt ;)

Persist and you will conquer!

The Best Is Yet To Come.....Art Everyday Month Day 22

Things I love....I can't help it I've listened to this song about 50 million times and I just love it...actually love the whole album of these rugged southern hippie boys, Kings of Leon :) Listen to it and hopefully you'll be inspired to create! Or dance....or just ride down the road with the music blaring smiling on your way to your destination!

So if you've walked along my road over the last week...you will have seen these pages and canvases evolve....my painted muses really have taken form and they are at the point where I am feeling like they are strong enough to leave alone so I can go on to my next inspiration.

How will I know what that will be?  Did you ever feel alone and wonder if anyone could hear what you are saying?  Did you ever wonder if you were ever going to be able to do better than you've done before?

What if this last one was as good as it gets and you will never be able to top that last big thing?

I was listening to Elizabeth Gilbert's speech on nurturing creativity and the expectation the world places on creative minds who have achieved greatness....and the expectations that we place on ourselves.  Is it realistic?  Are we destined to a life of solitude and crazy moods or  be predisposed to turn to altered states of mind to cope with what was and what might not ever be again.  Go ahead and listen to it.  It gives you another perspective on achieving greatness and nurturing what is in you no matter how good the 'next' is.

When you are feeling alone and aimless....there is someone watching over you and nurturing you even when no one is looking. Or listening.   A muse, a guiding light, a supreme being, a God, a friend, a loved one, a stranger, they are behind you and watching and helping to guide and shape that which is inside of you. I have to admit...even though I by far have not achieved the ultimate success of whatever I do...I have that fear of not being able to come up with another story idea, what if I never sell another painting and the best is already behind me....what if, people laugh at me and what I do??? Silly things but fears nonetheless....if you listen long enough, you can be moved into inaction and the creativity fades away.  Stomp it out and listen to the positive muse inside of you....let  her show you that the best is still yet to come.

Turn on your favorite song.  Listen to the beat, the movement, the voice, the enthusiasm and let everything else happen. Even if your greatest thing  you've ever done happened yesterday, who cares! You will never know if something else better isn't just down the road as you plant the seeds each and every day trying to find it unless you try and move along. .  You have to do it.  You must do it....you must engage in persistence. Determination.  Allow guidance from the world it will show you the light.

Listen.

Evolution Art Everyday Month Day 20 & 21

The other day I posted about working with a journal or journal page close at hand while painting your larger pieces, and here we are today and you can see she is coming along....not done yet but much farther along then just a blank page.

I have a new little collection just about complete from this last weeks art session and it feels good!  Not only that...I of course have the journal page above almost complete.   There's something to be said about seeing the fruits of your efforts come alive.  I have a lot of works in progress but not as many as I used to. I am in love with beginning things but have to be pushed to finish them.  I guess it's because there are so many ideas floating in my head and I want to capture them or at least start to capture them before they float away....

and before they float away....I move on to the next thing that is in my mind :)  As depicted here with my two other works started before I have finished the journal page....lol.  Some habits are hard to break.  

I justify it as being productive while paint dries. :)

The far right pieces are pieces I'm working on in similar likeness  to another finished joural page....working intuitively to create a magical muse watching over my home. The beginning stages are rough becuase I'm painting with my fingers just to move the paint into the shape of the faces and bodies.  Now that they are dry, I'll come back today and finish the details with a brush and other fun elements to complete the art work.  What works for you may be different but for me....allowing one piece to feed off the next and to move my process along at a pace that's comfortable to me is where I'm at today.    I am making a conscious effort to complete my pieces though. There's only so much room for WIP here...lol   and truthfully, if I want to earn a living, customers prefer completed pieces over works in progress ;).
So tell me, what's your style...do you go with the flow or just see what happens?  Are you an a-z type and finish on thing before moving on to the next?  Do you sketch out and then paint or do you mix it up and let it evolve as you go?  There is no one right way or wrong way to create.  Whatever works for you is the ticket!  Just do it is what I say! 

Imagine

Create

Play

Evolve

Enjoy

Playing in a New Sandbox Art Everyday Month Day 17

It's good for the soul to try new things from time to time.  In between projects and writing up class agendas, I've been tinkering with this piece which is turning into a funky abstract, something I don't normally do but really love the freedom  and movement that radiates from work like this.

I started out with just freestyle shapes on canvas and then started to fill in the shapes with blocks of acrylic paint glazes and washes.    Adding bits of drips and splatters...using different brushes (as they all tend to make different marks and strokes)

And then repeating the process over and over again.   I'm finding shapes and patterns and pulling them back out and accentuating in whatever way the canvas calls me.
\

And this is where I'm at today. I have no idea where I'm going or where I will end up...and that's the beauty of it.  With every layer, I see new shapes and patterns and I get more ideas on how I can evolve the painting even further. I am sticking with a limited color palette which does present it's own challenges. I love how its evolving and I'm feeling good about the fact I'm attempting something a little outside my own little artsy sandbox.   :)  Sometimes you just have to play and experiment in order to go in new directions.  Don't be afraid...just do it!