I'm An Artist

I'm fairly new to believing I'm an artist.  I made a commitment to myself several months ago do something creative everyday.  Most of the time I work in my art journal or my altered book.  I'm very comfortable doing that.  I've worked consistently for several months now and that work is paying off for me.

I've wanted to do a canvas for a while but I'm afraid. I don't know why a canvas is scary.  It just a flat surface and I can gesso over it if I really screw it up.  Today, I decided I wanted to do something a little larger than a book page.  I really wanted to work on canvas but chickened out in the end.  This is done in a "book" I recycled from a job years ago. I worked on it  "as if"  it was a canvas.  

I began by painted the page with gesso.  Then I used a light purple paint over the gesso  leaving some white peaking through.  I cut the vase from a page I'd taken out of my altered book.  I folded the paper in half so that I could get my vase to be the same on both sides.  I lightly painted the vase with a shade darker purple than my background.  I gave it a couple coats.  Finally I finger painted the stripes with a darker purple.

The flowers are cut from two Sizzix dies using chipboard.  I gessoed them and then painted them with craft paints.  After they were dry I peeled one of the chip board layers off the back of the flowers so they would not be too bulky in my book.   I used a round brush to paint the greenery and stems and then arranged the flowers.  Scotch Quick Dry Glue was used to attach the flowers.  I used a Hero Arts background stamp for the text background in a purple and then in white.  I used a black Stabilo Pencil around one side of the vase for a tiny shadow.  The final touch was to outline the flowers with a white water based Sharpie Paint Marker.

I am amazed that I did this piece. I'm so pleased with my progress.  I now believe that I can do a canvas.  Thanks to all of you who visit my blog and encourage me. I treasure your comments.  I appreciate your encouragement so much.

Link :  Artist Play Room, A Year in the Life of An Art Journal , Creative Everyday

Calendar Journal

My friend, Sweet Red Clover made a journal out of a pocket calendar.  She used scraps to decorate the pages and plans to toss it in her purse so she'll have something to draw on when she's away from home.

I decided to try my hand at one.  I used an old Met Life calendar.  I am a huge Snoopy fan and this calendar has a picture of Snoopy on every other page.  My plan is to leave Snoopy on the pages. 

This journal will be mainly a quote journal.  I see so many wonderful quotes on Facebook and I'm going to start printing the ones I really like.

This is the cover of my Calendar Journal.  I very seldom do the cover first because I'm messy.  You will notice, I've already gotten gesso on the cover.  Oh well, it will add to the charm.  I don't know where I found the two little girls. Their words are perfect for my journal.   The Creative People on I found on Donna Downey's FB page.  

Below:  I had to begin with an original quote by me.  It needed a music background and Amazing Grace is one of my favorite hymns.  I thought it fitting.  Any talent I have is a gift from God.  The quote and picture on the right came from Raising Ecstasy FB page.  You'll see Snoopy flying a plane in the corner.  Snoopy is the king of believing he's amazing and can do anything he sets his mind to do.


Link to: APR,  Creative Every Day,  A Year in the Life of an Art Journal, Balzer Designs