November 19, 2021

Steampunk Challenge

This creation was made for the Steampunk challenge from The Fripperies and Butterflies Blog. The subject is from Gecko Galz!

I used Washi tape from The Paper Studio to continue the snowfall around the boarder. The snowflakes were highlighted with a white Posca pen as was the beard of Santa and also his cap. The gear "snowflakes" were made using Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Alterations 22pk die Gearhead. I elevated the gears using foam dot from Stampin' Up.  They were enhanced with Stickles glitter gel Nebula. To give Santa, sled and his reindeer they were outlined in black Sharpie.

This was the first Steampunk project I've worked and I can honestly say it wont be my last!!

I told you about entering the Spring Chicken in the 613 Avenue Create February #218 Challenge.  They recently announced the winners. There were 254 creative subjects submitted.  It was nice to look at the other creations and see the color combinations and subjects used.

I wasn't selected as a monthly challenge winner but I would like to share that I was selected, along with 18 others, as a Top Rocker!  While Top Rocker isn't an award to write home about it is something to blog about!  I don't know if this "Top" recognition is given to people that have entered for the first time or if they counted and give it to every 13th submission.  Whatever the way it is determined I'll take it!!

Here is the badge I was awarded 

Now I sit and patiently wait to find out if they have selected the Spring Chicken or Cute Critter to be shown in the Greenville Artist Guild show.   I am being very loose in the use of word patiently.  I thought they were to notifiying paticipants last Friday. I checked late that night and no notice.  Then on Saturday I reread the instruction page and found the notification date to by March 5.  That word "by" led me to check numerous times Saturday, Sunday and today.  I'll be honest, I know I'll do at least 2 more checks before bed even though I know there won't be a notice at this time of night, 9:12 to be exact.  You just never know with all the things being emailed in a day my notice of yea or nay still may be floating around in space!!

Sarah Cray, Thank You!

Thanks to Let's Make Art and its founder, Sarah Cray, I was able to share a project with The Montgomery Art Guild. Our meeting was February 9 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro.

The Rainbow Wish watercolor paint kit was perfect for our group.  Many had never used the liquid watercolor paint and found interesting how the colors would burst when added to the water we had paid down on the paper.

You will see in the picture below all the variations of the dandelions we created using the wet on wet technique.  It was fun to be carefree and make a loose watercolor painting. The colors flowed into each other creating those of a rainbow.

I look forward to sharing other projects from Let's Make Art with our Guild.  If anyone is interesting in the paint kits the website is: https://letsmakeart.com

Spring Chicken

If you are on Facebook I'm sure you have seen the comic reference to having so many things going on in your mind that you are like your computer in that you have 24 tabs open and running at the same time.  Well I tend to be like that with crafting at times.

As you have read I am into creating with watercolor.  I browsed Pinterest to look at the art work of other painters and I came across the term "mixed media".  I had no idea what that was.  I had only painted with paper and paint.  What was this media and how did you mix it with paint?  I found out that now most anything goes. Watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils, twine, glitter, feathers, sand, gauze, coffee grounds...all in one creation!!!!  That kinda blew my mind.  I'm pretty open to things but this was tittering on losing the control of which I try to keep a handle on.

I have now dabbled in this mixed media thing.  Below you will find my first.  This is one my pieces of art that I'm entering into The Greenville Artist Guild show.  The show theme is A Touch of Whimsy.  I used watercolor paper, liquid watercolor, colored pencils, washi tape, clear crystals, iridescent pan wc and ink.

Here is my Mixed Media creation titled:   "Spring" Chicken.  (Get it?? S P R I N G chicken)

Challenge # 218 Anything Goes / Optional Twist - Use A Critter
The challenge is from blog 613 Avenue Create

Now to the tab thing.  When I had my 3 watercolor paintings on display at The Greenville Artist  Guild show this past fall I came across a different form of art.  Digital Art.  I did know we are in the
digital world but hadn't thought of it being in the art world other than graphics used for website creations.

Helene told me that she did digital scrapbooking.  I was amazed that this existed.  In looking through Helene's blog, 2amscrapperblogspot.com, I seen the beautiful pieces she has made.

That is the new tab I have open.  I have been playing with it.  In my next post you will see the modest digital piece I put together.

My first digital experience

Here is the new tab I have opened, digital scrapbooking.

 I used graphics from Pixel Scrapper at pixelscrapper.com.  It is a site that offers many free items to download and they also have items that you may purchase. 

I used Photo Shop Elements to put things together.  I'm proud of myself.  I changed sizes of the subjects, flipped directions and moved things around.  I didn't utter 1 cuss word through the whole assembly.

Going to enter this into:  (They probably can tell I'm a new blogger with all my entries)

Challenge # 218 Anything Goes / Optional Twist - Use A Critter

The challenge is from blog 613 Avenue Create

 

It is getting late and I need to close down some of these computer tabs and try to sleep.  The down side to that is I create things in my mind now too.

They do say you need to keep your mind active!!!!!

Cute Critter

The Cute Critter you see below is my first entry in a blog contest.  I'm excited to see my creation among others that enjoy their craft and sharing with others.

The Blog this is going to be in is 613 Avenue Create that is a monthly challenge community.
This month is Challenge # 218 Anything Goes / Optional Twist - Use A Critter 

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5379945452265205278#editor/target=post;postID=2217629833784747973

I hope he makes you smile as much as he does me!

 I do have to confess before I did my research I did purchase a set of pan watercolors at Hobby Lobby along with an inexpensive set of brushes.  I also picked up a pad of paper that felt like it weighed enough. (Remember the paper weighs!)  Each item said they were all good for watercolor art.  I felt pretty good because that is what I was going to be, a watercolor artist!!

Just as I did when I was a kid, I drew my wet brush over the purple and made watery strokes on the paper.  As I did, a nice relaxing sigh came from deep within. I found a new therapy.  I have always found watercolor art relaxing to look at.  My eyes follow the colors as they flow from one into the other.  Blending together so well you don't know from where one ends and the other starts.

What do I paint?  I'm not one to just start painting, other than the flower garden from my childhood memory.  I need to see a picture of something then I will make an attempt.  Thank goodness these days for Pinterest!  I browsed and browsed and came up with an adult style flower to paint.  First came the purple clematis.  Then the marigolds.  Then the rooster.  (We now know the chicken didn't come first, I know I painted a rooster but I couldn't not make that comment!)  It wasn't the loose watercolor I had the desire to first paint but I was happy.

Around the time the painting desire hit me I sent a text to a friend I hadn't seen in years.  I asked Helene if she should like to meet for lunch and catch up.  We had a wonderful visit. I'm happy to add that we have continued to meet for lengthy lunches or coffee conversations ever since.  She shared with me how she had tapped into her artist talents.  She creates beautiful digital scrapbook pages and wonder journal pages.  Around September she emailed me about a juried art show that was in a neighboring county. To enter the juried show you could email up to 3 subjects and send a fee for subject.  It was a fund raiser they were having for The Greenville Art Guild.

I tossed the idea around of entering my purple flower for about 2 weeks.  No, it isn't that good.  Other artists, that are good, will enter masterpieces.  I don't have a chance.  All kinds of negativity.  Then I would look at my purple petals again and think, maybe.  Why not do it?   Its a fundraiser for the arts.  I'm sure they will appreciate the money. I got big time brave. Why not really help them and enter all 3?!

They were to email the entrants on a certain day if their art was chosen.  I checked that morning. No email.  I waited until after lunch.  No email.  Then after dinner.  No email.  Well I supported the fundraiser.  I did a normal late night email check and there was an email from The Greenville Art Guild!!  They were glad to notify me that they accepted all 3, yes all 3, of my paintings!  If I could have danced a jig I would have. (I need to enter here that I'm in a wheelchair so that would have been ugly if I had tried).  Helene also had and entry accepted into the exhibit.  We were displayed together on the gallery wall.  I didn't place but I did win.  I won a feather.  I'm still tickled that they picked my paintings!

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