Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Praise Songs on My Mind {Mixed Media Projects}

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Daddy became a preacher when I was eight years old, and the churches he pastored were “little white churches,” so this block was created with a heart full of memories.

Little Lambs Love their Shepherd

This art journal spread was done in my altered book., inspired by Junelle Jacobsen. These little sheep girls are clearly happy, as they think about their Shepherd.

Always, for me, I feel most close to my Heavenly Father through praise music. The two praise songs that are in my heart these last few days: “Everlasting God” and “Jesus Messiah” (both Chris Tomlin). My husband, too, is particularly fond of these songs. There are two ways I know when a song is special to him. (1) Tears during worship time when we sing it; (2) He will say something like this: “I really like that one song we sang today. I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s that one that talks about ‘defender of the weak.’” Gotta love him! And I do!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Friday, April 18, 2014

Springtime Blooms {Watercolor}

Springtime Blooms

During the Easter season, I remember all the things that a child of God remembers: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, making my salvation possible.

I also think of family things associated with the holiday, like the traditional egg coloring and egg hunt. We will get to do that again this year.

But I also associate Easter with spring’s new birth, the growth of green grass, the budding of trees, and the beautiful colors of springtime blooms.

Here’s my art journal page for today. I sketched the flowers a few days ago and painted today.

(inspired by art of Dion Dior)

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Watercolor Pear

pear a

Just playing around with my new Sennelier watercolors. Linking to Dion Dior’s Friday Sketch Challenges..

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Springtime Strawberries {Watercolor Pencils}

springtime strawberries b

Once again following a tutorial by Dion Dior, and linking to her Friday Sketch Challenge.

I’m not pleased with this piece. Nonetheless, I am posting it and linking to Dion’s site so as to qualify for a drawing for a place in her Watercolor Pencil class. I obviously have a lot to learn, so maybe I’ll win a spot in the class!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Pleasant Poppy {Watercolor Art}

pleasant poppy watercolor pencil

Today I followed a tutorial by Dion Dior, for using Watercolor Pencils. The poppy brightened my day. It is 39 degrees, cloudy and wet here in Missouri, after a 70-degree weekend. Ugh! So ready for spring.

Linking to Dion’s Friday Sketch Challenge.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Little Blocks {Saturday Mornings Class}

This is the little block (cut from 2x4) I just finished for one of the lessons in Junelle Jacobsen’s Saturday Mornings class. These projects are fun, but they take so much time! Lots of layers of paint, after the sketching.

fancy hat block 5teapot block 3teapot block 5fancy hat block 3

Friday, April 11, 2014

Springtime Daisies {Art Journal}

shout to the lord daisies

Often I notate, “inspired by {insert artist’s name}”…but in some cases, I really should notate, “copied from…” instead.  Such is the case with this piece, not only inspired by, but virtually “copied from” Dion Dior. I am brazenly submitting this to her Friday Sketches challenge. Although I did not “watch” her create this piece, and no doubt her process was much more skilled and meticulous than was mine (after all, she does possess “the skill”), I did use her piece as a work to “copy.”

In my thinking, if I can start to learn to copy the work of others, after much practice, it may possibly lead to my being able to originate ideas for art that I love! Since I have no training, it is better to start somewhere than not to start at all! Isn’t it?

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Chamomile Teapot {Art Journal}

chamomile tea

Having just watched “Miss Potter,” and taking an online class with images from the early 1900’s, this little teapot came to mind. Sketched and painted in my altered book art journal.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

“Miss Potter” Movie and Nostalgia

I only recently learned that a movie was made about the life of Beatrix Potter, my favorite children’s author. I just watched it (free, on my iPad, as an Amazon Prime member) and absolutely loved the movie. I had never even read her biography. What an awesome movie!

My favorite story as a child was “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” When I was teaching gifted children in the early 1980’s, I bought a set of Beatrix Potter books. I still have them. Wonderful stories and beautiful illustrations.

Beatrix Potter Set Closed Box

Beatrix Potter Book Set

Beatrix Potter Set Open Box

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So {Watercolor Daisy}

gerber daisy Psalm

As I was finishing up this Gerber Daisy, I saw a post from my grandson Conner using this Scripture passage. It seemed to fit my mood for this piece.

I sketched the daisy and then used my new Sennelier watercolor paints. Really nice paints really do make a difference!

His mercy is everlasting…He satisfies the thirsty soul…the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Amen!

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Tulip Thank You {Art Journal}

tulip thank you aj page

Russell’s cataract surgery was last Monday. We spent most of this week wondering if the vision would return, as he has a disorder in the cornea that made the cataract surgery risky, and at first there was only “thick fog” through the affected eye..

As of yesterday we began to see evidence that the vision is improving, so we are thankful for that. This art journal page is an expression of praise to God for answered prayer.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Morning Glory Wall {Art Journal}

Morning Glory Spider Web revised b

I painted this with watercolor paints, Silks Acrylic Glazes and Stickles. (Inspired by Dion Dior.) It is so disappointing that the Silks (used to paint the foliage and the flowers) do not photograph realistically. They are very shimmery, and I could not get a true photo at any angle. Boo!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Playing With Sparkle {Art Journal}

sparkle-arkle project

Lots of media, lots of time, using some sparkle for an online class by Dion Dior. Not sure I’m crazy about it, but it’s good to mix things up a bit, and this is not my usual style. The flower is freehand; products used include Asian fiber paper (on hand for years), Silks Acrylic Glazes, heavy gloss gel, acrylic paint, watercolor paint, glitter, stencils, stamps…