Journal Prompt #21

Because I am traveling I chose to make my hand out of an old map.


The prompt says "use hands any way you want".
Won't it be fun to see all the ways folks choose to interpret it?

I chose to look up words and phrases that include the word hand.
The background was prepared ahead using deli paper printed on my Gelli plate.

The words were fun..I had no idea there were so many words and phrases
With hand in it: example...handcrafted, handmaiden, panhandle, handwritten, handcuff, etc.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

St. Mark's lighthouse in Fl panhandle

First day of the trip north with a lovely painting spot.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Journal Prompt #20: Creating Depth

5 x 8" journal page

Well, here it is folks…my last post before I hit the road.

When it's 95 every day in FL…my hubby starts packing.  Hahaha.  

Only 53 for a high at the cabin.  It's going to be a huge shock to me!  Packing sweaters and jeans when it's 95 is somehow strange!

The prompt for today was to create something "with depth".

I have already packed up all my art supplies (well most of them) and so a pair of scissors and some glue and my inkjet printer were about all I had to work with.  Oh and a glue stick.

The background for the page was pre-done weeks ago…I do several backgrounds at a time.  Then wait to find something that will fit on them!  The "slick" ink which has a raised line seems to fit with this idea well.  Behind it is a Gelli print deli paper glued to the page.  

The Zendala (unfinished by the way) was copied on my inkjet printer twice and glued with YES glue to light tag board and cut out and between the layers is that stick/foam that you buy at Walmart or Michaels in sheets.  And I used glue stick on it as well.  I wanted to sort of express the "whirlwind of packing" and heading off again.  And because my journal theme is "awareness" or "attentiveness" I wanted a quote that fit that theme too.

I was thinking of coloring the layers of the Zendala but with the wild background decided against it.  That would be nice if the background were uncolored AND if I had time.  I'll post now and again from my iPad but the images are always so small that I am unhappy with them.  But at least you can follow along my journey.  I can always repost them another day.

We are praying for decent weather.  Leaving Friday morning.

Should get to southern WI by Tuesday. 6 days there and then the last 300 miles on Memorial Day.  

Diva Challenge: Laura's birthday tangles: Dex and Bunzo

L and H are for Laura Harm's birthday which is TODAY…May 13.
I am sorry it did not get put in the slot on the calendar for today…but I know she won't mind.  

Transparent Watercolor Show in WI

Carol Brody, Wellington, FL
22 x 30
"Party Papers, Ribbons and Confetti IV

You HAVE to go and look at the Transparent Watercolor's 39th annual exhibit here.  

First comes all the awards (except People's choice) and then down below you can click on all of the artist's paintings to see each one in the show.

VERY worth while to do that.  

I am going to get to see this exhibit in person a week from Thursday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  I am SO excited.  I know two of the artists personally that got in!  What an amazing array of talent!!!

Tangle A Day Calendar

The count down to the annual move back up north closes in on me.  6 days and counting.  You hear me go through this twice a year every year.
And it's not really a whine (although packing is not my favorite).
I've been reminded many many times this year that it is my privilege and my joy to be able to have two delightful places to be during the year.  

So should this sound like a whine, please forgive.
I am really really grateful to have two lovely spots in the world that mean a great deal to me and two sets of friends.  AND to have family who puts up with it and loves me anyway!  :-)  The packing, although not particularly "fun" is a good way to inventory what is most useful and needed in your daily life.  My art cupboard get organized and cleaned out, my fridge and kitchen cupboards get cleaned.  All good.

So this year I am going to make a huge effort NOT to sound like I am whining about all this.  But more than that I am grateful to have another opportunity to see 3 seasons in Wisconsin (spring, summer and fall) and to leave the snow and cold behind me each winter.
I look forward to our lovely little lake and our dear church and friends up there.  And my hubby has done so much to try to make the tiny cabin comfortable and pleasant for us both.  What could I possibly complain about!!!  

Tangle A Day calendar for May 7-9

This layout is based loosely on Margaret Bremner's last post about how she did a tile ensemble.  I was just blown away (as usual) with what she did.  She used tiles but this is just all one page of course.
She took a very simple idea and made it elegant. 
That's the name of the game and she plays it so well.
Margaret's blog is on my sidebar.  Enthusiastic Artist.  

Acrylic Fun

Acrylic 11 x 14 canvas board

So I am in this online free acrylic class sponsored by Strathmore papers.  The teacher is Patti Mollica.  Nice soft big brush approach..I like it. Sort of like Jane Slivka who I once took a class from in Mt. Dora, FL.  Patti demos a nice wine bottle and two glasses.  We are allowed to place a photo of our work from the class in a free gallery where Patti can comment or other can also.  So I do a quick study of this life buoy at St. George Island and even though it's not done and needs some work (unsigned you'll note) I flip it onto the gallery.  (Hey, I am packing here to go north and I don't have a lot of time.)

It's the next day when I go online to look at other's work that I notice that I am THE only one who has NOT painted a wine bottle and two glasses.  Wait.  I was supposed to paint what the teacher painted without a photo reference?  I look in my in box and there is a photo reference.   Oh boy.  So here's the gallery, wine, wine, wine, wine, wine, life buoy, wine, wine.  You get the picture.

OH boy.  So I write a little public note in the space provided for us to communally chat and note my distress at not having been provided with the notification that I was supposed to paint a wine bottle.  The teacher is understanding and apologizes for getting the photo reference out a little late.  

So I get this feedback from one of my co-painter students who did her painting and posted correctly.  She says, ""Which one of these things in not like the other….which one of these things just doesn't belong….can you guess which thing is not like the other before I finish my song…..XOXOX"

I just got to laughing.  That is EXACTLY how it looks…a Sesame Street game.  Hahaha.  I love it.  People are so funny.

There is always one, isn't there?  This time it's ME.  

Oh well, Patti will paint again next week and I won't be able to paint along because by then all my acrylics will be packed up and ready to go into the car.  Boo hoo.  At least I'll be able to watch along as I travel using my iPad.  

Incidentally, Patti uses only flat brushes 1,2, and 3" and does all the detail with them so as to keep things loose.  I like using the angular flats that I bought for Jane's class.  They are made by Scheewe and are called "background brushes".  I have a one inch and a 1-1/2"  Nylon.  Patti says she just uses inexpensive nylon brushes from Michaels or wherever.  They need to come to a sharp edge and have spring to them.  Voila.  There will be two more free Strathmore online classes in September on lettering and pen and ink drawing and I can hardly wait.  These have been very fun.