Learn to Create Art Create to Learn

I did some simple sketching of some art supplies and decided to create some digital art with them. I love to be able to learn to create...and to create to learn!

Creativity is Sacred

Just a little creativity food for thought for your Saturday.

Creativity is sacred...

Outlander Digital Art for Summer

Of late I have been starting to get ready for my new school year, so I've not been in the studio. But here and there I have squeezed in some Outlander Digital Art that I thought I'd share today. I know, I know...I'm a wee bit obsessed with Outlander. I cannae help myself. At any rate, here are some of my latest digital creations, in honor of the love between Jamie and Claire Fraser.

This first one is based on one of my favorite and very simple quotes from the Outlander book series. "It has always been forever for me." Seven simple words that say a whole heck of a lot! I liked this art so much that I used it as the header image for my Twitter account. Any sassenachs who visit my Twitter page will instantly know I love Outlander.

This next one features another simple quote, "I was born for you." When you read the Outlander series, you have to appreciate Diana Gabaldon's gift of words. She is a talented wordsmith to be sure--and the sheer length of her books is testament to that fact. But every once in awhile she writes something so simple, but at the same time something that expresses so much about the love between Jamie and Claire. This quote is one of those times.

This next one features a quote that is really about the passion between Jamie and Claire. I didn't want to focus on the physical nature of that passion though. Rather, I focused on the separation of Jamie and Claire by time--and how that longing to be together could not be stopped. Not even by 200 years. So this art features the standing stones at Craigh na dun. The quote, "Does it ever stop, the wanting you? Even when I've just left ye, I want you so much my chest feels tight and my fingers ache with wanting to touch ye again." Wow. Is it hot in here?

Lastly, this next digital art features my second favorite redhead (the first being my husband), James Fraser. His love for Claire is is so deep and abiding that he professes its depth in his soul. "And when my body shall cease, my soul will still be yours. Claire--I swear by my hope of heaven, I will not be parted from you."

This is the stuff of wonderfully romantic historical fiction. It's the stuff that makes JAMMF such a captivating icon. And it's all thanks to Diana Gabaldon. To say that the Outlander series is a 'good read' is kind of an understatement. You don't really read these books, you live in them. And this is precisely why they, along with the TV series, inspire my creativity.

Sadly, there are no standing stones and time travel in my future. I must return to planning for the school year. But I'm sure I'll be seeing Jamie and Claire again soon...if only in my digital art. :) 

Seattle Believe Art Journal Spread

Well I was back in the studio again after a little bit of an absence and I was in the mood to add a spread to one of my Art Journals. I chose Seattle as as my subject, and added a little bit of magic.

First, let me say that this spread was inspired by a tutorial video I watched on the Silas Art YouTube channel. I like hers better than mine! But I still had fun creating this. She has a lot of beautiful art journal spreads, so be sure to check them out if you want a little inspiration. I didn't copy hers exactly, of course. But her video gave me the inspiration I needed to create this. I like the sky the most here. I think I need to create more art with skies!

I chose Seattle for my spread because I grew up partly in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. Went to high school there and was married there as well. I still miss it so much and will always consider Washington my home. So it was an easy choice for this spread. I used acrylics for this, and the fairy images are stamped on. And I just added a little reminder to always...Believe.

Butterfly Mixed Media Girl

I was in my studio again on Sunday. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to create. So, I decided to start by collaging my canvas with some scrapbook paper and printed tissue and then see what that might inspire. I added a little bit of acrylic paint too. At that point, my canvas looked like this.

After looking at it for awhile, I started to see something in the canvas. That happens sometimes after I've put a bunch of papers and paint down. It's kind of like seeing shapes in clouds--something just sort of appears to me. Once I saw it, I started drawing. Then the canvas started to look like this.

Yep, I somehow saw a face appearing in the middle of the canvas, so I just went with it. I drew most of her face, then I painted over the face with transparent gesso so that I wouldn't lose the face as I painted. After that, it was just a matter of painting! This is the finishing Butterfly Mixed Media Girl.

This is mostly acrylic paint, but I've added other media as well. I used Neocolor II crayons, acrylic paint pens, and black pencil too. I don't do a lot of faces that aren't facing forward. That's a skill I'm trying to improve upon, so I decided to give it a shot. I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, but I'm still going to keep trying to improve. And you know, for some reason I'm always drawn to pink hair. The butterflies were the final touch, but then I decided I wanted to add a quote too, which I did.

The butterfly counts not months but moments and it has time enough.

In other words, make the most of the time you have, and make every moment count!

Drawing in My Travelers Notebook

I'm planning to get into the studio to paint again this weekend, but for now I've been content this week doing some drawing in my Traveler's Notebook. I have an insert with black pages that I'm trying to fill up. So, I made a couple of additions this week.

I have a thing for flying pigs!

And you know I love fairies!

Here's hoping I fill up this insert in the next couple of weeks! What have YOU been creating this week?!

Sunny Flower Mixed Media Painting

Well, it's been a SUPER long time since I've been able to get into my studio and do some painting. Teaching full time again takes so much time outside of school that I never seem to have any big blocks of time to get in there and get creative. But now that school is out for the summer I can finally get in there when I want to. I was in such a good, sunny mood on Sunday when I went in there that I decided to do a mixed media painting of a very sunny-looking flower! This is the result of my day's painting frenzy. 

I primarily used acrylics for this, but I also added a little bit of Prismacolors colored pencils here and there, along with some paint pen accents. This is 11x14. I tend to work smaller when I'm not doing oils, because I work on my counter, which isn't very deep. So I try to make sure I work on a canvas that fits onto my counter space. I generally gravitate toward square canvases, but the 11x14 was calling to me yesterday.

Not sure what I'll paint next, but I was just thrilled to be able to get into my studio again!

Spring Lilacs

Since I'm sooo in the mood for Spring and anxiously awaiting its arrival, I thought I'd post some photos I took last year of some Lilacs. It'll probably be another month here before mine bloom, so these will have to do until then.

I love the smell of Lilacs in bloom, don't you? I don't think it really even feels like Spring until I can smell the Lilacs in the air. Hurry up, Spring. I'm waiting!

Creativity Let it Bloom

I'm hoping to take a break from my lesson planning and other school prep tomorrow so that I can get into my studio. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. At any rate, I haven't posted in awhile since I've been so busy with teaching (and all that goes with it). So, I thought I'd post a little past artwork to help inspire you--and me--to get creative.

I played around digitally with some of my previous Pink Poppies Mixed Media art. I added a quote to it as well. I love pink and flowers in general. But I tend to be drawn to poppies for some reason. Here's to warmer weather, lots of flowers, and much more studio time once I'm off school for the summer!