I'm Focused on Faces

Since I am trying to paint small(ish)....I am trying also to perfect my whimsical faces. I've done about four on 4 x 6 mixed media, 140lb. vellum surface using watercolour crayon with some white acrylic paint. Boy oh boy it's been a struggle, however I'm pushing through..

Here is a sample of the beginning and the finale...

Delight in the little things.

Very scary beginnings.....

Until next time...happy creating
Nadine

The Castle

I spent most of the week working on my "storyboard" involving princesses, a prince and a castle. A fun process that I enjoyed very much. Next time however I would change a few things. This mixed media piece used, Canson Bristol paper - 96 lbs and 11"x14", watercolour pencils, watercolour crayons, acrylic paint, Japanese papers as well as scrapbooking papers and a few stickers for the crowns. What I discovered was that a simple drawing and then it's development is as far as your imagination takes you. I can visualize this theme as a jumping off point for other mixed media projects. Plus I can recreate the princesses and prince using the simple techniques used in "stick figure drawings". Yeah for me!

Here are a few sketches...plus the final outcome.

The Final Outcome....

Very simple sketch of the "little prince and princesses"

The Castle and the storyboard

The project midway.....

Until next time....happy creating
Nadine

I finally "get it"!

Yesterday, I received the 4th Lesson in the Life Book 2017 online course. The lesson was focused on the "stick" figure. What! Stick figures! How not inspiring! or so I thought.

So far, I've created a warmup - Star page, a couple of mixed-media whimsical girls and stick figures. I was thinking when I created the whimsical girls..."How can I replicate this?" And after these last few weeks I've noticed a theme..."don't overcomplicate" the drawing. I took a look back on past published artists and their work and realized..."they get it"! These artists don't "over complicate" their figures.  It was a "light bulb" moment for me and this is the reason why these artists can reproduce a similar character every time! Storytellers,  card makers, and loads of other artists "get it"! As a result of this last lesson; I'm going to try to come up with my own whimsical figures that I can use regularly...in my art projects. This could take some time, but my creative juices have been activated!

Until next time...happy creating
Nadine

Today in History

A lot of things have happened during the past year; the most significant is in the U.S. Presidential Elections. Today, Donald J. Trump became the 45th President of the United States of America. Very, very hard to believe. I think from today on, if at all possible, I need to free myself of the press and any world news that is totally negative. Thank goodness for "art therapy" and my "creative" journey. I am pouring my next 11 months into my creative process.

The other big news, is that my daughter and family are relocating to Ottawa. I keep telling myself that it's okay, but in reality it will be very hard...again thank goodness for my "creative journey" to help me with this latest news. I hope that my future art is not too dark and depressing. I only wish for my children to be happy and to do what's great for them and their family.

PS: I still quite sick. If my cold doesn't improve over the weekend, I will visit the doctor. Maybe I have an infection and need antibiotics.

Until next time....happy creating
Nadine

Still I'll

No post today, ya I know I am a day late, I'm still very sick.

Until next time...happy creating 

Nadine 

Flu Season

I came to Vancouver to help my daughter out while her hubby has gone out of town and we all (including 3 little darlings) came down with the flu.

No art today..I'm way to sick and trying to help out wherever I can, even if it's just to snuggle a child.

Until next time.....happy creating 

Nadine 

I 'm Away Again!

I realize that I do travel a lot. Gosh, I am helping out in Vancouver with the wee ones. No excuses, I managed to even be organized enough to work on my "affirmation hummingbird". On the ferry and today. I've never used watercolour crayons before and I really like how they are so vibrant. The only issue is that fine micron pens and whit belly roll pens don't write very well because the surface becomes too waxy. I still want to add a background and doodle a little....but this is what I have so far.

 Until next time.. happy creating 

Nadine 

First Post of 2017

We are well into 2017 now and I have been so excited and creative all at once! That's gotta be a first!

I was away on Tuesday and couldn't do my regular post...I apologize for missing because, yes I have been a busy bee,

I've signed up for a year long, on-line, mixed media course and I got my first lesson a day before January 1st and I got on it!

This is just the beginning. To face (literally) my fears on drawing and faces. I know that by the end of the year I will feel a lot more confident about drawing faces. Right now I am concentrating on developing a "whimsical" face based on my grandchildren. The first drawing/watercolour is without any instruction - the second is definitely an improvement, because I returned home and could watch the video on "how to draw a whimsical face" and I just adapted the lesson to fit my criteria. I really enjoyed the lesson a lot and I plan to redo the first attempt.

I also want to note, that I am working on 90 lb. bristol paper and not the recommended 140 lb, hot pressed, watercolour paper as I already have the bristol on hand and watercolour is way too expensive to purchase. I just have to be mindful of the amount of water I use. Also, I adapted some parts of the lesson because of waste and to "cut-out the girl" only to glue her onto a background I felt was not necessary. We will see how this goes. Anyways here are my results:

"Star Girl" - first attempt and using mostly watercolour
paints

Here are my attempts.....

"warm-up" exercise

"Love Girl" - 2nd attempt

Until next time....happy creating

Nadine