But...I can't draw!!!

The one thing that has always made me think that I wasn't creative was the fact that I couldn't draw. I stopped at that, and just believed if I couldn't draw, I wouldn't ever be creative. If I learn nothing else from my foray's into art journaling, I will forever be grateful to find out that I AM creative! I also have wanted to expand my drawing skills from stick people. I found www.drawspace.com. There are a ton of online drawing lessons you can take. Step by step drawings? That takes the intimidation factor out of it. Here are a few of my lessons that I've done. Now, keep in mind--that I can barely draw stick figures!! You can see all my guidelines, but that is what learning is for.

I am QUITE proud of myself! *Pats self on back*

In art journal land, I am addicted to the idea of black backgrounds. I could play with fun colors on black all day. This is just black paint and neocolor crayons on top. And sharpie pen. Love.

Experiment Journal: Pages in Progress (I still have Art ADD)

I am AMAZED that I am STILL feeling creative!!! Its been like two whole weeks! This is amazing for me. *Rock on!!*

Here are a couple of pages I have in progress....

Zentangle-like doodle in my tracing of my hand. I am using Micron pens...boy do I love them.

 

I first tried a spray of acrylic paint + water. It didn't quite have the effect I intended. I was trying to replicate spray inks...but my straw on my spray bottle doesn't reach to the bottom, and I don't want half a bottle filled with one color for just a few sprays! I like the mottled effect, just needs to be tweaked. The papers glued down are some of the paste papers I made.

Buy your spray paint at Walmart!!

If you buy this type of spray paint for your artwork, you should go into your local Walmart and purchase it. I REALLY try not to go to Walmart unless I know something is cheaper, and this is the greatest difference in price I have seen. Every other store sells it for $6-$8 a can....Walmart, $3!

I had to get that out there to Blogland.

Also: Go to Simply Me's  website and enter a comment to win a Cricut Machine!!

Re-Organization and a journal entry

Tonight, I decided I have had enough of my wayyyyyy too cramped space with my ever-growing art fanaticism. Therefore, I emptied my bookshelf of all my books and cds...and made room for my art stuff. Sorry books and cds! I have thrown them in the living room, and will deal with them later. haha! I took pictures of my newly re-decorated space. Now, I live in a tiny apartment, so my art "studio" is in a corner in my bedroom. I had to make do.

Where all my art supplies have gone to, where books and cds used to be.

The right side of my desk with the beginnings of my color mixing chart I have begun.

Next to my desk, all my paints and brushes. Mmmmm. Makes me happy.

My books. I spend a LOT of time at Barnes and Noble reading books, but I can't afford many. The journal on the top right is all homemade! :)

Bin #1: Paper and Ephemera.

Bin #2: Stamping materials

Bin #3: Book Binding stuff

Bin #4: Pens/Markers. Glorious, isn't it?

Bin #5: Stenciling stuff

Bin #6: Watercolors-in a pan, in a crayon, and in pencil form.

Last, but certainly not least, a journal entry I did last night after I found out my Uncle has prostate cancer. The prognosis doesn't look good.

Mini Art Cards

I bought some water color pencils (Prismacolor) the other week, and have had water color crayons (Caran D'Ache Neo Color II) for awhile. I also grabbed a couple of Micron Sakura pens and have tried my hand at doodling Zentangles and other little things. I cut up a piece of 9x12 watercolor paper into 4ths and made these little cards. Sort of like a mini journal entry/thought for the day. It is interesting to learn how to use these crayons and pencils. To get the amount of color and water to get the desired effect. I am still learning, but that is part of the fun!

I made this card yesterday when I was trying fervently to just let my mind be. Be free of all those little things in balloons. It is very, very hard. Sometimes it feels impossible.

 

The worry card was made today after a dentist's appointment. I really, REALLY hate the dentist. All doctors, but the dentist the most. I hate everything about them, and I have a really nice dentist. I have been told since I was about 12 that I am going to need to get my wisdom teeth out. Each time I say "No way!" They do not understand how much stress I go through just to get a cleaning! I also have had plenty of cavities, and those are on another level...don't even get me going on wisdom teeth.

Today I went (no cavities!! one "watch" tooth), and my hygenist and dentist both really begged me to get them done. He told me that my two lower ones (which are impacted) could cause decay on my back molars, and once that happens I will probably lose those teeth. AHHHHHHH. No amount of brushing or flossing can help either because its below the gum line. That scared the shit out of me, and I had to fight the oncoming tears while still in the office.

So, despite the relief that I don't need to see them again for another 6 months, there is that ever-looming "GET YOUR WISDOM TEETH OUT" cloud hanging over my head. I don't even have words for how scary that is for me.

If I can barely handle the thought of going in for a cleaning, how can I handle anything that comes my way? I've been SO lucky in life to never have any health problems. I have a serious phobia of hospitals as well. Even to go visit people in there makes me plaster myself to the walls and get nauseous. Worry. Such a huge part of my life. I wish I could just let it fly away.

All the colors of the wind

Nothing makes me happier than looking at leftover paint on my palette and all my colors spread about my table.

A few of my favorite things...

I have been thinking about posting my very favorite art supplies, but have hesitated because I am SO new in this field. I just started doing this a few months ago in Julie Prichard's Layer Love class. But, through trial and error and a LOT of reading on various blogs and in books, I definitely have found a few items that I know I love, and probably will always use.

#1: Golden Fluid Acrylics

             I could go on and on all day about these paints. They are artist grade paints, but have a lower viscosity, and therefore spread beautifully on my watercolor pages. They are expensive little devils, but I have bought a few colors at a time to try and work up my collection of colors. I also have tried Liquitex Basic Acrylics (Well, I still have them)...and they are decent. They are student-grade, so they have less pigment in them than artist-grade, and they don't spread as easily as the fluids. I bought a bunch on sale, so I am using them until they are gone. They do the trick, but I prefer the Golden's MUCH better.

#2  NeoColor II Crayons

These make me giddy with excitement. First of all, who doesn't like crayons?! Secondly, they come in a zillion colors. Thirdly, they are water-soluble. (The II's, not the I's) Therefore, you can scribble anywhere you'd like with these bad boys, add some water, and BOOM...just like paint. So great. The only thing to keep in mind is that you can't write over them with pens, and if you get it wet, it will re-activate the crayon. Minor details. I love them.

#3 Sharpie Poster Paint Pens (Water-based)

These also make me giddy with excitement. Ok, all of these do, because I love colors, and now I have so many various ways to apply that color! These water-based pens are being discontinued (oh no!!). So, search and grab them while you can because these are opaque, vibrant, permanent and can write over pretty much anything.

These are my main items I use in almost every journal entry I do. I also have hand-crafted some rubber stamps, and soon will teach myself to make my own stencils. Those will be for another day!