Stencil Makin' and Art Journalin'

I am so much more prolific in my painting when I am taking an online class. I wish I had enough money to continuously take them, at least until I felt confident in my own skills and abilities. Tonight I spent time making some stencils. I want to be able to gradually build up my stencil library, because it is so useful! 

I have been having hand problems. It seems like I can't paint/cut out stencils/do anything with my dominant (left) hand for very long without it starting to become very sore :( I don't know if it is because I grip things too tight, or if it is just a downfall of art-making? Anybody have this problem?

The weather is (finally) starting to get warmer out, and I can't wait to start spray painting again! 

Below is a picture of my stencil/masks that I made tonight, and the last few pages of my art journal. Enjoy!

Throwing Paint at a Wall

IS FUN! I am sure you all are like "Duh...of course its fun!" I bought a cork board to hang up above my art desk to put up ideas and inspiration for myself. It sat there for a day or so, looking all plain and boring. I decided it needed something...what would it be? Then I just felt like flinging paint at it! So that is what I did.

Of course, lots ended up on the wall.

It was a fun project, except it didn't work out AS well as expected, because it is a dark brown color, and covered in felt..or something similar. Nevertheless, it isn't boring now!

And my tools...

A spread in progress...

I cut out this sun stencil...how awesome is it?! I love it. I am using this new thinner film (I can't remember what it is), and it makes using a burning tool SO much easier. It cuts like buttah. I'm not sure where this spread is going; I am too busy staring at the pretty suns.

Also, courtesy of Michelle Ward, I made a binder to hold my stencils. SUCH a great idea.

I am once again in a stencil-making phase. I wish I could draw, but I can't, so I will use royalty free images.

I don't have much else to say, but I will end this post with a couple pictures of my friend's baby. I loveee her. So cute.

When good ideas go bad

There is no such thing as failure within art, right? Its all a learning experience, right? I am sure it is...but it is frustrating when you waste an hour of hard work, only to realize in the end that it is not usable.

I received this awesome ad in the mail and decided it would make a great stencil. I spent an arduous hourish cutting it up, THINKING I was doing it correctly. Well, I guess I need to really study how to do stencils in more intricate designs. I kept cutting out the middle parts, and messed up the whole design.

Sigh.

Zentangles and Stencil Cutting

I don't know how I stumbled upon it, but I somehow found this Flickr site about Zentangles. I thought they look so FASCINATING and fun, and I really am trying to think outside the box and try and expand my creativity. I have been working on them at work (shhh!!) and at home, and it is addicting. I love how they turn out, and so far it has been harder than I had imagined to just think of random doodles. I don't doodle, and I never really have. I've always just randomly colored things. I like color! I can't draw, outside of triangles, hearts and stars. I have looked at many Zentangles from this flickr site, have written down ideas, but I hope that one day I can do one all from my brain. Here are some I have done. I also tried to do one completely in black and white, but it is too tempting to add in color. The last one I really like so far...even if  I just started it. (click to enlarge) I use different sized Sakura Micron pens for these, and watercolor (Prismacolor) pencils for the color.

I just have started out playing with stencils and spray paint on my journals. Constantly searching for stencils you want and buying them is difficult and expensive, so naturally I want to make my own! I first found this on Michelle Ward's Blog. She does monthly Crusades, a challenge to anyone who wants to participate. I think I am going to work through most of them even if they are over. Some are so awesome! Here are some photos of my beginning stenciling crusades.

As you an see, its a little rough around the edges. It is MUCH easier using a heating tool (found at Michael's) than an exacto knife...but harder than I thought. Any tips on how to make pretty stencils?