Journal style creating

As the past year was ending I didn't have time to create like I would have normally, so creating a few smaller 4 x 6 originals helped me bridge time and art.  You can easily do this in an art journal or as I did individually. Canvas paper, watercolor paper, card stock are perfect for individual pieces like this if you don't want something "stuck" inside a journal. 
I'm looking forward to another creative year in 2017 and hope you join me.  Be sure to follow me on my Instagram feed for frequent art sharing.

The Mountains were calling...

Tomorrow starts me back to routine as vacation comes to a close. So sad.  How will I ever be able to put in a full 5 days of work?  I mean really?!  So to share a bit with you a vacation for me takes me back to the mountains.

It will always find me heading up a gorgeous road to some mountain top. This time and most times it is Glacier Park in Montana.

The colors were beginning to turn making for a great colorful background.  However, the day we went it was cooler and rainy.  But that didn't make a whole lot of difference to me.  Such peacefulness resides in the mountains....always.
And with art supplies in hand I managed some time to sketch and on the flight home created this little gal.

Home is a good place also but could do without the heat and humidity hanging around.  And as always, my heart resides in the mountains!

Paint, Projects & Play!

Hello weekend!  Fortunately, mine starts today.  After spending 2 hours pushing a lawn mower last night I've not exactly hit the floor running today.  Sleeping in was first order of the day and it felt good.  Not going to feel guilty.  I've got nothing but studio time and art on my plans this weekend.   I just finished up this collage in my art journal/sketch book which was really quite fun and refreshing to create.

A combination of magazine, paper, paint and doodles it was fun to not over think and play in my journal. Now laying on my studio table is a blank canvas.  I'm about to get underway on that plus I have a bit of a project I'd like to start.  That being my index card file.  Don't know if you have one but I use it to keep website info., account info., anything I may need to recall and have readily available.  Alphabetical to organize I believe it is calling out for some color, and clean up.  So a playful weekend is on my agenda.  Hope you are planning the same!

Linking to: Paint Party Friday

New Art, Ideas, and Chaos

New Art:
I've been putting finishing touches on art that has been waiting patiently for it's final attention.  I've got more to go, which is a good thing, but all in time.  Here is just a couple to share with you.

This little collage angel got her face today after laying for about a week waiting for her attention.
And then this started as a flower doddle on a scrap of canvas paper.
One thing led to another and it ended up much more than just a flower doodle! 
Ideas:
This is an area in general that I have to get under control.  Have you ever had so many things rattling around in your head that none of them get the attention they deserve?  Well that's what I've got going on.  Remember  all that "organization" I showed you in a few posts back?  Well the contents of all those journals and binders is going to go under some severe scrutiny.  Prioritize and execute!
Chaos:
Running right along side of the pending ideas is my thinking I can do it all!  Well newsbreak......I can not!  You know the saying, "run your own race"?  Well not only that but run it in your own time too!  Eliminate the chaos of trying to keep up with what?  The latest thing we have seen on Instagram, or someone's blog, or Facebook post?  The nifty newest look or thing published in our favorite magazine? 
I can look at half dozen websites or blogs and immediately think I should re-do mine because I liked the way another looked. Business cards the same way. AAhhh we have to love the internet and all things shared.....constantly....and unceasingly.  Does anybody work anymore?  I mean really?!

Happy Easter!

Hope you have a very Happy Easter!

Quick Journal/Planner

So all the rage seems to be making journals.  A noble and worthy cause IF you have the time.  It would be fun to start from total scratch but when time is of the essence one has to revert to Plan B.  Which is either buy one from someone who has all this crazy time or do what I'm doing.  So follow along......

Step 1-  I purchased at Michaels (on a crazy sale of buy one/get one so total 10 bucks for two!) a journal type of book or planner that allows for adding and replacing paper as you make the journal yours.

These have a nice thick twine style binding.  These particular journals are Recollections brand canvas journals.  The outsides are canvas material with brownish blank paper inside.
Again start with something you can make your own by adding and replacing paper on the inside either with refills you can purchase or your own.

Step 2-  Make some tabs to create separators.  i.e.  goals, reminders, websites, to-do lists

I took a piece of white card stock and put down some paint and dragged it across in a strip.  Cut out the tabs then glued them onto a second back piece of card-stock to give them extra strength.  These are now ready for me to label and attach onto paper edges throughout my journal/planner.  I'm simply stapling mine to attach.

Step 3- I intend to use this as a Planner and semi-organizer/note keeper so I went into Excel on my computer and created a calendar layout.  Generic in nature so I can number and complete each month rather than make 12 separate layouts.

I loosely laid one blank one in the journal to mark where I needed to punch my holes plus cut it down to size. Hand numbered in the dates with the Month on top.  These are now ready to go inside and be used.

Step 4- Inside the front cover I taped an envelope to create a pocket for putting loose things.  Using double stick tape I simply adhered it onto the inside and embellished with a rub-on.  I called my pocket "observations"  as I am forever writing down websites or little things I need to look up or re-look up on the internet on little bits of paper. This would make a great envelope for receipts as well.

With just these few steps you are rockin' with a new journal or planner!  Make it elaborate or simple and this is way less time obviously than creating the entire thing.  Here are a few more pics. 

 

I've been up to....

Spring flowers and planting and dirt.  Glorious times!

Sadly I don't have a better picture than this. Given the technology you'd think I could at least show a good picture. Ha!
Anyway, again not that this picture shows or does justice but after a $200 trip to Lowe's yesterday the back patio has flowers, the front porch has flowers, and I've still got a table full that I don't have containers for.



 

I've also finished my first art journal book of 2014. Yeah!!
I think I did 3 last year.  Not sure, but this year I've now got number one in the bag.

So journal number 2 is ready to go!

 

 And lastly......found a great old book with thin and wonderful paper that made for a great surface for

this watercolor and marker picture.
I can't wait to do more with the pages from this book.

Have a great week!

Happy Easter Weekend!

Today is Good Friday and besides being a wonderful time of the year it is Easter weekend.  Which most surely will spell rain before it is over.
To find something to post today I looked back into an older journal.  I found this that I had done towards the end of last year.  Good words to live by, so I'm sharing them with you today.

Have a lovely weekend and remember...Jesus has risen!!

Since my last post....

A lot has happened in an otherwise quiet life.  As I mentioned in earlier posts my stepfather was having health issues.  We laid him to rest a week ago.  My mother had an 80th Birthday this week. (Breath)
In between and during those two events, I still worked, a very busy workplace right now, have had a touch of sickness myself which has clung for about 2 weeks & equal number of visits to the doctor, a household to care for(somewhat neglected), and very little rest. Sigh--
  

All of this takes a toll on my precious and cherished day in and day out lifestyle.  And when you love creating art, it has suffered right along with me. I generally create, journal, something on a daily basis.  When that pattern gets halted it is sorely missed.  Finding that inspiration and creativity while pushing other things aside that need attention and time is hard to do.  But it is the creating art itself that brings me relaxation, peace and comfort.  Coupled with an already strong faith, (and a few days to sleep in, haha!), I'm back in the saddle so to speak and look forward to painting a new canvas piece this weekend.  Of course that is after I work on taxes......I digress!!
Happy PPF!!

Happy Valentines

 Its' Valentine's Day and I wish you all a Happy day!  Thank you to those whom have offered nice words and prayers lately.  Such nice friends and acquaintances one can find in art circles.  Have a lovely Friday and weekend.

A Rough start

Unfortunately this new year is getting off to a bit of a rough start.  Family members having some health issues and problems and that is just never a good thing.  While I started a painting last week I haven't had the chance to finish it yet so hope to post it next post.  I have however been in the art journal/sketch book so have a couple of things to share from there..

Both of these are sometimes easier said than done.  Which is why I probably needed reminding as I did them! :)   Until next time.....

2013 in the rear view

It's about gone. Finished. In the record books. What of my 2013 goals did I accomplish?  Well....most but not all when it comes to art.  A noticeable effort and some success was achieved with the 2013 list.
In review it had for me the following:
1) Create more....everyday I can. --  Did it!
2) Take time to submit to get published.-- Back onto the list for 2014 as I didn't even try.
3) Try new products and explore.--  Did it!  And of course back on the list for 2014 and thereafter!
4) Work on existing blog and create a website.-- Did it!  This too is ongoing.
5) Set up and sell on Etsy.--  Did set up my store but have not put effort into stocking or working it.
     I know Etsy is "the place" but not sure I agree to begin with.  I'll re-access the storefront thing into
     this new year.
So all in all not too bad given the time I actually have to devote to my art.  I am pleased with the journal dash sketchbook dash mixed media art I've done this year in these books.

I've done 3 complete books, tags, and a bit more this past year.  I LOVE the mixed media books.
For me they create finished pieces, along with ideas to build upon or take further another time.
LoVe, LoVe, LoVe!
And so as we all head into 2014 I'm excited about ART!  Who couldn't be?  So I leave you with my last two entries recently done in my third book.

Wishing you the best in 2014!!

Merry Christmas!!

                                   Wishing you and your dear ones a Very Merry Christmas!

Time to get Serious

Christmas is what, a week and a couple days off?  How in the world did that happen??!
Having truly lost a week with the ice storm and very the extreme weather event we just came through, its now a mad dash to the Christmas finish.  Good thing there are no really big plans or I'd definitely be hyper ventilating about now.  Then again...there is not even a tree up in our house yet.  Gulp!

While there may be no tree up I have gotten a couple of canvases painted in the past few weeks and a sketchbook journal page done.  So clearly not all has been lost.

I'm sure you are all much more organized than I am but it will all come together for me.  Wishing you a good next week!!

Finding Joy

Hi friends!  Today is a great lazy day for me.  I don't usually allow myself to just "not do" what needs to be done.  But today is a day of real relaxation.  This equates to "joy" to me.  It's not always easy to find you know? 
As I've mentioned before I have friends battling cancer, friends battling other BIG issues, and now a friend of my sons who is rather another "son" to us looking at a long road of recovery from what could have been a deadly vehicle accident a week ago.  Joy is definitely not easy to find!

But I hope it is not eluding you and you are having a wonderful weekend.

Doodle Houses

My art time this week has been limited to "couch art" which means if I can't do it in the studio its done on the couch.  This sounds like a relaxing atmosphere where I can loose myself in creating, and to some degree it is obviously.  But, when you factor in the hoarder like collection of assorted pens and pencils strewn about my perch and a dog who instinctively knows when I've found that perfect comfort spot then knowingly decides it must be the perfect time to want something....treat, outside, rawhide, general attention, etc.  It can actually be a trying feat to produce worthwhile and pleasing couch art!
If you are a dog lover, as I am, you wouldn't have it any other way though.
So this week I doodled some artsy houses in my journal book.  Have you doodled lately?

Memorial Day Weekend & a bit of opinion!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.  I know I am enjoying the pace of these few days  and remembering those who have and are serving our great country and the sacrifices made!

I had hoped to spend some time on the etsy shop but don't know if that is going to happen.  It really IS on my to do list!  I have however spent some time gazing about the web and noticing a pattern among artist blogs.  A big question.....What to do with the Blog?
Seems many are wondering what to do with their blogs.  So many questions, so many options, yet at the center of it all seems no one is actually truly "loving" the blog process.  Then of course there is the to monetize or not monetize their blogs.  This platform, "blogging", is truly that, a platform.  What any of us chooses to do with it is an individual decision.  Not everyone should be teaching and selling art classes but it seems that's what we are "suppose" to be doing if you are trying to fit in.
Hopefully if you stop in and visit my little blog corner of the world wide web you catch a glimpse of my art and come back to see what I'm up to again.  Blogging is a platform ever changing for each of us individually, depending on what we individually have going on.  At least that is how I view it.
Trying to be like someone else's blog or art business is not being true to ourselves.  At isn't that what we claim our art is all about?  Showing our authentic and individual voice?! There I've said it.  Don't know where that all came from!  :)

State of Mind

Well it has been a long week.  A very long week!  I've lost it to being under the weather.  A week of being sick and nothing to show for my lost week makes it even worse.  It all started Mothers Day, sore throat and then down hill from there.  Didn't even pick up a art supply or think I had the energy to take on such an endeavor. :(
So this that I did the week before was obviously a fore-telling of what I now need to keep in mind.

 
Just be happy!  Nothing I could do about it anyway.
So this week should be different.  Putting on my happy face!

p.s.  I uploaded the new blog header I had worked on AND
you now get to this blog either through my website at
www.twistofpink.com OR direct at www.twistofpink.net.
I guess not all has been lost for a week!

Overcoming adversity

This past week has been tough.  Not because my DishTV went on the fritz, not because my AC unit wouldn't cool if turned on, not because my internet service was not working properly, or my printer.
No, it was because others have suffered loss, trauma, injury, and disease.  The Boston marathon atrocity, the West, TX. plant explosion and subsequent leveling of an entire part of town, and cancer diagnoses and surgery of a friend. 
My week merely had inconveniences but others have much to deal with, accept, and overcome.
Thursday night before bed, after not picking up any art supplies all week I found myself in my art journal.
Part therapy and part the need to create.  I doodled this:

The strength we have as individuals and even as a community is amazing.  Mix that with our faith and beliefs and those who have been directly affected with these recent, or any adversity, must know is that We Shall Overcome!  It's who we are.
So last night after a fantastic day of strolling through the Fort Worth Art Festival.  A truly fantastic venue.  I am reminded of how important the arts are to at least my person well being.  And how creative some many people are!
I ended a wonderful day out, resting in front of the now working TV.  It was a good day!

Week in review....a mixed bag.

Whew!  This is the post that almost didn't happen.  Internet problems, printer isn't communicating with computer.  And that's just the technical challenges. Since the last post it's been... let's say busy!
The week held its usual demands and add in springtime and well, everything
changes.  Days are longer, outside tasks are now at hand, events and activities that have laid
dormant and non-existent during the winter months are happening and whew!  I almost didn't
get a post in.  Because of all this activity all I've managed is to scratch out this little journal page the other night.  

I had hoped to show you my finished endeavor of something "new" this week.  Time has just not allowed it.  I will tell you it's with a not so usual
medium of mine which is clay.
Time willing it will be my next post.
Hope you have a lovely week!