courage, brave heart ... Life Book 2015

Hello! 

Here I am continuing on with Life Book 2015 ... yes 2015!! 

This is my interpretation of the Week 4 class with Patti Ballard. I have worked her in my 9 x 12 inch Strathmore Mixed Media Journal.

I can see lots of things 'wrong' with her and I started getting a bit OCD about it! Then, after many reworkings of various areas, concluded she is only in my art journal and isn't going anywhere, so time to leave her be!

I have created my girl on a base of patterned papers and drew and painted her mainly with acrylic paints.

I've used several layers of watercolour paint to add some depth around her and then I've finished off with some rub-ons dotted here and there.

The whole page was then coated with Liquitex Matte Medium. It gives it a lovely rich depth.

P.S. I am also following Life Book 2016, so you may see me producing something from that and hopefully before the year is out!

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

let your light shine

Hello! It's been over three months since I blogged! Truth is, I've started many projects but just haven't been able to finish anything. The finishing mojo went off on a walkies.

However, now, I have decided to START Lifebook 2015!! This is week one!

Here is my version of The Beacon of Light. The face took forever, but I so enjoyed creating this.

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

everything's coming up roses

Hello! Time for my next girl! She came together really quickly.

This time she is worked in acrylics on top of a napkin covered in roses.

I decided to paint her in non-flesh coloured tones for a change. Not sure about the cheeks! Maybe a  bit OTT!

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

watercolour girl on fiber paste

Back to my art journal and continuing the journey.

This girl is worked in Schmincke Watercolours, onto a page which has been covered with Golden Fiber Paste.

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship working this girl. The lips drove me to distraction. I went over them sooo many times. Unfortunately, I reverted to pencil at one stage and it then became too waxy to go back over with watercolour, so that it would blend better with the rest of her. Oh well.

Anyway, I have a life, so time to just turn the page ...

Thanks for looking.

Keeley

blushing mixed media girls

Hello!

Here are my latest mixed media girls on my learning to draw journey.

I created them from Schmincke Watercolours, Prismacolor pencils, paint pens and other pens.

Not sure what they are blushing at ;)

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

Schmincke watercolour girls

Hello! I'm finally back again with a pair of whimsical girls, worked in my watercolour journal.

I've worked these in Schmincke watercolour paints. First time using! I then added the detail to the faces and hair with pens and pencils. Practicing my updos's!

Think I need a LOT more practice with blending my watercolours, but feeling very grown up and arty owning them!

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

be your own rockstar

Hello!

Continuing with my learning to draw journey ...

I wanted to practice with my PanPastels again, loving these! And practicing my turned faces. And up flowing hair!

The face and body are worked in PanPastels, then a few other pencils and pens on top.

The hair was created with Dylusions Ink Spray in Cut Grass and Fresh Lime.

I've painted the background with Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint ~ Lemon. Then with Dina's white paint, I stenciled through Prima ~ Finnabair Alpha Stencil, working it vertically.

I added a few rub-ons and that completes my new journal page.

Thank you for looking.

Keeley

having a {me} day

Hello! Well it is Friday and that can mean only one thing ... a new challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity. Today we have a colour challenge with 'Corrosion' colours.

I had so many ideas for this, but as with everything, when you start creating, it kind of turns into something else and you think, that wasn't what I was thinking of!

So I had this art journal by Dyan Reaveley, which I bought way back last February, some six months ago!! It arrived a bit bashed and battered, but I guessed that didn't matter if I were to cover it anyway.

Well I didn't even hide it away, it has sat on my craft desk all this time, awaiting inspiration. So when I saw this colour challenge, I knew that I would use it to decorate the cover of my journal.

Now, having read a bit about art journalling, I know that people don't always start at the beginning or work page by page, but that they work randomly on a page here and there. OMG! This is just completely alien to me and sends me into obsessive compulsive disorder! I have to take each page in turn and cannot even start that until I have decorated the front cover. Hence, this is why six months have passed without me touching my art journal. I think!

OK, so for my front cover, and I haven't even touched the spine or back, as that may spell a different story by the time I get there. 

Firstly I stuck down Kaisercraft music paper. I love music, but couldn't read a note to you sadly :( 

Then I added my letters to spell out 'Having a {me} day'. Well I mean, what else could my art journal be about? My letters and numbers were from a chipboard Basic Grey alphabet which I bought way back when and untouched, so it seemed good to use them for this.

I added some other abstract symbols from the chipboard alphabet and also added some Tim Holtz grungeboard elements. 

Then I coated this all with gesso, which I diluted down first with a bit with water, so that the music paper would show through.

Then, when dry, I went about stamping the numbers and symbols with stamps using Archival Ink. The 'Having a {me} day' letters, I dry brushed with paint dabbers using a paint brush. Then rubbed the edges with Treasures paint.

Finally, I randomly inked some splodges and a cup stain with a Bo Bunny stamp. Then painted the whole cover with Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.

My elastic band got a bit covered with paint and stuff and has gone a bit baggy. So be it!

OK. Not sure I love the end result, but this is my first foray into art journalling, so will go with it! It's either that, or coat the whole with a thick layer of gesso and start again! 

Anyway, I am putting it out there! I do like the texture of it.

Thank you for looking.

Keeley