From Sketch to Color

Happy Monday! How is your week starting? I have to admit that Mondays are not my favorite. I LOVE the weekends (don't we all?) and I spend the week counting down the days until Friday again. But, I have some coffee in me and spent the morning reading (and snuggling) with my little guy...so I feel ready to tackle the day. :)

Today I wanted to show a journal page that I worked on over the weekend. It had started out as a quick pencil sketch a couple Sundays ago. I am trying to sketch something every Sunday. It's funny. As much as more abstract art is tickling my creative artsy heart, I can never get away from "girls." I say that all the time. I love sketching and painting them. But, when I dream...I dream of painting large, massive abstracts full of color. Maybe that's a vision of what's to come. :) That's what is so exciting...the anticipation of the journey and embracing it all step by step. 

After sketching my girl, I added a thin layer of gesso to prepare the page. The pencil did smear a little bit, but I am totally OK with that. I used acrylic paint and Caran d'Ache watercolor crayons to add color. I find that I primarily use these crayons and gesso to paint in the face. I rarely add other acrylic paint to faces. I do think it would be fun to try that more though. I used my Faber-Castell PITT pens to add definition and color in the small spaces, as well as tracing over the word "loved." I'm using these pens a lot! I LOVE them. If you don't have any and want to add some goodies to your art stash, I highly recommend them. Usually, one of the last steps for me is to go back to add details with an inexpensive Pentel black pen and white Gellyroll. (By the way - just a little tidbit. I was having problems with my white pens working. I started storing them in my pen cup with the tip down & it has made a huge difference. Lol. I know, I know... so brilliant!)

  I am going to add just a bit more to her. I think she needs a little more texture in the background and perhaps some washi tape. Yes! Why not!? I love me some washi tape. Don't you!? I have a growing collection. Where do you like to buy yours? Michael's just recently got in a bunch of new designs. Very dangerous. OK, total obsessive side track! :)

Anyways, have a beautiful Monday my friends and let's go get creative!

The Summer of Color - Red

Red is so BOLD!

I love it. 

It is all about strength, confidence, love, and fierceness.

I am a pretty shy person, so attention freaks me out. Red screams, "Look at me!" Right? I think secretly I want to deck myself out in red shoes...or maybe a red dress...or a red coat. Totally fabulous. My friends and family would probably pass out from shock. ;) I looked in my closet and I am not kidding...I have one - ONE red cardigan sweater that must have been my attempt at being "bold" for Christmas. 

But, that's it. 

Are you a red wearing girl?

If you are, I totally admire you! :)

I mean, look...

Source: tumblr.com via Mars on Pinterest

Or what about this.... just a little something to wear to Target. :)

Source: citified.blogspot.com via postcardsandpretties on Pinterest

Oh my goodness! What about a red shoe? 

Source: goldandgray.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

I think I need to wear more red! And, have you checked out Pinterest? I could spend hours, but, I won't! :)

So this week the lovely Kristin inspired us to work with red. It was quite fun & I ended up with, of course, another girl (I promise I will try something different!). I had an idea in my head about what I wanted to create in my journal, but started working on another piece of cardboard. I was having tons of fun working on textured backgrounds. I used Mod Podge and some napkins I had on hand. I loved the texture of the napkins & it looked great on the surfaces I was using once it dried for a bit. I love using napkins, tissue paper, and paper towels to add some visual interest to the background. 

I hope you can see it in the picture.

She was Brilliant

I used acrylic paint, Faber-Castell PITT pens, napkins for background texture, watercolor crayons, Sakura white Gelly Roll pen, black Pentel for details, bible pages for wings & crown, and pencil.

See the yummy texture!

Have a beautiful, creative week. I am looking forward to purple this week. I already know what I am doing. :) Come join the fun!

Hugs,

Jen