I wish I had some fascinating tidbits to write about, perhaps a witty anecdote or two or even tales of great things happening in and around my house. The truth is I do not. Don't get me wrong though, life is good despite the tech woes....but it's just basic every day goings on that do not carry with them magical, fantastical, head spinning, swoon provoking elements right now. I am still drawing every day in my Art-A-Texture Book Here are a couple more pages:
I still can't scan or print anything(must photograph things)......the laptop tech woes continue....(don't ask)
Who knows what this even represents or means.......
Readying for a Halloween Party at the Gypsy Camp
I am truly enjoying just letting myself draw and paint whatever comes to mind. Sometimes I end up painting over something but for the most part I just let it happen. I tell you this type of book or journal (whatever you want to call it) is very freeing artistically because there just aren't any rules to what you should use, how you should approach it, whether you need to add other images or papers or ephemera. (that's your choice) This is an exercise in drawing and experimenting pure and simple and you just may be surprised that something larger comes from it down the road. I am nearing the end of this one so I made sure I had another ready when that happens. I am finding that I use more
Twinkling H20s with this than anything else, although I do use various paints too of course....but they are perfect for the pages in these books. Thankfully the manufacturer who was set to close this year has decided to stay open due to overwhelming response! If you haven't tried these wee tubs of goodness you should.
I found pretty much the exact same one book
online at Handmade Paper Superstore. It's 6 1/2"x9 1/2" with 96 deckled edge pages made from 100% cotton fiber that is a delicious water color-like paper. It's made in India all from 100% post consumer waste. It is covered in handmade paper that I plan to paint and embellish when I do my current one. Check out the site, oh the paper they have!
Here are some other products I own and have experimented with or use a lot:
Someone asked about the
Rigid Wrap
you can find it at Michael's where the clay and plaster are or on line. (click the link) You can also find it on
Amazon and
Dick Blick I think it comes in different widths. I plan to use it for other projects as well. The thing about this product is you can lay it flat or mush it up or wrap it around or over and it dries really hard and ready to paint.
The other thing I mentioned was the self adhesive mesh tape
used in dry walling.
......you can find it in your local DIY stores.(see my previous post for one way I used it but there are other ways to use it just by experimenting). It isn't SO sticky that you can't remove it if you aren't happy but it may take up a bit of what's underneath depending on what you stuck it to. Just play with it.
Another product is the peel and stick
aluminum tape......it's used in heating and cooling to wrap vents etc.
Again, another thing you can get at your local DIY store. I LOVE this stuff because you can attach it to anything and then emboss it with an embossing tool or whatever you have. You can "paint it" with Ranger
Adirondack Alcohol Inks.
Drip a color or wash it on with their
applicator and use the
blending solution to create swirls of blended color. It dries almost immediately as well.
I covered a canvas board with this tape and completely and totally embossed the entire surface- I'd show you a picture of it but it's in my laptop.You can use it in shrines as well, I used it a lot on the one I made for my Mom's Dia de Bloglandia shrine (see sidebar). It sticks great and you can smooth it so the seam barely shows when applying it to a larger surface.
There are a lot of products right there in those DIY stores or small hardware stores that can actually be used in a whole new way from what they were intended. I think it's just a matter of willingness to experiment. BohoMan loves it that I like to cruise hardware stores now, ha!
If you like Glitter in your art then
Stickles (also by Ranger) are the thing!
I love those wee bottles of sparkly goodness. It's glitter glue but they are so much more than that......I will squeeze a few
blops and then use a paint brush to "paint" an area that is now not only colored but sparkly too. You can write with it, fill in with it, outline with it but you wouldn't glue two things together with it as it's not that kind of glue. I've embellished so many things with this stuff and it truly dries hard and stays in place. The shimmer and sparkle is great ...I go through the silver a lot. With other glitters you have to put down an adhesive then sprinkle the glue and tap off the excess... some so fine they blow around. With these it's all in one. I realize a good German silver and gold glitter is amazing but I think these are a close second.
One last Ranger product I covet are the
Adirondack Color Wash 
- I own every color they make and use them A LOT! You can spray them on paper AND fabric. They may dye your fingers for a bit but it does wash off. I have used them on canvas paintings where I spray across with a heavy hand and then let it drip down. You can create designs or "dye" fabric with them (following the instructions for heat setting). You can even stencil with them providing the stencil is really flat against the surface.
Stream and
Lettuce are two of my favorite colors..but they're all good. I wish they had it in black too.
This next one is
Pebeo Setacolor Soleil paints. (made in France)
You would typically use this on a good white 100% cotton for the best color results. Wetting the fabric smooth on a waterproof surface you then start painting with the Soleil all over the fabric...add complimentary colors until you are satisfied with the look. (you do this outside) You then add items to the surface like stencils or leaves or shapes or coins or various objects from around the house, the limit is your imagination. You then let the sun do the work.....when it's all dry you will have a sunprint of whatever it was you placed around the fabric. You are basically painting with the sun. There are other things you can do as well, like sprinkling coarse salt or wrinkling up the fabric or tying it like tie dye. Experiment. I love seeing the results and then the sky is the limit as to what you make with these new fabrics you've created. I've done wallhangings and soon plan to use it for part of a baby quilt...but you can use it in clothing.....bedding....curtains.....dolls...pillows.....you name it.
I have no affiliation with any of these manufacturers nor am I compensated for endorsing any of the products. They are merely items either art related or DIY related that I have actually used to great satisfaction.
If you have used any or all of the things I've mentioned I'd love to know what you think or if you have a favorite or something you didn't like. OR if you have something you'd like to recommend PLEASE do. I think it's important to share good finds and then adopt our own unique techniques to them, don't you think?
This ends the infomercial portion of this post.
I HAVE to now get in to my studio as once again
*"you hooty" has run amok in there and my work table isn't visible, the floor has bits and bobs. there is just complete turmoil so much so that I am drawing in another room.
I bought the new issue of WWC below and I HAVE to believe that these women's studio/work spaces don't always look so tidy, organized and magazine ready!
.
*when I was little I used to love the old Saturday cartoons that were made in the 30's and 40s'... there was one old cartoon and in it someone asked "who did it?" and this cartoon character that resembled an old movie actor answered "you hooty". That stuck and I do believe my Mom used to say it when we'd answer "I didn't do it".....she'd say it must have been You Hooty. Well I don't even know if I'm spelling it right but it's as good a name as any to blame the unseen person who makes a ramshackle mess of my studio.
Hmmmm. the old cartoons........I may have to see who remembers the ones I do in another post...
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
I'll hopefully be
Painting
Reading a new book
Dreaming of Gypsy Caravansand getting out and about!
Love,
Lisa
XOXO
Fristers are the best!
