Well, well, well............it's been a while hasn't it? Things......life.....you know how it can be. Let's just leave it that, shall we?
Let's talk about what I've been doing for calm and focus instead...........
I've been doing a bit of stripping...........
So, did you immediately think "pole and dollar bills"???
Well you'd be wrong..........thankfully. ;)
It involves paper, doodling and watercolors.
It started with a pad of old watercolor paper I've had forever and isn't the best quality. I just started to doodle all over the page........anything and everything......random shapes....flowers....just focused on filling the page as it really relaxes me.
The first one I did I decided to add color with some watercolors, various markers and perhaps a touch of acrylic paint. Then I did another one and another one........sometimes just leaving it all black and white.
And then for some reason I decided to cut the pages in to strips (thus the "stripping") of varying widths........I didn't really know exactly what I was going to do with them but I just started a stack.
Using Strathmore Mixed Media Board, canvas board or a heavier watercolor paper as the substrate I began creating "paintings" cutting up the strips as needed and gluing them to form images and whatever came to mind. I have gone through almost all of an 8 oz bottle of PVA glue.
In no particular order:
"FRIENDS"
This where I used a LOT of the various doodled strips.
As for the order I did the others I've actually lost track but the order doesn't matter
"BIRDS OF A FEATHER
"IN FLIGHT"
"LOVE" - for this one I cut ip strips in little random squarish shapes using the strips for the word. I redid the background color AFTER it was done so it looks a bit wonky.
"ON THE LINE" - with this one I used some random strips and other doodles and left some of the edges unglued to create a more 3-D (ish) look.
"NIGHT AND DAY"
when the bottom section was done I decided to add a piece at the top and glue the whole thing to another piece of watercolor paper.......I then glued on a circle for the moon and painted it and the night.
"CALM" - For this one I used layers and layers of strips on a mixed media board that I then glued to a canvas board panel. It's hanging above the opening between the kitchen and living room so I had to shoot it from below.
"GYPSY DREAMING" - This is the largest of all the others I've done - 16x20 canvas board panel. I actually didn't plan this it..........it seemed to evolve from gluing strips together and as I went along I started to see a wagon so I went with it. I glued the tree parts together (from doodled strips) along with the wagon all before adding it to the canvas board. From there I just started adding details to give it that 3-D (ish) look. The gypsy herself was actually a pen sketch I had done that I added water to - so I cut her out and glued her on the painting leaving her white, black and gray. To me she appeared ethereal.
I did end up using a couple non paper items to create the shirt, rug (hanging), flowers in the pot and the jewel in the window. Everything else is paper.
Because doodling is so zen for me...........and it's not intended to be Zentangle.......I just let the pen take me where it wants to go and much of the time it's the same thing worked in different ways. So I am building up a collection and continually stripping as I go. You can see my color palette is consistant but I am planning to do some doodle painting using different combos of perhaps even sweet pastel colors to strip.
So there you have it...............there are bits of paper all over the place and constantly glue on things as well but it's all worth it.
I hope you are well and happy and healthy and enjoying your summer. It's been hot here so the window ACs are whizzing constantly!
Back to doodling........and stripping. I think my "stripper" name should be Penink Doodlericious. HA!
P.S. I completely missed by EIGHT YEAR Blogiversary which was on the 16th of this month. Wow, it's already the last day of July!!! At some point I will do something special to celebrate because although I have not been posting frequently....I love my blog and blogging!!!
P.S.S. Next post I will showcase the pages of my art journal from the round robin "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal". It came back to me filled with complete deliciousness!!! Amazing women, amazing artists!!
P.S.S.S FYI - If you know anyone in your life who has anxiety - be kind....be supportive.....be comforting......be a friend who listens and cares. It isn't always about the words but a true listening ear and a hug that does the most good and goes a long way. And definitely laughter. And if YOU are experiencing anxiety........be kind to yourself, breathe....and do art! XOXOXO
