Learning to draw

Bunny Painting Demo by Carla Sonheim.

More tutorials and drawing assignments by Carla Sonheim : http://www.carlasonheim.com/tutorials/

Capi - raw sketches

"CAPI : Create Art Portfolio Ideas - Developing & Documenting - a Multimedia Approach to Exploring Themes in Search of a Personal Artistic Style”

I've mentioned I have joined CAPI in a previous post. It's a year long course by Milliande and I have now finished some of the first assignments.

My favorite assignment was a free form association exercise.

If you want to check it out here are the links:

http://www.milliande.com/capi-raw-sketchbook-assignment-1-free-form-association.html

http://www.milliande.com/capi-raw-sketchbook-assignment-2-form-investigation.html

http://www.milliande.com/capi-raw-sketchbook-assignment-3-form-composition.html

I found it hard to just sketch and doodle without thinking about the end result. I need more practice on playing and exploring shapes and sketches.

I couldn't resist making stamps out of foam sheets using some of my shapes  as you can see here:

I wish I found out about this exercise years ago!

Art Journal

I like using dark backgrounds for art journal pages. It's a quick way to create depth.

 Tormenting questions

I used a dark page from a glossy magazine , put something with texture underneath and rubbed with nail polish remover ( acetone).

My favorite texture? Shoes!
Just look underneath your shoes, boots and flip flops...
I first saw this technique in this video by  Katie Kendrick.

This is the background I finished yesterday:

I don't know what I am going to do with it, but this year I promised myself I don't have to finish pages!

CAPI

Yesterday I joined CAPI, a project by Milliande.

“CAPI : Create Art Portfolio Ideas - Developing & Documenting - a Multimedia Approach to Exploring Themes in Search of a Personal Artistic Style”

From the website:

"To clarify: CAPI is not about pretty journal pages or step by by step completed artworks or a tube of glitter to jazz up a craft project.

CAPI is about definite exercises to unearth "What am I trying to say with my artworks" and "What tools I can use to consistently realise that in my art ".

CAPI : to be an invitation to a  process without a set schedule... a challenge for each of us to truly ponder and discover something deeply intrinsic in what/how we do and say as artists... 

CAPI is a structure within which to make individual discoveries and collect a toolbox as a source of focus inspiration."

Here is the intro: http://www.milliande.com/capi-create-art-portfolio-ideas.html

Finding my own style is something I want to focus on this year, I think this project  is a good way to start.

Old stuff

I have been scanning older pages in my art journals and some collages.
I didn't like these collages much at first, but after a few months now I find I do like them.
Sometimes it helps to forget about something and be able to have a fresh look.

 Soon I began to enjoy the freedom.

 leaning on me.  like a source of power. a pillar of strength.

 To start with it feels good to forget useless stuff

I was inspired by an exercise I read in Jane Davies' book Collage Journeys.
You start with creating an all over collage . Then use a viewfinder to select small compositions.
I cut these into ATC size collages. ( Artist Trading Card: 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches (6cm x 9 cm or 64mm x 89mm )
It has become one of my favorite ways to create backgrounds.

Simpel

Before I was properly diagnosed with a thyroid condition I didn’t have the energy to do the things I wanted to do.

So I improvised.

I  started to make simple collages. Very simple, but these are still my favorites.

This was the beginning of my love for abstract art.
These simple collages forced me to think about composition and color, and I began to learn about design.
Simple can be very difficult...

Here are some inspiring videos for creating abstract art:

 Free series on abstract art and painting

On writing

I love to write.
Actually that's not true.
I find it difficult and frustrating.
But still I write.
Why?

Maybe it's just the fantasy of writing an amazing novel and become very rich. Maybe it's the fantasy of being admired for being so wise and funny and clever ( and rich ).

So why do I write?
It's not fun, I don't enjoy it. It takes effort and discipline. It's risking making a fool of myself.

One thing I do know.
Writing helps me to distance myself, from myself, my life, my feelings.
When it's on the page I can analyse it, it brings everything into perspective.

That is good enough reason to write.
 And maybe it turns out to be brilliant and I will make lots of money, and it will be turned into a movie and......

(I blame J.K. Rowling.)

Here are some of my favorite links on writing:

A creative-writing-course

On writing historical fiction

On finishing your novel

Jim Butcher's blogposts on writing a novel

How Writing Really Works by Diana Gabaldon

and much more here :

Online Creative Writing Courses Offered Free by Top Universities and Educational Websites

Expressing myself through art journaling

I have always found it difficult to express myself through art.
I can paint a portrait, a landscape, a still life - that’s 'easy', but to actually express my feelings, my thoughts - that is not easy.

Two collage methods I found very helpful to become more open:
1 Combining text and images.
2 Soul Collage.

Combining text and images:

I simply collect images I like in one container and text in another.
And then I have fun combining the two.

I use a very basic background technique :

I glue down 3 or 4 bits of random paper.
I add diluted white acrylic paint or gesso.
Then paste the images and text
add some more white paint or gesso and finaly
add some details.

I need loneliness, even the painful aspects.

upwards, into the sky.

Soul Collage :

“Using intuition and imagination, you create your own deck of collaged cards, where each card reflects a different aspect of who you are.” 

link: http://www.kaleidosoul.com/soulcollage-cardmaking.html 

The intuitive method:

Find images that appeal to you.

Collect background images.

Categorize images and work with one category you find interesting.

Combine those images with the backgrounds you have collected: the right one will just ‘click’.

This is the very first card I made about two years ago. I found I had collected these images of hot airballoons. Why?

No idea. 

But put together with these high (and safe) castle walls, they tell a story.

(Sorry about the quality of the scan.) 

The outcome of these collages are always personal and often lead to more ideas for themes.

Strathmore workshops.

Last year I followed  two  wonderful Strathmore workshops.  And next year three new workshops will start. And best of all: they are free!

Workshop 1: Abstract Fine Art Painting with Mixed Media
Start Date: March 1, 2013
Workshop 2: Sketching & Drawing with Toned Paper
Start Date: May 1, 2013
Workshop 3: Artful Card-Making Techniques
Start Date: September 3, 2013

On their  You Tube channel you can check out older workshop video's.
Here are some of my favorites from last year from Cathy Johnson - Water color sketching:
lesson 1
lesson 2
demo lesson 2
lesson 3
lesson 4
Cathy Johnson YouTube Channel

http://www.strathmoreartist.com/2013-online-workshop-series.html

Free online workshop

I have signed up for a online workshop.
Actually two workshops: Doodles Unleashed: Mixed Media Techniques and Watercolor Sketching.
It's my first online workshop.

This is from the website : " Our online workshops are free and self-paced. Workshops are held in our virtual classroom website. Each workshop consists of four video lessons and supporting downloadable instructions. "
Here is a link if you are interested

http://www.strathmoreartist.com


I am looking forward to it.

More info Doodles unleashed by Traci Bautista: 2011-free-doodles-unleashed-online-workshop.html


More tutorials Cathy Johnson (Watercolor Sketching): KateJosTube