2013 Favorites

As I'm not sleeping I began to think back on 2013 from an artistic point of view. My word for the year was Artist - as in this was the year I would become one. Sometimes I own that, sometimes it still seems  far away, but there is no doubt I grew....as an artist. So here's my top ten of the year.

Tim Holtz issued a tattered flower challenge in March. This tops my favorites list because I really played with colors, mediums, and textures. I had never done anything on a a piece of metal either.

I used grunge board, cheese cloth, plastic, paper, and screening, with paints, stains, metallics, glue (to stiffen the cheese cloth), texture fades and some favorite buttons. The finished piece is hanging in the Fun Room. Original post.

















The next piece was a birthday gift for a dear friend who has been nothing but encouraging about my art work. Not only was it a gas to make - she loved it! Original post.

From canvas to ATC, the next project was for an ATC challenge of underwater. I had been playing around with some Twinkling H2O's and salt a couple of days before and this kind of fell together.  Original post.

I participated - somewhat - in Lifebook 2013. It's a great, year long course, but it takes a lot of time - something I rarely have. This lesson was entitled Quirky Birds. Indeed. Original post.

The tag is another Tim Holtz inspired project. He's what got me into this after all. As I recall this was either the second or third attempt at the colors and layout, but I just love how it came out. It's incredible vibrant...and hangs within my field of vision at the office. Original post.

My daughter turned 21 this year. One of the things I started doing for the kids when they came into my life was silly birthday riddles - I'm made some very unusual rhymes over the years. This year I was informed she would like a BIG card. So I made her a canvas, and turned it into a card. Based on Christy Tomlinson's style...another find from Lifebook. Original post.

Another Lifebook project by a great teacher, Kelly Hoerning. I learned a BUNCH about eyes...even managed to draw a couple. Great techniques as well. Original post.

These little notebooks were Christmas presents I made for sisters and friends. What makes me laugh about them is I started to make them with scrapbook paper and then realized, duh, I make paper....I got good and inky with these! Original post.

These are a recent project as well. Affirmation Cards for the Brave Girls Club. They make the list not because they are such great works of art, but for how consumed I was in making them. I stayed up until 1:30 am and was back at my desk at 7:30 am. Quite unlike me for a Sunday morning! Original post.

And finally this rounds out the list...because it was another first. Really the first time I played with canvas....there's going to be more of that in the new year. Plus the colors are Yummy. Original post.

Thanks for taking this little journey with me....both this post and the whole creative ride. I really can't imagine doing what I do, learning what I have, getting a fraction of the inspiration I have, without all you folks in blogland. I am thankful girl!!

Summer, Lifebook 2013, and WOYWW

It's another beautiful warm sunny evening in Alaska so we are off to the Mat-Su Miners baseball game.  The Mat-Su Miners are a semi-pro team made up of college students from around the US who come to the small town of Palmer, live with families in the community for a couple of months and become a team. There is nothing better than a nice night at the ball park. This is the view.

I took a quick picture of my desk before I left, because in Julia's world it's already Wednesday, and so it's time for WOYWW. For an explanation of how we bop around the world looking at different work spaces stop by the Stamping Ground, Julia Dunnit's blog and she'll explain everything.

Not much on the desk except this journal I'm making. I was introduced to the combination of neo-color crayons, gesso, and water and WOWZA what a great background that creates. I used it a lot on the journal. I'll show you the whole thing if I ever finish it. 

I wanted to show you my new brush holder...or vase by any other name. There's a lot I like about this addition to my desk, but the thing I like the most is my sweetie found it and suggested the use. Just love it. I also loved this past weekend which is spent almost exclusively in the FUN ROOM. It was wonderful and the time just  flew by. I've mentioned that I signed up for Lifebook 2013 and I've done a few of the lessons. I think it would be great if you have lots of time - each week you get very detailed videos, but since I work full time time is hard to come by for me. But I did two lessons this week.

I learned to really look at eyes. The eye itself is collaged with acrylic paint and gesso. I have a ways to go but I've not drawn before and now I'm thinking that might be fun to learn too! I loved this lesson  by Kelly Hoernig who is just an excellent teacher. 

After that lesson was done I did another by Tam Laporte about honoring your emotions -- which are all under the background. Amazingly I felt better after I did it. Who knew? These aren't really my style, but I did learn a lot. 

I did two versions, because.....well, I'm not really sure. I just did. Lots of neo-crayons and gesso. LOVE those crayons. I like them - not love them - the girls look totally soulless, the bunny and the cat are much cuter! Maybe I should just stay with little creatures. I have to say I learned tons about shading tho. 

So that's what's been on my work desk lately. Now I get to go on a little trip around the world. Thanks Julia!