Help [ME] Ronda

The Face of Uncertainty

There's no doubt yesterday i was in a blah mood.  i know there were lots of contributing factors, some i cannot escape, some i must be willing to change myself.  i was working on a big project that felt stifled so i sat down and gave myself permission to create.  Out popped this gal, uncertainty i call her.  i was surprised at how fast she developed.  Perhaps it was that need to release all those pent up emotions. I can see all that i was feeling in her face.  I always want my drawings to be full of passion no matter what the emotion behind it is.  She's not quite done but i am liking the direction.  And i have to say i feel much better having spilled onto the page. 

Right Now

Time.  Time with Alexi as she is home from college.  She has a new summer job and is really growing up.  I love how our relationship is changing and growing.  She is more independent, tackling new things, becoming an adult but still likes to spend time with her mom.

Bonding.  Anthony & i have found our way.  Sounds like a funny statement but we both had to adjust to Andrew not being here.  Our relationships is growing stronger.  We make plans to spend time together.  Yesterday, admist all my deadlines, we went to a movie, Star Trek Into Darkness, because time with him is really important as he closes in on his last year of high school.  He has just two more days left in 11th grade. 

Overwhelmed.  Too many deadlines all at once.  I have lists in my head but finally wrote everything out to make sure nothing falls through the cracks in my brain.  There's a bit of relief just writing things out.  I still commit too much and i really want to change that for me.  I am constantly searching for balance.

Naturally.  I am a little stress so what better time than to decide to leave gluten, sugar, and refined ingredients behind.  Well i do like a challenge.  I have been a homemade girl for some time choosing to do lots of cooking and baking.  I decided recently to take it a step further to go with all natural cooking.  It's been hard.  real hard.  i won't sugar coat it (oh so punny).  I love starbucks chai but it's gone.  I want to detox and give this a go.  I am cooking even more than before but it helps to alleviate stress and commit to this lifestyle change.  I will let you know honestly on our progress.

Counting.  Down the days until Anthony & I head to Doha, Qatar to spend sometime with Andrew.  Mid June is not the best time to go with over 100 F temperatures but it's better than the temps in July & August.  This time together is important to us.  Anthony & i were already planning on our adventures there since we don't know Andrew's schedule yet.  

Tearful.  Today would have been Chrissi's 41st birthday.  It's always a hard day.  I do so well most of the time.  i always miss her like crazy.  Time does heal but yet it doesn't take away all the pain.  i really try hard to cling to the memories, to the good times but it's inevitable that tears fall today. 

Beauty.  No matter what the moment or day it is, i always want to see the beauty in life, even amidst tears.  i am really proud of my nephew jake and his accomplishment in graduating early.  To see him grow up into a strong young man despite all that he had to face as a teen, reassures me of the beauty of life. 

Technique Toolbox

Technique Toolbox
Master 25 mixed-media techniques in 5 weeks taught by Claudine Hellmuth
5 week workshop
7/15/2013-8/18/2013

Create a faux tintype image transfer, make art with Elmer's glue and a plastic bag, create a gesso chalkboard—these are just a few of the amazing techniques featured in this class! Technique Toolbox is your chance to brush up on these (and 22 more) mixed-media techniques with nationally known collage artist and illustrator Claudine Hellmuth as your guide.

Technique Toolbox consists of 25 instructional videos and 25 professionally designed "recipe cards" that outline each technique. You'll file these printable recipes inside an adorable handmade toolbox you'll create in class. And that's not all! Claudine has invited 20 fellow artists, including me, and crafters to create exclusive projects with her techniques, giving you plenty of ideas for creative, real-world applications—from scrapbook pages to wall décor.

To read the rest of the class description and to register click HERE

Create Daily: Seeing Things

Start here.  Begin playing in your art journal.  On a couple pages i was playing around with maya mists on a wet background, seeing how they flow in the water.  After letting them dry, i picked one to see what shapes had emerged.  When i looked at this particular page i saw some calla lilies forming in my mind.  Do you see them?

Next i penciled in some rough shapes.  I sketched and erase lines as i saw the shapes taking form.  The calla lily is one of my favorite flowers.  Simple, Elegant, Regal.  It's no wonder i saw them emerge from the background.

From pencil to pen.  I filled in my lines and added a few more.  I always use a waterproof pen in my art journals never knowing if i want to add more wet mediums.  After drawing the calla lilies i decided to add in the leaves for they also make the flower so divine.  I used a paint brush & some more lime mist to add in the color. 

Last but certainly not least i added in some journaling.  it isn't an art journal without the words.  I love the way the script adds that finishing touch to my page.  it is the thoughts passing through my mind right at that moment. 

Have you created something this week?  Anything goes...an art journal page, doodle, scrapbook page, card...just something creative.  Share a link at the bottom of this post with the inLinkz button.  Just leave a link to a specific blog post or image on flickr, rather than a general url. This way we can see your stellar creation.

InLinkz.com

Weekend Update & Multi-Layered Canvas Class

This altered hipster canvas bag class was such a fun class to teach this past Saturday at Rocky Mountain Memories.  In the description i said we would begin with a blank canvas and that they would finish with a bag that is uniquely them.  It's always my goal that people walk out with something they love, they had fun creating it, and hopefully learning something new.  i was thoroughly impressed with the all the people in the class and the bags they created. 

I love how Marcie's bag turned out.  She used all my favorite colors and her design was just stellar. 

I love the variety of the bags even when the theme was similar.  They had fun with stencils, color, spray inks, and embellishments.

The camaraderie of the class was just great.  I love it when laughter and generosity abounds.  The sharing of products, ideas, enthusiasm, and compliments was truly uplifting.

all in all it was a fantastic day and the bags were just stellar. 

Coming up at Scrap 2 it on June 8, I will be teaching this multi-layered canvas.  Class Cost $60.  If the little doll isn't your thing, I will have some other alternatives.  You will create this piece in the colors you love.  I will teach you many techniques including transfer techniques, layering, embossing, and metal work.  Call 970.797.2174.

Student Supply List:

• Acrylic Paints (Colors you love including white & black)
• Gesso
• Bone Folder
• Paint Brushes
• Matte Medium
• Your favorite distress ink
• black waterproof ink (*i highly recommend archival ink by Ranger)
• Pop Up adhesive
• Liquid (*i highly recommend glossy accents)
• regular adhesive
• Scissors
• Brayer (*optional)

Inspired

Last week i taught this Art Journal Basics class at Scrap 2 it.  This week i am at Rocky Mountain Memories in Estes Park.  I'm not sure planning two classes back to back was the smartest idea but i do so enjoy teaching.  I feel like i get to use my degree and combine it with art.  I am always inspired by what my students create and I love seeing things through their fresh eyes. 

I love seeing people gain confidence as they create.  it's always my goal to make sure you walk out of my classes feeling like you can achieve it. 

i love walking around the room seeing all the cool color combinations.  And i cannot help seeing beauty everywhere, including paint palettes. 

I love having young adults in class too.  they are free in their styles and always are willing to try something new, out of their comfort zone. 

I get lots of ideas both for teaching and in my art, new ways to explain things, things i need to work on, and much much more. 

i just love being in this creative atmosphere.  It's funny how even water that we used to wash stencils can make me smile.  i always come home inspired.

For the love of grids

Over the years my style has evolved.  i have learned to embrace all sides of me and know that it's ok to change things up as i need.  i love seeing art and "messy" cross over onto my layouts.  But one thing that hasn't change is my love for grids.  They are really graphically pleasing to me. 

This is a layout (& sketch) i did for the My Mind's Eye blog.  You can see all the details there along with the sketch.  I went back to my love of the grid to create this layout with the new lines from Rhonna Farrer.  i stitched vertical lines & horizontal lines on the bits & pieces grid and layered a photo over top.  A favorite photo from this unexpected play date. 

Here are some other grid layouts, for some of them i dug deep into the archives.

Even on a messy artsy background, i love the grid.  i made the cardstock background by layering gesso, paints,spray inks, and watercolors.  I then added the bits & pieces of patterned paper, embellishments, and photos in a grid pattern grounding the whole piece.  Still one of my favorites.

This layout dates back to 2008.  Remember scenic route?  I still miss their papers.  I had lots of photos from this vacation and thought a nice grid would do.  I added bits & pieces of patterned paper and journaled around the edges.  I added the painted punched butterflies to create some movement.  Look at how young the kids look, especially Anthony. 

This is one of a few grid layouts found in my book Art of Layers.  In fact, it's on the cover.  My editor is a graphic designer who shared my love of grids so we both agreed to put this one on the cover.  I love the bits & pieces in the stamped frames that make up the grid. 

Still one of my all time favorite layouts.  This hand stitched grid took a fair amount of time to create but it was totally worth it.  I love the photos placed over the grid as well as the little stamped images. 

Is there a design element that you find yourself using over & over again?

Digging in

I created this Art Journal for an Art Journaling Basics class at Scrap 2 it, a local scrapbook store.  After making it, i sent it off to the store for people to see what we'd be making in the class.  I have plenty of other art journals in my stash but i found myself missing this one.  I don't know if it was because i created all of it including binding it or because of the size, a 6 x 9 journal.  After teaching last weekend (more details on that later), i was happy to have it in my hands again.  The need to journal daily has been insatiable so i have been working in this journal every day.  Here are a few of the pages:

A collage page of left over bits & pieces.  I have a thing for butterflies so it was easy to include them.  I toned down the patterned paper with gesso and then layered stencil & paint over it.  I love that tiny herringbone stamp and could use it on all my pages.  Believe me it has taken great resistance not to do so. 

I admit i am not a huge pink fan.  it's not a color i usually pull out but that's what i want to do in this journal, challenge myself.  Try things that scare me a little, try new techniques, and go for the unexpected.  I LOVE this page.  this is a pink i can do.  and the green leaves looks so scrumptious against it.  More vintage on the page, this time a cigar label & map index.  I painted on the stem & leaves along with the word.  must remember to do that again. 

Once again i am diggin the pinks on this page, especially with the orange and hints of red.  The ledger came from a day of junktiquing and i actually found quite a few so i scooped them up.  The film strip is from that same day of hunting.  I like the writing on the filmstrip and the journaling starting above the ledger paper. 

and today i know i will be picking up that journal again. 

Word Up #72: SURROUND

a new Word Up over at OLW -- Surround.  I really love this word Jessi selected.  My life is surrounded by so many good things-- family, friends, my church family, faith, HIS grace, laughter, etc.  i could go on and on.  But this word also does something else for me.  It reminds me to surround myself with things to help me stay positive.  It makes me want to take notice of all the blessings in life, to see the beauty surrounding me.  I want to drink deep all the love, all the comfort, all the inspiration this life has to offer.  I want to embrace it completely. 

For my piece, i created a mixed media canvas trying to capture that beauty that does surround me as a little reminder how blessed i am.  i wanted something serene, calming but full of layers.  I started with an 8" x 10" wood canvas building up layers of texture through gesso and fabric.  I collage some pieces on the background and then layered on lots and lots of color through many mediums.  Next i painted the small canvas after adding the music paper.  I colored the filigree piece and stamped the word surround on the metal accent, purposely turning the "r" upside down.  it's a reminder to me that even though i sometimes feel like my life is upside down that i am always surrounded by love & beauty.  I then used the cherry blossom stencil to pencil in the twigs & blossoms before painting the image with acrylic paints.  I embossed the metal leaf and burnished it before adding it as the last layer. 

I hope you'll join us this word up!

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Create Daily: Art Journals

Do you art journal? Have you thought about trying it out but didn't know where to start? It's a great way to create daily.  It can also be a great way to try out new things, new techniques, new styles.  Here's the thing you also need to remember, you don't have to share any page or the art journal with anyone unless you want to share.  You choose.  So how do you get started?  First thing is to just start.  Keeping up with creating daily in your art journal is easier if you have backgrounds prepped and ready to go.  Start by doing a couple different backgrounds trying out different techniques.  Julie Fei-Fan Balzer has a great blog post on creating backgrounds here and here.  And you know i share lots & lots of techniques here on this blog.  Try them out in an art journal. 

Next, try out different styles that have interested you, even things that scare you.  Note what you like and what you don't like.  Be free and know it's ok to make mistakes.  Remember this is your safe zone.  Give yourself permission to create daily.  Set aside 10 minutes each day.  You may not complete a page but that's ok too.  Don't be yourself up when you don't stick to it.  Just start again. 

Don't forget the journaling part.  it's equally important as the art part.  Writing stimulates creativity, releases your emotions, and is all part of the process.  it doesn't matter if you don't like your handwriting, use it anyway.  it's as unique to you as your finger print. 

Have you created something this week?  Anything goes...doodle, scrapbook page, art journal, card...just something creative.  Share a link at the bottom of this post with the inLinkz button.  Just leave a link to a specific blog post or image on flickr, rather than a general url. This way we can see your stellar creation.