Ronda Palazzari Designs

Days in Doha: Museum of Islamic Art

i have been wanting to visit this museum since i first set foot on this sandy soil.  it didn't happen before but i knew this time, i had to make it happen.  I.M. Pei designed the beautiful building which is a work of art in itself.  The building sits on the corniche with a waterfront view on one side and a city view on the other.  

Quite stunning isn't it?  There is a beautiful water feature leading up to it along with this bridge to the entrance.  I love the strong edges and black features of this building.  And the interior is just as stunning.

This is the view from the second floor with the spectacular stair case and light feature.  The other side is the cafe and water feature where you can enjoy a spot of tea. 

We started up on the 4th floor at a temporary exhibit called Steel and Gold, a historic swords exhibit. A unique exhibit that shows the history of blades in this region including India.  I like that they share not only the blades but some prints of fashion that went along with the pieces.  The intricate details on both the blades and sheaths is breath-taking. 

The way the museum is laid out is quite unique.  On the third floor are the earliest pieces arranged by time.  I could spend hours in the ceramic room looking at the intricate details of the hand painted pottery.  Throughout time, we all seem to be drawn to the same basic shapes.  Did you spot the herringbone like patterned in the above pottery?

This jar is a feast for my eyes.  So much texture and details to digest all in one big beautiful jar which dates back to the 13th century. 

 

This is one of my favorite pieces i spotted this day.  The color and design just fascinate me.  it's a simple piece but utterly beautiful.

I love that the museum is filled with everyday art including glass, ceramic, and metal bottles.  Look at the details on the perfume bottle displayed above. 

 

Very few portraits exist in this museum.  There are small gouache paintings and lots of book pages but these two are rather large portraits hanging on the wall.  Obviously done by the same artist and hung side by side in the museum. 

it's filled with unusual objects and unique pieces.  Metals, jewels, jewel encrusted pieces, and more.  They have a figure room, a calligraphy section, a patterned section, and science section as well as rooms laid out by time periods.  

One of the cool parts of the museum is a small section dedicated to the art of science filled with compasses of days gone by, celestial maps, quadrants, and astrolabes.  Once again that recognition of every day items, tools of time gone by, displayed as art.

Like these beautiful pieces, jar lids, displayed beautifully.  The display itself is so very cool but a little too high for me to peek into each piece.  I confess i want to hold and examine each lid carefully.  So gorgeous. 

It was an enjoyable day at the museum.  I was impressed that Andrew & Anthony were pretty patient with me being so absorbed into many of the pieces.  I know i would love to go back and take a little more time.  It is an inspiring collection and i would like to take advantage of the education center.  Admission into the museum is free which also makes it easy to go back. 

Create Daily: Repetition

The design principle of unity is the harmony of the elements of a piece of art that helps all the elements function together.  In other words it's the visual linking of the elements.  A great way to achieve a sense of unity is repetition.  Any design element can be repeated -- line, color, shape, texture, direction, etc -- to create harmony.  Repetition in odd numbers is very pleasing and is often used in good designs. 

Can you spot the repetition of elements in the above art journal page? There are three circles on the vine, all in blue that help bring this page together.  The textured background is scattered around the page with three main areas.  Hand drawn flowers also adorn the page creating that sense of unity. 

Do you see the repetition in this layout?  The quatrefoil stencil is repeated on the background using three colors (pulled from the photo) to give it that dynamic pop.  Stamped dates/numbers are repeated alongside the photo as well as creating the repetition of black around the page.  There are five sequins on the page and that circle shape is repeated in the flair and splatters. 

This piece just scream repetition. The grid rub-ons are repeated on the background as well as on some of the smaller canvases. Color is repeated throughout this piece.  Take for example the aqua blue, you can find it on the top 4x4 panel, the dress form canvas, and the metal heart, drawing your eye around the canvas.  Butterflies, tags, numbers, gears, flowers, texture, shape, etc are all repeated creating unity in the piece. 

When working with multiple canvases, i tend to use three.  Lots of repetition here as well.  Nature is repeated in all three canvases as well as color. Yes the canvases are three different colors but the colors are repeated in the other canvases. The red in the top canvas is pulled into the middle canvas in three repeating circles.  The yellows and reds from the top two canvases are repeated in the butterflies on the bottom canvas.  And the blue from the bottom canvas is found in the leaf on the top canvas, another repeating element.  There is lots more repetition in this piece, can you spot it all?

Last month, i did a blog post about layouts using grids.  it's an easy way to repeat elements.  This is a variation of a gridded layout using repetition of circles.  Colors, shapes, and words are all repeated here.  Stamps are another way to include repetition into your creations.  Take a look at this post over at CreateMixedMedia, that shares a step-out from my book Art of Layers, to see how to incorporate repetition of stamps. 

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.

Word Up #72: CRAZY

Word up over at OLW.  Denise's word this go around.  It's a perfect word for Denise, she is lovingly crazy and so much fun.  i hold her dearly in my heart.  it's  seemingly a good word for me this time too.  But then again OLW words always seem just right.  I find myself really taking this words in deep and they always seem to fit that moment in my life perfectly. 

today's OLW reminded me that i control the craziness in my life.  You know the feeling, that life is out of control, that you are running here and there and soon you forget that you actually build your schedule.  You control the craziness.  So here i am thinking about this deeply, realizing that i do this to myself.  i took out my date/calendar journal and reworked some things.  i feel better already.

This art journal page started with some gesso on the background.  I scratched in some words into the gesso, pushed some punched shapes into the gesso, and let it dry.  i painted the background with some grey paint and slowly built up the layers of color with paint, fabric, and a leftover tag.  I painted on the word craziness and added some subtitles above & below it.  Around the page is my journaling, pouring my thoughts & feelings into the page.

Love OLW?  We are looking to expand our team!  We are currently looking for a few mixed media/art journalers as well as a couple scrapbook artists (traditional/hybrid/digital).  To apply, play along with this word up by linking your CRAZY creations to the blog post over at OLW.  Then drop me an email at [email protected] with your name, blog/web address, and any other online galleries links. Please put OLW DT TRY-OUT in the subject line.  Remember OLW is about celebrating words so make sure your entries really highlight the word up.  Deadline to apply is July 14th.

The Travel Journal

In addition to my Art on the Go kit, i wanted to bring along supplies to build an Art Journal on the Go.  Last year i did a little art journal mini album for our stay in Doha using a small moleskin journal.  i really love that little journal and wanted to do something similar but different.  So this time around i am thinking i will create more of a travel art journal plus a "project life" style album using a Simple Stories Snap album.  The latter will be completed when i get home after sorting through tons of vacation photos and collecting daily ephemera.  I plan to use the art journal pages in that album as well but needed a way to keep it organized on this trip so i made it into a little ring binder.  The pages are 4 x 6 and could easily be cut down to 3 x 4.  I really like this idea of combining these two pieces. 

So let's take a look at the supplies found in this little kit.  All of this kit plus the kit before pack down into two little travel totes.  These totes i picked up years (1998 ish?) ago through Creative Memories.  They are similar to this one i found on their site only less decorative, a simple black bag. 

1. Tags, chipboard cover, & watercolor paper.  I like the idea of tags as a way to create on the go.  The chipboard album is a Maya Road album that i pulled apart for the two pages as my cover.  Like i said, the watercolor paper is cut to 4x6 and could be cut down further to 3x4. 
2. Stencils & small tags.  Lots of TCW stencils in 6x6, including my new ones.  I love the 6x6 as a travel size.  I love smaller tags too. Easy way to add that little something to a larger tag or art journal page.
3. Instax Camera.  I love this Fuji camera with the vertical photos.  I usually save it for special occasions as the film isn't cheap and roughly works out to about a $1 a print.  However i think it adds something special to my albums.  I brought along extra film so i can take a few shots daily. 
4. AC/Dear Lizzy Stamp & embellishments.  The stamp is a date stamps + words.  I love these little stamps and packed multiple.  The baggy is full of little embellishments including wood, buttons, and flair...most of them travel themed.
5. Small white coin envelopes.  simple way to store little ephemeral bits & pieces plus fun to decorate.
6. AC/Amy Tangerine Stamp & Glitz roller stamps.  i love this interchangeable date stamp from Amy Tan.  It's great to keep track of the days.  The glitz rollers have been my favorite for a while so i was happy they brought them back.  I have a number one & a camera one in my stash. 
7. 7 gypsies label stickers, AC/Amy Tangerine Transparent Stickers, Map punched shapes, & baggie.  The label stickers are oldies but goodies.  in fact i am thinking of purchasing some more.  I thought the vellum stickers were an easy travel alphabet to carry with me.  The star burst punched shapes i cut out of an old atlas.  I love this shape & idea of using maps in my art journal.  The plastic baggy is to collect ephemera along the way.
8. Ranger black ink, thin acrylic blocks, & Cocoa Daisy stamps.  I love archival ink.  it's waterproof and i can get a really clean image.  I really like the thin Tim Holtz acrylic blocks, easy to grab, easy to take traveling.  The Cocoa Daisy stamps are travel related, a giant world map, travel words, and a camera stamp.  
9. iPhone 4s.  It's an easy way for me to document moments using the camera & instagram.  i also have apps like Postagram that allows me to create postcards for mailing. 
10. adhesive & matte medium.  I love this adhesive from 3M.  i brought along some replacement cartridges as well.  The little squeeze tube of matte medium is so useful to have on a trip.  I also have a collage gluestick that isn't pictured. 
11. Canon 60D camera and lens. Not Pictured.  The camera is a must as well as my favorite 24-70mm lens.  I wouldn't go anywhere without it. I had to use it to photograph this pic!

 

 

Create Daily: Art of the GO

i am headed to Doha, Qatar and then on vacation so i thought i would pack myself and Art of the GO travel pack.  While i cannot take all of this on the plane, i can take a fair portion to keep me creative daily.  This is a great way to travel but still fill the need to do something artful.  Whether you are going on vacation or sitting poolside, pack yourself a little kit to be creative.  Let's take a look at all the supplies in my kit.

1. Fluid Acrylic Paints in Primary colors plus Black & White
2. Koi Watercolor travel kit plus some water brushes
3. 15 Neocolor II Crayons
4. Drawing Pencils, HB, 2B, 4B, & 6B plus a sharpener and kneaded eraser
5. Spray inks in Mini Misters, plus an empty one for water
6. Waterproof Permanent Black Markers & pen
7. a few of my favorite paintbrushes
8. Four journals, two watercolor, one sketch, one for thoughts
9. white sharpie, white eraser, and small brayer
10. small matte medium & craft mat

This will fill my need to create and help me document my little summer journey. 

Weekend Creativity

Into the art journal.  i had some time recently to create some pages in my art journal.  i should say this art journal for i think i have 5 or 6 going at once.  it's amazing how this takes the stress out of me.  Here are a few pages i created, taking strolls out of my comfort zone. 

This page is quite unusual for me.  I was trying on a different style to see what it was like.  I admit it was kind of scary to let go and a wee bit out of my comfort zone.  The colors are a bit darker than usual but still colorful.  I think it's still me in a different way.  There are things i really like and things i am not sure if i would do again.  I think though it's important to stretch ourselves to see what happens.  I think the sentiment really captures that feeling. 

Lots of words covered up with a light gesso wash.  I highlighted some random words that really make no sense together but just stood out to me.  I really like the color combination on this page and must remember to use it again.  Some hand carved stamps adorn this page as well as some doodles.

This page began as doodled hearts.  I added the words underneath and started layering in colors using waterproof pens.  I sprayed some Maya mists on top and added some splatters.  This is a different kind of art journal page for me, one that ties my doodling and color together.  I really enjoyed it and see myself creating more like this.

Happy Weekend

I was here

On Tuesday i flew to Cleveland, Ohio to be with this beautiful lady, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  She is the co-host of Scrapbook Soup, a PBS show that is full of creativity.  i was there to film a couple guest spot for an upcoming shows.  i arrived in the airport on Tuesday and when i was in baggage claim, i spotted this gal.

We had lots of fun at dinner, chatting & catching up with life.  Ali Edwards is such a remarkable soul and radiates warmth. I am blessed to know her.  

Lots of fabulous people in the studio, including Kelly Purkey, Ali Edwards, Nancy Nally, and Joe Rotella.  Kim from Spellbinders was there but sadly i didn't grab a photo of her.  It was so much fun to sit in the green room and chat with these creative people.  It felt so relaxed and natural with lots of laughter.  I loved seeing everyone's stellar creation.  KP just might have inspired me to take the full plunge into project life.  Julie's been telling me to jump in and Kelly gave me that last nudge i needed. Maybe i will even start with this week!

The team at KS Productions were incredible.  I truly enjoyed the atmosphere there.  Everyone was so helpful and friendly.  Julie is such a great host.  She knows how to make me laugh, to keep me calm, and to inspire me.  She is so unique and i am so very very blessed to call her friend.  I am a better person for knowing her. I am an incredible time filming, nervous at first and then it became easier.  I have a secret to tell, i actually really like it!

The new Scrapbook Soup shows will be airing in October.  You can check your local PBS listings for times.  Don't have the program in your area or live outside the US?  You can view them online!  Check out the Scrapbook Soup Blog for details!

 

 

Create Daily: Map it

Ever since i was a little girl i have always been fascinated by maps.  From that child's perspective, they take you places.  Far off places.  Exotic places.  Places you never think you will go but often dream of seeing.  i do travel a lot now to far-off exotic lands but never really did so until i was 27 years old.  i haven't stopped since then.  So it's no wonder maps appear in my work.  i bring home collections of maps of the places i've been to use in some way.  i buy old atlases in used book shops and antique stores.  i love old travel guides with illustrations and street map books are my favorite. 

You can see the stencil layers in this old atlas turned art journal.  I completely adore it as an art journal but also rip out some pages to use in other projects. 

Can you see the street map collaged on this art journal page?  How about the stenciled covered atlas page running down the left side?

This page was out of an old atlas as well and served as the basis of this art journal page.  I love both the text at the bottom as well as the street map.

Sometimes i just punch small pieces of maps to use on layouts & art journals.  I have a little stack of these in a dish near my desk waiting begging to be used. 

Here's another punched map, this time i used the punched pieces as well as the leftovers. 

And this art piece is filled with layers of stencils and color over the atlas page.  I just love seeing it peek through the background.

So look around yourself for some discarded maps, old atlases, and street maps and put them to use.  Pick them up as you go traveling and bring them back to be used in your art journal, mini albums, or scrapbook pages. 

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.