Wordless Wednesday - Chocolate

Be True to my Heart - Finished Canvas's

Here are photos of my creative process...Inspired by Donna Downey's Canvas Create series for February 2012.

The 3 photos below show:  

• addition of water-thinned Indian Yellow acrylic paint (on top of the original Magenta colored base) giving the background a funky orange with deep burnt orange undertones
• then Magenta acrylic paint was added to ridge around the heart and a water-thinned wash over the body of the heart
• then I made a circle template from a scrap piece of paper and painted the circle openings with Blue Green acrylic paint

The next two photos include:  

• the addition of masking tape
• white acrylic paint rubbed over the raised textured areas on the background
• a word stamp with white ink pad
• a flower/heart/butterfly image stamped first with black ink, then a white ink pad

Hmmmm....dislike those circles and the color of the paint in those circles, blah

And......also dislike the image stamp, ugh

In the photo below, I painted over the parts I disliked with a Turquoise acrylic paint mixed with gesso.

I was happier with the Turquoise color but added more thinned white gesso to lighten up the color a bit (see below).  I decided the masking tape looked too plain left untouched so that got a wash of Indian Yellow paint (below).  That made the tape perfect!  And I couldn't be finished there....

To add additional dimension I painted bubble wrap with black ink and pressed it down on a corner section.  Then I stamped the bubble wrap with a white ink pad and added that to each canvas. 

I added Indian Yellow paint over the white ink to one word on each canvas.  Then I added some blue liquid ink on an edge, turned the canvas so it would drip/run but I only ended up with a single line of ink.  Then I remembered seeing a video about blowing air through a straw to move ink around so I tried that (only without the straw - didn't have one) and look what I got....a cool scattered paint blotch.  

I am so happy with how these pieces turned out and am glad I did more than one so these can be sold as a set or separately. I am especially pleased with learning to use molding paste, gel medium, mixing color with gesso, fixing mistakes and how you can use masking tape and bubble wrap in the creative process.

So a big thanks to Ms. Donna Downey......she is a great teacher and inspiration.

Hugs to all,  Erin

Be True to Your Heart - February Canvas Create, Step 2

Be True to Your Heart - February Canvas Create, Step 2, originally uploaded by frenchieredhead.

The modeling paste dried well overnight so I added a base layer of water thinned acrylic paint.

Licensed to Drive

Happy Friday everyone - I can't explain how happy I am that it is finally Friday.  Seriously......


The big news this week...........T2 (my 17 yo teen) got his drivers license on Tuesday (2/21/2012).  Such a proud moment for him and I was equally proud of him.  He has been a good and careful driver during his 6 months of permit driving with me in the passenger seat.  I'm just hoping that he will remain a good and careful driver without me present to be the backseat driver.

Congratulations on Driver's License!

May traffic be light, your gas tank full, your lights be green, and your seat belt always buckled.

Drive safely (please)!

And I'll be picking up this vehicle for you this weekend!!

Yeah I love you but really that's not gonna happen

.......hahahaha (JK)!!!!

Hugs, Mom

Life Explained...

On the first day, God created the dog and said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."  

The dog said, "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed......

On the second day, God created the monkey and said, "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"

And God agreed......

On the third day, God created the cow and said, "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again......

On the fourth day, God created humans and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But the human said, "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God. "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves.

For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family.

For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.

And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information.

I'm doing it as a public service and because I like You.

Happy Fat Tuesday!  Hugs,  Erin

Be True to Your Heart - February Canvas Create Series, Step 1

The new monthly online video class with Donna Downey arrived on 2/15 and I could hardly wait to watch the video.  You can go to her link to find out more about the Donna Downey February Canvas Create Series.  You can also see her final version of the February canvas.  Her version is meant to inspire us and allow us to use different techniques.  So I'm sure mine won't look like hers but I will utilize her techniques and take what I like from her video teaching. 

This month includes use of modeling paste and other mixed media, both of which are new to me so I am super excited to try this out.

Below are three 8 x 8 gallery wrapped canvas, covered in wet modeling paste with patterned paper, hearts hand-cut by me and then pressed into the wet paste.  I did these last night and the modeling paste needs to dry for 8-12 hours depending on humidity.  So later this week (or maybe tomorrow) I will have more to show you as I work through each step in the process.  I haven't done Mixed Media before so this will definitely be an adventure.   Donna's version is awesome so we will see how mine turns out.



"Be True to your Heart" Series

Hugs,  Erin

An Honest Bitch!

Just had to pass along this little statement, sent to me by a female friend.  Some days and some weeks I know I'm a terror but hey, love me or don't....at least you know where you stand.

Love ya HS!!

Happy Friday!!!
Hugs,  Erin

Art Journal Page - Love

I have been researching Art Journals lately and have found tons of inspiration on Pinterest, YouTube and art blogs.  So I purchased a journal and some new markers (love them) and got to work. 

This is my first art journal page.....fun and funky, in honor of Valentines Day this week.  The page started with watercolor crayons and then I added additional color with the new markers.  The created the swirls and squiggles with a black paint marker and then added the white paint marker. 

First Art Journal Page - "Love"

It is such a happy feeling to create, even if it isn't something that you would sell or hang in your house.  Just to have fun playing with paint, markers, etc.  It's like being a kid again.  Give yourself permission to draw, color or paint.   

It is good for your soul!!
Hugs,  Erin

My first watercolor painting-Tulips

Happy Wednesday morning my friends - I have been busy experimenting with watercolor paper and watercolor crayons.  This is my first water color painting.  I obviously have a lot to learn but not a horrible piece for my very first time.  Plus it gives us thoughts of spring and flowers (one of my favorite things).



"Tulips" - created on 140 lb watercolor paper with watercolor crayons

I hope you have a lovely day.
Hugs,  Erin

New Painting Inspired by Donna Downey - Canvas Create series

Do you love to scrapbook, papercraft, sketch, paint, create stuff (of any kind) with your hands?  Well that's me in a nutshell.  I am happiest when I can create something. 

So, for anyone that is involved in the scrapbooking or paper crafting world, you probably know the name Donna Downey (she's very talented in everything she creates!!).  She has been an inspiration for my scrapbook/paper crafting, for a few years now. Last month I happened to wonder across her blog Simply Me and she is offering online classes (how did I miss out on her online classes?!).  One of her new ventures is the 2012 Canvas Create series.   Video instructions with Donna creating a new Canvas each month with her awesome advice and inspiration. 


Image taken from Donna Downey site (link provided above)

 Seriously people, I was so excited to have an opportunity to learn from this talented crafter/artist.  And for only $20/month...Count me in!  Woot, Woot!! 

I signed up for a full year of canvas painting classes at 2012 Canvas Create Series.  You can find tons of inspiration on her blog as she regularly posts videos of her Art Journal creations.  So now I also have a keen interest in Art Journals so I will be sharing my creations with you soon.

Below is my version of the January canvas, inspired by Donna Downey's class.  The flower didn't turn out quite the way I wanted but you live and learn.  I was pretty pleased with how the background looks and my ability to freehand the word "inspire". I learned a lot about gesso (my new favorite product for painting), in addition to mixing paint colors so they don't end up muddy (really ugly) colored.  Her video instruction was truly awesome.  Being a tad OCD and perfectionistic, I reckon I will re-paint the flower this weekend and post the update. Why you ask?  Well because I learned that you can put gesso over what you painted, let it dry and start over.  Holy cow....how cool it that!!  See me....I'm doing my happy, happy dance!! (which my two teenage boys think is completely uncool! --- Ha, what do they know!?)



New painting on a 14x16 gallery wrapped canvas

Hugs and a happy dance, 
Erin