Works in Progress...

It's a busy, busy time of year.  As the assistant coach for my daughter's select soccer team I have been busy with a recent  soccer tournament, and soccer try-outs this week.  I haven't had much time to myself for painting, but I thought I'd share what I started yesterday.

This painting is on a 24" x 30" stretched canvas with a 1.5" profile.  It will be one of my bigger pieces when it's done.  I love the sturdiness and feel of this size canvas, especially the 1.5 profile.  It just feels solid and quality built.  I think I'm done with the thinner profile canvas's from now on, unless I plan on framing them.

Of course, this probably won't look anything like it does now when I'm done with it.  But I think it's fun to see it progress through out the process of creating it.

Random Mark Making 

More Marks and Drips

Trying to find some shapes...

I'm also trying to fit in two online art courses, thank goodness I can work at my own pace on these!  This next picture is the result of a 30 minute painting exercise from Wyann's "Paint Free" class.  I have to admit, I went over the 30 minutes, so now I feel like I need to repeat the assignment with a better handle on the time.  I guess I sort of cheated on this one because I think I painted for more like an hour.  Oops! Here it is:

I hope everyone has a fantastic and safe Memorial Day weekend! Hopefully we can all get some creative time in there too!

Kristen

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: 155 Faces Video

Not too long ago I talked about sketching 100 faces and then sharing them here.  I've finally put together a video featuring 155 faces from past and present...and I'm still drawing and sketching and painting them!  Stylized, whimsical, fantasy...I like them all.  My "face" art doesn't seem to interest the art gallery much, but they are still one of my favorite things to paint and just have fun with! Most of these are from my art journals and sketchbooks but a few of them are actual paintings on canvas.

As always, I'd love to hear what you think, comments are always welcomed and appreciated, and serve as a huge source of inspiration for me.  Even constructive criticism is okay:)

My first Check from the Bluewater Artworks Gallery...Yay!!!

It's not much, but it's my first! Having never sold anything from a gallery before, this is very exciting for me!






I only sold a few pendant necklaces, but it's a start and I'm still doing my happy dance today! Now just keep your fingers crossed that a few of my paintings sell as well!

I had a few more paintings accepted into the gallery as well! This one and my triptych I blogged about a few weeks ago.





It should be a good time to sell art at this gallery in particular, as it's located in a small waterfront town that gets a lot of tourist action when the weather gets nice and people visit by boat.

I'm hoping I sell something soon to help offset the cost of some of the framing!

My husband commented that this check was a nice "souvenir"...I didn't like that comment!!! So if I sell a few paintings, maybe he'll be a little more impressed! It's been a struggle to get him on board with my "art thing"... But he's slowly coming around!
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Domino Art Pendant Tutorial: The moment has finally arrived!

In a previous post I announced that I had won a contest on Modahaus.com.  In exchange for a 

Modahaus Steady Stand (a portable, tabletop photography "studio", shown in the pictures above), I would make a pictorial, or video tutorial using the Modahaus products....Well I'm excited to present to you, my newest video tutorial, "How to Make a Domino Art Pendant"! All the still shots and the close up video clips were made using the Modahaus Steady Stands.

This video tutorial takes you step by step into the process of making your own domino pendant, using your own artwork and a 2 part resin for the perfect topcoat finish.  Don't let the word "resin" scare you away!  It's so much easier than it sounds! Hope you enjoy, and as always, suggestions, questions, comments are alway welcomed and much appreciated!

Daily "Arting"...

Daily Arting is about taking time to nurture your creative self everyday. Arting is about playing with your supplies. It's about not thinking too hard, being generous with yourself and letting go of expectations. Arting is about expressing yourself regardless of the aesthetics. Arting is all about the journey.
Julie-Fei-Fan Balzer
Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine
May/June 2012 Issue

This quote is from an article in my newest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine If I had been asked what my thinking behind the name "Art Play Today" was, this quote says it all. I only wish I could express myself like that!

If you have a passion for creating, whether it be art, music, dance or cooking, or anything else...these words apply to you too, and if embraced, can be life changing.

Just let go, quit telling yourself you "can't" and (as the Nike saying goes) JUST DO IT! Who cares if it doesn't look good in the end, you don't have to show anyone! People, I'm telling you...the JOY is in the process, not the end product. Start today if you yearn to be creative...do a little each day, or a lot, whatever fits, but just DO something creative each and every day.

It makes me sad when people say they wish they could be creative, and then never take that first step...Believing that they can.

BELIEVE, that's a word that crops up a lot in my artwork. Why? Because I finally realized after years of telling myself "I'm not good enough" and worrying about what others think, and comparing everything I do to someone else and always coming up short in my own mind, I FINALLY realized that all it takes to be successful (in anything) is simple...Believe that you can.

It starts with letting go of fear, taking a deep breath and diving in head first. It isn't always easy, and I'd be lying if I told you I didn't doubt and second guess myself almost every day. The key is to put a stop to all the negative self talk that goes on in your head, as soon as it starts. Replace it with positive thoughts, even if you don't believe them at first, you will eventually. Because its very true that we are what we think we are. And who is in control of our thoughts? Us of course, you and me! No one can Make us feel good or bad about ourselves...we choose what we want to believe, so BELIEVE in yourself!!!

If you haven't ever read the Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, pick it up sometime, it's helpful to be inspired!

I think you can probably tell...I'm inspired today.

Hugs to you all!
Kristen

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My First Triptych!

I think I just finished my first triptych! This painting started out pretty crazy...I didn't really know where it was taking me, so I just kept at it, adding layers until it morphed into this...here it is in stages, the last picture is what it looks like now. My husband doesn't get it, but I'm really liking these funky, colorful, organic shapes.

I started with this...

Then sketched the shapes and painted background black...

Didn't like black so tried adding alphabet stamps to add more dimension...
Hated the stamps so painted over in Transparent Yellow Ochre

Used palette knife to spread crackle texture as background...

Finally, added some printed tissue paper, more paint and some distress ink...

Best of the Web no. 60

What a nice surprise!  I was featured in Pocketchange Lifestyle Blog's "Best of the Web" feature for this week!  Pocketchange is a shopping blog where they blog about all sorts of things...pets, shoes, home, fashion, beauty, health, sports, eco-friendly stuff etc...There is so much information and interesting articles there! Take a look for yourself by clicking on the image below...

PocketChange Lifestyle Blog