Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Art Journal - line and wash - pets

Chloe, our three year old Staffy cross recently had a knee operation. She is a gentle affectionate dog with a sweet nature. The vet wrapped her leg in a pink happy face bandage and she is holding her leg out awkwardly partly because of the pain and also because the bandage is bulky.

Art Journal flick through - June 2018

Just finished my latest tertiary qualification as well as working fulltime and volunteering for different not-for-profits, I needed to relax my brain for a bit. I purchased some new art supplies from the Mixed Media Store ... (Yes I know I have an entire room FULL of art supplies ... but I didn't have THESE ones!) and started an art journal project this month. I wanted this book to be a 'no rules'book, where it did not matter that the finished pages don't look amazing, and I do not worry that I am not using proper art techniques - it is just a collection of quick paintings, collages, words and sketches. The process to me is as important as the finished product and having an art journal means to me that it does not have to be perfect, I am not going to hang the pages on a wall!

Here is a quick flick through of my book so far.

Review: Typo brand Drawing Journal

I do a lot of creative projects including 'serious art' using water colours,pencils or oil paints in the more conservative manner. However I love the freedom of art journalling, where the rules of art, what is good what isn't, how mediums are supposed to be used, and perfection are ignored. The process of creating the art is as, or even more, important than the finished product. I can freely experiment with mixed media and ideas without feeling constrained about the finished product or how I am using the materials. I have many sketch books and doodle pads to use for art journalling but I am always on the look out for a book that really works for me. I want one that is bound like a traditional old style book, has good quality paper that can take all manner of materials, is hard cover to protect the contents, and light enough to take with me wherever I go.

We were in DFO Brisbane a while ago, at the Typo store, and I saw a selection of journals there for $19.99 (AUD) each, from their Activity Journal range. I kept going back to the shelf, opening the 'demo' books, feeling the paper and flicking through the pages. There were several different types there, but the one I really liked was the one that had 'Drawing Journal' on it in gold metallic embossing and featured water colour style decoration on the cover. The pages inside are thick, have a matte texture, and include an area for title and date. The pages have different decoration from grids, to cream coloured to pages with decorative corners.

I like the concept of an art journal that comes with different designs on its pages. There is a well known phenomenon of blank page syndrome that afflicts artists and writers alike, and having an art journal with some colour already on the page helps to alleviate that issue!

How do the pages hold up to use

I have tried the pages using graphite and colour pencils, water colour paint, felt pen, waterproof felt tipped pens (such as Sharpies), glue, gesso, and waterbased varnish. I am pleased to share with you that the pages can handle all of this, the slight buckling of the pages after using glue, varnish, gesso, or paint is alleviated after the pages are dried and the book is shut for a few hours.

How does the book hold up to being carted around

Small and light enough to cart around but large enough to draw in, the book is shoved in my work bag, used on the train, dumped on my desk at home, carted in the car, it handles this well, you do not have to be overly kind to this book!

Some of the art journalling I have done in this book

gesso, paper, glue , watercolour, fetl pen,

gesso, colour pencil,watercolours, felt pen

watercolour, feltpen, colour pencil, varnish

collaged photo, watercolour, felt pen, pencil satin water based varnish

You can by the Typo activity journals online from their website here.

If you are interested in reading another review on Typo products please have a look at this post where I reviewed a Typo satchel.

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CREATIVE EVERY DAY: January 2015 Lost and Found

As I mentioned in my first post for 2015 I am participating in the Creative Every Day (CED) challenge.

The January 2015 theme is 'Lost and Found', so I decided to write a short story about Lost and Found.

Enjoy!

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

Illustration: Crow in Sunset

It was raining a couple of days ago, and as I stood at the train station near home waiting for my husband ot pick me up, I saw two wet crows on the power lines shaking themselves out to dry.

Their shaggy wet black feathers were a stark contrast to the grey stormy, early evening sky, and it inspired me to paint a silhouette of a crow against a sunset.

Here it is - watercolour on Arches Rough A5 paper

As always I am happy for you to share, download, print, PIN, etc, but please be kind and state where the image came from!

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About Me: I work full time, I am also studying for a therapist qualification in Advanced Herbalism, subsequent to completing a Diploma inHerbalism, I have a small craft 'business', I am co-admin of an auction page on facebook to help other small hobby businesses, i maintain my own 'store' facebook page, I blog at least once a week and I maintain a facebook page created to support small home businesses and hobby sellers

Upcycled Ephemera: making greeting cards out of bits n pieces

Ephemera can be defined as collectible paper objects that were originally meant to be transient in nature, (such as movie posters, postcards, magazine clippings, letters). The word is from the ancient Greek 'Ephemeros' meaning for the day.

I collect all sorts of bits of paper, magazine clippings, wrapping paper, old greeting cards, playing cards and the like, and then recycle them into other goodies.

I prefer to use the term upcycle, as sometimes the magazine scraps become better than the original item, when they are reformed into woven papier mache pendants for example.

I enjoy upcycling my collection of ephemera to make one of a kind greeting cards and gift tags as well as jewellery pendants and these I sell either from my facebook page or my etsy store.

Some of the cards I have recently made and sold are pictured below:

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About Me: I work full time, I am also studying for a therapist qualification in Naturopathy specialising in Herbalism, I have a small craft 'business', I am co-admin of an auction page on facebook to help other small hobby businesses, i maintain my own 'store' facebook page, I blog at least once a week and I maintain a facebook page created to support small home businesses and hobby sellers

The Documented Life Project: Have you joined in?

I have just found an amazing website about an artistic, creative project called the "Documented Life ". Each week you are provided with a journalling prompt challenge. On January First 2014, which was challenge one, you had to photograph, sketch, paint or incorporate your front door.

I have only just started, and although you can start from whatever week you first found out about the project I want the full year !! So i think I can catch up if I do two pages a week at least.

The creators of the project are using a Moleskine planner/diary, but I am using my limited edition blank paged Minnie Mouse journal as I wanted to use it for something to keep and this seems just the project!

They have a facebook group, if you are interested in the project why not join it?

Information about the group of artists who started this project is at this link.

I think this would be a great addition to my goal to be positive this year! So I have joined their facebook group and have started the challenges!

(I have so many to catch up on considering it is already the end of March!)

These are the weekly challenges they have listed so far:

January 1, 2014 - Week One - Photograph, sketch, paint or incorporate your front door.
January 5, 2014 - Week Two - Selfie
January 12, 2014 - Week Three - Add an envelope from your mailbox.
January 18, 2014 - Week Four - Write a secret message then paint over all but one key word.
January 25, 2014 - Week Five - Add a doodle border.
February 1, 2014 - Week Six - Open your Pinterest board and be inspired.
February 8, 2014 - Week Seven - Draw one shape - repeat - add color.
February 15, 2014 - Week Eight - Add a flap to your flap.
February 22, 2014 - Challenge (Week Nine) - Collage something you recycled.
March 1, 2014 - Challenge (Week Ten) - Make a list of the things that make you YOU.
March 8, 2014 - Challenge - Week Eleven - Draw, photograph or collage a bird onto your page.
March 15, 2014 - Challenge - Week Twelve - Cut up a magazine..add!
March 22, 2014 - Challenge - Ask someone else to draw on your page - finish it

I will post images form my journal to this blog, and if you are doing the challenge to, I'd love to see links to your journals! (just put the info in the comments section!)

I will post images from my art journal for the DOcumented Life on a page in my blog.

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Illustration Day: frog prince by Poppy Fyfe

Today's illustration is brought to you by the talented Poppy Fyfe, a young artist from Brisbane.

She sent me this cool drawing last week, and I really appreciate the happy snail mail!! She also included a purple bracelet she made on a rainbow loom, which is very trendy!

Creativity is a wonderful gift, let's all keep encouraging it.

thanks Poppy!

Illustration Day: mermaid

I have been working on illustrations on which to base a new range of pendant jewellery and tote bags. I use thick cartridge and Indian ink as well as ink pens to draw with.

This collection is called Ladies of Lore, and so far I have drawn a Countess Bathory, a Medusa, and a Siren!!

Today's illustration is the Siren of Song!

Enjoy.

Find me on TWITTER

new #blogpost my own #art #mermaid picture http://t.co/KC8BewliYT
— empressbat (@empressbat) January 30, 2014

How do we support cottage industry?

One of my goals for 2014 is to be more active in promoting and supporting cottage industry, small family businesses, arts and crafts, and markets.

I have set up a page on facebook to help me with this goal, the page is called Support Cottage Industry (ironically..) but trying to get people to help me support them seems to be rather difficult! I ask them to share to help the page get more fans, to add their links and promotions to the page, but it is like getting blood from a stone.. or like getting chocolate out of my hands...

Many of the people i have invited to use the page to help promote their wares, are the very people who oft complain that nobody supports their handicraft endeavours..yet when i try to support them.. they do not seem motivated enough to help me to help them.

Not all businesses that deserve promotion are on facebook, so on the page i created I also add information about bricks n mortar stores, places I have been to that are quality home grown amazing stores, to help to promote them.

To keep cottage industry alive we all need to support them, buy from them, word of mouth promote them. Let us not be the ones five years from now who look with melancholy at a piece of handiwork we bought at a market years ago and say ... ' of course they dont do craft markets anymore, everything is mass produced these days'.....

Post by Empressbat's Emporium.

Alphabet Challenge: Happily Handmade Handcrafts

Up to H in my alphabet challenge blogs, and today's post is about Happily Handmade items, beautiful things made by clever artists.

Beaded Webs

There is an amazing artisan creating as Beaded Webs, who makes the most delciate and decorative wire and bead creations! Based in Queensland Australia, she works from home and sells from Facebook.

Starting off with wire sculpting and hand beaded web shapes, she has since branched out (excuse the pun) into tree of life shapes, as well as owls, bats, and cars. Her gorgeous bead and wire art is created in a variety of sizes such as large hanging decorations, pendant or keyring sized and medium sized beaded decorations.

I have purchased a purple, as well as a red and black beaded web from her and they are gorgeous! I also have two gorgeous bat beaded decorations that she made to order for me!

Beautifully made, and unique items, her online store is worth a look, and why not buy yourself something beautiful from her today!

Below are some pictures of her great pieces

Alphabet challenge: crochet

Blog post brought to you by the letter C as part of my Alphabet blog challenge.

My Mother taught me how to crochet when i was about four years old, i remember making massive metres of chain out of yarn! As i got the hang of the whole crochet thing i started making clothes for my toys and granny squares for cushion covers. I enjoy crocheting and recently made myself a scarf, fingerless gloves, and matching beret out of dark sage green yarn. I don't usually bother with patterns and tend to make things up as i go along, or just use the pattern as a guide.

As well as making my own crochet pieces i like seeing the crochet made by others. There is an amazing textile artist on Etsy, ScarletRabbit, who makes the most delicate elegant fantastic crochet accessories, and i have become a fan of her work, having the honour of owning several of her fingerless gloves and wristlets, many which i have custom ordered.

Ruth, from the etsy store ScarletRabbit, is extremely talented and artistic, as well as crocheting, she draws in pen and ink, and also makes beautiful jewellery.

The fingerless gloves I have purchased from ScarletRabbit are delicate fine crochet created with 100% cotton yarn. The designs are unique, and the crochet is perfect; the lacey crochet design makes these fingerless gloves an absolute delight to see and to wear. I also have a delicate lace crochet and ribbon choker that i bought from ScarletRabbit!

My most recent purchase from ScarletRabbit was a custom order of a pair of purple fingerless gloves and a pair of emerald green. Absolutely beautifully made, they are gorgeous and so comfortable to wear! (see picture of them above)

If you appreciate elegant unique hand made crochet, please visit ScarletRabbit !

Support unique artists: say no to mass produced!!

Dear Batlings,

Today's missive may be nothing more than a feverish rant, but i do believe it has some merit: say no to mass produced tawdry trinkets, and start supporting the artisans who put heart and soul into producing beautiful hand crafted items! We will lose our artisans, the skills to create and the option to obtain unique work if we do not support the hand crafts industry!

Mass produced is cheap
everyone has one
plastic
poorly manufactured
Land fill
Lacking original thought
Heartless and soulless

Even those websites advertising themselves as places to buy and sell handmade goods have become prey to sellers offering mass produced, made in timbuctoo, plasticky rubbish!

Personally i love hand crafted things. Unique, quality made, creative items made by those whose joy of imagining and creating shines through the finished product.

I buy many hand crafted things from a variety of artisans from all over the world, and i am the proud owner of such a gorgeous selection of unique accessories as a result of this. I also make a lot of things myself, from jewelery, to clothes, to toys, to bags... I keep some things for myself, i give some away, i sell some.... Beautifully made handcrafted items are rich with the souls of their creators.

What happens if we stop supporting handcraft artists?
What happens if we want the world Andy Warhol sartired in his famous pop art?

Many artisans rely on the sales of their wares to purchase more raw materials to keep creating wonderous things. Others rely soley on sales to make a living and put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Nothing kills a muse of creativity faster than the stress of not being able to pay the bills!

There is a place for mass produced, yes indeed batlings, it has its place, but not at the expense and ultimate death of hand made quality!

Artisans! Stand up for your rights to be heard and to have a place in the merchandise of the 21st century! Support each other. Motivate each other.

Spread the word that not supporting artisans ultimately means that one day the world will be a sterile plastic environment where nobody recalls how to make anything anymore.

I would really like to hear other's views on this.

Please feel free to post your comments!

<end rant>

Artist Profile: Kim from SassySteampunk

Today's blog is a feature on that amazing Steampunk artisan Kim, from the etsy store Sassysteampunk.

First things first: what is Steampunk?

Becoming popular in the late 1980s, Steampunk is possibly a sub-genre of Cyberpunk and takes inspiration from Sci-Fi, fantasy, parallel histories, and history meets future. There is an emphasis on steam or clockwork propelled engines, and modernistic inventions with an historical twist. I personally think of it as Jules Verne on Acid..... but I'm a classic goth, what would I know???

Kim of SassySteampunk
Kim hales from Alberta, Canada, her family comprises of two adult daughters, two grandchildren and two dogs. She is a jewellery maker and creates steampunk and goth inspired treasures. She is also a painter and designs tattoos although she states that she has known of her own.....yet.
An avid collector of blue dragonflies, and a fan of horror movies; collects glass orbs and also makes soap; what else inspires our steampunk artisan?

Inspirations
What inspires our Sassy Steampunk Kim? Kim said that she was initially interested in designing and creating steampunk items after seeing the video for Ben Lovett's song 'Eye of the Storm'. She has been interested in the steampunk genre for over four years, when initially she sold old watch parts. (think cogs, dials, cases, so cool!)

Kim's sassysteampunk treasures
Batlings, as you know I'm a traditional goth, i am into black lace, lush velvet, bats.... dripping candles ... knee high boots, and opera gloves....so some of you may be surprised, and exclaim in horror as you are overcome in a stupor when I tell you that I am a fan of the etsy shop sassysteampunk.

I seriously believe you do not have to be a steampunk aficionado to love her work!
I have purchased several amazing jewellery items from her, and they are beautifully made unique accessories that are a pleasure and honour to wear!

One of my fave pieces that I have purchased from Kim's shop is a small ring that comprises a dismembered watch set on a silver plate ring base and features a crystal as a focal point. I also have a gorgeous dragonfly altered art domino necklace, a beautiful bat cuff and a lovely bat necklace.

Kim is a true artist, as can be seen by her beautifully designed and created pieces, I encourage all of you to take time to browse her shop and buy yourself something delightful from her beautiful wares.

ACEOS: have you dabbled in making them?

Yes I know, I have blogged about them before, but these things fascinate me. They are art miniatures without all that formal arty constraint stuff put on official art miniatures. You can do so much with them!

Some of the members of the etsy team Goth n Gorgeous have also been making ACEO, and the results are great.

Sassysteampunk has this great Halloween ACEO which is fun, would make a great Halloween TREAT or card, and is also a great ACEO collectible.

Another Goth n Gorgeous team member Madscientist designs also has ACEOS, featuring altered art, and includes Alice in Wonderland themed artwork That being my fave book of all time, makes me really like those ACEOS! Note these ACEOS are ALTERED ART, the artist has NOT merely stuck a printed piece of paper on a card... this has real creativity and heart in it.

As I mentioned I am also venturing into the exciting fun creative world of ACEO creating. Currently I am working on Ancient Egyptian and also Vintage Garden themed ones. Below is a pic of the scarab ACEO i made, as part of my Egyptian ACEO series. I have listed this for sale in my etsy store just to see if there is any interest.

I am also interested in locating other ACEO makers who want to be part of an ACEO swap, to build a lovely collection of hand crafted art. If you are interested in an ACEO swap thing, please let me know in the blog comment section!!

I think ACEOS would make great little tokens of appreciation to give to someone, a hand crafted ACEO is a real keepsake that can be framed, put in a scrapbook, added to an album, glued to a notebook cover, used as decoration on a trinket box, the uses go on and on... as do i...

There are many web pages that provide assistance in how to create ACES, but i think one of the best ways to create them.. is just get yourself some card stock, and some supplies, paint, ink pens, glue, embellishments, whatever.. and make something!!

If however you really want to read instructions on how to create ACEO please see the link below:

http://www.squidoo.com/artist-trading-card-ideas

http://www.onlypencil.com/blog/tutorials/making-your-own-aceo-cards/

http://justforfun.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Make-and-Sell-ACEO-Cards

http://www.ehow.com/how_2129355_sell-trade-aceo-art-online.html

Just Discovered Artist Trading cards (ACEO/ATS)

I have just started doing quick 'art' pieces on thick cartridge cardstock that is 2.5" * 3.5", similar to the size of collectable trading cards. They are called ACEO or ATC.

ACEO = Art Cards Editions and Originals also known as Artist trading cards or ATCs are collectable once off piece of art works that began in the tradition of business cards, but with a personal, artistic and most of all UNIQUE twist.

Because they are the size of other standard trading cards, most will fit in trading card sleeves. They are meant to be unique and are not a mass produced product.

I will experiment with different media, I have just completed an acrylic paint ACEO of my zombie cat character, and will be working on other themes, images, and media as i experiment with ACEO.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4808983_collect-miniature-art-_aceo_.html

Freda the Fruitbat ACEO

Halftail the Cat ACEO

Greenwich the Zombie cat ACEO

Pages

How do the pages hold up to use

How does the book hold up to being carted around

Some of the art journalling I have done in this book

Beaded Webs

Blog post brought to you by the letter C as part of my Alphabet blog challenge.