Journal Page Head in Clouds

Latest video.  I was feeling a little out of sorts.  Painting cleared my head.  I love the Golden High Flow Acrylics I got for my birthday.  So drippy!  A little bit goes quite a long ways.  I'm really enjoying using them.  So far, this is the third application I've used them for.  Two journal pages, "Head in the Clouds" and "A Beautiful Mess", and my as of yet, untitled abstract, which Patrons may name before I release the painting publicly in all its drippy, texturey, glimmery glory.  It is like a cranberry got smashed and gilded.  Lovely!

Inktoberfest

It's October, but for artists, we might know it as Inktober.  A 31 day art challenge where we strive to create new inked art every day for the entire month of October.

I'll be joining the challenge this year.  You can follow along on my Patreon, Facebook event or on Pinterest.  I've been preparing all week for this month long undertaking.  I have papers cut to size and an art journal being prepped for the arting to begin.  Here's a sneak peek onto my art table....

Papers cut to size, and an art journal being gesso'd for arting.

So many, many pens.  They've all been checked and ink is flowing!

Metallic and white gel pens for dark paper.

Let's do this!

Be sure to check out many great artists participating this year!  Facebook ---> #Inktober

Follow Gillian's board Inktober 2015 on Pinterest.

Infusions and Muses

I've had to quit drinking coffee.  It hurts my stomach, like many other things I love to ingest.  But tea helps.  I've been buying different teas almost every week.  I bought blueberry the other week and the tea bags were so pretty.  They would turn this vivid pinkish red color and they smell so good.  So I decided to save a few tea bags and make some Artist Trading Cards that have been colored with tea.  A few blueberry and a peppermint tea, right after I brewed myself a cup I put the bags on the paper.  With unexpected results.  The paper has blue instead of pink.  The tea is red, the bags turn red, the paper turned blue.  The peppermint has a lovely green shade.  I do like how they look together.

Well, I brewed up another blueberry and saturated the paper in very hot water with the tea bags.  It's all waiting to dry.  I took some process shots.  I haven't decided what I'll draw on them yet.  I might collage them a bit.  See if I can salvage the bags themselves to work in contrast with the bgs.  I'll definitely be scanning up the resulting texture before I art them all up to share on my Patreon.

Colors are a bit off due to my lighting, just couldn't get the white balance better.
The bags are red, but the stain is blue and the peppermint is green.

I'm thinking for my Patreon model I'll be doing funded creations as free public access and the Patrons will get bonus rewards of other stuff that didn't need to be funded.

I think I might art them with pretty illustrations.  I recently joined this gothy art group, Between Heaven and Hell (closed group), that shares all sorts of inspiring images.  Pretty girls with a dark aesthetic.  I'll have to decide after they're dry.  Maybe sketch up some ideas.

Art Journal - a Work in Progress

I had this old blank book, which I didn't like the cover.  So I tore it apart and repapered it in the Stardust cardstack from Die Cuts With a View.  I sealed the cover of the book with matte acrylic gel medium, and it works so wonderfully.  I love the finish and the texture.  The DCWV paper looks gorgeous and the golden metallics still shine through.  It was a lot of work to manage the paper, tape and glue and more glue.  Layers of paper...

The paper isn't as flexible as other cardstock I've owned, so it tore on the spine and folded edges.  The inner core is white, so it shows up quite a bit.  For all the edges of the book cover, I had to sand, go over with sharpie and then touch up with gold acrylic to hide the tears.  But it is gorgeous and did the job.  Perhaps it would have molded to the shape better if I had slightly dampened it.  Well, trial and error.

More error...  I bound the paper into the new cover, but the binding on the paper is stiff and pulls apart.  The pages are all wrinkled and the original binding isn't very good.  I hope that homemade gesso will help give them more stability.  But too my fail.  I would dry the gesso between coats with a hair dryer, this resulted in the glue binding to soften and come apart.  I tried gluing them back to the spine to no avail.  It kept getting worse and worse.

So, I've decided to rip it out of my beautiful cover and start over.  I'll need a new paper filling for it and I watched tutorials on the technique a bit more.  I'll be figuring out how to make this work.  In the meantime, I might have to switch gears.  I have an old date book from the late 90's when I was in high school, filled with boring budgets and such.  I think I might have to repurpose it.  Or perhaps an unloved old sketchbook that sits around in a box not getting any air.  I will start an art journal.  I'm feeling adamant.

Embellishments from the DCWV paper to add onto the corners.

And since I like to work on several projects at once, I'll also be working on tea infused artist trading cards.  I tend to do two or more things at once and work on them alternately.  This prevents me from getting burned out on one thing.  And ups my productivity level.  I have found I hurt my own creativity by committing to one project.  I struggle with commissions because of this.  I do not allow myself to work on anything else and this results in an art block.  I have a guilty commission sitting on my easel taking up my entire bedroom to remind me what a louse I am.  I am feeling inspired again by forcing myself to get back to arting.

I had hurt my wrist a while back and that was my excuse.  And now my excuse is, it's too late in the day....  Yada yada yada.  Why does artistic inspiration have to come at 2 in the morning?  My schedule gets messed up all on its own without me helping it.  My routine is blocking me as well.  Breakfast - homeschool - lunch - homeschool (granted much of this homeschool time is arguing with my kid to do his work) - dinner & dishes - then it's too late.  So I resign myself to online gaming and Facebooking and deviantARTing.  Maybe watching a show or two.  And no art gets done.  I feel very frustrated by this and I need time to myself to do the art.  When I do my art, I am skipping preparing meals or dishes, etc.  But I am so happy.  I feel accomplished.  Maybe I should just tell everyone to use plasticware and paper plates for a week.  Forever.

So, I've had this Gel Medium forever and am thinking of more uses for it.  I think I can extend my paints and add a bit of translucency to them.  And then I found this excellent tutorial for using them to make acrylic sprays.  They're permanent, not water soluble like the Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  So this is brilliant.  I'm quite against spending too much money on art supplies.  Especially if it is something you can make yourself.  I made myself some glimmer mist sprays and I have an ink sprayer from my printer overflow.  Waste not and all.  I cannot justify spending $10 on a 2 oz bottle of pigment mixed with water.  Nope.  I guess, it is convenient and premixed colors and all that, but I'm poor and cannot afford fancy art supplies.  I did spend my Christmas money on a Cuttlebug with accessories, but that was a splurge.  And it has been useful.  I can squish things in it!  Who doesn't want to squish things?  ;D  (note to self: squish flowers in it onto paper to make pretty stains)  Well, without further ado, here is the video tutorial I watched, which is also relevant to art journaling.  ImperfectImpulses has more art journaling videos and he demonstrates the stencil and negative print to reduce waste and have more premades readied for scraps or whatever. I subscribed to his channel.  Hopefully, I'll someday get a video camera and have something worth subscribing to as well.  Goals.

Gillian Tries DIY - Gesso

I've been watching several art journaling videos lately and notice they all have one thing in common, gesso.  Gesso is expensive, so I don't own any.  I had some once when I was stretching my own canvases.  So, I wanted to find a cheaper, do-it-yourself option.  At least that will suffice for my purposes.  Adding texture and sealing paper to prep for painting and layering.  I might also like to attempt some medium gel transfers and creating molding/modeling paste.

I found a few different recipes, and they were all basically the same.  Some gritty material like baby powder/talc, Plaster of Paris or baking soda, white glue, water.  Some added acrylic or latex paint from the hardware store.  Variations of these can work to make modeling paste or Modge Podge.

Here's the recipe I whipped up for my batch.  1 part baking soda, then added 1 part glue.  Stir until incorporated into a smooth paste.  1/2 part acrylic paint, stir. 1part water (little at a time til you get the consistency you want).  My final product has the consistency of a slightly melted milkshake.  Now, I just need to test it out.

To make the Modge Podge, it is only the 1 part glue to 1 part water ratio.  For the modeling paste, you keep adding more baking soda to the gesso until it is the texture you want.

Apparently, you can make a clear gesso using cornstarch instead of baking soda. And add glue and water.  It will appear cloudy, but the glue dries clear.  Kind of similar to a decoupage paste.  Which I make out of flour and water for paper mache.  They all have the same basic properties.

Reviewing costs, baking soda $2/box, school glue $1/bottle, water free, acrylic paint $3 tube.  So, about $6 total, out of stuff I already had around the house.  Store bought gesso $8-10/8 oz (DickBlick).  Of course, for a more professional grade, I'd prefer to buy the manufactured gesso.  But since I'm just using this for small projects and I can make just what I need out of what I already have on hand, I don't mind it being poorer quality.  Anyways, I can make a lot more for much cheaper.  I think for better quality, I'd get the Plaster of Paris.  

I've been doing several tests on different materials.  Various paper I'd likely use.  And even on a magnet.  You know, those crappy ones that come with the phonebook or other businesses you don't care about.  I like to repurpose them.  Sometimes, peel the vinyl off, it's still sticky and put a picture on it.  Insta-grandparent gift.  Well, I have several of these sheet magnet things, so I slapped some homemade gesso on it.  Five coats of it!  And you can still see the print.  Perhaps the mix needs more white added to it.  Or better to use the plaster than the baking soda.  Everything else I gesso'd, even the plastic tub I was mixing it in, only needed 3 coats for the best texture and smoothness.

I wrote and painted on the samples to see how they held up.  The results were mostly the same.  On the white cardstock, I could see how not white this stuff was.  I added more white paint to the mix.  I think I'll need to get a big thing of white from the hardware store before I make much more of this.  It is more off a yellowish off white color in comparison to the white paper.  The pencil writes rough, but blends out really nicely.  The sharpie fine point wrote best on the 3 coats than 1 or 2.  The craft paint goes on smoothly, as does the acrylic from the tube.  And the sharpie marker was just fine, though I spritzed it with my DIY Glimmer Mist and it bled the marker a bit.  But that went on nicely as well.

I turned the paper over and no bleed through.  You can just see the pen on 1st coat and on 2nd.  But on the 3rd coat, nothing bleeds.  The paper does wrinkle a tad.  Ironing might help.  I wouldn't want to scratch up my iron, so make sure to protect yours from the rough texture if you do.  The papers were still flexible, so I think this will work well in an art journal.  Which is my next project.  I've already started on the book.  I'll go into more detail in the next post.

So, in conclusion.  This seems like a good, cheap and quick way to make a textured paintable and writable surface with supplies you probably have already.  It is more affordable than gesso, but for professional paintings, I'd probably go with the store bought kind.  As I do not know the archival quality and if it will hold up years from now.  I have a painting on a wood panel that I varnished with the same varnish we use for everything else and it has no yellowed.  Big disappointment.  So, I'm actually glad I never sold that piece.  There is a reason you buy art supplies from an art store and hardware supplies from a hardware store.  They are different formulas for different applications.  I know this will suit my needs, but otherwise, I'd buy the real stuff (by the gallon, it will last forever).

Update!  A few days (or so) later, I had kept my baking soda based gesso in an airtight jar, but it has fizzed up to the consistency of puff paint.  

I added in a bit more glue.  And now glue, acrylic paint, water and baby powder to bring back a thin pancake batter mix.  New conclusion...  This is a quick fix.  Mix what you need.  Buy the real stuff as soon as you can.  ;P

Free Comic Book Day & Hooley's Hope

It was an excessively busy weekend this past few days.  Besides going to Free Comic Book Day, I spent all weekend prepping for the Bake Sale fundraiser for Kevin's young cousin.  Hooley's Hope is the benefit campaign the family is running to help with medical expenses and transportation to facilities in Indianapolis.

Free Comic Books Day

We went to Amazing Fantasy Comics in Crown Point, IN to check out Free Comic Book day.  I had one specific comic I wanted, Doctor Who!  Of course.  I got that and a few more.  We could get 8 each, but I chose 5 and 5 for Chase.  The pickings had gotten slim by the time we got there, it was the afternoon.  Their Facebook page posted the morning rush.  I'm glad we didn't come when it is too busy, not particularly fond of crowds.

We browsed around a bit and Chase found a few more books he wanted, Sonic, Skylanders, and a Peanuts collection.  He loves those.  We didn't have much for spending money.  I want to get him some poster sized sleeves for his Heroclix maps.  And I keep ogling the art section and supplies.  They also carry some art collection books.  Makes me wish I had a coffee table.

Chase spent his allowance on some great books!

Chase did some reading on the ride home.  Peanuts are one of his favorites since he had won some collections in the Halloween Comicfest Costume Contest.  He's read them many times and happily spent half of his allowance money on this one book.  The collection is more expensive, but it's something he'll enjoy for many years.  He loves to read.  I'm glad he's really into comics, I loved them growing up and so did Kevin.  Awesome to have something to share with him like that.

I'm looking forward to a few new releases this year.  Invader Zim!!!!!  And a Tank Girl revisitation with Jamie Hewlett & Alan Martin!!!!  (you can tell my excitement by the qty of exclamations)  I had Tank Girl collections when I was in high school, I tried to pick up the new (2000's) comic later on, but it was garbage.  Jamie Hewlett is one of the greatest artistic influences on me and I love Tank Girl so hard.

I just returned Scott's Squee book after 10 years of extended borrowing.  Which I wrote a post about how I apologized for that, An Apology For Scott.  I love The Zim TV show and recently introduced it to my son.  So he's excited, too.  Doing a happy dance.  Now sing me the doom song!

Buckaroo Banzai

This was a freebie given to my comic store from Moonstone, not actually a FCBD issue.  I was disappointed by this title.

I was pretty excited when I found Buckaroo Bonzai.  But it really wasn't what I'd hoped for.  The writing and art are both shoddy.  The story is complete nonsense.  I loved the movie so much, really a favorite.  Granted, I didn't read issue #1, but this was a glimpse into how awful it was.  I know I shouldn't count on things I love to be done well when reimagined into a different medium.  However, I had once read a book (don't think it was an adaptation) of the movie and it was a pretty decent book.  True to the movie.  The characters and zany spontaneity were the charm of the cult classic and both were lacking in this comic by Moonstone.  It wasn't part of the Free Comic Book Day annual event, instead, it was from the publisher.  I guess they just had to give it away.

Besides being utter nonsense, Penny was a rapidly aging idiot in love with a rapidly aging Buckaroo clone that had the vocabulary of a goldfish.  They fucked and made a baby while playing tag.  She gives birth right before dying and real Buckaroo looks on upon their tombstones.  In the beginning, Buckaroo's crew are using their bus as bait for the Lectroids, and covering grenades in chocolate syrup and ice cream.  They abandon ship with a decapitated talking head bearing an impressive mustache.  The Lectroids go to eat the grenades, of course.  Reno takes a poison stinger in the butt.  I'm here guessing that Penny is a clone because Buckaroo tells her that Penny was afraid of the dark too.  So, I am guessing it is real Penny who shoots the disembodied head in the head.

What I know of Moonstone seems to be their series are like B movies.  I enjoyed the Halloween free comics we got from them, but they were definitely B comics.  

Secret Wars #0 & Free Preview

These were a bunch of mini-stories set in a period I am unfamiliar with.  So I have no bearings.  But the art and story arc were interesting.  #0 was set in an alternate universe on the brink of its end.  All of the universes were ending and a group of kids, descendants of the original Fantastic Four are about to board a life pod when alternate universes have come together to battle for the limited space.  The previews book was  more confusing, since I haven't really read any Marvel comics since the early 90's maybe....  Of course, I've watched the movies and I already knew the characters and some of their backstories, etc.  But I haven't been following along.  I was never able to really afford a comic collection and have just come across some intermittently.  I prefer to start a story from the beginning, so as to not miss what on Earth is going on.  And this case, Earths.

There's Titans from Attack on Titan manga.  Everyone is fighting everyone in Battleworld.  Who is friend or foe and what is the difference between a hero and a villain.  The lines are all crossed, dotted and zig zagged.  I'm lost, but maybe that's the point.  But definitely sounds like a cool story arc.  

I haven't read all the comics yet, I'm saving the Doctor Who one for last.  I've read some digital Doctor Who comics I bought in a Humble Bundle (I have a Humble Bundle book addiction).  I actually have quite the collection of digital comics to read!

Hooley's Hope

Andrew Hooley is Kevin's cousin's 14 year old son.  Instead of playing Little League and asking girls to school dances or whatever teenagers are worrying about, he had been on dialysis and now has gotten a kidney transplant.  It's hard enough to think of an adult going through this, but a child, it's just heartbreaking.  He should be having fun and getting into trouble like all the other kids his age.  He's had a life of hospital visits and needles prodding him.  Finally, last week, he got the donor call and was whisked off to surgery.  The surgery was a success, but the recovery rough.  He was in the ICU getting blood transfusions and oxygen afterwards.  He is back home now and eating normally.

Our entire town came together to coordinate fundraising for Andrew,  I participated in the bake sale which was hosted at the Shelby Fire Department along with a bike-a-thon.  The bake sale raised $315, amazing since each item was priced under $4.  They were selling t-shirts and wrist bands and held 2 raffles.  But the real stars of the fundraiser were the kids.  

The Police and Firemen had blocked off a square around the Library/Post Office (we live in a very small town) and diverted traffic around.  There was a firetruck posted at every corner with first aid kits and drink stations along the route.  Those kids raised a lot of money.  One kid rose over $1000!  Some brought in $700-$800.  There were probably a good 30+ riders, big and small.  Even a few adults.

It was a lot of work getting all the baking done, helping Kevin's Grandmother and manning the station.  I was hurting afterwards.  I really need a better rolling pin.  I made some great recipes I found through lists and Pinterest.  Cake Blondies, Apple Roses, Banana Bread in a Jar, and just box mixes with adding some different twist to it.  I didn't take any pictures, I forgot my camera or even cell phone and had been too busy getting it together to bother taking pics.  I tried making the packaging as presentable as possible.  I used my Cuttlebug to emboss coffee filters as paper wrappers and lid toppers for the jars.  It really looked great.

Though this was a bit of a learning experience, as it was the first real bake sale I'd ever participated in.  So many things sold that were just in sandwich bags or on a paper plate covered in foil.  I was trying to set mine up like a chocolate shop.  I was constantly fronting the tables, rearranging things to get the best visibility.  I think that part really helped.  We went from 3 tables worth of a spread down to just over half of one table.  For a fundraising bake sale, I probably won't spend as much time on the packaging as I would if it were just a regular sale.  And now I know what sells the best.  Anything chocolate, pies and cupcakes.

Chase is reading Kevin's D&D books.

The Player's Handbook and other gaming guides
are his favorite genre of books!

I actually enjoyed the cooking and presentation.  And everyone loved the Banana Bread jars.  I had all these little jars from fruit we bought at the grocery store.  We'd kept them, we even have more in boxes, waiting to find a use for them.  And they were perfect.  The jars were 10 oz and the bread was baked right in them.

We sold everything so cheap because we wanted more money spent on the sponsoring and there were many other things for people to buy.  I was in charge of all the pricing and organization.  And I made everyone keep the chocolate out of the sun!  Though melty chocolate is pretty yummy.

When we went to the grocery store this week, we wore our Hooley's Hope merchandise, hoping to spread the word.  No one asked us about the wristbands or Chase's shirt.  Oh well.  I'm trying to spread the word here, at least.  Several events are coming up.  They have a car show, a golfing event and a turkey shoot coming up later this month.  Andrew has to go to physical therapy 3 days a week in Indianapolis, which is a 2 hour drive.  I don't know if they'll be getting a hotel or temporary apartments down there or something to try to alleviate the transportation costs.  But they have 4 or 5 kids and that cannot be easy.  Also, it's not 3 days in a row, but more like every other day.  So it's not like they can just make one trip, stay the weekend then come right back.

Hooley's Hope Fundraising Campaign for Andrew Hooley.

If anyone can contribute, even if you can't come down to an event, the information for donations is on their website.  HooleysHope.com  Please, share this, every little bit can help.

Hooley's Hope

Art on walls or art on....

Your nails!

A friend of mine is an independent consultant for Jamberry Nails, and I'm super excited to announce that we will be collaborating to bring my art onto your nails.  I have several designs planned already.  But first, my latest painting "She is Made of Stars", which is full of gorgeous purples and a touch of gold.

A little about Jamberry.  It's founded by three sisters who came up with these long lasting, affordable, stylish nail wrap.  Geri has been a consultant for awhile now and can tell you more.  I haven't tried them yet, but I'm eager to see how my nails will look.  Basically, they are heat set nails, a blow dryer can work.  And they can last for weeks and have beautiful designs.

I've seen a lot of people whose nail wraps mix & match coordinates.  This set would go great with golds and black or purple based nails.  Even add trims, like adhesive gems.  What I think would be best, apply the wrap, then dot along or accent the art with their Copper Penny nail lacquer.  Or their Stardust Top Coat could give a glimmery look, like little stars.

For custom art orders, we may need to take a preorder.  Geri will be handling the sales, contact her on her Facebook page for ordering information.

Mother's Day is coming up, it takes 7-10 days to order, but mom's will still love it.  It is Teacher Appreciation Week, what better way to show your teachers they're doing a great job?  Better than an apple!  Perfect gifts for Mom or yourself or your favorite teacher.  There are actually enough wraps to share a sheet.  Mother and daughter matching manicure!

For Teacher Appreciation Week, Teachers Pay Teachers is hosting a site wide sale.  My items will be 20% on May 5th & 6th.  I have a set of digital papers which are excellent for scrapbooking as well as teacher resources.  I've shared that in my homeschool blog, along with a walkthrough of the making of process.  Velveteen Digital Paper Pack.  The homeschool blog is where I primarily post about my TpT merchandise, but the more art related ones I may give a mention here.  This blog will be about everything I do.  I really want to tie everything together for once.  My internet presence is all over the place!  I still have a lot of sprucing up to do here, but I'll be incorporating everything here.  My personal blog is out of date and unkempt.  So, ignore that ;D

Geri White - Jamberry Nail Consultant

An Apology for Scott

I borrowed Scott's book for 10 years.  I found Squee stashed away in a box since I moved from my old apartment.  I didn't have any way to return it to him before I had moved and now, ten years have gone by!  So naturally, I wanted to do something special.  An apology card seemed a grand idea.  Scott loves origami, so an adeptly folded card, intricately paper cut seemed like the perfect idea.

I took progress pictures.  I think it took me close to a week start to finish, carefully cutting out these little curvy swirls and details.  By far, the most elaborate paper cutting I have ever done.  I drew the design in pencil on the back side of the paper, gave it a unique shape by folding it on the diagonal.

Most of the time spent was on the cutting.  I think that was day 2 or 3 pictured above.   Day 1 it just sat there being decided how to fold it and all.  

After all the paper cutting was done, then embellishments were added.  I thought I was going to use my Cuttlebug folder, but decided on using this drain filter mesh instead.  I smashed some cardboard in between and ran the foiled embellishment through my Cuttlebug.  I cut an oval by tracing the bottom of my glue bottle, then made a slightly wider template on cardboard.  It is the same outline shape as on the folded card.  I covered some card stock with aluminum foil tape and cut out my shape.  The "S" is hand drawn with silver gel pen on black card stock. 

Layered the pieces to see how they would look.  The oval is cut from cardstock covered in aluminum foil tape.

Mesh sock texture sheet and Cuttlebug plates A, 2 B's and rubber mat.

Now my oval has a nifty chainmail looking texture.

Instead of erasing all my pencil lines, since I was afraid of tearing all my hard work, I sponged on some metallic silver paint.  I used a spare sheet of black cardstock to stencil on the design, rather than on scrap paper.  It gave a wonderful effect, which I used for my Patreon rewards for my Patrons.  I have cut that sheet into ATC sized to be used for future arty projects.

While the paint dried, I cut out a scrap piece of my DCWV Stardust Paper Stack to fit in the border of the inner part of the card, added some contrast by first writing in black fine line sharpie, then going over in silver gel pen.

Finally, I glued everything together and admired my handiwork before putting in the bubble envelope along with his package.  I threw in some little origami stars I made with thin scraps of paper in various colors.  They're fun to make and super easy.  I'll have to make a quickie tutorial some time.