Friday, February 28, 2014

Windows Of My Heart

     Friday and time to turn the calendar page to March. Oh I can only hope for some Spring-like temps this month.  It's also Paint Party time -yay!!!

   Still working on (albeit slowly) my Draw Your Awesome Life and Draw Your Awesome Year  online classes (links  and badges at right sidebar). I was looking to see where I left off at the Awesome Life class and realized I never shared  some lessons I had done in January. So here they are.

  For lessons 4 and 5 we were to find an interesting leaf and branch to sketch and practice with and I chose these from the backyard.

                                                                      first  sketch

                                  using a technique for shading with only a marker and water brush


                                          practicing various drawing techniques with one subject

   and more techniques for varying sketches -note- the water colors were before I had purchased the Peerless colors which are SO much more vibrant!

  Those of you who stopped by last week know I shared my enthusiasm for a tutorial  YouTube video Serena Barton shared on her blog recently. Curb your enthusiasm? Not me! If you didn't check it out, go here for the links. I have two more canvases to share this week :)

  This is how the canvas started:

                                                   just  squares of paper scraps in my stash


   And finished:


                                                    Seek Within      (6" x 8" canvas board)

Reinkers, acrylic glazing medium, blue acrylic paint, card stock stencil, door image (Paper Whimsy), recycled dryer sheet, dress pattern tissue paper, typed words, pencil, black ink pad.

  the second canvas base:







  And the finished  canvas:

                                             My Heart Has a Window    ( 6" x 8" canvas board)


Reinkers, glazing medium, green/ green black acrylic paints, Victorian pattern wall stencil, window image and girl image (Paper Whimsy), found words, recycled dryer sheet, black ink pad.

 What I love most about creating these is just laying down the various papers,  seeing the transformation and  really just playing with mixes of reinkers and glaze directly on the substrate for some really good results. I either start with a word/ sentiment or an image and go from there.  BTW, Serena kindly took the time to send me a note and share my work on her blog. She also heartily agreed that if you create something inspired by her videos or her book or classes to contact her and let her know.  I so appreciate the time she takes with everyone and the fact that she has given me a way to put my  art and spirit into these projects.

  Who have you learned from in the world of art lately that really moves you to create and bring out your true authentic style? And have you told them and shared with them?

  Linking to Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, and Creative Every Day.

 Thank you all for your comments as always (I cannot thank someone personally though if the setting is a "do not reply") .

           " Your  every new journey is your new window opening to new ideas."   Mehmet Murat Ildan

 




  







42 comments:

  1. Wonderful sketches and a great idea for practice! The canvas looks fantastic! :)

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  2. I love all the different drawings in your sketchbook, and the paintings are awesome. I really like the see-through effect in the first one!

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  3. Ohhh pretty canvas backgrounds! Thanks for the link on those. Lovely leaves too. They're really pretty and colorful.

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  4. I love all your awesome work this week! Those leaf paintings are just so good!

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  5. what fantastic canvases and I adore your little watercolor journal paintings...
    happy weekend Linda!

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  6. I love all of your beautiful art Linda!

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  7. I love your canvases - I am a lover of paper and love to collage images as well as create backgrounds. Your drawings are lovely - it's good to take courses that give you focus and build up your skills.

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  8. Smashing canvases and I love your beautiful drawings. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. Dear Linda, beautiful creations as usual. To be honest lots of artists from 'blogland' are great inspiration for me and also the place where I live (Scotland), people who I met or know and my memories. It is so great that we all can express and share it. Big hugs to you!!!!

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  10. Your first drawing is so interesting, like a skeleton leaf, and I think the development of the drawings into the paintings is impressive. Very pleasant to look at. Your two canvases are so imaginative and beautiful. Lovely work.

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  11. Love how all your layers came together. Really nice work! Happy PPF!!

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  12. Linda I love the draw your life leaves...and I can't wait to watch Serenas video because I love how your canvases turned out....truly beautiful! I try to tell people when they inspire me....

    Hugs Giggles

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  13. Seek Within and My Heart has a Window are just totally awesome. Excellent work Linda. Love it. I like that you are taking courses. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you.

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  14. Beautiful and creative work!!!

    Smiles, Saskia :)

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  15. Your one subject watercolor pieces have come out so well. The fall leaf is my favorite. Both the canvases are beautiful, I especially love the second one.
    Happy PPF
    Susan

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  16. Lovely drawings from nature and a great glimpse inside your sketchooks.
    The finished canvas are beautiful. Especially the door. It imysterious yet inviting

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  17. nice choice of branches, you did a good job with them and the gorgeous canvasses too.

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  18. Love the botanical sketches and canvas piece! Very beautiful!

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  19. Linda these pieces are really so lovely, I can see how much you enjoyed doing them! Lots of wonderful creations here as always!
    Blessings
    Kat

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  20. Yes, very pretty leaves, i like it!

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  21. I really love your leaves! Beautiful work!

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  22. I love your canvases Linda! And I just watched a tutorial with Serena! She is great teacher I think, great of you to acknowledge her credit!
    And thank you for visiting my blog :-)
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Ilona

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  23. I like all your pieces, but I'm especially impressed by your leaf studies this week. Blessings!

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  24. Amazing and richly colored canvases, Linda. Thanks for showing us the layers of papers that you used to paint on. Beautiful results.

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  25. your canvases are beautiful and colorful, and i love the way you took a few items and painted them in so many different ways! great job! xo

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  26. Loving the sketches and the canvases. The glazing gives the canvas a lot of layers.

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  27. Love the sketches and the canvases. The glaze gives the canvases a lot of depth.

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  28. I am LOVING all your artworks!! 'My heart has a window' is particularly adorable. I will be checking out those links, thank you for sharing :)

    xx

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  29. Great to share your journal work and I do LOVE your canvases very much!

    I will be checking out the video for sure!!!

    Karen x

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  30. Lots of interesting art here. I will check out the YouTube tutorial.

    Happy PPF!

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  31. Great life like sketches and other wonderful creations ~ Beautiful post ~ Happy Weekend to you ~ xxx

    artmusedog and carol
    www.acreativeharbor.com

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  32. Love to see how your work develops. My 'art lesson is a quote "there are no bad paintings, just unfinished work"...if only I knew who said it.

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  33. I really love your doodles in the journals...LOVE seeing processes at work. I'm learning collage work and your pieces are inspiring! Thanks for sharing :)

    Happy Paint Party Friday!
    I'm late...Happy Saturday!
    Tam

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  34. Yeah....leaves are a wonderfully inspired start to a painting

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  35. I really like your work and you for sharing your art studies with us. Always learning something new here, thanks.

    Annabelle : )

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  36. Great artwork! I love the leaves! It's amazing how you can do so many different styles from one leave!

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  37. Wow Linda these are all fabulous. You are doing a great job on the leaves. My favorite today is your "My heart has a window" Stunning
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  38. Great post! Especially I like your leaves sketches ... interesting and wonderful! Your two canvas are really gorgeous!
    Thank you for visiting my blog!
    Have a wonderful day!

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  39. Really nice work this week Linda. I like the leaf studies especially the monochrome ones in watercolor wash. Your canvasses are lovely-i do like mixed media pieces they always look so interesting to make and look at. X

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  40. Wow, that final canvas is just absolutely amazing! I love the deep, rich color and love how your central figure is off to the right. I have to check that out - I never did last time and I meant to. Thank you! xoxo

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  41. What a wonderful transformation from beginning to end! I love the depth of the layers!

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!