Sunday Mornings and More

  A few posts ago I mentioned a free five week class being generously offered by Mindy Lacefield.  I believe you can still sign up if you're interested. These classes are a way to combine faith and art, and each week there is a video along with a new journal page prompt. For this past Sunday, our first, the project was a "Prayer Portrait".  I can't begin to tell you all I learned in just this one video. I'd never done a face painting like this. Nor would I ever have thought about the colors and technique used for shading. But I dove in and am thrilled with the way my page turned out! Here are two versions of the same page. I added the words digitally. These were both going through my head as I painted my girl.

 The stencil in the background is  Balzer Designs, recently purchased and used for the first time on this page. Acrylics were used here but now I am dying to try out the same techniques using oil pastels!

 The next project I want to share involves continuing practice with abstract art and using my deli paper prints.
It started like this:

  And here are some tips I wanted to pass along in regards to using the deli paper:
  When using a punch to cut shapes of deli paper, first layer a plain sheet of paper (like printer paper) behind it and punch thru both layers. This prevents tearing along the edges (you can see a few here although it didn't bother me for this project, and you can clearly tell which ones had a paper under the deli paper). Save those plain paper shapes for another project.
  Gluing deli paper: I used Collage Pauge Matte. What ever your glue preference you want a glue that's very thin so the deli paper doesn't tear.

 This is my completed canvas:

                                                     Infinite Possibilities  ( 10" x 8")


  There are layers and layers of acrylic paints and glazes. The circles were outlined with India ink after the first yellow layer of paint. Oil pastel was then used after the final layer of paint. I penciled in " the world's possibilities are infinite".

  One more note about Sunday. Last Sunday afternoon I went to a drumming/ yankadi/ makru workshop. I've been going to a drumming circle held the first Wed. each month and really enjoying it. The leader and teacher Moe mentioned this workshop. I didn't sign up immediately but it kept coming to mind and my intuition kept telling me to just do it. So I went after looking at these two You Tube videos:

  It was a small class of 11 of us different ages (23-65) and let me tell you that I LOVED it even though I worked my a** off trying to keep up with two hours of dance and choreography!! The instructor teaches all over the US, including at the local university our son went to. She often goes to Guina and other  West African counties to learn as much as she can about the culture and traditional dance rituals. (Mind you, I never had any kind of dance class in my life). It was a fabulous workout. I was half afraid I wouldn't be able to get out of bed the next AM, but aside from some muscle tenderness here and there I was good to go :) I only wish there were regular classes like these to whip me into shape and have fun at the same time. Despite hubby not getting it -at all- I did it for myself and am ever so glad I did. Perhaps age is making me a bit more fearless? How about you?

 I am linking to the Art Journal Journey challenge blog hosted by froebelsternchen Susi for this month's challenge "what goes around comes around-circles".  Also linking to Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day and Creative Every Day.

 This Monday is our Memorial Day holiday here in the US, and besides having a long weekend and picnics it is especially a time to remember and honor those who gave their lives for our safety and freedom. Hear my prayers.

   " The journey between what you once were and who you are becoming is where the dance of life really takes place." Barbara DeAngelis