Creative Blog Hop

Hello My Lovelies

I'm here with a slightly different post today. I've been asked, very kindly, to participate in a Creative Blog Hop by my lovely friend and fellow blogger Neet Hickson. As well as having the warmest, biggest heart that I know, she is one heck of a crafter - she teaches it, she demos for other companies at craft shows and she's been published in a variety of craft magazines. She has even looked after a local craft group for several years. Where she finds the energy I haven't a clue. She is a wonderful friend with a terrific sense of humour. I love her to bits.

Back to the challenge. Last Monday, Neet posted her answers to four questions. She then nominated little old me, to keep the chain going. And as her nominee, one week later, it's my turn to answer the same four questions.

So here goes...

--------------------------------------

What am I working on now?

At the moment, other than the occasional card here and there, I’m mostly sketching and doodling. I love the playful, whimsical nature of the drawings I’m doing in my (sort of) art journal. And because I’m purposefully not sharing them, they don’t have to be very good or original. I can sit in front of the TV or in a waiting room and just scribble away without a care. There are lots of artists I currently admire out there and I’m learning by copying. What will hopefully emerge one day will be a hybrid version of them all. There’s a wonderful book on this method for mastering art, called “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon which I highly recommend. 

How does my work differ from others in my genre?

I don’t think it does. I haven’t found my oeuvre yet. I dabble in all sorts of styles. I love making stuff in a range from clean & graphic to layered, shabby chic. However, that said, after a lifetime of opting for conservative colour schemes, I’m discovering I actually love bold, bright palettes. In my art, in my clothes, in our home - I’m slowly replacing all the safe neutral tones with a rainbow of colour and I can’t begin to tell you how much more fun it is. I think the future might see me differing through my use of a multi colour palette and maybe the incorporation of more doodles. Ask me this question again in a year’s time lol. 

Why do I create what I do? 

Very good question and one that has been chewed over by greater minds than mine through the annals of history. The simplest and easiest answer as to why I personally create is because it brings me joy. I’m happy when I create. I could dig deeper and come up with a profound answer. But what I know is that when a certain amount of time has gone by and I haven’t done something creative, I miss it. No, more than that. I crave it. It becomes like an itch I need to scratch. I don’t question it. I go with the flow and give in to it. 

How does my creative process work?

Crikey, I bet this question has stumped a few people. Or am I alone here in scratching my head? If I have a creative process, this is the first time I’ve thought about it. I suppose it starts with seeing something which inspires me or triggers off an idea. It could be something I saw on a blog, or photographed on my travels or popped into my head whilst taking a bath. 

Once inspired, I dig out all the tools and materials I think I’ll need and just begin. I have the finished vision of it in my mind’s eye from the start but it tends to change as I create. I’m fairly methodical and I’m usually thinking about design principles and colour theory as I go. 

When I’m finished I instantly find fault with whatever I’ve done. Thankfully, these days I know I’m not alone and that the nasty critical voice in my head is normal. It’s never going away but I do have better strategies for dealing with it. 

My ritual is to tidy away any mess I’ve made and put the piece I’ve created away - be it a drawing or a card. If I look at it again the next day, after having slept, I generally view it with a less critical eye. In fact, I have a poster in my room which says “Done is better than perfect”. Words I need to remind myself of frequently.

--------------------------------------

And there you have it. How creativity fits into my life right at the moment. A strange time to be answering these questions as I'm only just coming out of a creative ebb. It'll be interesting to read my answers back to myself a year from now and see if I still agree with what I wrote.

In the meantime, that itch has started again and I need to go take care of it :)

Channelling Hattie Stewart

Hello there Dear-hearts

I'm back with a card! I know!!!! Been a while hasn't it?

As I've mentioned before in a previous post, I've been drawing and doodling away in my sketchbook of recent. Nothing fancy and worth sharing on here but it's fun and relaxing. Hence why, until now, my blog has been quiet.

Besides, Summer is drawing to a close and nights are closing in. When it's colder and darker outside, I'll be found indoors again making stuff.

In my online absence, I've discovered and developed an art crush on a professional doodler, based in London, one Hattie Stewart. Her glorious portfolio looks rather similar to that of an art journaler, don't you think? She has a beautiful distinctive, colourful style which I'm completely compelled and inspired by.

(Taken from Hattie Stewart's Tumblr)

Her work is deceptively simple. I've tried my hand at covering magazine covers in Hattie's style and it's certainly no walk in the park. It's a sweaty jog, tripping up on loose stones and flailing as you fall headfirst into a muddy puddle. That said, it's great fun and intensely satisfying.

My own pitiful attempts have definitely been a learning curve and I don't have any examples worthy of sharing (yet?)

So I made a card instead!!!!

I took a piece of yellow card and using a purple Posca pen, covered it in one of Hattie's doodle styles. I cut the resulting design out with a die, backed it onto white card and along with a stamped sentiment, added foam mounts and attached to a purple background card.

When I can make something which incorporates both art and design, I am truly a happy and most satisfied bunny.

Wish me luck, in a few hours, I have to trick the cat into it's carrier and drag it off to the vets. It's a battle of wills and cunning and one of us normally has a sharp claw sunk in deep. Mark my words, there will be some hardcore sulking demonstrated later on when we return.

Doodling & the Talents of Friends

I've been doodling again. I wasn't sure whether to post the result or not as it's rougher than a bear's backside. It was something I idled away at whilst curled up on the sofa at nights, normally in front of a TV show or film.

In real life, it's quite a small page and the imperfections don't show up as bad. The moment I scanned it and saw it on screen, it's like every error had a flashing red arrow pointing at it. And yes, I feel just as vulnerable as everyone else who shares their stuff online, especially when it's a crappy play project for fun.

But heck, I just wanted to scribble away and produce something colourful. I stumbled when I realised the black pen I was using wasn't a water resistant one which meant the best way to add colour was to use pencils.

I dug out my Spectrum Noirs and soon found out how easy it was to cripple the carpal tunnel in my wrist! They produced a lovely rich colour but boy did I have to press down hard and keep going over until I had as smooth a colour as I could. I think you can tell where I gave up.

Next time, I'll use the correct black marker and use ink or watercolour.

In the meantime, I have much better artwork to share with you. My lovely friend Richard Pettitt now has a website up - check it out here - and he's taking commissions for pet portraits.

(Taken from Richards Web Page)

I have to say I love this particular one. The evil glowing eyes are mesmerising.

Anyway, although I knew he could draw dogs, I commissioned him to do a portrait for Nick & I of our furry housemate, Basil. And this week we received it. It's something I never thought to have done. It always struck me as a bit too sentimental and nauseating to have a pet portrait. But you know what? I should slap myself hard for ever having that thought. There's something utterly soul-lifting about having an artist draw an animal you live, love and care for.

Now I don't have the finished piece to share, it's too precious to put under the scanner and I'm keeping it pristine until it is framed.

But.....

I can share the photo Richard sent over whilst he was in the middle of working on it.

When we saw this, we went batcrap crazy over it. Photos of pets bring you wonderful memories but the experience and emotion you feel over a piece of art is beyond my humble means of expression. I have no words to do it justice.

Nick & I have had quite a few adventures and firsts this year. This has to be one of the highlights. So, so very happy with it.

Ironically, the day it arrived was the same day as a trip, for sir, to the vets, to have his annual injections. Two days later, he is only just forgiving us. Ever seen a cat sulk? His majesty can out-diva both of us.

And that's saying something

Zigzag Card

I trotted off to a craft stamping group yesterday and was surprised to hear it's been around six months since I last attended. I know I went into hiding at the end of last year but hadn't realised it had been quite that long. Time flies way too quickly as I age.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to craft away with a project set by someone else. There were two different styles of cards for the day but whereas most of the group finished both, I barely even made one. Not even half of one.

By the time I came to pack up and go home, I had cut out the black card pieces and the white ones and completed the tallest doodled design. That was all.

So this morning, I endeavoured to finish it off by doodling the remaining six pieces and sticking all the individual component together, to finish up with a ZigZag card.

It might not have taken so long if I hadn't tried to be so clever, by continuing with my doodling spree of recent. I love that the group's projects allow you to interpret and create in a way of your choosing but this can be my downfall. Whilst others merrily stamped and inked away, finishing both cards, I was sat with pen in hand and straining eyes. When will I learn to take my reading glasses around with me?

However, I'm pleased with how it's turned out and I feel the time invested was worth it.

Right, I will finish up, as I am off to shop for some treats for tomorrow night's dinner (with a detour to the less-than-romantic dump). Nick & I will be celebrating 15 years together. As it lands on a Monday and restaurants more usually close that evening, we are going to dine in. Therefore, goodies need purchasing.

Until next time, hope you enjoy the remains of the weekend.

h&k

Pxx

A Card to Blow the Dust Away

Goodness me, I hadn't realised how long it has been since my last post. I've been juggling lots of balls in the air recently and I've obviously dropped the one labelled 'blog'.

So to make something/anything to blow the dust away from my spot on the internet, I made something quick and easy.

The idea began by cutting a heart shape out of white card with a Spellbinders die. I spent a few relaxing minutes doodling away using a micron pen until I filled up the spaces. I used a couple more Spellbinders dies to cut out the circles to put behind the heart design.

The papers were scraps lying around but I think they are all from Prima. I decided I needed to incorporate some more white card into the design to give visual cohesion with the heart. So I cut a strip for the centre and ran it through a dotted embossing folder before adding a length of dotted washi tape.

And there you have it.

Hopefully it won't be so long until I post again. So until next time.

L&K
Pxx

Acrylic Ink Tutorial With Step by Step Art journal Page

Hi there! Well, some of you have been asking me questions about the acrylic inks I've been using on my recent art journal pages. I'm not quite up to par with creating video tutorials yet, so instead I've photographed a few of the steps involved.

To begin, the acrylic inks I use are FW from Daler Rowney. I like that they are permanent and lightfast, unlike the watercolour inks. Good to know they aren't going to fade anytime soon. Most of the colours are bright and vibrant and a handful even contain shimmer.

Now I prefer my colours to be a bit more muted and towards the neutral scale. I've tolerated the bright colours whilst I've been playing and learning. However, now I've been using them for a while, I'm understanding more how they work.

So, taking the Cool Grey, I begin with shaking the bottle and squeezing the pipette at the top, to suck up the ink. Unscrewing the cap, I take an old saucer and drain the pipette of all it's ink.

I take another colour, in this case, the Purple Lake and add just a few drops of the ink. When working with acrylic inks, you need to mix your colours first, before applying them to the page. You can not apply washes of colour on top of each other (eg If you paint a wash of yellow, then a wash of blue over the top, it will not give you green).

I take a pipette with clear water (though you don't need a pipette, you can use a brush, or stick your finger over a plastic straw), and add a few drops to the mix.

The next step wasn't easy to photograph as you need to work quickly to achieve a smooth finish. It doesn't take long for acrylics to dry, even with water added to them. Stopping to take photos, can lead to streaks.

However, I start by placing a scrap of paper under the page I'm working on (here I'm working on a small A5 size page). Then I take a sponge applicator, dip into the ink from the saucer and apply in even strokes, working from left to right (I'm left handed) top to bottom. This page has not been treated with a coat of gesso beforehand because, in this case, it doesn't need it. However, these inks will work perfectly fine over gesso if you have.

I work all the way to the right of the page and then run the sponge over the still wet page again, to even the distribution of the ink.

Let the page dry (or speed up the process with a heat gun) and decide if you wish to apply a second coat. Let each wash of colour dry first before applying another on top.

Okay, that's the step by step on creating the backgrounds for my pages in acrylic ink. But I thought I'd include the next few steps as I build up the page. There are no hard and fast rules here. This is just one idea of many.

To begin, I've created a doodled frame using Faber Pitt pens and Derwent Coloursoft Pencils. The joy of acrylic ink is that you can draw and paint over them with all sorts of mediums that you already have in your stash.

The next step is to grab some magazines and start building a collage. Be weird, wacky and as surreal as you please. I love this stage, it's where serendipity takes over. As I flick through magazines, I just let instinct take over and grab images I think I can blend together. I arrange the cutout images beforehand and once happy, glue them down.

Adding text is next for me. I'm not interested in the personal journaling side at the moment. I'm all for it and I wholeheartedly endorse creativity and art as a therapeutic process, for those who desire it. But it's not my motivation for art journaling. 

At the moment, I enjoy adding quotes which I find on the internet. Especially those which speak to me about the joys and frustrations of art. 

I draw guidelines lightly with a pencil. Here I've used a ruler to create straight lines but you can draw loose curvy lines too. Then I lightly pencil the words in capital letters. I ink over with a fine black art pen (here I've used a Micron pen) and thicken up some of the letters. The words in white, I drew with a Uniball Signo.

And finally, draw over the collaged image, adding whatever lines and doodles you wish. Just go with the flow. Believe me, this is such a relaxing, meditational process. And seriously addictive. I can find myself up to the wee hours of the morning working on these and I'm a typical lark. I am wrecked at nights and need to hit my bed well before midnight.

I hope this, in some small way, encourages you to try out art journaling. You don't have to use acrylic inks, there are all sorts of ink, paints and techniques to try. I've only scratched the mere surface in my own journals. There are lots more ideas I want to try out and play with.

So until next time
h&k
Pxx

Doodling & Stencilling

I thought I'd play with stencils in my art journal. I bought a book full of them and whilst flicking through the choices, I alighted on the flame design (see what I did there?).

Okay, yes the page is a bit on the bright side. Thankfully, I've only one more in-your-face page to fill. It's a hangover from when I added ink to a few pages to use away from home. Since then, I've learnt how to mix up a more subdued palette. When I've finished the final pre-inked page and I can start using them.

Anyway, for now, I had a lime green surface to work with. Which, in a way, was convenient for a design involving flames. It meant I could freely use red, the complimentary partner for green.

I used a fine black Faber Castell Pitt Pen to draw the flame through the stencil. I then used a small paintbrush to ink the image in with red. I continued with my Pitt Pens, to fill in the shapes with a variety of doodle/tangle designs.

And then, because I had space on the left hand side, I drew/wrote the word Fire and filled that in too. Unfortunately, this resulted in a blocked-in space within the top of the 'F' lettering. So a quick little brainstorm and I added "Art on" (and yes I'm aware that adding art after 'F' is asking for trouble).

Until next time
h&k
Px

Experiments & Swirls

My latest page in my art journal is an experimental one (aren't they all when you're playing with new materials?).

I didn't want to collage so much on this one but I had to add a paper border because there was an ink splotch on the top edge which needed covering up. That aside, I knew from the outset I wanted to just draw and doodle on this page. What I wanted to try out this time, was how painting acrylic ink over itself would work. And though it's not obvious in the above photo, I painted inside the large swirl in a paler blue. And it was a resounding success, a nice even coat, straight over the background.

The words are from a song of my youth. Absolute by Scritti Politti. I have an eclectic taste in music (doesn't everyone?) but my unashamed default is pop.  Scritti is the band I hooked onto as a teen. Their lyrics were like poetry to my young mind. "Where the words are vodka clear, forgetfulness has brought us near". Somehow, I have a feeling that a few more of their lyrics will find themselves onto my pages. If only because they are so evocative of my growing up in the eighties.

Until next time
H&K
Pxx

A Day to Play

After hiding away for the last few months, I actually made it out of the house and attended a craft group today. It was so good to catch up with friends and most unusually, I managed to make something. A rarity at these events as I normally come away with nothing 'cept my stomach filled with tea and biscuits.

In preparation, I'd already painted a handful of backgrounds in my art journal, with acrylic ink before heading out. Which made for light packing, I can tell you. A few magazines, a pair of scissors, some pens and glue. And that's all I needed. Such a change from the norm where I attempt to drag half my craft room along with me.

Loving my acrylic inks, as I learn how to use them. They're a bit on the bright side for my tastes but I've gone and bought some white and grey, so I can have a play at mixing them in to soften the vibrancy.

Nothing so wildly different in the format of this page. It was within my comfort zone but then, it was easier to do so when away from my crafty habitat at home. A bit of collage, a quote and some doodling. And it was unbelievably relaxing to create. Plus  it's incredibly addictive. I highly recommend it. As Cath mentioned in a comment on a recent post, this takes me back to the art of making Altered Books. I used to love dabbling in them. I think art journaling is rekindling my enthusiasm again.

Until next time
h&k
Px

Another Tag, Another Doodle (with a difference)

In my quest to keep playing and experimenting as often as I can, I sat down this afternoon and pulled out one of my pre-cut white tags. Yes, it's been doodled upon once more but this time, ever so slightly differently. This time, I incorporated a stencil. Specifically a leaf stencil by That Special Touch.

I sprayed the tag with a mix of Mister Hueys and Dylusions colours before swiping a couple of the edges with distress stain. I laid the stencil over the top once dried with a heat gun and inked the outline of the stencil. I then, quite hamfistedly added some shading to the leaves and doodle within the gaps. I took a grey Promarker and filled the spaces inside the leaves. I added a frame around the tag with a black marker to add the finishing touch and that is as easy as it gets.

Hope you have all enjoyed your weekend and managed to sneak some creativity in. The visit from the Aunt-in-Law went well, though I politely ducked out after dinner (& yes the lamb was gorgeous) given that she really wanted to chat to Nick & it was all about family members whom I had no clue about.

Off to relax now in a hot bath ( I always seem to be blogging before a bath) with gentle music playing in the background.

Pxx

Colourful Finds and Colourful Tags

I'm much more at home, playing around on tags it seems. I decided to try adding  colour to a doodle this time around. So much easier to try out on a smaller scale than a journal page. And whatever seems to work, I'll go along with.

The word "Equipoise" is a new one on me. It means (if, like me, you didn't know) -  "Equality in distribution, as of weight, relationship, or emotional forces".

I came across it by going onto the internet, finding a word generating site and requesting it come up with one. The general idea, especially for brainstorming/creative purposes is to go with whatever word comes up, whether you like it or not. However, I didn't like it and pressed the generate word button again. In fact I must have seen about 20 random words before this one came up. 

Armed with my word, I wrote the block lettering first and then doodled around them. I added colour with copic markers and well, that's all there is to tell.

Interestingly, I made a little discovery yesterday. As I was putting the empty cans and bottles into the recycling bin at the side of our house, I saw on the ground, that Nick had left a box of card and paper next to the paper bin. It was a bunch of stuff from where he works and in amongst the Amazon packaging (of which Nick & I accrue way too much), there were these...

...100 large red tags. I knew instantly that these needed to be rescued and stored in the proper place i.e. my craft room. They're printed on one side (which can be covered with gesso, collaged paper or paint etc) and blank on the reverse. I'm so used to playing around with white and occasionally manilla tags but never red and I love that they're colourfully different. I mean, wouldn't you rescue them if you saw them too? Of course you would :) 

Right, off to prepare for a visit from an Aunt. One of Nick's, whom I haven't met before. All I've been told about her is that she's an intellectual sort, which is a deliberately nebulous remark. Whether I'm to interpret it as that she's fun to be around or not, I'm unsure. But I'll be on my best behaviour and the house will be cleared of dust, regardless. Besides lamb is on the menu tonight, so I'll be a happy camper. 

Enjoy the weekend folks

Pxx

You Can Draw on Tags Apparently

Yes, you know it's never before occurred to me that I could simply draw on a tag. Don't ask me why but in my head, I see tags as foundations for adding layers of embellishment onto. Paint, stamp, glue and ink, yes. But the idea of just taking a pen to it, never popped into my wee brain.

So I thought I'd give it a go last night. For starters, you don't need an awful lot to crack on. One tag and a handful of black pens of varying thicknesses.

The rest, well, is up to imagination and inspiration. There is, blissfully, no planning involved and no fixed design idea in my head. I drew a rectangle (albeit a bit wonky) Then swirled some lines within it, creating blocks of space and continued to add doodled patterns within these random shapes.

As a final touch, I added grey with a fleximarker within the design and champagne outside the box.

I'm beginning to remember how useful tags are for experimenting with now. I've been struggling with art journals to explore using different materials, when these have been staring me in the face all the time. It's how I explored the pale, shabby chic style before I started to incorporate it into other crafts.

So I've cut myself a pile of tags and will endeavour to decorate them and play and experiment. Their diminutive size is ideal, as is their lack of purpose. And I don't mean that in a derogatory sense. Cards, journals, ATCs, scrapbook pages, they all have an end in mind. But a blank tag just has to be decorated. In any way, with anything. And if it goes really bad, it can easily be chucked in the rubbish bin and made afresh.

Ahhhhhh. Perfect! Px

Doodling to the Rescue

In case you're wondering (and why wouldn't you be), yes I'm still in a creative limbo. That colourful new butterfly hasn't quite emerged yet. I'm playing more with paints, sketching with pens and dabbling in all sorts of arty pastimes. Some I'm sharing, most have been only for my eyes. And I know, one day I'll wake up and a Eureka moment will happen. That next direction will emerge and evolve.

It's just that it's a tad frustrating at the moment. Experimenting and playing is fun but requires a certain degree of patience. I have all these ideas I'm playing with but they haven't yet merged into something desirable yet. It's like I've figured out the ingredients for making a cake but I'm still lacking a recipe. 

A few weeks back, I played around with paints in one of my art journals and admittedly, it started off okay. But then I kept adding layer upon layer of paint to it and it soon careered at an alarming downhill rate. Finally, in an attempt to rescue it, I added a a coat of white distress stain which sealed its gloomy fate. I was left with a spread that had an unexpected and unpleasant glossy sheen to it. I threw my hands up in despair and hid it away from good, decent, respectable people.

However, the other day, I opened up the journal again and came across the spread, which until then, I had blanked from my memory. This time though, I hoped I could revive it. I grabbed a couple of Sharpies markers, opened the windows for ventilation, put on some music and came away with this...

Yes I know you're thinking to yourself..oooh he's done a ********* but you're wrong. In fact, it's a doodle. It's what I used to do when I was a wee lad and I should have been studying for exams. Or how I'd relieve the boredom of a particularly dry history lesson. Most of my teachers at one time or another would tick me off for doodling in the margins of my books. And if you're as old as the hills, like me, you probably had to cover your school books with plain brown paper. These too, temptingly, were a wonderful blank canvas to doodle on. 

And it's how I turned around the blue and white glossy mess of a spread I'd created. By covering it almost entirely in black ink. Not in one go mind. I've picked it up and put it down throughout the day. Adding a little here and there, until it was completely covered. 

Okay so I haven't crafted yet! But the weekend's only just begun. That pile of patterned paper, sat in the corner of my room, may yet get to have that thick layer of gathered dust blown off it.

But for now, night all and sweet dreams.

Pxx