WOYWW and Journal 52

Today I was working on a journal spread for this week's Journal 52 and Inspiration Avenue.

It is also time to share WOYWW at "Stamping Ground".


The first is the background page - in my art room where I paint.

When I collage, I work at the upstairs dining room table.

For Journal 52, last week's theme was "Pathways". (I am creating an altered book for Journal 52, with quotes I've come across).

Three quotes spoke to me on the theme::

Also Linking with  Inspiration Avenue- theme "Using Words to Inspire Your Art"

Collages

While I was working on Inspiration Avenue's theme on words this week, I got into an art creating mood and worked on a few projects.

Words 
This quote from Jonathan Estrin really struck me as one I need to focus on. Too much computer time results in less writing and art time!

     The way we spend our time defines who we are.

October Calendar

Here's my calendar for October, for the challenge at "The Kathryn Wheel". It worked out that the page had Hallowe'en pictures on it already. I just worked around them.

Collage  "Leftovers"

I am trying to complete challenges I have started and this was one - to create a paper love piece on "leftovers". I have so many gelli paper scraps so just had a relaxing time cutting and gluing!

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

This past week I played a little with paintis and created some ATCs.  It felt good to get back to creating art.
I have to make more time for it, that's for sure.

Inspiration Avenue
Inspiration Avenue has returned with a fun challenge for the past week: Favourite Artist. I created a horse in the style of Jose Merello (check here at my post for more info on him and the creating aspect)

ATCs
I created some APCs for a swap that will result in a whole deck of both  flower and bird cards. Here are my queens:

Photography

Here are a few photos from this week:

Linking with:

Inspire Me Monday

Creative Every Day

Imitation is Flattery

The challenge at Inspiration Avenue this week  was "Favourite Artist" - to choose an artist and create a piece in their style. I have many favourite artists - most of the Group of Seven and the Impressionists.
But a new artist for me was highlighted on the Inspiration blog and I fell in love with his work. So this week I explored his work and learned more about him.

Jose Manuel Merello 

Merello was born in Madrid in 1960. He studied the Masters and is mostly self taught. His paintings are very Spanish and full of colour and line. They are so exuberant, full of energy. His paintings are exhibited all over Europe and the States.


Two o my favourite paintings of his are:  (Paintings are from his website - great place to visit!)

"Horses in Red"

"Woman With Hearts"

I decided to do a horse. I started with a collaged background with papers, then painted with 
red/yellow/orange. (Sorry - I did not take pictures along the way - was so involved in a number 
of things)
I tried oil pastels to highlight the horse - didn't work. Then painted and highlighted and just 
played with line and colour.  Although it doesn't match the vision I had, I had fun with it. 
Here is the result:

I plan to go back into it again to lighten the blue and add brighter sections in the horse. Or start 

again  - lol.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

Time once again to share some of the things I have been doing the past week. As we have started a new month, I created a new calendar for April.

April showers bring May flowers - hopefully!

Collages

I created several collages this week, a couple for challenges, and one just for fun using scrap gelli papers.

Inspiration Avenue - the theme this past week was marigolds. I used a gelli paper background and marigolds from some wrapping paper. The quote seemed appropriate:

For the Craft Barn, the theme of travel :

Journal 52

I completed a page for this challenge:

A Day in the Life of ...  I chose instead to show a perfect day., one that includes art and writing and time with loved ones.

I am starting a new challenge with ROW80  and thought this page would fit in well with the writing goals I am setting for this challenge. It starts tomorrow for 80 days and also counts for my first for this week - first time I have ever done this kind of challenge.I have set my goals on my writing blog here. (If you are looking for more info about ROW80, there is more info on my blog)

ATCs

I created one set of APCs for a swap - butterflies on 7s. By the time I am finished I will have created and received a complete set of butterfly cards.

Photography

We once again have doves nesting on the ladder on our back porch. They always seem to make such funny looking nests. I will share their journey here each week.

Also Linking With:

Creative Every day

Inspire Me Monday

Made it Monday (Jamie Ridler Studies)

Art Journal Every Day

New Collages

The Magic of Christmas

At Inspiration Avenue the the theme this week was Christmas and at OLW (One Little Word)  magic was the word to focus on. For me, Christmas has always been a magic time. This quote said it all. I loved these stickers from the Lung Association from 1979 - created by children. Magical!

This is the final life word prompt at Paper Traders. Laugh every day was the prompt and when I looked up quotes I could not choose just one. Here were my favourites, with a photo of my daughter many years ago enjoying herself.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

This past week I was able to work on a few challenges. Here are a few:

Collage
I created a quick  collage of vintage faces for Inspiration Avenue (Faces) and Collage Obsession (Vintage).

Watercolour
I created a 5 x 7 autumn scene for a swap, finishing it by stamping leaves with acrylic paint.

Zen Card

Books

I have started reading "Three Day Road" by Joseph Boyden. It is quite a fascinating read, but one that you do not rush.
I plan to read a book by Alice Munro who just won the Nobel Prize for Literature.



As well, Linking up with

Creative Every Day

Inspire Me Monday

Glue It Tuesday

Autumn Collages

Autumn is officially here and the changes have begun -
leaves changing colour
gold, orange, red and yellow
cooler and darker nights
pumpkins, squash
Thanksgiving in Canada around the corner.

Tonight I created 2 collages celebrating fall:

This fits in with :

the Craft Barn's alpha dictionary challenge  G for gold and O for orange
and
Inspiration Avenue's "Celebrating Fall" challenge

A new challenge  at Tag Along "Autumn Glory". Love this quote - so appropriate for fall.

Books = Joy and friendship

While reflecting on the post on favourite books for "September Daily Blogging", I realized books really bring me so much joy, and are great friends.

The theme for Collage Obsession this week was "Friends" and for Inspiration Avenue it was "What brings you Joy"

I then saw the poem by Arnold Lobel (altho I left off the last 2 lines - as I don't have a beard! - altho it will be a looong time until I read all the books I want and have to read).

The collage then fell into place. I used gelli paper  for the background and the big books. I used watercolour for the small books.

Also linking with:

Paint Party Friday

Gelli Party at Carolyn Dube's

Art Journal Every Day

New Collages

I finished several collages today:

Inspiration Avenue:

The theme this week was "It's About Time"

I found the quote and then the pieces fell together. The background is gelli papers. The butterfly is a photo I took at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory and the other photo is me at about age 12 ( a time of great change).

_________________________________________________________________

The theme of Summer at the beach

 fits for both:

Collage Obsession (Summer)

and

Opus Gluei (Don't Be such a Beach)