Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

This past week I finally took time for creating some art. I have missed it - but writing has taken more of my time the past few months. I will hopefully will take more time for art each week.
 I have signed up for "MADE", which starts Sept. 1. The challenges at Collage Obsession start again in September as well.
I also want to work on my drawing skills and hope to do a daily practice in September.

Mixed Media


I had fun creating 3 mixed media pieces in response to Jane Davies challenge (see here for my post on it)

I used modeling paste in each of these, through a stencil. Love the effect of this on the pieces.
( Just discovered a new challenge at "Mixed Media Monthly Challenge"

ATCs
I completed 2 sets of cards last week for swaps:

Butterfly APCs

Art Therapy (inspirational quotes)

Photography
And, of course, there are still flowers from our gardens to capture!

Linking with:

Creative Every Day

Inspire Me Monday

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

New Challenges

This week at Collage Obsession the theme was "A page in a Travel Journal". I had been just looking through photos from our trip to British Columbia 5 years ago and got out a bag of mementos and flyers from our trip.
I chose Vancouver Island's Victoria - a beautiful place where we toured for several days before driving north through parts of the island. I would return in a flash if I could.( Loved all the places I saw in BC for that matter.)

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The Alpha Dictionary challenge this time was "T" and after finishing the above collage, I knew that totem pole would be my choice for T. I have always had a love of native art and culture. The totem pole is unique and so significant to the culture of the Northwest Coast Natives.

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At Inspiration Avenue this week, we are asked to "Show and Tell"

There are several pieces that I hold dear to my hear for several reasons.

The first is the mixed media collage I completed on my mom and her heritage. I took a weeklong course and this was the final piece.

The first  and only oil paintings I have done were 2 of flowers. They hang in our bedroom. One is red, the other blue.

 

 

 

I took several courses at Haliburton School of Fine Arts over 10 years ago. It was the go to place with my children for many years.

I took a  watercolour course and this was my favourite:

 



The following year I took a watercolour/collage course and loved it. I was able to recycle some of my watercolours into this collage:

GPP - Crusade 56: I Believe

Michelle Ward hosts a monthly crusade at GPP. This past month was "I'm a Believer". I have taken part in a number of crusades in the past and felt this one shouldn't be missed.


Michelle listed a number of questions about life as an artist. She asked that we journal about our beliefs about art and being an artist.

Most of my life I never called myself an artist or felt that I was creative. I could copy very well. I have fond memories of drawing cartoon characters.

But then I discovered Haliburton School of Fine Arts and for 7 summers, I spent a week or two with my children there and we all took courses. I took courses in basketry, silk screening, design, collage, watercolour. It made me realize that I loved to create and needed to create. I continue to take courses as I can.

Here are the questions from Michelle:


"Tell us about the artist you are. Tell us in your own way the importance of being an artist - do you have a philosophy or are you just happy to be spending time making cool stuff.?"


As I said above I have a need now to create. I know that I need to develop more technical skills.


As a teacher for 30 years at the elementary level, I know art is crucial for children, especially those who struggle with reading. They are definitely focused on the journey, the process. I really believe children (and adults as well for that matter) need to create, to make things, to draw, to make messes, to have fun.


"Are you a perpetual student and/or workshop attendee? Or are you mostly self-taught?"


I have taken a number of courses and I will continue to do so. I follow certain blogs and take part in certain challenges and lessons.


"Do you participate in swaps?"


I take part in the swaps at "ATCsforall. I really enjoy creating ATCs. I have tried different techniques and many different challenges. Creating art on a small scale isn't as intimidating and the community is very supportive.

I also take part in numerous art challenges: Shadow Shot Sunday, ABC Wednesday, Wishcasting Wednesday, Skywatch Fridays, to name a few.

"Do you find time to work daily or do you squeeze in a precious few moments whenever you can? "

I try to create several times a week. I know I should be drawing daily to improve my skills but haven't the time. For the month of November, I want to take part in AEDM at Creative Every Day. It is a great challenge every year.

" Do you have a studio space or do you work at the dining table? "




A little of both. I am slowly creating my studio, although I still do art at the dining room table.



Tell us about what you do, have done, and aspire toward. Do you paint canvases? Make books? Make jewelry...ATCs...Ceramics...Knit? Our need to be creative usually spills into several arenas - let us know more about you by spelling it out for us on a journal page.



These are the journal pages I created. I really believe that art needs to be a big part of our lives.

I have always been involved in crafts - I have crocheted afghans, made Christmas ornaments and decorations every year, tried new crafts.

I especially enjoy now creating:

Zentangles, Collage Tags and Cards

Photography
(My favourite subjects are skies, macro flowers, trees and water)

Watercolour
These next few pieces were done with a watercolour course and watercolour/collage course done at Haliburton. Following an instructor made the challenge a bit easier. I would definitely love to do more watercolour.

Mixed Media Collage

This piece was created at another week long course here in Cambridge. I learned new techniques and the instructor kept pushing me to go further. Loved the final result - a homage to my Mom and her roots. This is the direction I would like to explore more of.

As I get closer to retirement (1-3 years), my dreams of spending more time creating get more and more real. When I grow up (or enter the next chapter in my life!) , I want to create daily and teach art to children. They are such a joy to work with.

As I look back on my journey, I need to acknowledge that, yes I am an artist, one who is still growing.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-up + August Challenges

This past week was a busy one. I loved the art course I took and learned a few new techniques. I ended up creating a mixed media collage of memories - of my Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma. I met some lovely women and had fun being immersed in creating all week.

Using photo transfer onto a canvas and using many different mediums on one canvas was new. Also using a large canvas was quite different as well. lately I have been working small - on ATCs.



I finished my July collage-a-day cards, using mostly collage techniques. I enjoyed those very much. Here are a few of the last ones I did:










I also completed a couple more ATC swaps. I have a few to do this week as well.

Here is one that was interesting - "Forms of Beauty"





Another was one word collages:













Connie of Dirty Footprints Studio posted a journal a day for 30 days. On the 31st, she encouraged anyone to post their own interview about their own art journalling life. My interview is here.







August has begun and we are half way through the summer! Still so much to do!

There are a number of challenges being offered this month. One that I am really looking forward to is taking a photo a day - "The August Break" being offered through Susannah Conway's blog .



I am going to take the challenge but alter it a little. There are 2 projects I want to undertake through photography:



1. Ever since reading about Lis' project of self-portraits, I have wanted to try something similar. So for this month, I want to present aspects of myself through photography.

Aug. 1





I decided to start with my hand. As I look at it I see my mom in many aspects of it. I also see my married life. I use this hand a lot but take it for granted.



2. In the "101 in 1001 days" Challenge (which I am continuing with somewhat slowly!) one item was to list 5o things I love (which I have done) and take a photo of each of those things. So for August I want to start taking pix of those 50 things.

Here are the first two:



* Flowers





*Skies:











The second month-long challenge is being offered by Louise Gale. Each week she will post a different colour and that is all you can use, plus black and white.


This week's colour is YELLOW!

As she says:

"So this weeks color is inspired by those pretty petals of sunshine. Brighten up your week by creating in all those shades of yellow under the sun. (Remember you can only use shades and add black and white to your creations if you wish)"



I am looking forward to this colour challenge. Watch for my entry next Sunday!

I will continue with my usual challenges but try to add a couple more this week!

Have a great week!