Back in the Art Seat

I had a bit of a break, but now back - with new Art Space and raring to go.  I managed to paint the sketch I showed in my last blog post without making a mess as I usually did, so quite happy with her.  Today I finished off the large canvas also shown in last blog post (and probably a few before that, it has many a layer)

At the moment she is called 'Thought' due to the chaos going on around her.  Once she is dried and varnished I will be adding her to my Etsy shop, as I recently purchased some large boxes to post out canvas in, I had no idea how to do this before.. didnt realise you can buy such things.  If memory serves me she is 20" x 16".
Having had a bit of a play around in my art journal I think I finally have this background thing mastered.. its only taken me best part of three years!  Here is a page I did yesterday .

Although they are a bit on the bright side, so maybe I should tone them down a bit in the future.  Still, I do have a lot of fun doing them.  This is one I have started today..

No idea were it is going as yet..  I also finished off last weeks 'Lifebook 2014' lesson, which was a lot of fun and I learnt a lot from it.

Loving the art and 'really' do not want to finish off stocking my Etsy shop with my sale items, but it has to be done.  At some point today I am going to have to edit all the pictures and draft the listings for the shop - Sale is going very well and helping to keep me in paints, inks and all the books 'somebody' keeps recommending to me.  You can see my shop here on the right->

That Canvas

Well, its finally finished and has two coats of fixative on so far.  Due to the lack of much natural light these days, or a dry wind free day the photo is not so good, but you get the idea.  The Canvas size is 3', I think I need a stool as I did stand to do it all.  Its mostly collage and mixed media, and called 'There's a Song in my Heart'

All I need now is some free time to get on with more of the things I would like to be doing, or should I say 'Prefer' to be doing.  Life is getting in the way this week, just not enough chunks of time, I might have the odd hour but I am unable to create in that, greedy as this may seem I really need a few spare hours please.  Maybe weekend will be better, we'll see.

I cleaned off the last of the paint from the canvas on my journal page, and finished that off today, decided I wanted to draw a dragon, so that is what I did.

Other news - I am closing my Etsy shop on Monday until the new year when I hope it will be restocked with new things, and a big sale for the bags - if they dont go this time they will be off to the charity shop. Such a shame as so much effort went into each one, but like many things - either too many on the market now, or the 'cheaper' high street shops can sell them so much cheaper, even though they are poor quality and all the same there.  Of course I prefer to concentrate on my art, but need to fund that somehow - though I do think Santa is going to help me with that quite a bit.

New Beginnings

Yes, I know - new beginnings should really start in the new year, or at the very least the start of a new season maybe? not really on the 7th December 2013, but rules are made to be broken in the art world surely?
This is my new journal - its a great size 15" x 10" with just 18 sheets of watercolour paper.  I like journals to look like 'my' thing immediatly so this one had barely hit the doormat yesterday and I had started with paper, paint and ink.  The girl was a practice for the canvas I started - decided against the lace as it may not stay put so well and my hat drawings really do need a bit more practice - but as usual I have enjoyed the process.  As a result of my new founded enthusiasm and my new wonderful Art Journal, I have started a new board on 'Pinterest' for Art Journal pages, both mine and ones I love on there.
I have done a bit more on that 'Work in Progress' Canvas, not so much as I got nervous again and wanted to plan it out more - yes I know, I should have the confidence and just 'go for it' there is always another.

Still feeling I can 'almost' add artist to my name - most wonderful achievement happened today. I took a couple of the cards I had printed of my work to show a family member who rarely has a good word to say about anything I do, ready to get used to the critisism and negativity I had come to expect.... but NO!  She said I should find somewhere to start selling! wow!  I explained my first plan is to exhibit and take it from there really.  Meanwhile I have also had a new idea on how to fund myself a bit, so another new project will be starting soon for the Etsy shop, as paint is not cheap and supplies are not free - but I wont say anything more on that one till its done and I can show it.  I have decided I really do not want to sew anymore, so my 'Bags of Swank' bags will all be in a New Year sale to try rehome the stock, and let me get on with real new beginnings at the 'right' time of the year.

Facecinating Winter Girls

Just a quick blog post, as I am eager to get on with the next class.  But here is my interpretation of class one of Andrea Gomoll's Facecinating winter girls class - you can find here Andrea's Class's

This made me quite nervous as it was done on a large canvas, the large one I have is 60cms x 50cms, it was that or A4 and that really was not large enough, so I went for it.

I have done little else since yesterday morning as enjoyed the process so much, and only just finished, the 'snow' is still wet.

Another 3 classes of winter girls to go yet - hurray!!!

Can I fix it?

This dreadful looking canvas has been festering in the kitchen for some time, as you see I have had a few failed attempts to fix it, and mentioned it in my last post here http://mycreativelifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/whats-on-your-work-desk-wednesday-216.html#comment-form I had another look and wondered if I could try fix it with pastels? as this is my favourite medium to work with, so I had a go........... also used a few coloured pencils, I do think it is now improved.  Once I work out whether to set it or varnish it will be done.

I had managed the odd 'hour' in the art space, it was indeed the odd 'hour' too, yesterday and again today it is simply to hot to go anywhere near.  Here is a sketch I started ..

and then did some underpainting...

Hoping she stays so pretty when I get a chance to start with the pastels.  At the time of doing this I was in a great mind set, then that was turned.  I got a phone call on Thursday evening to tell me a friend of mine had passed away, I used to walk with him every day with our dogs for years - funny, you think people will be around for ever, such a shock when they are not, I only spoke to him a couple of weeks back.
I really hate self-pity, but that does seem to be what I am doing.  I am feeling quite low, not helped by the blessed heat - is meant to be raining here soon today, no sign of it yet - but as always in the UK its extremes of weather, down south (London area and further) are expecting an awful lot of rain in a short time, which can cause flooding - going to spoil the weekend for many, so what right do I have to feel sorry for myself? none at all.

Collage Canvas

This is my first attempt at an actual mixed media, collage canvas.  I got this far and stopped.  So, the idea is if I show it here I will be encouraged to actually finish it off (if only to have something else to waffle on about).  Its a fairly large canvas, but totally 'reclaimed' as it originated from the charity shop, I did a 'not so good' painting on it, then covered it all in papers and started again.

I did want Pink but I think this is too much pink so time for another play soon.  Today though I must finish off wood handle bag 2, and at least cut out attempt number 3.  Also have some wood sanding to do (might try photo that one for tomorrow).  Also a trip to post office and charity shop before I start, so just as soon as I have drunk this hot cuppa - warming up from earlier dog walk, I will do the going out stuff first.

Still a bit on the chilly side outdoors, no snow left were I live but just a mile or so up the road there is, all very odd.  Hoping to have seen the last of it, as not a big fan of driving on snowy streets tend to do more walking instead then.

Dont forget my January Sale in my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimJaTa?ref=seller_info