Saturday, June 16, 2012

Dear Fear, revisited...

So I am TERRIFIED of art journaling...I think.  I guess I'm afraid of not doing it "right".  I'm afraid of painting something ugly, or even painting something I like and then, one too many strokes later, screwing it up!  But I am going to try.  I am tired of being afraid.  Which reminds me of my VERY first blog post over a year ago.  I wonder if that fear ever goes away?  Hmmm....

Below is my first art journal background attempt.  Just like my cooking, it took FOREVER.  Thanks to JournalArtista on youtube.com, I learned this really cool masking technique using Post-Its, and decided to give it a shot.  I'm pretty pleased with it, even if I don't know what to write just yet.  Materials I used on this one:  Canson Mixed Media notebook, Liquitex gesso, Caran D'Ache Neocolor II wax pastels, and a stamp from Michaels.  So, one journal page (almost) down, and now for the next blank page...



It simply must be said:

"Dear Fear, you are NOT the boss of me.  Love, Katie"


Monday, May 7, 2012

29 Faces: Face #3 or "Oh my goodness! I drew that??"

Okay, well, technically, I erased it.  Weird, I know, but I saw it in a video.  Cover the entire page with graphite, smudge it around on the page with a paper towel, then erase all of the light spots (and add in a few darks).   About halfway into the first eye (which incidentally was my starting point) I started to think "oh, no...why did I think I could do this??"  Barely into it, I began to doubt that I have the skills to complete a decent drawing!  I mean why should I think that I can?  I have no formal training!  I'm a music teacher!!  Still, I kept going.  Lucky for her, I did, or she'd be a blob of graphite with one eye!  

A couple of things I picked up from the experience:

1.  Those insecure feelings will come.  They always do.  I've got a lot of unfinished projects that testify to this truth.  Today, however, I have one drawing that emphatically shouts:  "Keep drawing!  It's totally worth it!"  

2.  It's really quite amazing what  a little erasing can do.  This drawing started as a dark, scary blob of graphite on a piece of paper.  Perhaps a bit like my life...which often feels like a dark, scary blob of "what am I doing?"  But what if the Lord is in the business of erasing?  What if I can hang on just one more day, sit still, and let Him remove just one more bit of ugly?  As a serious perfectionist, hell-bent on being flawless in my own power (read: exhausted), that actually sounds quite lovely.  Man, am I glad I kept drawing!


29 Faces:  Face #3
Graphite on paper



Saturday, May 5, 2012

29 Faces: Face #2

Since I'm a running a bit behind on this challenge, I thought I would post another face.  Oil pastels again.  I'm not usually a fan of being messy with my artwork (though I LOVE other artists' messy work...hmmm) but these have been fun.  Scribble and smudge, and VOILA!  Fancy face #2.  Her eyes are a bit crossed, and I've noticed that it is HARD(!!) to get eyes to look alive.  My girls look a bit spacey in the eyes.  So, artist friends, if you have any tips to share, I'm listening.



29 Faces Challenge: Face #1

So, obviously I've been a bit creatively stuck lately.  Then yesterday I ran across this post at the Willowing blog, and decided that the 29 faces challenge might be JUST what I need to get jump started again.  Armed with some oil pastels (Portfolio and Cray-pas) and a charcoal pencil, this is what I managed to come up with....and it was  FUN!  I needed some fun today.  I'm pretty new at faces, so I was a little surprised that her eyes turned out okay!  Yay, for small victories!    Hope you enjoy the artwork, and feel free to join the challenge!



Monday, December 19, 2011

"Laughing Eyes"

Dear Blog, 
       I'm sorry for neglecting you!  Between work and graduate school and trying to be a good wife, I just haven't had much time.  I'll try to make more time for you this coming year.

Love,
Katie

"Laughing Eyes", courtesy of Katie Holmes

Monday, September 19, 2011

Always a fun holiday adventure...

Just for fun, and for a little extra spending money, I make tutus around the holidays.  I LOVE the process, because I don't have to think so hard.  Most other types of art (at least in my case) always come along with thoughts like "I wish I was better at this", "I don't know what to paint/draw/write", etc.  I love making the little tutus, because they are easy (almost therapeutic) for me.  Also, who doesn't love  a little girlie frill around the house every once in a while!    Posted below are a few of the tutus I've finished!  Hope to start selling them in the next week or two, after I attach sweet satin bows to each of them!

Black/Green Pixie Tutu

Black/Orange Pixie Tutu

Lil' Pumpkin Tutu

Candy Cane Tutu

Harvest Tutu

Sugarplum Tutu