Weekend Studio Madness, Under the Sea Swap & Journal Workshop

Good Morning my Little Blog Friends out there in Blog Land... Welcome to my Weekend Studio Madness! I have noticed that there is a theme going on for my Weekend Posts here on Sunday... and that theme is...I think I drink WAY TOOOOOO MUCH JAVA! LOL Okay, let's ROCK AND ROLL...!!!!!

I participated in the "Under The Sea Swap" that the every so lovely Zan from http://wildatheartart.blogspot.com/2009/04/under-sea-swap.html, so graciously put together for the many artists that participated in this SWAP. I was very excited when Zan emailed and told me that my swap partner, was Nicole Johnson from MealyMonsterLand! Nicole I received my ever so funny, and wonderful sea creature you created for me! I have to tell you that I absolutely love this little guy and he is sitting in my studio right next to me! I love the colors you used on this little guy! Thank you so much for creating this amazing piece for me! I will cherish it forever!

For Nicole, I created an Eclectic Being Mermaid...Here she is!

I have started some Summer Workshops and this is just one that I'm working on. Monica over at www.handsandheart.ning.com is offering some fabulous workshops and I will be spending time this Summer working on some of her workshops. I really want to concentrate on my drawing and painting this Summer!

JOURNAL WORKSHOP - TUTORIAL

I will be posting different techniques that I have been learning. They are so easy and you will really enjoy this process. I'm having a blast with creating and altering books...it's very addicting...but then again, isn't anything that is art related addicting? LOL For this process, grab an old book that you don't mind painting in and getting it really messy...Instead of gluing the pages together to give you a thicker page, I used masking tape and taped 3 or 4 pages together... It's less time then waiting for the glue to dry and I have noticed that my pages don't buckle as much.

Take words, photos, etc... and lay them into the Gesso. Then put a thin layer of Gesso right over the words so you can see some of the words.



After your Gesso is dried, start adding Cran D'ache, water colors, acrylics, etc.. In this example I used the water colored crayons (by the way, these are freaking awesome!!!!)
Now use water and mix them all together...You will see such dreamy colors on your page! Have fun and show us your pages!

I have been working on my Folk Art Dolls. Let me tell you, these gals are very time consuming, but so worth the effort and wait! Here they are with their gesso applied!

Yes, I sew too! LOL My sewing machine last night was in overdrive!

Here they are completed...They are having a group chat!

The really cool thing about these Folk Art Dolls, they can hang on the wall or you can have them sitting. They are approx. from head to foot 19 inches tall.

This "Pinkle" and she will be staying with me...WHY you ask? Well, SHE IS PINK...NEED I SAY MORE? LOL

I hope you all had a great weekend. I'm in the Studio today working on some workshop assignments and playing with my paint, oh and sculpting some more dolls...Stay tuned for updates on my workshops and some other things I'm designing and working on.

Until Next time...

CHEERS!