Show and tell

One of my favourite art mediums is mixing my paintings digitally, layering up the textures, blending here, enhancing there, chopping a bit off - ouch!

The finished creation above came from the piece I 'made earlier' below - a grungy collage of a bit of this and that.

I liked where it was headed - some urban scene frequented by the rich and famous. There's a splash of night-life, a dash of fashion and and a hint of a dream.

It was the latter that prompted the additional layers, remnants of night time memories floating across her consciousness. What is she remembering I wonder... What do you think?

Well, that's my Show & Tell this week for Inspiration Avenue.

Primavera

I have to say I am absolutely chuffed at how this came out and, as is typical with my creations, it wasn't quite what I intended at the start - which is kind of me all round really!

This is actually two pieces layered digitally on top of each other.

You might need to enlarge her to see all the details. Background is made from collaged papers layered with acrylics, watercolours, alcohol ink and glimmer mist.

Girl is a mixed media piece on old book page.

I was truly inspired by Priti Lisa's post on Inspiration Avenue this week. She invited us to investigate:

The allegory of Spring

Something with a hidden meaning

Something from your soul

When I draw these girls they do truly come from the soul. There's a magic in creation. Willow is a daughter of the Spring, born under a sap moon. She brings light and life and is bursting with energy, but also spends time in quiet focus nurturing the seeds within her.

Here's the background on its own.

Viva Espana

Well, I've been back a week already and I'm sure you're all sick of the sight of all the Madrid images I've skillfully manipulated and tweaked.... images that capture the heat and magic of the Spanish capital and fill your senses with flavour and scent.

What? You've missed them? Surely not... Has Blogger been playing up again?

OK, I confess, I have been a bit tardy. What can I say? It's not laziness I can assure. I'm just swamped with the life of the entrepreneur, and believe me that is an exciting, if hectic place to be. I seem to have come through something of an epiphany in the past few months. I have so much more belief in myself, determination and ambition. I'm growing more than I did in teenage growth spurt (I always was a bit of a late developer!).

I have much more to say on the subject, but that is for another post... I have another chapter of a business book I need to go and read right now!

But, before I shoot off, I must share that this week I am hosting the Inspiration Avenue Challenge. Naturally, my thoughts turned to Spain for our theme, seeing as I still felt that country's rays on my skin and tasted the Sangria. Unfortunately, with time not being on my side, all I managed was a background! It was supposed to have a painting of my own of a flamenco dancer, but I had to borrow a couple and have a play in PhotoShop instead. One is a painting by the talented Mai Griffin and the other a photograph from unknown source. Good old PhotoShop eh?

Below is my background - if you enlarge and save for the high res version, you are welcome to have a play and share what you come up with - just come back here and pop in a link to your creation!

Next week I might just get around to sharing some photos! Oh and did I mention that I bumped into some pop stars while I was out there.... Every teenage girl's dream to turn a corner and find yourself surrounded by The Wanted. If only it had been Take That.... ahh.....

Live Laugh Love

"Life is a pure flame, and we live by an invisible sun within us."

Thomas Browne

Normally I would write something now - you know me, never can resist a little essay to accompany my art. However, I am very tired and stayed up too late playing with this. There is however a glimmer of light still in the sky reminding us that, despite the rain and chill, it is Summer!

So, to celebrate the Summer Solstice and for all those knee deep in mud at Glastonbury, this is some Summer sun just for you.

Well, it appears that I have managed to write an itsy little bit... And, well now I'm on a roll, so I might as well share how the prompt of Summer Sun at Inspiration Avenue and anticipation of the Experimental Art Course starting on Monday, got me snipping and tearing shades of turquoise and yellow from magazines to make this collage. After the tedium of waiting for glue to dry, I painted on streaks of real sunlight (tis true!) and snatched a little patch of blue from between the clouds. A little digital enhancement and she was ready.

She was going to be rising out of Stonehenge, but she heard the guitars tuning up a few miles distant on Glastonbury Tor (see pics on link) so pulled on her wellies and headed over. It might be raining, but as you can see, she carries her sun within!

I am soothed

I have been digital collaging, listening to music and sipping a small glass of wine - the last of the weekend bottle (frugal times...) It's got more layers than an ogre (watch Shrek for explanation!), but I love staring into its depths and dreaming.... Don't you just think there's epic story in there? Do you want to turn the pages? Who is the ghostly figure?

Well, this piece started off as an experiment in Black & White for The Three Muses same-titled challenge, but I guess my Muse clearly fancied their Take a Word challenge of Vintage instead! I drained the colour of a flower photograph with the exception of the red dahlia. It was pretty enough, but where was the drama? I put some context in with another of my photographs of Coton Manor House. Kim Klassen supplied a texture (in fact it was this week's freebie, so thanks Kim :) and I added some mystique with some images I bought from Etsy.

I love experimenting in this way. The layers are out of proportion with intent. What lush colour and texture. What story... I could play all day.

Not a leprechaun in sight - updated

I'm not entirely sure I've got the energy to post tonight, but I am missing my blog and my visits to friends around the world. It has been quite a week dear friends - one which has been spent writing, writing, interviewing, writing and more of the same. And what's more, getting paid for it. A busy few days on the work front but I do love a bit of pressure and pulling together a 12 page newspaper in a couple of days sure does hit that nail on the head.

Some slight exhaustion of an evening will explain my prolonged absence - though to be fair, a couple of days is hardly lengthy, but what can I say? I like blogging!

I like making art too and so tonight, for the sake of my sanity, I must dip into my creative juice and see what appears. A challenge always helps with a kick start and so I thought I'd tackle "Do you dream in colour" by Inspiration Avenue. Well, here's an interesting question. I do dream that's for sure! In fact, if I could only remember my nightly adventures long enough to write them down I may become a best-selling fantasy novelist (or put in a straight jacket). This week, I know for sure that there's my dreams are no black and white movie for I distinctly recall a scene in which the protagonists were all exclaiming on the coincidence of all being dressed in green - and the same green at that. There was me, a couple of friends and ... a leprechaun. Well I did warn you!

Looks like I do have the energy to post tonight after all... But what about the artwork... Hold on, I'll be right back..

OK, I present a green picture! Amazing what you can do in Photoshop in next to no time. Seven layers and lots of manipulation - starting with a photograph I had taken, mixed with a Kim Klassen free texture and some lovely digital collage material I bought from Etsy.

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For those of you who would love to get started in Photoshop Elements, I've just read that Kim Klassen is offering a free mini ecourse for beginners starting Monday. Details here.

And if you want more detail, there's a full course by Kim here.

Harvest Queen

In the airing cupboard is a very soggy piece of paper. Parts of it are wearing away and there will doubtless be a white residue of gel medium mixed with papier mache come morning. It is my entry to the Harvest challenge on Inspiration Avenue. It is very much an experiment along the lines of childhood mud pies. It began life as a coloured pencil sketch of a woman from the earth - the Queen of the harvest. Beetroot was applied like a deep cleansing mask to her face under a layer of gel medium and magazine, then the top layer scrubbed off, digging right down into her pores. More layers of acrylics and crayons have built up quite an intriguing background. One eye peers out from the foliage and roots, a hint of peachy cheek, a strand or two of hair.

In the meantime, here's one I prepared earlier. My drawing digitised with the harvest root spread. Can you spot the Queen surveying the fruits of her earthy labours?

PS: I don't suppose anyone knows where I put my book for the Sketchbook Project do they? It really is about time I started on filling it, but I put it somewhere safe and...

Water Music

I love how these regular art challenges force me into creativity. Take this evening for example. I was tired and started lolling on the sofa, but then this niggle began to knaw at my fingertips. I knew I hadn't made my music piece for the Three Muses. I had planned to draw a ballerina over a piece of sheet music but as usual time ran away with me. I couldn't quite summon the energy for moving pencil across paper tonight but what could I do instead?

Why, have a play in Photoshop of course. I present Handel and his lady friend dancing through the water to music. You may just be able to make out little spurts of water taken from a fountain in Valencia last week. Yes, they are actually in the water the little scamps - what will their parents say? I strongly suspect this lady may be cast out from society for getting her petticoats wet in polite company. Let's hope Handel does the right thing and makes an honest woman of her.

Or perhaps, he will return to his dusty music room and write a piece inspired by his adventure. Who knows?

So, thanks to the Muses (who clearly are doing their job), instead of watching mindless drivel on TV I learnt a few new techniques in Photoshop - and got a famous composer into trouble! This digital collage was made with a piece of scanned sheet music, a dancing couple (who may or may not be Handel and lady friend) from Graphics Fairy and a photograph of my own. Final touches were some texture by Skeletal Mess on Flickr and Shadowhouse Creations.

One other little thing... my blog is featured on Dorset Cereals and you can vote for it if you like it. I might win some muesli (well, you always knew I was a bit nuts)! Just click on the link in the sidebar (top right).

Another postcard from Skiathos

With a subject as far-reaching as 'memory' as the prompt for Mixed Media Monday it was certainly difficult to know where to begin - especially when I've got 40 years of the things to sift through!

At first I drifted around conjuring up the world of my Grandmothers', then moved to a maelstrom of memory spiralling out of control from a poor girl's mind but then something just clicked and I simply reached back just a month or two and returned to the sunshine island of Skiathos with my son.

I collaged some ephemera from my holiday as well as a few travel-related bits and bobs I had lying around. Added the colour of the sea and sky using my water-soluble oil pastels (which added further memory since they came on holiday with me!). Then I was going to draw a dreamy girl (me) on top but felt that the piece was missing the real essence of my holiday - the real happy memories - the photos. So we moved indoors and went digital to finish it off.

Nice memories to take me through a Monday :)

Dripping into Photoshop

Hot on the heels of my previous post, written while once more in a mood that belongs more to a bear with a sore head, I return fresh from a bout of restorative creativity.

I have been pondering what to create all week for the IA Water challenge. I had high hopes for an abstract acrylic, but the week is running away with me and I have many plans yet to fulfill, so I turned instead to my stash of 'not quite sure what to do with this' creations and my old and trusty friend Photoshop.

Last week I painted a watery moon at sunset, but it was a very half-hearted attempt that never amounted to much. This week however, it was viewed in a new light - the beginnings of an idea began to unfurl. Into the scanner went the moon where she reappeared magically in Photoshop. Now to play... A spot of duplication and she was now reflecting perfectly in a sea sparkling with moon dust. Was this enough? Well, no. How about some play with the ocean ripple filter... And what about a bit of blending? Very nice I'm sure but lacking a focal point.

Hold on, can you hear singing? The sirens are calling. I landed one of my friendly creations and she dripped her way onto the screen. Can you see her appearing through the phosphoresce?

Paisley ponderings

Get ready for a rambling post. My excuse is that I am ill. I have the rather thrillingly-named Labyrinthitis. You might be forgiven for thinking that I am wandering in a maze of confusion or perhaps under the delusion that I am in a fantasy-film pursued by a Bowie baddie. In fact, it is just an inner ear infection that manifests itself in doses of dizzy and whorls of woozy.

And now the reason for the title. Paisley being the theme for the creative challenge at Inspiration Avenue this week, and Paisley being in the picture above. Since I read the prompt earlier this week I seem to be spotting paisley's swirls in places I had never noticed. For one who is supposed to be creative and observant, I only just realised that the pattern appears on one of my favourite summer skirts (a really long hippy affair). It also popped up on the packet of last night's dinner accompaniment.

I was inspired this week by the work of artist Nikki Farquharson (examples below):

Cool eh? I discovered I didn't quite have the patience for this level of detail and wasn't entirely happy with my final output, but I'll try some more I think. My original looked like this, then I played in photoshop for the final version up top when I decided that perhaps the tissue paper ruffle to the skirt didn't have the quite the desired effect. Think I'll borrow my son's felt tip pens , rustle up a dose of patience and have another go...

Making time

Today, for some reason a thought popped in my head of a future me discussing why I didn't paint anymore. "I just didn't have the time" I said.

Woah, where did that come from? Yes, I am busy right now with many things. Was it perhaps a subconscious warning? You see, rediscovering my art was like putting a missing component back in the engine. It's been running much smoother since I can tell you. For me art is no longer the 'nice to have'. It is the pure essential. It is the must have and I recognise that there will be times when I have to fight to ensure it stays.

OK, I accept that some weeks I might only have time for a sketch or two, but I know that I can create something I'm happy with in 10 minutes. 'Not enough time' will never be an excuse.

It's far too easy to utter those simple words and believe that you're right in your assumption. We do it all the time don't we - our way of absolving ourself of responsibility to our souls. It wasn't my fault I allowed my spiritual calling to fall by the wayside.... I just didn't have enough time. I was too busy watching drivel on TV or ironing my teacloths.

Enough I say. Enough. From now on I commit to make time, to focus on what it is that gives joy to my heart and takes me to where I want to be. I will focus on my goals and passions. They are what makes me the person I am, not a spotless floor or a tidy sock drawer.

Let's start as we mean to go on... I'll create something for the Three Muses fortuitously timed 'Time' challenge - what better reason than this post which is calling out for suitable illustration.

I cut out the timepiece from a magazine, stuck it in the scanner with some very real scissors, bits of string, foil and ribbon then played in photoshop - making time for me...

Time for tea

Pull up a chair and join me for a brew. I'm having Earl Grey. It's the last tea bag in the box but I'm sure we can squeeze two cups out. I've some birthday cake left too - of the chocolate fudge variety - which is terribly naughty but hey, we're not 40 every day.

I decided I would spend a portion of my birthday yesterday 'doing some art'. My Muse however, wanted to lie around in bed and be a prima donna, so my wonderful plans for artistic output instead turned into a bit of a mess. The picture you see above is a digital amalgam of two journal pages on the subject of Afternoon Tea. I layered up the best bits to make a book mark to salvage something from my efforts.

Afternoon Tea.... what a luxury. I've partaken of the indolence at both the Ritz and The Savoy in London. Tiny crustless sandwiches, scones with lashings of cream and jam and the daintiest dolly cakes you can ever imagine. Leaf tea served in dainty flowered china. Quiet whisperings of old ladies that look like Miss Marple in twin-sets. It's all deceptively filling too. I don't think I needed to eat for around 12 hours afterwards.

A tradition few have time for these hectics days but one that feels quintessentially English.

My entry for The Three Muses' teatime challenge. Collaged bits and bobs (that were real and then became digital), acrylics, neocolour crayons (birthday pressie!), tea and coffee stains (for real authenticity(, punchinella, sparkles. No cake crumbs though - now that would be a terrible waste... You need to click and enlarge to see the detail.

Fashioning art

Up to this summer, I hadn't bought a fashion magazine for years; I'd rather spend the money on a good book or some juicy art supplies. However, this year I bucked the trend and went 'glossy'. My most thumbed and now a touch dog-earred is June's Vogue. Being a little off-trend I bought from a discount market stall in July - for a mere 80 pence - a top tip for the cash-challenged. I've devoured its pages since in a fashion probably never seen before. No, readers I have not been eating it, but I have tried out a few recipes.

Vogue inspires many a fair maiden - most often to part with their cash on clothing, make up and accessories and to drool over Jimmy Choo's. For me however, it's the paintbrush, pastels and acrylics, it's the new photoshop skills I'm learning on my visual poetry course; it's the colouring in of Nicole Kidman, the magical mermaids swimming off the swimsuit pages and the experiments with shade. I have collaged, gessoed, snipped, stuck and now had a bit of fun with my scanner and photoshop.

Thank you Vogue - June 2009 - you have helped release my creativity. In your honour I create this digital collage from you and for you ... and also Mixed Media Monday's 'Fashion' challenge.