Sketchbook Skool: Week 1...again

 

Homework for the Sketchbook Skool class “Be an iPad Artist”week 1A. I may have mentioned waaaayyyy back... July perhaps...that I bought an iPad for my birthday. My intention was (and still is) to learn a bit of graphic art. After several fits and starts with some You Tube tutorials and overall hemming and hawing and procrastination, I purchased a class at Sketchbook Skool earlier this month (which is super awesome btw). I’m learning Procreate which is really cool but I’m so awkward at it and quite overwhelmed.  I took a break early on because I needed a matte screen protector. I ordered and received it last week and only just installed it today...ugh! that was a frustrating ordeal. There’s a lot of dust floating around here.

Anyhoo... I made it through the first homework assignment: Do a drawing using two or three different drawing tools. This was where I hit the wall the first time. Without the matte surface the pencil was sliding all over the place and it got super frustrating.

So today I went back and started the class all over, did the homework and shared it over on the community page. I’m very happy that I jumped my first hurdle and though the composition is a bit wonky I had some serious fun playing with several of the drawing tools and trying to get more used to this whole new world of creativity.,..

I’m going  do whatever I can to spend some time at this every day. This old dog is gonna learn some new tricks 😉

Coffee. That is all...oh! and Sunshine

 

This was a new thing for me...creating a theme around a Michael’s paper pad. I’ve always had a weird resistance to scrapbook paper pads because I just never know how to use them.  Back in the day, when going to the craft store was relatively easy and the coupons, bargains and sales were plentiful, I would snag a paper pack or two if something caught my eye. I get them home and think “Now what?” And into the drawer they went.

This coffee themed pad with its watercolor style was cute and being Coffee & Creativity, I thought “well let’s just see if I can manipulate this one dimensional, commercial scrapbook paper into something a bit more...creative. Someone said on YouTube that the scrapbook paper industry has not caught up with the junk journal community. 

Much collaging happens...

Gelli printed papers cut into shapes and stacked.

Scrapbook paper coffee dyed and stenciled...

I had started this book last year or early this year since I haven't been to Michael's since January. I hit a wall with it and only just finished it so I could give to my niece last week. We met up for lunch so I could meet my sweet baby great nephew.

The Clean up Journal

 

I've been having a play with fabrics and fibers lately inspired by textile artist Anne Brook (via Rachel at Roxy Creations). I tried my hand at slow stitching which is sort of a hybrid of embroidery, hand stitching and quilting but more free-style as you can layer up fabrics and laces and trims and buttons...

The pieces of fiber are my clean up baby wipes.

My other latest obsession are the Willa journals created by Wendy Solganik on her Instagram willa.wanders. I signed up for her workshop that starts in January and couldn't be more excited about that.

Gelli prints...

Stenciling...

Roll off from cleaning my brayer during a gelli print sesh...

The interior is my attempt at a Willa sewing on some tabs here and there...

More clean up paper with some watercolor doodling...

Clean up paper with some additional mark making for contrast.

Some traditional papers thrown in here and there to break things up.

The journal measures 6 x 6 with 2 signatures and probably about 20 sheets per signature.

I love this book.

Super Cute Project For a New Baby

 Last month our family welcomed a sweet baby boy to whom I am one of several great aunts.

My niece asked if I would create some artwork for his room. "I'm open to anything, just not too baby-ish" was her very practical request for as we all know that it won't be long before the room will become that of a little boy then a big boy. She gave me the color scheme of the decor and off I went.

I tend more toward the abstract in my art these days so this type of art lurks at the edge of my wheel house.

These are 5 x 7 watercolors with a little colored pencil for definition.

These started out as illustrations I did for the baby journal.

Which then became fun little collages.

Journals to the People: Bloom

Another repurposed Readers Digest book. The collaged cover is a new thing for me. I had received the rose image in a swap and it immediately went on the cover.

Strip of tea towel binding

A little poetry for the back

The interior is pretty similar to the Tea and Roses journal I posted last week

Collaged and dyed notebook paper tri-fold.

Journals to the People: Gift Bag Santa (Holiday #5)

This journal was a lot of fun to fumble my way through though it did vex me at the start just trying to manipulate the bag...well the image on the bag... into a manageable book.
 

This became a stash buster/ glue book. I used up a bunch of scrapbook paper odds and ends...

...and used up the remains of my Christmas bits.

For a Christmas curmudgeon this turned out pretty cute I think.