playing in my art journal

I finished the journal quest exercise. I'm not really satisfied with the backgroundcolours, but hey, it's an exercise to try out some techniques, so it doesn't really matter. And this really is an exercise journal. I made it especially for 21 secrets. Here it is:

And now I'm gonna have a look at the other blogs I'm following. I'm waaaay behind ;-)

Journal Quest

I've finally tried out something from the 21 Secrets workshop I've won. I have watched about 1/3rd of the workshops so far, and the one that inspired me the most until now is the Journal Quest workshop from Tracie Hanson. It's again a kind of "gut art", where you have to look for hidden treasures in a variety of marks. I've only just started, didn't get to finish it, but here it is anyway :

Now that I see the first one on my computerscreen, I can see some figures differently from the way I've drawn them. So I might change it again. Everything's still possible at this stage.It's fun.

I'm getting way behind with following other people's blogs. And I'm still thinking about 29 faces. Maybe I should start drawing some faces now already, just in case ... ;-)

Experimenting

I more or less ruined yesterday's watercolor drawing by adding more color to it, so I had to go with the version I posted yesterday. Played around in Photoshop with text and brushes, and created something that I like a little bit better than what I had. The poem is from Christina Rossetti.

If (and that's still a big IF) I decide to join 29 faces, I might make a series of faces combined with poetry. But I'm still thinking about it ... One moment I think it's exactly what I need right now, the other moment I think "nooo, don't start that again!"

 Decisions, decisions ....  ;-)

Here she is:

Should I or should I not?

Ayala Art is doing a new 29 faces challenge. And I am in serious doubt whether or not I should join in.

I must admit I don't get much work done lately. So maybe I need a challenge like that to get me started again. On the other hand, I really want to paint. Big paintings that take time to develop into something remotely looking like a face. So posting every day is gonna be hard. And then there's the 21 secrets workshop, that I still have to explore.

What to do? One possiblity is making my faces on small canvases, so that at least I'm building a stock to sell on markets. I can also use my faces to make postcards.

I'll  have to think about it for a while. It won't start until May 1st, so I still have some time.
Meanwhile: here's a drawing that I did in watercolor, not finished at all, but I'll post it anyway. It is a work in progress (trying out some new things...):

graphite and watercolor

He is a stranger to me now

I dived into my poetry books to find some poem that would fit my new watercolor drawing. And I found one that I thought fitted really well with the sad expression on her face. It's a poem from James Joyce, who died in 1941, so I should be all right with copyright laws. At least I think I am...

Drawing in graphite, painted with watercolor, then scanned it and added the poem in Photoshop.

Until now I haven't done anything with my 21 secrets workshops. Well, I watched some videos already, but for some reason I've delayed starting in a journal. Might try some techniques next week, but I'm thinking about first making a new journal just for these workshops. A kind of "learning" journal, with tips and tricks. It's a while ago, first have to watch some tutorials on the internet I'm afraid ....

Sketch

Don't get much "work" done during school holidays ;-)

This is a sketch that I started a few days ago. Not finished yet, I want to add some text to it in Photoshop, and maybe make a postcard out of it. But that'll be for next time I'm afraid, it's bedtime again!

I first made the sketch in graphite, coloured it in with coloured pencils, then scanned it and made a pattern in her dress in Photoshop. The background is the first stage of one of my Flora paintings, that I used as a texture.

Playing with Photoshop

I've been watching videos from 21 Secrets all week long and got many many ideas but no time to work them out.

So today I decided to turn off the computer and just play a little bit. Made a sketch, coloured it in with watercolors and then added text in Photoshop. I am experimenting with text brushes and how to combine that with drawings, so that I can make postcards out of it.

Still have a lot to learn, but it's fun trying things out.

Joehoe! Can't believe it!!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened up my mail and found out that I had won a spot in the 21 Secrets online workshop! I never never win anything, and now, in the course of only 1 month, I've won twice already by writing a comment on a blog! The first time was on the 4th of March, when I won a lovely pendant by Jenny. And now I had been deliberating with myself whether or not to join 21 Secrets. I wanted to, but I felt like I should practice some more on my Flora workshop, and finally start making things to sell on markets. And then by chance I read that one of the teachers, Aimee, from 21 Secrets was having a giveaway on her blog for 1 spot in the workshop.

So I decided to take the chance and let fate decide. And tadaa!!!! I won! Still can't believe it. Maybe this is a good time to start playing the lottery ;-)

In case anyone is wondering: it's "jerden" that won, but that's me also. I have 2 google-accounts and that was the one I was logged in with at that moment.

So, lots of activity ahead now. Which is not a bad thing, I need some stress to get things done. And I want to fully explore all the workshops in 21 Secrets. You can still sign up, it started on the 1st of April and stays open until the 1st of January 2013! 21 teachers, 21 different workshops. Can't wait!!!