Experimenting with Collage

It was on the calendar ... watch the grandkids for my daughter so she can play her soccer game. Got a message earlier requesting we "do art!" So what's a gramma to do, but accommodate her favorite little people?!

They are all old enough to be familiar with cutting, pasting, and we've painted and doodled plenty together. I didn't know what they would think about cutting apart the magazines I keep in the pockets behind my driver/passenger seats in my car. Their parents have admirably taught them to respect books. They loved the idea!

What made me happiest was how happy they were to do art with me, that they requested it, and that they were all happy with their results. And now for the drumroll! Here are the results:

 M is my youngest granddaughter. 

Her eyes really lit up when she went through my collage stash and found this purse!

 A is my oldest granddaughter, and a self-proclaimed artiste!

And lover of washi tape! :-)

 T is my only and wonderful grandson. Up until late summer, he's been a reluctant writer 

and didn't care to draw much either. Well, that has all changed! He's really come into

his own voice practically overnight! Love watching this boy grow up!

Peerless Watercolors

A while back (maybe a year ago), I stumbled on Jane Davenport's youtube channel video on Peerless Watercolors. I watched all of Jane's videos pertaining to them, including the one that explained how she made her travel palette.

About a month or so ago, I ran across Peerless Watercolors on Amazon accidentally while looking at other art supplies. I was quite surprised that a beginning book of 15 colors really wasn't that expensive, so I treated myself. Got them, tried them ... love them! The colors are very vivid and I like the idea of the travel palette that Jane shared here.

I've had a lot of fun introducing my grandchildren to different art supplies and techniques. I'm also participating in the Documented Life Project. There's a little pocket/folder on the back cover of my journal that a small palette would fit into perfectly. So I set out to make a little palette for my journal, and one for my daughter and each of my grandchildren.

Lifebook 2014 Week 1

Yay!! Tamara LaPorte's Lifebook 2014 has started up again. Since my word for the year is ENGAGE, what a great way to start. I chose ENGAGE because I do too much watching, and not enough doing. I'm off to a great start.

I was not too happy with my results for the warm-up exercise, but sure am glad I did it ... for warming up purposes! hehe

Here is the actual lesson work. I don't think it's complete yet. Feels like I need to do some doodling and perhaps enhance the word. But overall, I like her.

FITW III team challenge work

Ayala Art (of 29 Faces Challenge) offered participants of the 29 Face Challenge the opportunity to participate in this round robin art challenge, FITW III. I'm part of Team 3 with Milo W.C. and Diana C.

Here's what was mailed to me for Milo's face:

Since I was the last person to receive this piece, it was my task to finish it off

and send to the originator, Milo. Here is what I came up with:

And here's is what I started with for Diana's Face:

And since I'm person #2 on this one, I got this far and will be mailing her off to be finished:

This is my piece that I started and sent off:

I am excited to get the end result!!!

Fun challenge. Really pushed me out of my comfort zone. 

I think I shall attempt another challenge of this type again!

Faces 24-29 ... Done!!

This was a lot of fun ... even with the pressure to finish towards the end.

Faces 24 - 27

Face 28

Face 29

Now I have lots of faces to practice painting techniques!

Faces 20 - 23

I've only had time to sketch in my little purse sketchbook and scraps of paper.

That's been a fun little switch up.

#20

#21

#22

#23

Face 19

Yay, I'm keeping up!

The colors aren't true, but this is the best shot I can get right now.

This background and the background for Face 18 were made like this:

Layer of white gesso

Lay down a layer of dry paper toweling (that was previously used to mop up

excess Dylusion spray from another project) on top of wet gesso layer.

Spritz the paper towel with water, a pretty good wetting, and let sit for about 5-8 minutes.

Lift/peel the paper towel off.

Leaves an interesting background to use as is or to start from. Here I just used as is.

Thank you for looking!