I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted  anything.  Here are a few things I've completed recently...more to come in the next little while (I promise).

The first one is a pic of 5 canvases (6x12"). Mine is at the top and I taught the girls at the cottage how do make one for themselves.  They all turned out awesome!

 

 

Tis next one I also did at the cottage this summer.  Lots of texture and rich colours...love how it turned out.

This pic is a bit blurry...but I love this one.  Layers of colour on the canvas, then covered up with light teal paint after masking off some of my favourite areas of the painting. 

Be back soon with more...and maybe a clearer photo of the teal circles above.

Harley lovin'

A friend asked if I would do a Harley themed canvas for her.  Here it is!  I was a bit apprehensive at first but think it turned out ok (if I do say so myself). 

I fussy cut the motorcycle image from scrapbook paper that she had and used it as the focal point.  I collaged the motorcycle and some strips of paper onto the canvas, added molding paste through a stencil around the edges and then start adding paint using stencils. 

Mixed Media Class at Younique

I'm very excited to be teaching a class at Younique Country Retreat. They've recently opened a second location in Mount Forest, which is where I'll teach the first class on September 20th.  The class will be repeated at the Fergus location on October 5th.  I'm looking forward to introducing people to the world of mixed media layouts, giving them a chance to use gesso, gel medium, molding paste, sprays, stencils...and so much more. If you're in the area I'd love to have you join us.  http://youniqueshop.com/classes-and-workshops-c-73/?zenid=h2ipmnh2he8el48g5qibpfevv5

Here are the sample layouts we'll be using..3 different styles using one sketch and Kaisercraft papers and embellishments. 

Art Journal Pages

I really wish I had more time to play in my art journal pages.  These pages were done at the last couple of art journal nights at The Art House Studio.

I'm not sure if this is finished yet, so I'll leave it for awhile before I decide.  The photo doesn't do it justice, but I love the texture on this page.  I spread molding paste through a stencil.  I then sprayed the page with various spray inks. I didn't like it at that point, so I covered it with gesso...repeated the process...and still didn't like it...back to the gesso...and repeated it again.  Closer this time to something I liked.  Washi tape...splashes of gelatos and more inks...more gelatoes...stop!  I kind of like it now.

Karen at The Art House Studio showed me the new Steampunk Gelatoes.  Before she could finish her sentence I had them open and started using them.  They were a perfect match for some scrap papers I had with me that night and a brayer-off page from some Gelli plate play .  Gelatoes...stencils...Pitt markers...scrap paper...I was in a VERY happy place!

 

This page is a bit of a departure from my usual colour palette, but I actually like the way it turned out.  It started out as a page with some stencil prints on it.  I added more stencil work...stamps...Washi tape...Gelatos.  I like that there is some light space (I still struggle with leaving white space, so I'm good with even "light" space on my page).

 



 Really trying for white space again.  I've been playing a lot with my stencils and this page was no different.  Layers of stencils and stamps (love my Finnabair doily stamp).  I don't write on my pages too much (for me the act of creating the page allows my to think about what I'm feeling more so than struggling with what to write).  I asked the other ladies at art journal night to shout out a word to me...and empower was the first word shouted.  So empower it was...

I hope you enjoy these pages!

Layouts, Layouts and More Layouts

It's been a while since I've posted any layouts.  I've done a few over the last couple of months and am sharing some of them below.

Sweet Little Thing...our new puppy, King Duncan, was just 9 weeks old in this photo...cute as can be.

At 5 months he discovered digging in the dirt...and looks so pleased with himself.

Then at 6 1/2 months he discovered sticking his head out of the car window.  I swear the music from Titanic started playing and if he could have stretched out his paws he would have looked as if he was Kate Winslett on the front of the ship LOL.  He loves a breeze, whether sitting in front of the AC vent in the car or a fan, or even a breeze blowing while out for a walk...he just loves it.

 

OK...back to the layouts.  I love black and white.  I used Finnabair's doily stamp randomly over the page. Stamping, sprays and layering of papers frame a picture of my DDs beautiful green eyes.



 

I sometimes struggle with using tags that I make.  I had this one with teal and butterflies that has been sitting in my stash for a long time.  I also found a die cut butterfly in teal. So the whole layout was done in teal and black.  The title of this one is still not finished...It's the....eyes? look? life?  Not sure yet.

 

 

One of my goals is to use up my very large stash of paper.  Do any of you buy paper then find it very hard to actually use it because you love it so much?  Well I do! So in addition to trying to use those papers, I also have a lot of papers that I need to use.  They are divided into 1) what was I thinking!; 2) it came with a paper pad and these are the leftovers; and 3) I love these and they deserve a special layout or project.  For the "what was I thinking" batch, I will most likely cover them with gesso or use them to collage on a canvas or art journal page.  The leftover papers I will probably sort by colour and use them as filler on layouts (strips of paper where only small amounts will show).  And of course, for the papers that I love I will look for the perfect photos for special layouts.

 

This is a layout that falls into the 2nd category...I had a background paper that was from a DCWV paperpad.  It was a glitter paper that was blue, with undertones of orange/rust. I found some additional scrap papers in my stash in orange/rust, and even some rose trim that matched!  I sprayed the background with some Lindy's Stamp Gang spray and it highlighted the pattern of the background paper.  For using up scraps, it actually came together quite well I think.

This last one was such a fun photo. DD went to the Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto.  They have a "bubble" that you can crawl into that comes up right in the fish tank. I used yellow papers to accent the yellow in the photo.  Sprays, stamps, and die cuts completed the page.

This one is of my niece's beautiful blue eyes. Lots of stamping and spray inks.  Love how the blue around the photo is reflected in the blue of her eyes.

 That's it for now...more to come soon!

Gelli Printed Elephant Walk Canvas

I spent Saturday with some friends at Younique Country Retreat near Fergus.  We had a full day of fun which ended with us wearing moustaches LOL...don't ask!  I decided that I'd rather paint than scrapbook for this crop session.  I had an idea in my head for a canvas featuring a family of elephants.

I started by using my Gelli plate to make some papers and then cut out an elephant shape in three different sizes. 

Then I painted the background of my canvas using stencils and acrylic paints.  I adhered the elephants to the canvas using gel medium.  I then added some details on and around the elephants, including shading with Faber Castel Pitt Markers.

I love my Elephant Walk canvas!  Hope you do too.

Mixed Media Canvases

I've been trying my hand at doing more mixed media canvases. 

This one was done as part of a Release class at The Art House Studio.   It was a lot of fun.  I think it looks like a sun shower...what do you think?

 

 

This one was inspired by another participant in the Release Class...she did an elephant and it reminded me of a Ganesha.  I used pretty much the same process to do this one...pretty funky for me and out of my comfort zone...but I love how it turned out.  Lots of stencils used on this one...I'm sure you'll recognize The Crafter's Workshop "Fancy Feathers" stencil used on his trunk and ears...

 

 

 

"Wine" was also done using the technique taught in Karen's Release class.  This one was for a gift for our newly engaged neighbours and the theme of the gifts was wine.  There is lots of texture on this canvas and I am very happy with the way it turned out.  Thankfully, they loved it too!

 

 

I actually painted the above canvas at a crop and someone there loved it and asked me to do one for her as well.  This is how hers turned out...more reds and less yellows. Definitely a bit darker...maybe because I was drinking red wine when painting this one LOL.

 



 

 

Something lighter and fun....lots of stencils, modeling paste and a canvas board layered on top of a deep canvas.  I used mostly Faber Castell Gelatos on this one. 

 

 

This one I've had in my head for a while.  My daughter loves mermaids...and tiaras...and I always tease her about being a tiara-wearing mermaid.  I used a photo of her face and superimposed it on to a clip art image.  I used hot glue to extend her hair...sequins for the mermaid tail...lots of fun!!!