Hand Made Art Journals by Tricia Alexander

I recently purchased three hand made coptic bound art journals from Tricia Alexander, tricia-alexander.com.  I met Tricia at the Lucky Star Art Camp and saw her work there, another great advantage to attending an event like that is the opportunity to purchase from independent artists.

Tricia makes these journals from vintage books, takes them apart and then makes signatures of 80 lb drawing paper and binds them all back together in a beautiful coptic stitch.  She can do a custom order if you have a special book request.  I asked her to make one for me from a Black Beauty book since that was one of my all time favorites as a young girl, she even bound some of the book text pages (some include drawings) into the journal.

Here are some pictures of the journals I purchased:

 
I am totally in love with these hand made journals and cannot wait to fill them up with arty goodness.  If you are a mixed media art journal junkie I know you will appreciate these journals.  Visit her site and look around, you will not be disappointed.

Mindy Lacefields - Primitive Portraits 3

I recently attended, for a second year, the Lucky Star Art Camp in Hunt Texas.  It was amazing, even better than the first year.  The experience really opens you up and gets you out of your comfort zone (in a good way).  I met so many talented, sharing ladies, it was awesome.

One of the art classes I took was a full day class with Mindy Lacefield.  It was very laid back and non stressful, just like painting with your close friends.  Mindy showed us techniques and gave us prompts, even taking us for a walk outside to generate inspiration.

Mindy has a new online class that will start December 30 called Primitive Portraits 3, it is a follow up to the Primitive Portraits 1 & 2 (which aren't a prerequisite although it would be helpful).  You will have lifetime access and there is early bird pricing until December 14 (a Christmas present perhaps to an arty friend?).

There will be 3 guest artists which will give you a chance to be exposed to new artists, always a blessing.

Here is the link:  http://www.timssally.com/2014/11/primitive-portraits-3

I hope you will consider this class for yourself or as a gift to someone you love.

Overwhelmed but a better artist for it

Wow, has it really been that long since my last post?  I don't really have any good reason why I haven't blogged, it is not because I haven't been creating art.  I just finished up a year long class with Juliette Crane, Serendipity, and really enjoyed being challenged each month, pics of some of the resulting art work are below.

Juliette is continuing the year long adventure with Serendipity 2, so if you are looking for a class that will keep you stretching your intuitive side you may want to consider it.

I also took a class with the wildy creative Micki Wilde called a Hermits Compendium.  It was a nice change in my normal art work and was all about imaginary creatures.  She shows how to change an ordinary art journal cover into something that looks like an antique magic book, here is a pic of my cover.  She encouraged us to make it our own by creating our own title.

Another online class I am taking is Jane Davenports Express Yourself and it is all about drawing faces with expression and how the subtle changes in features can relay different emotions.  I am learning lots of new techniques and really being challenged.  I altered a book and am using it for the class:

I also enjoyed a class by the talented Mindy Lacefield called Wild Surrender, all about giving into the creative flow.

Although all the classes were a great experience I have learned a good lesson, DO NOT take 4 online classes all at the same time!  At least for me, I need to dedicate myself to a class and not feel like I need to rush through a lesson so I can get to the next one.

I will be attending Lucky Star Art Camp again this year, in November, and cannot wait to experience this event, it is like nothing I have ever done, creating with artists, in person, who you have only known online, being immersed into all things creative, and surrounded my like minded women is so incredible.  If you get the chance to do something similar go for it, it will stay with you for a long, long time!

Thank you for reading!

Painting on Cardboard + New Stencils

I recently splurged on some new StencilGirl stencils, I had a 25% discount to use! Here are pics:

 I've been wanting a tree stencil for a while and I found the perfect one, it even has a sun/moon on it, couldn't wait to use it and the opportunity arose through a year long course I'm taking with artist Juliette Crane called Serendipity, check out the button on the right for information on this class.  Each month she has a new lesson showing her process from start to finish and then a few weeks later she will post a bonus lesson.  The Dec bonus lesson was painting on cardboard, which was so much fun and offered so much freedom, no worry that I might mess up a "canvas", so I brushed on some complimentary colors - purple, magenta, pink and then used shiva oil sticks in red and brown, dragging them across the cardboard horizontally, which gave some really great texture.

I let that dry and then started playing with the tree stencil, I decided I wanted it to be a moonlit forest scene and I ended up painting a face on the moon, inspired by Juliette's characters.  I used a stablio marks all pencil to outline the trees so it wouldn't look too much like I used a stencil.  Later I added the deer.

I am quite addicted to stencils, I'm a StencilGirl Club member and each month, for $25, I get three exclusive stencils, designed by one of the StencilGirl artists along with access to a video made by the design artist.  Each month there is a large one (9 x 11) and then two smaller ones, all coordinating together. Check out their website www.stencilgirl.com.  I like the versatility of stencils and the added texture and depth they can bring.

What have you done with stencils lately?