Birds on a Wire

 This is a sweet tutorial called "For the Birds" by Sarah Cray For Let's Make Art. The lesson is on wet on wet technique and adding small painted shapes to the foreground of Birds on a Wire! I enjoyed painting three 5x7" paintings, for two I added salt to the background. It's a fun project that can easily be created into a variety of different paintings.

I used Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

Sundress and Purse

 

 

Our lovely Granddaughter will soon be 5 years old. While trying to be safe and staying home, I've been pretty busy working on her birthday gifts.

When I did get to see the family we were all enjoying several days at the beach. My Granddaughter and I decided that my next sewing project should be a sundress and she picked the mermaid fabric from the photos on my cellphone.

I found an adorable Pillowcase Dress Pattern online by Melissa Mortenson.   

I had some fabric left over and found a sweet Little Girl Bag Pattern online by Lorelie Jayne. It looks so cute next to the dress. Our little princess will have her new purse for her birthday.

              

I can't wait for our precious little girl to step out in  Mermaid style.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge-07.html 

Italy a Watercolor

When I began to paint this scene, I wasn't sure I would get through to the end. I had a problem matching my Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes to those used in the tutorial (liquid watercolors). The painting didn't look right to me the following morning, so I worked it out! This tutorial by Sarah Cray for Let's Make Art, was a challenge!

I transferred the outline of the Italian coastal town onto my Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor block,  using graphite paper .

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-236-cute.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

Seeds of Love, an Art Journal Page

 This pretty mixed media art journal page is from a tutorial by Tamara Laporte. This tutorial is in her book Create Your Life Book and is in a bundle of her lessons in Life Book 2020, which I bought online.

Tamara demonstrates a number of techniques, which she encourages you to use in your work intuitively. I enjoyed each and loved the music, along with the reasoning employed to use the layers in the project. I found the collage of scrapes followed by the white gesso with a brayer, a good way to layer and add textures. Working with two rubber stamps created even more textures plus interest. 

I used a variety of Caran d'ache crayons blending them with water. My Posca pens (black, white gold and silver) brought the piece to completion beautifully, with lots of patterning.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-15-mixed-media-lovers.html

https://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-185-ag-fun-in-sun.html 

Rain Art Journal Pages

 I don't think I said this often, but I love working in my art journal!

This mixed media spread was inspired by Einat Kessler. I loved the pages she created using matt medium, gelatos, gesso, stencils (by Faber-Castell) and Dylusions sprays. I tried doing my own layering and it was so fun, turning out so gorgeous! 

My Umbrella Man by Tim Holtz (Sizzix Big Die), really seems to be caught up in a great rainstorm. 

I really like  Einat Kessler quote! We are in the rainy season here in Florida. Although with all the lightening around, I wouldn't choose to dance in the rain.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-15-mixed-media-lovers.html

https://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-185-ag-fun-in-sun.html 

Harris Hawk Birds of Prey Part 2

This painting of a Harris Hawk is from the second half of Paul Clark's tutorial Birds of Prey. His intent was to contrast painting an Owl in watercolor pencils with this Hawk painted in watercolors.

I painted this Hawk with Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

I enjoyed painting each bird and believe there is room for all types of media. Artists should make that decision on their own...which ever is more comfortable or for their latest challenge!

For me they each served their purpose and I still have more learning to do before I take any type of media off the table.

Challenges:  

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-64-anything-goes-with.html 

Eagle Owl Birds of Prey Part 1

 

Funny story, earlier in the week, my husband Sandy pointed out two owls in a tree. The next day was Wednesday, tutorial day. Paul Clark posted this Eagle Owl for the first half of his Birds of Prey tutorial. For this painting he taught how to use watercolor pencils.

I used Derwent Inktense pencils for this painting and white Holbein Artists Gouache to enhance the piece. I used Canson 140 lb cold press watercolor paper.

I'm so glad I chose to work on this painting, my husband loved it.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/07/morgans-artworld-challenge-7.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/classic-design-challenge-july-7.html 

Meet Billie Eilish in Mixed Media

 
 This painting is from a tutorial in a Kaleidoscope Course hosted by Tamara Laporte. This is a high contrast mixed media portrait of the singer Billie Eilish.

I'm not familiar with this singer and it took most of the day to paint this tutorial. It was a challenge to paint, but I love how it came out!

I used Jane Davenport watercolors, along with assorted colored pencils and a few pens, on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. I used my light pad to transfer the tracing to my watercolor paper.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/classic-design-challenge-july-7.html

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/07/morgans-artworld-challenge-7.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-15-mixed-media-lovers.html 

https://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-185-ag-fun-in-sun.html

July 4th Art Journal Page

 

While glancing thru Pinterest, I found several 4th of July fireworks paintings and decided to give it a try.

Here's my process:

1) Center a 5x7" rectangle on my art journal page and tape it around.

2) Draw fireworks with the Daniel Smith Artist Masking Fluid. Let dry.

3) Cover rectangle with clear water.

4) Using Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus Set 1 liquid watercolors, painted a variety of pastel colorsletting them blend. Let dry.

5) Blend black watercolor in several places. Let dry.

6) Rub off Masking Fluid.

Ode to Parenthood Mixed Media

 This painting is from a tutorial in a Kaleidoscope Course hosted by Tamara Laporte. Her reference for this piece is a section of a Gustav Klimt's painting "The Three Ages of Woman," which shows "Mother and Child."

I wasn't familiar with this painting, but I do love the way this artist uses gold throughout his work. "The Woman in Gold," is a fabulous movie, staring Helen Mirren.

I used Jane Davenport watercolors, along with assorted colored pencils and a few pens, on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. I used my light pad to transfer the tracing to my watercolor paper.

I enjoyed working on this challenging piece.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/07/202207-july-2022-anything-goes.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/classic-design-challenge-july-7.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/07/morgans-artworld-challenge-7.html

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-15-mixed-media-lovers.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-072022-anything-goes.html