Dylusions Creative Journal

 

I recently bought the large Dylusions Creative Journal. I decided to try to fill it with my work outside of the many paintings I've been doing. I want to fill in the down time between my paintings with new art.                                                                               

The first thing I did was cover the brown paper cover with white gesso and when it was almost dry, I covered the gesso with Prussian Blue Caran D'ache water-soluble crayon. I used a damp sponge brush to spread the activated crayon throughout the journal cover. It seems the dark colored crayon mixed with the gesso changing the color to a lovely shade of light blue! It really is so nice that the book can lay flat to work on the cover and also on the pages inside!

I cut white words on my Cricut Craft Machine. I ran the letters thru my Create-A-Sticker machine to apply adhesive to the back of the words and adhered them to the journal once it was dry. 

I used a stencil to trace the stars on my journal cover and back filling them in white with a Posca Pen.

I look forward to displaying future work done in this new journal.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/04/reminderpost-challenge-12.html

https://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-182-ag-beautiful-butterflies.html 

Seascape with People

 

This seascape was a bit harder to work on, but eventually it worked well. It's from a tutorial by Paul Clark. I had a problem with the tree, but after awhile I worked on it, doing some additional fullness and some more color.

I used Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes on an Arches 140 lb. watercolor cold press block. I used Holbein Artists white gouache for the highlights on the folks enjoying their afternoon.

I enjoyed the challenge of this painting and will be working on many more.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge.html 

Rainbow Cheetah in Watercolor

I just had to paint this Cheetah (maybe a leopard). Someone wasn't sure which animal it is, but I just wanted to paint it! I wanted to do it as a challenge to my ability and my husband wanted it framed and on the wall with my zebra! Besides who doesn't love rainbows! 

This is from a tutorial by Sarah Cray for Let's Make Art. This colorful animal is painted on Canson 140 lb. watercolor paper, using Winsor newton Cotman tube watercolor paints.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html

http://pearlysparkleschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-72-no-cards-allowed-anything.html# 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html
 

Rainbow Bunny Watercolor

 

It's bunny season and this Rainbow Bunny from a tutorial by The Art Sherpa, Cinnamon Cooney is just perfect. This cute theme invites the blending of colors into a fun piece.

I used Jane Davenport watercolors on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

This was such a fun painting to watch how the colors mix, blend and lighten as the painting dries.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

http://pearlysparkleschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-72-no-cards-allowed-anything.html#

https://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-233-things-with-wings.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

The Blue Butterfly Postcard

 This painting of "Blue Butterfly" is from a tutorial by Sarah Cray for Let's Make Art.

I used my light box to transfer a line drawing to the watercolor paper. The painting is on a 4 x 6" Winsor Newton Watercolor cold press postcard. It was painted using Winsor Newton Cotman tube colors. I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White for the bit of details and the many dots. I placed the dots using an embossing stylist.

I enjoyed playing with the limited color palette and the out of focus background. It was an enjoyable challenge!

I got a new set of postcards to paint as a gift and since I like this butterfly design, I painted it again.

 

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

https://mirtillamente-challenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/mirtillamente-challenge-8-april-2022.html

http://pearlysparkleschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-72-no-cards-allowed-anything.html 

http://unicornchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-75-include-animal.html

Northern Lights a Watercolor

 

This painting of the Northern Lights is from a set of Evening Sky tutorials by Paul Clark. I was sure this painting was not going to work out for me and find its way into the circular file. Surprise it worked well!

I painted this piece with Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes, on Canson 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White for the stars.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/morgans-artworld-challenge-4.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/classic-design-challenge-6th-birthday.html 

Mama Bear Watercolor

 

After doing a couple of Goldilocks and Three Bears in mixed media, I came across this Mama Bear tutorial by Sarah Cray for Let's Make Art. It's a watercolor lesson showing how to mix colors. You can come up with different tones of a color by what you add to it. The warm tones of the brown bear show hints of yellow and orange.

I used my light pad to transfer the outline provided, onto to Canson 140 lb. cold press paper and painted this delightful bear using Winsor Newton Cotman watercolor tubes.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/morgans-artworld-challenge-4.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/classic-design-challenge-6th-birthday.html 

https://mirtillamente-challenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/mirtillamente-challenge-8-april-2022.html

Spanish Arch/Rocky Cliffs

 

I looked forward to working on this Spanish Arch with some trepidation. This rocky seascape is from a tutorial by Paul Clark. I was fine following Clark's instructions until I got to the bottom of the painting and couldn't find a way to work around the rocks and water. Luckily my husband Sandy knew exactly what to suggest! I told him he saved my work!

Throughout the work, I got to use some interesting techniques including the use of cling wrap on the rocky cliffs and the white crayon (didn't have a white candle handy) to save the white of the paper. I also used Pebeo Drawing Gum to save some of the white of the paper. I painted with Winsor Newton Cotman tube colors on an Arches 140 lb. cold press block.

I'm extremely pleased with the finished painting and look forward to more of Paul Clark's excellent tutorials.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/04/202204-april-2022-anything-goes.html

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/morgans-artworld-challenge-4.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/classic-design-challenge-6th-birthday.html

https://mirtillamente-challenge.blogspot.com/2022/04/mirtillamente-challenge-8-april-2022.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2022/04/challenge-042022-april-2022.html