Let's Face It 2017

My take on an exercise in lesson one from Kara Bullock in Let's Face It 2017

I signed up for Let's Face It 2017. This is a year long art class all about painting faces/portraits. It is led and hosted by Kara Bullock but includes 19 other teachers throughout the year.  I have been busy with these lessons. I started a couple of weeks late and have been playing catch-up with the two lessons that were already published when I joined so that I can be on schedule as the new lessons come out.

Lesson One involved sketching faces from several angles and I have enjoyed working on these faces in my sketchbook.

Profile sketch from Let's Face It 2017

If you are not familiar with this class or with Kara I recommend you check out her website.  The class is great so far and Kara is an excellent teacher.

So that's what I've been up to - and why I am late to the PPF party. I hope you have been creating something fun recently.  I'd love to see what you are working on.

-Laney

Watercolor Sketch Girls

I've been doing some sketching and "watercoloring" in my art journal and on some loose sheets of watercolor paper. A focus on flowers a few months ago, has given way to a focus on faces lately.

I do have a small studio in my home, but sometimes I prefer to be in the living room with my husband in the evenings. I often like to curl up on the couch - so messy, mixed media art journaling is not an option for those times.  Both our couch and carpet are off-white! So simple watercolor sketching is just the right thing.

I sketch with a permanent pen. I like black Pigma Micron Pens and Sharpie markers. I prefer the fine point pens. For Pigma Microns I like the .05. Then I use my travel watercolor set with a water brush for applying the color.  The water brush keeps everything neater with no chance for spilling a jar of water on the couch or carpet.  The watercolors blend and flow where you place the water and it's fun to watch the colors mingle.  :)

I'm working on shading with the watercolor. It's tricky sometimes and I am learning to "go with the flow" and let it be loose.  It's a different "feel" than acrylics.

But it's an enjoyable way to spend an evening while watching TV or talking, and it's a great way to fit some more creative time into a busy week.


I hope this inspires you to try something similar as a way of getting more creative time in your week.

Do you ever create outside the studio/dedicated art space?

-Laney

DLP April PACs

I've been having a great time making these PACs (Pocket Art Cards) in The Documented Life Project 2016. This one was for the prompt "Make a pocket and fill it."

Lots of my gelli prints are in this little project. I made the pocket out of a gelli printed paper. Used a piece of gelli printed paper for the background of the card and the flower.  Inspired by Roben-Marie, Sandi Keene and Anna Freisen, I drew the flower on top of a gelli print and doodled on it with a stabilo pencil and paint pens, then cut it out and glued it to the card.

This one is "Fill your card with numbers." Again I started with a gelli printed background, then added layers of paint and scribbled numbers.  I drew a flower on some book paper and collaged it to the card.

Next up is "Use a color you usually avoid."  For me purple is one of those colors that I find I don't use often. I started with a teal gelli print and added the purple with paint and colored pencil as well as markers.  Reminds me of the '90s when teal and purple was sort of a stylish color combo.

This one is "Black and white."  I started this one with graph paper glued to the card then doodled with black markers and paint pens. I love color so much that it's hard for me to leave black and white alone!  ;)

This was a fun one. "Add a face."  Another gelli print for the background, then some fun with paint, pencils, and pens.

Are you participating in DLP 2016? Have you played along in years past? It's a fun project and all the artists are so inspiring!

Hope you have a creative weekend!

-Laney

Linking up with Paint Party Friday

Lady in the Garden

Happy Friday! This Lady in the Garden appeared in my sketchbook the other day. Mixed media - watercolor, colored pencil, pen and marker. She's not perfect, lol, but it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening on the couch!

Hope you have a fun and creative weekend!

Linking up with Paint Party Friday.