Sunday, December 18, 2011

Solstice Angel for the Holidays

I want to wish each and every one of my blog buddies and blog browsers a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Holiday!!!



Solstice Angel

Solstice Angel was done in my magic chair (studio still out of commission, lol) with pastel and graphite on hot press watercolor paper.  Wasn't real crazy about the graininess of the shading so I will try a pastel paper next time.  I'm also  working on a girlie face done in caran d'ache watercolor crayon exclusively too.  It's harder than using the titanium white acrylic paint with it like Tam taught us over at Willowing.com (see sidebar).

A quick update on Mom - She is improving steadily and will be starting physical therapy after the holidays. I think she will do great!  Thank you all for wishing her a speedy recovery!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Saturday, December 10, 2011

"Standard Issue" in progress

Good morning bloggers and friends!  Today finds me working on my unorganized household.  Got a major start yesterday and hope to have it under control by the holiday. 

I did manage to do a girlie from my comfortable seat in the magic chair.  I started with a simple water colored background thrown together in the studio then just drew over it with a black "stabilo all" pencil and added pastels and watercolor pencils - smoothing it with a small water brush.  Those little water brushes are the bomb for working outside the studio. 


She's not that interesting but I'm planning on adding some collaging layers and journaling to her.   Right now I call her "standard issue jessi..." ha!  Really been struggling with the creativity lately and my unorganized mess isn't helping.  So, I'm heading back into the studio to clean!!!

I'm not decorating for the holidays as Mom is unable to walk still after her fall on Thanksgiving and we will be spending our time at the doctors and rehab this season.  (Oh joy.)  She is now staying with friends which has freed me up a little this week to get caught up around here.  This year has sure set us back.  I am so ready for a fresh new year!

Looking forward to seeing what you are all up to this Christmas - that is if you have a chance to post!

Stay tuned for more adventures from butterfly girl too!

Forever in art,

Jessi


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Adventures with Owlet

Hello my artsy blog buddies!  Yes, I'm still here.  Butterfly Girl has been away saving the world again.  Really, she's saving my world.

I've been sooooo busy I don't have any new art to share with you but I have some photos of my adventures with Owlet, coffee cozy.  I got this cool cozy from my Friend Cameron who created and stitched him up in felt (see her fabulous Etsy shop!). 




I've been sharing him with all the hipsters at my favorite Dutch Bros. and they love him!

That day I had a rare 2 hrs. or so to play before reality set back in again so Owlet and I went searching for Edward and Bella in the forest.  It was such a "Twilight" kind of day.  Dark out and a little spooky with a misty rain falling - my imagination took over...

Oh, and by the way Cam, Jasper dog loves him too!  He sneaks him out of my purse, nuzzles him and then gently places him back by my bag.  He has never done anything like that before.  He does it over and over.  Silly dog, he loves Owlet too!

What little time I've had in the studio has been spent on making some less than spectacular Christmas cards.  I sure hope things will settle down so I can have quality time in the studio again soon!  Meanwhile, I have kept a close bond with Butterfly Girl and she has had an adventure or two with Owlet as her sidekick that I will share later on another post.  Currently she is saving the world by gently insisting we all recycle.  So I've been making all kinds of recycle journal signatures and cutting out cereal box covers for them.  More on that next time...

In the studio this week I cued up my favorite Christmas music -  Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan, and I've got a few new CD's to spin later this week too.

Ring those sleigh bells and keep arting my friends!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Friday, November 11, 2011

My alter ego - Butterfly Girl

Hello beautiful blog friends!  Just a quick post from the studio today...

A little while back in my journal I was thinking about taking Tam's course on Willowing to learn how do do whimsy and then I started thinking about comic book heroes.  One thing led to another and the next thing I know I was sketching out my alter ego, Butterfly Girl.  (That magic chair surprises me sometimes.)


At first I thought, "Butterfly Girl?"  A little simple but I decided I liked it.  So then a couple of days ago I took a scrap of old 90lb hot press w/c paper and sketched her out again.  I tried using my colored pencils again but it just wasn't working for me.  So today I messed around with w/c pencils, pastels and w/c crayons but now it's a bit of a mess plus I ran out of room on the side.  So, I've sketched her again and I'm just going to try copic markers and see what happens.  I think I need to take Tam's course, the Wonderful World of Whimsy!!!

Secretly I have wanted to try my hand at a little comic book, or graphic novel, and I bought a Bamboo Craft tablet to try as well.  There is nothing like biting off more than you can chew!!!

Only time will tell what will become of Butterfly Girl!

Music in the studio:  Five for Fighting - America Town CD, Superman (It's not easy)

I hope you are all enjoying the glorious fall colors, I sure am!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Here She comes again...

Hello-o-o from the studio-o-o!  Just in case you didn't get enough of my Goddess from Willowing's class back from the first of this year, here she is again.  She's finally finished!  Hooray the Goddess is done!  She just keeps coming back around like that mouldy fruitcake from Xmas - ha!

It is true that my life really wasn't my own for most of this year and many of my projects still remain undone.  So, I am glad to have finally finished one of the big ones!!!

 Goddess Now...


Goddess before...

I thoroughly enjoyed working on her again after all this time.  I think I will be revisiting my Mermaid painting as well but not for a while - I need to create anew!

I must admit to being very tired and overwhelmed so my muse is but a whisper.  Alas, a whisper is better than total silence so I will go with that!

My magic chair has been a hostess to my idea journal as of late and I've been coming up with a lot of fun ideas - we'll see if I can actually get some of them off the ground as I work on recuperating.

Thanks for sticking with me my friends!!!  Your comments make me feel like I'm not so alone with my heavy heart and it's lovely to know you are all still creating and sharing of yourselves - I am trying too!  Please forgive me for not answering all your comments - I'm still catching up and will be around more soon.

Music in the studio this week: DVD's    The Band Perry
                                                       Taylor Swift - Fearless
                                                       Taylor Swift - Speak Now

So, keep your fingernails dirty with bright colors under them and I will too!

Forever in art,

Jessi
                                                                                  
 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I'm still Standing...

Hello my artsy friends!  I'm so sorry I haven't been able to post for the last month.  I hope you haven't forgotten about me!  I even missed my first blogaversary!  I would like to make up for it with a give away before the holidays come upon us... We'll see. 

As some of you know, I have been spending most of my time taking care of my father as his illness progressed.  It is with great sadness that I share his passing with you.  He left us on Oct. 11th in the morning, 2 weeks short of his 86th birthday.  My Mom is doing well but we are both exhausted and in the process of grieving and change.  Thank you to all of you who shared their prayers and well wishes to my Dad and Mom and gave me support over the last several months.

My creativity has been at an all time low but today I was able to do a working sketch of a fairy that I want to develop into a painting at some later date.  So here she is...


Working sketch of faerie

I had to halt my reorganization of my studio but I really am not too far from being finished.  I'm hoping to share it within the next couple of weeks along with some new art too.

Keep arting, my lovelies, and I certainly will too!

Forever in art,

Jessi



Monday, September 19, 2011

As My World Turns...

Hi lovelies!  I hope this blog entry finds you all doing well and being creative!  Thank you all so much for your comments and encouragement.  I must admit that I have been carrying a heavy burden regarding my family and it has put me off of my usual creative journey.  I've experienced one of the roughest weeks so far.  I also have not had the time to visit you all like I want to and that is making me grumpy as well.  I miss the time I usually spend enjoying your creative adventures and hearing what is up in your lives.

I am still working furiously on my studio and 2nd bedroom re-organization and decoration and I'm almost done with the studio!  All the tough heavy work is behind me now so I should be able to finish up in the next few days.  Of course I will be sharing pictures on my next post.  The wall color has not changed 'cuz I love it but almost everything else has.

As far as my arting goes, I worked on a loose-leaf journal page today and last night in my magic chair.  I could not get to some of my supplies so it is pretty simple.  It shows some of my current state of mind... I subscribe to open expression and embrace my motto -  journaling and arting saves!!!

Her Truth

I created the background with craft paint using my fingers and stamped script with charcoal ink. Then I started to do a pen and ink fairy then changed my mind and went for the graphite and watercolor pencils.  I found my Dymo label maker and used it for the first time since I moved here - lol!  It helps to clean, unpack and organize!  When I can get to all my supplies I will probably add a little color to her face and hair... 

Over the Tam's Willowing site, http://willowing.ning.com/, Rhomany is offering a free course on creating and organizing your workspace.  She has posted allot of discussions already even though the course doesn't start until Oct. 1st.  Guess I jumped the gun with my make-over but I will be following along anyway.  She's got some great ideas on how to manage it all - it can be a daunting task for sure! 

Please keep on arting, my friends I think it just might keep us all sane - lol!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Summer heat has made me goofy!

Hello all you creative geniuses!  I know it's been a while but I've got a good excuse.  The heat has has finally pushed me over the edge, waha, ha, ha!  My art work has been so bad I can't bear to look at it let alone post it!  I swear, everything I try turns into a miserable failure lately.

There is another reason too.  I have a confession to make... Instead of taking a vacation and buying new summer clothes, I have treated myself like a princess and stocked my studio to bursting.  Obviously the added supplies have not helped my creativity and as I'm slower on the upswing than I used to be, the learning curve on those supplies is tripping me up a bit.  That's what happens when I get greedy and want all the new cool stuff.  So, it's back to the drawing board for me.  I was so anxious to use all the stuff at once I really made a mess.  It's hilarious actually, and proves a very good point.  You don't need all the fancy supplies to create good art!!!

So anyway, this is the best one of the bunch and as you can see, I didn't know whether I wanted to draw, doodle, paint or put my finger up my nose... YIKES!


Indian Summer Faerie

Or, fright night, I'm not sure which! LOL!  She is a hot mess but I had fun messing her up anyway.  I used so many different things.  Water soluble graphite, watercolor crayons and pencils, ink etc., etc...

This summer has been incredibly busy for me and I cannot wait for fall already.  I need some cooling, calming creative time in the studio and some time to rest my jangled nerves and get back into the artful bliss groove I love.  I'm pretty sure a lot of you are feeling the same way too! 

I am working right now on re-arranging and re-organizing the studio to accommodate the new addition of supplies, so when it's finished I will share photos with you.  I'm not re-painting, just re-doing the tables and storage and moving my desk and computer in as well.  I'm very excited about it.

I sure hope all of you are staying cool or warm - whichever time of year it is for you.  Keep that pencil, paintbrush or marker moving and we'll get together again real soon!

Music in the studio was oldies but goodies -  Credence Clearwater Revival, Journey, Fleetwood Mac.  I didn't make it to Duran Duran so that will be next week, lol!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Friday, September 2, 2011

Of Trees and Bees and Art Journaling...

Hello my faithful art friends!  I'm so sorry I haven't been able to post or get around to all your blogs like I would normally do.  Life just got a little out of hand for me...

I really stretched myself physically with the tree project and have been suffering for it.  It is suffering for a good cause tho!  I was blessed with four strong boys on Monday who came to help finish the job of the privacy screen.  I have temporarily re potted the three Douglas fir trees, the leiland cypress and my Granny Smith apple tree to be planted at the end of this month after I harvest the 14 little apples on it.  I planted the blue spruce to the right of my studio window and can't wait for it to grow up enough to see it whilst I art.

I have been spreading the left over soil from the job on my front lawn to fill in all the holes and low spots.  I will sprinkle some seed and weed control and just wait to see what happens.  It's the best I am able to do on my own.

I have not had time to art much so I don't have any photos of finished art to share.  Just a shot of my journal spread I started yesterday and the trees for the privacy screen...

 Just background layers in my art journal...

 My worker bees...

Finished privacy screen...

This privacy screen was necessary for my sanity due to the fact that the owner of the house next door allowed a family of five to move into a tent in her backyard.  The guy walks around with no shirt and a huge butt crack hanging out and they spend allot of their time disciplining the kids with a belt.  I just needed some relief from the crazy loud working class element there.  They have quieted down a bit now that the dad is back to work and school has started.  I (and the neighborhood) can't wait until they move into a place of their own!!!  Yikes!  What a summer this has been!

I've been spending as much time away from home as I have been able to.  My Dad's condition is progressing, of course, so I'm spending more time there with Mom and Dad.  I can't wait to settle into fall and take time exploring the countryside with fall color.  My art studio is also screaming for my attention.  "Soon!", I shout back...

Forever in art,

Jessi

 




Saturday, August 20, 2011

Forest Murmurings...

Hellooo from my studiooo...!  I hope this post finds you all doing well and arting to your hearts content.  

This is the latest painting I've done -



Forest Faerie

Forest Murmurings

Who softly treads these forest floors
And casts her charms to gentle wind,

Cause rustle of the turning leaves
When stretching velvet mossy wing,

By deadwood tree in quiet grove
A single bird begins to sing,

Of faerie tale by evening's light,
The moon's full glow in silver bring,

Enchanting visions fade to mist...
The forest sighs in echos ring.

                               -Jessica Watson

The painting is mixed media on 12 x 16 canvas in mostly acrylic. I built the layers with decorative papers, antique book pages and vintage maps. Below her I've included the poem I wrote that inspired this work... 

I've been spending allot of time out of doors and wanted to share a bit of my art it inspired.  I hope you've enjoyed the little bit of fantasy I've brought to this blog post.
 
Additionally this post is dedicated to all the huge old trees that gave their lives up this week at the whim of misguided townsfolk and changed our beautiful vistas forever...from glorious green to desolate bleakness.
 
In response to such nonsense,  I've just purchased 9 new trees and will be transplanting 5 smaller ones ready for life in the solid earth.  My mom also gave me a tiny giant redwood volunteer from the huge one in her yard.  It will need another season of life in a pot and in the spring it will be ready to soar!  How's that for a one, two punch?!

Forever in art,
Jessi

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Goodbye Summer of Color

Hello lovely blog friends!  This year we have had so many dragonflies in the garden - I love watching them hover and flit about.  I have also been tickled to see little bright green tree frogs in my hydrangeas! They always disappear when I go to get my camera though!  So with that inspiration I put together one last girlie in an attempt at compiling a folder for the color of summer.  I have to say I am pooped so this is my last contribution -  a redo of green week so I will have a green girlie for my collection...

 
Summer Days

The iridescence on the dragonfly does not show well but is pretty in person.  I have not added the lettering yet but I wanted to share her with you first.

Thank you to all my new blog friends and followers who I've met through Summer of Color and Willowing (see sidebar).  And of course, thanks to Kristin of Twinkle, Twinkle who developed and presented this gorgeous challenge for the summer!

Oh, the weather is dryer, the sun is out and I can feel the strength coming back to my muscles!  It's out to the garden for me!  I hope I am feeling more myself soon and can present a blog post that's a little more creative and uplifting next time!  Thank you all for hanging in here with me!!!

Forever in Art,

Jessi xox[

Monday, August 1, 2011

Tangerine Dreams - Summer of Color

It's our last color week of Summer of Color and that color is orange!  Not an easy color for me.  The only way I have ever been able to work with orange is to marry it with pink and maybe a little aqua and yellow. So I've done my girlie in hot pink to balance out the orange.




Tangerine Dreams

This has been a colorful journey and I'm glad I've been able to stick with it in it's entirety.  I've decided to do another girlie for green week even though I had done a different project for that week and I still need to do a brown girlie for the brown week I missed with my Dad's illness.

My plans are to make a Summer of Color art portfolio with all my girls in them.  These new girlies and the portfolio will be revealed within the next three weeks.  Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle will be instructing us on how we are to present our projects.  Oh, and have I mentioned how fabulous she is?

I hope you are all enjoying the summer.  We've finally got our hot weather and some sun! Yay!  A couple of false starts but I'm hoping it's here for a good long stay.

You know what I like to say - keep the pens, pencils, crayons and paints flying and have a wonderfully artful week!

Forever in art,

Jessi xox

Monday, July 25, 2011

Twilight Garden Faerie

Twilight softly falls.  As the crickets start their song, the crescent moon is seen rising above the painted garden.  The tiny brook gurgles gently down it's lazy path between the willow trees and the large mop head hydrangeas nod their heads in the cool breeze.  There by the split rail fence where the the clematis vines climb, a pretty little face peers out, moonlight reflecting in her violet eyes...

Twilight Garden Faerie

Welcome to Kristin's Summer of Color's purple week.  I have a feeling this week will be a big hit for purple lovers everywhere.  I know it's one of my favorite colors to work with.  I wish I had had more time to work with this doodle girlie but I'm afraid I had to wrap it up a little early so it will have to do for my entry this week.  It seems like the muse rarely visits when I am so tired - or maybe I just can't hear or feel her quite as well. 

It's sure been fun to meet everyone who has followed the challenge but to be honest it was much bigger than I anticipated and it has been a challenge in itself just to keep up with all of you fabulous artists!   I hope those of you that I have missed from time to time or I have not responded to directly will forgive me.  Just know that I have enjoyed you all and your art and appreciate all the comments and support you have given me (and my Dad!).  He is holding his own right now but circumstances are becoming a little more demanding of my time and energy.

Please accept my apology in advance if I am not able to respond to all of you this week!  I will try my best of course -  I adore purple!

I am looking forward to wearing as much purple, lavender and lilac clothing as I can this week in honor of Summer of Color!  

Forever in art,

Jessi xox

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Frida Goddess - Channeling Frida

Hello Lovelies!  I am humbled and amazed at the outpouring of comments and good wishes for my Dad that I received from you all last post.  It warmed my heart so much to hear from all of you; Dad and Mom were very moved.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!  

So just a quick post to let you know what I've been up to.  I watched the beautiful art film "Frida" on the life of Frida Kahlo yesterday and decided to do a painted m/m girlie last night.  Well I'm still working on her today.  She's not done yet but I wanted to post her for the red week challenge on Summer of Color.  I missed last weeks brown challenge due to a very hectic schedule and I felt compelled to try and enter something this week.

I have yet to finish the background, add more shading, detail to her hair wrap and eyes and I wanted to be sure to add a butterfly somewhere. (Added three...) 

"Channeling Frida"

It's been raining for two days and quite dark so the photo is a bit washed out.  I will post another one of her when she is done and and the sun is shining.

Thank you again for all your support and positive outreach. It means more to me than you can imagine!

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

Forever in art,

Jessi xox

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Summery Golden Yellow...

"Hellooo" from my studio!  What gorgeous weather we are having this independence day weekend!  Although I've been very busy, I've been able to enjoy the summer evenings the most.  It's my favorite time of day when the edge is off of the heat, the sun is low enough to put that wonderful lazy golden light on everything and the gentle breeze is just the tiniest bit cooler.  

The neighbors in our circle are out puttering around their gardens and outdoor projects and the kids are playing in and around our yards.  I love it!  I've my soda can in one hand and hand pruners in the other with Jasper running loose and wild...  Every now and again I pop a tiny strawberry from my garden into my mouth.  Yummmm!

And here is what I've been doing late at night or early in the morning...

Of Summer...

This is my entry for yellow week at Summer of Color.  Things have gotten pretty complicated in my life lately and I may have to slow down for a while with this challenge.  My father is not doing well and my focus is spilt.  Mom and Dad need my help now as things are getting very serious for him.  His pancreatic cancer is moving into a more advanced stage and I will be setting up Hospice for him this next week.  I ask that you send us some positive and healing energy as these rough times come upon us. 

I have enjoyed everyone's projects and blogs and am thrilled that so many of you have taken the time to come and visit my blog too!  I may not be able to visit as often for a while but I will try my best. 

Have a wonderful lazy summer weekend!

Music in the studio this week was:  Taylor Swift and Pink's Greatest Hits

Forever in Art,

Jessica xox



Saturday, June 25, 2011

In to P!NK!

It's almost time again to post our art for Summer of Color and for once I am ready! This next week is pink week.  To get inspired I put in my     P!NK'S Funhouse dvd and rocked out for a while with my latte' this morning.  Interestingly enough my painting turned out rather soft in spite of the raucous fun sound and visuals. 

I was inspired by P!NK'S performance of "Glitter in the Air" and picked up on the softer nuances of of the visuals and the song itself is a lovely one.  It is one of P!NK'S stunning aerial performances.  So anyhow, here is my entry...


 Glitter in the Air

This one I stayed with from start to finish without a break except to make another latte'.  I wanted to make sure I kept the same inspirational vibe I was riding on.

I want to thank everyone for their lovely and encouraging comments this last week!  You all kept me focused on this challenge - thank  you!  Also I want to welcome the new followers to my blog.  I get so excited when I have another like-minded soul link up!

In the news - Jasper has recovered nicely from his eye operation 12 days ago.  He is happy and in the pink!  He is well enough to be rousting the cat and she is not thrilled!  Poor little girl - she is getting on in years and wants to play on her own terms!

We've been having beautiful weather and I have been running around trying to catch up on all the stuff that got pushed aside for wintertime (almost 8 month's of it this year)!  So I will be starting to engage in summer cleaning as spring cleaning doesn't work well in the pouring rain, lol.

This next week it looks like I might have a little more time for arting in between the cleaning sessions.  I can't wait to spend a little more time at home around the house and garden and less time running to the vet and doctors appointments etc., etc...!

Sung-Hee  http://sungheereginahong.blogspot.com/ is having a Silly Me Doodle Party link up at her blog.  Check it out!   

I'll be stopping by your blogs to enjoy your art for pink week and to and visit all my regulars as well!  Keep on arting everyone!

Forever in art,
Jessi



Monday, June 20, 2011

Green is my Fav!

Hello all you creative geniuses!  And I'm not kidding!  After viewing so much of your work for blue week on the Summer of Color, I am dazed and amazed at the flow of creativity out there!

I want to thank all of you who came to view my blog and my work and to those of you who are now following.  I hope you enjoy your visit here.  I've been unusually busy these last couple of weeks and I am struggling to keep up with everyone so hang tight and I'll get to your blog eventually - lol!

I would have to say that all shades of green are probably my favorite color.  I wish I had had more time to work on this week's challenge!  So, here is my entry for GREEN week.


I continued on a theme I had started called "I Heart Art".  The substrate is inexpensive watercolor paper and I used a combination of watercolor and acrylic paints.  All the spraying of stencils was done with glimmer mist.  I collaged pieces of torn book pages and a little script from scrapbook paper and then added a touch of glitter.  From some painted grocery brown bags I cut out green hearts to add to the mix.  Lastly I scribbled and wrote on it with a black ink dip pen.  And there you have it...

Full speed ahead for the next week's Summer of Color challenge!

Music in the studio this week was Sheryl Crow's Wildflower and pandora radio...

Forever in art,  Jessi

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Heavenly Blue Fairy and Blu Garden Faerie

Hello all you colorful artsy types! It's Monday and our first time to submit our project for Summer of Color, the 1st week of Blue! Yay!

Well, as you can see, I did not step too far outside of my comfort zone for this first one! Ummm, a fairy journal spread, of course, done with caran d'ache w/c crayons and acrylic paint.  I did her in my hot press watercolor paper journal using golden gesso, crafter's workshop stencil, colorwash spray, glimmer mist, and clear stamps with distress ink and white paint. 

Underneath it all I journaled both pages with thoughts on blue and garden treasures in blue.  After writing about the garden, my tiffany blue fairy ended up masquerading as the heavenly blue morning glory fairy for this week, ha!

The mantra reads...

Heavenly Blue

Morning Glory Faerie and Vine,
Disease and depression you will bind
With cool, calming peace of mind.
- Jessica Watson -


My second project was another fairy, Blu Garden Faerie, done in my doodle style on painted and stamped background...

Blu Garden Faerie

Although I had fun doing them both, I think this one is my favorite blue fairy.  Viva la Summer of Color!

Stay tuned for next weeks' color and entry!

Music in the studio this week was Zen collections.

Forever in art,  Jessica xox

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Summer of Color - Blog Party!

Hello creative lovelies!  Today is the kick off for Kristin's blog party "The Summer of Color" at: 
http://twinkletwinklelikeastar.blogspot.com/ ! Yay!


This weeks challenge will be the color BLUE and all its hues.  Each week there will be a new color, a new challenge.  We can interpret that color in any form of art that we choose to do. If you doodle, paint with mixed media, watercolor, make journal pages, whatever you favorite form of art, you can share your piece each week with the blog party. 

I know that Kristin is having some awesome give-aways too!  So if you want to participate with us, pop on over to Kristin's blog (there's a blinking button at the left too) and get all the specifics of the party.
I will no doubt be choosing Tiffany blue to work with this week...


So if this sounds like a fun creative way to jump into summer, get out those art supplies and get busy - we'll see you at the party!

Forever in art,  Jessica xox

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Fantasy for the Soul

Hellooo, Hellooo! I'm here in blogland to share a little art, life and beauty with you all..

Since my last post it has been raining almost non stop. Monday we were blessed with half of a day of beautiful sun so I jumped in the truck and headed to the nursery for some new things for the garden.  Two rose bushes, a jasmine and honeysuckle vine later, I was a happy girl! Of course it hasn't stopped raining long enough to plant them but I hear the weekend will be lovely.  I can't wait!

So while the thunder storms raged on, I cuddled in my magic chair with some chamomile tea and dreamed of Mermaids on sunny beaches and flower faeries in the gardens and forests...

It makes me happy to think of such fae things - there is enough harsh reality out there so why not indulge in a little fantasy for the soul?

Siren of Mystery

Today the coast is supposed to be clear of the storms so I am going to joy ride to Bandon by the Sea to do a little book shopping and maybe even Coos Bay to visit my friendly art store there.  I'm hoping there will be sun breaks so I can snap a few photos for you!

Jasper went to the vet again yesterday for his eye and got a big shot. He is feeling so much better today I feel o.k. to leave him outside while I go and play!

So adios amigo , I'm off... Don't forget to feed your soul with a little fantasy or two... or three...

Forever in art,

Jessica (JessiVille)


Friday, May 27, 2011

The May Queen

Hello my lovely artsy peeps! I've been taking a break from the frustrating problems I have been encountering with blogger as of late.  I  have not been able to leave comments on many of your blogs and yet amazingly you all have continued to visit me and leave gloriously lovely comments on mine!  I have not checked to see if my google I.D. is working yet today 'cuz I want to post first.

Before I share any more with you I would like to give Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle a shout out for her new event, "The Summer of Color" commencing June 6th. If you haven't linked to her event button, pop on over and check it all out!  It's going to be a fun, colorful summer!

Guess what?  I've done another doodle girlie! (surprise, surprise).  Ha, the magic chair strikes again...


She is the May Queen.  I figured I'd better get her posted while it is still May!  I had a lot of trouble with this one 'cuz I gessoed the face with golden's gesso and the colored pencils wouldn't work. (I usually use liquitex artist grade gesso - not the basic.)  So I used copic markers and they didn't like the gesso either!  It's a little sticky feeling but I played around with it, adding sparkly gelly roll pen work to it.  I got tired of working on this before I could add the glitter to her crown.  This was really a bit of a mess!  I guess there are certain mediums that just don't mix well!  Golden's gesso is so much smoother than the liquitex and I love it for painting faces on canvas but not for these doodles ever again!

I am starting a new project in the studio, The Green Faerie.  She is mixed media on canvas and already a challenge.  I hope to be able to share her soon!  Maybe I will wait for Kristen's color event and hope she has a "green" week in which I can showcase her!

I want to also give a shout out to Sung-Hee Hong (Regina) who has been sharing her amazing soulful work by video lately.  I've become addicted to her process and insightful way of expressing herself.  Thank you Sung-Hee!

Well, I'm anxious to get into the studio and mix up the green paint for my faerie.  I've been listening to Enya while I work on her...

So keep creating and wear that paint around your fingernails proudly (as I do)!

Forever in art,

Jessica xox

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

"Goddess at the Garden Gate" Journal Page

Hellooooooo out there!  Hope you are all doing well!  I am sitting in my magic chair and blogging to the thunder and hail that is pounding down on us.  True to my intention, I started my goddess doodle last night and finished her up this afternoon.  

She is the Goddess at the Garden Gate.  I've been reading about various goddesses and gardening and thought I'd put it together in my girlie doodle.


I started with a watercolor background then I layered some stamping with gesso and random craft paint marks.  Next I collaged different flowers scanned from magazines onto my girlie sketch.  I got up around 2 this morning and went into the studio, found and cut out the book text to paste onto the page.  It says "gardens with mossy shimmering pebbles and tender pink rosebuds." - then I went back to sleep.  I did the pen and colored pencil work on her this afternoon and finished with the writing and scribbles.  She was very fun to do and definitely looks better in person! 

I want to thank you all for your support of my stenciled journal page on my last post, I Heart Art.  I was so far out of my comfort zone in that I have only sprayed large canvases and done the graffiti thing to them.  To try and hold myself back without ending up with a muddy mess was very challenging for me!  I think now I know what is missing - some sewing!  I might add some later if I remember.

O.K., I started this post last night but wanted to wait and take a better photo of the goddess this morning...

There was no music in the studio this time.  Just my magic chair, the storm and my fur babies for the sound of gentle snoring...

Creatively yours,

Jessica

Sunday, May 15, 2011

I Heart Art!

Helloooo my artsy peeps!  This week I tried making some layered backgrounds but was not that successful at it.  I'm still at a loss as to how or what I'm trying to accomplish.  There is one I might be able to use as a doodle girlie background. 

Between this and blogger being down 2 days for me, I've felt very disconnected from myself.  I need my art and I need to see others creating and enjoying art too!  It's how I hold on to my sanity right now.  I just didn't realize how much I depended on the blogging community to lift my spirits and make me feel down right arty.  I so appreciate all of you!!!

As I try to reconnect with myself, I will be doodling tonight!  Here is a boring journal page I did on "I heart art", my mantra this week...

 Glimmer mist, colorwash, stencils, book page text, dip pen and ink...

Here is a pic of a freesia that volunteered from a pot of something else my mom gave me from her garden last summer - Canterbury bells I think...  Such a fragrant surprise.

I will be posting again in the next day or two with a new girlie and maybe some other art too.  Stay creative - I know you are all busy but we need this arty outlet to keep our creative spirits nurtured!

Now I'm going to relax my nerves with a cup of chamomile flower tea - more on that next time...

Forever in art,

Jessica xox
   

Monday, May 9, 2011

Playtime in the Studio

Hellooooo!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I sure enjoyed the time I spent with my Mother.  I got her some roses, baked her favorite banana cake and created a tiny little card for her in watercolor.  Working this tiny is not something I intend to do again.  I just could not control the brush or get the detail I wanted.  But I'll try anything once!


I added a tiny golden crystal to the center of the big flower and a bright pink crystal to her necklace. Even though I struggled with it, Mom adored it and that's what matters most!

Today I played around with journal pages and creating backgrounds.  Here is one of my journal pages for today - "Play".  It was dark when I took the photo and the colors are much more vibrant and prettier in person.  What looks to be coral pink is really a juicy cherry color.  It was all about having playtime and fun.  I made a huge mess and almost wasn't able to get my table clean - I was even scraping paint off the wood flooring...

Too bad the colors are so washed out...

My dark purple lilacs have bloomed and they smell fantastic!



Keep the color flowing through your week - it will put a huge smile on your face.  I know, I'm grinning from ear to ear!

Music in the studio today included:  Enya - Paint the Sky with Stars and Pandora radio...

Yours forever in art,

Jessica

Saturday, May 7, 2011

In search of Mystical Mermaids

Good Saturday morning, my artistic beauties!  I've been busy in the studio and in my magic chair again this week.  We had 3 beautiful sunny days and now we are back to gray and rain.  It's o.k. though, I have finally seen the light of Spring and it is beautiful.  Of course now I'm pushing for Summer and warmth!

As some of you may have heard, Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle has posted a wonderful blog party for this Summer set to start on June 6th.  It's called "The Summer of Color" and I can't wait!   It's all about color with a new one chosen each week to prompt our artistic creations.  Well, you know I'm all about color so I will be participating enthusiastically!  Check out the blinking blog button at the left of my blog and pop on over there see the whole playful story!

As I began to long for the warmer days of Summer, I doodled up a mermaid girlie face from my imagination to share this week...

 Mystical Mermaid - enhanced
I would like to swim in a warm ocean along with her.  I'm sure she has some mystical secrets she would whisper in the currents...I must get closer and turn my ear her way...

Other artistic bumblings included the beginnings of a journal page...



The background was so heavily painted with acrylics and such that it was very hard to get my letters straight.  This was done on a crinkly brown paper grocery bag - that didn't help the lettering process either!  Not sure what else I will add to this yet.

I hope you all have fun finding your colorful art bliss this week.  I know I will!  Ooh I just peeked outside and I think my dark purple lilacs are starting to bloom.  Pics next week!

Music in the studio this week was the radio - lazy I know!

Forever in art,

Jessica





Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Celtic Goddesses and Sunny Days

Hello Artland!  We are finally experiencing the most glorious sunny day today and I am beside myself with joy!  It's been a long time in coming.
  
In art this week the goddess and fairy girlies continue to speak to me...  This is "Brigid".  I was thinking "Celtic and Rainforest" while I was doing her.  Maybe an unusual combo but I liked the idea of it.  She conjures up mystical images for me and I was surprised how she just sort of appeared under my pen on a rather blah leftover painted background while watching blah T.V. in my magical art chair.  Now she is one of my favorites! 
By the way, I'm pretty sure that my chair is magical and therefore partially responsible for my art, lol!

Brigid
All her jewellery is done in metallic gel ink but didn't gleam in this particular photo.  The leaves were done with Copic marker and the rest is my usual Prismacolor pencils.  I've decided that the pencils actually give a more intense color and they are blendable.  This medium will remain my favorite for these girlies.

My flowers are starting to peek their heads out and show off their gorgeousness so I thought I'd share a couple of photos...


My pale lilacs always bloom first before my deep purple ones. These smell soooo heavenly!


And here are my bleeding hearts. They just popped up as volunteers in my front planter 2 years ago. So delicate and sweet.

My lovely deck is calling to me as are my puppy and kitty who are frolicking out in the sun. They are so happy!  The gentle breeze wafts early signs of Summer as it ruffles my locks (that are needing a bit of touch up at the root, ha!).  I could bask out here all day!  I went and bought some huge chicken breasts earlier and I will give them a Jamaican jerk rub before I toss them onto the bar-b.  I simmered up some rice but I haven't decided on the veggies yet.  Yum!  I'm hungry!

Oh yes, the sun is out and all is right in my world!

Creatively yours,  Jessica






Saturday, April 23, 2011

I'm back and brighter than ever!

Hello my creative peeps!  I am finally back from my trip to California and am recovering from it nicely.  It did take some time to get my hands working again, of course my left one will never be fully recovered.  I am now able to continue with my art journal project and I have the pictures to prove it.

As I had mentioned, I flipped the journal cover inside out and did some really bright art on it.  I'm so craving these bright summery colors!


I used craft paint to paint and stencil the journal covers then added my girlie art to the front with gel medium and colorful paper tapes and masking tape.  This was so fun to do!  I enhanced some areas with bright prisma colored pencils using a very heavy hand.  I will add some writing and details in black.  My next post will show more detailed pictures of the finished cover.

Also I did yet another doodle girlie to put in this summery up-cycled journal...

"Summer of Love"

She was done my usual way with a black liner pen and prisma colored pencils enhanced with some neon and white gelly roll gel pens.  The colors on the original art are actually brighter than the photo here.

Yesterday I bought bright neon cerise and metallic sparkle chartreuse nail polishes.  I did my toes in the cerise and my fingers in the bright neon limey chartreuse.  I cannot wait for Summer!  We have had a cold, wet, gray spring so far and I am sick of it!!!  All of my art has been very bright to combat this depressing weather.

Art bombing update:  Due to the very short nature of my trip and the presence of too many curious eyes, the graffiti art bombing has been postponed!  I did try but conditions were not ideal.  I will look for another opportunity in the future.  I have put my graffiti tote in my truck so it will be handy for a quick hit.  I have also decided to do stickers as they are more environmentally friendly and not permanently damaging.  More to come in the future on this idea of street art.

It's only 11:00 and we are losing the tiny bit of sun we had to a new storm that's rolling in.  I must go out and fire up my John Deere lawn tractor and mow the south 40 before the rain hits!

Think "Bright" and color up some cheerful art or Easter eggs to share this week!  Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Forever in art,  Jessica

Saturday, April 9, 2011

I'm just an art bombing "Toy"!

Hello my creative friends!  Well it's time for my very quick trip to California to see my Docs and my lovely friend Sharon L.  I'm hoping to meet up with another high school friend who found me on facebook,XXXXXX.  Boy did we have some fabulous adventures back in the day!  Can't wait!

I have put together my art bombing kit for my trip.  It's a bit on the upscale side, LOL!  Andy Warhol indeed! Ha, ha, ha!  I've never heard of an avant-garde art bombing have you?

I picked up this cool tote sometime back and finally found a use for it.  I'm really not the tagger backpack type so I got a bit of a chortle out of putting this together.  In the graffiti world I'd be called a "toy" but I don't care - this is not my real scene anyway and at my age being called a "toy" is very flattering!  LOL!  Gawd, am I glad I don't take myself very seriously!

Since I have never done this before it is going to be harder than I am imagining I'm sure.  I worked up a few designs and we'll see how it goes.  Just fyi, I will only tag over pre-existing bombs so I won't be defacing any new property. 

I have been working on a new journal cover the last few days as the old one got severely out of control as seen below...!

 After I glued all the crap on and pounced some craft paint over it, I took it to my chair and doodled all over it.  Then I went back and painted on some more detail.  Yikes!  What a mess!  So now it is the inside of the cover and I have started over on the outside of it.  I will share it with you when I get back.

Music in the studio this week was...Green Day - American Idiot, and Matchbox Twenty.

So keep shaking those spray cans (or whatever blows your skirt up) and I'll see ya next week.

Forever in art,  Jessica

Friday, April 1, 2011

A Springtime Doodle and Collage

Halloooou out there! Hope this post finds everyone getting a little bit of springtime sun.  This is our 2nd day of sun and it's been wonderful!  No flowers to show you yet and tomorrow it's back to cold rain again.  I learned my lesson the hard way not to plant flowers until April.  Living in So. California most of my life, I always planted anytime I wanted to.  Not so now!  Just last week it was still freezing in the early mornings.  I won't be putting anything new into the garden this year but I can pot up some nice blooms to enjoy.

The balmy day inspired another doodle girlie, Goddess Tara.  I did her on plain white paper with my usual prisma colored pencils.  The black liner is a copic multiliner .05.  You know I always have fun doing these quickies and she helps satisfy my need for blooming flowers...


I've been in the studio working a little bit on my art journal cover.  I found a piece of cardboard that already folded over like a binder and decided to use that instead of cheerio boxes.  So far I have...
 Gessoed.  Cheerios and strawberries anyone?

 Added decorative tape - $1 from Michael's - and craft paint.

 Glued on pieces of old painted papers and copies of art...

Gessoed a bit around the edges of the 1st layer before adding more papers...
I will just keep building from here and then do some doodling on top of it all.  Not crazy about it so far but I should wait to see how it progresses before getting discouraged I suppose.  So far I couldn't sew on this cover, the cardboard is too thick.  I'll save that technique for the next one or the pages inside maybe?

I've been very busy with my physical therapy and not doing too much afterwards for fear of a flare up.  I did manage to take a drive up an old wagon road after my P.T. yesterday.  Here are a few shots...
 End of the trail.

 Looking down on Lookingglass and Melrose areas.  The Cascade mountain range is in the distance.

 Check out that blue sky!

This one hurts my soul - clearcut logging practices.

Some of the logged areas are so bad it makes me physically sick.  There is a law in place requiring them to replant but it seems like they take forever to do it and the sides of the mountains are so steep that sometimes it just doesn't get done.  When they do replant, the seedlings are just a tiny 12" to 18" tall.  Don't even get me started...!  I need to have a serious talk with the forest fairies on this one!

I'm still working on my gorilla art plan and went to Eugene this last weekend for Montana spray paint and huge paint markers.  They were all on sale at the University of Oregon art dept. store!  More on that project later...  

Thank all you lovely creatures for stopping by for a peek and leaving your encouraging and fun comments. I appreciate them sooooo much!!!  It's taking me a tiny bit longer these days to check out all your new blog posts but I will get there eventually.

If you can't get out into the garden or do a little potting yet, maybe you too can create a little bit of Spring blossoming in your art.

Keep the pen and colors flowing 'til next time!

Forever in art, Jessica