Spring is Here!

Good morning, good morning!  Spring is finally here!  Everything is in glorious bloom (almost everything).  It is still very chilly and we are having our share of rain, hail and bits of snow but the sun is starting to win out over it.

It has put me in the best mood and I have decided to go forward with my plans for my organic garden.  It's all very exciting for me even tho it will be a ton of work.  I had a landscape contractor meet with me yesterday to give me some pointers and to help me realize this dream.  It will be a small garden but for me it is a huge step in furthering my dream.

The biggest excitement of all is the new barn like art studio I am having built next to the garden.  I have already been flea market shopping to find fun things for this project that aren't expensive.  My budget is pretty tight so I scoop up inexpensive vintage finds when I can.  The pickings are pretty slim here but that's o.k. I have a lot of junk already, lol!

As I work on redesigning this blog, I will share progress reports and of course, new art.  For my art offering this blog post, here is a photo of my mixed media garden girlie I have framed for my studio wall.  She's 11 x 14 inches and I think I used a bit of everything in my studio supplies to create her.

I started with 300 lb. watercolor HP paper and collaged the background with bits of decorative papers, acrylic paint and gesso.  I did her face in color pencil and her hair in watercolor pencil.  Her dress is scrapbook paper, the collar is a paper lace doily and she has a fabric flower at her throat.

Well I'm off to fill my hanging basket by my front door with red geraniums.  I hope they will be hardy enough to last through the next few Spring storms.

Enjoy your Spring arting and maybe add a bit of dirt to the paint under your nails! (We will be twins!)

Forever in art,

Jessi

Longing For Spring

As I sit in my studio looking out at the gray landscape I can't help longing for Spring.  Spring with her bright new cheerful colors and fresh promises of sunny days is all I can envision as I continue to work on my Garden Girl journal.

Here is my offering from the journal for this weeks post...

Not sure sure why my camera doesn't pick up the true colors in this spread.  The background should be a beautiful soft aqua and the faces not so gray.  Might be the fact that Spring is not really here yet and there is no sun or warmer light when I take these photos.

I did the faces first in colored pencil and watercolor pencil.  Then I collaged the dresses and flowers on, worked over them in colored pencil and then gessoed the background and used a bit of acrylic layering over that.  The spread is 12 x 18 inches.

Hope you enjoy my touch of an early Spring!

Forever in art,

Jessi





Garden Girls

Hello Blogland!  It's been so long since I've posted it's embarrassing.  I just got so discouraged with Blogger freezing and deleting my followers.   If I am able to get back into the groove I will be starting a new blog site so that I can have followers again and know my blog friends are out there!

So here goes...  I've been arting like crazy all this time I have been away from blogworld.  Most recently I started an art journal called "My Garden Girlies" and here is a photo of one of them.

Garden Girlie from 1st Spread

She's done in a mixed media 9x12 art journal and rendered in prismacolor pencils.  The background was done with watercolor crayon and gesso over stamping and her dress is mixed media collage with colored pencil.  The paper buckled so I'm not too happy with the journal.  I should return to my hot press Fabriano watercolor paper I love so well but alas, I have started this one and will try to see it through.

Just to catch you up on the last 6 months or so, Mom's doing very well and so am I.  I spent a good part of my Summer and Fall organizing my house and garage and I'm still not finished - no big surprise there!  

The studio got re-organized too but is currently in a state of messiness.  That's because there is so much arting going on!  Ha!  Part of my issue is a rather large acrylic painting I started in the Fall that I haven't quite finished and seem to be a little disinterested in at the moment.  Of course it's another fairy.  I will be sharing her when she is finished - and that will be soon I hope!

My art is continuing to be a huge part of my life and realize it's growing larger and larger in importance to me.  I have started branching out into different mediums and subject matters although  fairies and mermaids are always making their enchanted presence known in my journals and canvases.  They seem to come to me most when I'm arting in my magic chair or prowling about in the forest and braving the cold windy Oregon coast.

They never cease to ease life's stresses for me and I will continue to share them here on my blog.  I hope they will ease your path too!

My song pick for the studio this week was:

Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway

Album - Me and my Gang

Forever in art,
Jessi

Finale - Summer of Enchantment

Hellooooo!  It's our finale week of Summer of Color 2. For this last week Kristin has chosen the ice cream colors from BR's watermelon sorbet with chocolate chip seeds. 

To round out my theme "Summer of Enchantment", I've decided to share Little Red Riding Hood in my altered book journal.

I will be adding writing to the spread but of course I haven't been able to get to it yet,lol.

I must say I had a lot of fun with this years' challenge and I thank the lovely Kristen at Twinkle Twinkle for her hosting and organization of this very popular challenge.  Will she continue with it next year?

To you my readers, I have loved and appreciated your comments and hope you have enjoyed my content.  I must admit I was extremely busy during this time and was not able to visit all of you and thank you personally yet.  But never fear, I will get to you all!  I have to see everyone's entries and I need to pop by your blogs even if you didn't participate.  I miss you all so much!

I will be continuing to post along this Enchanted Summer theme and will be sharing painting in the future as well.

I am having to re-organize the studio once again.  Whew!  What a mess, lol!  At least it shows that I've been doing something in there.

I've got some exciting ideas to work on rest of the Summer. Hope to share more later.

Music in the studio this week was Pink!, Funhouse.  I really love "Glitter in the Air" - I never tire of it.  I also "spun" the Dixie Chicks, Fly.

Keep your personal fan pointed AWAY from your mica pigments and keep those pencils and brushes moving!

Forever in art,

Jessi

In Search of Mermaids

Good morning my artsy friends!  I was inspired to take a trip to the ocean this last week to go in search of mermaids.  I know there are mermaids by the Oregon coast and I just needed a little sign to spur on my creativity for this week's SOC journal page.

As I began my journey in Bandon, I was lucky enough to meet a talking Raven.  She pointed me in the direction of a mermaid beach after sharing her enchanted adventures with me.

So off I went...

Right away I spotted the place where a mermaid would come ashore to visit her lover that waited in the moonlight...

    
Enchanted, I walked on...

As I searched along the tide line for mermaid baubles I heard a musical tinkling laugh coming from behind.  As I whirled around I heard a splash and there amongst the pebbles and shell bits was a giant heart inscribed in the sand.  Oh, Raven was so right about a mermaid being here!  I think that she must have flown down  and whispered in her ear that I was coming!

One last gaze out to sea as the pelicans flew by and it was time to go.

I can't wait to return again for more clues and inspiration for my mermaid paintings and journal spreads!

So keep those eyes wide open while you pick the paint off your nail polish, you just might see evidence of an enchanted creature too!

Forever in art,

Jessi  

Week Four at Summer Of Color

Hellooooo!  It's week four at the Summer of Color 2!  This week's challenge was a delicious Strawberry Lemonade.  I whipped up a quickie Fairy last night for you all.

She's not that great but it was a time crunch, o.k.? Lol!  I did her on the first serviette background I did in this journal and it was extremely bumpy.  Virtually impossible to do such a small face on but I persevered.  I used gesso and a little acrylic for the base and then did did her in my usual prismacolor pencils.  I added an irredescent coat to her wings but of course it didn't photograph.

Next week is some wild and crazy sherbet combo and I'm really looking forward to this one.  I hope I have the time to do it!

Got to run, I'm off to the Oregon coast in search of mermaid evidence!  Stay tuned...

Forever in art,

Jessi

Week Three Summer of Color

Hi all you peeps out in artland! I am running soooo late on my Summer of Color entry this week and I apologize.  I still have not been around to everybody yet from last week. 

Things have been a little critical in taking care of Mom lately.  So many etras, the Dr. and tests at the hospital... She is doing pretty well through it all.

So on to my entry.  My interpretation of this weeks ice cream flavor of Baseball nut is very loose.  Vanilla ice cream with blackberry swirl and cashews.  I was at a loss and not feeling very creative so my entry is a mermaid girlie face with piercing eyes.  She just came out of my pencil one night very late...

Next weeks color is Strawberry Lemonade and I hope I can be a little more creative with that one!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!  Thank you for all your comments and staying loyal even though I've not made it around to everyone yet.

Forever in art,

Jessi

Summer of Enchantment continues at SOC2

It is week two of the Summer of Color 2 challenge!  I had some difficulty finishing everything I wanted to share.  So, to start off here is a mermaid journal spread.  Our prompt is Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and I know it doesn't match as good as it could.  The fairy I am working on is a better prompt match but she isn't finished yet.

Mermie isn't as green as I would like her to be for this challenge. The camera didn't pick up the green tones as well for some reason but I was pleased with her Summer vibe.

      

Out of focus but just showing her irridesence... She is so sparkly in person.

So she's more mint than chocolate chip that's for sure, lol.  My fairy is taking a lot more time than I thought she would so I will have to share her later on.

I hope you are all enjoying the outstanding creativity that is being shared through this blog hop.  I know I am!

It might take me a while to visit you all as I am taking care of my Mother right now.  She is feeling better so I 'm hoping to have more time to spend with Summer of Color 2 in the future.

Keep your art journal or papers and supplies close at hand to catch all the enchanted creativity coming your way.  I'm afraid I have collected stuff all around my magic chair again to have it all close at hand, lol.  There are so many wonderful vibes out there just waiting to inspire us!

Thank you all for coming by and leaving your sweet comments.  It means more to me than you know!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Summer of Enchantment

Helloooo!  It's that time again!  Time for the Summer of Color 2 hosted by our lovely Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle!  This first week's prompt was Rainbow Sherbet...

For my theme this Summer I have chosen  to do Enchanted Creatures in my altered book Journal.

Here is my first - a flirty Summer fairy

 

 

This shot shows a little more of her glitter - so hard to photograph!

 

Here is Kristin's prompt. This photo just makes my mouth drool!

 

 

I'm looking forward to visiting everyone's blog site and joining in on this Summer's arty fun!

So keep those lips smacking and your creative minds fed as we journey thru Kristin's ice cream wonderland!

 

Forever in art,

 

Jessi

 

 

 

 

 

Fairy Frolic!

Hello my fairy loving friends - Ha!  Fairy Frolic has started here in my tiny studio. The weather has warmed up and the fairies have come out to play in my blooming garden.  Here is Summer's "Sunday Girl" done up in an altered book journal. 

Sunday Girl

And here is another one I did on Strathmore's mixed Media Paper...

 In Flight

This was not my favorite paper to work on with Prismas and markers, I prefer smooth bristol, but it wasn't bad.  The camera really washed her out!

I will be posting more fairies  that is if I can tear myself away from puttering about my garden and yard, lol!  One thing you all know about me. It's all about Faeries, Mermaids, Angels and Goddesses!

On another note, I took my Mom out for a belated Mother's Day trip.  We went to Bandon By the Sea and had a fab time of it.  Of course we stopped by my favorite, Winter River Books, and enjoyed lunch looking out over the sea. Mom does have a certain weakness for clam chowder. Not me! I had blackened chicken with salad. We went sightseeing and then stopped at the bakery to get Mom some cookies and bread.  The drive to and from Bandon was spectacular as well - and fun was had by all!

Might I suggest that you keep your eyes open in the wilder and less traveled green area's for our magical flower fairies.  They seem to be coming out more this year than ever before!

Well it's that time when I always say, keep your paint trays and brushes close at hand and your colored pencils sharpened and I will see you soon!

Forever in art,

Jessi

My Art Filled World

Hello beautiful artists! I know it's been a while and all I can say is, "Whew, I've been crazy busy!" So, three online classes and a trip to Los Angeles and I'm finally here. I've been keeping myself very busy with art plans and renderings etc. Working at beefing up my studio supplies of course (always) and neglecting to clean and organize the studio space. I must clean up in there today 'cuz I'm reduced to about the table space of 18" x 18"- yikes!

Here are a couple of things I've been working on...

She is one I worked on back in February using only Caran D'ache neocolor II's. Then this week I played with it a little more adding prisma colors to it. This photo really doesn't show the detail in the background or shading. Don't know why.

Then I made a journal out of two really thrashed antique book covers and filled it with fabrianao 140lb. hot press watercolor paper - my favorite! I decorated the inside covers with tape and decorative papers.

Well, that's all I'm going to tease you with for now, ha! I will be sharing some fantasy art over the next few weeks as I work in my journals. I have one larger piece I'm about halfway finished with so it will be up in the next post.

Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle will be hosting her Colors of Summer play dates again this Summer and I am going to try and participate. Woo Hoo!

Please forgive me for not stopping by your blogs lately - bad girl I know. I am trying to get organized so I can manage all this stuff I've got going on, lol.

So until next time, keep scrubing that gesso off your fingers and I'll see you soon!

Forever in art,

Jessica

In like a Lion, Out like a Lion

Helloooo...from the studioooo! Wow, March was a windy, wet, frozen weather catastrophe here. Spring seems to be getting wilder here every year.  It's o.k. though, more time to spend indoors in the studio painting and sketching to my little heart's content.  Actually, I do my sketching in my magic chair. (As most of you know already, hee, hee).

I'm finishing up my class with Jane D. and then promptly starting a new one with her as well.  She's an awesome teacher and talent.  What I love about her is her ability to identify with every level of artist from the very beginner to the more experienced. Her teaching works for everyone.

My most recent homework was inspired by my desire to connect with fairy tales and the vast amounts of wooded area here. Also, Jane did a video where she was sketching out in the woods...

"The Harbinger"

Beware little girl...Something wicked this way comes...

Just to let you all know, I've been experiencing Internet connection problems for a couple of weeks.  I apologize if I haven't responded to your comments or stopped by your blogs lately.  The cable company thinks they've got it fixed - we'll see.  It certainly has opened my eyes to how important the Internet and all my blog buddies are to me.  Know that you are very much appreciated and loved!

Keep those paint brushes flippin' baby!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Spring Flurries

Hi there!  Spring is really here now and it came in with a bang. Snow, wind, hail, rain -  you name it, it came down on us. Still flooding today and just not sure how long all of this is going to last.  I hope you are all having a nicer blooming Spring so far. 

So to chase this weather away it's time to visit my Spring fantasy land of faeries and mermaid faces straight from my studio. I have a couple of faces to share from my class with Jane Davenport...

Wistful Mermaid Journal Spread - Craft Acrylics

Colored Pencil Girlie

 

1940"s Starlet - Soft Pastels

We've been doing faces, journal spreads and figures using different supplies in order to get a feel for them and to determine which ones are our faves.

That's it for now.  More are coming next week.  I think I'm going to be taking Jane's class, "I Heart Drawing" next week so I will learn to be more comfortable drawing the figure.

Have a wonderful week and try to keep that copic marker off the tops of your fingernails (I was not successful)!

Forever in art,
Jessi

Some Faeries for Spring

Hellooo!  I've been in the studio experimenting with all my lovely art supplies and playing along with Jane Davenport in her class "Supplies Me".  I figured since I had spent all my money on these supplies I'd better try to learn how to use them, lol!

I'm really enjoying her class and stretching my abilities.  Not all has gone smoothly though - there's a bit of a learning curve, which is good.

Here are some photos of a couple of things I worked on in my art journal...

Welcome To My World

Tiny Dancer

Too tiny! I will not work this small again! The journal was too small really.

These are in a little art journal I made from Fabriano 90 lb. watercolor paper.  I really don't like the 90 lb. I prefer the 140 lb. but I had this on hand and I wanted to use it up.

I did both fairies in watercolor which I am just now learning to do. For me, acrylics are much more comfortable to use!

I will be sharing more art from the class as I progress.  I have decided to up the ante with my art this year so I will be working furiously - yay!!!  Butterfly girl will be back too. (boy has she had some adventures to share!)

Keep picking away at the paint under your fingernails and I'll see you next time.

Forever in art,

Jessi



I'm Back! Finally...

Hello my fellow bloggers, artists and friends!  I can't believe I've been away this long!  So much of life happening and finally I am able to get back to the things I love - like making art in my studio!

First up, Butterfly Girl is begging to be developed so I am revealing her true identity - Jessalyn Bella -aka- Butterfly girl.

Jessalyn Bella aka Butterfly Girl



I'm in the process of redesigning her wings so they will be easier to reproduce as she goes on her adventures.

Butterfly Girl



I just wish I had some extra time to learn how to use my Bamboo tablet but for now I will continue to do her by hand.  I work so slowly that I could never do this for a living even if I wanted too! Ha!

My studio re-organization is done and I've added artwork from a very talented artist, Magaly at The Itsy Bitsy Spill. I just love the fun vibe and energy her artwork gives me!



The weather has been so dark you can't see the wonderful colors on the wall or the paintings - oh well, better luck next time.

I will try and get by your blogs for a peek, I've missed you all so much!

Forever in art,

Jessi -aka- ?

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

"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

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

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

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