an art journal of an expressionistic spirit
it's me, it's you in creative fun
a project about using mixed media tools to paint flowers
To walk with nothing to do but look around and admire the color, shapes and texture is…amazing. You for a moment breath and feel such a peace. It’s like yes keep on enjoying the view, I am here to listen. I am here to remind you that you are a living breathing beauty. We both are.
Sometimes you need to feel vulnerable, scared and hopeless so you can then realize even more. The Lotus flower is all put together. It was a mess. The mess came when I started thinking perfection. One of my followers on Instagram thought it was good as is. It was but I felt like it was too much trying to be instead of just being.
This flower is a reminder that I am working everday toward my creative business. I need to let the sun and air in so I can bloom. I didn’ t know that a Lotus flower only grows in the mud.
What I like most is the texture. What a boost of sunshine. I’ve shared this idea before but not with a quote. Life isn’t rainbows and sunshine all the time. There are ugly times that make it hard, REALLY hard to smile. Sometimes I’m angry, sad, confused, heart-boken and I create. Or I go for a walk and the warmth of the sun, smell of a flower mixed with a tree’s breeze comforts me. This remindes me that there’s always a reason to smile.
Yesterday I was looking through my sketchbook journal. There’s a lot of good ideas. I didn’t realize how many. I don’t have a habit of reviewing my work. Nor do I keep stacks of journals. I should have a few. I keep a few pieces from each project in folders. I do digitize most of it.
So piant a rainbow. Paint the sun. During the rain think of what will happen after the rain.
Thanks for reading.
In honor of today, Mexican Independence, I’m including a link to visit Frida Kahlo’s home.
Here’s a surprising tool. napkins!
Paint napkins with droplets of ink. Create monotones of pink.
Let the napkin dry. In the meantime, brainstorm. Cut shapes? Use it like tisuse paper? Layer a little blue. Thicker paper towels could work even better.
This is why I started the 100 ways to flower with power project. You never know what will happen. At first it was, this isn’t working. In the end, it’s exactly what I wanted. The flowers will look even better scanned.
I’ve used a napkin to wipe away watercolor mistakes but to make a flower? There’s always napkins in my house. What other possibilities surround me? How can I take what I’ve learned and apply it to art for the next prjocet. This past weekend I was planning the end of my year to focus on projects for next year. I had a few book ideas. Now I have three brilliant ideas!
As aways thank you for reading!
A flat brush, any size. And color. I’ve been thinking about culture and celebrations around the world. I have a pinterest board or two on the subject. Paper flowers are beautiful. I’m also thinking of flowers in the Bazar del Mundo shop. That’s the next project. I want some art for a pop-up shop.
Seriously, I am in love with all the beauty of every culture. I want to create lots of art as a reminder that together is more beautiful.
I may have used some left over paint. All I did was paint in an inward outward motion. All these reminders revealed themselves. I really like when this happens.
My plan is to do a few more weeks of flowers, until the last day of summer. Flowers. I had to paint lots of flowers because it feels like I missed spring. I had to bring spring to me!
Wait till you see tomorrow’s flower. I am having so much fun with these flowers. Ok time to rap up this post and get to creating and class.
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The more I paint the more I realize, I can draw a mighty fine flower. All it took was a small angle brush. Paint with the left hand. Paint with the right hand. At first they were just pink dabs of paint. I went to Jo-Ann’s to pick up a few birthday goodies. I found the perfect green.
I like it. A lot. I wanted a field of pink flowers. The kind of pink flowers that makes you stop and admire. You believe. For one or a few glorious moments you forget. How can you be in a field of pink flowers and not feel divine. I miss the beautiful gardens of Bellagio.
I could do paint with any brush. There’s a redo pile. I’m going to do some ink doodles. I’ll take another look at my pinterest board and see what I can come up with.
Thanks for reading!
Walnut ink is new for me. Aside from the messy bottle, this ink is beautiful. Reminds me of painting with coffee or tea. I want to stain and create vintage paper. Maybe a love letter note to self? In the shape of a flower? Yes.
My thoughts were begin with what you know and find new ways to combine ideas. I ended up with weeds. You might be growing beautifully. Weeds start growing, wanting to choke you. That’s when you proceed with heart.
Society does impose. I suppose.
There’s this whimsical need to express the imagination. Every impossible or crazy idea began with a crazy idea. It’s only sound, good when oh, it works!
I can use walnut ink for a holiday themed creative exploration. Choosing a favorite color would be great too.
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I’m wondering how others would paint or draw flowers? There’s more than 100 ways.
Next week I’m doing brush techniques. And after that flowers with napkins and ink. I’m surprising myself.
Thanks for reading. Thank you to those of you who have emailed me your kind words. Oh I made a few changes to You Are Loved.
Have a good weekend! Stay cool!
I may have over stamped. I wanted enough white space to create a breeze. There is a pink version. There is a yellow version. Flowers have different stems and leaves. I’ve been collecting flowers on my pinterst board, observing shape and color. I want variation.
I want another list. How can I decorate with flowers? Maybe do lettering? Flower Fields? Bold colors? I’ve got another hand print idea. Then it’s brush techniques.
My goal is to explore the many possibilites with one simple tool. There is no right way to paint a flower. Anything and everything is possible. Isn’t it great!
I created a board for 100 ways to flower with power. I’ll be adding more.
Thanks for reading!
turned out to be really fun! Painted more flowers than expected. I have beautiful flowers and no painting skills required. You just dip your finger and go. You can apply paint to a dry hand or wet. You can wet the paper.
You can press with one finger , two, three or four. Get a rhythm going. Oh I have much more to show and happy thought to go with them. Tomorrow and for a good part of next week I’ll be sharing more thumbprint ideas. When you put YOU in your work, it’s all the more beautiful.
Are you a subscriber? I’m currently doing a 100 ways to flower with power. It truly feels free when you get creative and just paint what you want. I feel confident in saying my work is good. So good right now! Create with me. Subscribe via the link above.
Have a good day!
I like this tool. definitely a keeper. Good paint mixter too.
Today’s lesson began with the work in progress pile.
There are three piles.
There is a fourth pile. It’s in the trash.
Before vs. After
When I paint with good paper it’s usually for the excited pile. I am loving copy paper. I never thought to use it for exploration. Wow, it’s so free.
I can see the beautful differnece between the copy paper and the vision paper. Copy paper surprises me too. For the remainder of the week I’ll be sharing all the thumbprint. and finger printing flowers. I still have a few more ideas for tomorrow.
I’m glad my palette was happy today. I’m happiest when I create.
To creaate your own flowers you can use a sponge/foam brush. Remove the sponge. Next week I’ll be using the sponge part. You could use a fork handle or a plastic knife. So many ways. That’s the point!
an art journal of an expressionistic spirit 