Tag: art journal

the art journal blog of an expressionistic artist who paints the way nature makes her feel.

Finger Painting Flowers

Finger Painting Flowers

Mireya

If you want an easy way to paint flowers, finger painting is a great idea! You can make a mess. What better way to ignite your curiosity and creativity than the feel of paint on your fingers. It reminds me that there are no rules. Remember the days of finger painting? In this post, I’ll share the start of a new flower finger-painting project, supply ideas, and tips.

Supplies

All you need is:

  • acrylic paint (tempera paint works too and I’ll be testing gouache paint and posting about it)
  • scratch paper (a few sheets of copy paper)
  • a brush or palette knife for mixing colors ( try using your fingers)
  • watercolor or mixed media paper ( I’ll be getting a journal from Dollar Tree)

The list above is my list. Feel free to use what you have.

Creative Exploration

I put together a book on creative ways to paint flowers. I included a section on finger painting. Finger painting led to hand painting. You can get the book here. The idea of finger painting really came from Learning By Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit. That book is filled with ideas to let loose and discover your best ideas through play. Grab a few sheets of copy paper and your favorite tube of acrylic paint. Dip your finger in the paint and see what you can create.

Finger Painting Ideas

These flower shapes were painted by stamping with a closed hand. You can use a brush to paint the bottom of your closed hand. Then stamp your hand on the paper. The texture you get is much more interesting than if you painted with a brush.

This flower was painted with my thumb.

Blue thumbprint flower with the words who are you

Using various fingers and painting with the tip of your fingers works great too!

mix up pinks and oranges and paint a flower with your finger.

I forgot how fun and free it is to paint with your hands. I have this crazy idea to challenge myself to fill a journal with beautiful finger-painted flowers. The book cover will be a butterfly. Yes, I can hand paint that too. Ettavee does finger painting butterflies. I can include word art of the lessons I’ve learned as an artist. How about a personal empowerment go-flutter with your love and ideas book? I love it!

If you want more finger-painting flowers then subscribe to my blog. I have a Pinterest board filled with ideas and once a week, I’ll keep you posted on my new finger painting project.

Do you have an idea to share?

Abstract Flower Artist

How do you know if you are an artist?

Mireya
Daily writing prompt
Describe something you learned in high school.
View all responses

You may be curious about everything. Maybe it’s a habit that makes you weird to everyone else. I think back to my high school days and even elementary and say oh! That is why I always asked why! I am an artist. I’ve always loved nature and been a free spirit. That’s because I’m an artist! In high school, I had a chance to write a chapter book. Loved it! I also took ceramics. I loved the idea of molding the pottery with my fingers to any shape I wanted. My coiled pot made it in the library glass case and the yearbook. Sure that was fun but I think back to those times and realize I have always been an artist. Creativity is a thrill! I was born an artist.

Artist Mindset

Paint Big Flower Patterns

Mireya
big blue pink flower pattern

I have been seeing lots of big flower patterns. I bought a yellow skirt with a white flower pattern. Anthropologie has summer dresses with flower patterns. There have been random cold thunderstorm days but the birds are singing, the breeze is dancing and spring is in the air!

Georgia O’Keeffe was all about expression and taking time to appreciate the little things. This week I was inspired to paint big and bright flowers. To me, it’s the little things like a bird’s song, a strawberry tart, tacos, butterflies, and walking in the sun that are the best. Oh and painting! These little things are the biggest treasures. Right?

Here’s a quick video on Georgia O’Keeffe.

Here’s the project I did with a class. I showed them a few techniques and let them paint. It was beautiful! We should do the same always.

How about painting outdoors! I’ll be starting a lunchtime routine this week.

Siempre,

Mireya

Abstract Flower Artist

Painting with Children is Amazing!

Mireya

This morning I found this lovely post. It was bright and joyful. This mural with all its flowers motivated me to recall the projects I’ve worked on with my students. Children have no preconceived notions of being an artist. They simply do!

Here we go.

This project was inspired by Sonia Sotomayor.

A Study of Earth’s Layers

a paper collage poster of earth's layers

Starry Night for a 3-4th grade class!

Oh my, I forgot about the Faith Ringgold project and the Sparkly Butterflies. It just so happens that I got paid to guide children through these projects. It is one of the times where I say wow I get paid for this, really! I am truly grateful!

Do you have a project to share? Please comment below.

Siempre,

Mireya

Abstract Flower Artist

The best solution ever for making beautiful art!

Mireya

As you paint and work on a project you will hear a voice that says good idea but work on the color scheme. Pull out the color swatches book you made. Paint with the colors you like. How about painting three paintings simultaneously? You discover that the painting you like the most is from a project you forgot about a month ago.

orange and red flowers in yellow vase painted with acrylic paint

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing.  Making your unknown known is the important thing.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

We artists need our quiet time. We need time to sit and listen to the voice within our spirit that goes from idea to idea. We always have ideas. The problem is we get busy. We get caught up in what art should look like. We listen to the negative thought.

Make time to nurture your ideas. Keep painting. That is what I plan to do. Oh! I watched the end of the iHeart Radio Music Awards. Cher received the Icon Award. She ended her acceptance speech by saying: “I know from my own experience that if you have a dream and you stick with it you will have a wonderful life and it will probably come true.”

My work this week has been about nurturing your art. Nurture what lights you up. Don’t do it for the money. Of course, it’s nice when that happens. It’s great! But nurture what you love to do for the peace and calmness it brings you.

Siempre,

Mireya

Artist Tips

Process is king

Mireya
pink abstract expressive flowers in a blue vase. This painting is on a yellow background

I have been working on this flower painting for days. It was too orange. Then it was too red. I wanted pink. I wanted to stamp the center with the bottom of a dime-sized circle brush handle. I don’t have one. I had a small brush. Small colored dots around the center it is! I sprinkled a little salt on the green background. It was ok. Did I stop? Oh no! I kept on layering and mixing different tones of paint. I used Neocolours, watercolor pencils, gouache, acrylic paint, and a pen.

big flower in a yellow pot

What do I have to show for all of this? I have a compelling lesson. If you reach the awkward phase of insecurity that’s when you should trust the process and keep going. This week I have two interesting paintings where things got awkward. I used to give up and throw it out. As I painted my yellow pot, there was a moment when I said,” I don’t want this painting in my journal book.” I’ll rip it out. Begin a fresh new page. It’s fine to start over and let a project go. There is always the beginning phase where we don’t have all the answers. That’s a good place to be. Everything I create is growth and process. It’s all good right? I’m still not ready to call my pink orange flower painting done but it’s done for now. That is one of the beauties of painting in a journal book!

A butterfly goes through a cycle before it becomes a fluttering beautiful butterfly. Don’t judge your painting with a brush in your hand! Not my words, but words of a really good podcast.

Process is king! Let go and trust it. There’s no good or bad art. It’s just beautiful art!

Siempre,

Mireya

Abstract Flower Artist

Technology Tips for Artist

Mireya
Daily writing prompt
How has technology changed your job?
View all responses

Technology helps me show my work. Technology helps me find other artists who inspire me to keep creating. Technology helps me wander and then discover the answer. I love that I can be in class with students from all over the world. I can teach. I can be.

Now that I know what place technology has in my life, let me focus.

Siempe,

Mireya

Abstract Flower Artist

I like it, so I’m going to blog about it!

Mireya

A very Show Your Work! ethos: “If you love a book, talk about it! If you love a story, let other people know!”

The above is 10 on a list of things Austin Kleon wanted to share this week.

Let me follow Austin’s advice and share 10 things I love.

  1. Doodle on the go is fun! I went to an outdoor museum a while ago and sketched all the flowers I saw in a pocket notebook. I recently started taking my notebook to work. I’ll take out my notebook at lunch break and sketch with markers. At home, I get out my oil pastels and sketch away. Sketching on the go helps me keep my style playful, loose, and free.
  2. My favorite journal entry this week was an oil pastel bountiful flower vase. I simply drew. What peace. I like the way my flowers take over the page. They are big and bountiful suggesting how I feel. This world is big and bountiful. There is room for all of us.
  3. One of my favorite books is Just Ask! Just Ask! fully expresses what I mean by big and bountiful!

4. I love the book Learning By Heart. This book teaches art in a fully creative and explorative way. That is the best way to learn art. In a recent Starry Night project I was reminded to go back to the wonderful basics of play.

5. I had the gift of teaching art to children this week. I hope I get to have some Easter art fun this week. Anyway, yet again I am reminded of how not to teach art and more importantly how not to create art. Here’s a link to those posts.

6. Listening to music and dancing is good for the soul. There is a lot of uplifting music. Here are a few: Por El Contrario, Flowers, About Damn Time and Quiero Ser. That last one may be my favorite song. I love my Mexican music. I love every song that makes me move.

7. I am enjoying my Phoenix Watercolor set. This set is pretty close to Winsor’s Cottman Palette.

phoenix watercolor palette

This palette has helped me get through dark thoughts. In case you’re curious here’s one of the artists who has done some research on this palette. I love my palette but it is identical to Winsor but about half the price.

8. I have been listening to podcasts too. I have been praying and meditating too. The calmness of Curly Nikki’s voice keeps me focused. This week redirected my thoughts.

9. Faith Ringgold’s laying on Tar Beach gazing up at the moon and stars feeling like I own all that I see. That is a must-read for every artist and dreamer. All we have to do is believe and imagine.

10. The mouth ninja is a powerful example of never giving up. It is important to always believe. I have read and watched movies on life’s struggles and how people have immense power that says no matter what happens I am still me. I have a gift. I have a purpose. Watching Henry draw with a pen in his mouth is magical. He became paralyzed from the neck down and still that did not deter him from creating his art. Oh my, that reminds me of Troy’s Pottery. As Just Ask! shows us, we are different and what would the world be without all that beauty. The world needs us all! I do write about this on my about page.

Oh wow at first I was like, will I be able to come up with 10 things I love? Of course, I can! I can go around all day and take photos of what grabs my attention.

What has caught your eye or your heart this past week? Comment below. Which of these ten is your favorite to learn about?

Siempre,

Mireya

Artist Tips

Why are kids such great artists?

Mireya
tubes of acrylic paint

Kids don’t have any preconceived notions of what art is or should look like. Every time I give students the tools to paint, they paint. I admire watching the flow of ideas. The difference between watching a video to paint along and allowing them to paint what they saw and express their feelings was wonderful!

Corita Kent is one of my favorite artists. She taught creative exploration. I always say make a mess. Have fun. Paint. This is where the good art comes from! Here is a short film on what the students came up with.

It was fun to see students come in from recess to see their paintings hanging on the wall. They were proud of their work, as they should be! Last night I was painting about to rip out the page from my journal. I kept going because I thought of my students. I explored tools and in the end, it’s a painting that I’m happy is part of my journal.

Here is that painting!

11 pink flowers in a blue leave vase

Siempre,

Mireya

Abstract Flower Artist

A word that describes me is…

Mireya
Daily writing prompt
What is one word that describes you?
View all responses

CREATIVE. Once I start, the ideas keep coming! I enjoy nature, color, and creative exploration the most! Color in the right combination can inspire you. When I think of color I think of Sonia Sotomayor’s Just Ask! How you use color is creative. Nature is calm and peaceful. Creativity allows you to think about yourself and do it on purpose. Creativity says imagine. Or in the words of Faith Ringgold.”I can look up at the moon and the stars and feel like I own all that I see.” I looked up a few words that define what creative means.

individuality

artistry

expressiveness

resourcefulness

inspiration

I am an artist.

Siempre,

Mireya