Tag: mixed media flowers

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-Oh Let It Be

Mireya

I’ve been watching artists create beautiful art with random tools. I used to paint like this! Used to? I wrote There’s No Right Way to Paint a Flower. Seems I’ve forgetten the delight of having the time to listen to the voice. The voice is always here. All we need to do is let the moment be. I posted about this on someone’s instagram post. Beautiful art is about putting you in your art. It’s the way you hold the brush or not use a brush. Art is about your weirdness. Art is the the way you dance, the rhythm you carry. I want to paint all the time because I want to. Art just is for me. It’s my breath of fresh air.

I was deleting old work photos on my phone. I found my paper roll flowers! There’s a thrill in not knowing what the flower will look like until you’ve finished.

Three paper roll blooms
learning to paint flowers with fun tools

Back to these roses

Here’s a breakdown of what I used:

  • sponge brush to blend paint
  • watercolor paint
  • watercolor pencils
  • stamp (Stamping with paint is awesome! Make sure you have your art rag nearby so you can wipe the sponge clean when you’re done stamping)
  • brush pen
  • white acrylic pen
  • flat brush
  • round brush
  • mixed media paper

I think that’s all for the supplies. I created a step-by-step idea pin here. I selected a tool. An idea came with it! I painted! I added a little magenta to the green and then a little yellow. I love this shade of green! I use my art rag to dap the wet paint off the paper so I could repaint it. I was all, let me fix this instead of just letting it be. I love the advice someone recently gave me. There’s no good or bad.

What’s your favorite tool? A few days ago, I roamed the isles of a Dollar Tree. I’m browsing Amazon and Blick for flat brushes and an art journal. Have any ideas? Thanks and if you enjoyed this post then subscribe to this blog. Tell a friend.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Expressive Flowers

Roses-Just do it

Mireya

Today was the day. I said I’d post new work and it was going to be awesome. That did not happen. That’s ok because tomorrow’s another day! Well I did come away with one design. In between paper after paper I thought of this bouquet.

blue vase filled with pink and orange roses

I don’t know what was going on today but I can paint. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my Sunday! I’m here. It’s been raining and spring is going to be beautiful! Has this ever happened to you?

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Roses-Bouquet of Love

Mireya
blue vase filled with pink and orange roses

The smell of out-of-the-oven brownies is in the air. Here I am reviewing this bouquet. I was back and forth, I like it, don’t like it, fix it, love it! There are a few changes I would make. Not sure about the blue centers. I could make the deep red rose bigger and paint leaves instead of the dot pattern. That would work!

What I love most about this bouquet is…I didn’t know I could paint like this. Well, the truth is I do know. I know that I can paint. I’m an artist. This year, for months, I’ve been with the right spirit. This bouquet was painted with love. It’s proof of what happens when I paint from love. I can do it!

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-Keep Working

Mireya

Let me begin with how fun and motivational my paper collage wildflowers are! I’ve been creating and collecting them in a folder. I took out the folder and began reading them not knowing what to expect. My wildflower thoughts made me laugh and smile. I now have an introduction letter for the book. And just like that, my wildflowers collage book is coming together! I love when this happens. That brings me to the white vase flower arrangement I painted. Like my wildflowers, this arrangement is fun inte,resting and I painted it! How about a little poem?

7 pink roses in a white vase

Differences

Let go of all that is no good.

By the almighty, you are understood

The trees

the breeze

with every dance

they love your stance

Pick up the brush

make a mess

don’t settle for anything less

Have fun!

You’ve only just begun.

The YOUs that make you interesting

That’s the biggest bling

Never hide your face

Because you are the difference that makes this word a wonderful place!

…just a quick poem. Sometimes I realize, I’m good at poetry. Would you like to see more poetry? Let me know in the comments below. This poem and this painting will go into the book. What a beautiful start!

Quick notes for these roses

  • pink is my hero
  • Reuse old art. Save it. Fix it.
  • Working with three colors is best.
  • Hopeless moments are the defining moments
  • Layers

Oh, if you’re curious I will be creating a video of all of my wildflowers. I’ll let you know when I post it on Pinterest.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-sketching with Crayons

Mireya

For this session, I got out my crayons and swatched them. That made me smile and excited to draw! My set is missing a few blues, pinks, and greens but I didn’t care. I was smiling inside and ready to draw! I picked up a crayon and sketched the photo I was referencing. The title of the photo was rosy pink. I was feeling rosy and pink.

I did a second sketch. I tried to Layer and blend. I broke a few crayons in the process. I’m going to work with watercolor tomorrow. Crayons are fun but painting has my heart. Crayons are great for sketching and planning color schemes. Maybe I should get a Crayola educational watercolor set?

Quick question? Have you ever done a painting-a-day challenge? Comment below. Thank you for reading. I’m going fully into this roses project. I’ll be posting every Wednesday, Sunday, and sometimes more because I have much to share. Make sure you subscribe and tell a friend.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-Ornament Peach Roses

Mireya

…because a field of peach roses will make you feel peachy. Surrounded by peach roses. I stand in the middle of it all, like the missing puzzle piece. Everything and anything is possible. I extend my arms. I’m ready to fly. A breeze and warmth of the sun lingers on my hat and my hair.

There is an idea pin tutorial for these roses on Pinterest.

…and my rose project folder begins.

Here’s a list of what I did but check out the video for step by step photos.

  • Begin with white,green, yellow, red and turquoise
  • Mix various shades of orange ( red and orange)
  • Unify palette by mixing a dot of turquoise to warm up oranges
  • Use a paint brush to paint the bottom of an ornament
  • In a circular motion stamp onto paper
  • Mix white with leftover paint
  • Paint around the stamped circle shapes with a brush
  • Mix blue, green and a little turquoise for the stems and leaves
  • Watch the roses bloom before your eyes

Definitely adding this idea to the book. Roses: a friendship book for the spirit here we come!

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Pink Sunflower

Mireya
Pink paper collage flower

Writing allows me to freely express myself. Writing helps me reflect. With a book you can go anywhere in the world you want to go. Writing is a doorway to the spirit. I blog because I’m not confident being on camera for a YouTube channel. Yes I know, and that’s why it’ll be good to film my course. I’ve been filming idea pins for Pinterest.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Earliest Painting Memory

Mireya

My earliest memory is finger painting and making a mess! I’ve loved art every day of my life.

I still like to make a mess!

Here I am stamping with an eraser. It’s Corita Kent, James Victore, EttaVee, Shantell Martin…who opened my spirit to an art that has me understanding, this has always be me. I am an artist!

I’ve been going through all of my art and penciling in projects. Beginning next week I will start using these prompts to share my roses project. Is it next week?

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Last Thoughts of 2022

Mireya

I was working on this post yesterday and accidentally hit publish before I was done. Now that I’ve cleared that up let’s get into the last thoughts of 2022.

Runner’s up

three blooms in a ceramic pot-painted with mixed media
two tall flowers
three pink daisies pn a peach and pink watercolor wash background
Fall flowers in all shades of orange with a little pink

Oh right, I’ve been sketching floral arrangements!

I archived my work

I went through all of my art files and read all of my book projects. It was nice to be inspired by my own work! It’s good to review your work and see how you’ve grown. Sometimes I lose sight of what I’m doing and then I read one of my books and go oh, that’s why. On the days when I can’t paint or feel like I’m an imposter, I look at old work and surprise myself with an awesome piece.

viva magenta flowers in vase sketch

I’ve written over 1000 posts

This is not all in one year but I have written 1000 posts and over 36,000 words. I want to write more stories. Writing is one of my favorite hobbies. My first story was about Ana & George. Three stories later I wrote Different Is Beautiful. This year I wrote For a Colorful Life. I recently read Live Your Love Story. It’s a fun quick inspirational read. I’m working on a new book. Do I know what I’m doing? My work makes my spirit dance. That means I’m doing something right. Oh, I started writing poetry this year!

It’s been a wonderful year! I thank all of you who reach out to me with your comments. Here’s to all that’s to come! That’s tomorrow’s post.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Artist Tips of the Year

Mireya

Practice for Flow Not Perfection

Blue Flowers in a Blue Vase

Practice isn’t about getting good or great. Practice is about letting go. At some point, there’s this voice and you realize it’s there, always has been. I have sat and sat for hours trying to paint something. Nothing happened. On this occasion, I had one color, one damaged brush, and five minutes.

Paper Collage is a Great Way to Learn About Color

Collage pink flowers and lettering the words free soul in Spanish

I’m putting together a creative exploration course with a paper collage. Sometimes I go into the process knowing that I’ll be creating flowers but it’s nice to just use random tools to stamp and blend colors. Then I’ll get an idea and start cutting and arranging. The idea blooms right before my eyes. That’s what happened with the letters M and L.

Social Media needs my attention and consistency

Various papers painted with vibrant orange and pink tones

I like to experiment and paint. I occasionally post on Pinterest. When I do the results are awesome. At one point I had 80k monthly views. I had no plan but to share my work. It worked. I am still learning about SEO. I have ideas. Here’s to more traffic.

Focus on the Moment

I know I’m the artist and I get attached to my work but I shouldn’t. I should only be that spiritual connection that comes as I create. I’m not the end result of my work. Nor am I entitled to the fruits of my labor. My best ideas come when I focus on the moment. For example, I many times have the opportunity to paint with my students. I set up the paint and brushes and wonder what will come of the dried-up dollar store palettes and beyond-bent shapeless brushes. These thoughts have nothing to do with me, my spirit. What is me is curiosity? I’m always curious about what everyone will paint? And every time before my eyes, the children mix up interesting colors, and awesome textures and they are artists. No one gives them permission. They just pick up the brush and go for it.