Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Red Kite


I wanted a messy background for this page of my journal, so I dug out scraps of paper from the trash, tore them up and glued them on. Then I painted and splattered with acrylic paint. 

The white part of the page seemed like a good place for something bright so I thought of a red kite. 

It took me forever to draw the girl. Draw, erase, draw, erase. Hopefully, I'll get better at it the more I practice.

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Monday, October 30, 2017

W & M Veggie Burger


This veggie burger from W & M was gooooooood! I had it with cheese ($4.40). 

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Saturday, October 28, 2017

New Pocket-Sized Art Journal


Thank you CQ and Kaori for the journal and Jane Davenport for the inspiration.

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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Blue Pages


This is what I did with the two blue pages.

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Monday, October 23, 2017

Dylusions Ink Spray


I'd been wanting to try Dylusions Ink Spray because of the intense colors that it produces. Only thing . . . it's expensive . . . around $7 to $8 a bottle.

This After Midnight was just under $4 on Amazon so I ordered it.  
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I sprayed it on a couple pages of my art journal. 
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I also sprayed my hand. 
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And my shorts. 
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And the floor. 
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I didn't get a chance to look at the pages until a few days later. When I rubbed my fingers on the ink I found that although it had dried, it hadn't set. Powdery dark ink stained my fingers. 

Researching online, I found that I shouldn't have prepped the pages with Gesso. It prevents the ink from being absorbed into the paper. O-M-G.
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And so I did the only thing that I could think of . . . I painted Mod Podge onto the two pages. 
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This is what I have now.  !!!!!
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Saturday, October 21, 2017

Grateful


I think about you readers all the time . . . some I've met . . . most I've not . . . but ALL have kept me going for all these many years. 

I just want let you know how grateful I am for your support, and as a thank you, I'd like to give you a couple (or more) of my hand-painted greeting cards.

Can you email me (JalnaA@aol.com) with your mailing address? I promise I won't use it for some unscrupulous purpose . . . I just want to give you some cards. 

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

The Aim of Art


Thank you for all of your positive comments regarding the sharing of my artwork. I feel less hesitant about sharing now (and possibly boring you) and really do hope that it'll inspire you to try your hand at creating something yourself. 

I got some washi tape years and years ago in Japan that I never used. I'm so happy that I'm finally making use of them in my art journal book. 

This tape surprised me. After I tore off the cellophane covering, I found that the tape was cloth-like and stretchy and kinda see-through . . . so cool. 
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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

About Birgit Kerr


I have been relentlessly scouring the internet lately for painting ideas, looking for inspiration in attempts to hone my "skill". And that's how I found the blog Birgit's Daily Bytes

Birgit's "About Me" section totally resonates with me. Her words are my thoughts exactly. And I'm pretty sure that it could hold true with you too.

Here's what she says:


AN UNINTENTIONAL ARTIST.

I never really set out to be an artist. Mostly, because I was convinced that I just didn’t have the “talent” to be a “real” artist. In my mind, ”real” artists go to art school, they have amazing talent, practically out of the cradle, they have a keen eye for proportions, only to be enhanced by crazy cool skills they just sort of acquire through the years. 


And me, well, as far as I was concerned, I didn’t really have any of that. Sure, I was creative in many areas, but “real” artists paint and draw, and I couldn’t do that. I know, my definition of an artist was quite ridiculous, really! 


But, you see, “I have proof,” said my mind, whenever I picked up a pencil or a brush and tried to translate something from my mind or eye to the paper. “You might really want to do this, but clearly you don’t have what it takes!” Whatever I had produced looked like something a 3-year-old had drawn and nothing like what was in my mind’s eye or what an “artist” would draw/paint!


And of course it would, because without practice, you very rarely acquire skills. Unfortunately, when it comes to art, we tend to compare ourselves to the pieces that inspire us, the art of masters, not to the artists on the level we’re really at.

And comparison is indeed the thief of joy at the best of times, but particularly when we become our own worst art critics by making absolutely unfair comparisons.


So, for many years, even while making my living as a digital scrapbook designer (which is essentially being an artist,) I would stay away from actual paint. Sadly. Because, really, it was calling me! I just didn’t have the courage to open myself up to that calling. 


Until one day I did! I gave myself permission to just play!


The colors, the paints, the mess, the stamps and gesso and crayons - they were all calling my name. And instead of expecting a master piece, I just started to play. And I was hooked!

So, I painted, and glued, and layered, and smeared, and dripped and stamped, and sketched like never before. I got gloriously messy. I explored the material. And while I was having all that fun, I learnt. And practiced. And acquired skills.


And everything changed and shifted and eventually this whole new world opened up for me and is still opening up as I walk this path!


And through art and within art, I have found ways to communicate, to inspire, to save  and  to heal. I have found courage, as well as vulnerability, amazing possibilities and connections and maybe most of all - joy and gratitude!


And I’m so happy that I get to share it all with you!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Collage Greeting Card


Sorry to bore you with all of my painting projects, but no more nothing else to share with you lately.

Here's a greeting card that I made with some of my leftover painted paper and acrylic paint. I'm thinking of making more similar cards but without the busy background and using watercolor paints instead.

In case you're wondering . . . the sheets of paper I used for the collage is from a prospectus that some company is required by law to provide to me. The paper is almost tissue paper thin so worked perfectly. I have no clue what all the words mean.

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Friday, October 13, 2017

Two Collages and an Announcement


I have two collages to share with you. Although it wasn't intentional, the theme is similar and probably the result of what I've been feeling in my heart lately. 

Remember the sheets of paper that I painted with acrylic paint? This is what I did with them. The circles I colored with oil pastel crayons and smudged them with my fingers. 
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This second collage was made with similar sheets painted with earthy-colored watercolor paint instead. It looks so subdued compared to the acrylics, yah? Inspiration for the butterfly came from SchulmanArt blog and can be found here. Isn't it cool? 
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If you haven't guessed what my announcement is about yet, here it is: I'M RETIRING!! 

35 years with the same company and now . . .  October 31 will be my last day. I feel Sad, Nervous, Excited . . . in that order. Hopefully, by next month Sad and Nervous will go away and I'll just be left with Excited. 

A new chapter begins . . . 

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Black Gesso


Inspiration for my first acrylic painting came from My Flower Journal and can be found here

I thought that a black background would be neat so I researched online on how I could do it.
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I used this black Liquitex Gesso. It's pretty awesome. It goes on smoothly and spreads easily. It needs to dry for 24 hours before painting on it.
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I didn't know that acrylic paint hardens onto the palette. Surprise! It took some soaking and scrubbing, and I was able to get the palette somewhat clean.

I'm thinking of using a styrofoam take out container next time instead. Then I can throw it away and not have to worry about cleaning up. 
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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Diem 99 Cafe


Diem 99 Cafe in 99 Ranch has a vegetarian menu, and I am totally loving it. I wish it was closer to my house. I would go everyday.

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Lemongrass Tofu Banh Mi ($6.50). So yummy. 
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Vegetarian Spring Roll ($5.75)
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Veggie Roll Combo ($8.99)
Vegetarian spring rolls and summer rolls
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Monk's Dish ($8.75). I LOVE this.  
Traditional banh bi chai dish served with fried bean curd and vegetables on vermicelli noodles and soy sauceIMG_7599

Monday, October 9, 2017

Acrylic Paints


I was hoping to focus on watercolor paints only, but these Golden brand acrylic paints are 75% off at Fisher this month, so  . . . ACK . . . yes, I bought them. The red tube alone is normally about $14, but  I got it for $3.50. You know how I can't pass up on a good deal.

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I was shocked to see how vibrant the colors are. 
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I painted a page in my art journal. The paint doesn't have the "bleeding together" quality that I like in watercolors, but the plus side is that the colors are so bold. It gave me an idea.
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Inspiration came, of course, from something I saw online. Stay tuned for the finished product later. Neva do um yet. Do you see me and Landon peeking from behind the pages? Hahaha. It wasn't intentional . . . but so cute us, yah. I'm gonna use it in a page in my journal. 
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This is my acrylic paint supply container. I got new brushes to use with the acrylics because I don't want to wreck my precious watercolor brushes. This morning before working on this blog post, I started clearing off the sewing supplies from my table. I'm running out of room. Yikes!
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Saturday, October 7, 2017

Life Begins


I don't know if life begins at the end of your comfort zone, but I believe that new adventures do start there.

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Thursday, October 5, 2017

Crayola Markers


Here's another page from my art journal. I did the lettering and coloring with Crayola Markers. I was so surprised when I discovered a YouTube video where a gal demonstrates beautiful hand lettering using the kids' markers.

This page was so much fun to do. I'm finding that I love doing circles.
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I got my markers at the swap meet . . . 5/$1.00. Good deal . . . plus I had fun chatting with the guy. 
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Here's the video:

Monday, October 2, 2017

Art Journal


I decided to start an Art Journal because I needed someplace to put the scraps of paper that I've been practicing on instead of throwing them away or taping them to the wall.

I have to admit . . . unfortunately . . . that this quote describes me exactly.
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It's from this book. 
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Sunday, October 1, 2017

Miso Butterfish


This butterfish was really, really good. Maybe as good as $$$Roy's$$$.

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Landon picked it up from Hawaiian Miso & Soy Co., Ltd. It was $$$20.95$$$ a pound.  Lan just broiled it in the oven.
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