WOTY – Word of the Year

December 11, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

This year, instead of making resolutions or specific goals for the new year, I decided to choose a Word of the Year to guide me in 2019. That word was GRATITUDE. I hung the word up in my studio so that I could see it all the time and keep in mind all the things in my life that I was grateful for, even in the face of hardship. It was really powerful in that it helped me to think about GRATITUDE in a variety of areas where I normally would not have thought to have gratitude. Being grateful changes your mindset instantly in the face of fear, doubt or anxiety.

FOR 2020 I have chosen the word COURAGE. This is perfect as I am forging into new art and art practices on the mixed media pathway but I am sure the need for COURAGE will arise in other areas as well.

What will your WOTY be for 2020?

What’s on the Project Table?

November 18, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

This week I am working on collecting, organizing and labeling my Distress paint and oxide spray collections and trying to decide how far the Tim Holtz rabbit hole I want to go down. Tim Holtz is the creator of the Distress collection for Ranger. His paints are fluid acrylics that span from neutrals to bright colors. Creamy and nicely pigmented. The oxide sprays are a combination dye and pigment that oxidize when you add water meaning you can achieve some pretty cool effect and depth of color. I decided to get the full set of paint colors (60) so that I could experiment with them in my mixed media/collage work. (Also, I am trying to decide if I want to get all the oxide sprays as well.)

I am also working through Alisa Burke’s “Inky Blooms” micro class so that I can get more familiar with the properties of ink and ink painting to put in my mixed media pieces.

What are you working on this week?

Happy Monday!

Pen Pal Painting Exchange

November 4, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

The Pen Pal Painting Exchange, sponsored by the Brooklyn Art Library, is a way to make art and connect with people around the globe. $25 gets you a 4×4 canvas and a “Hello” card to fill out and pays for the cost of running the program.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Order the kit.
Paint/draw/collage/photograph the canvas.
Fill out the ‘Hello’ card and return it with the canvas.
Receive another participants canvas and info about them.

Pretty cool, right?! For my piece, I decided to try some to try some of the techniques I learned in an art journal class with @bybun to see how they would work on a canvas.

penpal-1 penpal-2 penpal-3 penpal-4 penpal-5 penpal-6

I was really happy with the way this turned out on canvas and I can’t wait to get the canvas from the pen pal they choose for me!