29 Faces 2014 #3

Today I started my face my choosing a colour from my aquarelle pencils.
I tried to make the face to represent the chosen colour while I drew.

For the third face, the colour is cobalt blue.

Thanks for visiting! x

29 Faces FEB #1 and #2

I was glad to notice that the 29 Faces challenge is back - and already started! I enjoyed so much the last September that there's no question whether I'm in or not. ;)

The first two faces I made today, mostly with acrylic colours.

In the first one I made a background skin colour with mist of Perfect Pearls & watercolour. I smoothed some of drops with damp cloth.

I used a small palette knife to spread the colours. That is the first new thing I  tried in this challenge. :)

In my second face I mixed some blue Perfect Pearls with ultramarine acrylic colour.  The blue now glows lightly. (Applied the colour with a medium sized paintbrush.) I plan to continue this work.

Thanks for watching! Hope to see your works too in this challenge!

The Art Journal of 2014: First Page

During last weeks I have read more about a zillion techniques, among them Art Journaling. Still a lot to learn... But as older people say here in Finland: You never get ready (in life that is). Maybe it's only for good, to know you aren't supposed to become all knowing?

Well for this year I've "challenged" myself to fill a book in kind of an-art-journal-way.
So far I've realised that I really should start more pages because otherwise I'll never finish! ;-) Putting them together along the year should be fun too.

At the moment there's one page quite ready and another I plan to continue soon...

Last but not least: A blog that I found today that relates to this subject and of course, is very inspiring: Peony and Parakeet!

A Postcard for the Faces theme

Hi!
After a short pause I'm taking part again to Sunday Postcard Art -challenge.
The current challenge is Faces. I think it's a fun subject because an artist can use only few lines and still capture person's character...

Here's my card, in 6 x 4 inches:

I think I name it "Bow Ties Are Cool". I didn't plan to make a fan art piece of Doctor Who, but the face just appeared on while painting with watercolours. :) That helped to design the surrounding area with stamps collected from various places.

Thanks for visiting!

Mixed Technique Drawing - Metallic Details

I think I finally did something worth framing - this is almost finished so it's safe say it out loud. ;)

As a part of home decoration project I have gone through my drawings and paintings. Most of the finished pieces are soon 10 years old! I'm sad to admit but they don't inspire me as they used to. And I find more mistakes from them... Maybe you know the feeling?

Well it was obviously time to get something new and fresh done! I'm really interested of mixed techniques right now, but have only little experience of it. With this work I wanted to push myself to that direction.

As a subject I chose Tribal Fusion Belly Dance as it also inspires my imagination right now.

Oh and I'm taking part to Paint Party Friday with this piece. :)

I found out that the stamping inks go well together with watercolour pens. And the water based inks are a lot of fun with wet paper!

Some textures in the picture are made with stamps as well as some details (such as keys and dragonfly). I think I really got a better hold of metallic gel pens I have.

Here are some details:

Going to take a small break from this before I frame it. Maybe that will help to find anything worth fixing.

Thanks for visiting! Hope you have a very inspiring New Year!

Time to Relax and Enjoy Winter Hobbies

This weekend I got a head start by one day, which I really needed. I've tried some new stuff both in baking and crafting. :-) Both are nice ways to spend time indoors. We have had some chilly wind here is Southern Finland few days.

The new thing I've interested in is quilling. I saw some photos of beautiful quilled decorations a week ago. Last Wednesday I happened to find a tool for quilling from sale!

My first work is a snowflake, a pattern taken from here. Thanks :)

Since I used copy paper the outcome wasn't good for window decoration. Instead I made a card out of it.

This certainly needs more practise! What I also intend to practise is making gingerbread dough.

They look fine but could have more spices. :) I love to use those old moulds that I got from my mother.

There was one success in my weekend - muffins! I filled these with (frozen) strawberries and white chocolate crush. Yum! First time I also used baking soda instead of baking powder. And yes - there is a difference in size.

I still have some baking and gift shopping to do, so I have a good reason to go out today to admire the falling snow. :)

Take care and enjoy the season! x

More Sketches of a Fairy Painting

Hello again! Last October was quite a stressful month in work so I've rested a lot and let blogging wait. Now was as good time as any to break the silence.

The only craft project I worked on was a painting for a Finnish drawing competition. I hope I have a chance to win some quality drawing products. ;-) I actually sketched a lot for it. Here's two pretty advanced sketches - one that is in my art journal, the other on a single sheet.

As you might guess I started with acrylic colours. It required a gesso-based background paper. I really wanted to work little details more. and enjoy some drawing, so I changed the medium.

This one is less dramatic but more interesting on details. I added some of them with oil pastels and watersoluble metallic pens. This paper is 200 g/m2 and recommended for mixed media but it couldn't absorb all the water. In nature the background colour actually looks as dull as in here. I'm glad I tested it so I knew the final work would require more heavier stuff.

I think I'll show the final work later. I'm not sure when I hear how the competition went, but I tell as soon as I can. :-)