A Sweeter Day...

I adore the fashions of the the 30's and forties, old movies and painting vintage girls inside the pages of an old ledger journal I have shared with you in earlier posts.

I thought it would be fun to share a step by step tutorial of my most recent entry and the supplies used.  Always begin with DecoArt white gesso.  Laying down a thin layer,  and allowing it to dry.  Taking an alphabet stencil, a palette knife and Texture Medium to the background, creating a texture.  I added a note from a friend to the background as well.  I liked the lacy edges it provided, giving more interest and texture to my background.  Add quotes, notes, photos, etc.  
I have enjoyed using The Americana Drying Time Extender in most of my paintings.  This will give you more play time and create a beautiful softness.
After applying this to the background, apply thin layers of DecoArt Mixed Media Antiquing Cream, Patina Green and Raw Umber.  Adding a small amount of Quinacridone Magenta and Titanium White.  Drawing is outlined with a Medium Charcoal pencil.

Begin laying paint onto the face and hair.  DecoArt Mixed Media fluid acrylics are my choice and I use them in almost everything.  They are highly pigmented and compared to other fine art fluids, DecoArt  is less expensive with comparative quality.

Begin by developing the face, using mid value base to the entire face.  Develop features, planes of face with darker value.  Highlight with lightest value.  

Begin with these four colors, Titanium White,  Raw Sienna, Cadmium Red and Cerulean Blue.  Mix the darkest first, then add white to each pod to achieve the desired flesh tone.  These do appear slightly redder in the picture.  If they are too red or purple, add more Raw Sienna.

Burnt Umber is added to apply features, darken eyes and nostrils with Paynes Grey.  Apply Cadmium Red lips and Cerulean Blue pupils.

Cerulean Blue is added above eyes and some darker shadow areas. Darkest shadows are applied with a small amount of Paynes Grey and Titanium White, creating a soft grey. Now is the time to go back with more highlights and shadows where needed.  

Base hair in with DecoArt Drying Time Extender, followed by Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and White. Using a stylus or the end of a brush, carve into damp area to create a hair like texture.

Add a thin layer of Titanium White to dress. Darken shaded areas with Paynes Grey, Cerulean Blue and a small amount of Burnt Umber.  Create texture with a swirl or lace rubber stamp.  Brushing on Titanium White to the stamp and stamping onto dress and some background areas.  This creates a nice lacy look.  

Spatter background with Cerulean Blue.

Go back over any areas for definition with charcoal pencil.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  I enjoyed sharing this tutorial with you.  You can watch a short clip http://You Tube/Vintage Ledger Girl

Did you know that JoAnn fabric stores now carry the DecoArt Mixed Media line?  Or, contact them on line @JoAnn.com

If there is no JoAnn store near by, you can also go directly to: http://decoart/mixedmedia/purchase

Also visit: http:decoart.com/mixedmedia/education

http://decoart.com/mixedmediablog

Thanks For Joining Me and Happy Painting!!

Ursula 

Every Adventure Requires a First Step

We just returned from a four day adventure to San Antonio, Texas, the river Walk.   A much needed vacation for me and my husband.   

We walked miles each day to see the sights, sounds and the people.  A very interesting area with lots of history, good food, drinks and colorful people.  The above photo is the amphitheater, taken from the other side of the river.  Our hotel over looked the river and I enjoyed visiting the ducks and geese each morning.  August weather in Texas can be quite toasty and it was.  High nineties to 100 degrees each day.  Luckily, the heat doesn't bother either one of us.  My favorites were the Briscoe Western art museum and LaVillita village.  The little village was the home of a small museum and a row of artists shops and cafes.

Resting along the way, right outside of the art museum.  Love the little gift shop inside the art museum.    There I found some wonderful Frida Kahlo inspired stickers, sayings and cards.

After my return home, I wanted to add my thoughts and Frida inspiration into my vintage ledger journal.

This is cut out from a brochure of the art village.  I decided to transfer the image to my journal page.  First, using gesso and allowing it to dry.  Take the image and add DecoArt Matte Medium to the image and the journal page where it will be transferred.  Using a flat tool,  secure image to area and make sure all the bubbles are gone by pressing down.  Allow to dry.  Then, using water and your fingers, gently wipe away the top layer and your image should appear.  

I then decided to try Americana Decor Chalky Finish (Primitive) paint to the remainder of the two pages to cover up more of the writing underneath.  Using washes of color, charcoal and a pen to add text, I added my Friday Kahlo portrait.  

"I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you."  Frida Kahlo

This will remain in my journal and always remind me of the great time and memories that were made.

Amor, Ursula

My Journal Pages

              "One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began."  

Love this quote from Mary Oliver.

This is a page from my vintage ledger journal, dated 1919.  A great find at a local flea market.

I adore how the old pages look against a finished painting.  Each page is prepped with gesso, adding text, doodles and quotes appropriate for each piece of art.  I have also experimented with oil sticks on these pages, adding it to the finished piece and page.  I am a little obsessed with it, I know.

Beginning stages and the quote reads; " Always keep your beautiful imagination and exquisite sense of humor."  I thought it appropriate to add a vintage girl!

Finished by adding layers and washes of color before adding the oil sticks.

She is the first one, Journal girl #1.  I added texture and antiquing to her background.  "The essence of joy and wondering".

I have many more pages to fill, some have text and numbers on them, and some are just blank.

The first photo, above, is my interpretation of a John Waterhouse painting from 1908.  "My Sweet Rose"  

Eleven years before the date stamped inside the ledger

I hope you enjoyed peeking inside my journal and are inspired to create your own, whether it be in an old ledger, notebook or home made papers.

Enjoy the process.

See you soon.

Ursula

New Beginnings

I am ready for this next chapter of my art journey to unfold.  As I have said once before, I was away from art for a while and only did an occasional art project. I did not know how much I really missed spending time in my studio.
Two years ago, I bought my first art journal and I remember telling my husband that I was going to paint something on a daily basis.  Sometimes it was just a doodle and other times it was a little more. All the while learning as much about mixed media art as I could find in books and on the internet.

Here is a collection of some of the journals I have collected.  Notebooks, old books, and hard back art journals are among a few of the journals I have made.  Using them for inspiration, thoughts, and learning new techniques.  A little peek at my take of a Joan Brown painting.  The floral was created for an on line class I had.  The nice part of a journal is that no one else needs to see what was created within it's pages.  As I look back at my first, I see the progress and what I have learned along the way.

Some are small enough to tuck into your purse, or take along when you travel.  Here is a little travel kit I have made.  Sometimes adding a few more supplies, depending on where I am going and for how long.  Koi watercolors, an idea notebook, charcoal, pencils, marker and water brush.

I prepared my background with both white and black gesso (DecoArt media), art papers (Americana Decou Page Paper), pencil markings, a quote and washi tape.  Lightly gessoed over the prepared background, and it was ready to take along with me.  I sketched her out with charcoal and adding values.  Watercolors layered on top.  Added the words, "New Beginnings to her shoulder.  Flowers, doodles are on the other page.   The quote reads; "We have to dare to be ourselves however frightening or strange that self may prove to be." May Sarton

Look back at your older drawings, musings and journals.  A fun way to see where your life and art journey are headed....Wishing you new beginnings,  and happy journaling!

Exciting news and portrait study....

As I was packing and getting ready to go to Kate and Kelly's workshop, I received two emails from the DecoArt Company.  They asked me to be part of their Decoart mixed media program and also part of their Blogger outreach program.  I really didn't have time to process the news until I got home.

Since then, I have completed my first project and it will be on the Deco Art mixed media blog the middle of August.  I have used their paints for many years and absolutely love the mixed media fluid acrylics and mediums.  I am very honored to be part of these two programs!

This project was inspired by an art play date I had with my good friend.  We each took a photo from a magazine as our inspiration.  This portrait  is on 140lb watercolor paper, using , ephemera, DecoArt fluid acrylics and alcohol inks.  Using what we learned at the portrait workshop and adapting them to our own styles.

            The background is washed color, ephemera, pencil markings and alcohol inks. 

                                             Blocking in features with gold brown tones. 

"Let no one tell you what you are to do or how you are to do it".  Love that!  A happy accident applying the saying and didn't discover it until well into the painting.  So had to circle it!

I used DecoArt fluid acrylics and Americana Extender Medium. to create my layers.  Lightly applied to each area as I layered color.  Drying in between layers.

                                   Just couldn't resist adding Malcolm Liepke lips to her!

She is finished for now.  But, you never know, I may come back to her later .....

Thanks for stopping by and hope you get a chance to check out DecoArt and see what they are all about.  Look for "Nostalgia" watercolor tutorial the second week in August!

Ursula xo

My long time friend, Tryphena and I loaded up my car and headed to Excelsior Springs, Mo. for a week long portrait workshop with Kelly Berkey and Kate Thompson. 

We stayed at the historic Elms hotel which was built in 1888.  A beautiful hotel in a quaint little town.  

Here we are having dinner at the hotel one night.  The food all week was very good.

Each morning we met in Kelly's kitchen where she used her skills as Barista and made the most delicious Salted Caramel lattes. (or whatever you chose)  They were accompanied by fruits, pastries and spreads.  Then, over to the studio to learn and share each day.

We were the first group in Kelly's studio.  So it was special all the way around.  It was wonderful meeting such talented artists.  I learned so much from them and the experience was so valuable.  Not only were they all talented, but funny, friendly and warm.  

Here is our carpool group.  I love how we bonded and I will miss them.  But hope our paths will cross again and we can stay connected through social media.  Megan (on the right) kept us laughing to and from the workshop each day.

Kelly had a live model come in one evening and we stayed to watch her paint and draw along with her.

Kate taught us the planes of the face.  She also used flow medium with her open acrylics and I fell in love with the technique.  

One of my paintings on watercolor paper.  I cannot watch tv now without looking at the planes and shadows in a person's face.

They both opened my eyes to artists that I have never heard of and will continue to explore.  Modern day masters!  We even recreated a Malcolm Liepke with what we learned.  I will not only cherish the valuable lessons I learned, but the memories and friendships that were created.  

If You Dance with your heart, your body will follow. Mia Michaels

Whatever your passion is, do it with all your heart and soul.

I always wanted to take dance lessons when I was a young girl.  My parents didn't have the money and I envied the girls that had the opportunity.  I was fortunate enough to live across the street from a friend that did take dance lessons and she gave me her old tap and ballet shoes.  I would go down our basement and dance my heart out on those concrete floors.  Hours at a time, no music, just my imagination and those worn silver dance shoes!

The above painting is a value study, using the dancers.  Perhaps, capturing the movement and beauty of the ballerinas.

My passion is art and I want to continue to learn and strive to be better.  I will be attending a week long workshop with Kelly Berkey and Kate Thompson in less than a week.  I will be studying along with 9 other artists of all levels.  Very excited to get away, learn new methods, meet new friends and have some good food.

"You don't stop dancing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop dancing."

See you soon.  xo

Ursula