Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, everyone. I will post some pictures as long as the rain goes away. Rain on Halloween is no fun!

Experimenting

I think it is good to just experiment with different art mediums every once in awhile. You never know when you may discover a new medium to fall in love with. Plus, I am starting to think that this is the perfect way to start my day off in the studio...experimenting with no goal in mind, no expectations, just time to play, explore, discover and be.

So this is what I have been experimenting with, along with some links that have inspired me:

• Watercolor (check out Heather Smith Jones)

• Block Printing using this technique found via the lovely Jezze (FYI I did not have any felt, so I used an old baby washcloth and it worked beautifully. I suspect flannel would work, too)

• Self-stick foam on peanut butter jar lids (here is a version of this; I cut out my own foam pieces with the technique described in Lena Corwin's "Printing by Hand" book)

I will post pictures once I have finished working. I actually REMEMBERED to take pictures before, during and after. Hooray! Now if I could just find a tutorial on how to take pictures of your art when you have paint on your hands...guess it's time to break out the tripod. Or I could wash my hands or use a washcloth or something.......

Just Because It's Moss

This picture really has no reason for being here, other than I really like moss. I would like to start a story about little tiny creatures living in this moss....

Some Inspiration

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes to get me motivated and inspired. I hope you find it motivational and inspirational, too. Do you have a favorite quote? Please leave your favorite in the comment section. I would love to read yours.

Fabulousness

A whole bucketful of it. On that note, I am signing off. Until later.

Why Freelancing Could Be Bad For Your Hygeine

See there is an advantage to actually going to work somewhere OTHER THAN your house. You have to get out of your jammies, shower, put on deodorant, brush your teeth, etc., etc., etc. Not that I do not do those things...but I have definitely taken full advantage of working from home. I am just being honest.

But I really think there is something to be said about a daily schedule and about getting ready for the day, "properly." So I have decided that, starting tomorrow, I am going to set my alarm clock for 7:00 am, NOT push snooze, get ready BEFORE the boys need to go to school and then start the day off that way. Eventually I would like to get up earlier and add a workout or a walk with my dog to this list. But let's just start with getting out of bed earlier, shall we? I will let you know how this is working out tomorrow ;)

How about you? What motivates you to start the day and be motivated, inspired, successful and/or creative? I would love to hear from you.

Update: I did not get up as early as I had originally intended, but I did get up earlier than normal, showered and got dressed. That's a start AND it gave me extra studio time, which is what I was really hoping for! Hooray! Hopefully I will keep this up in the days to come.

Project Idea: The Recycle Bin Project

So I started working again in the studio...love it....but do you ever find yourself stuck for an idea and have the urge to create something? Anything? Enter the recycle bin project. I am sure that I am not the only one out there with this idea, but it sure did work for me! The idea is to grab some glue, brushes, an old book or magazine, paper from the recycle bin, old postcards, whatever, and just create something. Anything! The theory is that this will motivate you once you get lost in the creative process. It did for me! Check back here for some pictures to come. In the mean time here is a tiny round up of what other artists do to get going everyday:

The cardboard stampede with Ann Wood via Design*Sponge

A Collage A Day with Randel Plowman

The Artist's Survival Kit with Keri Smith

Just for fun

I thought I would give you a conceptual blog post today. Do you know what story I am trying to tell with these three images? Or maybe you have a story all your own about how they are connected? Let me know your story in the comments...and I will tell mine tomorrow :)

Update: My story? Well, the clouds represent me daydreaming...daydreaming about making my art, selling it, opening an Etsy shop, teaching art. Sigh. The cars were my motivation to get to work; the sidewalk paint represents the mess I made on my kitchen table with watercolor paint, glue and screen printing ink because I actually DID some work yesterday :)

A Chance to Win FREE Stuff

Oh boy, look what the procrastinating artist found this morning:

Free Fabric, via Fabric Fusion

More free art and craft supplies to get your creative juices going, via Totally Tutorials

And this one, just to brighten your day!

Enjoy, my friends, and get going! Make something fabulous and tell me all about it in the comments. I would love to hear from you!

A PhotoShop Tutorial Round-Up

So, I love editing images in PhotoShop. Since I love it SO much, I decided to post some links to some of my favorite tutorials to get your editing grove on:

PhotoShop Essentials (this site is packed FULL of great stuff)

PhotoShop Support (again, packed FULL o-stuff)

One of my favorite tutorials for smoothing skin, by Steve Weinrebe via double exposure

And from Steve Weinrebe's Mode Studio blog

Enjoy! I would like to know if you have a favorite PhotoShop tutorial or perhaps a site I do not know about yet...which is entirely possible and highly likely. Leave a link in the comments. Thanks!

A Book Giveaway

Check out this book giveaway that I just discovered here. Now go and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Found via Life As Art

Don't worry, I am still here.

And to prove it, here is a picture of a giraffe. We have been a bit under the weather over here, but are feeling MUCH better. In the mean time here are some fun links for you to check out and waste a little time looking at:

Make, Grow, Gather....I just found this one and am really digging it.

Obsessive Consumption....I found this one today and am TOTALLY inspired. TOTALLY.

Recession Recipes...I am thinking about hosting a recession potluck.

Have fun browsing and I will be back soon.

It's been too long, again

Boy how life goes by when you are busy. Both ArtPrize and ArtPeers shows are finished and I am now starting to get my personal and freelance life back to normal. I have started to work out a schedule for myself, you know to be "more organized" and all that stuff. We'll see how it works out. So far, I have started planning weekly meals, which I think will be good. No more standing in front of the fridge, staring blankly at its contents and thinking, "can't we just order pizza?"

I also have been busy with my portfolio site! I know! Aren't you proud of me...I FINALLY did it. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I am hoping to add Etsy shop info soon!

The other thing that is still in the works...I am trying to find somewhere to display all of the community created artwork that was done during ArtPrize. I think these are fantastic, since it is a totally different way to document the inaugural event. If you have any suggestions, I would be happy to read them in the comments.

Have a great day and, believe me when I say, that blogging here will be on my daily schedule :)