It has been a busy couple of months with some BIG deadlines both at work and personally at church and some other areas of my life. I am going home today but I have spent the last week with family at a rental home on the beach on Hilton Head Island, SC. It has been a FABULOUS week with lots of family fun and sunny activities. I even had time to make some art! I have been having some extreme reactions to the sun the last couple of years due to some supplements I have been taking so I had plenty of time to be inside and be creative. I wish I could take this work space home with me–beach view and ALL! 🙂
In between running in and out to take a quick dip in the pool or the surf or to take some of the MANY photos that I took of nieces and nephews and other family members, this was my primary space. I have been spending a lot of time lately studying (and imitating) Dina Wakley and Diana Trout. Dina Wakley seems to use mostly acrylic paints (she has her own line now with Ranger) and Diana Trout uses a lot of items that many artists already have in their supply closet and recently seems to be spending a great deal of time working with watercolor. I actually mentioned a couple of their books back in this post earlier this year. Dina has also published a second book that made its debut last November.
I really like this book as well. It spends a little more time building skills as you go through it and also has some great instructions for portrait sketches–something that I have been trying to do and improve for quite some time. Here is one of the pieces I finished along with another set of journal pages at that I started by cleaning my paint brushes off in-between colors.
Two stencils were used. One created by Ronda Palazzari Designs and the other by Balzer Designs. They are manufactured by The Crafter’s Workshop and both are available for sale at various on-line and brick-n-mortar locations
The page below was inspired by Diana Trout’s Journal Spilling book. I want to do more watercolor and this page was good inspiration for that. I liked her idea of providing the quote from Picasso as well (even if I didn’t spell his name right on the page–LOL).
I hope you are having a good summer. Be sure and enjoy all of the childish fun that you can–especially if you have some children to enjoy it all with! 🙂
If you are in the USA, have a Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday, America!!
What a fantastic place to be creative! I, too, Like Dina Wakely and Diana Trout and I think the face you did is great.
Thanks, Janet! I’m just getting started on trying “faces” so I really appreciate the compliment. I have a long way to go but I am pleased with how it turned out, too!
Gorgeous beach photos!! I can’t wait for my beach vaycay coming soon-I could live there and feel like I’m in heaven:) Love the artists you mentioned and I also have their books! I lived to art through Diana’s book when I was having a difficult time dealing with someone with Alzheimer’s. Great job with your work in both these artists styles!
Thanks, Linda! The beach was great but the pelicans were the highlight of my trip. The would fly by just at balcony level and it was so exciting to take their picture. Surreal I think is what I would call the experience! Have a great weekend!
Oh wow Jill, it looks like you have been super busy and having a lot of fun too! Great art work and I am so happy to see you linking up to #ShowYourFace this week, thank you. Do hope to see you back again. Have a great weekend! Kx
Thanks, Kim! I just discovered your #ShowYourFace challenge and since this is an area I would like to improve, I think this might be a great motivator for moving me in that direction. I look forward to seeing more great ideas on this subject on your blog. 🙂
Looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. I love your portrait – the colours and the drips are lovely xxx
Thanks, Julie! I wasn’t paying attention and when it was all done I wasn’t sure if I liked where the drips ended up on the face or not. It was quite accidental that they ended up exactly where they did. I had to chuckle when I looked at it afresh the next morning. What are the chances that would happen again? Glad you stopped by!
Wow what a great craft space that would be 🙂 Your colors are Fab and your face art is so cool 🙂
Thank you! It was a GREAT place to spend the week. Hopefully we will get to go back again some day.
Fabulous photos and artwork, you seem to have had a wonderful stay away.
Love and hugs
Maarit