Hiking or Riding Mini Journal Update

Huff, huff, that's me blowing the dust off of the blog posting! LOL! I know I've neglected posting updates, but that doesn't mean I haven't been creating. Let's get to it!

The mini journals are approx. 4"x4" size. These are my first run, first time making this type of journal. As part of the functional art guidelines I have, this journal should be user friendly and yet be a work of art. So I took a regular size paper and divided it into thirds, like folding it to put into a business size envelope. The paper used is a handmade faux dark brown leather, it's one of my favorites! Then I played with a few ideas of paper combinations until something suited me. Now, what kind of lacing? I had some black leather cord I knew to use, and decided on trying a zig zag formation, like three mountain peaks. Played with that a bit, I was smart this time and made a template of how to measure the holes to punch and to figure out the lacing. I secured the lacing by using a crimp tube for necklace making on the back of each journal. Who knew I would actually use some geometry in my art projects, I really did use my protractor for the template! (Draftsman I'm not, but I can get by). Gold parchment paper was used for the pages, and I hand cut all sheets. As the booklet was forming, I felt like it needed a real leather border, so I got some of the Tandy leather scraps bag with black leather. Experimented a bit with measuring leather strips and got a leather border glued on each of the three journals. This is one area I will do a little different on the next set of journals. I like the look, but my gluing skills are a little rough. As a result, the inside covers with the leather borders looked rough, so I added a silk paper liner inside to cover up the leather gluing process. Figured that was a smart move on my part, LOL!!

Now for some pictures showing the process of creating the paper journals and binding:


Next post, the choosing of the beads and theme of each journal!

New Project, Hiking/Trail Riding Journals

With the Unicorn painting finished, and listed on both Etsy and Artfire (and Twittered!), time for my latest functional art project. Small, hand held size hiking or trail riding journals. These journals will be embellished with natural stones or silver on the leather lacing and then a miniature painting on the cover. I think these will be very unique.

My theme is wildlife and landscapes of the southwest. I plan on using stones that are natural to the landscape depicted for the journal decoration. For example, one journal cover will feature the feral mustangs of Nevada, and I will be using natural (as possible) Nevada mined turquoise and silver beads. Reason being, Nevada is well known for it's illustrious turquoise mines and of course the abundant silver mines. I will also make two additional journals, plans are for an Elk looking over the Grand Canyon (copper and silver beads) and a Buffalo (bison) in Yellowstone (still deciding on stones; need to do some more research).

So I have the theme selected, still need to get more reference material together for the miniature paintings. I have cut all the paper out and am ready to start binding the journals. I'm thinking I will bind and bead each journal first, and then get started on each matching painting. My time is now directed on this new project; I'm excited to see how these will turn out in time! I'll keep on with updates every week!

Painting Wet, Lake with Boat landscape

Sometimes I try my hand at painting other subjects outside my usual interest (horses, southwest themes). So I decided to stretch my art skills at painting a small fishing boat on a lake. Painting water is very interesting, from what I studied, water is a reflection of the surroundings but yet needs to yield a fluid appearance. To me, like moving shadows, layers of shadows. I found I needed to be in an abstract frame, colors that would flow directly into one another. I decided it would be fun to document this try at painting water as a WIP (work in progress).

Here is the initial sketch, on sketch paper, with a reference photo:

And a close up of the composition sketch:

Now I drew the sketch on to the watercolor paper. First color sketch of darks (indigo) and neutral green, painting size is approx. 10" x 6" on 136# cold press paper:

And the first layer of the landscape colors added, my focus on keeping the highlights blank, pushing more dark and middle ranges:

Next, I'm adding more middle values, filling in the boat and fisherman. I decided I wanted to add some depth to the background. I tried to recess the middle trees as a secondary treeline to imply the lake flows further between the initial treeline. I'm not sure it works splitting the treeline into two parts. Used more greys on the small back treeline.


Now working on the lake highlights. I used more greens and violets to accentuate a warm still quietness for the water. Fishing is supposed to be a relaxing activity!


With all three tonal values in now, (light, middle and dark), I went to work on creating more depth in the water, shadows of the treelines, punching the clouds and sky depth and color.



I continued to go back and forth on adding depth more blue to the water, more blue greens for the treeline water shadows and the fisherman and the boat. I then wanted to add some highlights to the water, adding those special reflective sparkles, making water like a faceted jewel. Finally, I decided that I had to finish, and leave it as is as I felt myself starting to over tweak the painting. And now, the finished painting:


I'm ok with the outcome; I learned a lot, like waterscapes just may not be my thing! But, I can't say that I won't do another water themed painting in the future. Funny thing though, I found myself thinking about all sorts of new horse painting ideas while thinking about painting water!

Merry Christmas Eve! Special Paintings for Family

Like most folks, these last couple of weeks have been really hectic for me. I didn't even manage to send out Christmas cards this year, *sigh*, so sorry I did that. However I think I have redeemed myself with the latest art project completed! I wanted to make something different for my nieces and nephews this year. I normally take the easy way out and just get gift cards to WalMart or Target, which for the most part I did this year again. However, I decided to present the cards in a gift of their own, a "gift within a gift" if you will.

The idea came to me to make small paper decorated cowboy boot sleeves with a themed card that fit inside. I made three pair that I put up for sale in my Etsy shop but did not sell. Again, *sigh* (oh well, there's always next year!). So I decided, why not make a larger size that a regular gift card could slip inside? And, why not decorate it with a small painting of an individuals likes? And the gift card boots were on their way to being created!

So the next step was to discretely find out what each of my nieces and nephews enjoyed and then create a representative painting. Luckily, through the help of my sisters they directed me to what I should look for. My oldest nephew enjoys fishing, the other nephew enjoys dragons (which I remembered from his wedding theme), two nieces enjoy wine and one niece enjoys cooking. With this info, I went to a few websites I use for reference pictures and was able to find suitable photos to use. I was a little stuck for the cooking reference, so I used a collage of different photos to come up with a "cooking" theme. I hope my niece "gets" it and doesn't think I'm the strange old aunt! And here are the results:

Each boot shank is large enough to slip in a regular size gift card with a small envelope. I hope they keep these boots as a keepsake. I am going to tell them that if they just want the gift card and not the boot, I'll take the boot back! (I put a lot of effort into these). I also personalized each boot on the back with their name and the year. But these guys are all old enough to be appreciative of a family member's efforts just for them. It was fun and good artistic exercise for me, creating miniature paintings in still life, fantasy and realistic styles.

Today is the busiest day of the month for me but I never forget why Christmas day is here for us no matter how tired or busy I get. Hallelujah, He is born!

WIP New Horse Action Painting Continued

I truly did not forget about blogging the WIP, just been busy! But now I'm ready to complete the WIP. Once I had the initial sketches done, I made a few changes to correct proportions, like horses head size, legs and feet size, riders arm positions,etc.. and then used tracing paper to copy and lift the designs to the watercolor paper. Here you can see how I placed the drawings ready to be rubbed on the background.











So now the big decision, COLOR! I've decided this painting is going to be more loose in style and more contemporary in presentation as opposed to my usual realistic style. Every once in a while I like to go "outside the box" for me!! When I paint, I really enjoy painting using lots of complementary colors so that was my starting point. Found my trusty color wheel and went to work. Here is the initial color sketch for horses and riders.

I tried to chose colors that would all complement each other (according to my trusty color wheel) in some way or another. This was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, which color would "fit" with another, I hope I pulled it off though! I used three brands of watercolor pencils, Faber Castell (FC), CretaColor (CC) and Derwent (D). So let's start with the left horse which is in a left spin manuever: horse, blue violet (FC) body, bluish turquoise (FC) mane & tail and receeding areas; rider, naples yellow (D) outline and recessed areas with ochre light (CC) and golden brown (D). For the larger center horse performing a sliding stop, colbalt green (FC) body outline with orange (CC) for eyes and forelock; the rider in madder carmine (CC). For the right side horse in a right handed spin manuever, horse in permanent red light (CC) with magenta (D) for mane & tail and eyes; the rider is in moss green light (CC) and earth green yellowish (FC). Yea, LOTS of color here! Well, this is what I think I want, LOL! So now time for water and painting!

And the Site builds, Jeweled Bookmark Paintings!

Well I'm making progress for getting art listings in my Etsy shop. This weekend I finished beading the four bookmarks and photographing and listing. Amazing just how much time goes into this process, however it's worth it to me if someone lets me know they enjoy the art! Putting art out for public view is a tricky thing you know, what appeals to the artist and what doesn't is the exact opposite to a viewer or buyer! So I try to create with that in mind.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the creative process with these bookmarks. Not only coming up with the painting subjects, but then designing the coordinating beaded tassel. So I combined the process of drawing, watercolor painting, leather work, collecting/combining the beads and stones and then sewing and gluing. Then learning how to get good photographs to best represent the art, *sigh* which I think is the most difficult part for me. The creative process flows pretty well in stages. A lot of times, I'll get to a point in the design, and then a little voice will say "stop" or "let it rest" for now. So I'll go do a barn chore or something and then the rest of the design will come to me! Then I just have to remember it for when I can get back to my art desk later! LOL!

I hope folks enjoy the bookmark art, anyway, there's four in my Etsy shop, each very different to appeal to different equestrian taste! I tried in each of the bookmark painting descriptions to delve more into what inspired the painting for me. I found that was something very personal to share. People could think I am one of those "nutty artsy fartsy types"! HA!

I've got to gear up in making more Christmas themed items, but there's this new painting idea stuck in my mind, so if I know what's good for me, I'll get started creating that first!! LOL!

UPDATE ! ! *** UPDATE ! !
BOOKMARK ART SOLD! And just like that, my first bookmark art piece sold this morning!!! The English rider and horse piece "Practising the Good Hack" now has a new home! Thank God! What a great feeling!