Channeling my inner Dina (Dina Wakley that is :) )  Had a blast using her techniques and really went for it using PERMANENT black ink (yikes, no erasing mistakes) So yes, the lopsided eyebrows are driving me nuts BUT..... sat there for 10 minutes trying to figure out HOW to fix them. and I came up with nothing, anything I do will take away from the pattern and that is what I love the most, so I just had to take a deep, deep breathe and let it go. And I am glad I have because here it is a week later and I love it. Give it a try, the worst that can happen is that it is beyond saving and you gesso and paint over it, and that could lead to a great background page.  :)

I decided to match colors together that I personally just did not like together, red and purple have always been my biggest YUCKS! together.  Yes I know all about the color wheel, I am just talking about my personal opinion. When I added the colors I was still kinda scrunching my nose up, YET... I love how she turned out. :)  On to my next 2 Yuck colors.  :)

Inspired by mag article Jane Davenport did with Pages.



I work on about 8 journals at a time, it is funny because when I started this journey I would watch videos and listen to artists talk about working in multiple journals and I thought it was so odd. How little I knew about painting than, or how long it takes to dry. :)
Going through some journals I had not worked in for a couple weeks I was really surprised at how happy I was with my progress, figured I'd put these up.

Love this song by Paramore, was going for a very vacant look but not sure she looks quite vacant enough so will try again, lots of fun though -  with the song blasting away while I paint. :)
Doing this one for my Jane Davenport class, Express yourself, LOVE it!!!

Going back to my last post, in the year since I created not only those altered books but also those pages, I have taken "I heart drawing" with Jane Davenport and in it watched her step-by-step video on altering books. I am hooked!!!! I have 5 going at one time, they are dreamy, and I now LOVE the process.

I found all of these at our local used bookstores, my favorite is the graffiti book, talk about AMAZING backgrounds, and I love that there are some blank pages. Perfect!! I covered the front in black gesso but left the circle image where they placed the book info and covered it with flesh tone craft paint, painted an eye and tada.

 Last year I discovered altered books and at the time we had a couple great used bookstores (they have since closed down) so I stocked up on different sized books concentrating on the binding, the paper inside and interesting images to work over. I am thrilled with my choices however the process was not all that fun for me. Now, looking back I love what I created, all of the pages have a very grungy, unfinished quality about them and maybe that is where my head was at at that time.
(The pink and blue haired girls were inspired by photos/images seen n pinterest)

I saw an illustration of this bunny on Pinterest and LOVED it. Having lost our bunny Hershey last year to a tumor I just had to draw him.

Hi,
Up until a couple of years ago I had never held a paint brush, never tried to draw anything but a stick finger and never thought to try. I took care of my family and lived a quiet life. In 2009 my oldest daughter became sick and it turned our life around. After many months, weeks in Children's Hospital, loads of Specialist and more test than any one person should have in there lifetime she was diagnosed with a rare eye disease. We started chemo which she has been on since and the road to remission was paved with more obstacles than I care to remember. A little over 2 years ago I needed to find something to do while she rested that was quiet but also fun for me. I started going onto You Tube and discovered Suzi Blu. She is brutally honest, quirky and fun. Just what I needed at the time. I took 2 of her classes and she taught me not only how to paint but gave me the confidence to believe I could. Since than I have taken lots of classes and loved each and every one.

Suzi Blu

Lifebook 2012 and 2013

Joanne Sharpe

Ady Almanza

Jody Ohl

Andrea Gomoll

Natasha May

Junelle Jacobson

Jane Davenport

In addition Cloth Paper Scissors has tons of great mini classes for a great price. 

During my You Tube travels I discovered Leilani Joy who is AMAZING, her videos have taught me so much.  Right now I am obsessed with all things Jane Davenport - yes, I admit it, I am a full on groupie!!!

If you have not taken one of her classes YOU MUST. Yes, her classes are a bit pricey but they are FULL on content and she is funny and engaging and so endearing.  You will learn SO much, like Suzi Blu did for me years ago Jane makes you believe you can draw. And no :) I am not getting paid to say this, she will probably never even see this tiny little blog. I just know that she has had a huge role in my discovering that I can create beautiful things and I have to believe that if you have taken the time to read this than you must have some interest in art journaling and painting.

Some of my older work 2013