Art Lesson No. 3 - Do Something Unexpected

Doing the same thing over and over again can dry up your creative juices.  

Today, why not try something you haven't done or thought of before.  Not only will it give you new perspective about your work, but you'll discover a whole new avenue towards your own ingenuity.

This is what I did.  Read on.

'Drenched Rose', ACEO.

'Drenched Rose'.  Detail.

"The last rose in my vase. 

First, I drew it with watercolor pencils, then brushed it a little bit. Lastly, with much courage, I soaked it in a basin of cold water. Yes, for two hours. 

Unconventional you'll say. But that's me. I love pushing the limits of the medium.

And creating something unique."

Pardon the little smudges around, the water did that. I call it natural artistic effect, giving it the antique, shabby-chic look.

Ready to try it?  Post comments if you have questions about this article or anything about art, I'll do my best to answer it.

Wordless Wednesday

Visit Wordless Wednesday

Handpainted Bookmark No.4

Skyscape No. 4

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR BOOKMARKS, $6.

Availble at urartist.etsy.com

Art Lesson No. 2 - Plan Ahead

First, conceptualize.  Then, sketch or draw.  And then, paint.  These are the basic stages of developing an artwork.  It's a simple plan, but still a plan.  

Planning is essential in achieving your goals.  It helps minimize or eliminate mistakes, therefore saving you time.  Not used to planning?  Then, start with the basics.  You don't have to develop a strict set of procedures, committing your plan to memory may do just fine.

Here's an example of how I planned my project today.  First, I sketched my design, measured, measured again, cut, sew and finally worked on putting the finishing touches. 

Design Sketch for Tank Top Art, ACEO.

Detail.  

Hand-stitched Flower Applique and Crochet Edgings.

Finished Work.

Like this?  Bid now on eBay.

Handpainted Bookmark No. 3

Skyscape No. 3

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR BOOKMARKS, $6.

Available at urartist.etsy.com.

Handpainted Bookmark No. 2

Skyscape No. 2

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR BOOKMARKS, $6.

Now available at urartist.etsy.com

Handpainted Bookmarks

Skyscape Series

Skyscape No. 1

'Skyscapes'

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR BOOKMARKS, $6.

Gazing up above, I'm fascinated by the constant change of colors in the sky. Every minute, different shades, varying hues.  A masterpiece so freely given, yet seldom enjoyed.

May these little pieces of heaven inspire you in your daily pursuit of knowledge.

Now available at urartist.etsy.com

Now on UsTrendy

UrArtist, my online creative brand, was invited by the über-fashionable site, UsTrendy.com, to join the roster of their talented fashion designers.

I invite you to stop by and cast your vote for support.

Thanks a lot and much love.

Art Lesson No. 1 - Capturing Light

A painting is made more pleasing to the eye with the right mix of light and shadows.  Here's an actual still life composition I arranged for illustration.

From this . . .

To this.

First Sign of Spring

Watercolor on acid free, archival mat board. 

Bid now on eBay.

A little spring bush sprouting out, singing 'Here I come Spring!'

The Art of Cleaning

Kitchen/ Dish Scrubber

Home is where the art is.

I aspire to be surrounded by inspiring images and things. That includes cleaning.  Cleaning is part of our daily lives.  We clean our homes, purge oddities from our purses and wallets, wipe our glasses, shoes, tables and almost anything.  We try to keep ourselves and our spaces hygienic all the times.  But who says, you can't be artistic while cleaning?

Dishes top my list in kitchen clean-ups.  Even with dishwashers, there are still pieces that require some scrubbing.  I agree I can always pick up the commercial types, but I chose not.  Besides, my family pledged to be eco-friendly, so I made our own pretty version.

Available online at UrArtist.

Wordless Wednesday

Photographed today.  For Wordless Wednesday.

Four Thousand Blooms

Four thousand miles, that is. That's how far you need travel to see these beautiful tropical blooms from Kona.  I took this shot when I stopped at the farmers market in Kailua-Kona last time we were in Hawaii.

I just fell in love with the bursting colors and spiky textures from this bouquet.  The more you get up close, the more it's details become interesting.  Like the folks around us.

In our lifetime, we'll come across four thousand or more people.  Some, we'll take time to meet.  Others, we'll just pass by.  Oftentimes, it's worth stopping by to discover their resplendent attributes.

Trunkt Fashion Destination

I'm proud to be the new editor for the trendiest fashion blog on the web, Trunkt Fashion.  

If you're wondering where to find exceptional designs and shop for exquisite clothing and accessories, then look no more.  

Trunkt Fashion is your complete resource for chic and trendy clothing and accessories.  It's Trunkt's online fashion runway.  We reserved a seat there for you.  So, enjoy the show.  It's time to turn your fashion fancy into reality.

Attend the shows at TrunktFashion.blogspot.com

Today is Valentine

Don't wait another year to show your loved one how special they are to you.  Today, I decided to make it Valentine.  I surprised my husband with my own version of B&B (bed and breakfast) recipe.   A homemade steaming dark chocolate, heart wheat toast and spinach quiche.  

Now, it's your turn.  What will be your recipe for a spontaneous act of love?

The Artist is Back

After few months of being away, I am back with new and exciting creations.  But first, let me thank all the folks who have been patiently messaging me, wanting to know when I'll be back in the 'artsy-crafty' circle.  Thank you for all the heartfelt messages.

I took a brief blogging sabbatical to dedicate more time to writing a book and pen a couple of articles.  I've been privileged to write the winter newsletter for Strathmore Artist this year. 

What a great honor it is to be able to inspire not only artists, but those who aspire to fulfill their creative pursuits.  So if your enthusiasm is running a little low, I invite you to take some time to read the free artist e-newsletters from Strathmore.  I guarantee you, you'll be thanking yourself you did.

Thanks for stopping by again.