Friday, March 27, 2009

Art Lesson No. 3 - Do Something Unexpected







"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.

Monday, March 23, 2009

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.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Handpainted Bookmarks

Skyscape Series
Skyscape No. 1

'Skyscapes'

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