I'm Lovin' It: Doodles Unleased In The Studio this Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week was so much more productive in the studio once my back and neck started to feel better!  I'm so lovin' itthe way my first class project in Traci Bautista's, doodles unleashed, on-line workshop with Strathmore Paper.

Do you remember last week's progress?  Well...just in case your forgot...here's a photo to remind you just how far I did not get.

So...I was only able to complete the first steps in the class where you do some simply stenciling and masking with acrylic paints and glimmer mists.  The next step/layer in the process is to add some more acrylic paints onto your backgrounds by following along the basic shapes of the stencils and masks.

When I'm working on painting projects, I always tend to work on two at a time.  Mainly because I'm too impatient to wait for the paint to dry so it allows me to go back and forth between my pages during the drying times ;}  In the class videos, Traci demonstrates how she also has a second page available to use up her excess paints and inks while she is also working.

For my first pieces I was following the shapes of the hearts and circles that were part of my original stencils/masks.  But soon I was adding in paisley shapes because that is what I love and gravitate towards when looking at art papers and fabrics.  For my second pieces I didn't really find and shapes in my background that I wanted to trace so I pulled out my s-curves and traced them onto my pages and painted them accordingly.

To soften and blend the colors...I ended up using my fingers!  It's just something that I find myself doing more of ever since I took Jesse Reno's class at Art n'Soul.  The next step in Traci's instructions were to add some black out-lines with india ink.  I used india ink with a nib pen since I wasn't as comfortable trying to paint it on with a fine-liner brush...perhaps in time and with more practice.  BUT I was happy with the results from my nib pen and I also pulled out my micron marker pens and just went to town. 

Through-out this class, Traci kept talking about "making your marks"...huh?  Well I also heard this in Jesse Reno's classas he uses alot of symbolism in his work as well.  So while I was "laid-up",  I pulled out my notebook and started making observations about what shapes and symbols are appealing to me.  Things like: crosses, medallions, swirls and circles, paisley or amoebas, roman numerals, houses, trees, most geometric shapes, etc.

Believe me...this was a big help when I went back to working on these pieces!!  This will also come in handy for my  workshop this year with Stephanie Ackerman, Scrapbook Life Journal.  My goal is to practice every month on my doodling...so much so that...I'm so comfortable with it, that it becomes second nature to me when ever I want to paint or sketch. 

Next, I pulled out some inspiration from around the house.  A folder loaded with bright and beautiful medalions;  a piece of Bohemian scrapbook paper with a vintage paisley print;  and then, I printed an embroidery guide that I had pinned onto my Pinterest Inspiring Art board ;}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now was "play time" where I pulled out all of my markers, oil pastels, water color crayons and white pens so that I could "make my marks".

 

I really enjoyed blending the oil pastels with my fingers ;}

The white-out pens were used last...but not least...they really make everything POP!   The final step was to add a coat of gloss varnish...because that's how I roll ;}  Actually you need to apply some sort of sealant when working with oil pastels and I prefer gloss varnish over matt.

Next week I'll be stopping into Archiver's on Tuesday (when they do their half-price photos and copies  ;) and have these pieces scanned onto a disk and also have a few color copies made up so that I can use them in my art journals and other multi-media pieces.

Feels soooo good to have been able to finish these pieces this week! 

How about you...have you conquered your fear of doodling? 

What I learned about myself was that I have to find the shapes and marks that I am drawn too...not what Traci or any other artist is doodling and is attracted by...I'm just not a big fan of birds, flowers, feathers or cavemen in my artwork.  But that's okay...different strokes for different folks ;}

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Fondly, Roberta

Comments

[Debra]

Cool ...I like the color combinations and shapes! I loved watching Milliande doing the doodle art her videos are fund to watch. I'm always fascinated at the process that is involved in layers.....I am afraid of ruining the art, but when I see what the final product looks like it's so amazing.

[Cindy]

I signed up for the classes this past week! I liked how you thought through the marks/symbols that most speak to you...and then used them...I too work on multiple projects so one can by drying while I am working on another...

[Jennifer_StudioJRU]

Your doodling is beautiful! I love how the white pen just pops from all the gorgeous colors. These would be so pretty hanging up! Looks like such a fun class. So glad you are feeling better! :)

[Bonnie]

beautiful work! I love doodling too...wow, haven't done something like this in ages!