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Recently, I spoke with Jamie Riddler of Creative Living with Jamie about all things art – how to make time, how to stay inspired, how to get published and more. I hope you listen to this conversation and find something that speaks directly to your heart!

Book Review: Perspective In Action

If you have ever tried drawing, you might have run into this problem when things don't seem right - something's off! And that one something can throw off an entire composition. That something is usually a distorted perspective. In Perspective In Action, author David Chelsea decodes the inner mechanics of perspective. 

Perspective basically means that objects close to us look bigger than those farther away. In the style of a graphic novel, the artist and author, David Chelsea, explains the various concepts of perspective starting with three-point perspective, two-point perspective and vanishing point. He includes interesting historical bits about the role of perspective in art in addition to tutoring the how-to's of perspective to the reader. He talks about the rules as well as breaking them in Anamorphosis.

A great resource for those who struggle with perspective!
*I got this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  

Card Tutorial: A Summery Floral Greeting!

Since I moved from Florida, I miss the year-round sunshine. But as the saying goes... bring your own sunshine! So, here's some sunshine for both you and me in the form of this summery floral greeting card using both positives and negatives of die-cuts!

I used products from Richard Garay to make this card. Let me list them here for you. Some are affiliate links.
Silver & Gold Collection - Marigold die set
Origami Love - Hey You Folds stamp/die set
Amaze Machine Berry Black True Color Fusion Ink
Whip Cream cardstock
Delightful Daisy cardstock
Golden Glow cardstock
Pixie Play cardstock
Rock Candy cardstock
Kiwi Slice cardstock
Watermelon Fusion cardstock Journey Glaze
Journey Pro Shears

And now let me walk you through the steps.
 

Diecut the Marigold out of Delightful Daisy and Golden Glow cardstock using Marigold flower die with the Amaze machine.
Be sure to save every piece of both diecuts as we will create an inlay design fitting in pieces from diecuts to create the flower for the card.
 

Repeat the previous step with Pixie Play and Kiwi Slice cardstock using the Marigold branch die and Amaze machine. Save all the pieces.
 

Trim Whip Cream cardstock to 8.5" x 5.5" and fold in half to make a 4.25" x 5.5" card.
Trim Rock Candy cardstock to 4" x 5.25" and attach it to the card base.
Cut the stem diecut in two parts with Journey Pro Shears. Using Journey Glaze, attach the flower and branch pieces to the card as shown.
Carefully fit in the negative pieces from the corresponding diecuts of the other color to create an inlaid look.
Cut a small piece of Watermelon Fusion cardstock to make the sentiment block.
Use the sentiment stamp 'Hey You' from the Hey You Folds stamp/die set with Berry Black True Color Fusion Ink to stamp the sentiment on the Watermelon Fusion cardstock block.
Attach the sentiment block to the card to finish.

I hope you enjoy! Happy Summer :)
 

Card Tutorial: A Colorful Card for the Grad!

Today the class of 2017 graduates high school in my oldest kid's school. A fresh batch of bright grads to embark on a new journey - such a bitter sweet moment. Time for them to fly, time for us to let go. I remember practically bawling at my girl's kindergarten graduation and boy oh boy, I'm not sure, how I'll be when she graduates high school in a few years!!! But, let's set those thoughts aside and celebrate those who did it and the parents who supported their not-so-long-ago-kindergarteners all the way. 

Such emotional moments call for all the colors of the rainbow and beyond! Let's get working on today's card, starting with a list of supplies. I used products from Richard Garay. Some are affiliate links.
RG Days Time Flies Stamp/Die Set
Amaze Machine
Berry Black True Color Fusion Ink
Cool Caribbean Silk Luster
Raw Gold Silk Luster
Whipped Cream cardstock
Journey Foam Squares
Coloring Pencils
Pencil
Ruler 
Pen

And now let me walk you through the steps. 

Trim Whipped Cream cardstock to 8.5" x 5.5" and fold in half to make a 4.25" x 5.5" card.
Use ruler and pencil to draw the burst design. Fill in the slots with coloring pencils. It's really fun!
Stamp the wrist watch using Berry Black True Color Fusion Ink on Whipped Cream cardstock.
Using the corresponding die from Time Flies Stamp/Die set and Amaze machine, diecut the wrist watch.  
  

Use Coll Caribbean and Raw Gold Silk Lusters, color the die-cut wristwatch.
Splatter Gold Silk to the card.
Attach the wristwatch to the card with foam squares.
Write the sentiment around the diecut with pen to finish.

If you are the proud parent of a grad, I want to congratulate you too. YOU DID IT!

Book Review: Foundations of Drawing

While I don't regret being self-taught, I do sometimes wonder about what if I had gone to art school and how would it have influenced my creativity. So, I try to read about art as often as I can and that's why I was drawn to Al Gury's Foundations of Drawing. As the author states in his introduction: "The book takes the point of view that clear information on the history, materials, and techniques of drawing creates the ability to understand drawing, make choices, and chart one's development in drawing with a sense of confidence."

Included in this book are works of masters as well as students of the author, as young as first grader as he elaborates on the evolution and use of tools and techniques of the trade. There are 5 chapters - Essential History of Drawing, Essential Drawing Materials, Essential Drawing Skills (this one's my favorite!), Essential Aesthetics in Drawing and Essential Drawing Demonstrations.

And if you have ever wondered why is it so very hard to draw a straight line, you have to read this book!  

*I got this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  

Book Review: Colored Pencil Painting Portraits

 

"Painting with colored pencils brings the best of both worlds - painting and drawing. It produces the richness and saturation of the surface with colors, which is a signature trait of a painting, within a completely controllable process, which is the prerogative of a drawing." - Alyona Nickelsen, Colored Pencil Painting Portraits.

That girl in the above picture was created with colored pencils - can you believe it? And the artist shows you the steps to create realistic portraits like this with colored pencils. There's detailed description of not only how but also why the artist author uses the mediums that she does. For those who are turned off by nude portraits, the good news is every portrait in this book is clothed. I particularly love the appendix where the author lists a comparative analysis of blending properties of selected colored pencil brands so you can decide which one is the best choice for the project you are working on.

A must have for anyone who wants to learn more about colored pencils, blending techniques and creating realistic portraits!

*I got this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  

 

Art Journaling Class is LIVE on Creativebug TODAY!

How would you like to learn to add fluid vibrancy to your art journal pages with tea stain dyes? Not only that, in my Art Journaling: Mixed Media on Paper, you'll learn how to draw everyday objects in a simplified form, document your day or record an observation, create focal points, and finish with doodled details and dimensional elements. Whether you're new to art journaling or a seasoned mixed media artist, you’ll enjoy this playful and experimental way of approaching art. 

This online workshop is about 40 minutes in length and divided into the following segments:

• Overview

• Materials

• Creating backgrounds with dye

• Observational drawing and mark-making

• Other examples of mixed media

• Adding collage and other embellishments

Not a Creativebug member? Wanna try it out? Follow this link!

New members will get their 1st month of Creativebug + 1 class to keep forever for just $1. They'll also receive 30% off at Jo-Ann Fabric. 

When you sign up through the link below you'll receive a welcome email from Creativebug, then a second email with the coupon code to use either online or in-store at Jo-Ann Fabric.

How cool is that!