Post Card to Color #2

I drew this postcard for fun and thought that you might like to print and color it. The top picture is how I colored the original and you're welcome to print and send it too.

Generally I print the front and back separately and after coloring, I glue them back to back. Don't use too much glue or it will buckle and possibly bleed. Put something heavy on top while it's drying to keep it flat.

Also, if anyone prints it on a laser printer and foils the design, link a picture in the comments.

Have a beautiful day!

Theta

Card - The Gears Turn Slowly

The Gears Turn Slowly

I made a pair of these cards. One I sent to my son with an inclusion that I had forgotten to put into his Happy Mail and the other is waiting for an opportunity to be sent.

Have a great day!

Theta


*Supplies:

• Strathmore Bristol Paper
• Fabriano Cartacrea Cardstock - Purple, Blue
• Sakura Pigma Micron Pens
• Bo Bunny - Gearing Up Stamps and Dies
• Plaid Folk Art Metallic - 663 Solid Bronze Paint
• Tsukineko Memento - MD 602 Teal Zeal Ink

Garland Wrapped Tags

Tag on the left is covered in Gesso, the tag on the right is as it printed,  the letters have a layer of Gesso

First finished tag

Five finished tags

The last couple of days I have been working on tags and garlands to wrap around them for my Happy Mail.

For the tag base I printed off some tags from Tati Scrap (scroll way down) or here. But, since my printer was running out of ink, they printed beige at the top (about 1/10th) and purple at the bottom. Not liking to throw things away, especially things I print, I saved them.

Since I printed the tags with my inkjet printer, the ink is not waterproof. I first used a waterbrush and let the ink bleed. Then on the first tag, I used alcohol ink and pens letting the ink bleed. But, on the set of five tags, I used Staedtler Watercolor Crayons in blue and red, blending them with my waterbrush. After the background dried, more or less, I stamped an Inkadinkadoo swirly dragonfly stamp and on top a Heidi Swapp word background stamp using Tsukineko Memento Elderberry and Brilliance Galaxy Gold inks respectively. For the finishing touches on the single tag I outlined the tag with a brown sharpie and then edged the tag with a white Sakura Gelly Roll. I didn't like the brown as well as I thought I would, so I didn't use it on the other tags, but did stick with the white Gelly Roll.

For the garlands, I glued one of the glitter butterflies in the center of red crochet thread. On either side of the butterfly I glued punched flowers and hearts.

Garlands

Once everything was dry... waiting is so hard to do, I wrapped the garlands around the tags and tied a bow. I made some bags out of the tops of page protectors I had cut off for last years summer vacation scrapbook.

For the bags' sides I used the Fuse tool. The trick for me when I use the tool is to make sure it is fully heated before trying to use it to stick the plastic together. I always hurry the waiting for the iron to get hot and then the plastic sticks temporarily. I have learned to check the seal and if it didn't work, wait for the tool to get hotter and then try.

Garland wrapped tag

The last set of tags have two coats of Gesso and are glued back to back. then I used the watercolor crayons to add color. I am thinking about what to do to them next, probably stamp something on them and then add some doodling. I am planning on putting the tags in the Happy Mail with the tags with the garlands.

Have a wonderful day!

Theta

Tags with two layers of Gesso, glued back to back, and with watercolor crayon

11 1/2 by 16 in. Leaf Dragon in Oil with notes

I think it's finished... maybe... I'll hang it o the wall and live with it for a while, but I think it's abandonment time. Besides, he wants his portrait ;)

Some thoughts or things I may have learned:

1. I started out with my background too light on this painting.

2. I do better with layers like in photoshop than wet on wet.

3. Waiting for the paint to dry before putting on the next layer interrupts my creative process and I have to remember what the plan is/was which is problematic since I'm done with it and the project has faded from my memory.

4. If I start out with a general concept and let it grow layer by layer, I'm much better off. Otherwise, I have to make sketches, detailed plans, a mock-up, and then start on the project... I do this with the horses I have painted in watercolor, to some degree. And, that's work.

5. This is supposed to be fun and if I have to remind myself too many times that it is supposed to be, then I need to rethink the process.

6. Once reconciled to the waiting time in between layers, I am beginning to enjoy the process.

7. It is more productive to have several paintings in progress than to only work on one at a time. This creates havoc with remembering which one is for what... I may have to tack notes to them.



Have a wonderful day!

Theta

I'm Trying Something New

For my birthday my husband got me some oil painting things. He's been bugging me about painting in oils for years, many years, and when he said he was going to take me to the local art and craft store and I could pick out what I wanted (within reason); I knew what was going to happen. It was a somewhat underhanded way to get me started in oils.

Now the best art store here is sub par, the main one is mostly a mish-mash of craft items, material, tools - sort of an art mercantile. Things are generally organized - the styrofoam is grouped together, the material is all on one floor, and the thread, floss, ribbon, and yarn is loosely grouped in one corner. The trouble begins when you need writing and drawing implements - will they have put them with the school supplies or the art supplies (two different floors), or glue - in the tool area, the art area, the craft area(s), or the school supply area. Things are not shelved logically and many things can be found in two places... It is a very confusing store for me. They carry a few fine art things, but mostly, crafts.

The other main store is a bookstore that carries electronics (computers, cameras, phones, iPads, etc.) and their accompaniments, stationary, art supplies, toys, and books in Arabic and English. They carry Winsor and Newton, Derwent, Faber Castel, and other companies art materials. They have a smaller selection than the other bigger store, but it's mostly fine art and good quality.

We went to the larger store and got some good stuff; then I went to the other store and filled in what I was missing. It worked out fairly well. It was nice going to the big craft store and having time to just poke around - almost a birthday present in itself. I dislike going to it because it is downtown and the traffic is terrible. Every time I go we almost get hit 5 or more times. I'm always really glad my driver has excellent reflexes.

So one of the things we got at the craft store was a Daler Rowney Oil Creative Pot with 6 tubes of oil color, two paintbrushes, 12 oil ATCs, and this adorable 2.5" by 2.5" mini canvas and easel. I actually started on one of the bigger canvasses, but oil paints take forever to dry, OMG, so I did this little butterfly while waiting for the bigger piece to dry. I think I'm going to get some googly eyes and glue them on... When it dries...

Have a great day!
[If my paint dries, I will be ;) ]

Theta

16x12 Rabbit Flowers

I have been working on this piece off and on for about 2 weeks. Being in a mood, I tossed watercolor and stuff at the paper. Once I settled down, I decided there was a rabbit romping in flowers hidden in the mess and here he is. It's finished simply because I'm done with it :)

Have a bright and beautiful June day!

Theta

Saba the Horse - watercolor painting

This painting I did of Saba for my Dh for Father's Day. We ended up giving it to him on Friday so that he could enjoy it over the weekend.

I like this one better than the last one I did of him. I was in a better mood about the whole thing this time and that apparently makes a big difference in my artwork.

This time I worked backwards. I wanted to paint Saba first, so I did. Then I really liked the way he looked and added minimal background to ground him.

Now Dh has 3 paintings of Saba to enjoy - he is quite happy about that!

I really do need to remember to take a photograph or scan before I put the piece in a frame...

Have a fun and energetic day, just like Mr. Saba ;)

Theta

Leaf Dragon with a flower

This one I did about a month ago, but forgot to photograph. It is about A4 size and done with pen and watercolor pencils.

Have a great day!

Theta

Horse Painting

Last week I didn't do very many ATC's, I was working on a painting of Saba Al Hasa for my husband for our anniversary. It came out ok, I've done better. I used Staedtler watercolor pencils, pastels, and Winsor-Newton watercolors.

Have a wonderful day!

Theta