Back To Paper 53 . . .

This is a simple fun little sketch I worked up last night on my iPad.  I used Paper 53 which is one of my favorite art apps.  One thing I love about this app is the watercolor effects you get with the paintbrush.  

As always hearts show up in my work.  I couldn't resist adding them to the ends of her hair.  Sometimes whimsical is so much fun!

 Check out the Paper app
HERE!

xo

Abstract Landscape . . . New Mini Tutorial

"the sun always shines again"

acrylic on paper

I wanted to share this piece with you guys today and hopefully inspire you to let go and let the paint lead.  I created this mini abstract landscape using 3 colors of paint and a few pieces of tissue paper collage.  It was done with only a palette knife.  I don't like using brushes so when I can I use either a credit card or palette knife.  Here is how I created this little painting . . . 

*Choose 2 colors of paint and titanium white.

*Squeeze the paint directly from the bottle/tube onto the surface in the area you want it to go. 

* For landscape typically you create a horizon line which should be above or below midline rather than directly in the middle.  I squeezed the gray color on the bottom with some white and the yellow on the upper portion also with a small amount of white.  

*Using a palette knife or an old credit card start dragging the paint on the bottom.  Use a light hand to gently mix the white in for areas of highlight.  

*Wipe off the palette knife and begin doing the same with the top color.  Continue going back and forth until you feel its done.  

*To bring out contrast while the paint is still wet using the palette knife scrape into areas along the bottom removing some of the paint.  

*When the paint is dry tear a couple of pieces of tissue or any collage paper and glue it to areas along the bottom to mimic land.  Matte medium works well for this.  Or even mod podge if you have that on hand.  For this piece I used tissue paper I had already prepared with my favorite word stamp with Staz On permanent ink. 

*You can also drag the palette knife into the wet paint to create more texture and line.  

One of the things I love most about this process are the images that show up.  Over on the right side of the screen on the painting I see what looks like a couple in an embrace in the gray paint just below the yellow.  

Hope you will try to let go in your own creating and enjoy the process!  

xo

Seascape Painting on Cardboard . . . 5 years in the making

"Stormy Sea"  

acrylic on 10x10 cardboard

 Continuing on with my love of cardboard I gesso a piece of 10x10 board.  Using only a palette knife and sponge brush I completed the above piece.  The key to landscape painting for me is to really not think as I go along.  Once the thinking starts, analyzing begins and its over.  I try to get into the moment and let the paint lead me.  Not an easy task for me at all.  Probably why you dont see too much landscape on my blog.  

I wanted to share a painting I found the other day of my very first attempt at landscape painting from way back in 2010.  It is actually what inspired me to try a new one.  I was curious to see how far I have come as an artist.  

I like both however I can see how much looser my work is in the new painting.  I am hoping to continue with some landscape and see where I take it.  

If you are interested in landscape painting check out David Dunlop.  He is an amazing landscape painter and has some free videos on youtube.  His approach is very loose and free.  His work is stunning!  

I have been loving Instagram lately.  Too see what I am up to follow me over there just click the link below or look me up @cathybueti

Instagram 

Till  next time!  

xo

Cardboard Fun . . . A Mini Tutorial

It is no secret I have a bit of an addiction to gesso.  Recently I have been using gesso to adhere collage to various surfaces.  The one I have been loving the most as of late has been cardboard. 

I always seem to have pieces of corrugated cardboard lying around.  (I find the corrugated kind holds up much better to wet media)  The collaged pieces you see in this piece are photos printed on glossy paper that I tore up adhered to the surface with matte medium.  

I worked intuitively and quickly on this piece.  

My process went a little something like this . . . 

* Using a palette knife apply gesso to the cardboard letting some of the board show through if you wish.  (I happen to love the look of it peeking through!)

* While the gesso is still wet scrape into it in various areas for texture

* Add some ink, spray with water and let it drip.  

* Tear up a photo and collage onto the surface with matte medium.  

* Add final details with a Stabilo pencil or paint pen 

* Using Stazon ink stamp some inspiring words as a final touch!

Let me know if you try this as I would love to see your work!  Just add the link in the comments so we can all check it out!  

xo

Making Cards

Everytime I go to write a post I can't believe another week has gone by!  Does that ever happen to you??  

This weekend I toyed around with one of my digital collages of NYC in Procreate on the iPad.  The original is the bottom photo with the blue and copper tones.  After having altered it to the lighter tones I am not sure which one I like best.  Actually I think it may be the lighter version on top!

Thought they would make cool note cards.  I miss hand written sentiments these days.  I better get to writing out some of these!  lol  

I will also most likely be adding them to my etsy shop.  ;)

Which color tones in these pics to you prefer?  Would love input from you guys too!

xo

My First Haiku

Many years ago I wrote poetry.  I have always loved putting words together.  You will often find some words incorporated into my art.  

Recently I decided to dabble in it again. I have never attempted a haiku.  One day last week standing at the kitchen counter with a pen and the back of a grocery store receipt I penned the words you see above.  

As I read through them over and over one of my sketches turned digital art popped into my mind.  I felt that the image was fitting for these words.  Working on my iPad, which is what I use for most of my digital creating, I added the haiku text to the image in the Phonto app.  Super easy to use and its free!  

Hope your summers were lots fun in the sun!  As always it  has sped by way to fast.  Behind the scenes in my studio I am starting to figure out a set up to record my mixed media process.  So hopefully I will be sharing some art videos with you soon!  

Moment of Sunlight . . .

Sunday night I was stunned by bright light coming through the trees into our sunroom.  I just knew it was a moment to be captured.  And as most sunsets go, or sunrises for that matter, you have to act fast before the colors and light change right before your eyes. 

I shot this image with my iPhone 4 through the window screen.  As I was looking at the image those words popped in my head.  This is filter free.  I am crazy about filters but this stood perfectly on its own.  I used Phonto app to add the text.  

Thought I would share the inspiration 

xo

Rocky's Photo Shoot

Yesterday morning I decided to dust off my Canon DSLR.  For the past few years I have only used my iPhone 4 (yes I still have that old version lol)  and occasionally my Canon powershot D10. 

I love macro photography, always have, but I don't have a macro lens.  I supposed I just couldnt justify the expense when I don't use the camera much at all anymore.  But I did play with it couple of years ago in the AV mode.  

One of my subjects was of course Rocky.  He was pretty patient with me but there are quite a few blurry shots from him moving around when he must have about had enough of the photo shoot.  lol 

I am sure at some point I will be playing with these images on my iPad in some filter apps but until then I kinda like them just as they are.  One of the things I love about the AV mode is how much light it lets in and you can get that blurred background that mimics a macro lens.  These were all shot in black and white.  Love monochrome even in my artwork.  

What is your go to camera these days?  

Rocky Steps View 2 Ways

I was going through some old photos the other day and found an image I shot back in 1990 during a trip to the Philadelphia Art Museum which of course is home to the Rocky steps.   I am a huge Rocky fan, always have been, so it was very cool to have been on those steps in person.  The image I shot was from the top of the steps looking out toward the city view.  

I wasn't sure how the image would work when I scanned it as it is pretty old.  The age though worked to my advantage.  The above image was processed through a few apps starting with my go to Snapseed to add the drama filter, then through Stackables, and finishing up in Procreate.  

Stackables is my new app addiction!  If you are not familiar with it check it out.  So much you can do with it.  Lots of fun!  

Less involved processing was done for this version which was completed only with Stackables.  I created this edit first and then took it further for the above edit.  

Here is the original image so you can see where this piece began . . . 

Have you been to the Rocky steps?  I hope to return one day.  Would love to see the Rocky statue.  It had been moved to the Spectrum that days years ago when I was there.  Bummer but there is always tomorrow!  

Which of the two images is your fav?  Would love to hear!

xo

Coffee For Consciousness 101

I recently had the great pleasure of creating digital art for the cover of Vito Mucci's new book "Coffee For Consciousness 101" !  It was a lot of fun to work on this project!  I was very happy that the author was so pleased with the cover art.

In addition to his writing Vito is also a shaman, healer, and artist.  This book is a part of his life's work dedicated to guiding others in discovering their own healing, positivity, and happiness. Its also about ultimately finding out who you can be to evolve into the highest version of your true self.

The following is a summary of the book taken from the book jacket . . .

"Live in the Now." "Don't worry, be happy." "Follow your bliss." These catch-phrase imperatives confront us on a daily basis, but so few of us seem to know how to do any of those things. If you've repeatedly tried and failed to manifest your better self or a more resonant life, you might be saying, "You know, it's not that easy." Coffee for Consciousness 101 is the instruction book you've been waiting for-because you're right; it's not easy. Finding yourself takes work, and sharing yourself with the world in love takes even more work...but the rewards are amazing. Our longstanding unhelpful definition of risk and reward is just one of the concepts that author Vito Mucci deconstructs with compassion, humor, and a deep understanding of the ways in which our beliefs about ourselves and the world get in the way of achieving conscious presence in the world, and consciously evolving relationships with ourselves and others. Our beliefs and ideas are the lenses through which we look at the world; this book gives you the idea of Perspectives, a new set of lenses that change what you see, and consequently, who you can be. Rooted in the author's decades of experience in managing his PTSD and addictions through careful cultivation and alteration of consciousness, Coffee for Consciousness 101 is a fascinating, joyful, and deeply practical exploration of how to read the road map to positive change and greater presence."

I am looking forward to reading it, learning, and growing spiritually from the wisdom that Vito shares grounded in his own life experience.  

You can purchase a copy HERE on amazon

For more information click HERE for the official publication page which includes a promo video for the book!  

Be back soon with some new digital art to share!

xo

Studio News And An Art Store Haul!

 I am excited to share some publishing news with you!  One of my favorite "heart art" pieces was recently published in the June issue of Somerset Studio Gallery on newsstands now!  I had the great honor of writing a mini article of my process for this painting.  

Very exciting to see my work in print!  This piece "you are loved"  was so much fun to create.  I hope you pick up a copy and if you try the tutorial please come back and share a link so we can see what beauty you have created!

In other news I recently took a much needed trip to Michael's for some new supplies.  Sometimes I just like to go the art store to peruse the aisles.  It is a good way for me to loose myself and turn off my brain, much like painting does.  

I picked up some light colors of folk art craft paint (sometimes its just fun to not have to think about mixing your own colors) and new stencils.  I went crazy for these new Tim Holtz stencils!  Love the grunge and of course love to use letters in my mixed media pieces.  I also grabbed a set of liquitex paint pens in black, white, and gray.  Paint pens are new to me so I am excited to try them out.  I love to write on my pieces with something permanent.  These should do the trick.  

Hope all is well in your world these days.  Tune in later this week to see what I conjure up on canvas with the new supplies!  

xo

Process of a Journal Page

I have recently started art journaling.  I am not too consistent with it however it does come in handy when I need what I call a "mind spill".  And yesterday morning was one of those moments.  I find I can let go of perfection more if I am using a page in a journal.  This rings especially true when it comes to painting faces.  

The process for this girl went something like this . . . 

- prep page with gesso

-add a layer of words stamps (oh how I love to stamp!)

-using a black stabilo pencil sketch out a face

-add water and using a palette knife drag with water through the pencil color

- go back in with more pencil to define areas of the face

-add white gesso to the eyes and highlights of the face.

-use a black faber castell gelato to darken the lines and add water for drips

- using a pitt pen scribble some words

-drag palette knife through leftover gesso and "stamp" it over the page

What are your favorite supplies to use for art journaling? Please do share!

xo

Wordless Wednesday . . . Sort Of

Quick Face Painting

As you can see I kinda abandoned the pink girl for this gal who showed up in my journal last night.  I am finding that one neocolor II crayon and some white gesso is a fun quick way to paint a face.  And of course I would guess that it could work for anything you want to draw.  I may try this technique with some other sketching of hearts, figures, or some whimsy.  

I drew the face out quickly using the crayon to fill in the darkest areas, then sprayed some water over the whole page which activates the them quite nicely.  while that was still a bit wet I went back in with the white gesso to blend the crayon.  This was a back and forth process between the adding crayon and then gesso till I got the contrast I liked.  As you can see I also added some scratches while  everything was wet to grunge it up a bit.  The color I used was prussian blue.  I have to say though that the gesso dries very quickly so next time I may sub in titanium white acrylic instead.  

Would love to hear what you like to use for quick face painting!

xo

Beginnings of Her . . .

I can't recall the last time I tried to paint a face.  It was something I enjoyed and then I seemed to just drop it.  Not sure why. Possibly out of frustration.  I become easily impatient with most things in life and my art is no exception.  

Late last night before bed I grabbed a neocolor 2 and quickly sketched out this girl.  I added water with a q-tip and smudged the water around, went back in with a little more crayon.  My plan is to go back in with some white gesso and see what happens.  I kinda like her expression already.  I love that she was not planned, she is just what came out of my hand as I sketched.  

If I can shut down the critiquing gremlins I may get her done.  Something simple, something small, and hopefully something inspiring . . . 

xo

Love Art

"love should be"

Here is hoping you all had a lovely Valentine's Day.  I created this heart art on that day I suppose feeling inspired by all things Valentine.  Then again I never need a reason to create hearts, they often are the subject of my art!  

This piece was created digitally on my iPad in Procreate.  Upon discovering some brushes I somehow had missed in Procreate I had fun using them to paint this heart.  I also used an ink pen to scribble the words across the canvas.  

The original piece was completed in black and white.  Of course I had to put it through a few filter apps and was happy with this red toned heart as the final image.  Pixlromatic was used for the filters.  

Do you use Procreate?  If not its a great app for drawing, painting, and even layering images.  Lots of fun to be had in this app!  Would love to hear if you have tried it!

xoxo

Happy New Year!

"Untitled"
shot with iPhone 4, processed in snapseed

I think I should make a resolution to blog more!  Then again I typically despise new year's resolutions.  Too much pressure.  The beginning of yet another year always evokes feelings of newness, a way to reinvent ourselves or our work, and a way to move forward. 

Every New Year's Eve I feel pressure for that one night to be perfect.  To move gracefully into another year without a hitch, in the perfect mood, and feeling complete bliss.  What if all that doesn't happen?  What then?  So I decided this year to remember that each moment of everyday is a way to begin again.  Not just big holiday's, birthday's, and the like but every moment we are given.  I have struggled with that for most of my life.  I can only promise myself that I will try.  

As for my artwork, I have been excitedly trying out new techniques in both my digital art and mixed media!  Learning in more online classes than I like to admit!  2014 closed with an amazing opportunity to digitally design the book cover art for an upcoming publication which I cannot share just yet!  

As you may have noticed I have added pages in the toolbar at the top of my blog.  I have toyed with the idea of a website but for the meantime I will be adding details to each of those pages so I can share more with you guys!  Let me know how you like the new header image as well!  

I am loving Instagram as an easy quick way to share my art and works in progress as well as snippets into my personal life.   Look me up under @cathybueti to follow me!

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