BIG NEWS!! Teaching at 21 Secrets Face Time!!

YAY!!  I can finally share the BIG news!!  I am so excited to be teaching at 21 SECRETS Face Time!!  This is another jam packed edition of the awesome art course organized by the lovely and amazing Connie Solera over at Dirty Footprints Studio!  I have long been a fan of her work and this course so it is such a thrill for me to be sharing my own techniques there for this new edition focused on Faces!  

I am honored to be one of 21 artists sharing all kinds of ways to create faces ranging from traditional to abstract! You guys know I am all about faces so I am hoping you will join us!  

I will be sharing how I create my abstract inky faces! 

The course launches on April 1st and today starts the early bird sale!  

Click HERE !

Somerset Digital Studio Spring Edition !

I am so excited and honored to have two technique articles published in Somerset Digital Studio!  It is THE mag for digital artists!  

I have contributed one article titled "Fun With Faces"  where I share my inspiration and techniques for using face sketches to create cool layered digital pieces.  In "Mystery of the Moon"  I talk about my love of the moon and my techniques for using some really cool apps to add the moon to digital landscapes.  

The issue is on newsstands now!  Or you can order a copy online at Stampington.  

Click HERE to get your copy!

Quick Face Sketch Timelapse

Along with my digital art that I love getting back to the traditional art is a fun break. I started getting back to sketching faces And have started creating some quick video time lapses for you guys! 

As you will see in the creation of this piece I like to use the dropper to sketch out the face.  These watercolors are super saturated so you don't have to use too much.

Then I try not to think and just go! 

Supplies used :

* Strathmore 400 series 6x6 watercolor paper
 * Dr. PH Martins liquid watercolor in venetian brown.

 
Quick Face Sketch Using Liquid Watercolor from Cathy Bueti on Vimeo.

Watercolor Heart Video Process

I cannot believe how long its been since my last post!  A year has flown by in the blink of an eye.  As I get older the time seems to go so much faster.  Looking toward the future for the blog I hope to post and share more of my process with tutorials including videos.  

What has not seemed to change with me is that I continue to bounce back and forth between digital art and traditional.  Over the past year I have created a lot of new work and my style continues to evolve.  It does however continue to include grunge and of course lots of hearts. 

I am excited to share  my first video today!  Recently I have pulled out the watercolors again as they really help to calm me besides being just so darn fun!   

Supplies

*Dr. PH Martin Liquid Watercolors 

*Strathmore Watercolor paper - I love the 6x6 artist tiles

*Palette knives in various sizes

*Spray bottle of water

I have lots more to share so stick around!  In other exciting news I have a new article coming out in the Autumn issue of Somerset Digital Studio.  If you are on Instagram you can catch up on my recent work over the past year.  Follow me @cathybueti 

xo

Simple Fun Sketching

Fun sketch done with just a black Stabilo pencil and some water.  

I sketched her out first on watercolor paper.  Then grabbed a spray bottle with water that I keep nearby when I am creating.  Gave her a spritz and let the water drip down the page.  That was my favorite part!  

Not sure yet if I will leave her as is or go back in with some collage and paint.   

So go grab a pencil or crayon and have some simple fun!

xo

My First Mixed Media Video!

Well, I finally took the plunge into video!  Obviously videography is not my strong suit so this will be a work in progress but I am excited to finally share the process of creating one of my mixed media pieces!

I used a small piece of cardboard that I had prepped with a layer of gesso.  I didn't really have a plan for this piece so I created on the fly which is typically how I work.  

Hope you enjoy this peek into my process!  I hope to be sharing more of these eventually with instruction!

xo

Digital Art Process Video!

I realize I promised to start sharing videos with you guys like 3 months ago!

Well better late than never right?!  

This is a recent piece I created in the Procreate App on my iPad Pro.  Included in the layers is a landscape image of a highway and collage paper I scanned into the computer.  I sketched out the girl on a separate layer.  The glitter was a preset brush that is super fun to use for details.  

If you have yet to try Procreate you must check it out!  It is one of my fav apps and is pretty close to the layering you can do with Photoshop.  

Enjoy!  

xo

How She Came To Be

A watercolor background was sitting in my journal longing for something else.  

Using a Stabilo marks all pencil (everyone should have one!)  I sketched out this face.

With a q-tip dipped in water I started to wet the pencil marks and it became a back and forth dance between the water and Stabilo.  

The whites of her eyes were added with a liquitex paint pen.  A sharpie would work just as well or even a dab of white acrylic.

As always my work never feels quite done until I add some words.  

This reminded me of how much I love watercolor and miss drawing faces the old fashioned way off of the iPad.  ;)

Unexpected Paper Towel Art

You never know what will happen when you pull out the paints.  The other day I grabbed some paints to use on a piece of cardboard I had prepped with gesso weeks earlier (lol!).  I used a paper towel to blot off the excess water I was spraying on the paint.  As I was blotting, folding, and blotting again I hadn't realized that something cool was happening.

When I was done I slowly unfolded the paper towel.  I was totally surprised to see the cool texture and images that showed up just from the excess paint!  I actually like the paper towel art rather than the cardboard piece I was working on!  

You just never know what can happen in the studio!

xo

What I've Been Up To . . .

Hope everyone is enjoying a great start to the year.  And yes I do realize January is nearing the end lol.  Time is picking up speed at rapid rates which continually makes me anxious! I spend way too much time looking behind me or worrying about what is ahead which of course distracts me from the present moment.  

In my art world I have been creating digitally in Artrage.  Its a great app for digital painting and sketching.  I have it on my desktop Macbook Pro and have been trying it out with a Wacom tablet.  It is taking me a little getting used to but so far I am enjoying it.  

Each of these pieces was created in ArtRage.  As you can see hearts and Love continue to prevail in my work no matter what the medium.  

I am getting the itch to get back to some cardboard art and play with paint.  Its been some time now.  I am also toying with the idea of shooting some video tutorials for you guys.  That of course will be a work in progress but what I hope will be a fun new step for me!  I will keep you posted!

You can check out more about ArtRage HERE!  

xo

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