And Another Face Just Showed Up . . .

"the enlightenment of love" 

9x12 mixed media journal page

I have been working in a new Strathmore journal.  I went bigger this time graduating myself from a small 5x8 to a 9x12.  I wanted more room to be messy.  I smile to myself everytime I say that because a year ago I would have cringed at making a mess with paint.  

For this one I used just payne's gray and titanium white.  I only used my hand to smear it around and play with the paint.  The I stood back to see what showed up.  

I stood back and found a face.  Can you see it too??  I traced a circle around the face.  I saw 2 eyes and a splotch of white where a mouth would be.  And from there I pulled it out of the background till I was happy with it.  

As I was painting the face the words "the enlightenment of love" popped in my head so I wrote them in pen over in the right side of the finished piece.  

I have to say I am really enjoying this way of creating.  The other night I tried to draw a face and then paint it.  Oh my it was awful!!  And I mean it felt bad to create that way. At the moment I cannot plan out what a piece will look like.  I need to smear paint and see what shows up! 

Sharing today at Paint Party Friday.

xo

Fun With Monoprinting !

I am always excited to try new techniques.  I guess maybe that is part of what feeds my addiction to online workshops!   This week I tried some monoprint techniques in my journal.  And I was inspired to keep the palette simple returning to my favorite colors . . . simply black and white.  For the top image I just used black gesso as the background with white paint.  I added scratches and some stencils.  I really love black and white.  

I tried another one soon after since the first was so much fun and this time I used payne's gray as a background color.  I went with a more pinkish tone which I love with the deep blue.  Then I went more crazy with scribbles, scratches, and drips.  I really love this one.  

 I am sure I will try more again soon!  Sharing these today over at Paint Party Friday.  If you haven't joined yet please come on over!  Kristin and Eva host a fun party each week!  Its a great way to meet other artist's and see some awesome art work!

xo

Act Natural And A New Grungy Abstract

 Today I am feeling hung over from staying out late Wednesday night ( not from drinking sadly, just from lack of sleep. lol).  Lou and I went to see Def Leppard.  This was the 4th time we have seen them in concert and its always a great show!  

However, in the creating department I was feeling uninspired alot this week. I hate when this happens to me as it tends to do from time to time.  So I headed over to "The Land of Lost Luggage"  where I am taking a few online classes with Julie Prichard and that did the trick.  

 I  created this journal  page with techniques I am learning in Julie's "Act Natural" online class.  She shows you how to use a limited neutral color palette to create aged, grungy art.  Its really cool!  Once I watched the promo video I knew I was in!  Watch that video along with the class info HERE.  

 The techniques were easy and fun.  I do really like how this piece turned out.  I love how it looks old as if paint was peeling along the bottom.  You all know by now how much I like drips and of course I couldn't help but use my white out pen to add some scribbles.  

If you have never taken a class over at Julie's network I highly recommend it!  The classes are super affordable and always open!

Sharing this piece today over at Paint Party Friday.  Thanks as always to Eva and Kristin for hosting this great gathering each week!

I have been getting back to some digital collage and will share some of that soon  :)

xo

New Watercolor And A Winner!! :)

"Love forever"
watercolors, crayon, marker on 5x7 watercolor paper
©cathy bueti

I have not played with my watercolor paints in a while and I had been wanting to try the crayon resist technique.  Of course anything I can scribble on makes me smile too.  lol

I used just two colors here with the white crayon and finished it off with black sharpie.  Watercolor is more difficult for me to control so I cannot imagine ever painting something tight and neat with it!  As long as I can be messy I am good.

Now for the giveway I posted last week. .  . Since only 2 people entered I have decided to give one set of 2 prints to each person!!  So you both win!!

Congrats to Rona and Debbie!!

Believe In Forever . . .

I have been feeling less than inspired these days, not creating much. Today as I was flipping through my sketchbook I found a page that I used to play around with stencils and black fabric spray. And just like that I was inspired.

I added some pink watercolor over the top, stamped the words that came to mind and then added details with a black sharpie pen, finishing the edges with a black gelato. I never expected something so simple would inspire me so much . . .

Sharing over at Paint Party Friday

xo

Collage, Mark Making And Where I've Been . . .

"scattered"

5x7 journal page

I just realized that I hadn't posted anything since last weekend. Well, let me tell you why. I have been pretty sick this week. Some of you may know about my angry arm cyst from a previous post. I was on antibiotics for a week which ended Monday. Then Tuesday evening I started not feeling quite right and woke up Wednesday morning with what I thought was just a bad headache. It turned out to be a really bad stomach bug. So I was pretty much down for the count all day Wednesday and finally yesterday made it up off the couch in an attempt to celebrate my husband's birthday. So not how I planned it!

Anyway, I am happy to be posting today and sharing some new art! The above journal page was done with collage, a wash of raw umber, and lots of mark making with my sharpie fine point marker. That was the best part to me. I love scratching and scribbling. Helps to get out the angst! Despite the fact that this piece looks as if a crazy person created it I do like it.

This piece was inspired by techniques I am learning from Julie Prichard in her new solo class "Act Natural". I am really enjoying learning from Julie about all things grunge! If you like grunge, a neutral color palette, and the look of worn papers than do check out this class!

I am sharing this piece over at Paint Party Friday. So glad I made it this week!

xo

Watercolor Flowers And Drips!

"Its a lovely life"

watercolors and pitt pen on 5x7 journal page

As you can see I am still having fun with watercolors. Most of you know by now my need for instant gratification. And that is some of what watercolors do for me. I saw this image in my mind when I was in bed last night trying to fall asleep. That is always the time when my mind races, ideas appear, and words come to life. Of course the same thing tends to happen while I am driving! And always when I am not near a pen or too lazy to get out of bed and record any of it.

But luckily I was able to recall this image when I woke this morning. Although it didn't come out exactly the way I hoped (I need to work on my flower skills!) I do like it. I think I need to get a bigger journal though, the 5x7 is just not enough room for me especially when I love to smear and get messy with this medium. You can see the flowers are just busting out of the edges. lol

I am sharing this over at Paint Party Friday today. Won't you come by and join us? :)

Click HERE!

A Sketch, A Journal Page, And Hearts . . . More Digital Fun!

I can't seem to tear myself away from photoshop. I have been playing with digital collage using my sketches and paintings and am becoming seriously addicted! lol

Yesterday I took a recent sketch and collaged it with a journal page you may have seen in this post. I played and played till I liked how she emerged from the background. Obviously I am liking just the faces of these girls without hair.

Whether its photos or collage, photoshop seems to be my go to creative outlet.

What is your go to creative outlet that you find yourself returning to again and again?

Would love to hear about it!

xo