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

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

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

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

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

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!

To follow me on Facebook Click HERE !

Finding Faces And Adding Words . . .

mixed media on 8x8 canvas

I am still trying to come out from under this flu but it just doesn't want to leave.  I am much better but this is my third week and I long to feel back to my healthier self.  I have no patience for being strapped to the couch, stuck inside the house, or needing to lay down after taking a shower from fatigue.  

On the bright side I am able to get back to some painting.  Pthalo blue is becoming a favorite color of mine.  For this piece I used only that and titanium white.  No brushes, just my hands.  I tend to feel much too restricted with a brush.  I squeeze the paint from the tube right onto the canvas in a few places and then go at it with my hands.  I keep going till it feels done.  Or until I see some images appear.  

I found a face on the left and I hope you see it too.  I added the letter stencils for some contrast and stenciled on the words because they just felt like they fit.  

It is supposed to be a nice day here in NY so I am  hoping to go for a stroll by the lake across the street.  Maybe being around nature will help take me out of this funk!

Hope all is well in your world!

xo

An Inspiring Little Girl . . .

A friend of mine posted this video on facebook yesterday.  I just had to share it with all of you.  This is Aelita Andre, a 4 year old artist creating a painting.  What struck me was how in the moment she was just letting  the paint lead her.  She was following her heart.  Just enjoying the moments.  

We should all create this way and live our lives this way savoring each moment.  That is an ongoing struggle for me especially this year.   I hope you take the time to watch this it is so worth it!!

xo

Challenging Myself . . .

untitled

mixed media on 8x10 cardboard

I feel tired as I write this post. I was up late last night painting. Creatively, I seem to do my best work at night. I try not to though because I need my sleep! But this was just one of those moments when I had to break the rules.

I am taking Misty Mawn's "Open Studio" online class. Up until now I have just been soaking it all in and not creating much. But something finally got to me and I needed to try to take my art to another level. I have been wanting to paint faces and also sketch directly onto the canvas. I wanted to not be afraid of painting a messy face. I want to embrace the imperfect. I am finding that of many things I am learning from Misty that is a big lesson for me.

I used a piece of cardboard for a canvas and I love it! I also loved painting directly onto a layer of gesso. The texture and tooth feel good under my paintbrush!

It was just fun to be messy and just let this girl speak to me. It was a whole new experience for me. As you can see from the initial sketch below I didn't intend this girl to be sad and teary eyed. I was originally thinking, light, happy, and lots of hearts. I initially resisted the colors I chose, didn't like how her face was coming out, and then just gave in.

I initially resisted the colors I chose, didn't like how her face was coming out, and then just gave in. And I am so happy that I did! I really love her! I think I will be using more cardboard for a canvas in the future! Its a cool surface to paint on!

For those of you who have painted on cardboard . . . any tips on finishing? I need to spray fixative on her but other than that what do you recommend?

I am sharing her over at Paint Party Friday. Click HERE to join us!

xo

You Never Know . . . New Journal Page

I was up late last night working on this page and am really happy how it turned out. I saw this image a few nights ago in my head. Weird how that happens.

I am taking Sketchbook Delight with Alisa Burke. Its a great class! So fun and Alisa is a great instructor! I am really having fun with watercolors which I used on this page along with pitt pens and a bit of graphite. For the words I debated on using more fancy lettering like I am learning in letterLab with Lori Vliegen but as you can see I just ended up quickly writing the words in script. Actually I didn't think I had enough room. But I felt the sky needed something so I thought the words would be a good fit there.

I am sharing this page today over at Paint Party Friday. Click HERE to join us!

Wishing you all a great weekend!!

xo

New Landscape . . . WIP

Despite the fact that I had a super hard time getting a good pic of this painting in progress I am excited to share it with you! This is the best shot of the twentysomething images I took. I am not sure what I was thinking starting this on a 16x20 canvas! All of that blank space to fill can be quite daunting!

I knew I wanted to use a limited palette of complimentary colors. I just love yellow and purple together. I am using dioxidine purple and cad yellow medium with some titanium white. The composition is from a personal photo. There are trees lining the path that you can't see from this image which are subject to change at any moment! lol

This has been sitting on my easel for a couple of weeks now. I am hoping to get back to it soon! That is if I can tear myself away from photoshop long enough! :)

Angel Ballerina Is Painted And She Sold!!

"angel ballerina"

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

sold

Good morning my dear friends! I completed this piece over the weekend. I went with a similar color palette as the angel bride. Its funny how I get stuck in a color that I really like. I have another angel to put on canvas and I hope I can break away from the pink!

I have to admit I did obsess over her a bit especially on the top layer details. At one point I had to ask my hubby to take it away from me before I ruined it! lol Then I posted her on facebook as I do with most of my art to share her with friends and I sold her before I even got a chance to list her on etsy! She is on her way south to a little girls room. It really makes my heart happy to think that my art will be in a new home and hopefully inspire its new owner. She will be added as a print to my etsy shop later today!

I have a couple of works in progress one of which is an altered photo piece. This time I am being daring and using a 11x14 wrapped canvas covered in black gesso waiting for one of my altered photos. The photo is all scratched up, inked and ready. We will see how it goes! The other is a background for my third angel although I still need to figure out what color the background will be.

Dare I go with pink again??

WIP Update . . . Urban Landscape

I thought I would post an updated photo on the progress of my urban landscape painting. You can see the first stage of this painting and the inspiration photo HERE.

I am surprised that I made it this far. I am continuing to use only payne's gray white. I made some tweeks to it in order to continue with the perspective. I added some yellow on the buildings to mimic windows and widened the road in the foreground. I almost attempted a car on the road but erased it! Not sure yet how I will be able to do that.

I actually like the unfinished look to it. Sometimes when I do landscape I am way too rigid, trying to achieve an exact replica of the photo I use for inspiration. This time I am trying to let loose a bit and go for my own impression of it.

Would love to hear your input and or suggestions!

WIP . . . Urban Landscape

I have been itching to do another landscape since I finished the one for my friend. So I started this canvas last weekend. This is just the under painting where I am trying to sketch out some perspective. I wasn't even going to share it at this early stage but figured what the heck! I haven't done anymore to it I think out of fear! lol I am not sure where to go next. I think I need to just not think and slap some paint on!

This is the photo that I am using for inspiration. I took this photo in NYC a couple of years ago. When I looked at it again I saw it with different eyes. I right away noticed the composition and perspective. I wondered if I could paint it.

I will using a monochrome palette in shades of payne's gray. I don't know who I think I am even considering this image but lets see if I can pull it off!

Emerge . . . My First Layered Collage Painting!

"Emerge"

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

As I said in yesterday's post I did alot of painting this weekend. This piece is my first attempt at a layered collage. I typically don't have patience for layers and I certainly could have added many more but I will take this as a first step! I initially was going to use this as a background for one of my face sketches but when it was done I decided to fill the blank space in the center with the tree. I used a couple of my own photos for the collage that were printed on plain paper.

The colors I used are not colors I am comfortable with either. I used some hansa yellow, phalto blue (gs) and nickel azo gold. I did begin with a first layer of payne's gray glazed over some stamped tissue paper and of course that got lost when I added the other colors. I used staz on ink for the first time and I love it.

This picture doesn't do it justice. In person there is more depth and some texture from the tissue paper. Hope you like it!

One World One Heart 2011

Hi and welcome to my blog! I am a photographer, artist, writer, and cancer survivor. I live in New York, USA with my husband of 7 years and our pug Bosco. I love taking photos of landscapes and nature. Last year I picked up a paintbrush for the first time since I was a child and I haven't put it down since! I like working with acrylics and mixed media. I also like abstract art. I have recently begun incorporating my photography into my mixed media art. For me creativity quiets my mind and connects me with myself. I have learned so much this past year and met wonderful creative people along the way! And I hope to meet more through this great event! To learn more about the One World One Heart Event click HERE!

My giveaway for this event is a print of my abstract painting titled Embrace. The original painting was completed using acrylic glazes on birch wood. Image size is 6x6 inches printed on 8x10 inch matte photo paper.

To enter for a chance to win this print just leave a comment! Make sure your comment will link me back to your blog so that I may contact you if you are the winner. This open to all bloggers worldwide. The winner will be announced on February 17 on the bottom of this post. Good Luck! You can see the list everyone that is participating in this wonderful event HERE!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have enjoyed your visit! I am looking forward to getting to know you along this blogging trip around the world!

Seek Peace. . . . A New Painting

"Seek Peace . . ."

mixed media on 9x12 canvas board

Sold

Here she is in her painted version! Although I like the original sketch better I do like the color palette which was a mystery to me even as I was painting her. She ended up more goth than I expected! This time I used some distress ink around the edges and I like the effect it gives. This one is also inspired by Tam's class Art, Heart, and Healing. Check out the link along my sidebar and join us if you haven't already!

In other news I sold my first painting! And I wasn't even trying. I have not listed any of my paintings in my etsy shop as I don't feel confident enough in them yet to sell them. I just posted a photo of it on FB to share it with some friends as I always do with my artwork and I received a comment from someone that loved it. He asked me if I would consider selling it because he wanted to give it to his 8 year old daughter who is an aspiring artist. She recently won a first place award in an art contest and told me how proud he is of her. He thought my painting would help inspire her to follow her dream.

I have to say I got all choked up hearing this story. I instantly thought back to when I was her age and won the first place ribbon for my pastel butterfly. Then I thought about how neither of my parents ever encouraged me with my creative interests. I waited until the age of 40 to begin painting. I instantly felt a connection to this little girl who is blessed with a dad that wants to support and inspire her dreams. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. I felt it was no accident that I was presented with this opportunity to help inspire her. It was syncronicity for me! You can see the photo of that painting here.

Oh, and one more thing . . . thanks so much for your lovely comments on my sunset photo!

Fun With Layering . . . A New Face

untitled

mixed media on 11x14 wrapped canvas

Yesterday I found an unfinished painting of a winter scene done in black and white. I stopped and left it out of frustration because I didn't like where it was going. So I picked it up and decided I would paint one of my face sketches over it.

I took my folk art italian sage and squirted some right onto the canvas spreading it around to cover all the black. And then I grabbed a paper towel to blot around and remove some. I was excited when I saw the design I had created with a little of the black paint showing through. Once that dried I put my sketch on the canvas. I had some trouble as I am used to the hard canvas board especially doing the face. When my girl was done I took out the paper towel with white paint and started pressing it into the canvas. Lastly I used my fan brush to add some black birds, which my hubby thought were bats, ( I wasn't going for bats but I still like the effect they give the piece) and was really pleased with the end result.

This is the first time I have done any layering with paint. I really have no patience for it! I think because I had the old painting it just lead me into layering this piece. I don't like to wait for the paint to dry between layers so I just don't do it. How silly is that?!

Anyone else impatient when it comes to layering?

Late Night Angel Sketching

Thank you for all of your comments on yesterdays post and your advice about what to use for her eyes. That is what I am loving so far about mixed media is that you can try anything!

I got in bed late last nite (I am quite the night owl) and as I closed my eyes I saw her. Another angel. I saw hearts floating down and her heart wings. So what did I do? Of course I had to jump up out of bed and grab my sketchbook and pencil. I didn't want to forget come morning. Here eyes look a bit weird to me but it was late and my room was dimly lit! Just when I think I have found my niche or style so to speak something different comes out of me. I am curious to see where it leads me.

Speaking of sketching I wanted to let you know about a fun weekly sketch challenge Kelly at Kelly Berkey Designs is hosting over on her blog. The challenge is sketching, painting, or drawing the human form and she has posted a photo of herself in a ballet pose just for the occasion! I will be participating and hope some of you do as well. Although I have never sketched the human form I think it will be fun to try! (Read all about the challenge here.)

I am hoping to have some time over the next few days to start painting these angel girls. Excited to get started and share them with all of you!

Lets Fly Away . . . New Painting

Lets Fly Away

8x10 mixed media on canvas board

She started out as a sketch I did over the weekend. I was excited to paint her. My background was a little blah at first but at the end I used my distress ink (which I love) and smudged some all around with a cotton pad. Then she felt complete. I changed the color of the baloons 3 times before I settled on the pink. I used black colored pencil on the balloons and dress to give some depth and outline. The only thing I was sure of was the color of her dress. And then somehow all the rest came together. This time I didn't struggle as much with her hair. I am pleased with how it came out. The original sketch had barettes on both sides but I am on the fence about adding them. What do you think?

I find that I sometimes struggle with colors. Funny though that I originally thought I would make then pink and then tried 2 other colors I didn't like. I guess I better just let go and listen to the muse!