Going Primitive With Mindy!

"finding my way"

12x12 mixed media on cardboard

I have long been a fan of Mindy Lacefield's lovely artwork especially her primitive faces.  Recently I signed up for her Primative Portraits classes and am really enjoying learning from her! She is super sweet and its a joy to watch her create.  

Letting loose and working intuitively continues to be something I struggle with in my artwork.  I enjoy sketching faces but when it comes to painting them I for some reason just don't like it probably because I tighten up so much and try to be perfect that I end up with a stiff neck when I am done!  lol These classes are so inspiring as well as opening me up to a new loose way of creating a face.  

The above piece was created on cardboard.  I also had some pieces of paper towel laying around on my art table that I added to the board for really cool texture.  I found this girl's face in the background trying loosely to bring her out.  The quicker I work when I create the less critical I am of myself.  Any of you feel the same way??

If you haven't discovered Mindy's lovely work already 

check out her website HERE!

She is offering the third installment of her Primitive Portraits class series 

with Primitive Portraits 3 which I am excited about!  For details on this class and a 

chance to win a spot click HERE!!

xo

Lets Fly Away . . .

Late last night I was sketching on my iPad using Paper 53, my favorite drawing app. Of course the drawing was filtered with Snapseed as well.  Just can't help myself.   This sweet girl showed up and her message quickly popped into my head.  

"she wanted to fly away and she did"

I always wonder if the words that come through onto my artwork are things I am feeling and wishing.  I suppose that may be a silly question to ask myself because isn't that what we all do when we create, leave a bit of ourselves on the paper/canvas?

And lately I have been feeling restless and struggling with anxiety.  That tends to leave me with the urge to "run away"  although the way she puts it sounds so much nicer doesn't it? ;)

Her - Filtered

Last night I grabbed my graphite pencils and sketchbook, dusted them off and created this girl.  I tried not to think too much, just created whatever needed to come out of me at the time.  

I miss drawing and sketching.  I have been in a bit of a funk lately, for months actually and am planning on trying to sketch everyday as a daily practice for my mind.  Maybe if I put it out there I will stick to it! 

When she was finished I took a pic of her with my iPhone.  Of course the next thing I did was throw her in Snapseed (on of my fav filter apps)  and filtered away.  

And just like that she is transformed into something completely different.  

If you have never tried this with a sketch or even a painting give it a whirl.  It is addicting and fun!  Snapseed is a great app to start with.  For this gal I used the "drama" filter first and then the "grunge"  filter to achieve the effect you see here.  

Be sure to stop back and share a link to what you create!  I would love to see!

xo

Wordless Wednesday

"Looking Through" 

Exciting Somerset News Part 2 !!

As if it wasn't exciting enough to have my work published in Somerset Digital Studio

 I was grateful to find out last spring that 2 of my paintings were chosen

 for publication in Somerset Apprentice! 

I had the wonderful opportunity to write technique articles to accompany each piece. 

 I love how they turned out.  

And had fun writing and sharing my process.  

These are two of my favorite pieces to date and I am

 so excited to share them with you!

This piece in particular I love for its simple color palette of just black and white.
Those of you that have been following my blog for some time now
know my secret love affair with that palette
 for both painting and my digital art.  

So go pick up a copy of the Autumn 2014 issue of Apprentice on newsstands now!

  Or order a copy HERE!

If you happen to try the techniques stop back and let me know! 

 I would love to see what you create!  

xo

Exciting Somerset News!! Part One

Back in the fall last year I submitted some of my NYC digital collage images to Somerset Digital Studio.  I was pretty excited to find out that they would be publishing my art and requested a technique article to go along with the images! If you love digital art as much as I do then this is a must read publication.  What I did not know until I received the magazine was my title "Urban Grunge" is on the cover!  I absolutely love the font used for the title and the digital brush used as its background taken from the original photo.

If you are a follower of my blog then you may recognize these images.
 They are some of my
 favorites!

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peak!  Somerset Digital Studio is on newsstands now so go pick up a copy!  

Enjoy the article and all the gorgeous digital artwork featured in this issue!

xo

My Eye Selfie

As many times as I use my iPhone I am still amazed at the art that can be created with it.  The other night I took a quick selfie with the native camera on the phone.  Using the native camera will render a higher resolution image.  

Despite the fact that I didn't like the image I knew that I was going to filter it.  First I cropped it down to just one of my eyes looking up.  After stacking filters from SnapSeed and Pixlromatic I ended in DistressedFx for the final layers of grunge with some cool birds.  

Susan Tuttle offers a great online class in iPhoneography.  I am currently taking the class and its pretty amazing! 

Click Here for all the details! 

Are you an iPhoneography addict too?  Do tell!