Wednesday, June 10, 2015

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

Monday, June 1, 2015

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

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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

Monday, March 30, 2015

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

Monday, February 16, 2015

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