Category Archives: Art

Inchie Challenge 2023 – Part 2 Finale

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I can’t believe yesterday was Day 12 and the last day of Amy Maricle’s Inchie Challenge at Mindful Art Studio.

I had such fun creating these inchies in varying sizes. I guess what I liked the most is that you’re given a starting point on what to create with the prompts given. You don’t have to burn a fuse trying to decide on “what” you’re going to create. You only need to think about the “how” part of the creation process.

Plus I love seeing everyone’s creative muse at play. There were so many wonderful designs, loved them all! Now I have to make a mini journal to put these into 😊

Hope you enjoyed this adventure in art with me, thanks for stopping by!!!

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These are my creations for the last seven days:

  • Day 6 – Knot
  • Day 7- Touching
  • Day 8 – Box
  • Day 9 – Fern
  • Day 10 – River
  • Day 11 – Art-Poem
  • Day 12 – Moon
  • Day 6 – Knot
  • Day 7 – Touching
  • Day 8 – Box
  • Day 9 – Fern
  • Day 10 – River
  • Day 11 – Art-Poem
  • Day 12 – Moon

Inchie Challenge 2023

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Amy Maricle at Mindful Art Studio is hosting another Inchie Challenge. I participated last year and had so much fun I couldn’t resist joining again.

The idea is to create a small piece of art based on a prompt provided by Amy, every day, for 12 days. You should use 2×2 inch squares of paper but I already have varying sizes cut so I’m using what I have in my stash.

These are my creations for the first five days:

  • Day 1 – Frothy
  • Day 2 – Woven
  • Day 3 – Bark
  • Day 4 – Magnolia
  • Day 5 – Spill
  • Day 1 – Frothy
  • Day 2 – Woven
  • Day 3 – Bark
  • Day 4 Magnolia
  • Day 5 – Spill

You can still join in on the fun. Visit Amy’s website at Mindful Art Studio and click the link to join the Inchie Challenge.

You can also find Amy on Facebook and Instagram at @amymaricle

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known.” ~Napoleon Hill

Thoughtful Thursday Words of Wisdom by Gandhi

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We all face challenges and struggles. At times you may want to give up and call it quits. But when you dig deep, you’ll find that all of the challenges you’ve faced in your life have made you stronger and wiser. So as unpleasant as they may seem, keep going and get through it. You’ve got this!!

These words of encouragement are by Mohandas Gandhi and are featured on my abstract art:

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggle develops your strength. Whe you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”

Really love this quote. I hope you’re having a great week so far!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Botanicals Handmade Art Journal

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I created a few more pages in my handmade botanicals journal and thought I’d share them with you. These latest ones are flowers. I’ve been practicing painting loosely which can be quite a challenge for me at times. But I must say it’s been pretty fun!

What do you do to loosen up so you can create?

Have a wonderful weekend, thanks for stopping by!!

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“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” ~Carl Sagan

Thoughtful Thursday Framing Your Art

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You’ve seen art that you fell in love with but didn’t buy it because where would you hang it? Do you need a frame or no frame? What style of frame? Should it be a frame with glass or without?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with all these questions? I know I have. Buying art to decorate and hang in your home can be a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. So here are a few things to consider:

  1. When buying a work of art, photo or print think about where you’d like to hang it in your home and make sure the size you pick will fit in your space. If it’s a small piece you may want to group several together, otherwise your are will be lost on the overwhelming wall..
  2. Choose a frame style that goes with your decor. Whether it’s modern, traditional, gallery, floating or anything in between pick a frame that fits your taste. Most artists however, will create paintings on canvases that don’t require a frame. But if you want to make more of a statement or increase the size of the art, then a frame (without glass) is recommended plus it’s a nice finishing touch.
  3. Photos and Giclee prints or paintings created on paper will need a frame with glass. You may want to consider getting a frame with UV glass to protect your art from fading and becoming discolored over time.
  4. The depth of your frame will depend on your art. Canvas paintings will need a deeper frame to hang flush on the wall so make sure you measure the depth and buy the frame that will properly fit. A print or painting on paper won’t need anything that deep since it’s flat.
  5. Matting is another option which will increase the size of your finished piece. In general, canvases should not be matted. But prints and paintings on paper can be matted. When selecting a mat choose a color, texture and thickness that complements your art.

You want to create an eye catching display with your art that enhances the harmony of your home. Remember, if you change the style of your living space nothing is set in stone. You can easily change the style of the frame and give an old painting a new look.

One last thing, Jane Seymour wrote in one of her books that she changes the art in her home frequently depending time of the year and her taste. The extra paintings are simply stored until she’s ready to switch them out. I like this idea because you can buy several paintings for one room and change them whenever you feel like a refresh!

Hope you found these tips useful, thanks for stopping by!!

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“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” ~Oscar Wilde

Dick Blick Watercolor Contest

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Happy August!! I can’t believe that more than half the year has already flown by. With all of this summer heat, I’m definitely ready for the cooler weather this year.

Dick Blick Art Supplies was hosting a watercolor contest so I thought it was a good opportunity to practice my portrait painting skills. I worked on her for some time and this was my entry into the contest. I named her “Crystal” because of her crystal blue eyes.

I feel I’m getting better but the eyes are still a bit wonky. However, I recently found a better technique to get them more even so I’m working on that at the moment. I love how her hair turned out, it took lots of layers. Overall I was happy with the painting I entered into the contest. There are so many talented artists who entered and inspired me to keep going!

Hope this inspires you to create today, thanks for stopping by!!

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“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” ~Unknown

Botanicals Handmade Art Journal

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I’ve been having some fun creating loose paintings in my handmade botanicals journal. I love being able to create in this journal when I need a break or if I don’t have a lot of time.

The pages are fairly small (4.5 x 5 inches) and fill up pretty quickly. So you don’t have to overthink anything, it’s pretty intuitive and spontaneous. Just go with whatever comes to mind. Plus it’s satisfying to be able to finish something in a small amount of time.

There’s quite a few slides but my favorite is #10 with the blue and green leaves and red berries. My next favorite is #13 which is the one above and then of course all the flower ones. Some I’m not that crazy about but it was a learning experience trying new brushes and paints. Which one is your favorite?

✨Also, don’t forget the 50% Off, Christmas in July Sale going on in my Etsy Shop ends Sunday night at midnight. So make sure you don’t miss out✨

Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned, thanks for stopping by!!

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“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.” ~George Bernard Shaw

Thoughtful Thursday Words of Wisdom by Rumi

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When things get hectic and crazy it’s nice to read a quote that empowers and encourages you to continue. I painted this watercolor abstract on an 8×8 inch piece of 140lb watercolor paper. It has a beautiful pearl finish that glistens in the light and I thought it would be perfect to display this inspiring quote by Rumi:

“It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.”

Really love this quote. I hope you’re having a great week!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Draw Yourself Calm” Artwork

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Sometimes we all need an unwind and the concept in Amy Maricle’s book “Draw Yourself Calm,” the practice of slowing down has been very sound advice. We live in a fast paced world and this is an excellent practice to help you destress. I try to create one a day. It doesn’t always work out to that but I do end up with several a week.

I like using 140lb watercolor paper because it can stand up to just about anything especially wet mediums like paint and inks. I’ll start by cutting a 9×12″ piece of paper into several sizes: 2 and 3 inch squares, ATC size, 3×4 and anything else I’m in the mood for. That way I always have them on hand and ready for some creative fun. When the mood strikes me, I’ll use my Sakura Pens to create some pretty cool designs.

I’m filling up a small basket of these little gems. Some I plan to use in my journals while others I may incorporate into larger pieces of art. Either way, I have a nice selection to choose from. Plus I have the satisfaction of creating and completing a work of art even though it may be small😊

I hope this helps you to stay inspired and create some art!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~Edgar Degas

Botanicals Handmade Art Journal

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I recently created a handmade journal in an online workshop hosted by Amy Maricle of Mindful Art Studios and Ali Manning of the Vintage Page Designs. Lately I’ve been immersing myself in creating botanical designs in the journal.

I’m trying out different things like using my brushes in new ways, mark making and just having plain old fashioned fun. What I love is that it keeps you in the creative zone even if you only have a small amount of time to spare.

It’s not about making an elaborate painting or drawing unless that’s what you’re aiming for. But instead I make my marks, don’t always like them and then use my creative imagination to save it 😂 But that’s where the fun is because you never know where it will end up 😊

Hope this inspires you to get out your supplies and starting playing! Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.” ~George Bernard Shaw