Coffee anyone?

This is a coffee cup painted with coffee...for the online class.  I am not spilling any secrets here so I can show you this.  We were to paint a favourite cup with coffee.  So I took this assignment seriously, and with a little glee.  As you know I don't like coffee, usually I will have a hot chocolate or on the other side of this coffee shop is a bagel place that sells diet coke.  So first off went to the bagel side got myself a diet coke, then went to the coffee side, first I ordered a low fat orange cranberry muffin, my favourite, then just like a big coffee drinker, said one black coffee.  Now this is where he got me, and he knew this was no coffee drinker this was a big pretender.  I said what kind do you have, he gave me this look like lady just order something else.  I bravely stuck to guns, and made him rattle of the coffee names.  Then I gave him the kicker,  and said with a smile I just want really black coffee, do you have any of that?  So he looked at me and thought,( I could read his mind), is this lady nuts or what.  Then I gave in and said I will have  a cup from that pot over there. He watched me the whole way over to put the lid on the coffee and sit down, and open my diet coke.  That's when he went to the other worker and I sure said some nasty things about the coffee lady, who just took up 5 minutes of his valuable time and had a diet coke with her muffin.   I gleely laughed into my diet coke.  OK I like a little controversy now and then. 

Anyway this is the picture, I made it like an experiment.  And in the end concluded there will be no more painting with coffee, I don't like it, its not dark enough.  In the end I added neo colour crayon in orange mixed with the coffee and dried and was able to manipulate the dryer so it made some darker marks.

Imagination

I think I mentioned that I am taking an online class, and one of the questions that was asked was what is your definition of Creativity.  Of course everyone has a different way of defining it, but this is mine.
The class is a little different that I thought it would be, but I am enjoying it.  It's more of a thinking course, thinking about why and how you make art.

Well today is a go day, yesterday was all about the upkeep of this house.  Doing those cleaning jobs that I hate, cleaning the oven, even though you just turn it on, checking the spice drawer, and getting rid of the old ones.  They don't last forever people...and paring down to the ones that I use all the time.  I had spices in there I think I have never used.  Washing the floors, laundry.  You know the mundane chores that need to get done.  So today I am taking it for me.  I watched the new season of House...I think I have mentioned many times before how much I like that show.....

Books back to the library, and a book to pickup
I think I need a pedicure
Diet Coke and my journal to the second cup
Phone hubby I think I need dinner out tonight
Home to watch the new season of Glee and whatever else is on

OK what are you going to do today to treat yourself?

tools of the trade

If this drawing looks all jiggly it's because you weren't suppose to stop drawing.  I am taking an online course and one of the exercises was to draw something you use or something in your art room..After I was finished I thought I could make it look a little better by colouring with markers. 

Well today was:

cleaning the fridge, much needed

shopping with the shopper for things for the condo

lunch out

watching Oprah give away things, and having a little cry along with her

and that's it from here, what did you do today>

I am having a bad hair day....

Yep, can't you tell by the picture, I am having a bad hair day.  IT Is one of those days when you wake up and look in the mirror and say, what's with the hair.  Phoned the hairdresser can't get in for a week.  This hair has more grey than brown, I can't wait a week.  Yesterday I went and bought some hair dye to do my own today, yes I am going to wash away the grey.  Sometimes I let the hairdresser do it, sometimes I do.  I wish I was one of those people who has hair that does not turn dirty grey, but snowy white.  It Looks so nice.  So that is what is on the agenda today, the hair, the house, and a book is waiting for me...So its Thursday what's on your calender.  oH by the way I am trying out a new look on my portraits, so far its not working for me...

Secret Guest Blogger today

Hey, you guys who are reading this blog, its me Sophie, aka Devil dog.  I don't know where she ever came up with that name for me, because I think of myself as quite a nice good girl.  Anyway today I am blogging because Mama or the owner of me, I like to call her Mama because she is the only one in the house who takes really good care of me.  Anyway today she is busy with her own Mama they are in the kitchen cooking, by the way that is where I should be because I like to be there just in case they drop anything.  I heard them say they are baking today, cookies, rice krispy squares, and buns.  Her Mama is staying for supper, she is pretty nice to me and sneaks me food when no one is watching.  I just wanted to say that Mama spends way to much time doing art or on the computer checking blogs, when she could be playing with me.  I am just saying what's better than playing and spending all her time with me, I am fun. so all the dogs say at Daycare.  Well gotta go, she said she will be back to regular posting tomorrow, by the way the picture she did does not do me justice, I am much prettier.  Oh OH I think I just heard something drop on the floor gotta go......

Sophie (devil dog)

Wonky face with pastels

playing around with pastels and making wonky faces

my mind spinning with ideas

errands to run, house work to replace art today

books to read from the library

vegetable beef noodle soup to make for dinner

whats on your day's schedule today

lee

Snippets of a life

today cold, windy rainy

chili cooking slowly in crock pot

bread in bread machines, smells driving me wild

art making on cards with pastels

still in pj's, wild hair

washing machine slowly spinning

Sophie chewing beside me on her bone

a nice comfort day to stay in

what's on your agenda

Dream Lover

No this is not my dream lover...but he was someone that I came up with while just sitting and sketching while watching TV.  Coloured with art pitt pens.  Had a really good time on my short road trip with my friend, lots of talking, laughing.  So I feel rested and ready to go.  Just a short post today because I want to go and try a  transfer technique, will take pictures by the step and see if it turns out , I have my doubts.

lee

An oldie but goodie

This is an atc I made last year in September for a trade.  I really liked making it, I think the theme was either summer or vacation.  I applied a few layers and paint and stuff.  Other than that what have I been doing.  Not posting, and not on purpose, but not to much to talk about, and I think everyone is pretty busy this month.  Tonight we went out for dinner hubby and I .  We went to our favourite restaurant and I had my favourite ginger beef and rice.  Come out to pouring rain, and wind, its been like that since the beginning of September more like fall than summer still.  I am off for a road trip with my friend on Saturday just overnight to a city about 300 miles away.  Time for a little shopping, wine, good food, and gossip something I need.

I don't remember if I told you i am making a zine for me.  The index is a work in progress, every time I think of something I add it.  I have all my thoughts in a little notebook that I carry with me.  I have been thinking of a name and have narrowed it down to 4.  I am having fun thinking of what is going to go into it.  I have decided that I am going to make 10 and give them away, so If you would like one when its done let me know

I am a groupie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coi4ouJxERk

OK its true I am a groupie  I love Pam Carriker's work.  She has a unique style which I admire, but promise not to copy.  Not only that she explains things so well, and makes it interesting at the same time.  I took one online class from her  (The Gray series) using just greys pitt pens and I really enjoyed it, learned allot about shading.  The video I have the link for is really informative, her picture that she does is so much better than my example.  But I did learn allot just from the short video on colour of the face, which I always have trouble with.  So go she has a few new videos up and take a look, if you have not seen them before you will become a groupie, I am sure. 

When' s enough stuff enough

I enjoyed making this page.  I hope you like it.

It's September and I am in cleaning mode, getting rid of stuff, in the house and in the studio.  Do you have art stuff all over the house.  Well I have a studio, then sometimes I don't want to go down to the studio, so I have stuff in the den, in cupboards, drawers its not a mess so I don't mind.  But really do I need all the stuff, so much stuff I keep getting and not using.  I see a demo on tulip paints, so out I go and get the tulip paints, do I use them, once. from now on am going by the slogan less is more.  So today was purge day, junk was thrown out, good stuff was waiting for me to take to the goodwill.  I basically did the studio about a month ago, and got rid of a bunch.  Now its main floor arts, books, just stuff you don't use.  I like to go by the slogan if I have not used it in a year, or thought of it then it goes.  To much stuff crowds you and make you feel less creative.  Now I have lots of images, and words, and backgrounds, and old stuff I have been saving, in containers that I cant part with, and its driving me crazy.  I always think that If i throw that away, I will need the next day.  I am not a crazy hoarder, so I am going to try and downsize that stash. I have a thing for paper, pens, inks.  I see it and I want it.  I am going to try to control these urges and not  buy anything new till the end of the year and try to use what I have .  What about you, do you have piles of stuff....?

Mish Mash

Art in my Visual Journal, I know her eyes are a little wonky, I

did that on purpose to show she is different, not the same

cookie cutter girls as above.

Well today its off to lunch with the girls, then off to Michael's, I have a GC to use from hubby.  And off to the art store.  I have already gone to Chapters the bookstore and got my magazine fix, Cloth Paper Scissors, the Apprentice, Somerset Studio.  So I am all set for the long weekend.  I plan on working in my Zine this weekend, planning stage done.  I plan on making some art not just in my Visual Journal.  I plan on eating some good food, and having some fun.  What do you plan on doing this weekend?

The ATC Swap

I can now post the ATC that I made for Phoenix Peacock http://phoenixpeacock.blogspot.com/ remember the beautiful ATCS that I got from her

http://leekre.blogspot.com/2010/08/atcs-have-arrived-from-my-partner.html

I had a good time making these.  At first I did not have the faintest clue what to do, I let it gel for a few days, and came up with those two.  I am happy that she likes them, thats what I hoped for when I created them. Because every time I create something for somebody else, I stress out and say I am never going to get involved in anything again, because at the back of your mind it is always saying it's not good enough.  No I am not looking for praise, or compliments, I want to know if it is like that for you when you create something for someone else.

The Journey

Well can you believe its the end of August, and its my anniversary I have been married 37 years and to the same husband.  Some days and we all have those days I wonder how I ever made it.  Well this layout is about a journey I took when I graduated from high school.  The journey was from Vancouver where I lived at the time, to Edmonton where I live now.  It was about a girl moving to where her boyfriend lived and went to University.  She boarded that train, with stars in her eyes and as an independent woman. That train took her on a journey  to a new place to live, her first job, her first apartment, her first paycheque.  And it landed her where she is today.  Happy

Lee

The unexpected Path

Well today is rainy, so I am cleaning up and watching season two of True Blood.  I love True Blood, so really its more watching than cleaning.

I saw a picture of stairs with arrows in this months vogue and loved the idea, so I drew in my own stairs and arrows.  I often find ideas I want to use in my art from magazine.  I write them down.  Did I tell you am making a zine for myself.  I wanted to challenge myself to make something and finish it.  As how many journal making classes have I taken and never finished one yet.  They are all sitting half made.  So this zine will be about techniques with pictures how I do it what works and doesn't.  I have already started by making an index and adding to it as I think of ideas.  Then I think the index will need editing or I will never finish the zine.  Next I am thinking of a name.  I have already decided on the format.  What do you do to challenge and motivate yourself?

lee

A little of this and that

Sunday , this was a little something I created last night well watching the movie

The Backup Plan, which I really enjoyed.  I did not think that I would enjoy

it because I am not to keen on Jen Lopez, but she did a great job and I got

a few laughs from it.  So this is just a little ATC which started out as a

little doodle and morphed from there.

I was not going to sign up for any more classes but I did.  I signed up for a

class by a Canadian Gal, I love her style check out her bloghttp://lovelife.typepad.com/my_weblog/

the class was pricey $75.00, but you get a print, and some of her postcards.  I have always

followed her blog since I started.  She has a cool way of doing her art, kinda of like

Alisha Burkehttp://www.alisaburke.blogspot.com/  who's style I also like, but Kal does not sew.  But both have big bold colours.  That is what I would like to do. I wish I was not so controlled and could just let loose.

Do you go to Kellys blog http://kellykilmer.blogspot.com/ I go daily, she posts about blogs she likes and I go and have a look, I have found some really cool things.

Okay I have shared some cool blogs your turn.

lee

Rue du English-The street of the English

I loved making this page, hopefully  someday before I am to old to enjoy them, my grandchildren will look back on this book and say to my daughter, I didn't  know granny lived in France.

Well today is all about baking.  I am going to make c

chocolate chip muffins

banana chip loaf

millionaire squares

I am just in the baking mood, that does not happen to much around here as I like to also eat the baking and it does the hips some damage.  But the weather is crappy, windy and cold, imagine cold in August, I have a sweater on.  The shopper is out of town this weekend, hubby is out doing who knows what, devil dog is laying on the floor sleeping.  And I don't feel like going out, so I am going to bake and freeze it.  Still can eat it straight out of the freezer, put up your hand if you can do this.

Well enjoy what is left of Saturday and talk to you tomorrow.  I think I am back on my regular posting schedule.

And if anyone knows how to make a header smaller let me know

lee

On the Bus

I loved making this journal page, had a blast trying the bus and stuff. 

I thought I would post some stuff about me you have always wanted to know (lol)

Married 37 years

1 child 21 years old

1 devil dog -corgi-pug

57 years old but much younger in spirit

retired from a job I had for 35 years

live in Canada

Born in Ottawa, capital of Canada

a family of 3 girls including me

1 sister died at age 55

1 sister lives in another province

mother lives in same city as me

father died at age 55

always made crafts but never found my true vision till I retired

husband and daughter do not read blog

friends do not read blog much

love to read, go to movies and do art of course

favour media of art, mixed media

want to learn to paint better

daughter moving out of house in November

dont know how I will cope with that, we are very close

when I first started my quest to find my artful self I thought I was a scrapbook

made 1 scrapbook page and decided I was not

went back to first love drawing and the rest followed

Now you know most of everything about me now its your turn

lee

The ARt of the Wash

A blue acrylic wash on page

found image outlined with black

favourite Picasso quotes

hand drawn bird painted with markers

Been away a few days but I have been working in my visual journal. Have you been enjoying your summer.  School does not start here until September 1.  Have been dealing with mad dog, she was running and blew out her ligament in her knee. She was operated on Tuesday and is home now, hobbling around.  Just like having another baby in the house, I thought I was done with that 21 years ago.  Well I leave you now, will be posting on a more regular basis, soon.  Have you been making much art this summer?

Paint Over Technique

If you don't recognize her its Marlyn, it was an ad for something, but I used the paint over technique and changed her up as It fit right into my visual journal for things I wanted to say.  I love Lisa

http://lisabebi.blogspot.com/2010/08/watch-and-chat-with-me-as-i-paint-live.html

her blog is amazing and she is the queen of the paint over  , she shows you a little of how its down at that link I just showed you.  I love doing it, so much fun.  Go on give it a try I dare you

ATCs have arrived from my Partner

These two arrived yesterday from  my partner

http://phoenixpeacock.blogspot.com/

not only a great artist, but a really good writer.  Her blog is really interesting.  So go over and have a look.  She should be getting  mine pretty soon, our mail system leaves something to be desired.  These are so beautiful.  Now you know what you missed you should have joined the swap.  But we will be having another swap I am sure sometime in the fall.

Lee

Snips of a day

start of day at 7:00 am working on this page

8:00 Lab appointment

home after long day at hospital with Mom

4:00 working and finishing this page

6:00 hubby brings home Lasagna from fav Pizza joint

hanging around watching TV, computer

wearing PJ's

now are you not glad that you did not have this day, how much more excitement can one person have.

What did you do today

lee

fishy doodles

well I am back for today at least, the rest of the month I will be in and out.  I am trying to enjoy August and all it has to offer.  That just maybe laundry, or going to see Eat Pray Love.  Which by the way tomorrow I am going to with a friend of me, the afternoon movie.  I have not been doing much, as you can see I have been doodling.  I love to doodle and see what I can come up with, this is in my visual journal, but nothing else at the moment.  What have you all been up to this month.  I went out with my blog friend Gayle for dessert, and we went to her amazing home and studio.  I had a great time, I wish you all lived closer we would have quite the time.

I am going to tell you something, I am loving the Housewives of New York, OC and Atlanta.  I watch before bed I am catching up as I never watched it before.  How stupid are these women, and how stupid am I for loving every minute of it.  None of the housewives I know are anything like that.

Well better go and get dinner ready...so I will see you when I see you.  Soon

Lee

The Challenge of the words - Street Team Challenge

So I love words, so this challenge was right up my alley.  But usually I am so rigid with myself I have to make a story or I have to make sense of something.  So of course this is somewhat like the way I usually roll, I did put some upside down and on a curve.  I hope you enjoy it, I had fun making it.

So go play over there and have some fun http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2010/08/crusade-no-43-text-messaging.html#comments

The body electric

A page from my visual journal, two free images, and the big image hand drawn by me.  The curves need work, this is not my body. I only had one page to work on (lol)

I have been on holiday mode for a week or more now, I know I dont work, its kind of like always a holiday, but the hubby is on holidays, so the schedule is messed up.  So I have not been posting as much as usual.  I have been working on my two ATC the fashion one is just about finished and the summer one, is half finished.  I wish I could show you and get your opinion on a few things, but I cant show them until Sharon gets them.  Other than that, I have been looking for a used dresser with the shopper, she wants to redo one for her new home.  We looked all over pawn shops (which I have never been in, quite the experience, the expected the cops to bust in and shoot up the place lol), but we found a really nice wood one at a thrift store, so she is going to sand, prime and paint, new fancy dancy knobs etc.  Its her project so I am going to be project manager.  Right at this moment it is pouring rain, it has been a funny weather day here, hot and humid and now thunder and rain.  So what have you been up to this week.....