I've been working on many projects

Here's a peek at some of the art I've created lately. Right now I am passionate about my art dolls. They are called Snippets of Soul Stories. Each one has a story. And the stories are snippets from my past. I'll be teaching a class on how I make them soon. To see more, see my facebook page at tarasartcamp. Hugs! xoxo

A fantastic day with art friends

I spent a great day yesterday with my art friends Jenny Wentworth, Judy Wise and Shellie Garber. It is so great to be able to paint all day with no errands to run, meals to cook, or anything else for that matter. I always feel rejuvenated after our get togethers. So much fun. These are the latest paintings in my art journal. Happy fathers day to all my wonderful friends who are fathers!

Has it been so long....

since I last posted?!    Time does get away from me!

I was fortunate enough to be invited to an art retreat in Port Townsend a couple of weekends ago. It was so fun to be with wonderful creative women and spend time creating art and laughing. Pure bliss. I'm back at rediscovering old journals and re-working them. I've had this one a long time, and I feel it needs an update. I love working over all my old stuff. They are ever evolving and ever changing. I'm feeling an urge thou, to create in a different medium,,,maybe fabric...we'll see.

A fun day with friends creating art

I really enjoy making art with friends. They inspire you in ways that you can't anticipate. This is a piece I created in a journal that I am re-doing. When I start a project I never really know what the end result will be. I start painting and let the magic happen. This piece has lots of collage elements peeking out.

Journal, Lobby, Dobby, and Lou

This is the cover of my latest journal. The painting is fondly called Lobby, Dobby and Lou. If you can see the little characters on the right hand side,,,,they are images from "Stuffed Magazine". I created those little guys out of old sweaters. My article on Lobby Dobby and Lou was in the second issue of "Stuffed". This journal is all 140lb watercolor paper with lots of fun inserts in side.

Some more journal pages

These paintings are created in a small Moleskine journal that I have. It measures approx 3 x 5. It will be the second one of this size that I have worked in. I am inspired by painting small right now. I'll be creating some more of my work on canvas in the very near future.

Making art in Moleskine journals

I am revisiting old journals and getting inspiration from my previous work. I've decided to start another moleskine journal and will post soon. The first step is to get the cover ready. I never start a piece of art on the first page. I start somewhere in the middle. I find that my work continues to grow and I hardly ever like the work I started on the first page. I'll post soon.

Have a great day!

Broken wing

I tend to work with themes at any given time in my life. Most often my theme centers around bunny slippers. I know,,, something very sweet from my childhood. At this present moment my theme is centered around my recent event of damaging my rotator cuff. My wing. It hurts to paint,,,but I will get through this.

Broken Wing

I call this spread "Broken Wing". It's about the big move in my life. Quitting my job (to create art full time), buying a new home and moving to another state. In the process of all this positive change,, I broke my wing.
Actually I injured my rotator cuff in the move. I like to think of it as my "wings". I'll be flying again soon, thou.
xo

 

 

Willow

This is my rescue dog Willow. I have had her now for almost a year. She is the sweetest dog on the planet now that she has her confidence. I painted her likeness today, I wonder if she approves. I always wanted to be a courtroom character painter, do you think I could get a job doing that! haha!

Painting the blank page, and a guy in my journal

This is another page I created recently. I used collage papers in the hand bound journal that I made. I start all my pages by creating a watercolor wash on the pages so I am not faced with the overwhelming "blank page". Sometimes I am happy enough with all the pages painted in brilliant, vibrant colors, and I don't need to paint anything else on them! I find plain white pages a little intimidating to start work on.

How I make my journals

Journal pages

I created this in the old ledger I have been working on. I love how it wrinkles when I use water colors on the pages. They always flatten out so if you are concerned about wrinkles when you make your pages don't be,,, you can always flatten them with a book too. I call this spread "What do you say after you say Hello"!

Old ledger journal

I often use just what I have around the house to paint in. I got this old ledger journal at a garage sale for .25 cents. I love the lines in the background. I think it adds character. I don't mind that the pages wrinkle from the watercolors, it gives it personality. Plus the pages will probably lay flat when it has been closed for a long time.

Created in a vintage journal ledger, water color, pan pastel, graphite.

I have been working in my watercolor journal again. These pages were made with watercolor, graphite, and some Pan Pastels. It's nice to get back into my journals but I long for texture and depth.  The second submission is influenced by an exhibit of "Carnival" that I saw at the Burke museum over the weekend.  I love masks.  Perhaps I have been hiding behind one all of this year.  Recovering, exploring, and finding myself once again.. xo...

She waited patiently...

Journal love

Journal pages

I created a couple of new pages in my journal. I really like how these are turning out. I wanted to show you the leather journal itself. It is made by Susie Shipman over at Island Bound Books (you can google her). The craftsmanship of her journals is amazing! Look at the stitching! And the fabulous hand made iron forged button! The paper is thick, can hold any medium, (I use acrylics),,,and they are works of art within themselves. I love them!  Since I loved the journal more than my old artwork, I decided to paint over the old pages.  I really love all the old texture showing through underneath.  I am happy I took a chance to re-do these.  Never be afraid to paint over something you have and start over.  I am sure you will be happy with your new results. 

More artist journal pages

If you have been following my blog you have noticed that I am doing a collaborative with fellow artist Syd. Here are a few pages from our journal. I like using watercolors as well as acrylics, they give the paintings a whole different "feel".

More artist journal pages

I thought you may like to see more of our journal collaborative. Here are some of the latest pages. The journal pages below are by Syd. I love her free flowing nature and color choices!

Artist block,,,,again?

I can't tell if I am having artist block or I am just having fun participating in other activities in my free time. Creating art is lower on my priority list right now.   I have been enjoying the fall by bike riding, walking by the lake and the Burke Gilman trail, gardening, visiting friends, and the list goes on. When I feel like I can't seem to motivate myself to create art, I start with a simple exercise of creating collages. I find myself tearing pages, painting backgrounds, ripping, gluing, collaging pieces onto the background,,, I just keep moving through this exercise until I can "free up" my inner artist. I find images I like and just start gluing them down to the page. In this case, I am using my journal. A place where I am free to try new things.

After my collage exercise, I started this page in my journal. I freely cut the pages into a simple shape and started to paint an image. This is the VERY rough draft of the starting of a painting.... I'm on a roll now,,,,,,,

What do you do to rev-up your creative spirit?

xo...