Art Doll

I love Zoey. She is an art doll I created with fabric and acrylics. I am currently making dolls and they are available in my shop. Take one home with you to sit on your shelf or give as a gift. xo

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

Pages from another journal

I work in several journals at the same time. I really like this journal, the size, the format, the pages etc. I hand bound it, and created the journal myself. I'm on a roll with this one so I'll be working in it the next few days.

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.

A busy day in the studio

I have been busy working in my studio the last couple of days. I am really enjoying all my collage bits. I am using what I have on hand from past projects. The cnavas will be in my etsy shop soon. Thank you for stopping by.

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

Artist journal, (again)

This journal is all made by hand, the covers, the binding, everything! I am working over an old journal and re-doing it. I love how some of the old elements show through. I have ripped, torn, and re-figured the pages, adding new work as I go along. I use acrylic paints and the backgrounds are watercolor washes.

Journal pages, my best friend

This is a small journal I carry around in my purse. I used watercolor, graphite, and collaged an old photo. When I create the text, this will be about my best friend who has helped me through difficult times.

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.

Plastic bag recycled journal

I made this journal over the weekend with my lovely art friends. It is made from recycled plastic bags. They are all fused together, about 6 layers, and then cut and shaped into the size of journal you want to make. The pages are from left over scraps of watercolor paper. The pages are bound with a simple single signature (a technique that I learned from Teesha) and waxed linen thread. I really love this technique, but I didn't think I would at first.  I love holding it, the texture, and the bumpiness.  The button was made by me in a ceramics class I took in Kirkland a couple of years ago. This project goes really fast and can be made in a couple of hours, I like that!