Copying the masters

Do you do this?  I like to look at something and try to draw/paint it as a way to practice and improve.   Here is a picture I "copied" from a children's book.   What are your thoughts on this practice?  I was thinking it is ok for my personal journal.  But now that I have been blogging etc and reading things I really would like input on what is "appropriate"  I think that it may still be ok but that I should keep a record of where I saw the image and make sure it is noted somewhere in my journal.  What do you think?

Ten of somethin'

I did something the other day I haven't done in a long while.  I bought ten of something (eleven actually)  I have been known on occasion to used retail therapy to ease my pain (hahaha).  And since this was at the dollar store I didn't do too much damage.  Ever since I learned the tissue paper technique from ihanna in the 21 secrets class I have been craving tissue paper.  So here is what I bought and here are a couple of projects I did.  A journal page, an art card and decorated envelope (painted the outside with acrylics and put tissue paper on the inside) to mail the card in.

Blast from the past

Ok just a few more older pages from my journals

Is it worth it?

Ok, as you heard I got a bunch of art supplies at a yard sale and last night I spent over an hour reconstituting jars of Tempura paint.  Adding water and stirring (alot) I love a bargain and feel good about recycling but as I was doing this the thrill of having all these new paints wore off some and I began to wonder.  (Our time is worth a lot)  But I stopped when it really got tedious and now I am very happy to know I have all these wonderful paints ready for a project.  I also got a big roll of paper the same day (same purchase $25 filled my living room. wish I would have taken a picture before I put it all away)  I am going to do something huge on the paper with the tempura paints.    The picture shows the test doodle I did to see if the paints were ok and what they looked like.  I got two full shoe box size containers of paint.

Look what I've been doing

Having lots of fun in my journal.  I don't know if anyone else has done this but I have been able to find a lot of fun supplies through the local classified ads and Craigslist.  I got over 200 acrylic paints (the less expensive kind) with a stand to hold them all for $25.00.  I like using these.  I mix them with Golden glazing fluid or use them straight.  All the pages I am showing today are with "bargain" supplies.   One recent yard sale I got completely carried away.  I should have taken a picture of my front room.   It was stuffed full  with the stuff I bought at one yard sale (another $25.00 bargain)  It was a estate sale where the person was a retired graphic designer who had lived in Japan.  Some of the things I got in that load were 2 t-squares, a 4 ft metal ruler, 6 brand new packages of rice paper, Many different sets of colored pencils (most were made in Japan with lots of pigment) Lots of technical pens (Stadler, Micron, Rapidograph,) Authentic Japanese paint brushes, other high quality paint brushes, Boxes of rub on letters,  and much more.  I'm sure I am boring you so I will stop and show you some pages. 

Tissue paper fun

Here are some journal pages (before writing on them) that I created using a technique learned from ihanna and the 21 Secrets class.

Flower Doodle Bookmark

Here's a doodle bookmark I made to participate in a contest to win a fun doodle book called "Doodle Diary: Art journaling for girls"  (I hope that means big girls too)from the author Dawn Solol.  Check out her blog D'blogala it is lots of fun.

Don't you love presents?

Well, I got the best present from my daughter and son-in-law...they gave me the 21 Secret class!!  I have started looking at all the information but just getting back from Tennessee.  I will begin my first project soon.  In the mean time I thought I would post a few more pages.  The first flower picture was done when I first began my journal in 2008 and the other one in 2010.  I like the second one much better.  I can see my drawing skills have improved.  Not that I'm where I want to be but it is nice to see improvement