A Weekend of Heath & Art

Ready to Run!

This weekend was for health and art! It started with running a 5K with my hubby for The American Lung Association. It was a timed event and we both had our best time. Charlie was 25th overall and 8th in his age division and ran 8:12 min/mile.  I was 44th overall and 7th in my age division and ran 10:14 min/mile.

Me with Ryan Burr. Running gives you crazy hair!

Hey! I made the first page of results! Yay!
Notice the tomato face? Yep, that's standard coloring for me after a run!

Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Cheesecake Factory and a walk along Fort Lauderdale's River Walk. I'll share more images from the River Walk later in the week but here is a preview:

On the Tracks

Lens: Bettie XL

Film: Blanko

On the Tracks

Lens: Bettie XL

Film: Blanko

Also this weekend I was finally able to squeeze traditional art back into my creative calender. I'm doing a Chapeaux series and I started with this watercolor:

Paris, 1829
Ink & Watercolor
Chapeaux Series #1

And, I also did one in the Doll Dreams style:

Paris, 1829

Mixed Media on Canvas

Chapeaux Series #1

And finally, some may be wondering if I took my sketchbook to Vegas. I did take it with me but only had time for one sketch, which I actually did on the plane ride home. This weekend I was able to finally get watercolor onto it:

The Mojitos of Las Vegas

Ink & Watercolor

I hope everyone has a wonderful and creative week ahead! xo

Art Journals & more...

Hello friends! I finally started the long awaited vintage-inspired travel journal for my 1994 trip to Europe. I'm using a Moleskine watercolor journal.

I attached paper with a Fleur de Lis print to the cover and stamped a Parisian image over

patterned paper. Burgundy acrylic was scrubbed on with a dry brush. Matching ribbon and charm finish the cover. The first page inside will be a "chapter" page and will be completed last.

Page one is a print of a vintage postcard from my collection. Never use your originals! You never know when you may need it again. I chose a postcard of the Notre Dame gargoyles sitting over Paris. I write a few memories on the card directly and attach it to a page painted with earthy watercolors. Gold photo corners give it the "photo album" feel.

For page two, I sketched the original boarding pass. I printed a lovely vintage image and deckled the edges. Rubber stamps were used with sepia ink and stamped above the boarding pass and on the image.
And, that's as far as I got! Lita noticed how all my journals have at least the first page done. Some have several pages and some just have one page, but none are finished. And yet I keep buying more! I wonder what that says about my personality? Any guesses?

I sketched an old door last week and filled it with watercolor. The full resolution sketch is available for download in my Etsy shop. Just print and paint! Or get out that box of 64 crayons with the built in sharpener and revisit your childhood!

I worked on my Doll Dreams art journal. A piece of how I was feeling over the loss of my 15 year old cat, Pi.

The background was journaled about one week before she passed away. I was writing about her illness and what I was trying to do to help her. After she passed I couldn't read it anymore so I did the dolly over the writing. We miss her so. :(

Two versions of a mixed media piece called Caribbean Dream:

This is the finished piece. This Caribbean Dream has a place of honor in my cabana bathroom. :)

And to end today's post how about when art and photography come together? You get Surreal Dreams:

The result of dropping some ink into my paint jar full of dirty water. I watched it swirl and move, taking on a life of it's own. I think "Groovy, man" would be an appropriate comment on this piece. :)

So, I'm off traveling again...just a hop, skip and a jump and I'll be home before I'm even missed. You all have a fabulous weekend and don't forget to sneak in some creative time! xo

Artsy Fartsy Things

Hello friends!
I hope everyone is getting to enjoy a weekend that has adventure, creativity and joy!
I got all artsy fartsy this week! I did manage to process some very special photos from Gettysburg in honor of Memorial Day and will post them tomorrow.
For today's post, I hope you will enjoy this week in art!

Two pages finished in the Doll Dreams Art Journal:

Love

An Angel for Pi

A spread added to the Watercolor Journal:

I even managed to work in my Mixed Media art journal! I love this journal because where the other journals are more planned out, this one is truly organic. I throw on some paint and just start doodling and collaging. The end result is always a surprise! In this piece I used a thank you note from Phoebe, art images from a brochure, paper, paint and ink.

European Enchantments

In one of my many Moleskines I did up several pages of Color Palettes. These are made up of just three or four colors and can be easily referred to when planning an art project. I find interesting colors in magazine spreads, classical works of art and even bolts of fabric. Next time you see something that visually catches your eye, jot the colors down in your Moleskine or notebook. Take acrylic paint or colored pencils and make a swatch of the color. See how many different color combos you can come up with! Fun!

Moleskine Color Palette

And, finally...look what came yesterday in the mail! Yep, that's right...I'm doing it again! The Sketchbook Project 2012 is on and I've chosen the theme "Travel with Me". The book is smaller in size and with less pages (only 16, 32 front and back). The pages are thicker and should take watercolor and other paint better. I've decided this year though to stick to pen & colored pencil. I will sketch some of my favorite moments from my travels. It will be good practice for the future Travel Watercolor Journal I'll be attempting soon!

The Sketchbook Project 2012