My Documented Life Project 2015 - week 5

Week 4 has turned out to be my favorite so far!!! I LOVE under paper. "What's under paper?" you ask. Well, if you're messy like me when painting, you put down some type of paper to catch your blobs, sprays, drips, scrapes, and general run off so you don't get paint all over your great grandmother's desk. 

I participated in Lifebook in 2013 and 2014 and acquired several sheets of colorful under paper (that were often prettier than the piece I created). And now the lovely ladies of the DLP gave me the perfect opportunity to to put it to good use. 

So here's my week 4...

DLP week 5

I'm keeping it as simple in 2015 (which is proving difficult for the week 6 and 7 challenges). And I love how this turned out.

flower detail

I simply took a sheet of my most colorful under paper and cut out a circle, a stem, 14 flower petals, and 2 leaves. I glued everything down with Liquitex Matte Medium (because it's the most matte adhesive I have) and put a coat on top for good measure. I did get some wrinkling, but it didn't bother me on this piece.

some of my favorite pens

I did a few doodles with a Pigma Micron 05 and my second favorite white pen, the Sakura gelly roll. (My absolute favorite is the Uni-ball Signo UM-153.)

doodle details

And then I called it a day! See? Simple!

DLP week 5

Thanks for looking! Have a sunny day!

:) Ann

My Documented Life Project 2015 - week 4

I'm getting caught up on blogging about what I've created in my DLP journal so far this year! Here is my take on week 3 - art challenge: writing! 

I love writing. In fact, I got a bachelor's degree in creative writing but it was a difficult journey (with a difficult instructor) and over the years I have retreated to only writing for myself. Prayerfully that will change soon. Anyhow, here's what I created and how I created it...

DLP2015 week 4 writing

I had just received my little pack of Ranger's Distress Markers and was playing around with them. I knew from following Stephanie Ackerman on Instagram that they could be activated with water and used like watercolor pencils. So I journaled in the background words that made me happy. I then took my small Pentel Aquash waterbrush and roughly went over the lettering to smear out the ink. 

my new Distress Markers and waterbrushes

I seem to be in a flower phase of my art making journey, so I decided to collage some flowers on top of my journaling. I cut out some basic shapes from some scrapbook papers I have hoarded for years and adhered them to the page with Liquitex Matte Medium. It's more expensive than Mod Podge, but I didn't want the top coat to have a shine (and my matte Mod Podge still leave a bit of a sheen). 

collage flowers

To give them a bit of dimension, I made little highlights with the Distress Markers and smudged them out with the waterbrush again. 

yea flowers!

Again, keeping it simple for 2015 and I love the complex look you can get from simply doing paper collage. Below are the items I used if you are interested.

Thanks again for looking! I should have my week 5 (underpaper - one of my favorites!) blogged later this week AND next week I hope to add lots of wonderful photos and details and patterns of my first truelove hobby: crochet!!! 

Be blessed until then,

:) Ann

My Documented Life Project 2015 - week 3

I'm having such fun with the Documented Life Project this year.

There is no pressure to create a masterpiece of art as this is a journal just for me! Also, the prompts can be as simple or complex as you want to make it. That combined with my word for the year ("Simplify") are making for a fun experience. I know my work isn't as "mixed" media when compared to the work shared on the website or facebook group, but I refuse to compare myself or my work this year. I have to consciously focus on me, my health and well-being, and my style. Gotta stay true to me!

So here it is... week 3! My color wheel of flowers :)

DLP week 3 my color wheel

I made this with my watercolor pencils and water brush. Then I added details with my Letraset Aquamarkers (I didn't blend them out with water though). Then a few details with my favorite white gel pen (the Uni-ball Signo UM-153) and my $1 stamp set from Walmart. And ta-da! Another week complete. Simple!!!

DLP week 3 detail

I did the centers of each flower on my color wheel with their complimentary color so this page can act as a handy reference too!

Thanks for looking. Have a happy day!

:) Ann

PS - for week 4, I did a fun paper collage. Stay tuned later this week for pics of that.

My Documented Life Project 2015 - week 2

Woo-hoo! I'm on a roll.
Here is my week 2 for the Documented Life Project ... (Click that for all of the awesome details and to join! It's free!) 

Week 2's challenge was to use gesso and since I am really trying to focus and keep things simple, I wanted to use gesso with my watercolor pencils. 

DLP2015 week 2

First, I painted little stems and leaves with gesso to try to use it as a resist for my watercolor pencils. That didn't work out so well, but it did provide some texture in the background. See below for a detailed view... 

DLP2015 week 2 gesso background

Then I tried using the gesso to "activate" my watercolor pencils and success! I love the muted pastel hue it gave to my little doodled flowers. See below for a detailed view...

DLP2015 week 2 gesso

The gesso also gave some texture to the flowers. I then went over them with my Letraset Aquamarkers. Here's to keeping it simple in 2015 and onward to week 3!

Thanks for looking!

:) Ann

My Documented Life Project 2015 - week 1

Hi! Long time no blog, huh?! 

Well, I'm back and have been working on lots of fun mixed-media art journal projects. 

This year I have decided to participate in the Documented Life Project. Each week, the lovely ladies from Art to the 5th send an email with an art challenge and journal prompt. Then you can either be inspired by their amazing work or come up with something completely on your own. Click here for more info and to sign up! 

So without further adieu, here is my page for week 1:

DLP2015 week 1

This year, I'm attempting to use supplies that I already have on hand so I am doing this project in the 5.5 in x 8 in Strathmore Visual Journal for Mixed Media. It's 34 sheets of 90 lb. vellum finish paper works splendidly with my watercolor pencils.

I incorporated my word for the year: Simplify. And I did my best to keep this page simple. I hope you enjoy it. And follow along with me this year as I doodle in my art journals. Thanks!

Thank you for looking!
I will be sharing more throughout the year.
:) Ann