Goldfish Fabric & Thermofax Screen Printing

I shared this fabric on Facebook but wanted to post it here as well.

And show what I did with it.

The fish are apx. 12 x 18 inches and in  bold, vibrant colors.

The fabric shop only had a yard left

I had a "Living Social" coupon for Tony's Fabric in Greenville SC that I bought almost a year ago. I had forgot about it to be honest and got an email reminding me ti use it before it expired.

When I walked in the front door, there was this beautiful and bold piece of fabric hanging on one of the showroom floor racks (insert choir of angels singing).

I was hooked (sorry, couldn't resist that pun).

I don't usually gravitate towards orange fabric but I'm guessing that the subject matter combined with the awesome color caught my eye.

I looked all over the (huge) store and couldn't find anything else I liked - until I committed to the goldfish fabric. They only had one yard of it left! So it was a good thing that I snagged it when I did.

I was able to find a few small pieces of random things to fulfill my coupon  at that point.

When I came home, I fanned the fabric over my couch and just admired it for a couple of days.
If I had a wall large enough to carry a frame that large, I'd just frame the entire yard and be happy with it that way. But I don't so I will use it in other large ways.

I plan on using one piece for a large sketchbook. I want to create a cover out of the fabric, using a whole piece to show off the beautiful fish design.

One thing that I did do already was to create a thermofax screen out of the fish - purely for personal use.
I won't be selling this screen since it isn't my design but I can use it for my own purposes.

It was a simple process (albeit a time consuming one) to convert a design like this into a design appropriate for a thermofax screen. It just takes a bit of trail and error messing with it in Photoshop (Elements for me).

I cropped out a single fish from the fabric (on a scan) and created a solid white background.
Some of the white I "poured" into the b/g crept into the lines of the fish.
That's great actually.

I messed around with the color curves until I was satisfied,
always looking for a good contrast in the white & black(ish) colors.
Notice that I did open up the lines between the head/tail/etc to
get more contrast.

It took two tries to get a good screen but I think that they final result is pretty cool.
This images is a little over 4 inches wide (the original fish design is about 18 inches). Of course, you can see m uch more detail "in person" than on this scan.

I printed this on a piece of vintage damask table cloth, then cut it out to use as a patch on the front of a small tote bag that I wanted to use.

I usually use journal pages to print on when I am auditioning a thermofax screen.
I love to use the images to draw into or paint over in my journal. It adds yet one more layer to the page.

Class Time!

Yesterday was the first "Doodle Drawing" class at Random Arts.

What a blast!

The class was full with little room to spare...and everyone had a great time. I think they were all surprised at their art work - told ya that it wasn't difficult to do!

I took my camera but was so busy walking around soaking up the creative energy that I didn't take any pictures. A couple of the women said they would email me the pictures that they took so I hope to post some later. I was very impressed as I walked around - these ladies never looked back after they made that first mark on the paper...

The class was such a success that we're going to plan on offering another one soon. Keep an eye on my blog and Jane's for dates.

I love to help people create things - to learn new techniques and different ways of looking at the world around them.

I hope that I can share the journal pages that they created - with just a little prompting , just a little guidance - they were both shocked and surprised at how their pages turned out.

Now they can actually draw their own journal pages (or other art work) based on doodle designs!

It's interesting how meditative this type of drawing can be.

What I usually do is draw a bunch of pages (cause once you get going, it's hard to stop!). Then I paint a pile of them - that is just as fun too!

Then when the spirit moves me, I can grab a page and journal to my heart's desire.

I hope that you'll join me next time for this fun and super easy (no stress!) class!

Journal Pages and Baseball Fields

Those of you that read my blog know that I love to draw my own journal pages.
I've been known to sit at baseball games and pull out my compact watercolors and paint. Don't you know that the little kids would love to come and paint with me? I'd let them actually...I figure that if they had the courage to ask, I'd give them paper paint and a brush in a skinny minute.
Anyway, here are a few new pages for your viewing pleasure.

I'll share my inspiration for the one below...
a baseball field. Yep, if you look closely, you'll see the images above the bird box closely resemble an outfield light post thing (whaddaya call that?). The flower beside is is an artistic interpretation of a baseball field - come on people!
Work with me here!
The leaf stem represents the space behind home plate (that's where my husband stands a lot!).
The top of the flower is spread out like the outfield shape - albeit a very loose interpretation.
That just goes to show you that no matter where you are, you can be inspired!
I have a drawing in my sketch book that I made when we were at the Citadel one weekend. It is totally based on the shapes at and around the ball park.
I have always looked at the world around me in a little different way (no snickers).
The micro world is much more interesting than the big picture.
One class I took last year (I think) was with Laura Cater Woods.
It's an online class, you should check out her schedule and get on the waiting list. You will really be able to find inspiration anywhere you go. Literally anywhere.

The shapes for the mushroom stems came from a picture that I took at a state rest area stop...

yep, the ferns were unfurling , shedding their winter coats. The gentle sway and swirl of the stems captivated me. The way that they appeared to be like young children fighting to get the best view- all arms and legs, pushing each other out of the way.

Don't you know people really wonder about us (Mr. Wonderful and I) when we stop in our tracks, practically lay down on the sidewalk for a picture...

at a rest area.

You know, I say let them wonder. I'd rather they join us as we realize the beauty in the little things around us.

Won't you?

More Art Journal Pages

Here are some of those art journal pages that I have been working on. None of them have any actual journaling at the moment but they will in the very near future! I try to keep a handful ready to journal on at a moments notice.
I added one that had not been colored ( or painted) yet so you can see it before all the color work. I draw my inspiration from several different places...nature, source books, people, inanimate objects, animals, my family, dreams...so many different places!
Just look around you and you will see all kinds of really cool patterns and designs. Even if you model your drawings after another person, if you will just keep on drawing you will eventually come up with your "own art". Try it! Email me if you have any questions, I'm always so happy to share anything that I have learned!

Art Journal Pages

I have been making art journal pages. I begin with regular sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" pieces of heavier weight paper (I'll post specifics later...can't remember it now).
Then I do collage work. The ones I am going to show
today are all made of vintage paper.
All shades of white, yellow and tan. The page above shows my basic layout.
Pretty simple, very haphazard...some paper here,
some paper there.
Actually I do follow a very rough outline. I usually try to do things in three's.
Just to even things out a little. If I have time later (haha, who am I kidding...
if I can TAKE the time later) I'll do a post of step by step. If you really want to know, email me.
Or leave a comment. If I get enough, I'll post it.
Anyway (don't you hate it when I carry on conversations with myself like that?!)
then I add a watered down layer of white gesso.
Then a few washes of color glaze (acrylic paint watered down or mixed with polymer medium/matt medium) (whatever is close by).
Then I begin adding some stamped elements, whether that's rubber stamps
or actual household items that I use to stamp with.
It could be a section of bubble wrap, an old medicine bottle top, drawer liner...
Then I add more glaze, maybe some more gesso...
I might drip paint on the whole thing, or use my hand to tap it from the brush...
I use regular stencils to add some texture with modeling paste -
or my new favorite , a big ole bucket of joint compound that my husband gave me.
You know, to his credit, he doesn't think I'm that strange AT ALL
when I get so excited over
JOINT COMPOUND.
Gotta love a man that lets his wife have his joint compound, right?
Oh, back to the step by step...
I use sand paper to scruff things up a bit...
I use white gesso (or titanium white) to tone things down a bit...
and I love to use Ranger Distress Inks to age things a bit.
I'll add some finished pages (ones without the writing on them anyway)
for your viewing pleasure.
I suppose that you've noticed by now that
my "usual" practice of making the journal pages
is a little of this, a little of that.
The secret is the Layering of all of it.
And letting each layer dry between times.
Or use a heat gun/hair dryer to dry it with.
Practice and experiment.
That is the true secret.