Art Journal.........Inspired By bybun

Do you know roxanne coble ? Otherwise known as bybun. Well, she is so clever, creative, quirky and a whole lot of fun. I did her "Creatures" online art journal class and it was the best ! She has a great, fun personality and explains things really well and is just, well, very inspiring. I didn't actually get into her quirky little creatures ( I collaged a bad ass motor bike instead ), but her use of colour, multiple media, pattern and decoration is right up my alley.  Check out bybun HERE.

If you're looking for some fun inspiration, check out bybun.bybun.com/

Thanks for dropping by.

I was Invited To Be A Guest

I feel very honoured this month to have my blog name, "Bliss and Gesso", be used as the inspiration for a very fun and very popular challenge site called More Than Words. They also, very kindly, invited me along to be their guest for the month of March.

You can visit HERE at More Than Words and maybe play along with this months challenge.

This is how I was inspired by the word "bliss" and of course "gesso" is such a basic when working with mixed media.

My "bliss" is to surround myself with as much mixed media as I can find, play with it and see where it leads me. I feel like my head is so wired up to colour, texture and pattern, that once all the cogs and nuts and bolts start working I become totally absorbed and lost in my own creative world.

Here's a little bit of info about my blog and how I chose the name. Apart from the obvious meanings of the words "Bliss" and "Gesso", I have a love of Hip Hop music, and in particular an Australian band called BLISS N ESO, so I just put the two together.

Language warning, but their intent is always good.

Thanks for visiting today. Hope you can join in the "bliss and gesso" challenge at More Than Words.

 

Finnabair CT..................She Wears Her Heart On Her Sleeve

Hello. A trick to creating great compositions, so they say, is to use "like or similar elements" through out, this creates a harmonious and balanced piece. In my assemblage piece I have used elements that are at odds with each other....... red and green, (well burgundy and teal). rust and velvet and metal and porcelain. In art, we need to break the rules......... just to see what can happen. It was fun to play with an eclectic mix of opposites.

The other things that were fun to play with were Finnabair's new Rusted Mechanicals, such as the beautiful Rusted Pocket Watch and the "Create Magic" Rustic Washer. Also the amazing Rust Effect Paste.........turn any embellishment, no matter what it's made of, instantly rusty !

This particular project, more than any other, says a lot about me.

Details of how this assemblage was made are HERE on the Finnabair blog as well as a full list of products used.

Thanks for visiting today. Have a creative week. Break some rules.

Art Journal Entry

It's been quite a while since I've put pen, ink, paint and gesso to paper in my journal. The somewhat dark and chaotic page that evolved is, I think, a subconscious fear of Mr. Trump.

Finnabair New Product Release

Finnabair is always coming up with new products to motivate and inspire us to explore, experiment and create with. There are new, beautiful colours in the art alchemy Acrylic Paint range, Rust Effect Paste, Sculpture Medium and more. See it all HERE at Prima Marketing and HERE on Finnabair blog.

This is a wooden Photo Block ( of my girl ) collaged with Prima Patterned Paper and then extra dimension added with fabric that has been crumpled into folds using the new art Extravagance Sculpture Medium.

Strips of fabric, coated in Clear Sculpture Medium and then pushed into folds and gathers ( no need to get out your sewing machine ) You can fold, bend, scrunch, mould, pleat or sculpt fabric any way you want after coating it with this medium: it will dry and hold its shape perfectly.

Thanks for visiting today. Happy creating.

Mixed Media Place........Coffee

I know not every one is  a coffee fan, but I love it.  Mixed Media Place Creative Gym has based the challenge this month on coffee. Check HERE to be inspired. I've created a tag complete with a coffee stained doily, the no.3.....that's how many cups I limit myself to in a day, and some beautiful Finnabair Mechanicals and Micro Beads.

We'd love to see how coffee inspires (or not ) you, so come and play at Mixed Media Place Creative Gym.

Teaching: Perth WA

I have been invited to teach a mixed media class in Perth, WA, in April this year. Suzanne McGregor from The Scrapbook Store has all the details if any of you from "way out west" are interested. Dates are 28, 29, & 30 April. Contact Suzanne here: suzanne@thescrapbookstore.com.au   www.thescrapbookstore.com.au

Art Journal Cover......For Finnabair Creative Team

The release of some amazing new art mediums from Finnabair and the purchase of a new art journal has inspired this project. Beautiful new acrylic paints......art alchemy in Metallique with rich, deep colour and art alchemy in Opal Magic which produces two totally different colours depending on whether it is applied to a dark surface or a light surface.......it really is magic.  There is a step by step on Finnabair's blog HERE of how I made this cover and some short videos on her new products and how you can use them.

All medium and materials used on this project can be purchased HERE from Mixed Media Place

Thanks for visiting today. Wishing you have a fun and creative week.

Finnabair Creative Team.......Kewpie Meets Mad Max

Happy New Year ! I know it's well and truly started and there are challenges before us. This idea of "challenge"prompted my latest project for Finnabair Creative Team. I have upcycled a plastic Kewpie Doll. She's been given a Mad Max makeover because it's a tough world out there. A short tutorial and all the details and materials used can be found HERE on Finnabair blog.

Finnabair art basics, Mica Powders and Mechanicals are at the heart of this project.

Some Christmas "left overs", made for Mixed Media Place.

R. I. P. David Bowie. What a privilege to have existed at the same time as this creative genius.

Thank you David Bowie and Freddie Mercury for teaching us how radical it is to be different and weird but how ok it is at the same time. You can be who ever you want to be. Embrace uniqueness.

Thanks for visiting. Wishing you a "unique' year ahead.