Face #5 29 Faces challenge

For this one I decided to try a set of CretacoloR oil based colored pencils. It is a very limited color set as you can see, but I have had it for a few years and never use it. So I decided to give it a try. 

They smudged a bit and stained my hand, specifically the black one. However I think they might be good to use with watercolors, because I will not loose my sketch lines and it might provide a nice look. I guess I will be experimenting with them again. 

I tried to see if the white would look white on top of the others but it mostly blended and lightened the other colors, so I don't have the lightest lights in this one. But I think that my witch came out okay. I am having fun trying to create different expressions and perspectives. It has been a good practice. 

Pretty and useful Origami

Origami can be more than just beautiful pieces of folded paper with no other use what so ever. Not that I am good at it, I always need to follow instructions, and even then I have trouble making it. However, for a long time I have wanted to do one of those pretty kimono girls that I have seen online. So I finally decided to do it. 

After some mistakes and some perseverance, I mange to make the two girls you see here. Now what? What can I do with them? Then I remember that I was (still am) in need of lots bookmarks. So I decided to make them bookmarks. In order to protect my origami girls and to keep them intact as well as functional, I decided to laminate them. 

This part didn't went smooth, I did mess it up, but manage to salvage my bookmarks. After sealing it the first time, I cut around the shape (not too close to it), punched the hole for the tread and pass it one more time through my laminating machine. This will also allow for the pretty back of the kimono to show.

 

If you don't have a laminating machine, you can use wide clear tape or a clear self adhesive paper (for example: Con-Tact paper).

Face #4 29 faces challenge

Today was a busy day but things got accomplished. Falling asleep every now and then I mange to draw my fourth face. I lost the gesture I was looking for and since my challenge today was to sketch with markers first, I couldn't erase. I din't want to give up on her, so I just pushed it and ended up learning a few things.

I used alcohol markers, colored pencils and gel pens on Copic paper. I glued it in my journal.

Trying out some grounds

Hello there!! Hope you are trying out and experimenting with new things. Today I had some fun experimenting with fiber paste as a ground in order to prepare my page for my third face from the 29 Faces challenge.

This medium give the surface you apply it to nice texture, one similar to handmade papers. You can sand it a bit if you want, I did it bit, but then some of the nice texture was lost.

I think it is a medium worth playing with and trying it with different materials. For example, I used Prismacolor colored pencils, but I think it would be nice to pastels, charcoal, pencil and even paint. Anyway, here is my third face from the challenge. I decided to add more fiber paste over it to give it a different look.

As you can see, fiber paste doesn't have to be use just as a ground.

Patterned paper as inspiration

My new schetchbook/art journal for the 29 Faces 2016 challenge have prove to be a great idea. The patterned paper have been a source of inspiration at different stages of the drawing/painting process. Although this is only the second face, my sketchbook have provided me direction, inspiration and freedom.

Since I first saw the paper used for this face, I knew I wanted to draw a male. Because the paper is tick and textured, and was already stretched/glued to the chipboard page, I decided to dive right in with acrylic paint without preparing it with gesso. I did a light sketch of the face first, then I decided to use a limited number of colors as part of a challenge and experimenting process. The colors were, scarlet red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue and unbleached titanium white. From there I mixed all my colors, adjusting with the unbleached titanium white.

In the middle of the process I realized that the paper was looking like the sea and no more like blue painted wood. That motivated me even more and filled me with excitement about this page. I only added a little blue around him to make it a bit darker and make him part of the page a little bit more naturally. 

Once again, I have tones of fun experimenting here. The paper hold up beautifully and I starting to feel motivated, inspired and fearless about experimenting again. 

What are you doing to keep yourself motivated and inspired? Are you been fearless in your art or craft?

And the journey starts!!! First face for 29 Faces challenge

Hello everyone, even though I woke up sick today I manage to make my first face for the Feabruary 2016 #29 Faces challenge.

 I used Polychromos and white gel pen. I am glad that I made my journal the way I did (check video below). It did work for me to be fearless and just start drawing. I did wanted to put some gesso on the paper but since I wasn't feeling well I just went straight to drawing. At first I was like, "oh this is going no where", "it is not nice" and all that blah blah blah. However, since I wasn't afraid of messing up the page I stuck at it and the final result, to me, is not that bad. However, the experience of the moment is well worth it. It showed me that if I keep moving forward I can accomplish something good. So I will keep pushing forward, and I know that not all of them are going to be successful, but I also know that I will learn something from the experience so at the end I will have success. Remember, it all depends on how you look at the half glass of water, do you see the empty space or the filled one?