WW CollabPOEration

I'm doing a collaboration with the Wednesday Whine (WW) girls on Facebook. We decided to do a round robin which will be piece of card divided into sections and we'll complete a section on each others card in the chosen theme. The agreed card size was supposed to be 8"x10". Somehow I read that as 8"x12" so that's what my card is. I tell you, every thing I've made lately has been the wrong size - my Exquisite Corpse piece is taped together under all the layers of paint because I cut that one to small! (But I can't show you that one yet so, shh!)

Anyway - it took me an age to decide on a theme. Would it be shades of purple, zombies, skulls, skeletons, crows... which took me to ravens and then *ping* Edgar Allan Poe. See? You're getting my genius and oh so subtle post title now aren't you?

There are six of us taking part and so six layers. this is my first layer. I was oh so tempted to go with ravens and crows... but then I saw this Poe quote online. It seemed so apt - my memory is the worst you can imagine. So that's what I went with.

" If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered" 

And I've written it slightly wrong on my piece, I've just noticed - dammit. Ah well, it's coming back home to me and I will still love it. Terrible, terrible memory, see?

• Mixed paper collage 
• Gesso 
• Stamping with Acrylic paint
• Image printed on tissue paper and picked out with Drawing Ink
• Tree stencilled with both Acrylic Paint and Drawing Ink
• White Posca Pen

This is it on the piece of card, just waiting for all the other lovely Poe art to join it. I can't wait to see it all filled up.

The bottom layer isn't smaller - just wouldn't fit in my scanner.

It's on it's way to Sam and I now have Sarah's Copper & Teal themed piece to work on. I'll update as the round robin progresses.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Rocking My World Friday...

It's that time of the week where I take stock of what's made me smile throughout the past seven days. Then link up with Virginia and the rest of the Rockers. We are a small group and anyone is welcome to join in - I can't recommend this little exercise enough.

Firstly. Playing! Yay - ever since my desk has gone up there hasn't been a day where I haven't played in my shed. It might be for 10 or 20 minutes. It might be for a couple of hours, as was the case over the weekend. Either way - I'm making full use of it! And loving it!

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We had glorious weather over the Bank Holiday weekend. On the Sunday we went to our first boot sale of the year and came home with a few bits and pieces, some tomato plants, books for the girls etc... bag full of donuts - as you do. Then in the afternoon my friend Caroline popped round and we tried to fix her broken mojo with a Gelli Plate sesh. I think it worked - methinks a certain plate and paints will be going on her wishlist soon ;) That was great fun.

Then on the Monday we had our first barbecue of the year - I spent most of the day playing in my shed and by the time it came to sparking up the BBQ, I locked up and went inside leaving these two to the important work. (The sun had got to hot outside for me by then.) Devvie was head food prepper, Craig cooked, Ruby issued orders and Pheebs and I were content with having food brought to us. It was a lovely weekend.

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Yesterday Craig and I managed a date morning. We still had Logan with us but we reckon it still counts. It took a couple of weeks of talking about and scheduling time but we finally did it. There was no work talk. (Well, not much. This is Craig - he and work need to be surgically separated!) We had a leisurely breakfast in Wetherspoons and then had a charity shop crawl. Yep. We know how to live.  He got a few birdy related bargains... and a new top. I got a (looks brand spanking new) black M&S short sleeved cardi.  And... AND! This beauty. It was just £2.50 and looks like new. 

It's a hardback book compilation of three graphic novels. I picked it up purely because the cat detective art work reminded me of  film noir movies. Isn't it gorgeous? I'm a relative newbie to graphic novels so am the first to say I don't know the author/artist. 

 When I got home and looked on Amazon - it sells for over £22! Chuffed much? Indeedy.

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This cheeky chappy - makes me laugh all day, every day. 

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Remember those baby canaries from last Rocking Friday? What a difference a week makes eh?

Excuse the poop - dirty birdies ;)

Craig tells me that some have left the nest this afternoon. How fast they grow up these days ;)

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• Devvie is working so hard towards her exams. She stays behind late after school every day and most of the weekend was spent either revising or working on her art project. She really deserves the grades she's working towards - she makes me so proud.
• Ruby. She, Daddy and I are really working to talk before she explodes. It's hard being 5 but I think she's starting to understand (most of the time) that if she tries talking before stropping, she actually gets somewhere. Every night she has Daddy and Ruby time where they either sit and read or go on the PC together or she goes out and helps him with the birdies. (I say help but he usually comes in telling me what she's knocked over *g*) It's lovely to see.
• Endless cups of tea made for me by Devvie and Pheebs.
• Collaborative art projects - keeping me busy, inspired and making sure I do stuff. If I owe you it - it's coming.

And that, my lovelies, is that. Thanks for stopping by - how was your week?

Tutorial Try-Out: Abstract Face

The Tutorial Try-out this week was How To Paint Abstract Faces by raeart. I had so much fun with this one. I absolutely adore grunge and art with drips incorporated. raeart also has a really fun way about him, I'll be checking out his other video's.

I used my A3-ish size sketchbook for this one and might have gone a teensy bit overboard with the dripping. Once you start, you can't stop. Well... I can't. I did love it when it got to this stage...

The tutorial says to leave it to dry and then go in and pick out details with black paint... I'm torn. I still like it but I loved it before. If that makes sense? I don't know - what do you think? I think she looked quite ghostly in the top one.

Either way, I adore this technique. It wasn't the first time I've played with drips. Yes - the first time I've used so many. It wont be the last time that's for sure.

The new tutorial for Kristen's Try-outs go live tomorrow -  Still time to link up with this one.
Thanks for stopping by today :)

Cam's Cocoon - Part 2

Tadaa! Presenting - Cam's Cocoon. Otherwise known as Cam's Studio/Art Shed/Messy Area/Haven from Chaos. Formerly known as Craig's Bird Shed. (Hence the green colour - it's what canary breeders use in their cages.) It now looks like this...

From the door

Still from the door.

Obviously I wont be using this chair any-more  unless I want to sit with my chin on the table. I usually stand when painting, hence the height of the desk. If I do feel like sitting, I'll bring out the kitchen stool. I'm keeping the chair under the desk for this fella...

Lots of shelf storage

 These two wanted to test the desk strength :)

Cue much hilarity when Devvie decides it would be good to take a picture of me inside to show scale. (I love that it's a one person space!)

Flattering, mid-guffaw, shot.

See this? It's mine all mine. My Kingdom. 

Try and take it. You think you can take me? Bring it! (Ruby looking slightly worried)

Hmm, I feel all artistic like. Inspiration has struck.

Tralalala - serious artist at work. Child magically turned into dog with the overspill  of  inspirational, artistical happenings.

Hope wherever you are this fine Bank Holiday weekend, that the weather has been as kind as it has with us. Thanks for stopping by today and indulging me in my happiness over a little shed :)