I'm Drawing My Awesome Life!

Hi friends!  I'm realizing that it's going to be awhile before life becomes "normal" around here.  We are still surrounded by boxes, although the pile gets smaller each day.  All of the bones in my body no longer hurt (just a few now - ha), and we are starting to clear surfaces and counters.  Moving is an even bigger job than I remembered!!!  I'm not complaining though - we love our new home!  My studio is coming along nicely too.  I will post some progress photos soon.

I'm excited that I've been able to start making time for art again!  I've got a couple of pages from Joanne Sharpe's "Draw  Your Awesome Life!" class to share with you today...

I'm using an 8 x 10" Global Arts Watercolor Handbook for this one.  Here's my title page...

 This one was done with pitt markers and Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils.

 and here's my first spread...

this one was done with pelikan gouache watercolors. 

I hope your week has been going well!  Thanks so much for visiting, and I will be back soon with a Project Life update!

Studio Space Progress - Setting up Zones...

Thanks so much for your nice comments on my last post!  I'm so excited about my new space, and it makes it extra fun that I can share my progress with you!  Speaking of progress, I have ome more pics to share!


I'm dividing the space into zones.  Here you can see the computer zone in the back and in the middle there is the project life zone and part of the mixed media zone.  The stuff on the floor still needs to be put away...

even though my new space is larger, there is less storage cuz I had to give up one of my expedit bookcases and a wall of shelves that I had in my last studio. I envision putting a center island on wheels right in the  middle of the room someday, but that will have to wait for a bit.

Here in the back you can see the sewing zone; in the middle is the music zone (I decided to bust out my old vinyl records and stereo, which had been in storage), and in the front is a journaling zone with my comfy chair...

and here is a couple of pics taken from the other side of the room. You can see - the mixed media zone in the back which flows into the project life zone in the foreground...

 and the journaling zone from a different angle...

I'm working on setting up an "inspiration station" for the books.  I've obviously got a long way to go still, but I can see progress, which is super exciting!!!  I haven't created anything in a month, while the whole move and vacation was happening, so I am raring to go!

Speaking of creating - I signed up for Joanne Sharpe's new class "Draw Your Awesome Life," which starts tomorrow!  I'm so excited!!!  Are any of you taking it?

I think it will be a great way to dive back into journaling!

I've also got like a billion lessons to catch up on with Life Book, Book of Days, and Moonshine.  I can't wait to get going on it all!!!

How are you all doing with your creative projects?  What's new?  What's happening?

I've got Internet - WOO HOO!!!

Hi friends! We just got our internet connected today so I wanted to check in right away and say HI and I MISSED YOU!

October has been a whirlwind - We bought a house at the end of September; immediately started packing, spent the first couple of weeks of October on honeymoon 7 (more about that later); and when we got back, we closed on our new home and moved in.  WHEW!  There is still SO MUCH UNPACKING TO DO it's unbelievable! 

I feel really blessed to have a new studio space, and I'm excited to share the process with you as I get it set up.  Right now it's a huge mess.  Here are a few pics snapped with my iphone (excuse the quality)...

The entrance to the space is an archway off the kitchen...

 My favorite thing about my new space is all the windows. 

I feel so lucky to have this space to create in.  Now to get it arranged so I can start using it!

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again soon!  

The OLW is COLOR!!!

Hi friends!  It's time for the One Little Word challenge again, and this time it's one of my favorite words --- COLOR!!!  Yeayyyy!!!!

I've been obsessed with color as far back as I can remember; and color is a major element in all of my art.  I'm so grateful to Gudrun for picking this word!

Here's what I came up with...

The two little figures are stamps, but the rest is done completely with markers in my big grid journal.  I drew it out first with pencil, and then filled it in with tombow markers.  The black outlining was done with a glaze pen, and the white accents are uniball signo.

So, how do you feel about color?  Do you have a personal color palette you like to use?  Is it bold and bright, or maybe more soft and muted?  Come on over and play along with us at One Little Word!  It's not a contest, but more of just a fun way to share our art around the chosen word of the month.  We are looking for all kinds of creative pieces -- it doesn't have to be art journal pages. We'd love to see you there!  Click here to check it out!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments.  I love hearing from you!

Just a quick note...

Hi friends!  I just want to let you know that October is going to be a wildly busy month and I won't be around blogland as much as usual.  I haven't forgotten about you though and I will be back regularly soon!

Look for my next post to be on October 15th when the new One Little Word Prompt goes live!

See you soon!

Stencil Test Drive - Hands!

Hey there everybody!  I'm behind the wheel for another Stencil Test Drive for my friend Jessica Sporn!

 

This time I've been playing with Jessica's Hands Stencil, which looks like this...

 I chose this stencil to play with because I love to use hands in my art journal pages.  To me they symbolize so much.  A single hand can symbolize self, identity - I am here!  Hands together can symbolize connection, which is what I was thinking about when I created my piece for this hop...

Here's what I came up with...

 This is a little tribute to Michael and I moving to a new home this fall.  I loved using the hands stencil to create a layered background which peeks through the big hands silhouette. Can you see them?

 Here are a few process photos...

 I used lots of different yellow and orange spray inks to create the first layer.  After spraying through the hands, I also flipped the stencil over and pressed the inky side to the paper, to take advantage of the negative images too.

Then I applied some clear gesso over the top to seal the ink.  That way I can add a second layer with out the mists mixing and turning to mud.

 Next I did the same thing with a bunch of blue and teal spray inks.  I also used neocolor II crayons around the edges to create a frame.  Followed by another coat of clear gesso. 

Here's a closeup...

Next step was to find a silhouette on the web of two people holding hands.  I printed it out, enlarged it, cut it out, and traced around it.  Then I filled it in with a fairly thick coat of glossy accents to create a resist...

 Then some gesso, applied with my hands.  I used a baby wipe to easily wipe off any gesso that got onto the silhouette image...

Added some doodles and a title, and here's the finished page again...

I'm so happy with my page!  Every time I look at it, I will remember this exciting time for us.  Thank you so much Jessica, for including me in the Hands stencil test drive!

Please check out Jessica's blog, and the other test-driving artists to see more ways to use this awesome stencil!  - but before you do, be sure to leave a comment here because Jessica is giving away a hands stencil to one lucky winner, and every comment in the test drive will be eligible to win!  The more times you comment, the more chances you have to win!

Jessica Sporn (designer and host)

Natasha May

Carolyn Dube

Marjie Kemper

Maria McGuire

Janet Joehlin

Kristen Reed

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I will see you again soon!

Project Life Tuesday...

Hi friends!  This week's project life update is from April 22 - 30, 2013.

Here's the spread:
Page protectors used:  WeR Memory Keepers 4x4" pocket design on the left, and Project Life Design F on the right.

 What's happening here?  I started a new workshop and took a trip up north for work. I used bits from the Jade and Midnight PL kits, plus stuff from my stash to complete this page.


 Detail of the left side...

The number flair buttons are from Ormolu.  Unfortunately, I don't think they're available anymore.  Ephemera used on this page is the instruction page that came with my new colored pencils, and part of the bag from the pizza I ordered for delivery while traveling.  Pizza Luce is the best!!!


 Detail of right side...

The photo of the seagulls is a postcard I got on my trip to Duluth.  Other ephemera used here is a little note Michael left for me on the counter when I arrived home.

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please feel free to leave a comment or question.  I love hearing from you!

P.S.  On Thursday I will be back with another Stencil Test Drive for my friend Jessica Sporn, so be sure to stop back then!  See you soon!

Fun with Mood Boards...

Hi friends!  I'm excited to tell you one of the reasons I've been so busy lately...

We're moving!  Yep, Michael and I found a new home, and we are moving this fall.  Our original plan when we got married in 2007, was to sell both of our homes, and pick out a new home together.  Then, as you may remember, the housing market crashed and made that impossible.  Soooo, six years later, we are doing it!  We're staying in the same general vicinity, but we'll be a little further out in the country.  Yeayyy!

Anyhoo, I've been having fun creating mood boards for our new place, and I want to share them with you.  I've only created two so far, and I did them both at polyvore.

Keep in mind that I don't plan on purchasing any of these items.  I'm just creating color and style schemes.  I started with the colors of the walls and built from there...

Livingroom:

Livingroom by michellelapoint

and Art studio...

Studio by michellelapoint

Do you ever make mood boards?  Polyvore is a lot of fun to play with.  Check it out here.

I'm excited to take you along as I work on creating my new studio space!

Moving, as well as going on Honeymoon Seven will make for a super busy (and fun) autumn for us!  I will still be here as often as I possibly can, but it may be a little less than usual for awhile.

Take care, and thank you sooo much for visiting!  I will see you again soon!

Project Life Update...

Hi friends!  I just got back from a scrappy retreat with my girlfriends, and we had so much fun!  Four days of scrapping to our hearts content - yeayyy!!!  I worked on Project Life the whole time and guess what?  I'm all caught up!!!!

I've got a spread to share with you today from April 11 - 21, 2013...

Page protectors used are a Snap Pocket Page on the left, and a WeR Memory Keepers 4x4" pocket design on the right...

 What's happening here?  Well, the biggest thing is that we were still having winter storms in April!  In fact there was a big storm that hit on the way to bring Johnny in for some diabetes testing, and it took 2 1/2 hours to get to the vet (usually a little over a half-hour)!  All three of us (Me, Michael and Johnny) were a little stressed out by the time we got there - ha.

Here's a closeup of the left side...

 The big image with the colored pencils is from Studio Calico.  It's supposed to go in their "handbook" mini album, but I just trimmed it a little bit and it fit in the 6x8" pocket perfectly!  The only ephemera used on this page is my name tag from the crop I attended.


 Here's a closeup of the right side...

Ephemera used on this page is a wrapper from a tiny clif bar (a new size for us).  It was fun using square pockets for a change of pace.

Speaking of square pockets - did you see that Project Life has come out with a new Core kit that features square cards?  I like the teeny 2 x 2 pockets!  Check it out here.

My 29 faces project has fallen by the wayside for now, but I do plan to finish it.  Probably not til later in the fall when things quiet down a bit.

How is your September going?

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate you so much!  I will see you again soon!

It's Time for "One Little Word!"

Hi friends!  I'm so excited to finally share with you my first journal page as a "One Little Word" design team member!  EEK! 

The new word we are working with this month is "DO."  It made me think of a quote that I love, by Howard Thurman.  Here's how my page turned out...

I had so much fun working on this page!

 Here are a few process shots...

I started with a simple background of text papers and masking tape...

 Then I did some stenciling with titan buff paint...

 (stencils are by coffee break design and Jessica Sporn for Stencil Girl)

 As I added some of my favorite spray inks, you can see the paint starting to act as a resist...

 then I collaged some words on, and added a light gesso wash...

I used a variety of blues, greens and purple acrylic paint over the whole background (forgot to take a picture of this step),

Then I tried something new.  I did the rainbow by coloring with neocolor II crayons, and then using a small amount of paint instead of water to blend them.  I was delighted to see the bright, transparent color it created.  After that I lightly sketched in the cloud with a white pastel pencil...

and here's the finished page again...

The cloud is painted in with gesso, and the word "do" is handcut from a photocopy of the background.  The white words are handpainted, and the black words are done with this Amy Tangerine Stamp set.  The little figure standing on the cloud was stenciled onto inked text paper, and cut out.

I love the idea of working with one word as a journal prompt - the possibilities are endless!  What does the word "do" make you think of?  Come on over and play along with us!  Any type of creative project is welcome!  Click here to go to the challenge - I hope to see you there!

Just a quick update...

Hi everyone!  Just popping in to let you know that things are wildly busy here.  I'm going to be away from blogland until next Tuesday, although I hope to schedule an auto post for my first One Little Word project, which will go live on September 15th.  I'm super excited to share it with you!

Have an awesome week, and I will see you soon!

Project Life update...

Hi friends!  I've got another Project Life Upate for you today.  Moving right along with the catch-up posts, today's layout is from April...



April 4 - 11, 2013...

Page Protectors used are Design A on the left side, and a Snap Pocket page on the right...

What's happening here?  It was a busy week.  We were still getting used to giving Johnny his insulin shots; we celebrated Michael's mom Sue's birthday, and I was taking two online workshops.

 Detail of the left side...

 I used a combination of the Clementine PL kit and my stash here.  The only ephemera included is a button I picked up at my eye doctor visit.


Detail of right side...

Those adorable cat feet belong to my sister Renee's cat Henry.  Ephemera included is the pet taxi magnet that we picked up at the local pet lodge when we toured there.  Along with photos, I also included some notes I took from the Book of Days workshop.

So that's it.  It was a busy week full of fun memories.  I'm so glad I have it documented!

Thanks so much for visiting me today!  I appreciate you!  Have a wonderful Saturday, and I will see you again tomorrow!