One hundred days of hair challenge

 I'm still working on my 100 Days of Hair Challenge, this lady was inspired by Tamara Laporte's class on Life Book 2021 course.  http://www.willowing.org/

This is Day 56/100 of the challenge.

Keep on creating each day!  Sending you big cyber hugs~ Renee

StencilGirl Collaboration with Tina Walker

Beautiful Minds Inspire Others Collaboration

 A few months ago I noticed on Face Book that Tina Walker was looking for participants for a StencilGirl Product collaboration.  I LOVE StencilGirl Products!  Of course I volunteered right off the bat.  I decided to make a cover for a handmade art journal for the challenge.  I have signed up for a few online classes for 2021 and I thought it would be nice to have a journal or two to put my finished projects in.  

Tina asked that we mention who was our inspiration for our project and I immediately thought of a fellow online artist that I have followed and been inspired by for many years now.   Linda Edkins Wyatt is my inspirational artist, I have been encouraged over the years by her drawings of unusual faces and the fact that she even has her own line of stencils that you can check out in the Stencil Girl product line.

I've included a step by step photo diary of my process.  I hope this inspires you in some way to create art as a way of maintaining balance and beauty in your life.  Also, I hope it will encourage you to jump at the opportunity to participate in a collaboration with other online artists even if it feels a little out of your comfort zone.

List of stencils:

StencilGirl Products

Talaya Goddess of Rain by Andrea 

Laugh by Pam Carriker small 6" by 6"

Unfinished by Seth Apter 9" by 12" 

Art Supplies

Paper products used:

Strathmore Mixed Media paper 5.5" by 8.5" for the face drawing

Strathmore 140 lb watercolor paper measuring 11" by 15" (for book cover folded in half)

Piece of black paper for matting and another mixed colored piece of paper for another mat under the black paper

White Gesso and Liquitex Ultra Matte Gel

Ranger products:  Distress Oxide Ink Spray Bundled Sage, Distress Oxide Wilted Violet ink pad

Tsukineko Inks:  Jet Black StazOn ink

Pens and Pencils:  Stabilo All Pencil Black, Black Fude Ball pen, Posca white pen, Memento Green markers for leaves and Gothic Purple Memento markers for flowers

Stamps:  Bird by Picture Show

Purple satin ribbon and double sided adhesive tape

First apply a thin layer of white gesso to the paper and allow it to dry.  When dry, place the stencil on the paper where ever you choose to place it.  Spray a light spritz of Tim Holtz's Distress Oxide Ink Spray, I used the Bundled Sage color.  Lift the stencil straight up and then allow the ink to dry.  When the ink is dry I used my black Stabilo All Pencil to outline her hair and the features on her face.  If you want some shading at this point just use a wet paint brush to drag the color from the pencil around.  This pencil will continue to activate whenever water touches the graphite so it can be applied lightly depending on the look that is desired.

 

Now I brought in Pam Carriker's stencil called "Laugh" and applied some of Ranger's Distress Oxide Wilted Violet ink using an applicator.  I didn't use the face of this stencil just some of the portions like the wing and the bottom portion with the number 3.  I added a touch of the violet color to her hair.

She made me think of Spring so a few flowers in her hair seemed appropriate.  I incorporated the Wilted Violet colors in her hair and used a Fude Ball black pen to turn them into flowers.

A close up photo shows the little bird that was stamped on a piece of tissue paper and added with Matte Gel.  Her hair was enhanced with more tangled roses and strands of hair using a Fude Ball black pen.

Seth Apter's "Unfinished" stencil added more details.  I only used a part of the word "unfinished" to get the title of "SHE", then I also used some of his other images within that stencil to add interest in the background.

To finish the piece I matted the face drawing on black paper, then I used a piece of Gelli Plate paper from my stash under the black matting.  Then the entire unit was adhered onto a piece of gessoed water color paper that had been folded in half to make an art journal.  The purple ribbon was laced through punched holes in the middle of the book cover, this allows me to add pages to the journal later.  The space at the bottom was left blank for now so I can title the book however I choose to in the future.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you will check out some of the other artists participating in this collaboration.  Take care and be safe!  ~ Renee

Social Media links:

Blog: www.renee-boltonhouse.blogspot.com

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeZarate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rzee2015

Twitter: @ReneeZarate2015

100 Days of Hair project

100 Days of Hair

During the quarantine I've been focusing on drawing faces as my art project.  I never seem to tire of this for some reason.  To guide me with the proper placement of facial features I have found that stencils can really be a big help.  I use a lot of the StencilGirl Products including their different face stencils.  One that I am especially fond of is Andrea Matus deMeng's "Abigail".  First I apply a thin layer of Gesso on a piece of 140 lb watercolor paper, when that is completely dry, then I pencil in the face using the Abigail stencil.  Every time I use that stencil the face looks different depending of whether I collage the hair or paint it with acrylics.  The stencil is just a placement guide for the features.

"Bombshell"

And then we must remind ourselves that
"Not all Bombshells are Blondes"

 I'm trying different techniques out for hair, these two seem to be stuck in the late fifties early sixties of hair styles.  But there are so many different ways to do hair, I'm up to day 38 now with lots of Zentangled hair, of course.  I've been trying to post art as often as possible on IG and FB so the blogging has suffered a little.

I'm hoping you're all staying safe and healthy!  Hugs ~ Renee

 

Somerset Studio magazine just arrived!

Now that there are no new magazines at the bookstore, plus I don't really go to my usual hangouts due to the Corona Virus...I really look forward to receiving my faves in the mail.  I recently received the Aug/Sep/Oct issue of Somerset Studio.  The new format of the magazine makes for a gorgeous issue with tons of interactive pages within.

I did have a few cards featured in this issue, which was a huge surprise to me since I submitted them several years ago!  Hey, it's okay with me, I'm just happy to be there. 

I hope this finds you well, thanks so much for stopping by!  Hugs ~ Renee

Tea Bag Art~ Entry for the stay at home and craft challenge

I recently received an email from favecrafts.com putting out the challenge to create projects with recycled things around the house.  I think a tea bag creation qualifies along with a few old packets of embroidery threads.  Here is my submission.

You can check this out using this link:  https://www.favecrafts.com/MixedMedia/Tea-Bag-Art-73234

You may want to enter something yourself, you still have time to do so.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Hugs, Renee

Summer issue of Somerset Studio just arrived!

I received a little ray of sunshine today in my mailbox, the latest edition of Somerset Studio Summer 2020 has arrived.  With all the negative news about the Corona Virus that we have every day everywhere it is nice to take a breather and enjoy some beautiful artful imagery.  This is the May 1, 2020 magazine and the colors on the cover and in the magazine are magical!

There are instructions on my blog in 2018 as to how to create these Artist Trading Coins.  These particular ATCoins are very large, 6 inches of surface space to play in.  I like the larger size watercolor paper coins from joggles.com since they provide a solid surface that can take a lot of water and a larger area for stencil play.

Pam Carriker released these face stencils back in 2018 and I've been using them ever since.  I used Tim Holtz's Distress Oxide spray inks for the faces and the backgrounds.  I also used Seth Apter's ATC stencils for the backgrounds.  Any rubber stamp can be used to add a thought or theme and in some cases just a ChitChat sticker will say it all.  StazOn Jet Black ink for me is a must for the stamping and could be embossed with clear embossing powder.  For the shading I used my Stabilo All water soluble pencil with a water brush.

If you enjoy doing a quick piece of art I would encourage you to make some ATCards/Coins.  They're quick to make and can be incorporated into greeting cards or art journals.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!  Stay home and stay healthy, sending you big cyber hugs.
Renee

Making tea tin birds with my daughter

My daughter was out here from California visiting for the past 10 days and of course we were in my studio for a couple of days during that time.  She wanted to learn how to make a tea tin bird of her own.  It is one of those processes that takes time since the project has to dry in between layers of gesso, paint and StazOn Studio Glaze.

Purple Reign.

I'm sharing this one today and I will try to share Holly's finished results later in the week.  We had a lot of fun, as always!

Thanks for stopping by ~ hugs ~ Renee