Pam Carriker new face stencils alert!

Just thought I'd let you all know that StencilGirl products has a new Pam Carriker face stencil release.  I love her stencils so you know I splurged and bought 9 of them.  I thought I'd share with you the results of my play date with a few of them yesterday.

This one is called Create.

Strength

Honor

These were all done with ink pads in my notebook, I applied small amounts of inks with daubers.  On two of them I used Micron 05 pens and on the first one I applied Dyan Reavely ink pens and Jane Davenport's crayons blended down with a water brush.

If you want to draw faces but find it a challenge stencils are the way to go.  I just wanted to share!  I hope you're having a great day.  Hugs~ Renee

I'm the Guest Artist this week on StencilGirl Products! A Tangled Face

If you follow my blog I'm sure you've noticed that I'm in love with stencils!  So you can imagine my delight when StencilGirl Products asked if I would like to be their Guest Artist, my response was a resounding "YES".   I mean who could say no to that?!  They provided the stencils of my choice to work with and I very happily choose  Andrea Matus de Meng's "Abigail, A Timeless Woman" in the large 9" by 12" size.  This is what my finished portrait looks like, it's called "A Tangled Face".  The process is shared on the StencilGirl Talk blog today, please just click on the link if you would like to check it out.

I'll be sharing a few more portraits during the month of April, all created with the same stencil but each one looks completely different.  I hope you will pop in and take a look at them.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hugs ~ Renee

Making Faces with DWM products

I've been making faces with Dina Wakley stencil, Scribble Sticks and some words from the "All the Gals" stamp collection made by Ranger.

I started by tracing the faces with a Micron 05 pen through the stencil.

Then I began adding some color with Scribble Sticks.  I used Sky,Turquoise, Lime, Magenta and Lemon Scribble Sticks.

To add some bright color I then added a little DWM Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in the Lemon color.  Highlights in the eyes, etc. was done with white gesso.

Each face seem to reflect a different word so I added words from the "All the Gals" collection with some grey ink.

So that's what is on my work table today.  I have entered this on the Craft Stamper magazine Challenge.  Follow the link if you want to participate. Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs ~ Renee

Stencil Girl Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hello and welcome to the StencilGirl Products and Imagine Blog Hop, DAY TWO!

For this hop I received three stencils:  Jessica Sporn's Rain, Andrea Matus deMeng's Eve, a modern woman small stencil, Seth Apter's Techno Insiders Circle.  It was so easy to use all three, actually it became an addictive process, I haven't been able to stop using them all month long!  This is the project I chose to share today, it is called " Steampunked Namaste".  It is part of an art journal of faces, she just has an elaborate head gear and flowers.  I will make a series of faces like these and then bind all the pages together in a hand made journal.

The background gets its color from Fireworks! Craft Spray in the Lilac Posies color, sprayed over Seth's Techno Insiders Circle.  Then I used the Techno Insiders Circle again on top of that with Fireworks! Desert Sand spray.  The face is Andrea's Eve stencil. I evened out the skin tones with Jane Davenport's Paint Over Pens, using Unicorn, Beach and Starfish.   Even the flowers in the foreground are a StencilGirls stencil designed by Mary Beth Shaw.  On a separate piece of water color paper,  I sprayed the Fireworks! sprays through the stencil then added additional shading by pouring some of the Fireworks! in a water brush and applying it where needed.  When the flowers were dry I cut them out and adhered them with Tear It! tape.   Here are a few close up shots of the background and the face.

To give her a "Steampunk" look I adhered cogs and gears with Imagine On Point Glue and a touch of the Iridescent Blue Creative Medium.  By using the On Point Glue I can better isolate the areas where I want to adhere the glass glitter.

After applying gesso through the words on the Rain stencil, I allowed drying time, then I highlighted the words with London Fog ink and a small dauber.

Here is another very similar art journal page using the same stencils but in Fireworks! Craft Spray in primarily blues and greens.  I used all the same stencils just differently.

What would a Blog Hop be without a GIVEAWAY?!!  One special winner will receive prizes from both StencilGirl Products and Imagine, a $25 Gift Certificate from each.

What do you have to do to enter?

Just visit the blogs of the fabulous designers and comment for your chance to win.  The more blogs you comment on the more chances you have.  (One comment per blog, please)

You have until Sunday, July 23rd 11:59 PM Central Time to leave your comments.  

The winner will be announced on the StencilGirl Facebook page and the Imagine Facebook page

on Monday July 24th.

Sandee Setliff

Karen Gaunt

Cindy Gilstrap

Tina Walker

Neva Cole

Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Renee Zarate ~ You are here

Elina Stromberg ~ Your next stop

Product List:

StencilGirl Products

 Jessica Sporn's Rain, Andrea Matus deMeng's Eve, a modern woman small stencil, Seth Apter's Techno Insiders Circle and the flowers came from a stencil designed by Mary Beth Shaw

Imagine Products

Fireworks! Craft Spray- Lilac Posies, Desert Sand, Blue Hawaii, Tangelo and New Sprout

StazOn Jet Black ink

Memento London Fog ink

Blue Iridescent Creative Medium

Goosebumps Clear Texture Spray (on the lips and eyes)

Sheer Shimmer Spritz Frost

Tear It! tape

On Point Glue

Craft Mat

Palette Knife

Small dauber

Other Supplies

140# water color paper measuring 8 1/2" by 11"

Gesso

Jane Davenport Paint Over Pens

Bird nest stamp from Michaels

Fude Ball black pen

Prima Metal Cogs and Glass Glitter

Paper towels for blotting

Heat tool

Water Pens

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.  There is one more day of the blog hop so be sure and stop by tomorrow for the list of designers.

Hugs~ Renee

Using Stencil Girls stencils to create faces with Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks

I'm using Pam Carriker's face stencil and color wheel stencil here to create a portrait.  Stencil Girl makes several different face stencils by different artists, there is one for all different styles and tastes.  I wanted to try out my Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks on gessoed water color paper and this is the result.  I've written the colors I used right there on the right hand side of the page.

Very fun and very easy to do using the crayons and baby wipes.  Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs, Renee

Drawing faces with a Jane Davenport stencil

I drew this face using one of Jane Davenport's face stencils.  This one is called "uptilted", then I just tangled free hand around her face with a Micron05 pen.  She'd be fun to color in, don't you think?

Queen of the Butterflies

I hope you're having a great week!  Don't forget to comment on the previous post for an opportunity to win Stampington's newest Coloring Studio workbook.  It is not just another coloring book, it offers so many articles on techniques and tips to improve your coloring skills.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs~Renee

Inspired by Karen O'Brien

I'm still plugging away, working my way through Karen O'Brien's inspirational book Imaginary Characters.  Here is my latest technique driven character.

I might add some other touches to her later.  I hope you get a chance to check out Karen's book, it is really fun to challenge yourself with new techniques.  All of my work is done in a small 5.5" by 8.5" Mixed Media notebook so each drawing is not overwhelming not to mention the notebook is portable, it fits right in my purse.
I hope you're having a colorful day!  Thanks so much for stopping by, leave a comment if you can.  It's always fun to hear what you think and what YOU are working on at the moment.  Hugs ~ Renee

Supplies used:  Gesso, Peerless Water Colors, Artistcellar Sea Foam stencil, Stabilo Pencil, StazOn Jet Black ink & Stampers Anonymous stamp, water brush, Strathmore Mixed Media notebook

Creating a Master Board with DecoArt products

I had fun creating a different masterboard similar to last week's using DecoArt products.  There is no end to the color schemes that can be attained by using the Americana line of paints, they blend together very nicely.  I used a Gelli Plate and a piece of water color paper to make the background for this and just a few different colors of paint.  Here is a brief tutorial.

This is a combination of green and blue paints brayered onto my Gelli Plate, then when dry I used a stencil and some Titanium white paint.  To give a punch of color I added yellow paint with more stencils.  At this point the paper can be anything you want it to be.  You can cut it up and use it for cards, ATCs, whatever or in this case I'm using it as a background for a stenciled image.

When all the paint was dry I taped a Prima stencil to the background paper and applied Black Modeling paste with a palette knife.

Lifting the stencil carefully exposes the lovely stenciled image.  Now I can add some additional pops of color.

Some shading was added, catch lights to the eyes and red lips.  Now I have a "portrait" without really knowing how to draw.    I'll be submitting this to the "Bold and Bright"challenge Andy Skinner has going on right now.  Click on Andy's name for the link, you still have time to submit.


Here is the list of supplies used:

DecoArt Products:
Black Modeling Paste
White Gesso
Fluid Acrylics:  Quinacridone Red, Titanium White, Phithalo Turquoise, Antiquing Cream
Americana Paints:  Irish Moss, Yellow Green, Sea Glass, Saffron Yellow, Whispering Turquoise

Stencils:
Andy Skinner's "Have your say"
Prima "Sharon" by Jamie Dougherty
Dyan Reaveley
ArtistCellar

Miscellaneous:  140# watercolor paper, 03 black Micron pen, washi tape, Gelli Plate


Thanks so much for stopping by!  Your comments mean a lot to me, makes me feel like I'm not alone.  Take care ~ Hugs, Renee

A Master Board using DecoArt products

Since my return to South Carolina I've been playing with my DecoArt paints, etc.  We happened to have house guests this past week, our friends Beth and Kevin from Massachusetts.  Myrtle Beach is one of those locations that people seem to pass through often on their way to Florida so we'll be seeing a lot more of our old friends from Mass.  Kevin loves to tinker around the house so he and my husband adjust a lot of things around here when they pop in.  That gave Beth and me time together in the studio.  This was Beth's first foray into the world of mixed media.  Fun times.

To begin we chose to create master boards using DecoArt Americana Paints in Peacock Teal, True Red, Saffron Yellow, Payne's Grey and Cool White.  We applied a thin coating of Gesso to a large piece of 140# watercolor paper, allowed it to dry and then applied our paints.  We squirted the paint onto a Gelli Plate, brayered the paints together and pressed the watercolor paper onto the plate.  When this was dry we used Andy Skinner's stencils with some white gesso and then a touch of the Saffron Yellow paint.  Here's one of our master boards when completed.

The interesting part begins when the master board is cut into different sizes to be used for projects.  Beth began by making her first mixed media card ever.  She looks pretty pleased with her creation.

Beth created Card #2 with a Donna Downey stencil and some black gesso

We made our boards at the same time with the identical colors so we each had one to cut up.  I used mine to make postcards and a portrait using a Prima stencil and some black gesso.

By making a 11" by 15" master board you can create a series of pieces with the same background colors.  It is also a fun project to do with friends who often wonder what you actually do when you're creating art.  All who pass through this studio space are instantly hooked on mixed media when they release their own inner artist.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I certainly appreciate your visits and welcome comments, please leave one whenever you have time.  Hugs~ Renee

Got your coloring book? Now what......

Once you purchase a coloring book you may wonder....now what do I do with it?  Why, color in the pages, of course!  What can you color it with?  Anything you've got on hand.  I started coloring in some of the pages in my copy of The Coloring Studio, it took longer than I expected.  Each page is unique in its representation of the artist who created it.  It is more like a workbook to me since there are so many instructions and hints throughout the entire book.  I started with one of my favorites, Mou Saha, on page 100.  I used Pan Pastels, Memento Markers, gesso, stencils, Micron pens and an irRESISTible Pico Embellisher.  It was a meditative, fun, relaxing experience.  You are not facing a blank page and have the liberty to do whatever floats your boat.  This is what my first page looks like now.

Next I thought it only fair that I color my own design on page 60.  The beauty of the book is that you can add even more doodling to the pages or add stamps, etc. to the pages.  Remember the quote that says "art is never finished, just abandoned".  Play with the pages until you feel like abandoning them.  Here's my page.

I couldn't seem to stop adding tangles, color, stamps, etc. to the page.  Finally abandoned.

Whatever coloring book you choose I hope you're having some relaxing moments with it!  Later down the road I'm sure I'll be tearing out pages and doing other projects with them but for now I'll leave them in the book.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're having a good one.  Hugs ~ Renee

Searching for my Muse

As I have mentioned before we sold our house in Massachusetts and have moved down to South Carolina, quite a long adventure but we're here and getting settled in.  I was sure I packed my "Muse" and carried her around with me for the past 5 months or so but at times I feel like she has been misplaced, then suddenly she reappears!  Usually when I feel like this I start drawing faces and inspiration soon follows.  So here I go again with the faces.  I don't like to start on a blank page so I used the paper to clean off gesso from a Seth Apter stencil first, let it dry then used the paper as a paint palette for a couple of days, just something to clean off a brush or mix watercolor pencil colors on.  Next I used Jane Davenport's small face stencil to get me going in the right direction.

How do you access your Muse?  Leave a comment if you like and share your process!

Hugs ~ Renee

A Mermaid with Tangled Hair

"I Live in the Mists of Time and Eternity"

I have been drawing faces for quite a while now, for something different I am trying to show emotion in the eyes.

This mermaid was sketched on top of watercolor paper that was previously coated with a thin layer of gesso.  The colors on the paper come from several sources.  First of all I applied StazOn Studio Glaze with a baby wipe in Emerald City, Blue Hawaii, and Cactus Green.  I watered down some of the Studio Glaze in Gold and using a paintbrush, splattered it across the page.  I allowed the colors to dry before I sketched her hair out around her face, dividing it into sections that could hold different tangled patterns.  Using a Micron 08 black pen I began tangling patterns into the sections.  I did use a Stabilo pencil in a couple of the sections and then turned it into a wash with a wet paint brush.  The fish tail is also done with StazOn Studio Glaze in the Cactus Green color applied directly to the paper and allowed to dry, which gives it dimension and texture.  I used a stencil to add more texture all around the image with Creative Medium Turquoise Iridescent paste.  Finally a light smear of Gelatos in Grape and Metallic Mint were blended down with a baby wipe to soften the edges.  In her hair is written "I live in the mists of time and eternity".

Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits and comments.  Hugs ~ Renee

I have an article published in Art Journaling Magazine!

I am excited to share with you that I was published in Art Journaling magazine for the very first time.

  I received my complimentary copy in the mail and couldn't be happier.  I shared with them some of my 100 Faces in 100 Days a few months back and the editor asked me to write an article about my artistic/journaling journey.  It was a lot of fun to write about it and even more fun to see it in print.  Here are the opening pages of the article.

In the Gallery section of the magazine they were kind enough to share a few more of my art journal pages.

So, if you are any where near a Barnes and Noble bookstore and have a few moments I'd be delighted if you stopped to take a look.  There are so many of my personal favorite artists in this particular magazine, I'm just thrilled to be mentioned in the same issue with them!  My thanks as always to Stampington, I wouldn't be doing any of this if it hadn't been for them.  Hugs ~ Renee

Buried Treasure~~~Jane Davenport Stencils help when drawing faces!

This post was originally shared on July 6, 2013.  I am participating in Seth Apter's Buried Treasure project today so I am sharing my favorite post from last year.  Thanks for joining me, here is the link to Seth's blog so you can check out the other participating artists.  http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2014/06/buried-treasure-2014.html


I'm still drawing faces but I have gotten a little help from my Jane Davenport Stencils.  This is a 3/4 face and some eyes on a page that I call "the eyes have it" or it could be titled "don't you make my brown eyes blue".

I worked in my journal on gessoed pages with spray inks and acrylic paints.  Then I did the tangles with my Fude Ball pen which will write on anything.

Just the face

The entire 2 page spread

I hope you're having a great weekend.  It is so hot here!  It feels like 100 F outside when combined with the humidity.  Whew!  Here's to a long weekend, bar-b-ques and lots of creative time.  Take care, talk to you soon~Renee

Paint Nite Boston

Have you seen that Groupon offer called "Paint Nite"?  A large group of my friends got together and we went to a local Paint Nite event here in the Boston area.  So much fun!  There were about 35 of us in the class, if you wanted to drink wine or order something to eat while you painted you could.  No muss no fuss, no clean up, etc.  Great concept.  The teacher had all of us paint the same thing during a two hour period.  I'm not much of a flower painter but I figured I'd try it.  This is what my painting looked like when I was finished.  Tah Dah!

My art friend Ann was there also, her painting looked pretty much like mine did.  We both decided we would work on these together at my house on another day.  When we got together this week we started by tearing up some maps and gluing them down with Mat Medium just in the areas we weren't too happy with.  After a little while the canvas looked like this.

Ann's canvas

Renee's canvas

Then we each applied gesso, acrylic paints, stencils, stamping, you get the picture.  Here is Ann's "after".

Ann's Mermaid

And here is my "after".

Beatrice picks a flower

I think Paint Nite was a huge success!  We had fun and then we had more fun later.  You can still see tiny bits of the pink flowers if you look closely.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment if you have the time.  I always appreciate hearing what you think.  Take care, talk to you soon ~ Renee

Snow Day in New England!

Snow Day! or should I say Blizzard?  We received close to 2 feet of snow over the past two days.  Wow!  With the wind chill factor the temperature outside is close to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Now that is cold.  Welcome to 2014.  I just stayed in the house all day in my studio or I would have photos for you.  Maybe tomorrow.
I spent the day writing instructions for the pile of cards and tags I have stacked up on my table.  When I'm in a creative mood I just seem to make one thing after the other and then later when I have to account for my actions, as in when I want to send them to a magazine or blog about them, I can't remember how I did it.  I have found some time though to honor my commitment of drawing faces.  I actually have three to share with you.

Life should be getting back to normal soon.  I hope this posting finds all of you healthy, happy and looking forward to a wonderful, productive & creative 2014.  Talk to you soon, thanks for stopping by ~ Renee

Stenciled Face of Autumn

The new Jane Davenport face stencils are petite so they fit perfectly in Dyan Reaveley's new sized journaling book.  Dyan's book measures about 8 1/2" by 5 1/2" which is a great sized journal to pop in your purse.  Very portable.  So what I like to do is trace the face stencils in the book and then when I have a little time I can work on them.  If I'm out and about and waiting for someone I can always tangle the hair if I choose to.

Today's face is one traced with permanent ink and then I used water based inks for her hair and PanPastels for her face.  I have always loved the poem called "Maud Muller" by John Greenleaf Whittier.   His words are so moving: "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these:  It might have been."  I thought she looked like someone reflecting on things that might have been.  She also reminds me that it is Autumn.  Always a time of reflection for me, maybe for you too.

Have a great day, give it your best shot!  Hugs to all of you ~ Renee

Blue skies after Hurricane Sandy

We woke up to blue skies this morning after torrential rains and winds all day yesterday into the night.  I do believe every leaf in the neighborhood is on our lawn but that's OK.  The only tree branches on the ground were the ones that broke in the storm last year right around this time.  Thanks to all for their phone calls, emails and general good wishes and prayers.  Our hearts go out to those who did not fair as well!
The blue skies were an inspiration to me and I decided to put it to paper in my DR Journal with a bit of journaling marking the storm.  Since there is a challenge at Simon Says to just add pearl I decided to deck my lady, let's call her Sandy, out with a pearl necklace so she is dressed for the party over there.  There were a few sprays of Mementos Bahama Blue Fireworks involved to add a glimmer to the pages.

Products used:

Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paints

Dover clip art hand and butterflies

Stamps:  large face stamp, Dyan Reaveley stamps, Cardboard, Judi Kins Gears

Tim Holtz Gears Die

Queen & Co. Pearls

Reeves Water Soluble Crayons

Memento's Bahama Blue Fireworks Glimmer Mist

Black micron pen

I hope this post finds all of you on the East Coast safe, sound and dry.  Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers in behalf of us all.  We had definitely braced ourselves for the worst, glad it is over.