Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts

For the Love of Pen Art

Just sharing some love of pen art today! One day last week, I had about a half-hour of computer-down time at work, and I made this little bird drawing. I left it for my co-worker who was on vacation, to spread some joy created during a time of complete technological frustration. Ha!

I had forgotten how therapeutic it was to just DRAW. Anything. Nothing. More leaves, fewer leaves. A bird? Sure. I loved the calming blue.

And that inspired me to complete a card-a-day. I cut them to artist-trading-card sizes (2.5" wide by 3.5" tall), particularly so I could store them in baseball-card sleeves in a binder. Much to my surprise, Ellie picked up this fun little exercise too and has been filling her own sleeves with painted and doodled cards. She's drawing all of the My Little Ponies. It's adorable. Pics to come on our Instagram account!

And, for more pen-art inspiration, check out Andrea Joseph's blog. I've shared it before, but it's worth sharing a million times! Every time I visit, I feel inspired to just sketch and draw. Her loose drawings seem so simple, but her composition is stellar, so her scenes are really interesting and fun! So, the goal is to fill my own sketch journal in the same way!

Some other things we're up to: teaching more classes at The Art Store. If you haven't already, follow their Facebook page (here), so you can be notified about upcoming classes, workshops, and doodle exercises!

Five Dandelions

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to unveil the next project I've been working on besides doodle paintings! I've created a beginner-level teaching guide that is now available in our Etsy shop for print purchase (here) or digital download (here)!

This workbook is free when you attend one of our relevant workshops!

Here's an excerpt:

Five Dandelions explores five different ways to capture a dandelion on paper! Brought to you by the artists at ArtSourceVT.com, this tutorial is presented at a beginner level and encourages you to express yourself in a fun, stress-free way that captures your unique style and story.

Which is your favorite dandelion style? Are you a stickler for inking details, or do you like to splash fluffy, yellow paint?

We hope you enjoy exploring some new techniques and learn a little about yourself in the process!

Thanks for drawing with us!
The ArtSourceVT Team


Creative Calendar

As we look ahead to 2015, our happy little family is vowing to be more creative! More time for creativity, less guilt about spending time on creative projects!

One way we're doing this is by making a Creative Calendar! I'm going to section out some pages in my planner or pick up a $1 notebook, and draw some squares for days! Then, each day, I'll spend 5-10 minutes filling that day with something pretty. Or ugly. It doesn't really matter. I just want to put pen (or paint) to paper!

http://marthalever.blogspot.com

You could even use your 2014 calendar, if you haven't thrown it away yet! Just doodle/paint/sketch over last year's days!

As usual, when I looked for ideas and inspiration for doodle and art calendars, I was completely overwhelmed with the options. So, if you want to join us, I recommend picking the easiest, most convenient, mobile option you can find! That's what I'm hoping to do!

I've collected a bunch of different options and some prompts on our Calendar Pinterest board (here).

And, if you do decide to join us and post your pics to Instagram, tag them #asvtcalendar2015! We'll share your work on our blog!

Now I need to go catch up from yesterday!

Happy New Year, artsy friends!


Free Art Books!

So, though I've had a Kindle forever, I just learned about Kindle Unlimited, and I'm hooked! I've basically promised my husband anything to keep this monthly service, as you can "check out" 10 free books at a time from the Kindle Unlimited library. The first 30 days are free (then $9.99/mo after).

In doing so, you have access to MANY great, free books! But, my favorites are, of course, the doodle and drawing ones! I then can reference them on my PC Kindle program, my real Kindle, or the Kindle app on my phone! I can carry them with me anywhere! Some of these books were on my Christmas wishlist, and they're great for reference! I think I'll keep the Whimsical Lettering book forever! So much inspiration in that book!

If you're NOT into signing up for Kindle Unlimited, most of these books will be an inexpensive addition to your digital library anyway!

Art Journaling
The Art of Whimsical Lettering
Art Journal Freedom
No Excuses Art Journaling
Raw Art Journaling
Inner Hero Creative Art Journal
Artist's Journal Workshop
Journal Spilling
The Journal Junkies Workshop
Art Journal Prompts & Points to Ponder
Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts
Dreaming from the Journal Page 

Doodling
Doodles of Life
Doodles Unleashed
Doodling in French
Doodleology
Draw What We Love 

Drawing
Drawing for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing Nature for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing Portraits for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing for Beginners
Making Faces
Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces
How to Draw Cool Stuff
Sketchbook Confidential
Creative Thursday: Everyday Inspiration 

Zentangle
Zen Doodle: Tons of Tangles
Zentangle Art for Beginners
How to Draw Zendoodle Art
The Zentangle Untangled Workbook
Zentangle for Beginners: Ultimate Guide
Learn Zentangle FAST
Zentangle Basics
Zentangle for Beginners: Relaxing with Zentangle 

Mixed Media
Artist Trading Card Workshop
The Mixed Media Artist: Tips, Tricks
Mixed Media Self Portraits
Mixed Media Revolution
Acrylic Techniques in Mixed Media
Creating Art at the Speed of Life: 30 Days of Exploration
Art at the Speed of Life: Motivation and Inspiration 

Other searches to try:
acrylics, collage, stamping, design, creative, crafts, paper crafts, painting, kids art, journaling, etc.!

Craft a Doodle

I'm really in love with this Craft a Doodle book by Jenny Doh. It has doodle exercises from some of my favorite artists in it, including Carla Sonheim! You can find it in most bookstores and on Amazon, of course (here)! To be honest, I went out in search of another creative illustration book and stumbled upon this one. And I love this one more!

The doodle prompts are fun, and I'm reminded that everyone is talented enough to do these doodles, including me! It just takes time and practice!

Though my day wasn't super exciting, I had fun trying out the Visual Diary prompt, at left, on Sunday!



Bike Tangle and Tutorial

Just another one to add to the portfolio! I created this after a few tutorial videos I posted last night! You can access them on my Instagram feed here!

A follower asked if I'd mind sharing my processes, and the answer is I NEVER mind! Art for me = fun. Please feel free to utilize, distribute, and copy any of my tutorials or free templates -- for personal or commercial use. If you have a question about how I've created anything or want me to put a query out to a local artist about their processes, I'm glad to!

I only ask that you don't take and sell my (or any other artist's) finished pieces. Haha! You know, normal ethical stuff. In all my years of blogging and having an online presence, I've never had an issue... I have fantastic online friends and followers! Xoxo!


Let's Get Serious!

I had a wonderful chat with Ashlee Rubenstein and Kim Gifford on Sunday about their artwork, at One Arts Collective, and I walked away with a healthy dose of inspiration to create some real pieces. Ashlee specifically related a story about slowly working through pieces, leaving them, going back to them, and I thought, "Hey! I can do that, too." Or, at least, "I can try some new projects, finish them right away, then re-work them or start over!"


I really love the idea of my recent chandelier doodle (see previous post). I like the contrast between the real objects interacting with a fantasy "world" or doodle. Now, I'm wondering if I can push it further and questioning what the watercolor lends to this style. I feel like I'm making real artist assessments and decisions, critiquing my own work. I never do that. Sure, there's something to be said for just creative doodle time, but I'd like it to eventually lead somewhere, to some finished pieces. So, these are my first attempts! I think I still have a ways to go, but the concept is there!

Other Stuff
--Stay tuned this week/weekend for separate feature-artist posts about Kim and Ashlee! They're two of my favorite local artists!
--A few of you wrote to me asking how I made this piece/the watercolor background. I'll post a video tonight, probably a quick tutorial via Instagram. Thanks for the feedback!

Live from the Craft Bin!

I found a new sketchbook when I cleaned out my craft shelves this weekend!! I still have along way to go on the path to home organization, as usual, but it felt good to get my craft desk moved out into the living room!

After all, there are wood floors in there... much easier to wash off washable paint that spills on the floor...

I started my new sketchbook with this little doodle! After I added some randomly splashed blobs of watercolor, I used an old chandelier stamp and doodled the rest! It was fun, relaxing, and just what I needed on a Sunday night, before Monday chaos!

 

My Top 10 Art Journaling Instagram Accounts

Here are some of my favorite accounts to follow on Instagram that post art journal pages!

Follow them!!

Specifically, this account (@artjournals) features other great art journal artists!

It's included in my Top 10!
  1. ArtJournals
  2. KCDoodleArt
  3. CourtneyWhite
  4. Teoleto
  5. Dana84c
  6. ImFeelingCraftyToday
  7. JaxScraps
  8. Ebleaman
  9. AnneLaureJacquArt
  10. TerriKahrs
 

Zentangle Letter E

I had fun tangling this letter E last night! I've been grabbing some of our old messy paper to play with!

I love this pattern and use it SO much. Here's a link to a variation of it.



If you're really enjoying our letter series and looking for other lettering ideas, check out our Lettering Board on Pinterest, and share your work with us via #kasvtgallery on Instagram! Your images will appear in Our Gallery.

As December approaches, E and are going to be going to our Winter Holiday Board for ideas about projects to try. We'll share our Pinterest successes and failures with you! Come on, winter! I'm really looking forward to trying this one from Debbie's Resource Cupboard!


Lettering and Journaling

This blog post by Kristal Norton shows so many different applications for lettering in journaling, and I love that the letters aren't always super-polished, that some some are pasted in from found text.

These types of pages can so easily be created with your child, too! Let your toddler paint or cut pictures out of magazines to paste into a collage. Doodle/Tangle around their artwork, and add your own quotes!

Notice how, in the last photo, this artist has folded the paper around the outside of the pages -- so pretty on the outside of the journal! Time to dig out an old Moleskine!

My favorite pages from Kristal's blog post are by an artist named Jenn Olson (her site here):

 



Oh So Beautiful Paper

Remember when I said we'd be celebrating lettering this month...? Um, THIS SITE! *swoon*

Oh So Beautiful Paper. I'm going to go get lost in that site now. TTYL.

This lettering tutorial lives on the site, here, and I'll keep a reference link on our web resources page!




Free Drawing Template - Owl

I'm creating a series of free drawing templates to use for tangling, tracing, coloring, whatever! They're grayed-out images that you can trace over and change however you wish!

Download The Template PDF Here

*Print setting should be set to "Actual Size" to cut out and fit into your journal.

These templates are 100% free, and you can cut off the KASVT logo to use the image in your artwork, for personal or commercial use -- no need to credit us!

I only ask that, if you redistribute the digital file itself, that you do not crop the logo -- just so others can find their way back to the site to check out other free templates, to be posted in the near future! Happy Drawing!


Lettering

**Kids Art Source is On Vacation Until Nov. 18th!**

I'm excited to spend November focusing on Lettering! We're going to be practicing copying various fonts and letter styles. Check out our Lettering board on Pinterest (here).

While we're on vacation... 
  • Don't forget to check out the One Arts Toddler Time Classes starting this week!
  • Share your artwork with us in Our Gallery via Instagram using #kasvtgallery.
  • Want to follow our travel journal, E's first plane ride, and our visits to Disney World and Universal Studios? Follow our adventure on Instagram.

Tangled Haunted House

I think I like Elle's Spooky House more... the dark colors, the flutter of fall leaves, but here is the tangled/doodled one I did this week!



Spooky Houses

Jamestown Elementary Art Blog
This week, we're creating spooky scenes and houses!

What I love about drawing architecture is that it can be as simple or as detailed as you like! Messy watercolor or acrylic swirls create a great background for a Sharpie-drawn or black-painted silhouette of a spooky house, black cat, ghost, or pumpkin! Add some doodles/tangles or other details with your white gel pen or some white chalk, and what a neat, creepy scene you have!

Want to customize this activity for your toddler? Have them paint the background for your scene and use a stencil to create silhouetted shapes!

I found this amazing creation on the Jamestown Elementary Art Blog. These kids are SO, SUPER talented! And kudos to these teachers for leading some incredible art adventures!

For more ideas about how to draw spooky scenes, check out our Halloween Art Board on Pinterest.

Want to share your art with us? Use #kasvtgallery to be featured on Our Gallery page!

Ghouls, Monsters, and Creatures

This week, we are making creatures! I first discovered the art of imaginary creatures when I stumbled upon Carla Sonheim's blog, The Art of Silliness.

Then I took an "Unlock Your Inner Creature" class at Artists' Mediums, over the summer, with Kristin Richland. It was wonderful, and I highly recommend checking out her future creature classes! It went beyond the basics I've described below, to get your brain thinking more creatively! I loved it and have been inspired to make more creatures ever since!

Essentially, you draw any-old shape you want. You can draw it with your eyes closed, or trace the shape of an object you like. Then you add a few basic facial features, maybe some shading, and voila! A creature! Or, in honor of Halloween -- a few spiky teeth or lines for hair would make a pretty neat ghoul or monster!

Another way I love doing this is by painting (using your acrylic spray-paints or just making swishes on the page). Then, I look for animal- or people-like shapes in the blobs of dark and light paint patches. I trace them in black, then draw in simple shapes for facial features. I've been enjoying using my white gel pen (Uniball Signo) and a black artist pen (Staedtler Triplus Fineliner) (or any ol' Sharpie will do!) to add details and highlights on top of the watercolors I used below.

Here's one I did this week! There are more imaginary-creature examples on our Halloween Art Board on Pinterest, and I'll post more drawings and tutorials throughout the week!

Want to customize this activity for your toddler? Help them to draw or make shapes on paper. If they can draw dots for eyes, a line for a mouth, lines for hair, they'll have a page of creatures in no-time! If they're not quite ready to draw, cut out blobs of paper for creature bodies, and circles or other fun shapes that they can paste on their blobs, for creature facial features.

Want to share your artwork with us? Use #kasvtgallery on Instagram to be featured in Our Gallery!


DIY Acrylic Spraypaints

OMG yoo guyz!! ..... So, even though it's mid-Halloween-candy-art week, I had to share this! I found this idea while browsing the web and the wonderful world of art journaling!

DIY acrylic spray-paints! I grabbed a couple of old spray bottles -- the ones that our optometrist gives away with glasses cleaner in them (or an old perfume bottle would work). And:
  1. Rinse them out.
  2. Spray the sprayer a few times using only water, to rinse it.
  3. Fill the bottle with about 1 part acrylic paint to 5 parts water.
    Or experiment with the ratio. Too much paint may gunk up the sprayer.
  4. Add warm water, and shake to mix!
  5. Spray away. Warning, it is messy!*
  6. Add stamps, like I did with the "G" below, or doodles/tangles.

*This can easily be adapted to a toddler art project, with supervision. I'd just recommend using age-appropriate non-toxic paints, of course. You also may want to do this activity outside or with a lot of newspaper on your art table. The spray gets everywhere.

You can spray stencils, cut out your own shapes to put on the page, etc.! Today, I also picked up some supplies at The Art Store. I talked to the woman working there, and she recommended 2 new pens: a white gel pen (Uniball Signo) and a black artist pen (Staedtler Triplus Fineliner) for doodling/tangling on top of watercolors/watered-down acrylics. Both are working fabulously so far, though the Staedtler takes a little while to dry. I recommend propping up your finished pages in front of a fan while working on other pages. I love my Micron pens and will continue to use them for basic doodling, but the Staedtler is the first pen I've found that lets me draw over dried watercolor without picking up any of the pigment.

Pink Peppermints

Pink Peppermints! Just practicing drawing some peppermints today! Here's a mini tutorial I found!

I made the swirls go in the wrong direction on a few of them, but I still like them clustered like this, in pink

I sketched them with a Micron pen, colored the swirls with a pink Sharpie, then used a lighter pink highlighter to shade one side.

Text added with picmonkey.com.