Where There Is Love...

Happy new week!

I was glad to get back to my art journal today. It's been a bit neglected lately, due to all sorts of things. I created a page for Elizabeth & Bleubeard's Heart theme at Art Journal Journey.

I used a canvas page in my Dina Wakley journal, using DW acrylic paints also. I added doodled collage hearts & circles, and some marks and hearts made with paintbrushes and black & turquoise DW acrylic. I finished with black posca paint pen splatters, and a DW stamped quote.

I hope you all have a creative Monday,

Alison xox

Art Journal Journey - Animals From A to Z

Hello again!

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments on my recent posts. I will be popping over to see what you're up to very shortly.

Today I made another page for Rae Missigman's February Artmarks Challenge. The day 2 word was Decide. What did I decide? Mainly I decided to get out for more walks in spite of the horrid Winter weather, because I feel so much better and positive and happy after some exercise. 

The focal on this page is a ticket from Knole House, which is a local National Trust property we visited recently. The design is a copy of a ticket by Vita sackville-West, who lived at Knole as a young girl, and gave guided tours of the Showrooms. I believe the cheetah was part of the family crest.

I'm entering my page for Rike's Animals from A to Z Challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Alison x

Rae Missigman's February Art Marks - A Sweet Challenge

Hi Everyone!

Rae Missigman has kicked off another art marks challenge for February, so I thought I'd join in.

Here's my first page. The prompt was 'Begin'.

The orange drips were an after-thought...it looked a bit boring to me, and too pastel for my liking! Can you spot the teabags in the background?

Happy Sunday,

Alison x

Winter Day Remedies and Bright Crochet

Hi Everyone!

Art has taken a back seat recently, as I was commissioned by my daughter to make a bright and lightweight top for her gap year travels. I adapted a pattern, using a more open and lacy stitch, so that it wouldn't be too heavy in her rucksack. It's basically 4 rectangles stitched together, leaving openings for arms and head, then a border added. She loves it!

So today I got out my paint, found a magazine image, empty teabag, and an old book page, and created a page in my art journal for Chris' challenge over at Art Journal Journey, '101 Ways To Keep Warm'. I should have written Winter Day Remedy, but too late now!

Wishing you all a warm and happy Sunday!

Alison x

LOVE Art Journal Page

Morning Everyone! 

Although the Art Marks Challenge is now finished, I decided to carry on filling up my little 7x5 inch journal with art.

Here is an abstract page I made yesterday, using my favourite Dina Wakley paint colours of Turquoise and Lime, with a bit of Ruby for contrast. The 'Love' stamp was a Craft Stamper mag freebie.

I'm linking up to Art Journal Journey's 'Poetry in Motion' Challenge again, and also to Country View Crafts Challenge 'Blues and Greens'.

Hope you all have a wonderful, arty day,

Alison x

Rae Missigman's Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Final Day 30

Hi Everyone!

It's the final day of Rae Missigman's wonderful Art Marks Challenge. Well, technically, it was yesterday, but I had a horrible headache all day, and was unable to use my computer as my daughter was watching Game of Thrones on it!

Day 30's theme is 'Closed' so I added an index card flap to my page. Here it is in the closed position...

And, here it is open...

I collaged masking tape, a teabag and some paper scraps for texture, covered with white gesso, then used PaperArtsy Everything Art stamps, Red Bombay India Ink, and Dina Wakley Media Acrylics in Lime and Turquoise, then added marks and writing. The index card was edged and attached with washi tape.

Linking my page to Art Journal Journey's Poetry in Motion Challenge again.

The head is still a bit sore, I think it may be a viral one, so I'm off to make porridge and relax my eyes a bit.

Wishing you all a wonderful week of artfulness,

Alison x

Rae Missigman's Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Day 29

Hello Everyone!

Here's my Day 29 Art Marks page. The theme was Stitched. I cheated and drew faux stitches, but did layer my collaged circles onto black thread. I used Dina Wakley Lime and Turquoise paint, and red Bombay India Ink.

I also wrote some affirmation quotes around the edges of my page, so I'm linking up to Art Journal Journey's Poetry in Motion challenge again.

Have an artful weekend,

Alison x

Rae Missigman's Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Day 28

Hello folks!

Artmarks Day 28 - Metallic

On today's page I thought I'd try sketching some birds (inspired by Susi/Froebelsternchen's occasional bird sketches). I used black paint through a fine nozzle, so all of the black outlines, writing and marks on my page have a little dimension. There is a little bit of collage with teabag papers, and I added colour and marks with Dina Wakley Media Acrylics (Sky, Lime, Magenta). As the theme was 'Metallic', I used Golden Fluid Acrylic in iridescent bronze and a cardboard tube to make some circles, and finished with watery splatters.

And, as I have a quote on my page, I'm linking up to Art Journal Journey's Poetry in Motion challenge.

I'm also linking to Paint Party Friday.

Happy Friday!

Alison x

Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Day 27

Hello Everyone!

On today's Artmarks page, I've incorporated another of Leila Thomson's beautiful verses "daisy chains and bare feet". It reads "the world has rushed past and left me behind, stranded a stranger crying across time, daisy chains and bare feet, time passes like clouds across the sky, mistaken immortality of youth."

Day 27 - Collected - I used some of my teabag paper collection on this page, with Dina Wakley acrylics, some marks and splatters.

Linking up again to Art Journal Journey's Poetry in Motion Challenge. 

Wishing you all a happy and artful day,

Alison x

Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Day 26

Hello to my new followers, it's lovely to welcome you here at my arty adventures blog!

Today I have another artmarks page to share...

Day 26 - Tattered - Started with a bit of brayered turquoise paint, then a roughed up piece of gauze, followed by torn teabag papers and painty scraps, a few marks and splatters, and finished with book text.

Again, I'm linking up to Art Journal Journey's Poetry in Motion challenge.

Have a happy and arty day,

Alison x

Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Days 22 and 23

Hello Everyone!

Here are my latest two pages for Rae's Artmarks Challenge.

Day 22 - Torn - I kept adding and adding to this page, and it still didn't rock my boat, but you have to stop sometime. Hence the phrase sticker on it.

Day 23 - Lettered - I was going to leave this page with just the background, but it niggled me, not really my style, so I stencilled the face then stencilled various letter e's and outlined. I used That's Crafty stencils, so I'm entering this page in That's Crafty's Anything but a Card Challenge.

Happy Sunday!

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - August 2017

Hello Everyone!

I just spent a messy, painty morning making my calendar page for the coming month of August.

I was inspired by my recent mark-making adventures, and used my favourite Dina Wakley paint colours (turquoise, magenta, lime & tangerine), with some of Dina's stamps. I added some marks with paint pens, and the journalling boxes were painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Mermaid paint. This gives a nice smooth and matte surface to write on. I finished with some doodles around the boxes, and quotes about August around the edges of the pages.

I'm entering my calendar pages over at Art Journal Journey, where Jo from Let's Art Journal is hosting this month with the theme 'Poetry in Motion'.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison x 

Daisy Yellow ICAD Challenge 2017 - Week Nine

Hello Everyone!

I'm here today to share my final five index cards for Daisy Yellow's 2017 ICAD Challenge. It's been an amazing adventure, with so many great prompts and themes. I think I only went off prompt once, which is pretty good! So here they are, days 57-61...

And, here are all 61 of my index cards, plus the cover and the bonus blind contour card. They're on a large book ring, hung on a hook in my craft studio, to provide inspiration when I need it.

Thanks so much for dropping by, and for all of the lovely comments and support you've given me throughout this challenge.

Alison x

Artmarks 30 Day Summer Challenge 2017 - Days 15 & 16

Hello Everyone!

I managed to get myself up to date with the Artmarks 30 Day Challenge today, with two art journal pages done.

Day 15 - Varied - lots of different paper scraps and a couple of teabags collaged, then paint stencilled with my fave colour combo of turquoise and red, three hand-cut hearts from painty paper scrap, and a few doodles, stencilled numbers and book text to finish

Day 16 - Mirrored - went happy and bright again with Bombay India Ink hand-sketched rectangles, Dina Wakley paints turquoise, lime and magenta, pen doodling, lego and bubblewrap printing, and black splatters & brush marks around the edges

Happy Sunday!

Alison x

Artmarks Summer Challenge - Days 7 & 8

I wonder if I'm starting to find my own artistic voice in these pages. I certainly enjoy just going for it in an abstract, freestyle way. 

Day 7 - Interrupted

Day 8 - Blurred

Wishing you a creative week,

Alison x

Graduation!

Our amazing daughter Bethany has just finished her Masters Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Imperial College in London, and she got a first! She was also awarded a prize of £100 for outstanding contribution to the student community by her Head of Department. We're so proud of her achievements! She worked really hard and it paid off. 

Here's the card I made for her...

Well done Bethany! We love you, and we're looking forward to having you home for Summer!

Alison x

Art Marks Challenge - Day 3

Today's prompt was 'Curve'. Again, I've used Dina Wakley Media acrylics. I added marks, collaged Gelli printed tissue, and a stencilled heart over some purple sparkly thread. The border was made using a flat paintbrush and DecoArt Traditions acrylic prussian blue. 

Alison x

Art Marks 30 Day Summer Challenge - Days One & Two

I'm so enjoying creating art again, so I decided to join another challenge. Rae Missigman is running a 30 day art marks challenge, from 15th July to 13th August. You can read all about it HERE.

I'm using a Finnabair 7x5 inch journal. Here are my first two pages. 

Day One

Day Two

I've been using Dina Wakley Media Acrylics so far, as I love their thickness and bright colours. They were perfect for scribbling into on my day two page :-)

Hope you're having as creative a week as I am!

Alison x