POP UP ART CHALLENGE #25

Hi y'all! 

Betty here.  This is definitely late and not on our routine schedule.  The art retreat we had at the end of October had all of us (and me especially) busier than a one legged man in a butt-kickin' contest!  Maybe some of you did yours, and if you did -- good on you!  I just finished mine up, so this was an excellent time to remind those of you who might have forgotten...

POP UP #25 - NOVEMBER CALENDER
Create your November "month at a glance" calendar with a fall or Thanksgiving theme.

My background had a lot of bleed-through Dylusions inks from the previous page, so I gessoed it rather heavily, and used a Calyx tool and made random marks in the gesso while it was wet.  Khaki and Citrus Green craft acrylic was applied with a brayer, then zapped with the heat gun (you know how impatient I can be!).  I then used two different Sugar Loaf stamps on each side of the page, and because of the textural nature of the gesso, they didn't stamp very well, so I had to draw in the details on both stamps. I colored them with Sakura Gelly Pens and Prismacolor pencils.  I sketched out the calendar blocks the exact width of my rule, went over the lines with a black Posca marker and added the dates.  Some random fall leaf stamps added and also colored with Prismacolor pencils and I called it done.

LYNN made this beautifully composed spread in her journal, and the colors just evoke a full-on fall feel, don't they?

Melody and Shana were unable to participate in this challenge.  I know we're behind, so join us in "catching up" before the holidays get us!  Share your calendar with us over at Artful Journeys!  As always, keep your world artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~~Betty, Melody, Lynn & Shana

#Pop-Up#25 #November Calender

WEEK #17 - CHANNEL PICASSO

Hi folks!  Betty here again this week to tell you about our fun prompt! We are going to push you to get way out of your own comfort zone with something fun, challenging and different.

We want  you to CHANNEL PICASSO

Yes, you heard right.  PICASSO.  Pablo Picasso.  That zany  Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playright.  You know the one.  Google Picasso and really LOOK at his body of work.  He went through so many stages in his art and we are sure you will find something in this work that inspires you.  You don't have to "copy" the work.  Be inspired BY IT.  Make it your own. Do it your way, but channel the crazy guy you must. Cut loose and let Picasso inspire you and get some of that art mojo onto the page.

Here's the fun we all created this week in response to this prompt.  We know we're not making fine art here, but we're pushing our creative limits....trying to think outside the box and try new things...just for fun.

(Betty): I tried to capture the "essence" of Picasso this week, and surely made it my own. Come check it out over on my blog, here

Melody -  What an interesting way that Melody developed her idea into something very Picasso-esque.  Check it out here

                               

Tamie rocked the prompt this week in her own unique style. Check out her full spread here 

Lynn - Well, the first thing I have to say was I really dreading do this week's page as I don't have an ounce of Picasso in me or any other artist for that matter but this is what I came up with. 

I just thought of different colors that would represent him so I whipped out my favorite paints. Dina Wakely. I used Turquoise with magenta and tangerine and one bottle of Apple Barrel purple velvet.

Faber-Castell just came out with cardboard stencils so I pulled two and just starting adding the 4 different colors on the stencils until the page was filled. Added a rub-on and the "Picasso" is letter stickers I had.

I don't know how much of a Picasso this is but I like it anyway and hope next weeks prompt is easier for me. I'm not real good at this but I never give up and you shouldn't either! Thanks for looking.

So there you have it folks!  We know it is a challenging prompt, but it is meant to be.  And if you struggle, blame Melody -- she selected this week's prompt.  And if you have fun with it.... you can thank us later for taking you into another imaginarium!

We're keeping it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

Artful Journeys Week 15: "Found" Poetry

Hey y'all, it's Melody again!  Back to bring you another prompt and maybe some motivation for your muse!

This week's prompt is "Found" Poetry-your words must be cut from other sources...even if you print them out on the computer and glue them down.

So let's get to the fun, shall we????

First, let's take a look at what Lynn created this week....I always love seeing Lynn's pages...They're created by a beginner and she is really learning to go with her gut when she creates.

Lynn said, "I used neon pink Apple Barrel paint for the back ground and added some glimmer strips on the top and bottom.  My poetry was created from words found in a magazine and the arrows are a die cut I have. A simple piece but I liked how it turned out. Thanks for looking girls."

Next up is Betty's page....she really got after it this week!  Be sure to go take a look at her blog where she talks all about it, here!

Tamie, of course, is all about the color and pushing herself a little farther....See her inspiration and full spread here!

And then there's my spread...You can see it and my thoughts behind it here!

Thanks for stopping by, and please be sure to leave everyone a little blog love when you visit!

We're keeping it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

POP UP ART CHALLENGE #13 - APRIL CALENDAR

Boom! It's April. Just like that. Where does the time go?  I know, we'll blink and it will be Christmas again, but right now, we are enjoying spring, or for some of you, hoping to see it very soon!









POP UP CHALLENGE:  Create an April Calendar in your journal using lavendar/violet/purple hues or tones.

Here are our calendars for your inspiration!

Betty - I created my calendar using gradient shades of lavender and purples with craft acrylics applied with a cosmetic sponge. The grid was first laid out with pencil, then over-lined with white Signo Uniball  and the April Holidays and a birthday added with a Micron .04 pen.  I added a quick little tree on Arbor Day and a reverse bunny on Easter Sunday.

Then I spent a couple of hours doodling all over the place, inspired of course by the fabulous Dylusions stamp and stencil, which I don't have... so I created my own version with a bold, black Signo Uniball.

I did all these doodles while having that special "quality time" with the hubs in front of the television.  He was actually watching the TV. I was focusing on getting this finished so I could move on to some other obligations!

MELODY -  Melody made a really beautiful calendar for this pop up, using her ever-vibrant color choices of Dina Wakely's Blackberry Violet and Titanian White, offset beautifully with some stamps, hand lettering and stickers.  The days of the month were cut from scrapbooking paper, hand dated and outlined with a black china marker.  Who doesn't love Paris in the springtime?

Tamie and Lynn were not available for this pop up this week due to other family commitments.  We hope that these two calendars will inspire you to make your own beautiful version to start the month out.  Remember to share your creations with us over at Artful Journeys!

We're keeping it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

Artful Journeys Week 13 - Northern Lights or Stars

Hi, it's Melody this week taking the reins here on the blog. Surprise!

There was grumbling among the natives this week over the prompt....and why wouldn't there be...Northern Lights...Beautiful to look at...Easy to admire...NOT so easy to recreate on paper!  And only one of our team members was able to pull it off!

Betty took the bull by the horns and with an amazing jolt of inspiration created something spectacular!  Jump over and see HOW she did it here

Next is our dear Tamie's spread, created with some digital images and sweet silver star stickers, Tamie really captured the beauty of a night sky and the idea of making her spread an adventure!

Lynn jumped into this week's challenge with both feet and came up with a winner!!!  On this piece I painted with 3 colors. First I used the color Navy and then added Apricot to make it look like evening. The top I did Brick Red. The glimmer at the top is  the glow of the Northern lights, while the man and woman are a postcard I cut down to fit the page trying to make it look like they are watching the lights from inside their house. Trees came from a swap with a friend, and the glimmer at the top are tiny star lights.

Melody tried to do the Northern Lights, but apparently her sanity was starting to suffer, so she took a different route for her spread this week and hit NASA up for a little inspiration.  See her interesting take on this week here

ARTFUL JOURNEYS - WEEK #11

This week, St. Patrick's Day arrives, so everyone (nearly) is thinking about green.  Green everything. Clothes, food, beverages.  Some of these celebrations are legendary in some parts of the country and we hope that you will be celebrating the wearing of the green, whether you are Irish or not. It is all about the fun!

Our prompt this week:  Paint it Green with alternates:  Use a brown paper bag or Saran Wrap (c)

Your admin team likes to use that very wide "interpretation" thing quite frequently. And I think we have done just that this week.  Have a look at what we have created in response to this week's prompt.  I think you'll have a laugh or two and hopefully be inspired.


MELODY ELZY - Gosh Melody is digging way down into her stash of goodies this week and made a wonderful spread, full of surprises, lots of interest and texture.  Check it out on her blog here

BETTY RICHARDSON - Going way out of her comfort zone, Betty has created a three-dimensional spread this week. Check it all out on her blog here

TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - Tamie is telling us just how it really is in her world this week, and made a beautiful spread, as always. Check it out on her blog here

LYNN JACKSON - I used two color of greens for this. Neon green and Island Green. Added some stars with a stencil in white paint. Not sure why I used the dress on the page I just liked it and hope you do too.

Well there you have it.  Four different interpretations this week, and everyone taking a totally different approach.  We hope you can take something positive away with you this week from what we have created, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with!

We're keeping it artful!

~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn
ARTFUL CHICKS

POP-UP ART CHALLENGE #12 - GRUNGE IT UP

We've got a pop-up art challenge for you this week.  ADD GRUNGE OR MAKE SOME GRUNGE IN YOUR JOURNAL!

Many of you know my life is all about "order" and the sensibility of order. So I have trouble with the concept just adding more when it comes to adding more papers and bits to my journal pages for fear of trashing them, but oddly enough, I have no trouble with it when it comes to adding paint!  I have no fear collecting the paper bits, saving them, and knowing I am going to use them, but collective bits added in a random fashion -- I definitely have trouble with that.  It's my mean Inner Critic, I know. She is ruthless. She shouts at me "You're messing it up.....stop"  and sadly, I listen to her.  But the times I have ignored her and kept adding more are the pages I truly love the very best.  Letting go and letting the art just come organically is really quite rewarding.  Making something look grungy, well, it was invigorating for me. It was quite freeing.  Really.  Try it.  Grunge it up.  You'll love it!

I love using red and black together. Something about those two colors together I find very powerful when combined.  Of course there still seems to be a big sense of "order" to my completed page, but honestly, I just had a blast with it.  You gotta start somewhere being messy and "grungy", right?

I brayered on several different layers and colors of red artists quality acrylic paints, including Golden, Liquitex and Dayler-Rowney, both regular and heavy body.  I grabbed up my giant bottle of generic black acrylic and brushed on strokes here and there, dry brushing in some places, thinning with a paper towel in others.

I made a flap or a "tip-in" using a recycled K-cups coffee box that I covered with the same colors of paint, in the same haphazard, slapping-away method.  I splattered black india ink.  Wheeee! Such fun!  The flap will serve to hide some journaling I plan to add to the spread later, but generally just gives the page a little more interest. Finally, using titanium white, I added some slashes and dots randomly over the page, and a pretty piece of red glittery yarn to the flap.

Seeing that brown cardboard underneath the flap now, I better add some more paint to that. Another journaling and painting opportunity!

Thanks for stopping by and looking.  If you have a moment, leave me some blog love in comments. I am interested to hear what you have to say about my grunge look and creating with wild abandon!

We're keeping it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~~Betty

ARTFUL TACTICS with Tamie

TECHNIQUE  - MONO PRINTING WITH PLASTICS BAGS 

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I have a step-by-step photo tutorial for you today. It is fun and easy and you will get tons of interesting effects. I found this idea on Pinterest.  This is a great technique if you do not have a gelli plate for mono-printing.  Same basic overall effect.  Try it with stencils, too!

Start off with some acrylics and a plastic bag (YEAH, we get to recycle!!) Since I had a long bag, I just cut it into three pieces.

With a paint brush or even your fingers paint a design or shape.

 Place bag upside down onto your page and rub paint onto paper. Use your heat source to dry.

On another bag do the same thing but different color and different shape. Repeat by placing bag upside down and rubbing a bit. Then dry again.

Look how  cool it is coming out!   Don't stop now, grab another bag and another color and shape.

 

Look at all this yumminess!!!

I added some Gelatos for a little more color and shape.

Deliciousness there baby!!!! 

To finish my page I used a collage doll from CBD.  You can find them HERE at her store or find her at her Facebook page.

With a black and red wax pencil I drew in my wording and outlined the girl.

Also here are a couple other samples I did and some "Tip-ins" with them.

Have a wonderful day, go get your art on and find your madness!!

(c) ARTFUL CHICKS / TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON

ARTFUL JOURNEYS - WEEK # 7

MARDI GRAS, FAT TUESDAY, CARNIVALE -- the final last big hurrah before Lent for many people.  Another reason to party and celebrate for others.  A time when many cities come alive with people, events, parties, parades and debauchery.

Mardi Gras begins on or after the Epiphany or King's Day and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. The date of Fat Tuesday coincides with that of celebrations of Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess".  (courtesy of Wikipedia)

You guessed it.  This is our prompt for this week.  Mardi Gras.  We want you to express Mardi Gras in your journal.  Make it bright. Make it bold. Make it colorful.  Use all the greens, golds & purples you want since these ARE the colors of Mardi Gras.  The gaudier it is, the more it becomes about this event.  Collage some costumes.  Make a mask. Represent this huge international event however you please.  Many people, in many cultures celebrate the last day before the Lenten season.  Maybe your celebrations are quiet and reserved, feasting, sharing time with friends and family and not filled with quite so much of the rituals that have become these wild Mardi Gras celebrations.  However you choose to intepret it is strictly up to you.  After all, it is your journal.

Please take a moment to visit the blogs of Betty & Melody to see their creations and processes, and leave some blog love while you're there.  Tamie's blog is still down and of course, Lynn says she is not blogging. Ever.

Enjoy our creations.  We had fun making them for this week's prompt.

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LYNN JACKSON - I can't lie. When I first heard of this prompt from the other members of this jolly band of chicks, my first thought was that nothing was going to come to my mind with this one but, as it turned out,  I really enjoyed doing it. 

I used Blue Bird acrylic paint for the background, and created some fluffy white clouds.  The south is always clear and sunny, right??   The letters were brown that I used my glaze pens on and found some New Orleans stickers at the local hobby store that represented New Orleans.  I just kinda tried to make a cute page out of it.  Remember, I'm still learning, like some of you, and I am sure having fun experimenting and playing!

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TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - Well, my blog is still down, and I am really missing it (um, did I say that? hehe).  Bless Betty for doing these posts for all of us. She does her darndest to keep us all in line (most of the time).  Anywho...  for this week's prompt I first started with a gessoed page and used some round homemade stencils for the effects.  I used all Gelatos for background. I also used a new circle stencil with greenish ink and placed red dots with a marker. Then, I glued down some gold confetti I just happened to have. Used apple green acrylic and an end of a pencil to make some more circles.

The dolls are from Xquizart Designs (http://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/manufacturers.php) I printed out my word art,  drew around them with a black marker and added white dots. Glued some on some neon color butterflies and here you have it!

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MELODY ELZY - Melody's spread this week leaves lots of room for her to write and journal, as is her style and preference.    Visit her blog here,  to read about her processes and materials. Remember to leave her some blog love while you're there!

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BETTY RICHARDSON - This week was a lot of fun and I think I went a little bit crazy with this thing.  I'm only giving you a little sneak peek here, so hop on over to my blog here to see BOTH things I created for you this week.  And a little blog love would be especially  nice, too.

If you want, you can follow my blog either by email, on Bloglovin or recommend it to your friends on G+1.  If you follow, you will likely see these posts before they are posted to the group, giving you a bit of a head start.  Jus' sayin' .... 

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We hope you all enjoy our interpretations of this week's prompts.  We're getting back on track (with the conclusion of 14 Days of Love yesterday) with all our weekly prompts, pop-up art challenges and our Artful Tactics.  So stay tuned, and keep it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY #14

We did it!  This is the 14th day of love, and if you  have been keeping up and doing all 13 days thus far, you are finally at the end.  Celebrate yourself today!  Remind yourself that you are loved, that you are, indeed, good enough, worthy and talented!  We are proud you have stuck out this little project and have so enjoyed seeing all your work and your creations.

Our final prompt for 14 DAYS OF LOVE is to reward yourself. Write yourself a love poem, or use a poem that speaks to who you are as a person.

You could write a sonnet if you like, an ode to the powerful you.  Or maybe you decide to write a Haiku, or even a little limerick.  However you do it, and however you express it, we know it will be wonderful!

You.  Yes,  you  ARE worthy, talented, creative and all the other very positive things about you that you (and others) love.  Too often we let our inner critic take the lead, and throughout the past two weeks, we have wanted you to focus on your positive, the loving side of your nature and what it feels like to BE loved.

We love that you put your art "out there" for us all to see and enjoy.  We love that you are part of our artful journey and sharing this experience with us.  We love that you embrace our challenges, and take the sometimes difficult steps to get out of your comfort zone with your art.  We love that you inspire us!  We will continue to push you throughout the year to keep stepping out of that comfort zone, but now, those of you who are finishing this challenge can be assured that you have what it takes to see a project through to completion.  You did it!  And we are proud of you!  We're pretty proud of ourselves, with this being our first "series" of  themed art prompts.  It was fun, challenging and at the same time very rewarding in oh, so many ways.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

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Here's our interpretation of today's prompt.  We hope you are able to take many positives away from this experience, either through the process, the experience of discovery and experimentation, or through the comfort in knowing that you don't face those inner demons alone.

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BETTY RICHARDSON - Today's prompt was really fun for me.  I was a little bit silly, and a little bit serious.

My silliness is reflected in this little ditty, that I learned as a child.  Why I learned it I will never know, but it has stuck with me all these many decades.  Created as a 4x6" postcard. Background created with scraped gesso;  Liquitex Basics acrylics in 3 different shades of red; lettered with black Signo Uniball pen.  Stamp is one I received from a friend, colored with Copic Markers, and outlined with black China marker.  Embellished with decorative tape and Special Black Copic marker.  It is silly, isn't it, but I love this old lady with her hat and noisemaker.  That's me. Old lady.  But I like to say I'm old enough to know better and young enough not to care! <hehehe>

My "serious" side takes a more conventional approach to today's prompt.  I could certainly have written a poem, a Haiku or even a Limerick.  I have written many in the past because I do love words (can't you tell) and I love writing.  But THIS poem speaks to my soul, my inner me, the strong and independent me.  To me, it focuses on the positive, forging ahead in life no matter what is hurled toward you.  And this has how my life has been. I was always taught to pull myself up by my bootstraps and move on.  Whether I get knocked down or fall down on this journey we call life.  So here, I recite INVICTUS, by William Ernest Henley. I first read this poem when I was about 14 years old and have kind of clung to it ever since.  If you're keeping track, that's about 5 decades. I hope you like it too.

Hand lettered on black cardstock with a silver metallic Sakura pen and embellished with silver, green & pink metallic and Red Sakura Stardust pens.  Nothing too fancy.  And it is super shiny in the light.It may be simple, but it speaks volumes to me.  I think it is a fitting way to end my 14 Days of Love, by loving myself.

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LYNN JACKSON - Using card-stock painted pink and lime green for the background and added heart stamps and once again colored them in with the glaze pens. I must say these prompts were more fun thAn work like I thought they would be.  I hope you all have enjoyed them as well. Thanks for looking!

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Melody is traveling out of state tonight, and poor Tamie has had her grandchildren all day, so Lynn and I will have to do!

Create something wonderful and reward yourself!  Show us your creations on the group feed at Artful Journeys and we'll keep cheering you on!

We're keeping it artful!
"Your" ARTFUL CHICKS

~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn