Learning My Art :Lesson From Kate Thompson

 I'm still learning from Kate Thompson's 'Fractured Angelics' class and I am loving the new techniques and mediums I am using. Kate's style is envious and as you all know I LOVE her work.

This is the start of the second piece I have been working on. A very classical look and I felt she was coming along nicely.

I added a few elements of collage and color and felt confident that I was finally 'getting' it...the style that I love about Kate's work.

After procrastinating my next step for over a week, I sat down to add to this piece and it was like a light bulb went off. I can not emulate the work of artists that I love, but I CAN learn from them. The lessons need to be applied, however, to MY art, so I can expand on what is mine. Hence, this piece is slowly becoming mine and I am comfortable with her.

Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I love my art and I enjoy creating in my own style, I just let go and it was with ease that I finished her.

Thank you Kate Thompson for being such an awesome teacher and sharing your art, your knowlege, your techniques, and your time. I am beyond blessed to be able to learn from you!

String Art: Not What You Remember

There are a lot of people creating some awesome zentangles and zentangle dangles out in the art world. You can see some very creative ones on Pinterest  or you can visit Zentangle.com and see what all the craze is about.

I tried drawing a few and I don't seem to have the creativity to make something that is pleasing to the eye. I will continue to try though :)

This week I combined my love for the look of inked aluminum, my new Dylusions paints and another try at dangles, but a little different as I did not draw them.

I began with a 9" x 12 " canvas and painted it with Dylusion's paints. I love, love, love their vibrant colors!

Next, I hand cut some hearts out of aluminum cans. I ran them through the Cuttlebug to emboss them and I inked them with colors that matched my canvas.

I then cut paper hearts out of a turquoise paper and adhered the aluminum hearts on top of the paper ones. I used twine and ephemra to complete a simple Zen Dangle canvas.

LOVE IT!

As always. I thank you for stopping by and would welcome your comment on this piece.

T

Mixed Media: But, More Classical

A few weeks ago, I won a seat in Kate Thompson's Fractured Angelics class. I was beyond excited as I have admired her work for a long time.

However, ... there's always a 'but', no? I was afraid... as this was a whole new genre (style) of mixed media art.

I began painting just a couple of years ago and am barely becoming comfortable with the title of artist and I was about to embark on an art journey that stretches way out of my comfort zone.

I read the supply list for the class and realized I had nothing that was required (suggested), so my usual 'procrastinating self' put off beginning the videos.

Then one day, I decided to just watch a few of the videos to get a feel for what I was going to need to do in order to participate. I watched the Intro and I was already hooked. I already loved Kate Thompson's Art, but now I loved Kate!!!!

Using what I had on hand (only purchased one item), I dove in.

Getting the layers on

Adding color and charcoal grouping
 hoping to see an angel form

I defined her image a little

Well, needless to say, I was not happy after I added white acrylic to define her,
so I covered the whole canvas in white gesso and there it sat for over two weeks. I wanted desperately to create a piece that looked like something more than a cartoon, but now I realized just how inexperienced I was. That realization instilled the fear of beginning again.

Staring at that blank canvas for all this time, I realized what I was doing wrong. I was thinking 'mixed media' in my traditional sense and I needed to think 'classical' as that is the tone of Kate's work that I love.

After watching the whole Part One series in the course, a few of the Part Two videos and silently scolding myself , I finally got up the courage to give it another try.

Added color, some paper pieces and her face

She needed a halo

 Though I saw two wings in this painting, I have always believed that we angels on earth have only one wing that we use to carry another when they need us. I believe Angels get their second wing when they leave the physical word. Then, they need one to carry themselves and one to carry another.

I was a little stuck at this point , so I posted my painting on the ecourse Facebook page. Kate was there... (extending her single wing)... she commented and offered a suggestion that totally brought this painting to fruition.

Final and Completed Painting
"Ever Present ; Earth Angel"

If you have a few minutes, click on the links to Kate Thompson's pages that I provided in this post. She's an awesome artist. I have learned so much already from this class and I am ready  for Part Two.

As always, thank you for stopping by and sharing in my ever progressing art journey. I am loving the road I am walking now and I can't tell you how much your support means.

T

Something For Mom

Though my own mom is no longer with me, not a day goes by that I don't think of her and how important she was, and still is, to me. Any good mothering skills that I have came from her (any bad ones were my attempt at believing that I could do it better)... haha

The following is my attempt to create a couple of pieces that capture the love a daughter has for her mother. 

Magnetic Frame and Tag

I have been watching my fellow mixed media artists make beautiful tags for quite a while, but I never had all the bells and whistles ephemera to put together something that seemed abundantly pretty.

One day at work I walked by a box of old manila folders that were earmarked for the trash. I grabbed a few and cut them up into tag shapes.

Using paper and flowers from the Frosted Designs "Rustic Beauty" Kit  as well as some odds and ends burlap, bling and old flowers from Michaels, I was able to create these tags that I just adore!

Though they are beautiful on their own, with Mother's day approaching ( and my melancholy mood ) I decided to create a little something that would make an inexpensive but loving gift for any mom.

On one of my Michael's shopping trips, I picked up a couple of magnetic frame on sale for $1. The designs weren't much to look at, but I knew that I could paint them or cover them.

I cut a piece of paper the size of the frame.

I cut the center out, glued it to the frame and distressed the edges with a charcoal ink.

To cover the places in the center that didn't totally cover the original frame, I added some black ribbon.

I found flowers and bling and layed it out (and changed it again and again) until I liked the design.

With some finishing touches, I created this frame that perfectly matches the 'Mom" tag I created previously.

I think a simple but beautiful gift made from your heart is what most mothers would love to receive on Mother's Day.

I remember a song from my childhood that just kept creeping up in my head as I was making these. Do any of you remember this song?

M is for the million things she gave me.

O means only that shes growing old.

T is for the tears she shed to save me.

H is for her heart of purest gold.

E is for her eyes with love light shining.

R means right and right she'll always be.

Put them all together and they spell M O T H E R. 

A word that means the world to me.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom in heaven and all the mother's around the world. You are loved and remain in our hearts forever.

This post made me teary eyed, so I am off to wipe my sniffles and maybe try a little less sentimental project next.

I so appreciate your visiting.

Tommy Jo