Downton Abbey

Aaahh, Downton! I can not even believe there is just 1 episode left of the season. A season that leads me to think we may only get one more. I'm not sure if I've shared very many of these sketches, but I'm crazy about drawing these cast characters from my favorite shows. It's slow going, but hopefully I can make more and post more of them because it's the most fun side project. This is from season one and I'm thinking it's about time to make a new one. Enjoy!

My Valentine

This is what my sweet husband works on most days. The building of wooden surfboards, skateboards and stand up paddle boards. Because not only is Chad a skilled craftsman, but also an artist, he decided to hand draw the designs on these two boards with paint markers. It's crazy and detailed and beautiful. Just his style.

Because Chad is crafty and creative and will pretty much do whatever I ask, he agreed to help me by being a guinea pig for my Silhouette Stories class. We spent the afternoon journaling the main assignment and this is what he came up with. I love journaling with others, but it's extra fun seeing how your spouse takes instruction and in what wildly personal way it gets interpreted. To return the favor I was a good sport with feedback on what was/wasn't working, where we needed more time, etc. All in all a good time was had by all.

First stage of the process. Journal writing, paint, collage, mono printing and mark making.

The Silhouette gets defined.

Filling in and around the silhouettes, and adding line work and lettering. Full disclosure: Chad wants to work his page some more, but as both student and teacher's helper, he did a great job. There is a story in his piece as well as an intensity and intimacy between the figures. I'll keep you updated as it evolves!

Jan - Grey Pages

Another year of No More Excuses! This year Gina Armfield has created a whole theme around color. It's really rejuvinated my commitment to my NME journal. This is such a fun, daily diary/daily sketchbook process for me. I just love it!

Inside cover was painted with acrylic and the quote is rubber stamped. The journals tabs were hand painted and punched using a tab punch.

Using my monthly grid page as a color sampler, to do list, and place for my word/quote of the year.

More "grey" pages and a little Game of Thrones love.

Silhouette Stories class

What a great class! On Jan 31 I taught Silhouette Stories at Two Hands Paperie. We spent the day working in our journals, crafting silhouettes from textured backgrounds and finishing up by adding details such as line work and lettering. Class was fun and busy and everyone really worked hard. By the end of class everyone was working fearlessly and headed in very personal directions. It was a joy to work with this group and see what everyone created using the same steps.

Creating backgrounds in our journals.

By the end of the day, each piece becomes so personal.

The finishing details.

January - what a month!

Whew! January was a busy and productive month for me. I prepped for my Silhouette Stories class at Two Hands Paperie, taught the class last weekend, somehow managed to keep up with my MATS class and Year of painting class, and worked in my No More Excuses Calendar. February looks to be about the same, busy, busy, busy. For now I will give you a glimpse of what I worked on and will follow up with specifics on my journaling classes and other projects!

Mixed media painted creating in Alena Hennessey's Year of Painting class, incorporating my word for the year, flow. "I am rooted, but I flow." -Virginia Woolfe


Silhouette Stories journal page


Journal design created in Lila Rogers MATS Bootcamp class. Tons of sketches and ideas have come out of this first assignment and I look forward to sharing them in the future as prints, journals, stickers and cards. Keep an eye out for them!