What does living fearless mean?

This is a good question.  Living fearless means many things, I guess it depends on who you are.  I don't see me doing anything wild and crazy like skydiving or putting myself in harm.  Living fearless for me this year is going to be about putting myself out there, taking a few more risks, and believing in myself.  I know there will be many people who like and dislike my art or how I do things but this is me.

Here is what I created from my journal page:

I created a print from my first journal page for this year.  Don't think my hubby will mind a little purple in our teal bedroom, do you?.  But I think having a visual for me will be helpful to see each day.

Actually, my #Society6 shop is awesome in creating fun stuff that I can get a mug or a pillow as my daily reminder!  Silly girl.

The decision will be hard as to which to get.

But here is my first step my sharing 1 side of my 2 page layout of my journal page, putting it out the publicly and trying to be fearless one baby step at a time.

You can join me! - Judy

#66 - #69...Catching up a few of the paintings

Boy!  This week I have been busy trying to update my shops, blog and Facebook.  I'm changed the name of my shop to my name.  Mainly because most people don't understand the ScrampAlot.  It was the name of my stamping team when I was a Close to my Heart consultant, which means my website and everything is in ScrampAlot.  So in the next few weeks everything will be changed over.

Today's catch up painting is a 4 part series.  I scanned them to place on my Society 6 shop and Nuvango shop.  They look great.  The originals are 4"x4".  I'm not sure what I am going to do with them....mat them to fit a standard frame or mount them onto mini canvases.

In the meantime, I am going to show you scans and then you can go the the Society 6 and Nuvango shops to see how they look framed.  Just a note - Nuvango prints are framed, they don't offer unframed yet.


Encircled in Lavender #1

 



 Encircled in Lavender #2




 Encircled in Lavender #3





Encircled in Lavender #4

 


 What I find REALLY cool about Nuvango is the Tech gadget cases and skins.  They make cases for every type of phone, tablet and game system.

Look at this for my tablet....



Well that is it for my coolness.  Need to finish some more paintings that can be my new business cards.

Happy Saturday! - Judy

#64 & 65 - I stepped outside of my comfort zone

This past week-end I stepped outside of my comfort zone in many ways.  We will start with my comfort of being in social settings.  I am not anti-social, I just don't enjoy being around crowds.  mainly because I miss most of the conversation and people really do get annoyed when I ask them many times to repeat hat they said.  Most times I just smile and nod.  So back to this week-end...I attended a bbq for a friend's vow renewal and I attended a house concert.

Both were fun (uncomfortable), love my comfort zone of home.  I hope this doesn't sound like I never go out and do anything.  I just prefer one on one.  So how does this relate to my art????

I am going to share painting #64 & 65.  I will admit that these painting were sort of out of my comfort zone too.  Watercolor on Yupo paper is comfortable, sharing what I do is no so comfortable and when you are asked to paint something for someone's CD cover - really uncomfortable!

#64

This is a painting is available as an original and/or print.  I painted it while I was listening to Ben Allfree's music.  It was I wonder if I can do this kinda of thing.  I had so much fun that I had to try it again with my signature color - orange!

#65

Yes, #2 was chosen for the CD cover for Ben's first CD.  It is kinda cool to see this and for me to take a chance.  he had all the confidence in me and I have to thank him for that.

He has the original painting, but we have agreed to have the print available for a little while for his listeners (groupies) to purchase.  So if you would like to see the print or purchase you can go to HERE.


Overall I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.  The house concert was great and I would highly suggest you book Ben for a concert.  His info is here.

May the rest of your Monday be great! - Judy

#63 - I need your help/opinion...(Warning lots of photos!)

Happy Wednesday!  I am here with the #63 of 200 painting and I am not sure what to do with it.  So I am asking your opinion.  I took a watercolor collage class this past week-end and I am sharing one of those collages with you today.

But I'm not sure if the painting is done, missing something or just needs to be broken down into smaller works.  The teacher was trying to push me into doing larger pieces, but my comfort zone is minis, as you see on my Etsy shop.  So here goes....WARNING lots of photos.

I thought I would show you the piece if framed as is first (above) and below is how it looks on my kitchen floor.  It is curling a bit but that can be fixed with a little water.

First off, I pushed myself to work with big AND colors I don't normally gravitate to.

So here is where you come into this, I am going to show a bunch of photos to see what it would look like if I cut the large piece into smaller pieces.  Be prepared to be overwhelmed.

It could be cut in half and make these two 11x14's.

Or a 11x14 and an 8x10.

Or go wild and make some 5x5 squares, 4x6 rectangles and whatever little minis?

However this blue square does talk to me because you can see the cheesecloth really well. I did say it was a watercolor collage, and to me collage means anything can be added, like fibers!

I hope to hear some response on what you think.  After writing this post, I think I am leaning towards cutting it up.  And what do you think of this color?

Judy

#62 - An Orange Abstract, should it be called a tulip?

I have been painting quite a bit lately, just haven't shared yet.  Plus there is some big news coming too.  In the meantime I really need to start photo more of my stuff.

Here is #62 of 200.  Do you think I will make it to 200?  Well not the way it was intended in 200 days, but I'm sure I'll make it to 100 and we will see.  This painting was done with pouring watercolor paints on Yupo paper.  Talk about releasing control!  It was invigorating, freeing and uplifting.  I will need to make a video of how this is done.

Anyways I am sharing the photo horizontal so I can look at it that way and here it is vertical.

I was drawn to the the vertical but this morning the horizontal is interesting too.  Love that it being an abstract it can go anyways it feels.

Sometime with an abstract you really need to see it with a mat around it to get the feeling of the piece.  Plus it is easier for your eyes too.  I can't wait to frame this one.

You do know I LOVE orange, right?  And does it look like a tulip?  It didn't when I was painting, nor when it was drying but seeing it in a photo I see what people were saying.  But as an abstract it can be anything you want it to be.

Have a wonderful Thursday, hope to share lots more tomorrow.

Judy

#60 &61 - I'm sorta feeling like a REAL artist

I have been painting.  I just haven't been blogging or sharing it yet.  The art that I have been been doing is abstract and some people just don't get it or like it.  So take a deep breath.....whew!

Here is paintings number 60 and 61.  They are watercolor on Yupo paper.

This is how the paintings look raw and makes you say ok, but add some mat to them and it helps your eyes a bit.

That helps!  Abstract, there are rules to them.  You need to look for flow, texture, lines and a few other elements.  All I know the art teacher that I took the class with she was very happy with these and told me not to touch them.  That made me happy.

But the big test is how they look in a frame on the wall.

Now that make me feel like an artist, seeing your finished work on the wall and it being impressive.  Love how it looks in my master bedroom.  It makes the rest of the artwork look a little drab.  So you may see a few more teal and grey pieces in upcoming posts.

Have a happy Monday and embrace that inner artist waiting to get out!

Judy

#57, 58, 59 - catch up post

Thought I would do a catch up post on the daily art pieces.  So today is 57, 58, 59!  I'm getting there slowly.  Each day is one step closer. Just think tomorrow will be number 60.

I chose to share 3 little miniature paintings that I have added to my Etsy shop (side link).  With the busy week-end and hubby home I didn't get much done in my art journal.  I know I was a slacker.
Actually I went to the Rib Cook Off here in Reno and took a watercolor class.  I could share what we did in class but it is unfinished.  Not super exciting unless you want to see the process.

I have been practicing my drawing of dragonflies.

Love doing these miniature painting!  I would love to hear what themes you would like to see in them.  I have thought about birds, food, flowers, but would also like to do some mixed media and fiber stuff on them too.

What would you like to see?

Judy

#56 - seeing poppies

#56...today I was experiment doing flowers on wet and dry surfaces.  I still need work.

Here is the art journal.

The wet on wet technique is on the left and dry on dry on the right.  I really don't know which one I like better.   So I had to try doing another wet on wet.

Better, but still needs a little more work.  Perfect timing though because tomorrow I am taking a watercolor class.  It should be fun.

I hope you have an safe and artful holiday week-end.

~Judy

#55 of 200...Monochromatic

Today is 55 of 200...sounds like a BIG challenge, doesn't it?  I have had some nay-sayers about this challenge.  But this is a new day and I did a great job so far.

The watercolor challenge was to do a monochromatic dream scape.  Dream scape was a little too challenging, so I went with monochromatic.  Here is my sketchbook.

I decided to go with my signature color, orange.  What fun just pull out my red and yellow watercolors.  I wasn't too happy with the sketchbook, but somehow it sort of looked like a cactus and a sun set, so I will go with that.  Just because this is going to be am art journal I added my black lines and left a space for writing.  Georgia O'Keefe has been on my mind this week, so maybe one of her quotes would work in this page.  At the end of the 6 weeks, I will share how I embellished some of these pages, for now you will see the rough watercolor experiments.

Back to the little purple canvas...monochromatic water colored canvas, my pen and ink circles and coated with a was medium. The fiber piece was created by laying fibers and wool between two pieces of water soluble stabilizer and free motion stitching.  They are a blast to make.

Now to decide which direction it should be laying on the easel, but I guess that is up to whom ever purchases it off my Etsy shop of Facebook page.

If you are interested in this piece or want to request a special order, please contact me.

Have an artful day! ~Judy

#54 of 200...I'm back after a break

I miss doing my daily blog post, but mainly miss doing a daily art challenge.  So I am back!  And I hope you are back to reading my posts, pinning them and getting inspired.  I know I have inspired a friend to take up painting and a few more have my art hanging on their walls.  Thank you!

I am still wanting to continue my 200 works and this is how I am going to do it.  My darling husband, Keith, bought me this book, One Watercolor A Day by Veronica Lawlor. 

I have been drooling of the pages for a few weeks and thought I just have to do it or do something!  So I bought a watercolor journal to start.  Here is the secret, I have always wanted to work on an art journal but have no idea where to start, but this would be a great way to add color to pages and as I get going I may get braver.

The first day was to just add color to the page, swipe it, drop it or smudge it.

This is my page, was not happy with my color choices so I started doodling on it.  Something about adding black little bubbles on the page felt good.  I think I need to continue with some circle and words but the number one thing is I started!!

Although I took this as a starting prompt for me to do a mini art canvas.

This little canvas has the same philosophy.  Add color, let it blend together and see what you have.  Oh my, it needed my little bubbles!  I think I really like the idea of doing watercolor with pen & ink.  Does this make me a mixed media artist?  But I didn't stop there...I pulled out my cold wax medium and sealed this work in wax.  I am listing this mini on my Etsy shop and there will be many more to come.

Still excited that I started a art journal, did an abstract watercolor, added a new medium and got me off my butt and into the studio to do some art.

I hope to see you again.  Enjoy the next 6 weeks of watercolors with the Judy spin.

Judy

#53 pen and ink with orange!

#53 of 200...Some night I sit there a doodle while watching TV and here is a little doodle.  Actually I bought these little 4x4 watercolor tiles by Strathmore.  I think they are really cool to play with.  Thought it would be a great way to do a doodle everyday.

The had part about the 4x4 size is finding a picture frame to put them in.  I found this frame at Micheals in the clearance bin, so I bought the last two that they had in Reno.  But I really like how this looks on my accent wall in the kitchen, plus testing out a color change for the kitchen too.
I want to keep the orange wall but I want to paint the blue walls light grey and the cabinets a darker grey.  So this little painting is a color study.

 

 Here are my kitchen inspirations

I like the Grey cabinets but I have the brown/beige granite counter tops and a orange wall in the sitting area.

So what do you think of the color study?

Judy

#52 - Watercolor Purple Petunia

#52 of 200...I thought I would share a petunia that I drew.  A little abstract, but I like the composition.  But wow!  I really like saturated colors.  Some people like the translucent colors of watercolor, but today I used some new paint that was from the instructor from the last class I took.


I placed the painting in this frame but the opening is 4.75" rather than 5".  I am not sure i like how much it cut off.  maybe this means a quick trip to Micheal's tonight.

I have to say I used a pen to draw this, but since I used such a saturated color you can not see much of my pen lines.  I may have to try this again and in orange!

Happy Friday! ~ Judy

#51 - Dragonfly

#51 of 200...I am starting to feel creative again.  I think sometime you just need a break and some very encouraging friends.

Today I am sharing a pen and ink drawing of a dragonfly.  The push for me was trying to do a waterylook watercolor...kinda messy or should I say free flowing.  It was hard for me to let the paint go outside of the lines and give it an extra spray of water to encourage it to feather.

I look really good on my dresser since my master bedroom is grey and teal.

Here is a pict without any filters.

Have a artful evening! ~ Judy

#49 - stencils and watercolor

#49 of 200...keeping it short and simple tonight.  I keep asking myself if I could use stencils with watercolors and I have found out the answer.  Yes you can if you are painting on Yupo papers but not of traditional watercolor paper.  This is because the paint stays on top of the Yupo paper rather than soaking in on watercolor paper.  The only trick is to leave the stencil on while paint dries or just about dried.

This painting was a much larger painting that I cut down.  It was supposed to be an abstract poppy but it didn't work out as planned so I cut it to fit the mat.  Oh well, off to try another.

Night ~ Judy

#48 - My wild purple iris

#48 of 200...I went to a painting class last night and our project is to draw a freeform iris.  I have to admit drawing a flower kind be challenging without seeing a real one so I had to google one when I got home!  haha...looks like mine is missing a little bit.

Anyways the technique was super easy and fun to do.  I wonder if it would work on Yupo?

Here is what it looks like framed.

I think next time I would make the petals a little fatter, but everyday is a learning experiment.

Have a good night ~ Judy