Love, grow, bloom - little terrariums

I really loved the challenges of Lilla Rogers bootcamp, and was so sad to see it end, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to get one more assignment from Lilla - this one as part of her Global Talent Search.  Although I didn't hold out any hope of being in the top 50 (out of 999!) I really enjoyed the assignment - to create wall art with the theme "little terrariums", and to incorporate at least 1word.

My little terrariums are designed using linocuts, line drawings, and lots of editing in Photoshop. I decided to build my little terrariums in canning jars - there are sweet little plants layered with pebbles, tags with block printed words, all tied up with hand drawn baker's twine.  Lately I've been having fun doodling doilies, and had to include a few here. Oh, and my fav little bird tops it off.

You can see the top 50 entries, and all 999 interpretations of the "little terrariums" theme here.

(And I am adding my little terrariums to my Society6 shop - available as art prints, cards, cell cases and more...)

Beverages, and the end to MATS bootcamp...

I'm so sad that MATS bootcamp is coming to an end!  Our last mini was to draw beverages, and our big assignment was to create art that we would hang on our own wall or give to a friend.  Unlike other assignments, we were asked not to share images of our work with the group until after the class gallery went live, and I really missed seeing everyone's work as it progressed... always such an inspiration!

I had a few ideas percolating (excuse the pun!) and decided to go with a design for my own kitchen.

A few weeks ago, I created a couple of prints with stacks of teacups, and I have a small print of the blue and white version hanging in my kitchen.  I wanted to create a companion piece for this assignment.  I included block printed flowers, cups and a little birdie... as well as hand drawn lace doilies.

I've uploaded this print to my Society6 shop, where it's available as prints, cards, cell cases, pillows and more.

I have also been working on a few other ideas (inspired by adult beverages...) that I plan to complete, so stay tuned for more beverage prints!

Tea Time!

I love vintage blue and white china and I took that as my inspiration when I started working on these teacup prints...but of course, I had to try a little girly color also, in anticipation of the lovely colors of spring.  Which do you like better?  (I'm leaning toward the classic blue and white, but think the one with pink and green is awfully sweet for spring and summer.)

Well, since I couldn't decide, I've added both to my Society6 shop...and they're available as prints, note cards, cell cases, tote bags and more!  

I think I may need a to buy myself blue chintz and daisy mugs for my tea! 

sweet wiggly jello!

Jello!  That was this month's topic for Lilla Rogers MATs bootcamp.  I have to say, I'm not a big fan of jello, unless it's in the form of a jello shot.  But the stuff with canned fruit? Blech. I really struggled with this subject matter. I spent a lot of time working on a view from above, but my designs really looked like flowers, not so much like jello or jello molds.  So I went back to the drawing board, and started with the fruity stuff.

My original impulse was to go quite bright, and I was heading toward a hot pink and orange color palette, when Lilla gave us a new palette to try - nougat! Dusty pinks, gray, lavender, muted blues, etc. I went a tad brighter than the palette Lilla suggested, but did use several of the colors.

I used hand carved blocks for the jello, fruit, flowers and cake stands and scanned in several of my sketches that I used to create blocks to create the white line work.  I've wanted to play with adding in hand drawn line work to my patterns, and this was the perfect opportunity to experiment... I think it worked quite well!  And on the bottom, you'll find my jello mold / flower garden.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, yes, there will be jello on my 2015 calendar!!

Hello Cuckoo!

Well, my creative journey has taken a bit of a detour over the past several months.  I've been struggling, not feeling particularly creative, and not finding the time to make art (which, by the way, makes me so happy...) and I needed a bit of a kickstart.  So when I heard of Lilla Rogers Make Art That Sells Assignment bootcamp, I knew it was for me.  It's a six month program, with an assignment each month.  This month we explored cuckoo clocks.  We spent our first week sketching (it was fabulous to pick up pencil and paper and draw pages of cuckoos, and other elements that could be used in cuckoos). Here are some of my early sketches.  

Toward the end of the week I went back to my favorite medium, and started working on block prints.  I honed my design, and with the help and generous critiques of the fabulous community of artists on facebook who are also taking this bootcamp, I headed down the path toward my final design.  

At the beginning of the second week, we learned that we were to use our designs on cell phone cases. I explored a few options - adding different design elements from my collection of block prints and different colorways. I tweaked, and played, and thoroughly enjoyed the process!  I used a template and tutorial from a fellow bootcamper to mock up iphone cases, which helped in my decision process. Here are a few of the options I considered for my final submission to the gallery.

I ended up deciding on the dark blue, mocked it up with a few other designs and patterns... and hit the upload button! I can't wait for the gallery of submissions to go live, and see my design among those of the many talented artist taking this course. (Oh, and I can't wait for my new cuckoo case to arrive from Zazzle!)

Now we get the last week of February off, and I'm sure I'll spend it anxiously waiting for the next assignment!

happy....

birthday to me!

Operation Write Home

Last week I discovered Operation Write Home through a post from Stationery Trends Magazine on facebook. Operation Write Home's mission is to support our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards for them to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. They've sent hundreds of thousands of cards to the heroes who are serving our country.

Well, I just think this is fabulous, so of course, Artful Sentiments will be participating! I am looking forward to sending a bundle of my hand block printed cards, and proud that I am able to support our troops in this little way.