Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Beauty of Your Dreams - PPF

After I didn't do hardly any painting at all over the past  - well, months - I have been in a paint frenzy this week. I hope it keeps for a while because I really enjoy it and love every minute of it!

I started working in my art journal again which I had neglected for a very long time. I just put down some paint and started drawing this girl. I worked a lot with watercolor pencils for her face and hair. I've recently "discovered" watercolor pencils again and I enjoy working with them - I seem to have a bit more control this way and I love to see the colors run and blend when the wet brush goes into them


From there it was only a short step to a painting on canvas that completely evolved from my painting in the art journal. The canvas, however, I started with book pages and some ephemera, then painted on top of them. I created a similar girl and also used the same theme, "believe in the beauty of your dreams". Since I love birds, I cut one from scrapbook paper and added it along with some smaller circles from the same paper. I really like the outcome especially after I hadn't painted for quite some time. I am not afraid anymore to paint faces, something I didn't dare a while ago. I'm so glad that I just tried and then practiced a lot.

"Beauty of your dreams" mixed media painting, available here
 
Finally, I can join the party again - the Paint Party Friday. I'm so happy to be back in this wonderful crowd of such talented artists!
And since there is a good portion of orange in these images I am linking to Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday - check it out!


32 comments:

sharon said...

Love your work and the quote in your first page. I too love water colour pencils - I find I can get more definition with them. Just noticed you have the same quote in second one!

Maria Ontiveros said...

I love the canvas even more than the AJ page!
Rinda

Elephant's Child said...

Awe and wonder here. Thank you so much.

Natasha said...

Love the look on your girls faces, gorgeous. Love your stamps as well. Very cool!!

Anonymous said...

welcome back! this is just my 3rd week with PPF and inspires me a lot. i love both your art journal page and canvas work. The face, the colors, and the other elements you put in there come together so well. Keep on painting! melinda alpha #35

Unknown said...

I love your colors! It's so cool that you took your art journal work onto a canvas. Happy PPF!

Netty said...

Your canvases are full of joy and colour, love them. Enjoy the weekend, happy PPF, Annette x

carlarey said...

It's so nice to see you back at PPF. Glad you are back to the paints, it must feel wonderful after taking a break.

Mary C. Nasser said...

Hooray for your painting frenzy this week! How wonderful!
This portrait is amazing with its combination of text and textures!!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Darla said...

Nice to see you painting again. I like the fact that something you tried in your journal lead to you painting on canvas. Good way to work.

Darla

Friko said...

Whatever gives you pleasure when you are being creative is the right thing to do. Painting is a wonderful outlet; sadly, it is not for me. I haven't picked up pencil or brush for many years having got discouraged very early on.

You carry on doing what comes natural, the more you do it, the better you become.

Enjoy!

Debbie said...

This piece turned out beautifully. Hopefully your painting frenzy will continue!

ger chouinard said...

Carola: Don't you just hate it when we can't find time to paint. I am so much happier when I get back to it. I really can get lost in paint! Love your journal page and canvas - great colors and message! Missed ya ... but I got caught up in stuff and missed PPF for a while too ... glad we are back!

Daniele Valois said...

Very nice!!!

patty said...

This is lovely, Carola. You had a good reason to take a break, but glad you are painting again!!

Ginny said...

I am so glad you are back. What a great idea to art journal first and then continue your work on canvas. It is a beautiful piece of artwork. Thank you for sharing.

Faye said...

Your journal painting and your canvas are both adorable. Wonderful that your muse has awakened.

Marji said...

She is lovely! I think that water color pencils suit you well. Nicely done. Happy PPF

Robin Panzer Art said...

I really love your choice of colors. Happy PPF!

Tracey FK said...

that is a lovely work... and i love the quote worked into it like that...xx

Carolyn Dube said...

Your paints clearly remember you - these look fantastic! Hope your painting frenzy continues!

Kokopelli said...

Glad that you're back to join the party! Happy PPF!

Giggles said...

Very nice and welcome back. I hate the lulls that keep us from ppf!!

Hugs Giggles

GlorV1 said...

love the canvas page and the aj page as well. Good to see you and your wonderful work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Molly said...

glad you're coming back strong and rejuvenated. i like bold red of your painting!

Linda Kunsman said...

Both so lovely!! I so appreciate what you said about creating faces and practicing. Just started working on my first which I'll post once it's finished, but I certainly will continue creating more and practicing.Happy PPF!

carol l mckenna said...

she is delightful ~ love her expressive face and colors are great ~ (A Creative Harbor)

lorik said...

I really like the colour and the layers - exposing those interesting textures and line work.

Rosemary Aubut said...

She is beautiful and congrats to you for getting back into the drawing and painting! Hope to join you there someday! Great work!

lorik said...

I like that you have carried the texture over from the journal to the painting. Lovely rich colour too. You might like to share it on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

Ginnie Hart said...

Practice really does make perfect, Carola! I love what you're doing.

lorik said...

Thank you, Carola, for sharing your wonderfully expressive art work on Mandarin Orange Monday. I am really pleased that we are starting to get a variety of media shared now.