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Remember these three backgrounds I started on day #1 ? I worked a bit on them yesterday and finished a painting on one.

My routine has changed, so I have an extra half hour by myself every morning. I still am adjusting, but it means I can usually go to the studio 30 mn early than what I do. I have focus issues I am aware of, and I know I can’t do more than «concentrated» time, or I lose my focus and start procrastinating (or doing too many things at once, which means I don’t finish any of them… yes, it sucks but I am learning and it will get better eventually).

This Koala showed me his ears first, and I went from there. I got frustrated at some point and even thought he was a bit scary (actually, I still think).

When I sketched him, he had a smile à la Cheshire Cat, even scarier ! ahah

I am loving using embossing powders in both my background and my characters, here the drops, the diamond, and his eyes’ circles are all created with embossing powders. I used the ones from Lindy Stamp Gang, they have a unique dual-tone that I just adore.

I am proud of myself for not being that afraid anymore to cover up. I felt like my entire background needed to be covered up, with just bits and pieces showing up.

This Koala has an important message: be you. You could live in your books ? You love dancing ? You sometimes feel like you are the weirdest of all the weirdos *I know I do* ? well… it is what makes you you…

(the original painting and prints are available, message me if interested 🙂 It will be in the shop very soon)

This week video is one of those that brought struggle I could not find a fix for. I’m usually pretty good at pushing through when in my creative process I find myself in this place of «what to do next ?». I am immensely thankful for artist I learned from, in person or online, like Jesse Reno, Flora Bowley and Mindy Lacefield. They all taught me valuable lessons that changed everything.

I think this video will always remind me of the power of Connection. Connection with each other. Connection with our environment. Connection to the Source.

While I was filming, I stopped and snapped a picture to post on Instagram. And I felt the tingle to iMessage with Lynda to ask for her opinion. We’ve been classmates in several of  Mindy’s classes for quite some time now, we were supposed to meet and be roommates in June but Life decided other way, and even if our style and paths are different, I know this is a good thing because she has a pair of eyes that would see things differently than mine.
She was very helpful and gently pushed me in the direction I was afraid to take in this painting. I work very intuitively, never knowing what my next step will be, just going with the flow. But once I meet that wall of Fear, it takes a lot to get rid of it. I am so happy I listened to her advices as it allowed me to do the right choices.

As a starting point, I asked my Mom to pick one canvas and three colors for me to start with. She chose a square masonite type gessoboard, and the colors yellow+blue+green.

This Sprixie and her Universe came to me easily. But I was too bold with the leaves I stenciled, they were eating everything around. Lynda suggested me to cover the entire background with a white glaze. ICK. Made nodes in my stomach just to thought of it. What if I would lose all my pretty layers ? I chose to go for it, but to diminish the failure possibilities I used Zinc white instead of Titanium one (Titanium white is opaque, Zinc white isn’t).
It worked like magic, toned it done and even brought it all together for a more cohesive feel. Could not resist the alcohol ink drops, though.

This left horn was the starting point of seeing this Sprixie emerge. If you look closely, it was that piece of scrapbook paper that I glued at the very beginning of the process.

«I feel it all» is the title of a song by Feist that I really like. This Sprixie is a Spirit of the Forest, and she holds it close in her when everything seems to be falling apart. It has nothing to do with the actual lyrics of the song but it came to me, so I accepted it.

Enjoy:

Here are the supplies I used for this painting:

Gelli Plate 8×10 Brayer Deli Paper Chevron Arrows 12×12 Catalyst Blade #6 Liquitex Matte Gel Blick Matte Acrylics Golden Fluid Acrylic Catalyst Blade 04 Golden Heavy Body acrylic paint Stabilo All pencil Black Deco Doily stencil Danny Zuko’s Denim Bubblegum Pink Dylusions Spray Boysenberry-Silk Glaze Bolivian Blue-Silk Glaze Moonbeams-Silk Glaze

I am so happy to share with you a painting video this week, instead of an Art journaling one.

I need to be honest (with you, with me): I’ve not been painting much lately… a few strokes here and there but I have not actually finished any painting in what seems like forever. Yes, it does bother me; but I think also that this is part of my creative learning curve.

I want to make a living from what I do. I don’t want it to be a hobby. Inspiring people through art is what I feel called to do. There is more to it, I am unveiling it little by little but that is a whole other story I’ll spare you for now. I need to stop feeling guilty about making money from it, this is one of my hugest block right now.

Ok, back to this week painting. I titled it «The Plunge» (and this is where you see that English is actually not my mother-tongue language, impossible for me to know if we say «take» or «make» the plunge… argh ! frustration…).
You’ll see that for the major party of the process, the canvas was not oriented the way it ended. I turned it to make my shading life easier and then… lightbulb moment (ploooop): it was how it was meant to be ! Love it.

During my last wood panel hoarding sessions (I buy especially when it’s on sale, either at Opus our local art supply store, or on Dick Blick), I purchased more square canvases *especially 6×6″ and 8×8″*, so this is what I pulled out.
You may know by now how much I enjoy using wood instead of canvas, because of all I put on it, I am not afraid of piercing it or dealing with a wiggly surface.

Everything came together quite easily, and it felt so good to be back.

This painting is about this first step we need to take toward what we desire. The rush before this first step. Just do it.

Stamp carving has been a lot on my mind lately. I usually enjoy the process, and have carved what has became my go-to symbolic stamps, like this bulleye one.

!!! The painting is for sale, contact me if interested.
Prints will soon be added to the shop (later today).

Enjoy !

Here is what I used:

What does not appear on the list above: Perfect Pearls, Hero Arts stamp set «Sundrifter» for Studio Calico, tissue paper from pattern (the thing to make clothes), Glitter Glam by Tattered Angels

Hello !

I am so happy to share with you a new {Painting In Motion} video. It is not the best quality ever because of the gloomy weather that decided to hit here while I was recording and the light changes it caused. But it is not that bad, you’ll see.

After the OwlCtopus… let me present you the… Owlephant ! (i am laughing at myself). I really don’t know where all those Sprixies come from, and you’ll see when watching the video that this painting was really challenging and that it took me some time to see the Owlephant (or… to accept that it was going to be it).

I created it on a 11×14″ canvas panel.

Despite the struggle, I had lots of fun playing with colors and lots of different media.

I enjoyed going back and forth in my decision making process, and see it evolve. The texture is amazing.

You can finally see the fantastic texture created with the Catalyst Wedge and Blade I told you about recently. I wanted to highlight the Owlephant but did not like that dull blue much. So I used the big 50mm Blade #04 (the orange one) to make easy peasy lines in it. It is so simple to make marks with it, you know how marks and texture are important to me to build the layers in my paintings.

I used the Wedge #01, which is mostly flat with a diagonal angle to apply the gel. Let me tell you: you need it for that ! It is stunning. Because it is made with silicone, it is strong but flexible. I never glued anything that easily before (and I do enjoy my palette knives for lots of reasons). I will probably purchase the #01 as a blade so I can have something smaller too.

Love love love the result, it is like the Owlephant is bursting. And we have a peak of what is still underneath that blue, which is always nice.

I am loving using white again. It can create such an interesting visual if I don’t make it totally opaque.

This leafy paper by Amy Tangerine is one of my favorite of the moment, white with simple design and a splash of really bright colors. (you know I love everything leafy and feathery, right ? ;)) I did not want to lose it, burried under layers of other stuff. This is why I chose to add white.

I think I will do that more often from now on, play with bright colors under white. Could get interesting…

I learned this wording technique in Mindy Lacefield‘s class «Paint your story» and I use it over and over again since. It just makes the message pops and well, I think the effect is pretty nice.

Connected…
… to your Inner Voice…
… to the Universe…
… to every alive being…
… to your Higher Self…
…Connected.

Watch the video:

Here are most of what I used to create this painting. Are missing the Lindy Stamp Gang color shots and the papers for the first layer of the painting. Here you go:

Canvas Panel	Catalyst Wedge 01	Catalyst Wedge 02	Catalyst Blade 04	Liquitex Matte Gel
Chevron Arrows stencil	Hexagon Wood Veneer	Elongated Hexagon Woord Veneer	Golden Fluid Acrylic	Stabilo All pencil Black
Oil Pastel	Silk Glaze SnapDragon	Silk Glaze Ginger Peach	Silk Glaze Guatemalan Green

I have almost finished the painting I started yesterday for my new {Painting In Motion} video.

The frustration is gone, which is always a good feeling when you know you’ve been able to go through it and navigate to a better place.

However, there is something… wrong ? missing ? I don’t know yet, I guess I will ask around in some of the Facebook groups I belong to, to have constructive criticism (I know what I’d like to do but I don’t know how to do so with ruining everything that had been done already).

Well, the message is well received and as usual, right on the target.