Documented Life 2015 Week 2

 This weeks challenge was to use gesso. We were also supposed to be inspired by a Mary Shelley quote about starting today, however, I'm behind and there is also a prompt out right now with the theme of "Words with Friends." So what we have here, is a combo...gesso and words with friends.

I've never started with black gesso before, so this was an experiment...I sketched with a white colored pencil.

Then I blocked in colors with paints. I didn't  know if the color would show up on the black, or allow too much black through, but I like what happened! The pink paint is a Liquitex Basics, and the white and reds are Golden Fluid Acrylics.

I just kind of blocked in shadows and highlights, keeping it loose.

 Then I got out the Pitt pen and did some sketching details and defining edges. Added some highlights and little dots with the Sharpie water based pen.

This was a fun experiment, and I definitely want to try using a black background again.

Documented Life Week 1

The Documented Life prompt this week was to use book pages, and the theme "be your own goalkeeper." I thought about my goals being in my own hands, but luckily I don't have to go it alone, because God promises to go with me and give me strength.

I also wanted to introduce my word for the year, which is "strong." Last year I had the word "move," and it inspired me to move my body, to travel, and not be afraid to move my business along. Having the word there in front of you, really does keep it at the forefront of your mind.

The size of this large Dylusions Journal is challenging. I glued the book paper down, and WOW there was so much space left. I used a large stencil and spray inks in the sky. The hands are life size...I traced my hands on some K & Company scrapbook paper.

A little tweaking of a design

I've been playing around with this design....moving the sign and cleaning up a few things. The process to get something screen printed is new to me. I've got a lot to learn.

 Here are the muffler men again...some of my favorite subjects. I'm thinking the little checkerboard border will be on these designs. Kind of ties them together, even though the subject matter is very different.

Polk-a-Dot Drive In, Braidwood, Illinois...Route 66

 I finished my journal page for the Polk-a-Dot Drive In. I think it's fun! The juke box and all the reflections on it were a challenge, but I kind of like how it turned out very bold.
Here are some pictures from the day I drove to Braidwood and started making this page:

Vintage Camper...Home Sweet Home

I've been working on some little canvases today. I started out with some pretty greens and blues and yellows.

 I painted a vintage camper on an old map of the United States, and added some doodling. I love vintage campers, and someday I hope to have a little "canned ham" to travel with.

I like to paint the edges so they are as fun as the front. That way it doesn't have to be framed.

Je Suis Charlie

Doodling while I'm watching the news from France. Such a sad day, and such madness out there. When I started sketching my pens and such, there were already yellow splotches on the page, from a messy page before. Then after drawing I decided to add red and blue to the white paper, in reference to the French flag. I wish the yellow was not there now, but c'est la vie.

Keeping France in my prayers. The extremes of any movement is where the crazy lies.Very scary.

Documented Life, Christmas Traditions

 This prompt was to document one of my Christmas traditions. I love putting up the nativity, because it's what Christmas is all about. I have an old glass star that belonged to my great grandmother on my dad's side. They were from Germany, and the star is a German glass ornament. I hang it right over the stable that my brother-in-law made for our nativity set.

Here are a few photos from a couple of years ago: