Fill your pockets full of fun and ART!

For today's Show & Tell I thought that I would revisit an idea that I came up with last spring. This project came to mind after participating in an AFA Swap for Pocket Letters. (you can refresh your memory in my archived post of April 2015) I only participated in one partner swap before deciding that I just didn't enjoy the process enough to inspire me into creating more! Even though I have seen some wonderfully creative Pocket Letters that were made by some very talented artists, I just didn't feel that they were for me! There was something about the plastic "9 pocket" binder sleeve that bothered me... even if I did make all of the items in the pockets, I wish I could have presented them in some other way! As they say, to each their own... I have resigned myself to the fact that I find my greatest enjoyment in constructing my projects from start to finish! I felt that a smaller format could be used to showcase an artist's unique style in a more personal way... after much consideration, I decided that an individual pocket format was just what I had in mind! <drum roll> and soooo, The "Pocket Tag" was born!! 

"Pocket Tags" are just the right size to hold a few works of art from an artist as well as the tag itself can be a canvas for the artist's own unique style... the creative possibilities are endless! The finished "Pocket Tag" is a fun and compact presentation that can easily be gifted or traded!

Below is a photo of my first "Pocket Tag"... I started with a black tag and constructed the front pocket out of a Janoodle painted on watercolor paper. I created one of my "Mini Muse" Art Dolls and a Mini Janoodle Journal to fill the pocket of the tag. Finally, colorful ribbons were added to complete the project!

The Debut of the "Pocket Tag"

Below are the individual components of my "Pocket Tag" 

 Hope this has inspired you to use your own unique talents to create a  

"Pocket Tag"... whether you decide to gift it or possibly to trade it, 

the most important thing (above all else) is to have FUN with it!!

 

Until next time, Happy ARTing... Ciao!!

Pretty in pink... it must be a Flamingo?!

It seems like I've been saying this a lot lately but isn't a little "quickie" better than "no" Show & Tell?! (Well, I'm just gonna go with it no matter what the answer may be!) As we all know, I do have a tendency to curl up in my own little creative comfort zone... when in doubt, here a Janoodle, there a Janoodle, everywhere a Janoodle, enough already!!! Don't get me wrong, I do love what I do... I always return to my own little brand of art because it really is how I see the world around me... colors & shapes, negative & positive spaces and how they are connected to each other... some people have called it chaos (which never ceases to amaze me!) but in actuality, it is what totally grounds me!! 

In honor of the New Year, I have vowed to stretch my "creative" self on a more regular basis by honing my drawing and painting skills. While working on my monthly project for "Envie Addicts Unite!" (an AFA group that I am a member of), it became very obvious to me that I have become quite rusty when it comes to realistic drawing. Right from the beginning I knew what I wanted my partner's envelope to look like, it seemed rather easy until I actually started to draw... who knew that Flamingos could be so difficult?! (Just how long are their necks? Which is bigger the head or the beak?? Oh my, just because it's pink doesn't mean it looks like a flamingo!) I truly wanted to create something that my monthly partner would enjoy (and recognize!)... in the end, after going back & forth to the "drawing board", I was content with what I saw on the paper in front of me!! This experience, wrought with frustration, made it apparent that I must take the time to reacquire some much needed drawing skills that I have been ignoring!!

Below is a pic of my Flamingos... I cropped the photo to provide privacy for my EAU partner... The next pic is the "back side" design of the envelope, (as you can see, I did a bit of Janoodlin', just because!!)

"Flamingo" January Envie - front

January Envie - back

 Thank you for stopping by...  

 Blessings to you all!!

Put your best ART forward, the rest will follow!

Just a quickie Show & Tell for today... In my last post I mentioned an AFA swap for Two Sleeve Art Dolls that I have found difficult to muster up any inspiration for completing! I have made them in the past for other swaps but to be honest they have always been a huge challenge for me... Faces & Figures are definitely not my forte but I keep trying to stretch myself by stepping out of my comfort zone in hopes that someday I will improve!! As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day" but then again, they also say "Don't beat a dead horse!" (by the way, just who are "they" that know so much!!) 

Finally, I came up with my plan... compromise, it seemed the only way to get past this immediate creative block! I opted to do what I do best, with an added face... meet my "Janoodlettes" (sounds like they could actually be back-up singers, maybe even for Lady Gaga)  or possibly they are "Cocoon Coquettes" (wrapped up tight, just waiting to emerge in all of their glory)... there's one thing that I have learned as an artist; no matter what you intended to create, there is no guarantee anyone else sees it the same way and that's just fine with me!

Janoodle Dollies  -  Jacquard Dyes w/Ink

To "ART" each day, 

keeps the Doctor away!!

Until next time, Blessings to you all!!

Oh where, Oh where, has my little muse gone... ?

What better way to start the New Year than with ART? So let's hit the road running with a little Show & Tell... It seems that my "Muse" used the Holiday Season as an opportunity for a little vacation of her own, but all things must come to an end and it's time to get back to the job at hand... inspiring me!!! I have been trying to come up with some new ideas for an AFA swap for Two Sleeve Art Dolls... even though I have created these Dollies in the past, I'm coming up empty this time around! Rather than continue with my frustration over this project, I decided to just let myself loose to play and art around for the sake of having some fun... no guidelines, no deadlines!!  

I soon discovered that I still had Dollies on my mind... I kept coming up with a design for a paper doll that I just couldn't shake off... so, why fight it?

When I'm looking for a little inspiration, I seek out my own comfort zone to kick start my creative juices into flowing... I can "Janoodle" my way through any dry spell that I come against!! 

As usual, I started out with my favorite colors of Jacquard Dyes and a blank piece of watercolor paper to paint a free form background... I then designed a doll shaped template and cut out two mirror image shapes from the painted sheet. They are now ready to "Janoodle" and decorate in any way I choose!

Painted "Mirror Image" Doll Shapes - any thing goes, create away!!

 

In the end, the two shapes will be attached back to back to create one doll... let your imagination loose, use your favorite mediums & techniques to personalize a doll in your own unique style!! 

Below: My finished doll, "Twin Muses" (a picture of each side) I decided, why have only one muse when two would be even better? Now, if one wanders off, the other can still keep me on track! 

Thank you for stopping by... 

I do hope that you have found a little inspiration along the way!!

Until next time... Happy ARTing!!

 

"POP" a cork, raise your glass...Hello 2016!!

  

Below:  I know that this video is old but I couldn't resist 
sharing it... just too spectacular to keep to myself!! 

My little town had our first-ever New Year's fireworks celebration tonight... Of course, it wasn't this grand but there were plenty of "oooh's & aaaah's" ringing out in the cold night air as each explosion of color lit up the sky!! (I couldn't help it, I love fireworks!)

 

Blessings for a New Year filled with...

Love, Good Health, Creativity, Prosperity & Joy!

 Dare to Dream... (go ahead, it won't hurt!) 

 ART + more ART ="World Peace" 

Make ART not WAR... Global Artists Unite!!

(Just one more glass of "bubbly", then off to bed... Ciao!!)