Category: Art Journal

Art Journal, Bella Paperie

Mixed Media Art Journaling – Cupcake Creations

Robyn Wood

Everybody loves cupcakes, especially when they come packed with flavour! Sadly, the cupcakes on this page won’t be edible but they will be a treat for the eyes.

Why not join me this Sunday in my monthly art journaling classes and create this sweet page with me? If you are a beginner, I’ll teach you the basics and if not then I’ll help you extend the skills you already have.

This month, our page will be full of the texture of ripped papers, stencilling and a surprise or two. Class will focus on creating texture through collage and I’ll share some alternative designs for those who wish to play with the technique further.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will be working in an A4 sized journal and please have on hand –

  • Thin collage paper in ‘cupcake icing’ colours plus some neutral colours. Offcuts of scrapbook or cardmaking papers, book pages, old maps or your own mono printed papers will be perfect. I will have some on hand to share. If you have the time, prepare some of your scraps by ripping them into small pieces, no bigger than a 5c piece. You will need neutral colours for the patty paper & cake stand, yellowish papers for cake, two shades of pink papers for icing & a bit of red for a cherry. You will only need enough of each colour to cover the surface of each section.
  • 2-3 acrylic paints for background – I have used a pale yellow, green & blue
  • 2-3 stencils with open patterns for background
  • 1-2 stencils with small patterns for background
  • A variety of paint brushes
  • Black charcoal pencil. A Stabilo or black watercolour pencil is another option.
  • Pencil, rubber
  • Fine scissors for fussy cutting wording
  • White gesso
  • Liquitex Matt medium
  • Matt gel medium (only if you have it, I will have some to share)
  • Sponge for stencilling
  • Paint palette – one with separate wells will be very useful
  • Paint spatula
  • Non–stick craft mat
  • Spray bottle for water
  • Baby wipes
  • Paper towel
  • Container for water
  • Heat tool

N.B.  For this class we will be using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics for the main part of the project and we wil have some paints available for use in class. If you have your own fluid acrylics, please bring them along.

Bella Paperie is located at Shop 33, 302 South Pine Road, Brendale. Phone 3205 5911 to book. Class runs 10am – 2pm, February 4 and costs $30 with some supplies provided.

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Art Journal, Art Journal Challenge, Darkroom Door, Dina Wakley Media, Quotes

Dina Wakley Show Us Your Media – January Challenge

Robyn Wood

For the last few months, Dina Wakley has been running a creative challenge based around encouraging us to get our fingers painty to fuel our creative spirit. The challenges are pretty open, with the main requirement being to use Dina Wakley branded products somewhere in the project. Dina provides inspiration in the form of a journaling prompt, quote etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For January, we were encouraged to create a project about being unstoppable…

I’ve had a little love-not quite like relationship with the Dina Wakley journal, the different textures seem to upset my process somehow, but over the past few months I decided I needed to just get in and use it without worrying how the pages turned out.  I’m beginning to really love it! Might even splurge on the new large size one Dina has released at Creativation.

I’ve created a page in my Dina Wakley journal and used the following –

  • Dina Wakley paints – umber, cheddar, fuchsia, black
  • Distress Oxide inks – various
  • Darkroom Door stamps – Compass Eclectic, Paris Postcard & Bold Arrows
  • Prima – imagery

You can find challenge entries via the hashtags of #showusyourMEdia & #rangerink Perhaps you would like to play along next month? Let me know if you do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Art Journal

2018 – A Year of Slow

Robyn Wood

The start of a new year is always exciting for me; there are usually a bunch of new online classes about to start, I get invigorated anew for the photo a day challenges and that delicious quiet time between Christmas and New Year is a chance to recharge and reflect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mostly blank calendar seems to brim with possibility and adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in past years, I’ve chosen a word for the year – NOURISH served me well for 2017 and this year I hope SLOW will do the same in a slightly different way. So, 2018 will be a year of slowing down and taking notice of the little things, those everyday moments that we often forget as they pass in a flash. A year of doing more of the things that matter to me like spending time on my art, my photography and with friends and less of the things that don’t.

As each year passes, time seems to telescope together and life rushes by. Living with a degenerative illness means that each day comes with reminders that time is precious and should be celebrated. After twelve years of knowingly living with multiple sclerosis & possibly almost thirty years of having it, I’ve decided it is time to listen to those reminders for a change!

If you are unfamiliar with the idea of choosing a word, check out Ali Edwards and her posts on ‘One Little Word’. You don’t need to, but I take the annual online class with Ali as I find it keeps me on track throughout the year and opens my world to different ways of thinking about the passage of time and how it might be recorded and cherished.

I’d love to hear about your word if you choose one! I’m looking forward to sharing with you how I use mine in the coming year.

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Acrylic inks, Art Journal, Bella Paperie, Darkroom Door Stencils, Mixed media, Stencils

Mixed Media Art Journaling – Fantasy Flower Garden

Robyn Wood

Are you looking to start your year with some mixed media creative play? Why not join me for in my monthly art journaling classes and learn the basics, or extend the skills you already have? Themes and techniques change each month but the thing that remains constant is the fun we have!

What would your fantasy flower garden look like? Would it be filled with colour? Alive with bugs and beetles? Perhaps it will have a teensy shed in the corner for the resident fairies? Why not join me as we play with the new Royal Talens Amsterdam acrylic inks and doodling techniques to create a fantasy flower garden.

We will be working in an A4 sized journal and please have on hand –
Acrylic inks (not Dylusions ink sprays) – I have used blue, yellow, gold plus a variety of flower colours
Quotes or wording relating to flowers or gardens for journaling
Fine black pen for journaling
Black & white paint pens in various widths or fine paint brushes and paint
Pencil, rubber
Scissors
White gesso
Liquitex Matt medium
Permanent brown ink
Stamping ink in shades of green. Class inks will be available.
Sponge for stencilling, the Tim Holtz mini ink blending tool and a few sponges will be handy to have
Variety of stencils for pattern making, small patterns plus one with a large open pattern will be useful
A selection of paint brushes for mark making, a #6 round & narrow filbert will be useful
~ 1” wide, flat brush for matt medium
Small amount of thin collage paper
Paint palette – one with separate wells will be very useful
Non–stick craft mat
Spray bottle for water
Baby wipes
Paper towel
Container for water
Heat tool
N.B. For this class we will be creating with Royal Talens Amsterdam acrylic inks which are new to Bella Paperie. Please bring whatever acrylic inks you have and we can talk through the various differences between them. I will have a selection of inks available for use in class.

Bella Paperie is located at Shop 33, 302 South Pine Road, Brendale. Phone 3205 5911 to book. Class runs 10am – 2pm, January 7 and costs $30 with some supplies provided.

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Art Journal

Life is Good – Guest DT Post for Couture Creations

Robyn Wood

Life is Good!

It sure seemed like that when I recently received a lovely pack of goodies to create some mixed media projects for Couture Creations. It was fun to stretch my creative muscle and use colours that aren’t my ‘usual’.  Pop by the Couture Creations blog to check out details of how my art journal page came together.

My pack included some of the Couture Creations Anna Griffin Texture Paste & Couture Creations pigment powders so I decided to use them in a way similar to paper clay to create a unique embellishment for my page.

A huge thanks to Couture Creations for inviting me to be a guest designer, check out their product range while you visit the blog – so many wonderful goodies to play with! I hope you enjoy checking out my project.

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Art Journal, Bella Paperie, Darkroom Door, Darkroom Door Stamps, Darkroom Door Stencils

Colourful Quirky Birds – my November Mixed Media Journal Class

Robyn Wood

Feeling like a bit of creative play this weekend? Why not join me at Bella Paperie for my monthly art journal class? I recently attended a two day retailer only workshop with Dyan Reaveley where she shared masses of her art journaling and mixed media techniques. It was a packed two days and I’m still processing the huge amount of information Dyan shared with us.

In my November mixed media art journaling class, we will channel our inner Dyan Reaveley to create a multi-page spread featuring a variety of techniques that will take your pages from go to WOW! We will journal, doodle, stencil and stamp to create unique pages that become totally your own.

The page is a bit hard to photograph for full effect, so I created a little video for you –

 

If you already art journal – bring along your usual kit, if not check the requirements list for a guide on what to bring. You will need an approx. A4 sized journal to begin with – please check in store for details.

Supplies to bring:

  • The lyrics of a poem or song that is special to you, either printed or selected on your phone. We will use the words for journaling beneath one of the pages.
  • ~ A5 size piece of cardstock for stamping images
  • colourful, permanent stamping inks
  • Dylusions shaped journaling block if you have one
  • Fine black pen for journaling
  • Pencil, rubber
  • Scissors
  • Tape to reattach journal page – Dina Wakley Media Tape or Dylusions Journal Tape is the best to purchase but masking tape or wide washi tape will also work.
  • Acrylic paints in a variety of warm & cool colours – bring your Dylusions paints if you have them
  • White gesso or white paint
  • Black gesso or paint
  • Liquitex Matt medium
  • Dylusions black & white paint pens, or small brush and black/white paint
  • Sponge for stencilling, the Tim Holtz mini ink blending tool and a few sponges will be handy
  • Variety of stencils for pattern making
  • A selection of paint brushes for mark making
  • ~ 1” wide, flat brush for matt medium
  • Quote stamps – I will bring the ones I have used (Dylusions) plus a few Tim Holtz sets with interesting quotes
  • Quirky imagery – I will have the Darkroom Door birds but bring some alternatives if you have them
  • Small amount of thin collage paper
  • Paint palette
  • Non–stick craft mat
  • Baby wipes
  • Paper towel
  • Container for water
  • Heat tool

Bella Paperie is located at Shop 33, 302 South Pine Road, Brendale. Phone 3205 5911 to book. Class runs 10am – 2pm, November 5 and costs $30 with some supplies provided.

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Art Journal, Mixed media, Quotes

Café Girl – my September Mixed Media Journal Class

Robyn Wood

Over the past few years I’ve been creating simple sketches that I’ve come to call my café girls. They have been created on the run during vacations, during down time in cafés as I wait for my food and during those times when I’m waiting for something to happen. Simple sketches, with minimal supplies that have morphed into soulful girls with expressive faces that remind me of time and place.

I’d like to share my café girls in a mixed media journal class and you are invited! I find creating these girls are the perfect escape for an art fix, don’t worry if you can’t draw a face as I have a template you can use. Perhaps bring along some inspirational images from magazines and such as a basis for your girl.

Absolute beginners are very welcome but the more experienced are sure to find something to challenge in each class.

Supplies to bring:

  • If you already art journal – bring along your usual kit, if not check the requirements list for a guide on what to bring. You will need an approx. A4 sized journal to begin with – please check in store for details.
  • Collage papers – only a small amount is needed & I’ll have music paper for you to use
  • Stickers for a word/quote if you wish to add something to the page at the end
  • Watercolour pencils in dark brown, dark blue, black & dark grey (Paynes grey is perfect & a black Stabilo will be useful)
  • Extra watercolour pencils in a variety of colours for eyes, lips, cheeks if you have them
  • Acrylic paints in colours suitable for skin, hair & clothing. Appropriate colours for skin will be helpful but I’ll show you how to mix them. Lime green & magenta make a great skin colour!
  • Liquitex matt medium
  • Whtie gesso
  • Clear gesso (don’t buy specifically, in case you don’t need it, I will have some to share)
  • Fine white Sharpie paint pen
  • White gel pen
  • A selection of fine brushes – #4, #6 & #12 round brushes will work well.
  • Flat brush for matt medium
  • Something watersoluble to use for the background – watercolours, Scribble Sticks, Prima watersoluble pastels, Gelatos, watercolour powders will all work well.
  • Graphite paper or similar & biro if you wish to trace the image instead of drawing one
  • Pencil, prefer hard 2H or similar if you wish to sketch the girl
  • Rubber
  • Black permanent pen for doodling
  • Small spatula
  • Paint palette
  • Non–stick craft mat
  • Baby wipes
  • Paper towel
  • Container for water
  • Heat tool

Bella Paperie is located at Shop 33, 302 South Pine Road, Brendale. Phone 3205 5911 to book. Class runs 10am – 2pm, September 3 and costs $30 with some supplies provided.

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Art Journal, Darkroom Door, Darkroom Door Stamps, Darkroom Door Stencils, Mixed media

Darkroom Door Stencil Blog Hop

Robyn Wood

Recently, Darkroom Door released a brand-new product – stencils! I was lucky to be given a few to play with and have been creating happily. The stencils come in two sizes – small (4½” x 6”) and large (9” x 12”) and are lovely and sturdy, so perfect for anything you want to throw at them.

Make sure you stay with me until the end of the post for some exciting giveaway news, but first I’d like to share some of the projects I’ve created recently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The small stencils are perfect for cardmaking. I stencilled the small Darkroom Door Wildflowers using Dina Wakley black gesso over a sunset toned background created with Distress Oxides. The black images make a beautiful silhouette that can be accented with a brightly coloured butterfly and quote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mesh Background and Texture stamps and ones I constantly reach for, so I was very excited to see these turned into stencils. The small one is so useful for adding instant texture to a background for a quick card or tag. It was easy to stencil into the background of the Darkroom Door Tulips Photo Stamp. A touch of pearlescent Gelatos to colour the flowers and I had unique, pretty card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve also used small Mesh stencil for this tag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who could resist letting this little birdie have his freedom? I’m kind of in love with creating backgrounds and liquid to go into mini jars using Distress Oxide inks – can you tell?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although ‘small’ the smaller sized stencils are great for art journaling and the focal images make creating a page easy. I’ve simply stencilled the small Wildflowers using Dina Wakley black gesso across a drippy, messy background in my journal added a few words that kinda make sense and it was done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The larger sized stencils very versatile as well. I stencilled over a messy collaged background with the large Mesh stencil and matt gel medium to give a wonderfully textured effect for this page. Then a bit of colour and a sprinkling of stamped images and the page was complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you played with Dina Wakley’s new Media Journal yet? I am loving the different textures of the pages and created this super quick page using Dylusions Ink Sprays and the large Darkroom Door Wildflowers stencil. The yummy watercolour paper soaks up the spray but quickly releases it when sprayed with water through the stencil.

Now it’s time for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to visit each blog and leave a comment. Five lucky winners will receive 3 stencils of their choice! Winners will be drawn from comments left across all the blogs, so be sure to leave a comment on each blog for more chances to win! Comments received before midnight Friday 4th August are eligible to be in the draw. Winners will be announced Monday 7th August on the Darkroom Door blog and Facebook page.

Hop along to the other blogs here:
Darkroom Door: http://www.darkroomdoor.com/Blog
Teresa Abajo: https://thetamarisk.blogspot.com
Belinda Spencer: http://happyscrapspace.blogspot.com
Autumn Clark: http://sewpaperpaint.blogspot.com
Godelieve Tijskens: http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com
Anneke De Clerck: http://somefiddlingonthekitchentable.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for joining me today and reading to the end, make sure you visit everyone else to see what goodness the other girls have created. Good luck!

Darkroom Door stamps used –

  • Sets – Wings, Wildflowers Vol, Discover, Steampunk, Fine Flowers Vol 2, Full Bloom Vol 2
  • Eclectic – Compass Eclectic, Robin, Mini Mason Jar, Paris Postcard
  • Texture – Mesh
  • Word Block – Wellbeing, Journey, Wilderness
  • Collage – Butterfly Post

 

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Art Journal, Bella Paperie, Gelatos

Winter Bounty…my August mixed media art journal class

Robyn Wood

This month in my mixed media art journal class we will explore the colours and textures of Winter. If you have ever looked at a handful of dried leaves, you may have noticed the gorgeous range of colours and textures represented by something we often think as colourless detritus.

So, we shall start our page with a handful of leaves and work to turn them into something beautiful. Adding layers and using some of my favourite techniques will create a richly textured page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will be working in an A4 sized journal and please have on hand –

  • A handful of dried leaves to use as the basis of the page design. Go for a wander in your garden, the local park or take a walk around the block. You will need leaves in a variety of sizes, the more misshapen and flatter the better!
  • Liquitex white gesso
  • Texture paste (bring Faber-Castell Whipped Spackle if you have it as it dries quickly)
  • Small pallet knife
  • approx. 1” wide brush
  • variety of smaller brushes
  • charcoal pencil & smudging stump (cotton buds work well)
  • pencil
  • rubber
  • black permanent pen for journaling
  • variety of stencils, some with open patterns
  • acrylic paints in leaf colours – I have used cream & shades of brown
  • extra colours for background and top coat colours. I have used Dylusions Pomegranite & Lemon Zest to make the brown background colours and Calypso Teal & London Blue for the top glaze.
  • watersoluble colour sticks – I have used Gelatos in browns, purple, yellow and red but Tim Holtz Distress Crayons, Scribble Sticks, Prima pastels are good options. Prima waxes in leaf colours will also work well.
  • Scribble Sticks or watercolour pencil in dark colour
  • small sponges for paint
  • spray bottle
  • baby wipes
  • paper towel
  • container for water
  • heat tool
  • N.B. Please ensure you bring ‘matt’ paints along – glossy ones tend to stick in an art journal

 

Bella Paperie is located at Shop 33, 302 South Pine Road, Brendale. Phone 3205 5911 to book. Class runs 10am – 2pm, August 6 and costs $30 with some supplies provided.

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Art Journal, Art Journal Challenge, Darkroom Door, Quotes

Challenge – Our Mixed Media Moods – Permission to Play

Robyn Wood

Sometimes you just need permission to play…I’ve been working on a bunch of projects lately and they seemed to take up a lot of spare time so play time has been a bit thin. Planning things like card kits and classes isn’t the quickest of processes for me, not helped by a healthy amount of Facebook procrastination 🙂

A couple of my arty friends have been playing along with a cool creative challenge run by DeeDee Catron & Jenn Engle called Our Mixed Media Moods. The idea is to create a piece inspired by the monthly mood board and link up to the relevant post on DeeDee’s blog. Turns out this month is a huge one to celebrate 12months of the challenge so even more reason to play along! Here is the mood board for this month –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much to love about this collage and I was inspired by the pops of teal and pink and the storm clouds from the second row. The challenge is supported by a great Facebook community – you can find them here. Why don’t you join us?

 

The page I created was worked over an old Gelli printed image in my journal – I suspect it was a plate wipe off. A quick sketch using a black Stabilo over the top, some colour with Prima Impasto paint and the painted edges stencilled with my brand new Darkroom Door Mesh stencil and she was almost done. The page was finished off with Christy Tomlinson rubbons and a few words from Tim Holtz.

What began as a page that I kept flicking past in my journal, ended up being something I was quite happy with and it reinforced the lesson of just letting myself play – with no endgame in mind. Open challenges like this one are great for that. Side benefit is that it has given me an idea for a future art journal class – bonus!

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