The Trees are calling...

...and I am listening :)

 

It is time for our annual Summer Vacation...5 weeks of tent camping, sightseeing, soaking up nature and relaxing!  I created this piece in anticipation of cooler climate and gorgeous green trees!

 

This girly's face has some definite Micki inspired touches!

 

 

We just bought a new camera...so I can't wait to take a zillion photos to share with you on our return!

If you are curious about past year's trips, you can read last year's post HERE and the year before HERE.

 

There's nothing like being away in another world to help renew your spirit and re-energize your mind!  I'm so ready to spend some time hearing what the trees have to say :)

 

Hope you all are enjoying your summers, too!

Redwood sized Hugs!

Cam

My Weekend CREATE-ing

Hello Everyone!

I hope the weekend treated you all well!  Mine was amazing!

My Mom and I went to the CREATE Mixed Media Retreat, finally, after waiting for over 6 months for it to arrive.  I don't know if you remember that I asked my Husband for this gift last Christmas....a Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary gift all rolled into one....

My Mom wanted to attend with me, so it was nice to have a Partner in Crime to go with.  Plus, she lives just 15 minutes from where it was held here in California, so we didn't have to spend the money on hotel rooms.
If money was no option, one could take (4) six hour classes and (4) three hour classes over 5 days.  We took (3) three hour classes and (2) 6 hour ones....5 classes in all.

On Wednesday, we took a class called "Carved Birches - no cutting tools required" given by Staci Swider.

This was a 3 hour class.  We used 12x12 canvases, acrylic paint and oil pastels.  The neat birch tree effect was created with molding paste, crackle medium and house paint!  A really cool effect!

 

My oil pastels weren't blending very well, so the teacher let me borrow one of hers.  It was some French brand of oil pastel....and it was like butter! So creamy!  I need to add those to my wish list!

 

Thursday night, we took a class called "Crinkly Iridescent Vestiges" given by Helen Shafer Garcia.

 

 

 

We were given a special Masa Paper (rice paper) that we drew simple images on, crinkled up and soaked in water.  We outlined our drawings in a wonderful acrylic ink and watched them bleed. 

 

 

We filled them in with watercolors and embellished when dry.  We worked on several, but this is the only one I finished.

 

 

 

We took a 6 hour class Friday morning called "Unleash your Creative Spirit" with Staci Swider again.  This was so different than what I'm used to, that it really forced me to just go with the process.

 

Here's my view of the class from my side of the room :)

 

 

 

We started with a 2 foot square wood panel.  We covered it in gesso and acrylic paint (I used my hands the whole time).  We dripped water over the top and swirled it around by moving the panel to and fro.  We soaked up the water and some paint with a large piece of watercolor paper.  We did this as many times as we liked........then, we were told to find something hidden, looking at the panel in all directions.  Some found faces, others found animals.....

 

 

I saw a giraffe :)

 

 

We were told to incorporate some of the watercolor paper into the panel. 

 

 

We used oil pastels to define our lines....otherwise, it was all painted using just my fingers!

 

 

Saturday morning, we took a 6 hour course by Chris Cozen called "Incised to Perfection: Working with Color, Pattern and Texture"

 

 

There were lots and lots of layers put on this piece with flowers being "found" in the random designs.  Stencils and course molding paste were used.

 

 

I didn't realize you could paint over molding paste with watered down acrylic and have it bleed over the surface. Interesting.

We worked on 2 canvases, but I didn't come close to finishing the 2nd.

 

 

 Our last class on Saturday evening was called "Chip Off the Old Block" given by Pam Carriker.

We were given tips and guidance for carving our own stamps.

I've tried this before, but not for a long time.  I tried to pick an image that I could get a lot of use out of.

 

 

I carved both sides so I would have both wings.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more of these in art to come ;)

 

 

Thanks for letting me share my class projects with you!  Attending them was a wish come true....

 

I think we'll try to go next year, too! We'll see what the Hubby says....heehee ;P

 

Big paint covered hugs to you all!

Cam 

 

Painting Happy!

Hello Everyone!

I'm so excited to share a new piece of art with you!  But, before I do, I need to give you a bit of info on how she came to be.....

You see, I was lucky enough to take a very special online painting course called Paint Happy.
It is given by the wonderful Micki Wilde of The Secret Hermit.



I've long been a fan of her work.

She makes whimsy and cheeriness look so easy....her faces are so full of warmth and character....her backgrounds are delicious....and it is evident that she adores what she does. 

What's amazing about this course is that it addresses every single one of those truths so that you can have them, too!  It delivers so much good and useful information on how to keep your art playful and meaningful, even if it sprang from a darker place.

Wait til you get to the part about your Wolf!  I don't want to give too much away...but that part was really powerful for me.  There is a wolf in me that hasn't yet gotten onto the page.  When it does, I'll share it here.
Here, check out the promo video for the course.  You'll see why I'm so excited!
 

 

Now, onto my art! 

 

I had so much fun making this piece.  I find I can be way too serious when I create.  I can get too hung up on details and my own weird sense of perfection that it can suck a lot of the enjoyment out of making art....and it seems to take a lot longer, too.

 

I whipped this one out pretty quickly (humming all the while, I might add)...and I couldn't be happier with the results! 

You can see the influence of Micki's style in her sweet face.

 

 

...and look at how her ideas and techniques transformed my background!

You can click to enlarge if you like :)

 

 

So much bright, doodly, colorful play!

 

I can't wait to try out more of her suggestions!

If you'd like to take the course or see more of her fantastic art, please visit her Etsy Shop and her Blog!

Everyone deserves to enjoy what they do!

 

 

Big neon colored hugs!

Cam

Peace, Love, Foxes

 

Last year, Maggie's Spy Party was a lot of fun....but EXTREMELY labor intensive and stressful.  As soon as it was over, I told her that the next year was going to be an "easy" party for Mommy and Daddy.....haha!

 

We did simplify a bit, but I hope it didn't look like we did ;P

 

These were her invitations this year.  I had quite a few extra, so I tried to incorporate them into the décor.

 

 

 

The colors were white and green polka dots, brown and accents of yellow. 

 

 

 

 I went to our local park to pick up lots of free, natural elements for our décor :)

 

 

The little hedgehog was a thrift store find.

 

 

I tried to add a woodland touch to everything in the house.  I just took the above photo tonight, so sorry for the lighting!  But, I forgot to take pics of everything on the day.

 

 

I found some cute woodland fabric to use as a tablecloth, but I also made Mags a special shirt from it for her special day.  The owl is an iron-on.

 

 

We had 2 craft stations for the kids. 1 for making painted rocks and another for coloring and beading their own bookmarks. 

 

 

I purchased digistamps and made the templates for the bookmarks in Photoshop.  I had them printed on cardstock and cut them out myself.

 

See the cute snail on that rock? :)

 

These were the Goodie Bags.

 

 

I hot-glued raffia and ribbon bows to clothespins to clip onto simple white bags.

 

 

Inside (again, night picture, sorry) was a sheet of Woodland Stickers, a fox bookplate that I turned into a sticker using my handy Xyron machine, a foldable owl friend, animal crackers, fruit snacks and a Tootsie Pop.  I'm not big on giving lots of candy.  I thought these things and the crafts were good enough :)

 

I found this cool guy here.

 

It was a super hot day.  I wanted the drinks to be super accessible. 

 

I made 2 kinds of iced tea and offered juice boxes and water, as well.  I decided not to put out food this year which was the biggest stress reliever of all!  The kids arrived, started their crafts, had a drink......then......

 

Went outside for the main event!

 

An Animal Show!

 

 

We were able to go to their Website and pick 5 animals for the show.  These were Maggie's choices.

 

 

A sweet little Hedgehog :)

 

 

A funny Armadillo :)

 

 

A fierce-looking Alligator. 

 I just love this windswept picture of Maggie...cheeks rosy from the heat.

 

 

A Fennec Fox.

This little critter made all the girls squeal with delight :)

 

 

The adults loved the animals as much as the kids. 

They were all asking questions and waiting their turn to pet. :)

 

This next animal stole the show and made everyone gasp.

 

 

This is Gizmo the Barn Owl.

It is so hard to describe just how beautiful they are up close....and how soft....

 

 

It really was so neat to have an event like this in our own backyard.  5 animals was just enough, though.  Everyone was getting thirsty and a bit over-heated. 

 

 It was time to go in and cool off with some cake!

 

 

Those rocks on the cake are actually candy. 

I think this is my favorite cake of all her Birthdays so far.

 

 

After cake and presents, some girls danced while others finished their crafts.  It was a very nice day!

 

Maggie has told me, though, that she's looking forward to the "hard" party she's going to have next year! She's already started making plans.

Uh oh! Haha!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by our little woodsy gathering!

 

I'll be back with some art soon :)

Hugs,

Cameron