In the Zone

While there wasn't a whole lot of time to do my usual fun things like paint some papers, doodle, work in journals and create cards/tags, I was very busy in my little, perfect, art world. I was in the zone!

I signed up for a free set of classes that ran simultaneously with the month long Fodder Challenge. The free classes have finished and I found a few new artists to admire on Instagram and want to try a few watercolor techniques when I am a little more relaxed and ready to try a new something or other with that paint.

Right now I am truly immersed in creating fodder for the journals and cards I will eventually get back to next month when all classes are over and I get to stretch a bit with what I'm learning now. Because of my Glaucoma eyes, I have to rest them a bit sooner than I'd like in order to do any art at all and so watching videos can be a bit difficult however I'm getting through them and then taking my time creating what I've learned.

I was going to wait to share all I had done at the end of the month but I am now sharing on Instagram (tagging the creatives that teach and run the classes) as well as Facebook on occasion, so I figured I might as well share it here too. Besides I haven't done my normal week of journaling and so on, so it's a good time to share what I have been doing.

Everything I've done and learned so far will be made often, using as much as I make, I know. This is the most fun I've had in a long time! All links within the photos are for Instagram and will take you to the pages of each teacher. The school and the person I learned these from are: Fodder School and Wendy Solganik (also known as @willa.wanders) these too are for Instagram. If you don't use Instagram but are curious about these folks, please do a Google search and you'll find their info. 

Groovy Pears taught by Francine Dunigan

Paper Gems taught by Karen Elaine

Paper Dolls taught by Connie Fong

 

Karen Elaine also shared how to make an origami box to use some of the Paper Gems with. And Connie Fong shared a truly fun flip book to use with a few of the dolls. I haven't made either of those yet but will share when I have!

221-224 Collage A Day Journal

225-228 Collage A Day Journal

We lost power for a full 24+ hours right after I learned how to make the Paper Gems (something I have done in the past but not exactly in this way; it's like revisiting an old friend!) and so when the sun was shining, I sat outside on our deck for longer than I should have getting quite cold but enjoyed making these little circles very much. Unfortunately my paint pens froze and some never thawed out or haven't yet. I'm adding them to my list on Amazon but will wait until more are totally used up before I order new ones. I can't get a new back though and the pain after the electric came back on was excruciating and slowed me down. No, it didn't stop me.

It's the New Moon which means it's down time for me at the moment. I like to reflect and plan and maybe organize a bit for the next wave of activity which will be happening soon. Meanwhile, I really hope you find something that ignites a spark in you and will give you great joy. I can tell you, from my own experience (especially right now) that there is no better gift than that in life.

Find the Joy and Enjoy The Journey.

 

Enjoy your week!

Cindy,  EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art

Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics 

Slow Days of Summer Have Begun

Garrison Keller sang a song called "Slow Days of Summer" in his A Prairie Home Companion movie many years ago. If none of that makes sense, you can go to YouTube and listen to the old-time country song on your own.

In any case, as I thought about how I'm moving in rhythm slower because of the warmth the sun provides, I thought also about this song. So that's my reason for the title of this blog. 😁

As always, even on slow, uninspired kind of days, I am at the art table(s) doing something. I really did think it would be a week to work on the mosaic vase but it didn't happen partly due to the warmth in the Purple Palace. It's next to our deck outside but has no windows, however it picks up the heat from the laundry room on one side and the noon day sun on another. Most appreciated in the winter, for sure!

Side A of a birthday card I made and sent to my Step-Mom

Side B

Art Journal page using a doodle I made after staining the paper with a tea bag

Sometimes the books I use have some words or phrases I want to keep. This is one of those pages. The butterfly represents my Dad.

Playing with watercolor and stencils. Love this a LOT!

The beginning of a card that ended up only getting a simple flower doodle in the corner. The colors and the way the stencil came through was really cool and I didn't want to cover it.

Starting a layered collage using paper that didn't work well on the Gelli plate. This is a good way to keep from throwing out the rejects but instead finding a way to use them.

Voorhees in watercolor.

Here, I added doodles and really am pleased with how he looks. I call him "Mister Pink Nose", so obviously the nose HAD to be pink.

The pink collage above was covered with blue and sanded. Then a mixture of black glaze I make was added and wiped off quickly.

The glaze hangs around the sanded pieces a bit and sometimes changes the color of the painted paper a little but it's all good and I LOVE the grungy look. As I mentioned on social media, someone compared this technique to the posters from NYC that get pulled down before a new one is added over it, giving it layers. That's exactly how this is done!

The grid work journal this week was supposed to have a layer of blues and then something else on top of it but after gluing down the blues ↓

I love this so much and felt the different painted papers were perfect without adding anything. Just a small section of the papers used shows an impact I hadn't anticipated.

Voorhees in collage. His face disappeared (I used the same photo as the watercolor painting above) and so I decided it was his back because cats have been known to dismiss you when they aren't interested. The cool white shadow look on this happened when I added charcoal around the shape and wiped it off. The matte medium I used to hold down the papers did the actual work on the shadow and the charcoal stick did the rest.

When I don't know what I want to do, I grab stencils and markers or paint pens and do this kind of thing on pieces of painted papers I've made that are just kind of okay looking. Now I can add them to journals or just hold onto them for a bit for some project I've yet to begin.

I'm very much into houses at the moment. After doing this journal page I realized I didn't add any trees, therefore "take a walk on the shady side" must mean to go across the street where trees probably are!

One of my favorite mentors says "just play" and so I did. No real thoughts about the collage or shapes here. Under them is a small bit of journaling just for me and eventually gets completely covered. That's okay because it wasn't necessary for anyone else to read it.

After getting to here, I knew I had to do something with the stems and flowers coming out of the vases. I painted the background completely with a water wash of parchment paper acrylic color but wiped it off in most spots because I actually like the weird looking collage doodles under the vases. Then added charcoal around the outer edge. Love doing that and I do believe it'll be my new "go-to" instead of using an ink pad.

Coloring in the stems and flowers and doodled. The quote is longer than this one sentence but I liked how it worked well with this page and so I cut it to use in this way.

My big book for art is 9 x 12 inches made from cardboard packaging. This page has scrapbook paper, stamps, doodles (again houses!), die cuts, paint and a magazine cut out word. FANCY.

This isn't finished but I kinda love it already. Our 1960's lady has a toolbox and screwdriver in her hand. What a rebel to know she can do it herself even when "life's not perfect". This is how we learn how very strong we are.

 

Enjoy your week!

Cindy,  EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art

Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics 

Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Journey

At the Art Table

Another great week although not quite as prolific. I had an eye doctor appointment checking in for my Glaucoma. Everything is good so far and I won't have to go back until the end of the year. Yay.

Meanwhile, I did do some art. I like to work in a few different art journals each week and when I feel the pull, I like to work on small cards too using my painted papers mostly but also once in a while a piece from a magazine and almost always words are added.

Art journal page with many layers in paper and paint: "if you're lucky enough to be different, never change"

 

Large grid work this week. The left one is hard to see but I've cut out shapes in similar colored paper and didn't mark on it at all although I was tempted. I wanted the colors to blend along with the shapes. The one on the right is a mess but all of this is a learning process. I took a small card and glued it down because under it was a big paint splotch (I dropped the paint brush LOL).

 

Side A of some recently created art cards. These measure 5-1/2 x 3 inches. 

Side B

Doodling still happens.

Art journal using my cut out doodles, painted papers and stickers

Continuation - second page of the journal above

Still doing the 100 days journaling (2nd 100 days journal) using small squares for collage work. This shows #19-22.

Using the printout shown in a larger size, I glued it down to the page and did a collage over it. I love using my handmade ink shimmer sprays and paint sprays I mixed recently. They're used here on medical exam paper (my new all-time favorite paper to use for collage).

 

I think my only criticism is I still don't have his eyes quite right. That only means more practice which I'm fine with. I love to practice!

The same photo as the one I used above. This time I used carbon paper for the outlines. Done in watercolor and ink.

Even on less than enthusiastic days due to physical pain, I will do something. I have been working a lot with magazines, cutting out things I will use in collage. That's a more relaxing thing to do in the evening but there are days when I just want to find fodder without too much effort. Magazines provide that.

Magazine pieces sorted by patterns, illustrations, foods and words. I've started gathering magazine pieces in colors as well for collage.

 Every so often I stop and admire the view around here. There are still lots of mosaics to appreciate.

The bathroom window on a cloudy day.

 

 

Enjoy your week!

Cindy,  EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art

Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics 

Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Journey

Everything Has It's Season

That statement is especially true for me at this moment in time. Due to some physical snafu, my progress on the Purple Palace has taken a back seat. Until I discover what and why, there can be no pushing or pulling, climbing or furniture building. Everything requires strength and patience. I have neither.

However, there doesn't seem to be much strength to pick up a pen, paint brush or some other mark-making tool at my art table. And so, that's where I've been. I know I share, daily, my fun art projects or things of interest to me relating to my little art corner of the world. But it's good to share it here as well, just in case someone comes across this blog and finds it interesting enough to read more.

Here's some things I've worked on over the past week. Even on week's when I don't feel entirely inspired, I discover something to do which then sparks the inspiration and the rest is what is seen here. This isn't all of it, but most of it!

May's entry in the sticker book

Random doodle using paint markers

A new art journal has been christened

Making vessels over doodles practicing negative space in white

Hinata - "Peanut Butter Time" in collage, watercolor and acrylics

The favorite Gelli Plate tool (hand made flowers on an empty paper roll) was used this week.

Still working on the collage a day project - very close to the 100 day mark!

Cover of the new journal

Watercolor Cairns using ink, stamps and Oracle Cards for inspiration

Neurographica Journal got a new entry (most done while waiting in the doctor's office) that sort of got away from me however the gnome in a mushroom house in a tree vibe is still there.

King Night inspired by Eulalia Mejia aka Happy Chinchilla who shared this lesson through the Mastering Mixed Media EXPO 2026. Made using cardboard and acrylics. I love him so much I think I would like to make him in an art journal, maybe collage or paint or both!

 

The grid journal using watercolor and spraying Isopropyl alcohol randomly created sky art. Cool!

My reward for waiting so long at the doctor's office. Two nice big rolls of medical exam paper that will get used mostly on the Gelli plate but also for mark-making. Gifted by a sympathetic nurse's assistant. Never be afraid to ask the question: what do you do with it if you don't use it?!

Negative space in black. I didn't get the centering quite right with this page so I added a page from an old calendar that seemed to fit with the overall vibe I was looking for.

Now that a new week is upon me, I'd like to first wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day! Please be safe and smart out there. It's a little weird outside these days.

Secondly, it's a whole new week of creating for me at the art table while I navigate physical healing, always an important goal.

Until next time ...

 

Enjoy your week!

Cindy,  EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art

Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics 

Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Journey