THE ART OF CREATIVITY STUDIO: mixed media

Showing posts with label mixed media. Show all posts

25 August 2016

MY Etsy ONLINE STORE: TheArtOfCreativityCo

I'm so excited to share that my

Etsy Online Store : TheArtOfCreativityCo,

is now OPEN.

You can visit TheArtOfCreativityCo here, and purchase beautiful unique handcrafted cards and tags for any occasion, as well as posters and mixed media for the home, office or school. New products will be continuously added, so don't forget to check back for more goodies.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtOfCreativityCo?ref=pr_shop_more

TheArtOfCreativityCo Online Store is Now Open

As an Opening Special, I would like to offer you a 10% discount on the purchase of TheArtOfCreativityCo items. Use PROMOBG916 upon checkout to avail of this offer.

Can't find that perfect gift, I've got that covered too. Gift certificates/coupons are available to download. Send me your friend's name, email address and a short message and I will email the gift certificate/coupon to your friend.

The Art of Creativity Studio Gift Certificates

I look forward to you stopping by and shopping at my Etsy Online Shop:TheArtOfCreativityCo.
Your reviews would be greatly appreciated on my Facebook Page or on My Etsy Online Store.

4 August 2016

MIXED MEDIA

MIXED MEDIA ON WOODEN CANVASES

I love working with mixed media as I feel like I have carte blanche to be free and create any piece and change my mind and add elements as the piece develops. I love working with the different textures to create a 3D effect. These are a collection of some of my mixed media pieces, which I have created over time.

African Sunset

African Sunset is a Mixed Media on a wooden canvas. I used various textures to create this piece. Sand was combined with the texture paste for the bottom right corner. Tissue paper combined with an adhesive for the next layer. I then added hessian with an adhesive. The sun element was created with crackle glaze. Acrylic paint was used to paint the setting and then the Boabab tree and African Elephants were added. The whole painting was then sealed with a varnish to create this African Sunset. This is a piece which was created at an Itz van Allez Workshop.

Mixed Media on Wooden Canvas @The Art of Creativity Studio

Cosmos

Cosmos was also created at an Itz van Allez Mixed Media Workshop where I fell in love working with my favourite medium. The wooden canvases were prepared with a layer of dark paint then a texture paste was applied, followed by the sgraffito technique to design the Cosmos. We blended several layers for the rest of the piece. I donated Cosmos as a Raffle Prize to Reach for a Dream for one of their Annual Gala Evenings.

Vintage Paris

Vintage Paris Mixed Media was created for my daughter's tutor class teacher as an end-of-the-year gift. I used a wooden canvas and 4 wooden coasters and decoupaged Parisian wrapping paper and serviettes to create this vintage look.

Paris with Love

Paris with Love used several mixed media techniques to create this piece. The background board was prepared and serviettes were decoupaged on to it. The 6 coasters were created by using crackle paste, texture paste, serviettes adhered with an adhesive, stamps, corrugated card and lace. I loved this piece and have kept it for myself.

Nursery Elephants

Nursery Elephants were created for a Baby Shower and the Mom-to-be was creating the Nursery with an Elephant theme using this colour palette. I created stencils using my Silhouette Cameo and used texture paste to create a lovely 3D effect for the zig zags, flowers, elephants and wording. This was a fun mixed media project to create.

Peacock Feather

Peacock Feather was also created for a Reach for a Dream raffle prize. The wooden canvas was prepared with the base colour, texture paste applied and the Sgraffito technique was used to create the Peacock Feather. I then used the colours of a Peacock's feather to create the layers of acrylics.

Hearts Tea Coasters

Tea Pot Stand

These Tea Coaster and Tea Pot Stands were created using old tea bags. I dried the tea bags out, removed the tea leaves and cut out the heart shapes/added tea quotes. Adhered them to the coasters and tea pot stand and then I used Pratliglo, which provided the finished items with a heat and water-resistant finish. These came in handy as gifts for family and friends.

Blue Tea Coasters and Tea Pot Stand

The Blue Coasters and Tea Pot Stand were created using a copied image from a serviette which I liked. I decoupaged them onto the wooden boards and sealed them with Pratliglo.

2 Fat Ladies Mini Tea Tray and Coaster Set

2 Fat Ladies Mini Tea Tray and Coaster set were also used creating wrapping paper decoupaged onto the coaster and prepared tray and sealed with Pratliglo.

Relax @10 Tea Tray

Relax @10 is an original acrylic on canvas which I decoupaged onto a tray which I had already prepared. Instead of the Pratliglo, I used a Heat Resistant varnish to seal the canvas and protect the canvas. It is just as effective as the Pratliglo, but I must say that I rather prefer the gloss effect of the Pratliglo. I use this as my serving tray. I have made prints from the original to use in other pieces.

Jewellery Mini Tray

This Jewellery Mini Tray was created for my beautician as a jewellery holder for her clients whilst she gave them a beautiful manicure. The same techniques have been used as on the mixed media pieces above.

Tulip Butterflies

Tulip Butterflies was also created using techniques from above mixed media crafts. This was also a donation for a raffle prize.

Trio Vintage Collection

These Vintage Collections and Birdie were created using decoupaged serviettes/crackle paste on the frames and vintage images added. Texture paste was used with a stencil to create the bird effect.

Vintage Collection

Birdie

Shimmy Trinket Box

Shimmy Shoes

These Shimmy Trinket boxes were created using a Shimmy Craft Metal and embossed. This was then applied to the prepared trinket boxes with a marine adhesive. Embellishments were added to give them some extra bling.

I think that I should also mention the suppliers that I avail of as they deserve a mention in one of my blogposts, as I would not be able to create any of my work without them.

The Deckle Edge is where I purchase all of my Fine Art supplies. I purchase the bulk of my paper supplies and acrylic canvases from Artes and I avail of MerryPak for packaging and any other supplies that I may require.

I have discovered a local brand called Dala, which translated from Xhosa means brings into existence or to create and their products certainly allow for that. They offer all the products that an Artist requires at a very reasonable rate. I have used amongst others: acrylics, adhesives, decoupage mediums and ephemeral. Another stockist which I like to avail of is Itz van Allez where I purchase my wooden canvases from and have previously attended Art and Crafts Workshops.

23 June 2016

COMMUNITY BOARD ON PINTEREST

The Art of Creativity Studio Community Pinterest Board

At The Art of Creativity Studio we have opened a Community Pinterest Board. We welcome Creative Contributors to Pin your Handmade Arts and Crafts from your Website, Blog or Online Shop. We encourage you to share industry-specific tips, training materials and resources. The Pins must only relate to HANDMADE Arts and Crafts, otherwise you will be removed.

You can sign-up via our Pinned Facebook Page Post by first following The Art of Creativity Studio's Pinterest and Liking our Facebook Page, we will do the same. In the comments section on our Facebook Page, please add your Pinterest Profile and you will be added as a Creative Contributor. After that you will receive a request from us to join as a Contributor on our Community Pinterest Board. You will need to accept this request to add Pins. This Board will then show up on your Pinterest profile.

Please note that we will not add you as a Creative Contributor if your profile does not meet the above requirements and you will be removed if you do not comply with the above requirements. Once you have been accepted as a Creative Contributor you will be able to add other Creative Contributors in the same way. You may use this Blog Post in your posts to share how to grow our Handmade Community.

This Community Board has been created so that we, as Creatives, can share and learn from each other by adding Pins that add value to our Creative process. Remember to also share your work, your products and other pins that you think we would all benefit from.

We are looking forward to growing our Creative Community on OUR Community Board.

Happy sharing ;-)

13 April 2016

MY CREATIVE JOURNEY (Part II)

MY STORY continued

One of my First Drawings

My cousin’s wife is an Artist and her work is just spectacular! She has many of her pieces at Hotels in Abu Dhabi and people kept asking her when she was going to give lessons. So when she started offering Art Classes in 2010, I decided that I wanted to broaden my Art skills to something a little more grown-up. It was the best decision, I undertook. I was in Heaven… This was just what I was hungry for and my love affair for Art was kindled.

In 2011, Our son had just completed High School in the UAE and was off to start Varsity in Cape Town and our daughter was just starting High School, in the Northern Hemisphere. I had the longing to return to the Cape and had itchy feet and needed to be closer to my sisters, brother, and especially my Nanna (both parents passed away many years ago). It was a tough decision to leave my DH (Darling Husband) behind, but he finally had a good job and had to remain in the UAE.

KraftyKidzWorkshop

I tried looking for a teaching job, but the pay was terrible, so I decided to start KraftyKidzWorkshop which was a mobile Arts and Crafts shoppe for parties and events. This worked for awhile, but was not lucrative as I had no marketing skills at this time and although the idea was a good one, the area where I currently live was not conducive to.

Kiddies attending Xmas Workshop

Parenting Hub

Then my sister-in-law and I found an opportunity to work together, and bought Parenting Hub. She is a qualified Graphic Designer and this worked for a year. We were able to share the work load and learnt much about marketing. We attended workshops and events, etc and grew our business. As we were not able to expand our business at that time, the work load became a bit much and as I had been commuting a lot to Abu Dhabi, we unfortunately had to sell the business.

Mixed Media on Board

I started taking Mixed Media classes, again to expand my art skills and improve my techniques. I like working with many different mediums and can become easily bored with just one medium, so I mix it up and explore new techniques. Working with Mixed Media has made me realise that it is ok to make mistakes and occasionally things do go wrong and that I do need the patience (like my Nanna) to accept that I don't know everything (yet). At least Mixed Media, is very forgiving. I also find that daylight is the best time to work on my projects.

Acrylic Painting on Canvas of Blouberg Beach

Now, what to do? Not one for sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I started formulating ideas and The Art of Creativity Studio was born in October 2014. My Blog has given my creativity a voice and the teacher within, can share ideas and "How to" methods. My ideas started becoming a reality when I actually started doing! Starting with this Blog, and slowly building my brand as I learned new skills and techniques.

Nikon D3100

I like to go the extra mile and am a bit of a perfectionist (to my own detriment). My hubby always says that I like to create extra work for myself, which admittedly, I do, do. Not wanting to stop at creating The Art of Creativity Studio, I expanded my horizons even further and took a Photography course. I would highly recommend any creative person to pursue photography as it helps with that eye for detail, and of course helps to market your creative work.

"Steal Like an Artist"

Facebook and Pinterest were the next steps, I took to develop my brand. And slowly, my desires to turn my obsessions into a business started to become a reality. Recently, I have joined Instagram and you can view many of my creations and my photography images on that platform.

I have read a book, twice, called: “Steal like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told you About Being Creative” by Austin Kleon, where he suggests that you take an idea and put your stamp on it, by developing the different ideas and creating it into something of your own, and share, of course!

Pinterest and Instagram are my constant source of inspiration, and I often think, “I can make that and develop it my style.”

I must say that I have been known to become quite excited when I visit an Arts and Crafts/Stationery Store as it lights a fire within me, even from a very young age and I can spend hours just looking around, but I can also spend a small fortune too. I find myself wanting all the tools of the trade (if only my budget and time would allow). I do, however have to realise that I cannot have everything and that at some point I have to start limiting my supplies, as I am finding that I am out-growing my studio and soon I will need my own Craft Store to store all my supplies.

Silhouette Cameo at work

The Silhouette Cameo has, however become my latest tool, and boy are the possibilities just endless with this amazing product...! I have always enjoyed figuring out how things work and most often self-teach myself many of the skills I have acquired through the years. Of course, nowadays, we have YouTube tutorials which are always on-hand…. One can learn just about anything these days on the Net. My head is exploding with so many new ideas and creations.

Crowns for Princess for a Day @Reach for a Dream Foundation

Birthday Card for my Sister

Why is it that at school we are only taught, Academics or Sports and that there is very little room for Creative minded students? How sad is that? We need creatives in this world, to make it more beautiful. Well, now is the time to embrace my creativity and share it with the world (literally). I want to stop making excuses as I have doubted my abilities for so long now that I don't want to hide behind them, anymore. I have the flexibility of my job, and yes, it is a job! I am my own boss, I have creative control over my own projects and at least my creativity can’t be stifled, I am in charge of my own destiny. The nice thing about having a flexible schedule is that I still have time to catch-up with Family and Friends over a coffee or lunch/dinner. "Fortunately", for my creativity, my hubby is away most of the time, my son is away at Varsity and has left home and my daughter is in her last year of High School. I like to start the day with a clean slate, which entails a walk on the beach with my dog, as my constant companion, and most chores done as this clears my head for the day ahead in my studio.

Unique Handmade Cards will also be part of the Stock

My “Top Secret” dream is to start selling my products before I move, again... back to Abu Dhabi mid 2017, on an online store, probably Etsy, so that my creations can be accessible to the whole world. I am currently investigating different options and working on building up my product stock, Unique Handmade Treasures for your Pleasure with Love by The Art of Creativity Studio xxx

My Motto

I Love what I do and it rewards me with such a sense of accomplishment. I still have a long journey ahead, but I am looking forward to it.

Read Part I:

19 August 2015

COLOUR PALETTES

Does the colour wheel

have you stumped?

Do you choose:

Primary colours, which cannot be made from mixing other colours,
or Secondary colours made by mixing two primary colours,
or Tertiary colours made by mixing one primary colour with an adjacent secondary colour,
or Triad colours made by colours equally spaced from each other on the colour wheel,
or Tetrad colours made using a combination of four colours which are 2 sets of complements,
and then there are tints, tones and shades to choose from...~~aaahhhh!~~

Do you just

Forget about the colour wheel and just have fun mixing your own colour palette?

Inspiration is all around you. All you need to do is pick up your camera, take some close-up pics and then use those image colours to create your own colour palette of not more than 6 colours. Take photos of nature, just like Jessica from Design Seeds does. Jessica has hundreds of palettes for any and all your projects, which she gladly shares for free.

These are just a few of my favourite colour palettes from Design Seeds, which I can't wait to go and incorporate into some mixed media.

Naturally, as I am a little obsessed by colour palettes, you can find additional colour palettes, which I love, on my Pinterest

12 August 2015

WONDERFUL WASHI TAPE

Washi 和紙 is derived from "wa" meaning Japanese and 'shi" meaning paper. Washi (Paper) is an old tradition in Japan of producing uniquely specialised papers obtained from wood-pulp from the mitsumata shrub, gampi tree or mulberry bark. Washi Tape is, however, typically made using the natural fibres from bamboo, rice, wheat and hemp.

Not only will your projects (scrapbooking, gift-wrapping, card-making, decorations, ornaments, etc.) be transformed to the next level of awesomeness, this delicate tape can be utilised in everyday items as well. You can give your home, work and personal items a unique feel with your own supply of Washi tapes. This versatile craft tape is acid-free, slightly transparent and has an array of designs, patterns and colours to choose from, which can be written on, torn, removed and re-positioned (not as sticky as traditional sellotape). You will find that Washi tape will become your next must have stock item in your craft room whatever type of creative you are.