The 100 Day Project Gathering

Sitting inside the Artsgarden in Indianapolis

Janet brought her 100 days of Zentangle inches

Beautiful work

5 women were at the Indianapolis Gathering for the celebration of The 100 Day Project last night. We would like to see this grow, so we have decided to try and promote the free project and get more people involved. This group will have a launch for the 2019 challenge. Jen, the organizer of last night's gathering, told us about several shows coming up that interest us. So I will look into joining the Indianapolis Arts Council.

I am not trying to sell my art. That has been tried, and it was only mildly successful in a tiny shop. I have never sold anything online. My goal is just to connect with more creative people.

Cathy and I also decided that we can venture out into the big, bad city and make it back home again. She is driving. Let me repeat that, Cathy is driving.

Life is good. So are anxiety pills.
Linda

Day 100

The entire stack, I think

But Mom. I don't want to be on the internet!

I have completed this challenge. Whew! Proud of the fact that I never missed a day. Even when I had nothing, sitting at the desk trying to come up with just one more idea.

Yesterday my new phone arrived. After trying to figure out how to transfer my contacts from the old phone to the new, which is just not possible for normal humans who like step by step instructions, I decided to visit my local Verizon store.

I want to state this clearly: people who work for Verizon, or AT&T, or Sprint, or Best Buy that deal with today's technology and the morons who are holding that technology in their hands do not make enough money. No idea what they are paid, but trust me, it is not near enough. I had no problem communicating what I needed, or understanding what I was being told. But while I was waiting in line, which is actually sit your butt down and play on your phone, I witnessed a woman enter the store. When approached by an employee, she asked what part was the Apple fix it section. You know. Where one of them Apple people tell you what you need to do to stop people from looking at YOUR porn on the internet that YOU posted.

I am not making this up.

The Verizon employee didn't even bat an eye. Honest. No flinch, no gasp, just explained that they didn't have an Apple section, that the Apple store is at Keystone Crossing on the north side, and was there something they could help her with? Was she a Verizon customer? Why, no, she was not. But she sure did need some advice on her IPhone.

Did I mention that during this entire conversation, she had a call on her phone that she answered as soon as she entered, and said in a loud, no nonsense voice to the person on the line, DO NOT SAY ANOTHER WORD AND HANG ON! So all of the above was going out on her line.

There was another customer sitting across from me about my age. We just looked at each other, and I swear, rolled our eyes at exactly the same second. Made my day. Worth the wait.  Have a good one.
Linda

Day 99

A wonky color wheel and a bit of collage

One of the projects in the Mindy Lacefield Primitive 2 class

Evolved to this

When I finished the 100 days of tags on this past Sunday, I was elated. At first I thought, ahhh, time to kick back and relax. It wasn't a few seconds later that I started thinking about art journaling and the classes I can take, drawing more, and it hit me. The daily habit is here to stay. That had been one of my goals with this project, to get into a daily groove of creating. Did not matter if it was a canvas, or a tag or a journal page. Just create something. And so, moving forward, more little whimsical girls to paint.

Calling this done, as in what a great learning experience. Mindy has taught me to layer upon layer, and then do it again. A few tips I will pass along:

If you want to go over color with white, do not use Golden's heavy body white. It is very opaque and creamy, and just is not the best for grunge effect or layering. I ended up using Liquitex gesso. You can see the difference in the last photo. Golden heavy body paint is in the middle of the forehead. Very bright and white, and no underneath colors are showing. Gesso is on the body and under the eyes.

A Catalyst wedge number 6 is essential. I tried a credit card, and it did not work. Took off too much paint. You need a silicone wedge to drag the paint and charcoal.

The above is truly mixed media. I used a 9x12 canvas panel. Collage pieces of old, yellow pattern papers and bleeding tissue are underneath the paint. Then heavy body gesso, then drawing with charcoal. Paint, charcoal, gesso, paint, charcoal, pencil in layers. We moved to colored pencils in the final steps. I am not completely satisfied with this, as I don't think she looks like a little girl or whimsical at all. I should have made the face rounder. But in teaching me what I wanted to learn to achieve all of that luscious glimpse of what is underneath? Perfection!

Thanks for stopping by.
Linda

Day 98

Day 98 with a Dina stamp

This ever changing pot of petunias on my deck makes me so happy

100 Tags!!!

This is a screen shot of Instagram from last night.

I finished the last 3 tags yesterday. Started and finished, actually. I guess once I admitted I was down to the bare bones of ideas, that freed something up in my head. The very last tag is full of color which was intentional. I wanted it to end on a positive, uplifting note.

Every night after supper the dogs and I go out on the deck, and the petunias are my source of joy. So many colors in one pot. Starting to look a little depressed with the heat, even though I water them every day. I hope they last for the summer.

I have mentioned before that I started to follow Jill Faust on Instagram. THIS was her post last night, and it mesmerizes me. I can tell that she is using the same techniques that we are learning in Mindy's classes, but on a more realistic scale. I love this painting! She also has some ink videos on YouTube.

Thanks for stopping by.
Linda

Day 97

Today's tag is a reminder to myself

Not going well at all

I have a mental block with the last 10 tags. There are only 3 days left, and not one of them is complete. I sat in that studio for over an hour yesterday, working on 5 tags at once. Pitched 2 of them in the trash I was so disgusted. Is it because we are to the end? Or am I only good for like 90 days worth of ideas? Makes me wonder.....

The Mindy's Art Club and the online classes we bought in the past few weeks are a challenge. I am enjoying the work, but have a long, long way to go. The above was just play, using Faber Castel water color pencils, Derwent Inktense water color pencils, and Neocolor II's.  The more I use the products, the better I will understand them. Have to say, the most intense color is with the Caran D'Ache Neocolor II crayons.

Thanks for stopping by.
Linda

Day 96

Stamping and water colors

Swatches of new water color pencils

Today's tag has 3 stamps from the same Tim Holtz collection. I went into the Tim drawer of my stamp stash looking for a particular image. I saw this collection that I had obviously purchased sometime ago and never used. Hmmmm. And a new tag was born. Used Daniel Smith water colors and Caran D'Ache NeoColor II's for the background.

Made another purchase yesterday. The above swatches are from a set of 24 Faber Castel water color pencils. I have a set from Prisma, and have not been happy with them. The colors are okay but the ability to move the pigment is not, so decided I needed another brand to try. I think these are going to work out well. My other new favorites are Derwent Inktense pencils, and Caran D'Ache Museum Aquarelle. But in order to buy a complete set of the Museum pencils, I first need to rob a bank. On DickBlick.com, they are 5 bucks apiece. Yikes.

My phones random impulses to skip from WiFi to data usage is getting worse. I must address that problem today. Sigh. Technology is suppose to make life easier, right? Right???
Linda

Friday

This is it, I got nothing.

Enjoy the weekend.
Linda

Day 94

Photo from an antique shop in Mineral Point, WI.

I am not a fireworks type of girl. Nope. Not at all.

I will slay all fireworks, protecting my mom and sister from this threat.

Review below

From the Mindy Lacefield Art Club lessons

It was stressful last night. The noise did not stop until after 11. We got out of bed this morning at 5:30 and I considered banging pot lids together while I ran up and down the street, but the running part, yeah, no. Not happening. By law, our area is allowing fireworks until July 9th and the morons that waste money on this crap will indeed light them up. It will not calm down unless we get thunderstorms. That would be nice.

Having some problems, or rather both Cathy and I are having problems with the water color paper and the techniques that Mindy uses in her classes. In the past year I have experimented a lot with the different types of papers available to artists. My favorite so far is the Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum surface pads, in the photo above. But you have to be careful to purchase the Vellum Surface. It has a smoother feel, and the paint glides onto the surface. Regular mixed media paper has a dry feel and is appropriate for acrylics, but not so much water colors.

Been seeing a lot of artists using the Jane Davenport ink pen. The set above is $7.99 at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Once I was able to load the cartridge and start the ink flow, I liked it. However. Oh, yes, however, I have a few points to pass along:

1. No mention of the colors of the 3 ink cartridges is on the package.
2. The instructions are on a small folded sheet inside the package, and with my glasses on, I could not make out the small print.
3. I unscrewed the pen parts, took out a cartridge that turned out to be dark blue, and inserted it. Was suppose to hear a click. This took 5 attempts. Put the pen back together, still no ink.
4. Went to YouTube and searched for how to install a cartridge in a Jane Davenport ink pen. Found a short, very informative video. After loading the cartridge and hearing the click, you put the cap back on the pen and gently tap it against your hand 10 to 15 times. It will then write.
5. At this point you should be able to remove that cartridge, and start another, different color. And you can certainly do that, but be warned that the opened cartridge will leak ink.
6. This ink is water soluble, which means once you draw a line, the ink can be manipulated with a wet paint brush. THIS is the reason I purchased this pen and ink. To see this technique performed, go to YouTube and watch any of the latest videos from artist Jill Faust. Beautiful work. The pen writes and draws easily.

I am grateful to anyone and everyone that puts informational videos on YouTube. Seriously, life is easier because of these kind souls. But damn, I resent that the manufacturers do not explain their products on their packaging. Or how to install, initiate, start their products. I will not be buying anymore cartridges or pens until I do some research.

Thanks for stopping by.
Linda

Happy 4th of July

took a break to eat and let the paper dry

Then returned to deepen the colors

Today's tag was born of desperation. I think I have mentioned that I am out of ideas. Yet they keep popping into my head, and I am jumping on implementation before I forget them. I painted 2 tags with black paint yesterday, thinking I wanted to return to the black and white motif. Then I remembered the 4 faces stencil I have from Balzer Designs. Ahhhh. Perfect. Some b&w material out of the stash, and a Tim Holtz chipboard, and done.

Cathy and I joined the Mindy Art Club, a monthly fee type deal. I really need to read the fine print (there wasn't any) before I commit, because Mindy is putting projects out almost on a daily basis. I am already behind. This is the first girl. Well, this is the final girl from me that I will put out here. I tried, I really tried to do this girl as Mindy instructed, and yeah, no. It went in the trash. Found out I do not like drawing with a water color pencil. The line is too thick, or I need more practice, not sure what my mental problem is with it. So I did as I always do, pulled out my mechanical pencil and sketched the fence, then turned to paint. I forgot to first do shading with a Stabilo, so might try this again. As I said before, I am behind.

I have 2 more tags complete, still have 5 to go. And the way this year is flying by, I need to check the supply list for my class with Seth Apter in September and see what I don't have. Ha Ha Ha..........everyone laugh with me.... If we lived in Ohio and had close proximity to Dick Blick stores, we would both be looking for jobs. Preferably at Blick.

Stay safe.
Linda

Today is Tuesday

Stamp is from Roben Marie Smith Paperbag Studios

So here is how the morning is going, and it's only 6:40 as I type this:

I paid my house and auto insurance in full for the year yesterday. Today the company sent me an email containing my documents, including the cards you are required by law to carry in your vehicle. I tried to sign in to obtain those cards for download, so I can print them. Denied. Did you forget your user name and/or password? Yeah, that is highly likely because for whatever reason I did not write it down. Click here, and we will send you a temporary validation code.

I'm sure we've all been through this. I click, the screen responds it may take 2 to 3 minutes. I get the new email, copy the code, put it in the appropriate box, and the insurance company responds with their main system is down, could I possibly try in a few hours? Okaayyyyy.

Yesterday this system told me my balance was zero, when it was really $1,967.00. I had to call my agent to ask if I had been cancelled by the company. She said no, your balance is zero until the actual due date, when you are then late on payment. I am not going to say the name of this company, but good golly Miss Molly, can we hire some good IT people?

Okay, done. I have lots more to rant about. I am contemplating a new cell phone, after 12 months into the contract and purchase of the current phone, because this phone has started randomly kicking itself off WiFi and using up my data plan, in 14 days. To temporarily protect myself, I have purchased a higher data plan, and now turn the data off when in my home, forcing the phone (kind of like a child) to use the WiFi. We would have diagnosed the problem yesterday at Best Buy, but the Samsung representative is on 2 weeks vacation. And the 3 Best Buy men (who were great!) are totally bewildered.

And it's only Tuesday.....
Linda

Day 91 and Stuff

Quote is an old Dyan Reavely stamp

Went into the bathroom to change for dinner Saturday. Paint/charcoal on my face. I R a mess!

8x8 wood panel from a Mindy Lacefield class

I know this looks simple, but holy crap, this gave me fits

Early morning at the dog park - Sunday

I planted these petunias - last year!

Stepping out of your comfort zone is, well, uncomfortable. That is the point. I am now out on a limb in a zone I have not previously encountered. The techniques and methods of application that Mindy Lacefield teaches in her online classes can be applied to other areas of art. So I am fascinated by what she can do. It appeared so easy, watching the videos. Yeah. Soooooo easy.

It is not. Not to me. Yes, I am enjoying it. And I feel I need to do this type of drawing and painting at this point, because it will help me loosen up my style. I need that. Across the board, I so need that. So I will plow ahead, layering, deconstructing faces, wiping off lines, adding new charcoal. And eventually getting some of it on my face. No idea how that happens. Probably got it on the phone and transferred the medium.

Spring of 2017 I purchased 3 small containers of petunias and planted them in that big pot on the deck. We had a harsh winter here in central Indiana. Surprise! The plants reseeded themselves and the riot of color you see above are all volunteers from last year. Mother Nature can still amaze me.

Enjoy yourselves.
Linda

Day 90

Today's tag is a little of this, a little of that. The marks on the left are ancient rub-ons from my stash of Christy Tomlinson products. Old. So old. But they still worked.

I decided to mow the back yard last night at 7:45. It had started to cool off slightly, was in the high 80's, and it so needed to be done....for the second time this past week. Yes. Growing that fast. I lightly sprayed OFF on my legs and arms and went to work. Still light out, of course, but as we all know that is the bewitching hour for mosquitoes. I must have missed some spots with the OFF. We will not discuss the spots that I have bites, but suffice to say today's mosquitoes have figured out how to bypass the areas with bug repellant, and move to where there is none.

Bless their hearts. Do they have hearts?
Linda

Day 89

Organizing stuff yesterday and came across old rub-ons from scrapbooking days

Working on loose sketching, making marks

I was watching the X-Files on BBCAmerica. Influence???

Added some color with gouache paint. 

I know logically that the Mindy Lacefield style of painting is simplistic. I know it takes practice when you are trying any new art form or method. But let me say, this has given me fits. There are a few things going on at the same time. All of the information from Ardith's class is flowing around my brain, and I am making an effort to hold my tools differently, particularly any drawing tool. It DOES make a difference. I am making all types of marks to find my own marks that will become part of my painting style. And then I am convinced I can do these little, whimsical girls, except they come out sometimes looking like little cranky old ladies. Case in point:

Looks like she wants to take a large stick to little children in her yard

I have always, always had a problem with profiles, or 3/4 faces looking to the side. It is my mental block. So I did one more and started as I normally do, with the eyes. Drew the shape of the face around it after I completed the features and that was an improvement. I didn't take a pic, forgot. Because I am old, and probably look like I want to take a stick to the kids that tease the dogs. OOPPPS. Did that pop out of my mouth?

One more note: I had 2 General Sketch and Wash pencils in my stash. Never used them until yesterday. All of the above except the girl in color were drawn with that pencil, then I wet a brush and worked the graphite around. Fell in love with this effect. They are cheap if you are interested, and everyone sells them. The girl in color was drawn with a medium Derwent charcoal pencil.

Go forth and create this weekend. Too blazing hot and humid to do anything else.
Linda

Day 88 and dogs and a bat named Ralph

Add caption

Gracie will look at me if I am not holding the phone. So it has become difficult to get a pic of her straight on. Jake, on the other hand, will do just about whatever I say. He is Mama's Boy. Sooooo very much a mama's boy.

Out of tags but not worried. We are heading to the dog park early due to the incoming heat wave. Then home for the remainder of the day, staying in the nice air conditioning. My plan is to work on art projects all afternoon. Hard to believe we are at Day 88

His name was Ralph

My life can be really dull or highly interesting. It seems there is no in-between. Yesterday I dropped the dogs off at Puppy Playground for a bath. Came home and pulled the quilt out of the back of my Escape, took it out into the driveway to shake off the dog fur. Rolled it up, and went into the house. I started the washer, and reached down to pick up the quilt and saw the above on a corner. My first thought was Jake had taken a giant chunk of fur out of Gracie, although he has never done that. Then I saw the wings, and realized I had a dead bat on the quilt. Those little ends of the wings were attached to the material, so I had to gently pry. He did not smell. But he was stiff. I placed him on a paper towel and took his picture. Then I wrapped him up and placed him in the trash.

How did a bat get inside my car, on the underside of the dog's quilt you ask? Beats me, but my windows are usually down or cracked open in the garage. Guess I have to stop doing that.

Rest in peace, Ralph. Wish I knew your story.
Linda