Mimsmithfaro's blog

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Redbird

This is from a journal entry I did today. It started out as a rorschach of purple acrylic and turned into a neon waterfall.

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Calm seas

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Pretty girl

Girls with glasses

3 pretty girl sketches

I decided to include some sketches I've done for my Suzi Blu class. Can I just tell you Suzi rocks! Like majorly. She is not for the faint of heart though. Her current monthly challenge for the group is to love your vulva and she encourages you to look at your own, create art of, and share the vulva love. Like I said...not for the faint of heart ;)











Another woman who is not for the faint of heart is Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls. She is a force to be reckoned with. I have been enjoying her solo work and her videos and blog entries never fail to entertain and elicit response.

So enjoy a little AFP and Suzi Blu.

Vulvasticker

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Alien girl

I have been reflecting a lot recently on my relationship with Lydia. She will soon be 14 and overall our relationship is very good, but I sometimes worry that I could be doing better for her. I guess most moms feel this way. This journal page speaks of my worry for her because I remember what it feels like to be a teenaged girl.

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Thing a Day2

This is an excerpt from my art journal entry for today. I'm still working on my Suzi Blu sketches but I'm not ready to share anymore of that right now.

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Blu SP 020109

This and That

Been a bit...sorry to anyone who happens to check in.

I have been busy with work and family and doing something art-y every day. For February, I am taking part in a mixed media class with Suzi Blu- who is just freakin' amazing!!!! I am also going to try and participate in Thing-a-Day. The hard part won't be in doing the thing each day but in actually getting it scanned and posted!

Transcending: Words on Women and Strength by Kelly Corrigan

This is an amazing video that I want to share with all my female friends. It is truly moving.

And watch this for the month of love...

Plain White T's - Music Video - 1, 2, 3, 4 (Watch in HQ!)

Awwww!

Yay Neil!

I love you.

Journal Wrap Up 2

This week I mainly followed Misty Mawn's call for monochromatic pages. The book I am using for my art journal is a 1973 Science Year- World Book Annual like these. The pink page actually happened to fall on a page about cancer research which I found only fitting as pink has become our breast cancer awareness color. I tried to make the text big enough so you could actually see the words.

Other pages from this week include:

I am still following the Kelly Kilmer prompt-a-day project. Each day she gives you a painting plan, a collage layout, and a journaling prompt. It really is a lot of information but I am not one to take the exact guideline and create a carbon copy. I know it would look different because of my paint and available collage elements, but I'd much rather take the pieces offered and use them as inspiration. Here is a glimpse of a page I did using her prompt. As per class guidelines, I cannot share. It's only fair :)

Follow Me close-up

I won't be taking her class again next month. While it is a great value ($25 for a month of 3 part prompts), I'd rather try something else. I might sign up for Elsie's next class. I loved her first class! It really made me try something new- embroidery- and she shared cute little patterns and projects. Also- Elsie herself is just too cute! I am also excited by the prospect that Kelly Rae Roberts might offer an online class.






I love these classes as they are helping me get into the act of daily crafting. I am a much better person when I take time each day to craft and create! I like the camaraderie of the group and the prospect of taking the ideas and working on them at my leisure.

In other crafting news, I am still workinging on my wreath! Yesterday, I cut more strips for two hours and tied for another hour and a half! I do like the way it looks so far, but I know if I make another one it will have to be a smaller wire form. This one is too big and is taking too long! I like instant gratification ;) Luke has been giving his art teacher (a dear friend of mine) some trouble at school lately. He doesn't seem to want to do what the teacher asks and only wants to draw Katamari cousins or UB Funkeys. Hub and I have threatened told him that he will lose all video games unless he completes the art lesson satisfactorily. So, Luke and I visited the art teacher and I sat with him while he completed the lesson- sketching a still life which will later be painted with watercolors. Being a little on the sensory-addled side, he doesn't like paint. Knowing this, the art teacher gave him a set of water colors to paint with at home. So yesterday, he and I sat down to paint and he painted a lovely flower that is now hanging in the kitchen.

Luke sunflower

Journal Wrap-Up- Wk 1

I have been doing a lot of art this week and I'm very excited that I've started the year right. Lydia and I are trying to make art together each day. It's a nice way to spend time together and I can get her to talk whgile we are making stuff. Ulterior motive for the mom of a 13 year old! 

I am taking the ideas from the Kelly class and if it is a page from her class, you will only see a portion of the page. I included an SP as per Misty's request for the week.

2009

Cultivate

My focus word for this year is cultivate. You will see other  pages on this theme throughout the month. I like that cultivate has several synonyms~ prepare, use, take care, help, improve, develop, and seek. These are definitely things to do to better myself.

Individuality

 

Doll

This is part of a page inspired by the Kelly Kilmer class. In order to honor her request, I have only included part of this page.

Here's my SP attempt. This page has a pocket and there is a list of things that bring me bliss.

This is a two page spread. The theme is once again cultivate. Cultivate encouragement, faith, kindness, and inspiration. The second scan didn't scan completely and is just a portion of the second page.

I have been using acrylic paints and collage for the backgrounds of my pages. I purchased Sakura Souffle pens and I am enjoying playing with them.

This week, I've also been working on a new scarf with the lovely alpaca my sister bought me for my birthday and I've begun a scrap wreath like this one. It is taking FOREVER! I'll post a picture once it's finished which will probably be March!

So how are your new year's resolutions goig?