IllustratingStories.com

2 Must-Know Techniques for Illustrating Stories

Whether you create mixed media collage, art journals, or scrapbook pages, you've probably used papers that have either a basic pattern or a basic offset pattern.  These patterns are everywhere!

Knowing how to create your own basic patterns is highly beneficial.  First, anything DIY often leads to a huge cost savings over purchasing commercial/pre-made products (like patterned paper).  Better yet, if you sell or publish your work, DIY patterns may remove any worries you have about infringing on other artists' work.  Your pattern = your copy right.  Finally, there is a huge market out there for patterns.  Someday, you might find yourself in the business of selling patterns to all sorts of artists illustrating their own stories!

The following video tutorial demonstrates how to make a basic pattern and a basic offset pattern.  Once you know how, who knows what you'll create!

1000 Artist Journal Pages and an Opportunity

I have a little confession:  I'm nuts for the 1000 fill in the blank here books.  In my library, I have 1000 Retail Graphics, 1000 Type Treatments, 1000 Greetings, and so forth.  I'm a junkie it seems.  And, one of my very favorite of this type of book is by Dawn DeVries Sokol (and I just found out, because I'm slow, that she is the voice of D'Blogala and the brains behind NaNoJouMo!).  The book's name?  1,000 Artist Journal Pages: Personal Pages and Inspirations.

I love this book.  It is a feast for the eyes and creative soul.  In it, you'll find a variety of styles, stories, and artful approaches (from drawing, to painting, to collage, and on).  Additionally, the book offers a few prompts, reasons why some of the featured artist's journal, and two fabulous directories (of resources and artists).  If you want something pretty to drool over (in a virtual-non-icky-sort-of-way), are looking for art journal inspiration, or if you're interested in learning more about art through study of some amazing work, this book is a must have!

Now, here's the cool part:  Pam Garrison (one of the book's artists) is giving away a signed copy of the book on her blog.  You have until Friday to leave a comment on Pam's blog.

Best wishes!

The Snow Queen, Happy Accidents, and Arty Goodness

When I started working on this piece (last week in Jackie's studio), I really had no idea where I was going with it, in terms of story (which is a little unusual for me).  I just knew that I wanted to play with molding paste (e.g., Golden Gel Mediums & Molding Pastes Set).  As I started to paint in the figure, I realized that it was the Snow Queen.  But, I couldn't remember that story very well and was inspired to do a little research.  Thank goodness for Wikipedia!

Wikipedia reminded me that she is from The Snow Queen (or Sneedronningen -- love that) by Hans Christian Anderson (a favorite author for me when I was a kid).  It, also, reminded me of specific details from the story that I'd forgotten; details that made for good collage (as in the words winter, eternal, eternity, etc.).  I really love how the story formed around the art this time.  Such a different experience!

Thank goodness, too, for happy accidents.  For as I was applying the molding paste with my knife, I accidentally pulled.  This resulted in a pattern that looked a lot like ice (or frost) as it creeps along windows and other glossy surfaces.  (Side note:  You know, it's in moments like these, in the face of absolute surprise and delight, I feel like I've stepped aside and let something greater than me take hold and intervene!  It's pretty cool!)  Anyway, the effect made for a great addition to the piece:

As my take on The Snow Queen dries (and I think about what else to add), I am contemplating other creative projects (and, this is where the arty goodness part of the post comes into play).  I have a few pots in the air at the moment which is awesome -- I just love options (maybe you'll play or are playing, too?):

• Misty Mawn's online Painting Layers class will begin soon (can't wait -- am getting prepared).
• I've decided to play along in D'Blogala's NaNoJouMo.
• Two Custom Art pieces require finishing touches (one for a little girl friend of Duncan's -- love it).
• My FatBook pages are nearly done (heh-heh, it's true!).
• The sketchbook should arrive soon (I'll share the theme as soon as I get a few pages done -- I'm pretty psyched about it).
• Been thinking of submitting to our local Sixth Street Gallery -- they have some interesting events coming soon (specifically, interested in the birds theme).

Are you doing any of these projects, too?  What arty pots do you have flying?  Please share your story with us -- we'd love to know what's going on in your neck of the woods!

Modeling Paste

This week in the studio we got our fingers messy with modeling paste.

Seat-of-My-Pants Scrapping...

...uh...what I mean to say is:  Digital Scrapbooking Demo (Super Fast)

Every now and then, someone asks if I'll demonstrate how I put together a digital scrapbook page and if I can share my understanding of design principles.  Well, today the video is just that:  A super fast (10 minute take on 1.5 hour session) video of the process.  I start with photos and a story (words) and the rest is a bit chaotic.  Which brings me to a little confession:  I pretty much fly by the seat of my pants!

As you watch the video, you'll see that design ideas are explored and abandoned when they don't work.  Then, I move on to explore new ideas without looking back.  Things occur to me a bit randomly through a mixture of desired structure and gut feeling.  Intuition plays a huge part in my creation process.  Then again, there are moments of analysis and measurement; a desire to align or color things just so to bring home my  message/theme (in this case a fun Halloween experience).  In the end, my process is a balance between nerdy and wild abandon; completely seat-of-my-pants.  Honestly, I'm not sure if I could teach design principles.  I think I'd be better at sharing something more like a series of design recovery case studies!

Anyway, it's a bit long, but the music is cool.  Enjoy!

Fall Color

A little glimpse into the beautiful fall colors in the Pacific Northwest. This is my favorite time of year to get outside and snap the camera. Brilliant colors everywhere!

1. Grasshopper, 2. Trees, 3. Berries, 4. Leaves

Photography Love

Over the past few years I have been sharing my photography love with my husband, Elden. I have taken photos all of my life, but for him it is a new passion.

I enjoy our time spent together looking for the perfect shot and discovering just the right camera settings. It is amazing to have a partner-in-crime that gets excited as I do when you finally nail the perfect image.

Lately we have taken our photography on the road, or on the bike path I should say. We have loaded up the camera backpack with our favorite lenses (Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8 and Canon EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6) and hit some great local trails. Love that Elden doesn't mind lugging all the gear!

While we were playing around with some shots on Saturday I noticed that the lighting was just right to capture a reflection. Elden was such a great sport to hold the camera and help me get just the right shot. It makes me smile every time.

I am still sorting through the hundreds of fall photos that we have taken over the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow I will share a few of my favorites.