Category Archives: Art Journal

R2-D2 Collage

Since today was Star Wars Day I decided to embrace it by creating this acrylic collage on canvas made out of painted paper. Hope you enjoy it and may the Force Be With You!

Angst- Mixed Media Painting

This was one of ‘those’ paintings.
Those paintings that called out from under the bed in want of attention, that I was never content with, but wouldn’t rest until it was dealt with. Today was that day when my emotions needing dealing with and this painting seemed like the best way to express the juxtaposition of living a happy life but being filled with angst for no good reason. I think it happens that way sometimes, at least with me, so the raw emotion of that frustration spilled onto the canvas and at last, this can rest. What you see here is the 7th revision to this piece and I am finally willing to say….done…all done…and walk away. Will deal with the emotions of that too,

8.5″ by 11″ mixed media on board by Ardith Goodwin

#mixedmedia #abstractarteveryday #abstractart

Miniature Square Abstract Collages

For the longest time I piled up a ton of watercolor and acrylic studies, paintings that just weren’t ready to market, and some that were pitiful. I couldn’t bring my self to throw them away so the collage artist in me decided to cut them up and create a square abstract series of miniatures. I have had more fun piecing together these little gems. Some have become part of my One Collage At A Time Series which you can see here: http://ardithscollage.blogspot.com, but most are being worked into smaller, stand alone paintings mounted on a floating canvas. Manyof these little collages are only 1-2″ square, as you can see in some of the photos. The canvases are gallery wrapped, 4″ by 4″ so that might help give the size some perspective. If you have paintings that are just lying around, you might consider cutting them up too if you can bring yourself to do it.

by Ardith Goodwin

In album Miniature Abstract Square Collages (50 photos)

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*Floral Acrylic Paintings"

It feels good to be slinging paint again and the colors and freshness of spring inspired me to paint flowers for our upcoming Artwalk. I chose to try my hand with a few new techniques such as using a wash and drips, texture with credit cards, and glazing with layers. It has been a fun process and I look forward to using some of these new tricks with works on paper. These pieces were painted over the last few days, I find it interesting how my style changed as well, as that wasn't something I planned.

In album Floral Acrylic Paintings (8 photos)

"Poppies" 6" by 6" acrylic on canvas

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Lake Painting

One can only feel blessed by being able to sit out by a lake and paint. There are days I don’t feel up to painting, but today was not one of them and I am thankful. Plein Air Painting is something that intimidates me and it is on that list of challenging art skills I would like to master but for today, abstract miniatures are in the works and I am perfectly fine with that. If you have been stuck in the studio lately, consider moving a table outside, capture a view, and paint on! Might just recharge those artistic juices!

By Ardith Goodwin

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Exquisite Corpse Collage Game

One of the things I love about being a creative is coming up with unique ways to share my love of collage with others. The history of the Exquisite Corpse had always fascinated me due to the Surrealist mantra and the unexpected outcome of the game itself, which is derived from a phrase that resulted when Surrealists first played the game, “Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau.” or (“The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine.”) The game is played by a group of participants who create a series of words or images, through poetry, collage, drawing, etc. They begin with one word or image, cover up the initial image and pass it on to the next player who adds another element without being able to see the majority of the first one.

I play this through the game of Exquisite Corpse Air Mail. To begin, I start a small collage element on paper or board, cover the majority of it with paper, and leave just enough for someone to add to it. I then mail it to the other player who has done the same, each being careful not to peak at what the other has hidden. We can each remove the paper we used as cover to add new elements, but we can’t remove the paper they placed, which by the fourth turn becomes a fun challenge. After five turns, we each receive our initial collages back and have an “uncovering party” together to reveal our finished collages. Most of them are a total hoot! The images in this album show the first collage and how the white paper is used as the covering to the final collage. You can tell how each tiny element is added and how the final image turned out.

I usually play this game with a group of about 5-6 folks which means I will receive a new collage in the mail to work on every other day for a few weeks. There are times I only swap with one person though depending on my life schedule but this game can be adapted in so many ways. If you have grandchildren or friends far away, you might consider playing an Exquisite Corpse game with them. Here is a great website that explains the history of the Exquisite Corpse and shows some of the original images/drawings of the game when Andr’e Breton and friends played it back in the 30′s. It also makes for a fabulous Exquisite Corpse Party, where you actually play round robin over the course of several hours in creating the collages and swapping with one another. When the wine starts to flow that party becomes a total riot. I will post pics of that later,
http://www.exquisitecorpse.com/definition/About.html

In album Exquisite Corpse Mail Art (10 photos)

This is the finished Exquisite Corpse Collage when all the turns were finished. The small collage is in the center and was added to a background on the final turn with the fans at the bottom lower left of the piece.

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by Ardith Goodwin

Watercolor Zen Painting

I don’t know about you but there are times throughout the moments that I just need to step back, take a deep breath and calm my spirit. Today gave me lots of those moments and thankfully, a window to escape them a bit. I often do this with Watercolor Zen Painting, at least that is what I call it. As a creative, I quite my mind, breathe in peace, breathe out everything else and let the colors flow as they might. There are no rules, no expectations, no outcome desired, simply the act of connecting my creative spirit with my outward one. When I taught elementary school I would teach my students this type of ‘taking a break’ to help them focus. They used words, or doodles, or any type of medium that they felt drawn to and it made a difference in many of them, as it does me. I miss teaching little ones, but the connection through this type of creative outlet always brings me back to being with them. I wish you peace today…and if it is one of those days or moments….grab something to express yourself with, take a deep breath, and just be…..
(This watercolor was given a solar filter to enhance the mood of what I felt, I am pleased with its intensity.)

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By Ardith Goodwin

Simple Rock Painting For Kids

One of my fondest memories as a child was spending the time to create a box full of ‘rock people,’ googly eyes and all, and going with my mom to the local flea market to sell them. To this day I can recall the cigar box I toted them in, the little table I placed them on, and the ecstatic feeling I got when I sold every one for 25 cents each! Now, I have no clue if a kind soul felt sorry for me, because they weren’t too pretty, but nonetheless, my rock stars went to a new home and the love of rock painting and crafting was instilled in me at a young age. This week, I had the chance to spend the day with my nephew Noah, and what did he choose to do? Paint rocks! A boy after my own  heart.

By Ardith Goodwin

ROCK PAINTING STEPS

Supplies Needed

*I purchased Noah his own kit from a local book store, Painting On Rocks, which came with 6 rocks, small tubes of paint, a paint brush, and a how to book. A kit is not necessary, but it’s a great option if each child wants their own set of supplies.

Non-Toxic Acrylic Paints

One detail brush, One Flat brush

One Sharpie Marker

Pencil

Acrylic Sealer

Steps To Paint Rocks:

Painting rocks appears pretty simple, but there are steps to take to make sure your child ends up with a smile rather than a frown. Priming your rocks is the key to success and I can’t stress that enough. Many acrylic paints can be transparent and the color will not show well on a dark or non-porous surface. Always use flat, white acrylic paint to prime each rock before beginning.

1. Prime Rocks With Flat White Paint

2. Use a pencil to sketch your design before you begin to paint.

3. Apply first coats and decide if you need to apply a few extra coats for the color to show. (blow drying between coats makes this step go quickly.)

4. The last bit of paint on the rocks will be the detail layers. These are the dots, glitter, and juicy tidbits kids can add to make an ordinary rock look extraordinary. The crab in this image below has lots of dots added at the last minute. It made a big difference.

5. Once all the layers are dried, use an acrylic sealer to protect the paint.

Noah called this his Angry Bird rock.

This was one of our favorites, simple clouds, but really pretty.

*****If your child intends to place these rocks outside for any length of time, the best paint to use is called “Patio Paint” which you can get from your local craft store. It is specifically made to weather well and lasts for years, at least on the rocks in my garden.

This art activity is one of the most basic that kids will love to do but with a few tips, a child who tends to be a perfectionist will find success. You can purchase round, flat rocks at the local craft store as well, or make a day of rock hunting part of the agenda.

TIPS

1. Show your child how to sketch basic shapes on paper first. Trace the shape of each rock on the paper and sketch inside the lines so that they know exactly what size and place to begin the designs on their rocks.

3. Abstract designs are easy, and picking three colors is a manageable combination for many kids.

4. If using a book, some images will be more complicated. Decide ahead of time if a guide is a good idea or not.

5. Glow in the dark paints make gorgeous, really swell rocks and kids love them. Consider adding a final coat of GITD paint before sealing.

6. If you are working with an older group of kids, you can add pieces and parts to the rocks by using Super Glue or a Glue Gun. Parental Supervision is required due to the heat of the Glue Gun.

CALLING ALL KID BLOGGERS AND PARENTS!

This activity is part of The Kid’s Co-Op weekly round up! Each Friday we post a list of tons of great, kid friendly activities. You can view the list to get ideas, or you can participate too. Go to your favorite kid site, Pinterest Board, or your own website and copy the link of your activity. Scroll down to the bottom of the list below and click on “Add Your Link.” If you are a kid blogger and would like to participate in our Linky group let me know!

Thrift Store Denim Apron

As an artist, I go through aprons rather quickly. There are a few that I will ask to be buried with I am sure, but working with acrylics and glue can wear an apron out so I had to figure out a way to find the type of apron I loved, without breaking the bank. Denim is my favorite material to wear in an apron, as long as it is soft. It holds up well to glue, paint, inks, and just about anything I can wipe on it and it washes up nicely. Back in the day, the denim “moo moo” dress or jumper was quite the trend, but not so much. That makes for great pickings at the local thrift store. The denim dress you see her is a Levi’s Jumper that I scored for three bucks! 

There are pretty aprons, which I make as gifts, then there are working aprons that I make for myself. This is a working apron, requires no sewing, and I am not particular about seams etc. 

Step One: Make a straight cut up the back of the dress/jumper. Depending on which type you get, you might want to leave a few inches to the left and right in case you wish to sew or fuse a seam. For this one, I noticed there was a thicker ‘band’ across the back, so I decided to cut up to it and use it as part of my tie back. 

Step Two: Cut Around the Waist Band. I liked the sturdiness of this waist band so I cut around it. 

Step Three: Cut the back panel out, but leave the neckline to go around your head. This part will need about of ‘trying’ out so that you get a pretty good fit around the neck. Great thing about jumpers/overalls is that the brackets give you the option to shorten or lengthen the apron as you need. 

Step Four: Cut Tie Holes. I cut a small slit in each waist band for my tie strips. I use an old pair of pajamas that are soft. I don’t worry about whether or not the cut is straight, I simply cut a length of about two feet for each strip and tie them through the slit and knot them. Because they are not sewn in, I can change them as I need to. 

Step Five: Try On and Adjust. Pretty much, the apron is ready to wear and use, but this stage is where I ‘tweak’ it. If it is too long, I can mark it and trim it. If there are a few pieces I need to cut  back, I can do that now. The beauty of this working apron is that I am not worried about straight lines, setting stitches, or looking pretty. I spent $3.00, now have a sturdy denim apron, and am good to go until I wear it out. 

If I chose to I could sew and hem this, sew some straps on, add ruffles etc, but the beauty of this apron is that it’s cheap, sturdy, requires no sewing, and serves its function well. In my busy life, those qualities are all I need in a working apron. These make great ‘class’ aprons as well if you teach art students and need aprons that are a bit more durable than the traditional canvas ones. 

* Love*

Sometimes its the simplest reminders of love that mean the most. Made my day to see this left for me!

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By Ardith Goodwin