Wednesday 28 August 2013

abstract portraits & just letting go...

So much to do!  

One of the things I love about art is that the further you go, the deeper you can go. This doesn't at all surprise me because God is infinitely creative and the further I go in my relationship with Him, the deeper I can continue to go. It only makes sense that art would be that way too...

The more I spend time in my studio, the more ideas I have, the more things I want to try and the more images that constantly invade my thinking space ... I love that! Often at night, I fall asleep with pictures that I have never seen before moving across my mind's eye. How I wish I could video record them!

As you know by now, I'm busy with several on-line classes, as well as some of my own projects that I want to do. I've recently finished one of Alisa Burke's courses and here are some journal entries based on that class. 

 Before I added any colour, I drew a fast portrait with my sharpie marker, and for the most part, I did not look at my subject while I drew.

I then added some details and swirls across the page.   

Once I was satisfied with my black and white sketch, I added colour with my watercolours.  

The final step was some doodle patterns throughout the page.

Art is so much about learning to "let go" and release yourself into the process.  Alisa Burke is great at teaching methods to do just that. This was a lot of fun ... I think I might yet make some canvas paintings similar to these. 

If you are artistically stuck, this is a great way to get the ideas flowing ... give it a try!

Silvia

Monday 12 August 2013

Yummy Food Art

Ok ... I'm not too much of a foodie, but this weekend Tim & I had a couple of nights away at a Bed & Breakfast and it turns out that a gourmet chef (Chef Julie) & her husband owned the B&B.  All I can say is mmm...

Her breakfasts were absolutely delicious ... I just wanted to eat them slowly all day long!  Not only were they delicious ... they were so beautifully presented that I initially felt bad destroying her works of art (that is, until I began eating).  Chef Julie also had optional dinners available, and after tasting our first breakfast, we booked her for the evening. I have to confess though ... I don't have many pics of the dinner. What can I say, we had spent the day biking in Montreal and I was hungry.  :)

The hosts were so friendly and worked hard to communicate with us (as we switched between their broken English and our broken French) and the house was a beautiful century home, just steps away from the Ottawa River in Saint-Placide, Quebec.

Here are some pictures of our three course breakfasts...

Crepes with roasted apple and Brie cheese, served with maple syrup, fresh fruit and a flower waffle.

 We had nasturtiums with every meal.  They taste good with maple syrup. Actually, everything tastes good with maple syrup.


Her own pastry, fruit and Oka cheese, served with fruit, a heart shaped waffle, and of course, maple syrup.

 Here is our second course on day two.  I ate the second course on day one before I thought about taking a picture of it.  This is scrambled eggs mixed with some nearly divine cheese, served over a ratatouille, in a pastry bowl.

The third course on both days was home-made pastries served with several of her own preserves.

I have no pictures of our dinner, but you will have to trust me that it was amazing and beautiful. All I will say is I wanted to drink the sauce that was used over our fish. Seriously, I would have drank it straight out of the pot if I could have.

As for the rest of our time away - we had a very sweet time we felt like we were in a bit of France with vineyards and bakeries scattered across the countryside.  Definitely a place we will return to!

And if you are interested this is where we stayed... and ate:

Silvia

Thursday 1 August 2013

A Shout Out to Junelle Jacobsen

This summer has been wonderfully filled with creating and experimenting with art. I have been really enjoying my on-line classes, in particular one called "Wild Art Summer" by Junelle Jacobsen. Her projects have been a lot of fun, have challenged me try new techniques and to be bold and courageous (anyone who has ventured out artistically in any genre knows what I am talking about!)

Thanks Junelle for the thought, fun & love you poured into this course. Thanks for believing in all of us and showing us a bit more of God through your laughter, joy and encouraging spirit. 

Here is a mixed media on wood block that I have recently completed, based on an assignment from Wild Art Summer...


Silvia