Altered Book ~ Art Journaling Workshop ~ Love Your LIfe ~ Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Book Used: Women's Health approx 8 x 11 altered page with gesso, acrylic fluid and tube paints, scraffito, graphite, china marker, permanent marker, collage with a stamp I made and stamped on newspaper.
I was supposed to be doing anything but this today but I've become so excited about the workshop at Dena's Ranch in July I could not stay away from this altered book today. You are invited to join us at workshop at Dena's near Marble Falls and there will be two three day sessions, first one July 19, 20, 21 and the second will be 23, 24, and 25. Beginners welcome. We will discuss altered books one day and we will work in an inexpensive used book, tear out pages, gesso pages, paint in it and experiment in it similar to working in a new blank journal. It's just another way to journal. The first two days we will use traditional watercolor techniques.

Dena has just recently added the 2nd session which will come first and if it doesn't fill I thought that we could go into Marble Falls and eat pie at the Blue Bonnet Cafe. Carol Nelson mentioned on Facebook "It's always nice to have a backup plan involving pie."
We will discuss and experiment with making some of our own stamps quickly and working small. I made this one this morning and stamped it on newsprint. I have always like the addition of newsprint in a collage. Nothing involved or fancy. I have those stamp making supplies with Master Carve but it would take too long and we need to experiment with several techniques that doesn't involve cutting with Exacto knives. If you would like more information, contact Dena at dena@wenmohsranch.com or
call 830 825-3465.


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BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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Art Journal ~ Love Your Life Art Journaling Class by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Raffine Art Sketch
Super Deluxe All Media Sketch Book 9 x 12
The first 3 images are taken from the current journal I'm working in. I thought I would show some of the recent additions since the Art Journaling Workshop "Love Your Life" at Dena's Ranch has been announced. There is still time to sign up as it won't be until July 23, 24 and 25. Email Dena at dena@wenmohsranch.com or cal l830-825-3465 for more information.
Click HERE to read about it on my blog and Click on images for a larger view.


Plans for the 3 day workshop are progressing and I'm preparing images, gathering up journals and favorite book references to share and the stack on the couch is growing. It could mean renting a U-Haul or I will need to do some "weeding", a good librarian term.
I like to add events from my daily life so in later years (which is now) I can recall and remember. Who would want to forget this granddaughter's 7th birthday when she wanted a "Fox Birthday" and who ever heard of a fox birthday? My daughter scrambled finding all things "fox" and found this great long fox tail and converted it into a wearing device and Grace wore it proudly and securely over her neck and shoulder all during the celebration, much like a traveling tourist would wear their passport and money. She had an extremely tall pointy party hat to round out her attire. It was green but I chose to make it in pink collage. I collaged other pieces from the invitation and ephemera. I found an used fox stamp and glued it to her dress. I have the fox saying "Oh, dear, I seem to have lost my tail."
Above this I have a Zentangle (more on that later) a quote and a reminder to me at just how gullible I am to the power of suggestion and an evidence of that below in an oil pastel practice area. More on that later also. Why do I want to try everything "art" I see?




I take a lot of art workshops and my friends sometimes refer to me as the "workshop Queen". What can I say? I do like to know the kind, make and model of the brush used and please don't ever just say "red" when I ask "what color is that" as I want to know manufacture and name and pigment number. The instructor may receive a mention in my blog, a 1/4 page or a whole page such as Skip below where I wrote a note summary around the painting, or I might have a whole sketchbook devoted to just one instructor after taking several workshops(oh, tabbed dividers). See below and you know who you are Bob.
A Canson Montval All Media Sketch Book 9 x 12


These are just a few of the journals I will share and discuss. The one below is an altered book I've just started. You purchase an old book on the cheap at the thrift store or a garage sale, glue pages together and use gesso, collage and acrylic paint to fill the pages. For this one I chose a book on women's health because it is filled will neat photos of bodies, babies, wombs and you can save the print or a photo and/or paint out what you don't want to include. Or just practice a technique in one. I tried out some of the oil pastels on this page also. Does any of this appeal to you? If so, call Dena for more information.


Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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Art Journaling Class ~ Love Your Life ~ Peppers ~ Dena Wenmohs Ranch by Nancy Standlee Texas Daily Painter

"Peppers"
5" x 6" in Kilimanjaro 140 lb. Journal

I finished this journal entry today while preparing for a "Love Your Life" art journal weekend retreat, July 23, 24, and 25 at Dena Wenmohs Ranch near Marble Falls. We are planning on having some fun while jump starting our creativity and beginners are very welcome. No drawing skills needed while we celebrate our special life. The focus will be on learning some quick ways to record some events and everyday incidents in your life. We will use a 9 x 12 journal with watercolor and pens. I will introduce other media such as acrylic, stamping, gouache, collage, and oil pastels. More information to follow but if you're at all interested email Dena or call her.
dena@wenmohsranch.com or call 830 825-3465. Once you're enrolled you will be mailed the supply list.
I've taken 3 workshops at the ranch near Marble Falls and it is a great place to get away and learn some new art tips, tricks and techniques.

Oscar Wilde quote "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

There is no right or wrong way to journal but I'll share with you how I do it. Make a visual journal that is sensational and all about you and your daily life. It is pretty amazing after all. And if think your life is not too sensational at the moment, we'll make something up.

If you are interested in the process of keeping an art journal you might check out the new forum over at Wet Canvas. I've just posted this image there today.

To view other art journal pages I've posted, there is a search button at the top of the blog and just type in art journal pages and scroll down.
Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

Contact NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Oil Pastel ~ San Francisco de Asis Church ~ Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"Taos Church"
9" x 12" oil pastel on gesso board 3/4" cradle

I hope you had a very pleasant holiday today. I painted at the Upstairs Gallery studio with some of the Canvas by Canvas members and some of us experimented with oil pastels. We love to visit the local art shows in the spring and this year we discovered a New Mexico artist, Jennifer Cavan, and enjoyed her work. The peeps decided we wanted to explore this medium and discovered there is a lack of information. I ordered two books, The Pastel Book by Bill Creevy, and Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner by John Elliot and bought some oil pastels and Ampersand gessobord.
Maryann was recently in Austin and went to the Ampersand store and purchased a few samples for us to practice on, also. For the reference, I had a photo I'd taken in 2003 of a Taos Church while attending an art workshop at the Sipapu Lodge.
Any comments, suggestions on how to improve the painting? I'm not for sure the best way to even sign my name. It's been about 96 degrees here this afternoon and after painting I had a few errands to run and was wondering when I returned to the car would I find a melted mess in my trunk but the painting survived. Now to go read and research on how best to varnish and seal this painting and when.
Tonight there is no more Jack and 24 but I still have Clint Eastwood's Birthday to celebrate. Oh, darlin', I can't believe you're 80. Call me anyway. I loved you in "The Bridges of Madison County."

Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

Contact NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Art Journal Program ~ Graham, TX ~ Pear 2 ~ by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Pear

Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas 8" x 8"

I posted a Pear on this date HERE.
Do you like to paint pears? I do. I learned about pears in a Robert Burridge workshop and don't paint them as much as I'd like. Check out Bob's Blog for one of his pears HERE.

Yesterday, Thursday, my Canvas by Canvas artist friends, Connie and Margie, drove to Graham, Texas with me for a program I presented, "How to Journal Introduction" at 2:00 for their Art Guild. They meet in the restored Old Post Office Museum and Art Center and it was a lovely setting to be surrounded by art and history. I left with some resolves from the members to begin a journal. Wow!
I brought some of my art journals to share about how I began journaling and materials I use. In closing, the members took a watercolor card and used some of my watercolor palettes to make a card for a personal journal entry. Blick Art materials were so gracious to provide each with a goody bag filled with a brush, a $5.00 gift coupon and a current sale catalog.
On my journal page where I recorded the event this morning in my journal, I wrote over and around the figures I've been practicing on from the Skip Lawrence DVD on jelly bean figures. You will recall I'd posted several of the days activities about his workshop recently.

I feel very strongly about the art journal and love to share my views and methods.

In Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones", she expresses how I feel about art journals You will recall I'd posted several of the days activities about his workshop recently.

"It is important to say the names of who we are, the names of the places we have lived, and to write the details of our lives. We have lived; our moments are important....We are important and our lives are important, magnificent really, and their details are worthy to be recorded. This is how writers must think, this is how we must sit down with pen in hand. We were here; we are human beings; this is how we lived. Let it be known, the earth passed before us. Our details are important."

View the slide show below to see some photos. Mouse over for the caption.

And as far as the last slide about the Redneck at Sonic. OK I didn't drive in close enough and was not wanting to get out of the car to press the call button. I know it looks like a commode brush but it's a garment/car seat brush. You might like to know the call button was activated after several tries and we stayed in the car to place our orders. Connie was the smartie who just had to take the photo.

"Time to Move On" ~ Watercolor Yes panel ~ by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"Time to Move On"
10" x 8" Watercolor, mixed media on Yes panel

I entered this painting today in Jerry's Artarama Lucas painting contest and the deadline is May 31 so if you have any Lucas painting products, acrylic, watercolor, oil or acrylic you might want to enter. It states on the entry form you will receive an email that Jerry received the entry. So far I haven't received notification so I will call to confirm later tomorrow. An artist is allowed two paintings and there isn't an entry fee and nice gift cards.
I used my Lucas Travel palette shown on this post. The artwork must be comprised of at least 50% Lucas paint. I added some white from another brand and some Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons.
Let me know what type of finish you use on a Yes canvas. I used a clear acrylic spray finish. In fact, I used and intermixed several things I hope "things" will stay on. More than anything I was experimenting on the finish. I like the effect of the watercolor on the Yes canvas and plan to use it again. It lifts and blends super easy. I first heard about this canvas at the Liz Hill Workshop last year. See my blog post HERE.

Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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Acrylic Painting ~ Art in the Park ~ by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"The Silver Comb" SOLD
Acrylic on Textured Gallery Wrapped Canvas 18" x 24"

Pablo Picasso said "I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else." That is exactly what happened in the above painting. I've forgotten how it began other than adding lots of texture. It ended up looking like a Spanish lady and when I Googled Spanish Lady I found the Celtic Woman group singing this on YouTube and in the lyrics it mentions her silver comb. I used Lascaux Perlacryl Iridescent Acrylics along with regular acrylics and it makes it very difficult to photograph but gives the painting a different metallic pearl look. I've had these paints for years and never know how to use them.
Today I'm putting a coat of protective varnish on the painting to take to the Art in the Park show Saturday at the Arlington Highlands.

The Arlington Highlands and F6 Gallery presents Art in the Park. The event features over 100 various artists from the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex combined with the retailers of Arlington Highlands to offer the community a great day of fun for all to entertain. We have been given a parking space to set up and a table and a chair and that's probably what my space will be. There won't be any selling but a day of browsing and visiting. There may be some wind so we're already been advised to bring some rocks. I'm not an outdoor show kind of gal so this should be interesting but I invite anyone out in the area to stop by and say hello. In the booth next to mine, 134, will be Canvas by Canvas so we will get some peep time. Come anytime from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.

Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

Contact NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net