acrylic inks!!

 I've totally been digging acrylic inks lately...I just can't get enough of the gorgeous lush colors!! I've been using Liquitex, Dr. PH Martins and Ranger re-inkers. Here are the reasons I love them:
*they invite me to play...you simply can't NOT experiment and play with them! I mean...it's impossible! Nor can you plan things out...it's very intuitive...the colors I use, where I place them etc.
* totally compatible with all other media from oil pastels to collage to chalk paints etc.
* works with multi tasking...I can apply some inks and let them dry for an hour or two while I attend to something else and when I come back...ready for the next layer.

*the colors are so rich and lush...saturated and dreamy. LOVE!!
*not terribly expensive...and a little goes a long way.
*I can layer white tissue paper over the inks to mute the colors and designs but they still show through...creating really interesting textures and color variations.

Love adding my Posca markers and Derwent Inktense blocks over top of they inks...I can mix it in when still wet or layer over top after the inks have dried. So versatile!

Happy creating, friends!!

some of my fave. art supplies!

I've been meaning to write this blog post for such a long time but never got around to it! Here goes.

* Derwent Inktense Blocks. I tried these out for the first time about 6 months ago and instantly fell in love!!! What's not to like? The colors are rich and lush...you can use them wet or dry. I can mix them with water or with my oil pastels. I use them to draw or sketch and also to paint with. Totally versatile and portable. I mean...serious magic. 

  * Gelli printing plate ...I tried this out for the first time a few months ago....and it opened up an entire world of possibilities!! Totally invited creativity in! Bonus....Tara loves it too!

* Waverly chalk paint. I actually saw these in the craft aisle in Walmart and decided to try out a bottle. Whoa!!! Instant love! These chalk paints come in about 7-8 different colors, have serious covering power, is opaque and provides an excellent ground for paint markers. They also mix well with other paints to create rich and varied tones. 

* Dick Blick Matte acrylics ....super economical and comes in 101 different colors. They are opaque and rich. 

 * acrylic inks. Liquitex, FW or Dr PH Martin...I love all of them! They give such intense colors and you can mix them with water or other acrylics. I started off with a few bottles and now I can't get enough.

* Posca Acrylic Paint Markers. These markers are amazing!!!! I wish I had known about them sooner but ever so glad I have them now. Really pop when I use them over the chalk paint!

* lokta paper. I just discovered these handmade Nepalese papers a few months ago and bought a few variety packs from Dick Blick. Love love love!!

One of the things about trying out new art supplies is how it really allows me to let go, experiment and play. All so good for the creative process.

playing + the creative process

Everyone is so different when it comes to their creative process...for me, I find that playing is the key to getting my creative juices flowing. This is one of my art journals/altered books that I am working on. I find that I am so much looser in here. There are tons of layers, papers, drips, splatters and textures. It's  such a great way to experiment and just allow my work to come through. I am starting to paint hands now...so difficult for me! I want to capture movement and humanity in them. Lots of tries, covering up and starting overs:) But...there are no mistakes...only paths and beginnings and new ways:)

Also...using lots of inks (acrylics) that I just love to create lush, vibrant colors and layers. I also love mixing inks with regular acrylics to get rich, glowing colors. Love these Caran d'Ache water soluble crayons too. So fun experimenting with art supplies!

Oh! And this is a picture of me and my girl...at my birthday dinner last week.  4 years ago this time...I was soooooo pregnant...OMG!!! Her birthday is at the end of this month and I just can't believe how the time has flown. Now...she is so grown up, she ordered her own meal (very decisively, thank you very much!) from the waiter and is poised and confident. Also...I have to buy her pants for a 6 year old now because she just sprouted up!!

under a lazy spell

Lazy days over here. Usually we are up and about doing all sorts of things. I mean there is just so much to see and do over here...and of course, the beach is always a fave! But these past few days we have been lost under a lazy spell. The most ambitious thing we did was venture out to a Thai restaurant. Otherwise, you will find us laying out in our backyard on large beach towels...reading and sipping ice cold lemonade,  Tara playing in her little pool,  riding her red tricycle or running around in her birthday suit!!

She is just growing up so fast...I am really trying to savor each moment; just tuck them away in my heart and keep them there forever. There has been nothing that has made me so acutely aware of the passage of time like becoming a mom. For me, now, everything is measured in relation to Tara growing up; all of her milestones.
It's difficult with Tim being away so much for work and to be quite honest, I feel horribly guilty about complaining when so many (especially military)  families are separated for so much longer. So...I try to keep things in perspective. But... we still miss him terribly. And I need to honor that and put it out there; it is  difficult on our little family.
Also...I ordered some art supplies and altered book goodies so hopefully I should have them here next week. In the meantime... enjoying these lazy few days over here...hope you are enjoying your days too.

over here...

This is what has been going on over here these last few days...

* I just received the new Dick Blick Fall catalogue and oh my!!  There are just so many goodies in here... all sorts of luscious paints and pottery stuff and make-your-own-book kits to...everything! And at such reasonable prices. I certainly don't need any art supplies right now but if I had oodles of money, I would buy art stuff and books. Oh...and tons of gorgeous fresh flowers!

* I have been researching and reviewing tons of different printers and scanners. I am going to offer prints in my Etsy shop and I want my printer to be super high quality with archival inks and luscious color. I am seriously looking at 3 different printers but am leaning toward the Epson recommended by Kelly Rae Roberts. I purchased a couple of her prints a while back and I love the color and quality. From the reviews I read on Amazon though, quite a few people mentioned that it guzzles ink. Have to do more research. Oh yeah...and hopefully it will be easy to use!

* Tara is loving her little cupboard in the kitchen! I put some of her toys, books, a few empty cereal boxes (she loves those for some reason!), Tupperware containers, spoons and letters. She is fascinated and delighted.

* Some of my business supplies arrived in the mail today...archival mats, mailers, protective plastic bags...so exciting!

* I have been taking some photos for my Etsy shop. At first it was a bit intimidating but I am starting to have fun with it now. One of the things I am learning is that you have to take tons of pics to get a few great ones.

* We are so looking forward to next week...Tim will be here for a full 7 days. He will then leave for Quantaco Marine Base (just a couple of hours away) and be home every weekend. That is the most fantastic news ever!