More hearts for Michelle

Here I tried some fingerpaint and doodle hearts. Just for fun-- just for Michelle Ward and her GPP Crusades. We love you!

A great day to doodle

I spent the day creating "doodle art" inspired by Traci Bautista. My first attempt shows the beginning of the page using stencils and spray paint on the right. The page on left shows the result after painting over the images.


My second attempt at doodling is shown in this second spread. It was fun and I hope to do more!

GPP Street Team - Crusade 60: What do you love?

I love hearts. So I took Michelle Ward's challenge this month with the idea of playing with heart pages. The first one has no background prep, just colors sprayed on paper. I found the piece of envelope with postage stamps in a box. I didn't remember where it came from until I saw the city postmark -- it must be from my mother! -- and over 5 years old!
The second one has layers of gesso applied to paper before beginning. It adds dimension and a slower process for painting, more gesso, oil pastels and collage. I wanted to create opposites: white background with red heart, and visa-versa. It was fun! Thanks for the inspiration, Michelle.

I encourage you to try it yourself! Read about the challenge at Michelle's site.

2011 TA DA List

Michelle Ward at Green Pepper Press encouraged us to create a TA DA list - things we accomplished in 2011 - by looking back over the year. It's funny because I actually started this in January 2011!! I created a Milestones Passport with Visa Application - an idea which I borrowed from The Creative Awakenings book, by Sheri Gaynor. I wanted to be more creative, so I made a commitment to a year of creativity and recorded all my creative endeavors each month.



It turns out that at the end of each month I realized I was doing more than I realized to keep the creative juices going. So when you look back and see what you have accomplished, it's pleasantly surprising. You feel a real sense of accomplishment.

Here I share a few pages -- you'll see I completed a spread at the end of each month.

TA DA!






I encourage you to try it yourself! Read about the challenge at Michelle's site.

Inspired by Degas and a walk in the woods

As I mentioned earlier, I visited a Degas exhibit at the Boston MFA. I was intrigued by his use of oil pastels - the blending and combination of colors. As a took a New Year's Day walk in the woods, I came inside to warm up and play in my journal. I never draw, because I don't consider myself an artist who draws, but took the time to sit and try out some water-soluble oil pastels. I love the creamy texture! I drew a tree from downstairs looking out over the pond and then the view out the kitchen glass doors. I feel very brave sharing something that I've drawn - but here goes!! A new year means you have to embrace change and face your fears, right? And I just read that whatever you create is uniquely yours, no right or wrong. What new challenge do you need to try out?

December Journal page

Here's a new page inspired by Nancy's wrapping paper and our department's visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The Chihuly art is a color transfer on adhesive tape.

GPP - Girls on Film

Green Pepper Press, December challenge:

Michelle's challenge to get ourselves on film before the end of the year came at a great time. Here are some photos from a recent business trip to Southboro, Mass. I finally had the opportunity to meet my fellow co-workers who I've been working with since July. I enjoyed meeting them and seeing my old college stomping grounds -- Boston.

We took a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts -- another place I frequently visited in my 20s -- for a Degas collection and a Chihuly Christmas tree!

A perfect opportunity for me to get some photos! Enjoy! And Happy New Year!

Chihuly glass tree at MFA, Jacqui, Aaron and me.

The entire MarCom team: Aaron, Jacqui, Lorna, me, Nancy and Jacki, in front of the 80-foot Faneuil Hall tree.

The entire team at Mike's Pastry, North End, Boston. The best limoncello cannoli you ever tasted!

Jacqui and I work side-by-side everyday. It's truly a joy to work with her!!

I encourage you to get on film! Read about the challenge at Michelle's site.