This summer I knew I would have a lot of down time.. but I REALLY wanted to do something to keep my creativity going! I wanted do try something unique and different so I thought a challenge for myself would be a great way to keep me going from week to week. Plus I thought it would be fun incorporate techniques and ideas I don't normally play with.
I was talking to my daughter about how I am always in AWE of ideas or pieces of art I see on the internet.. not just in mixed media art, but photography, sewing, en-caustic, jewelry, papercrafting.. the list goes on. So many talented women and men out there with some serious creative mojo. And then it hit me! Why not do a challenge where each week I find someone.. a friend, a fellow blogger, an etsy store owner and hi-light a piece of THEIR art and then create a piece inspired by it! I loved the idea.. and mainly because I have so many awesome and talented artists I amdire.. who are creative in TOTALLY different mediums than I am. I wanted to expand my own creativity just a bit by using them as a mentor for my creative play. so I am excited to bring you a new summer series..
Creatively Inspired.. a summer art challenge
my first challenge is inspired one VERY brilliant gal.. Junelle Jacobsen.. and she is ONE amazing artist. She is a photographer at heart (which by the way.. she is coming here in September to take our family photos.. CAN NOT WAIT).., but she is also extremely talented when it comes to mixed media, canvas and paint. I don't think she knows how talented she really is.. but I describe her as "Brilliant"
how I met Junelle was through the two workshops I currently offer. She was a student in both.. and one afternoon I was enjoying some time just looking through the FLICKR gallery where students post their work from the class. I kept seeing this AMAZING work and just seriously blown away by not just by the design, but the thought and technique put into it. I didn't realize it at first.. but all of the pictures I kept commenting on.. were the same person's art.. Junelle's art. So I immediately went to her profile and found her info.. then headed over to her blog and soon found out she was not only an awesome mixed media artist.. but a brilliant photographer as well! (I have also recently hired her to start doing the kit photos for the Scarlet Lime website.. can't wait! lol)
Well one of the projects she posted.. that I fell crazy in love with.. it was an art journal piece she made for my 3 Hearts workshop.. this piece right here..
I WAS IN LOVE...
I love how she had taken book paper or any kind of paper for that matter and rolled it randomly into tubes and used it as a background AND an emebellishment on her art journal page. I could see incorporating this technique onto so many other things! (Like fabric and canvas! )
I love how she painted over the top of it.. just as if it was part of the background to her page.. I call it Paper Art. (not sure what she calls it..) but whatever it is.. it's brilliant.
After spending some time.. wiping the drool of my chin.... I emailed her and first asked her, if she would be a part of my summer art challenge and if I could use this piece as inspiration for my own art piece. THEN I asked her if she would be my friend and come take my family photos and play with my in my art garage and be my email buddy.. I think she thought I was a bit psycho! lol.. hopefully she doesn't. :)
After she replied back yes.. I knew I wanted her to be the first piece in my new summer series. I didn't want to do an art journal piece.. I wanted to create something that I could hang on a wall, so I created my piece on canvas. But this could SO easily be done with fabric on a dress, or wall quilt, or a pillow, or a piece of wood, inside a frame.. the possibilities are endless. I didn't ask her how she did the technique.. because that is where the inspired part comes in. I wanted to look at her art and being inspired by what I saw.. and create my own piece inspired by it. Here is what I came up with..
I used a 10x10 canvas as my base.. I loved her color scheme so much.. I used that as inspiration as well.
I also liked her heart theme so I used it too, though I did end up making another piece that was in the shape of a flower.. turned out so cool as well (it's in the video below).
Once I painted over the paper rolls I added texture onto them like paint, stamps, rubons, and even my doodle pen.. I added another layer of dimension with the corrugated heart (which I made in the 3 hearts workshop)
I made sure to alternate different sizes of the rolled paper, as well as use a mixture of patterns like dictionary paper, text paper and music paper.
I had SO much fun trying this technique out.. It truly WAS super cool.
I am going to for sure try this technique on other mediums. I can see a really cool pillow being made with this technique and rolled fabric.. I have the perfect fabric for it too. Might post that later.. :)
This was only one of Junelle's awesome pieces I was inspired by... she had so many more I loved.. but this Paper Art Technique was really cool.
AND..
I made a little video for you to show you how I interpreted this technique and created this canvas piece. But before I leave you with that.. I wanted to encourage YOU to also join me in this adventure! Find a way to stay creatively inspired this summer.. whether it's be doing your own challenge.. or taking a class, or getting together with friend to just create art. Have fun with it! You deserve it! Speaking of classes.. I know I mentioned today I would be annoucing some new "Mini" workshops coming this summer.. but I am going to wait and announce them next monday.. so watch for those two workshops.. info coming soon!
AND THANK YOU to Junelle.. what a great way to kick of my summer.. being creatively inspired by her.. she is truly brilliant. Love that chicka!
Next week I will be heading out of town for an entire week to volunteer at my church's girls camp. We will be camping, hiking, floating the river.. and of course.. creating a little art.. which I can't wait for! I am going to teach them to create the She ARt Girls as one of the art projects. It will be so fun. So depending on what I am able to get done this week.. I may or may NOT post a creatively inspired Challenge next wednesday.. but if I can get my creative butt in gear, I will get a post ready before i leave :)..
okay.. enough talk! Onto the video..
here is a Behind the Art Video.. Creatively Inspired.. Paper Art.
Happy Wednesday!
This is absolutely good for summer. The video is very clear. I can follow the steps easily. I'll share it to my friends.
Posted by: Batz Loera | March 19, 2013 at 12:55 AM
Agree with you. Junelle really displays ingenuity for arts. I am happy that you found Junelle's work. It surely inspires the many.
Posted by: Bearce Lindstrom | March 11, 2013 at 06:59 PM
you art is beautifull!!!!! simply,lovely and easy...Thanks for your tutorials. Liliana
Posted by: Liliana | October 04, 2011 at 07:48 AM
I think that's a wonderful idea. I've done training in the child welfare world for years and have often benchmarked outside my own field to find training and development ideas.
Posted by: Logo Design | August 09, 2011 at 12:21 AM
I love love love that! Thanks so much for sharing, truly inspiring. :)
Posted by: Sam | July 27, 2011 at 01:11 PM
I just finished watching this video and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! this is so different and just cool!
Posted by: Melissa | July 26, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Christy: I loved this creative challenge...I finally got around to creating something....I wanted to share my creation...thank you for the inspiration and great ideas!
http://adogslife-thirteen.blogspot.com/2011/07/canvas-mixed-media-love-and-awesome.html
Posted by: Tina Walker | July 24, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Super fun! Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed it. I feel inspired.
Posted by: Christy T | July 14, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Hi Christy! I am checking to see if your videos have changed any since your last workshops? I tried the she-art one and couldn't get the videos to play (remember)? We have moved and I am now on a faster high speed internet connection, do you think that would help? I would still LOVE to do a workshop! I thought I might try the new one,but thought I would ask what you think?
Thanks for all your help! Tina
Posted by: Tina | July 14, 2011 at 10:03 AM
uauu maravilhosa dica!
Posted by: Ana caldatto | July 12, 2011 at 06:04 PM
christy...this is so much fun! can't wait to see what else inspires you this summer! I just signed up for your mini workshop...you inspire ME!
Posted by: Stephanie | July 09, 2011 at 08:14 AM
Beautiful work! Wanted to subscribe by email. There seems to be a problem with the subscribe click.
Posted by: Kendall B | July 07, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Thank you for this great tutorial, I used it in my sample for TOFF#1 Alice in Wonderland...
Posted by: audrey | July 02, 2011 at 01:05 AM
I made a Christmas decoration doing exactly this and entered it into our local scrapbook stores contest and won!!! it was a tree and I glimmer misted it green and embelished it as ornaments it was really cute...
Posted by: cadeep | June 26, 2011 at 09:29 PM
Somebody may have already said this, but I wonder how this technique would do using newspaper. Wouldn't that be SO cool!!
Posted by: Karen Dodson | June 26, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Christy..this was an amazing video. I have never done a free art canvas in all my days of crafting. I saw this and thought..I have to try...I made a similar canvas as a birthday gift for my best friend and I loved every minute of the creating...thanks
Posted by: Elaine Howell | June 26, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Thanks for sharing tutorials with us Christy. I learn so much, and love your messy little fingers...
Posted by: kathy | June 26, 2011 at 05:35 PM
This is INCREDIBLE! I agree - Junelle is AWESOME - but so are you! LOL And seriously? Who WOULDN'T want to be your friend?! I would be pleased as punch if you hunted me down and wanted to be my friend! You are such a sweetheart! Thanks for the video...totally going to try this!
Posted by: Jen Clark | June 25, 2011 at 09:49 PM
Okay...dumb question. How do you do something like that in an art journal and maintain the integrity of the piece when you close the journal?? :)
Rebecca
P.S. The piece is GORGEOUS!!!!
Posted by: Rebecca | June 25, 2011 at 08:38 AM
Wow! WOW! Junelle's piece is amazing! Love them both!
Posted by: lori jolley | June 24, 2011 at 07:24 PM