Creatively Inspired.... by the talented Alisa Burke

 
This past May, I had the pleasure of attending Donna Downey's Inspired Event. I was particularly excited to meet on of the teachers there.. Ms. Alisa Burke!

 
 
(isn't she a cutie!)

I was a huge fan of her work, her fabrics, her workshops, her blog.. her stamps!! Lol.. Just a fan!  So when it came time for her class, I couldn't wait to just dive in and learn from her. She was teaching us how to create our own fabrics by layering with stamps, our own doodling, screen printing and more.

 

 It was just a really great, relaxing class. The best part was when she ended up at our table and her and I were able to actually talk and meet. It's funny because I think we spent the better last half of the 4 hour class, just talking and talking. I was even MORE in love with this girl and her art because now I know she was not only one talented artist.. but a fun, down to earth girl as well. We just clicked instantly and I knew we would be long life friends. She's one of those girls that you just know.. after spending 2 hours with.. that you can just hang out and have a good time.. and just really enjoy it each other.   We exchanged phone numbers and have stayed in touch since then! Just love that girl! Well when I started this series, I instantly thought of her and doing some sort of  canvas piece, where I would paint/layer stamps, etc..  and raw piece of canvas and then make a purse or something out of it..   

Besides being an amazing painter, fabric artst (she makes the most amazing handbags)

 
 

quilts...

 

 Jewelry..

 

 

 

out of her canvas/cloth paintings..  and stamp carver 

 (she hand carves all of her own stamps.. and they are to DIE For! so popular that everytime she comes out with them.. she sell out instantly.. and I have YET to get my hands on some of them!)..

SHE ALSO is a insanley creative doodler.

 

 

Which is something I also really enjoy doing. (last saturday during the canasta tournament, I doodled all over the paper-covered table through 5 hours of play :)) (which by the way.. ME and my partner, My SIL, Jayla.. WON!!! the entire tournament! it was the doodling.. it was GOOD LUCK! lol)

 

So this past week, when I saw THIS blog post  about this  LARGE Wall-Art canvas she has made, which is all completely doodling, I was INSTANTLY inspired .. and knew that is what I wanted to do my next creatively inspired art challenge on!

 

 

 So I texted her and told her my plan and of course as the gracious adorable person she is.. she said yes!  

 I knew I wanted to create something large scale, like hers.. but I thought to put my own spin on by it with mixing colors, using stamps to give the background some depth and texture. I also wanted to add a few more colors to it, as I thought it would be the PERFECT piece in my art studio! Well I sat down to create with the intention of videoing my process, and my friend Margie called.. I began to doodle.. and before I knew it.. our conversation was over and  I was already finished! painted and everything! (oops!) lol.. 

Sooooooo....I decided to create a second one I could video as well.. to show you the process I used. These are the two pieces I came up with..

here if my first one.. it's 3"x18" long..

 

 

I went with bright summer colors, something maybe I could put in my art studio.. or my daughter allie's room.

I  
 On this piece I went with a more monochromatic flower.. so each flower is it's own color and just used shades of the color to give the flower dimension.

 
I did include on flower in the opposite corner that incorporated all of the colors.. to tie them all in together.

 

My second pieces.. which is the one I video taped for my blog.. was this piece here!

it's 24"x36" in size..

 
I intended on creating several flowers on this one.. like the first.. but got going and before I knew it ended up with ONE Big giant flower. I still may add a small flower in the upper right corner.. to even it out.

 

 

I also was going to do monchromatic flowers.. but ended up doing a mutlicolor flower instead..
 
 
 

After it was all said and done, I came up with two finished art piece and I honestly love both of them! If you want to see more of my process.. I have posted a youtube video below at the end of this post.. keep in mind it's MY Process.. not Alisa's.. as I am SURE she is way more "artist" than me! lol

  THANK YOU ALISA for your wonderful inspiration!! If you want to learn more about Alisa and her work.. first you MUST Read her blog.. holy cow.. she just painted a "rug"  the wood floor of her hallway in her house. .. um.. seriously girl? She is just amazing! But she ALSO teaches online classes as well as has her own books published! (her newest book, Sew Wild is due out any day.. and I get to be apart of a blog hop in it's debut!!) I chomping at the bit   excited about her NEWEST online class, ( and you SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY need to do it too)..  Beneath the Surface !     It's all about her process in creating art on fabric using layer  of paints, stamps, screen printing techniques.. (how to make your OWN screen prints.. which I promise ANYONE can do!!) Registration starts MONDAY and class starts August 15th! I am So going to be there.. you should join me! .. not kidding it will change the way you look at fabric art! Your OWN art and is a perfect medium for both SHe Art Canvases AND Art Journals! You also need to check out all of her other workshops.. I think she has like 7 or 8 online workshops that you can take and join now!

 

I made a video on my process (it's a Behind the Art Video and all in fast forward mode (or it would be WAY to long..) but I thought It might be fun to share my process a bit.. Anyhow.. thank you again Ms Alisa Burke. You are one extremely brilliant and talented lady. I still want to do a purse or something out of painted fabric.. but that is for another time. Hope you enjoy the video! Happy Thursday!

 

Comments

[Lorraine]

Hi,
I stumbled accross your recent video and liked it so much I decided to dig into the archives and see what else you have. Could you tell me what type of pens and pastels you were using please. Sorry very new to this. However, I work in primary and I think this would be great for the kiddies.

[Jayne]

I so thoroughly enjoyed watching your vid...have been wanting to do something like that for a while now just didnt know how or where to start and now I have so mNy ideas I wanna try. Just one question though...what kind of pen did you use on the gesso'd canvas??
I need to get one to start...a HUGE thanks for sharing the inspiration.

[Winnie Uffelmann]

Thank you for sharing your process. I found your blog when reading the spread on you in Artful Blogger yesterday. I fell in love with your art. I loved the ladies you showed in there. I love the mixed media look you do. I am a card maker and am just wowed by your style.

[Kirsten K.]

thank you for all your creative inspiration....you feed my starving artist soul! :) hugs to you!

[Kirsten J]

Wow Christy....I haven't visited in ages....and am feeling like I just had an explosion in my head. Does that even make sense?!?!?? thank you so much for sharing your art ~ I feel amazingly energized and inspired!

[Larissa Heskett]

GREAT POST Christy!! I LOVED the info and the video!! I always like seeing you create!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

[Kath]

This was so much fun to watch..love the canvas.. will definitely be back.. thanks...

[Shannon Jones]

Completely awesome! I have been wanting to venture into this area and you have inspired me! Now to get to the craft store to buy a canvas and all the extras! :-)

[Nolwenn]

I really like it ! Thanks for sharing your process :)

[Christy Tomlinson]

I used the permaball pilot pen!

[Su Gould]

really love the canvas doodle art! What kind of a black ink pen did you use to start your doodle?

[Holly S]

I adore this! Love it...thanks for showing your technique and inspiring me to give it a try!

[deb christensen]

oh my gosh that was wonderful. i wanted the video to just keep going...
you are so stinkin' fun to watch, i love love how you dig into your "stuff"
thank you for this wonderful little art vacation.

[Lisa L.]

I love them! Alisa Burke's blog is a fav of mine - her creations are gorgeous. I'm very impressed with your take on the doodling. Great job!

[Lesley]

This is wonderful and has inspired me to tackle a huge canvas I bought ages ago but haven't known what to do with until now.

I'm also off to check out Alisa Burke.

Thank for sharing all your wonderful art. You are so inspirational.

[flyer printing]

WOW, those were all pretty nice work! I personally like the monochromatic flower, very good color of choice, and I just remember my favorite blanket back home. Thanks for sharing those wonderful stuff, it seems like I just been there with miss Alisa Burke, such a talented person.

[Fjola]

So vibrant...I love it! You are so creative, thank you for the inspiration you give me...and thank you Alisa, oh my goodness, talk about art!

[Tomi Ann]

Wow, that is gorgeous! I really love the happy colors.

[Sarah Martin]

This is really cool!

Question: What kind of black pen did you use when doodling on the gesso'd canvas on the video? I'm having a hard time finding a pen that doesn't clog up on the gesso.

Thanks!

[Jen]

I love these Christy! I am picking up my pen right now to doodle. GREAT Friday inspiration. I read Alisa's blog too and think she is "all things fabulous!" Have a wonderful weekend. :)