art, art journaling tools, color, earth and faery, paint, process

Paint versus paint

November 1, 2018 Maria G Leave a comment

Paint is always something I explore to enhance the quality of my art work. It’s an ongoing quest.

There are so many different brands of paint and you have to try them all to see what works best.

I’ve used Liquitex, Winsor and Newton, Golden, and some other brands I can’t remember now.

Liquitex paints aren’t the best, but they do the job. The pigmentation is rather poor, and some of the paints are very runny and annoying. I think the quality has gone down a lot over the years.

Windsor and Newton paint is a better quality for sure, and Golden, yes, very nice but the price is high.

I came across a box of acrylics at a garage sale for $5 and found this tube:

I had never heard of the brand. Such a strong pigmentation and richness of consistency. The very best. I researched the brand and came to find out it’s by Bill Alexander, an artist/ company similar to the legendary Bob Ross.

I found their sets for sale on their website and they are very pricey. The website is the only place you can buy them (that I know of.)

I went to Jerry’s Artarama to see if they might sell them. Jerry’s always has some good sales going on. Quality canvas for better prices.

Someone had posted that Charvin brand would be comparable to Alexander’s.

It’s another brand of paint I’d never heard of (where have I been?)

I bought four tubes of random colors to complement those I already have. They were on sale for $9.49 each, which wasn’t too bad. Free shipping. Jerry’s had a huge variety of colors. I’d say they are not as good as Alexander paints, but very good. They dry with a slightly slick surface, different from that of Liquitex.

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of using the same colors all the time, so I’m looking to branch out where I can.

I also use lots of permanent inks, but I’m not going to cover those in this post.

I have been busy painting lately in a loose intuitive style. These two paintings are available in my etsy shop. They measure 12×12″.

If you’re looking for some gifts, I have free shipping on my polymer clay mosaics. Lots of inventory right now, and great prices.

E arth and Faery

Have a great weekend doing and making things you love! Life is too short to waste on trivialities.

Lots of love,

Maria

applique, art, collage, craft, creativity, fabric collage, fabric painting, inspiration

Fabric collage on boho bag

October 19, 2018 Maria G Leave a comment

Fabric collage is one of my “things.” I have painted and dyed fabric over time and now have a nice stash of unique colors and styles to use for my fabric collages. These collages are usually attached to everyday usable items, which is a bonus.

Fabric collage makes a unique product that gets many ohhs and ahhs from (mostly) my fellow artists. No everyone likes a whimsical bag on their arm.

I got inspired with the last canvas mini bag and made a video of the process. To see how the other bags turned out, please check my two previous posts.

Exploring art on fabric.

Slow stitching and painting on a pouch.

For this last bag check out my YouTube video HERE.

I filmed and filmed and just as I was done, the camera batteries died. What perfect timing, huh?

You might ask how I dye fabric. There is always the conventional fabric dyes in the stores, but I like to make patterns and mix the colors.

I use mostly alcohol inks and diluted acrylic paints in spray bottles. I rinse out as much as I can, but the alcohol inks leave a pretty mighty color infusion. I use mostly cotton fabric because it absorbs the paints the best.

The acrylic paints usually embed themselves in the fabric, and when they dry, they are pretty stiff, but still flexible enough to use. I usually just spread the fabric on a drop cloth to dry. Try different paints, and make sure they are color fast after drying, otherwise they will wash out.

I have added the four fabric collage bags / pouches to my etsy shop, Earth and Faery.

There are many items in my shop at the moment since the holidays are coming. I have felt a creative high for some weeks and I’m grateful for the flow. Sometimes I have long periods of no great inspiration, but I keep showing up in my studio. That’s what you do!

If you want some art journaling inspiration, I have a bunch of easy videos on YouTube under my name. Keep creating. The process will make you grow.

I wish you a creative and fun weekend!

Love,

Maria

applique, art, embroidery, fabric painting, mixed media, mosaic, pouch, slow stitching

Slow stitching and painting on a pouch

October 8, 2018 Maria G

Slow stitching is something that is very popular right now. You can check out the hashtag #slowstitching on Instagram and find so many, many beautiful entries. Back in the day I learned embroidery stitches, but my forays into embroidery are few and far between. Funny how every style repeats itself…

I found these small canvas pouches, and I decided to try my hand at some slow stitching and embroidery. It brought up memories. I used to love doing needlepoint, and embroidery, but not cross stitch.

Nowadays, I make my own patterns and appliques, flying by the seat of my pants (or should I say paints. 🙂 In my previous post I shared some pictures of this project Exploring art on fabric.

You will see the result at the end. I used scrap fabric I had painted with inks in the past.

I decided to applique a bird and a spiral. Simple and easy. I pressed the background fabric and the white cotton bird.

I cut out a spiral from fabric painted with acrylic paints.

Using medium weight fusible web I attached the whole panel to the pouch, but first I attached the details and embroidered on top.

Slow stitching is like meditation, very comforting.

The back is like a colorful galaxy…

Not too bad, huh? Very easy to make, and you can’t really mess it up. Ready to try making your own? I have three more pouches to finish. I will post some pictures of those as they are done.

If you’d like to purchase this pouch, it’s available in my etsy shop, and the shipping is free. I’d say it’s a unique gift for someone this Christmas. Check it out HERE.

I have a sale going in my shop throughout October. 10% off on the small mosaic boxes. Use coupon code TENOFF.

I intend to be productive and happy in my studio this week! 🙂

I wish you the same, even if you don’t have a studio. Create anywhere and anyhow! Life is short…

Maria

art, collage, embroidery, exploring, fabric, fabric painting, pouch

Exploring art on fabric

October 4, 2018 Maria G

Exploring art on fabric involves taking a step out of the comfort zone. I bought four pouches with long handles online to experiment on. They are heavy-duty canvas and would fit items like a phone, passport, a small wallet.

I knew I needed to wash them to get the sizing out of the fabric but I was so eager to start that I side-stepped that important step and now I suffer the consequences. I wanted to make a background with inks and paint, so I did. The inks floated on top until I have kind of hand washed the pouch and got it more pliant. Note to self: always wash new fabrics….

The first exploration came out like this, and this is the back of the pouch.

It’s not necessarily bad but the paint job came out too heavy-handed in my opinion. Another thing I didn’t like about these pouches, the handle was in two parts and tied with a knot. I had to unravel part of the seam, sew the ends together, and sew it back up again. You can see the seam in the picture. Nothing major, but more work for me.

I’m going to make some sort of applique like I did on this old art bag of mine in 2014.

I’m thinking some sort of layering of fabric and embroidery. Nothing too complicated since the bag is small, maybe some rustic birds…

This soap opera will continue with a picture of the finished product in my next post.

I did dye another pouch with blue ink and strong tea. It’s a more gentle approach, but I might add some more color before collaging the bag. It’s important to get all the wet parts done before any embroidery. I don’t want to contaminate the artwork with dyes and inks.

Meanwhile, check out the items in my etsy shop. I add new things daily. For 10% off on my most popular item, the mosaic intention box, use coupon code TENOFF. The sale runs through October. EARTH AND FAERY.

Until next tine, create lots!!

Love,

Maria

P.S. Want to receive my email newsletter? Sign up HERE.

affirmation, art journaling, art making, Christmas, clay, crafts, mixed media, mosaic, polymer clay mosaic, process

Busy time in my studio

September 25, 2018 Maria G

Busy time in my studio. This time of year it’s always good to stay busy so that I have lots of inventory for the Christmas season.

It’s not all about selling and producing though.

I’m still doing my art journaling almost every day because I can’t stop! Part of me is critical of the process–always, but another part is really addicted to the evolution of my art.

Whereas my crafts give me great satisfaction, they don’t always delve deeply into the process of creation like art journaling does. I try to keep a balance. They all move me forward on my creative journey.

All of it makes for a happy day. 🙂 No matter how challenging art can be, it makes me happy to create. What more can I ask for?

Busy is good too. The juices are flowing; inspiration is like an overflowing river, and ideas pop up constantly. It’s been a long while since I felt this inspired.

I finished the spirit doll that I started a couple of months ago. (Check out my previous post.) Here are some pictures of recent creations.

I painted the wooden box in various colors, attached paper to the interior back of the box, and then added my doll. She inspires Courage, something we need every day.

Here are some other samples of new things. They are all available in my etsy shop.

I had fun with this watch casing. The portrait is a miniature painting, and I tell you, it was fiddly and tricky to paint.

I started making these four-inch plaques with stamped affirmations at the bottom. So much fun! I like the idea of reminding folks that we are all perfect just the way we are.

You are worthy!

I also made some more clay faces for doll making or to use as an ornament. I wasn’t sure if there would be any interest but I sold some. Now I’m working on creating a cat face mold.

Sculpting in clay is not easy…

New ideas keep me fresh and eager to move forward. I may have to sculpt many cat faces before I’m satisfied, but the main point is to plunge into action. The rest takes care of itself.

If you’re feeling blocked or full of resistance, plunge in anyway. It’s the only way forward. 🙂

What are you working on now?

Please check out my etsy shop, Earth and Faery. It’s full of new items.

Lots of love,

Maria

dream, dreaming, heart, life, magic, mystery

Dream life or dreaming awake?

August 10, 2018 Maria G

Dream life or dreaming awake? What does that evoke in you? Do you want a dream life with all the comforts and shiny stuff, or do you want to know more about dreaming? As in living by your inner guidance.

Sometimes I feel as if I’m wandering like a puppet through a dream, and that’s in “real” life. People seem like cardboard characters, and the craziness of the world is just that–crazy! As in unreal.

I know in my heart that there is peace and beauty. I feel it every day, and it’s in sharp contrast to the 3D life all around, UNLESS you focus on the mystery of life.

The tiny signals, the simple synchronicities in everyday life are what makes things really interesting. They are subtle but you can experience the support of the universe though those signals.

It becomes a fun game to discover more of the treasures.

It’s too difficult to describe since it’s a personal inner experience, but it’s available to anyone who is curious enough to want to find out more.

Life is massively more profound than what we normally experience.

That is what inspires me these days. I want to know more of the mystery.

Everything else is pale in comparison.

Still, I can’t just sit in a corner and wait for things to happen. I still create and that is as close as I can come to the mystery in my actions. I love the surprises that happen.

Lately, I created some clay hearts / ornaments out of air-drying clay. It is different to work with than polymer clay. Lots of fun. I molded everything by hand.

Sooo much fun really!

You are blessed! We truly all are. There is a difference to really feeling it versus just seeing the words.

I’m okay with hanging in limbo art-wise. There are so many ways to find expression, and these clay hearts became an experiment when my painting muse had been absent for a while.

Meanwhile, I look toward the mystery every day to see how I can receive more of the gifts by being open and grateful. Everything else has sort of become secondary, but I long to tap more deeply into my creativity too.

I highly recommend a book I read recently: A Complaint Free World, by Will Bowen. I’m in the middle of the 21-day complaint free challenge, and it’s hard. It has shown me just how much negativity seeps from others, and also lives in me. The more aware I become the more I reject complaining, gossiping, sniping, bitching, etc. You get the idea.

Try the experiment. It will change your life! 🙂

So, there is only one way to go–forward!

Kicking and screaming sometimes, but that’s the human dilemma.

My dear companion kitty, Bailey, crossed the Rainbow Bridge two weeks ago, and I miss him so much.

Who is going to lie in my middle of my work table now? He would always jump up when I was in the middle of creating, but I didn’t mind. I moved to the side as you can see in the picture. 🙂

What we do for our furry friends…

I’m going in to my studio now. It’s time to create.

I wish you a creative and wonderful weekend with lots of sunshine.

Maria xo

For more inspiration, check out this post: Receiving is a Good Thing.

P.S. The hearts are available in my etsy shop, Earth and Faery, as are lot of other goodies!

Maria Greene @ Greeneearth

Paint versus paint

Fabric collage on boho bag

Slow stitching and painting on a pouch

Exploring art on fabric

Busy time in my studio

Dream life or dreaming awake?

Artist and writer