Alligator Alley 01

 

Alligator Alley 01

This mini journal is all about alligators and so I have called the series Alligator Alley.  I hope you enjoy it. :-)

April 2021 APC - 07, 08, and 09

This is a two-fer day as I forgot to publish yesterday because I was swamped.

This is the last of the April APC.  I think anyway.  As I scroll through my blog entries waiting for publication I seem to find pieces that I have passed over.
 

Portraits for a Round Robin - 04

Portraits for a Round Robin - 04

 

Yesterday was a blur.  Sorry I missed posting.  These portraits are the last of the first set of twenty.

Portraits for a Round Robin - 03

Portraits for a Round Robin - 03

 

I am constantly looking for interesting portraits to put my spin on.  My latest endeavor is vintage photographs.   So you will be seeing some of those in the next twenty portraits. I use the Neocolor crayons to colorize the portraits once they are drawn.  If you have not used Neocolor crayons they are water-soluble. 

Portraits for a Round Robin - 02

Portraits for a Round Robin - 02

 I love how each of the portraits has so much personality.  The faces share what we all have imperfections, scars, life struggles.  Each is a narrative in itself.  Yesterday I passed my round robin journal onto the next person, Colleen Monette.  How exciting that each of us three will have a completed journal with about 60 original collages to treasure!  :-)

Portraits for a Round Robin Journal - 01

Portraits for a Round Robin Journal -  01

 I was asked to participate in a three person round robin.  The host of the round robin, Elsa Bouman, created journals for us using vintage book covers that are 4 x 5 inches approximately.  The task I decided on was to use the idea of reflection somehow.  Since I have been working on portraits I decided that my interpretation of photo portraits using mixed media would be my contribution.  There are ten pages in each section of the journal.  So I had 20 portraits to make.  These are six of the 20 that I completed.

No Hate

 

No Hate

I was looking through my blogs to publish here and see that I forgot about this one.  It is in a journal that I past onto someone else.  I think it is in a passport and will end up back in Vienna, Austria to the owner eventually.  The theme was sparked by anti-Asian hate that this country has been experiencing.

World

World

 I did three grid type pieces for the Lewis Rossignol workshop and this is the third one.  Doing grids is fun and does not necessarily have to have a theme but can.  This one does not necessarily but I could probably find one.

April 2021 APC - 03 and 04

   

 

My guy on the left sort of looks like Andy Warhol if you squint your eyes.

April 2021 APC -05 and 06

 More APCs for April......

April APC 01 and 02

                         

 These were two of my April APCs (artist playing cards).  I used Japanese ledger paper, designer papers, washi tape and alcohol inks plus portraits that I had done.

The Dog

 

The Dog

I am involved in a round robin exchange and this is one that I did in one of the seven journals for this group.  the portrait is one that I did and then photoshopped it.  The graffiti background I found on some railroad cars in Toledo, OR.

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 08

 

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 08

It is fun to return to a piece that you have completed and have not looked at for quite some time. I like how this one came together.....the colors look amazing.....the purple thing is an eggplant but you might not know that from looking here.

The video of the Kids on the Block mini journal.....

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 07

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 07

 All of the human images used in this series came from copyright free images.  I imported them into Photoshop and colorized them as they were totally black and white previously.

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 06

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 06

 This one works for me on several levels.  Color, balance of composition, light and dark.

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 05

 

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 05

Every time I look at this piece I am drawn to the female figure and think the black mouth is a mustache!

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 04

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 04

 This one has a lot of depth.  I love layering and it shows here.

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 03

 

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 03

I am really into the backgrounds that I created for this series.  There is a good contrast between the focal point and the background in my opinion.

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 02

 

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 02

It is difficult to see the embossing powders in the image above.  It is best held in your hand to feel them.  Just so you know the embossing powder is in three of the four corners.  Does that help? :-). If you have never used embossing powders before, they are a lot of fun.  You use a pad of embossing glue applying by rubbing it over the desired area.  Then you sprinkle on the power and shake off.  Using your heat gun, you melt the powders onto the spread.  Just plain fun to watch the heat work its’ magic.  I could see this piece enlarged 

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 01

Kids on the Block - Mini Journal - 01

 This mini journal is a series of eight.  Each spread has a “kid” and some vegetables, in this case carrots.  I also used embossing powders on each spread.

The Crow

 

The Crow

The idea for the grid in Lewis Rossingol’s workshop was to combine writing, photographs, and drawings. I think the grid idea is a great journal activity.

Another Thing

 

Another Thing

When I was taking the Lewis Rossignol workshop we were to do some work with a grid.  This is one of mine.  They are fun to do.

Lumber Jack, Jack

Lumber Jack, Jack

 Can’t you just see this guy with a chainsaw either carving out a bear sculpture or balancing a tree trunk in the air in one of those lumberjack contests?

The French Coal Miner and the Coal Miner

The French Coal Miner

 

The Coal Miner

The top portrait is before I uploaded it into photoshop.  The second one is after photoshop magic.  I guess the second one looks like he has had a hard day in the mines.

Raymond's Brother

 

Raymond's Brother

This is Raymond, the Fashionista’s brother.  He does not quite understand Raymond’s interest in fashion but he loves his brother and knows he is one of a kind even though they are different.  Hey, isn’t that what it is all about, accepting differences?

Aging Jockey

Aging Jockey

 

I do not know how this works but my brain just comes up with these ideas.  When I finished this portrait I thought the guy looked like he was an aging jockey.  Maybe it is his shirt.  Anyway that is what I thought and I am sticking to it. :-)

Narcos

Narcos

 This guy seems to be involved in something shifty, perhaps he is a drug lord.  Anyway he reminds me of some characters on the series Narcos.

The Politician

The Politician

 The Politician is just like a car salesman.  I won’t be buying from him any time soon.

Gertrude

Gertrude

In my head she is Gertrude Stein.  Doing female portraits is difficult for some reason.  So I am going to challenge myself to do more of them and maybe they will become easier. 

B-Ball Player

B-Ball Player

 Just looking at the B-Ball Player I think he is quite tall.  Why is that?  Is it because his face seems elongated?    Is it a stereotyped look?  Is it his shirt because it might look like it is athletic wear?  Hmm?