Thank you to everyone who has continued to follow my blog through 2020.
Tuesday 29 December 2020
Introducing Simply Create
Thank you to everyone who has continued to follow my blog through 2020.
Saturday 26 December 2020
Advent Words
Advent finished on Christmas Eve. I am really pleased to say that I finished my Advent words pages on time. I had shared as far as Day 14 with you before. Here are the remaing twelve days.
Day 15 & 16
Day 17 & 18
Day 19 & 20
Day 21 & 22
Day 23 & 24
Day 25 & 26
Today in the UK and some other parts of the world it is Boxing Day. When I was a child we had another Christmas Day dinner and presents off the Christmas tree.
Thanks for joining me today and throughout 2020.
Bernice
Friday 25 December 2020
Tuesday 22 December 2020
Entrances
The Snapshot Girls latest theme was Doors, Gates and Fences. Fortunately I knew the theme before we went to King's Lynn at the end of September. We only walked around for about 2 hours and I was able to find all these different doors and entrances.
Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice
Tuesday 15 December 2020
More Advent Words
I introduced you to my Advent Words project in this post. You can find the original project on Mary Brack's blog.
Here are some more of my pages:
Day 6
Day 11
Day 12
Days 13 & 14
We're over halfway through Mary's Advent Words study. I'm really enjoying it.
Thank you for joining me today
Bernice
Saturday 12 December 2020
More about Simply Create
Plus it is totally FREE
What is Simply Create? It is
- a library of simple explanations of how to use a variety of art materials
- a collection of PDFs and videos based in a Facebook group
- a safe place to learn and ask questions
- a free resource
This is for you if you
- want to learn how to use your stash of art materials and tools
- want to see how you can use various art materials before you buy them
- need a refresher course in a variety of techniques
- learn new techniques
- want to know how to combine techniques
- are happy to work at your own rate
This is not for you if you
- want to learn how to sketch or draw
- want to learn fine art techniques with acrylic or watercolour paints
- want to paint landscapes or portraits
- want to learn about how to paint with oils
What you will learn?
- Lots of creative techniques and mark making
- How to use the art materials you have stashed away
- How to build up layers on your page or canvas
- That you don't have to be able to draw!
- How to build various techniques into your own style
What will I find in the Facebook group?
In the Facebook group you will find Units. Each unit is a way of keeping the various PDFs and videos together on different themes.
Here are examples of Unit contents
Simply Stamp
- How to use rubber stamps, clear stamps, and wood blocks
- Make your own stamps – polystyrene, felt, bits and pieces
- Using ink pads
- Using paint with stamps
Simply Colour
- Basics of colour theory
- How to mix colours
- How to avoid muddy colours
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simply Create a course?
No. Simply Create is a collection of PDFs and videos that you can dip in and out of.
Where can I find Simply Create?
Simply Create can only be found on Facebook
How much does Simply Create cost?
It is a totally free resource
How long do I have access to Simply Create?
For as long as the group exists on Facebook
When does it start?
It starts in January but you can join now
What materials will I need?
There will be supply lists provided. I strongly recommend you only use what you have already. If you watch a video and think that would be a good fit for you, then invest in new art materials or tools.
How much time will I need?
As much or as little as you have around your own commitments. As this isn’t a course there’s no element of needing to keep up.
Are the units weekly or can I have instant access to all the lessons?
You will have instant access once you join the Facebook group. New PDFs and videos will be added as I prepare them.
Do I have to be able to draw?
No. These techniques are definitely for those of us who can’t draw.
What is included?
Downloadable PDFs to keep. A variety of videos. A Facebook group.
Can I share content, videos, notes from the group with friends?
I’d rather you didn’t please. Invite your friends to join the group.
I still have a question; how can I contact you?
Email me
This sounds just what I wanted. What do I do next?
Click on the link to join me in the Facebook group
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday 8 December 2020
A new and exciting project
I am launching a new project very soon called Simply Create. I’m currently working on it, making information PDFs and videos. In setting it up I’ve learned how to use a teleprompter app, how to edit videos and how to add subtitles.
So what is Simply Create?
See you then.
Bernice
Saturday 5 December 2020
Advent in my Word of the Year Journal
I decided to do Mary Brack's Advent Words in my Living Your Word of the Year Journal. I went through and glued pages together as the Leuchtturm journal pages are so thin. I had just enough pages left to get all the 24 word pages and my diary pages to completely fill my journal. I had a Thermofax screen made of this shape in 2019. In my journal I used acrylic paint through the screen on every word page. I used Pan Pastels for the colour.
I really struggled to find any gold and silver paint despite having enough paint to open a shop! I eventually found some gold paint but had to use copper instead of silver.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Tuesday 1 December 2020
A second sketchbook
After I had shown you the pages in my sketchbook from Laura Kemshall's sketchbook challenge, I started another sketchbook. I wasn't totally in love with what I had done in the first one, but I will continue with it. There was a vague theme of Venice but I haven't totally thought it through yet.
The second sketchbook has text as the theme. Last time I showed you some of the gel plate monoprints I had made. In September I started doing Text - Texture - Textiles at Littleheath Barn and my theme was walk which is also my word for the year. So with this second sketchbook I thought I would use walk as the theme again. I printed out a few black and white photos that I took in 2019 on a walk along the Stratford Canal.
I've scanned a few of the pages so you can see where I've got to
This is a photo of a piece of text work I did at a Simon Sonsino workshop
I've been going back through the sketchbook using stencils (bottom right)I kept to a colour palette but I think I need to go through and put a brighter complementary colour on some of the pages. Probably orange!
All of the videos are now available for the Sketchbook Challenge so why not join in.
Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice
Saturday 28 November 2020
Monoprinting with stencils
I love using my gel plate for monoprinting, but it is veryaddictive. I usually get out a range of different types of papers - cartridge paper, deli paper and printer paper usually. I limit myself to around 15 sheets of paper because otherwise I would just keep going.
Two reasons for keeping to a small number:
1. I don't have enough room for a large number of papers to dry.
2. there's only so many things I can think of to do with the painted papers.
Actually there's a third reason:
I've found the best prints are those that have several layers so even with 15 pieces of paper I might be pulling 45-50 prints.
This time I knew I wanted to play with my text stencils. Here are some of the results.
I frequently photograph or scan my monoprints. This is especially useful if you put another layer on one you really like and don't like how it turned out. In addition, if you have scanned one you really like, you can use it multiple times.
The other useful thing you can do is change the scale of your print on your computer - larger or smaller - and use the print out for collage.
Next time I'll show you what I did with these papers.
Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice
Tuesday 24 November 2020
Advent Studies
Advent starts this coming Sunday and continues until Christmas Eve. It's a time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
Mary Brack has again set up an Advent study called Advent Words. You can find all the information on her blog: Found on Brighton.
At church, I have been involved with a series of blog posts which starts this Thursday and takes us through the Christmas story, right through to the arrival of the Kings at Epiphany in January. Actually all I've done is transfer the amazing blog posts and schedule them onto the church website. Alongside the written posts, there is a series of videos for children made by our children's worker. In addition I designed a craft activity for children with adult help. But there's nothing to stop adults joining in.
The series of seven blog posts is called Light in the Darkness.
Thanks for joining me today
Bernice
Saturday 21 November 2020
More Sketchbook Challenge pages
I have really enjoyed playing in a sketchbook. I haven't done all of the ideas Laura suggested but I'm happy with my progress.
Painted papers and some papers found in the magazine Somerset Studio
Painted papers and stencilling
A photo of Venice painted out a bit!
Photo of my textile pieces cut up and collaged in
Paper from Somerset studio, a black & white photos of Venice, a photo of a neutral bit of my textile work and a turquoise monoprint
A mixture of sources. I love the fact that some of the paint on the left peeled off onto the right when I closed the book. Now sealed with matt medium to be sure it doesn't move again!
The next exercise is to draw!!! Here's a couple of the photos I've taken of glass items we brought back from Venice.
Fortunately the suggestion is we start with tracing the image. I can manage that!
Thanks for joining me today
Bernice