Looking for my voice

On Facebook, Hilary Beattie challenged me to post a piece of my artwork everyday for 7 days.  Today is day 5.

I thought to make life simpler I would find photos of 7 pieces of work and keep them in a folder on my computer so I could post one every day without having to search for something.

This was a piece I made on a Hilary Bower workshop.

This piece is called The Prophet's Mantle and is loosely based on Exodus 28.

This piece is probably called Alpha & Omega and was made at a workshop taught by Yvonne Morton.

This is a mixed media piece from one of my journals.

This is a collage I did at a workshop with Seth Apter.  I still haven't decided whether it is finished.

I made these tags at a workshop at The Bramble Patch taught by Angie Hughes.

And this is another mixed media piece that was pubished in Art Journal Kickstarter.

You may remember I talked recently about what I had learned from my month of sketchbook work in February: what did I learn?

Seth Apter wrote this excellent article: 7 ways to own your own voice. His 7 ways are Play, Step Out, Play Favourites, Obsess Less, Keep a style file, Journal It, and Four Score.

What themes could I see once I'd chosen the seven pieces of work shown above?
1. layers
2. pastel colours mostly or neutrals
3. lots of 'white space' - even if it isn't white
4. text

What themes do you see in these pieces of work?

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Busy, busy!

I spent last weekend with friends at Art from the Heart.  The weekend actually started on Thursday.

I spent a couple of hours at the NEC on the Thursday morning having a quick gallop around the show that was on and then helping Steph Redfern on her stand.  To begin with there weren't many people around so I had a great time talking to Steph which was really helpful.

Then I drove up to Harrogate where as I was early, I visited Harlow Carr Gardens.   I've been a couple of times before but not at this time of the year.  The light was fantastic for taking photos.

Friday's workshop was called The Creative Scroll.  Dina is extremely generous in sharing ideas, knowledge and experience in these workshops which is why I love them so much.

I started work on my scroll with the canvas this way.

But this is the almost finished piece.  This is how far I got on Friday.  It now needs some writing on it and some stitching.

And a close up

Saturday's class was Finding Joy in Abstraction.  Dina led us through a variety of exercises and then we did one larger piece.  When I showed it Roger he asked me if it was the right way up!

After lunch we were given a stretched canvas each.   I started working on mine this way up.

But then decided it was better this way.   It still needs some work doing to it but it was still wet 

And on to Sunday which was a journal making class.  I love Dina's way of working - she gives you a pile of papers and gives out instructions for a technique and through the morning you end up with bits like this.

And then in the afternoon you assemble it all and it ends up like this:

I think the book is also still a work in progress.  It would benefit from some stitching on it.  I have a new-to-me sewing machine just waiting to be used.  I've had it 6 months and only once switched it on to see if it was ok.  I'm not sure why I have struggled with actually putting it up on the table and using it.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Glimpses of Jesus 12

Glimpses of Jesus in the Old Testament is a year long bible study written by Simon Clay of Jubilee Church Solihull.   You can join in at any time.
Today's post is about the bronze serpent that Moses had made in Numbers 21:4-9

Still with my theme of keeping the journalling simple, I drew two crosses using a Stabilo pencil. I drew a snake round one of the crosses.  I used a paintbrush and some water to shade the drawings.  I wrote between the two crosses.

Do have a look back through the posts on the Glimpses of Jesus blog where you will find links to other people's art and poetry.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice