Drawing classes

Where we have moved is some what more remote then where we lived in the NT. I'm at least lucky in that I know a few local people and they have given me the heads up on a local art studio/gallery that does lessons!. It's called DAB or Douglas Arts Base and its in Mossman just down the mountain range from us.We had a fair bit of rain up here and the mosquitoes were hammering me every time I tried to do jewellery making in the garage so I joined DAB and now I am doing an introduction class to drawing and painting for five weeks on a Saturday. I'm once again finding that when I draw some things look OK and at other times its terrible LOL. It's perspective I have the most trouble with.

We at first did freeing up exercises like drawing continuously while looking up at subject not at the page and not lifting the pencil up....that I could do OK. Then we tried drawing with the image upside down. I was given a sketch of a man sitting on a chair drawn cartoon like but he was upside down...now this was intriguing....I had read about this before but never tried it myself. So I gave it ago and started at the bottom of my page (with the upside down head) and drew upwards. When I was done I turned it right way up and too my shock the features actually looked quite realistically to the original BUT as I drew what I drew got bigger so he had a small head and long large body. I had concentrated so much on shapes that I forgot perspective!

At the end of class the teacher spied an old drawing of mine in the back of my sketch book so she handed me a vintage image of a lady in black and white and told me to sketch that for my home work! OMG it scared me just looking at it as it had lots of shaded areas as she had her head draped in a cloth. I took it home on Saturday and every day I looked at the image several times just too scared to even try to draw it. By Thursday I still hadn't started but I just thought "go for it....if it doesn't work out tear the page out". I did a light out line at first and then drew the face....My attempt is at left and the real thing at right....

I spent hours just getting that part done. Then I worked on it for hours each day till Saturday came around again and I had to take it to class and show the teacher. I went from one area to another working my way around the face. At the end I was quite astonished as this was one of the times I actually drew with a good end result! I just wish every time I drew I could get this sort of result. The teacher was impressed and in fact at first didn't believe I had drawn it *grin* 

Today I spied the drawing in my art room and again thought I had seen this on one of my rubber stamps so I had a look and sure enough I had the stamp :). It was a Judikins ?angel stamp...how funny

As I can't get much jewellery making done I did do some paper crafting stuff. I've almost put together a craft holder lazy Susan thing from Kaiser that I'll show you another day plus this card made of Opals embossing enamel tiles, fantasy and Angelina film, stamps and charms.

This Saturday in class we are going to try simple landscape paintings....feeling nervous about that one and I do suspect mine will be an abstract landscape in the end LOL. I'm enjoying being creative again indeed regardless of whether it ends up good bad or ugly.

hugs

Annette In Oz

Steampunk Puffy Heart and a Propeller Ring

Here is my new steampunk puffy heart necklace and a little propeller ring to match...

The arrow on the dangle can spin still and I really like the "On and Off" thing

The propeller and cog can still spin on the ring. The ring is adjustable to fit all sizes. Hubby is home for his off time stint but I hope to steal a few hours here and there to get a brass steampunk puffy heart under way. Oh thanks to all the bloglanders whom have sent me hello again notes too...you made me smile!
hugs
Annette In Oz

Steam Punk Puffy Hearts-WIP.The Creating Has Begun!

I've finally unpacked the last box of my stash and have it all stored away. Some storage I shall need to change at a later date. I've had to use allot of cheap flat pack stuff that really will collapse at some stage but we don't own a ute (YET) to buy furniture to bring home and allot of places wont deliver up here in Julatten. My messy unpacking and boxes everywhere has gone at last. Here is all my storage for paper crafts...from polymer clay to stencils and card stock etc plus some art on top to keep me inspired. I'm going to change the two rows at right to the same containers at left eventually.

This is the storage cubes that are inside the built in...again just cheap storage but at least its all put away. The other side has shelves for my stamps, sewing stuff and blank canvas

Sprays, glues, paints, pencils and pens are here

Books, my large how too folder, Opals embossing enamels, embossing powders etc

My desk with some items that need repair after they got broken in the move and more art work behind on the window shelf

I really need to get that Kaiser lazy Susan thingy covered and fully made

Art to go on the wall when hubby is home again

BUT here in the garage is where I am most excited about at the moment...all set up except I need to move the large kiln to another bench as it takes up too much room...its too heavy for me to move though. I sat in here all afternoon yesterday and late into the night and boy was I happy as LOL.

By 10pm I had two puffy hearts on the go...this is them just after coming out of the pickle and me trying various things on them

I've started putting the etched copper puffy heart together first...I can't decide if I like the light bulb or the cogs/arrow dangle yet for the bottom. I'm not going to put a cog over the tin type photo as it covers up the "On and Off" and I like that bit.

Today I have done the house work and I shall spend the rest of the afternoon soldering it all at the back, soldering on a base and attaching the wings. Creating again is awesome!! It's peaceful, inspiring and beautiful here in the mountains and now I have art to do as well...very content indeed :o)
hugs
Annette In Oz

I'm Not Dead and Hello At Last Blogglanders!!!

It's been way too long...I have missed creating so much and I can't live without it any longer. Well my joint problems have continued despite the full on Physio/hydrotherapy for many many months and no crafting so I have decided to just get back to creating anyway as not doing it really didn't make any difference what so ever and I'll manage the pain or ignore it. In fact I think the hydrotherapy and physio aggravated more then it helped...not that it isn't a good thing just my problem is worn and tired joints and physio can't undo that damage from working all those years as a nurse in high care aged care. While I was away from creating I went thru the mental mind games that is Workers Compensation and now I am free of those horrid people and have my own health under my control again and not theirs which is GREAT!! If any of you are in that place with Workers Comp there is a good on line place for help (which I found out too late about) here
Besides all the health issues, workers comp hell and never ending appointments from it all we decided to sell and move to far north Queensland...talk about endless stress LOL. Well our humble small house in Humpty Doo sold to a friend and didn't even get to the real estate agent and we moved to Julatten the week before Christmas. We have a lovely home here in the Atherton Tablelands at The Port Douglas end. The house is on a hill with lovely mountain views. The view from my front drive is below on a little video
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1401236250135620&l=7262026587109412258
We have a three bedroom place here with lots of storage, walk in robe and en-suite in the main bedroom and a huge three bay garage which we hope to convert 2/3rds  to a self contained unit (ART ROOM LOL) later on. It was the house before main house was built so has a toilet, shower and kitchenette there already but it all needs updating and a wall to section off from other area of garage. Here are some photos

 That view!

 The three bay garage...alias Alchemy palace to be!

Where that ute is will remain a garage part and the rest we shall convert to a self contained unit.

The old plumbing in the garage that needs updating.

We are a close drive to many gorgeous tropical spots here and the scenery is drop dead gorgeous. Its warm but milder then what we are used to enduring when we were living in Northern Territory and we get lovely cool mountain breezes. The house was sold furnished and we have kept some of it but we had to throw out allot too. Our own stuff came just three weeks ago and I am still unpacking. I unpacked house items first and I am now onto the mammoth task of unpacking my art supplies. Till we have the garage converted I'll have to use a small spare room as my art room. I'm separating my jewellery making stuff and it will go in the garage for now...at last some place to use gas/flames safely and not feel like I am about to burn the house down LOL. I seem to have been unpacking art supplies for ever and not getting anywhere...I still have about 19 boxes to go before I can even think about creating. It still looks like a huge mess but here is where I am at so far..the spare room....

Hhhhmmm I think that single bed needs to be a cupboard though a cupboard would be a bit hard for visitors to lie on!!

Metal working and glass bead making stuff in garage with more boxes still to be unpacked.

Well I'm that close to being able to create again I can smell it...or the art fumes are getting to me LOL...one way or another I shall be back doing what I love sooner then later...stay tuned.

hugs

Annette In Oz xxx

Arty Break happening folks

Hi all
I am having pain issues that are not settling. What I used to do in an hour with arts and crafts is now taking me a week/weeks. So I think I shall just have to stop being creative at all for now and work on my health...it seems doctors, physios and hydrotherapy are my new friends for the moment. As such I wont be sharing a Tuesday tip, do any paper arts or make any new jewellery for now but hope to start arting and crafting back up again once I stabilize.
hugs
Annette In Oz

Faux Wax Seal and how to make your own - Tipnique Tuesday

Wow life has been so busy here for me in the top end of Oz. Hubby and I have had 18 days today and tomorrow he has left again for 18 days back to work as a fauna handler on the gas pipeline in QLD...I'll miss him heaps till he is home again *sigh*. My 23 yr old daughter and her fiance Cory are staying here too till the week end and are occupying my art room. Believe me when I say I can't even see my art desk let alone use it LOL. So this week I shall have to share another how too for you all. I have always loved the look of wax seals but the price for real ones made them unattainable for me...so I make my own and here is how:

WHAT YOU NEED

• Small stamps to imprint on your faux wax seals
• Versamark watermark ink OR baby oil
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks. I like using the black glue sticks
• Non stick surface like Gladbake or other non stick baking parchment. A glass plate may be used if you have no baking parchment.
• Mica powders such as Polished Pigments, Pearl-ex etc but you can even use shimmery eye shadow powder if you want!

HOW TOO

1) Ink your stamp up so it's very wet looking on the underside using Versamark ink or baby oil. Be generous so your stamp wont stick in the glue.

2) Squeeze a small amount of melted glue onto your Gladbake or glass. The size of the glue depends on the size of your stamp so you shall have to experiment to work that out. As soon as you lay down the glue, gently press your stamp inked side down onto the soft glue surface. Be careful to not burn yourself as the hot glue will squeeze out at the side of the stamp.

3) Leave the stamp in place till the glue cools and sets then gently peel up the stamp. Your impression will now be on the glue.

4) Brush mica powder of your choice directly onto your glue seal and the stamped image will pop. Use a second colour to highlight the raised areas. Pop the glue seal off the base and spray with a little acrylic sealer and the seal is now ready to use.

Faux wax seals are more durable then the real ones. You can attach them to cards, collages, scrap book pages (spell out a title or name using alphabet faux wax seals) and mixed media works with just a little more hot glue underneath them. Have fun and give them a go

hugs

Annette In Oz

Blender Fluid How Too Make your Own - Tipnique Tuesday

Hi all
hubby is home till the 27th yeha. I also have my daughter Carlia here and her fiance Cory staying whom are  in my art room for the next two weeks so I shall do some how too's to make your own art products today and next week :o). Today for Tipnique Tuesday I'll tell you how to make your own blender fluid! It can be used with markers such as Tombows to blend colours with.

What You Need

• 1/3 Glycerin
• 2/3 Distilled water
• 1/4 Teaspoon alcohol such as Isopryl alcohol available as Isocol in super markets and chemists.
• Bottle with a dropper

How Too
Measure and pour all items in a dropper bottle. Gently shake to ensure all combined well. For Tombows and other markers remove the fine line tip/nib carefully with pliers using a twisting motion. Place drops of the blender fluid down the barrel and refit the nib. The solution can be used on coloured markers that have started to dry out to give them extra life or to refill a blender marker.
This is one recipe I have not tried myself so if you do give it a try let us know how it goes!! When my children where younger I collected allot of these tips and techniques on how to save money by making your own consumables for arts and crafts products. It helped me to not be tied to products and to think out side the square :o).
hugs
Annette In Oz