Diana Trout's blog

Sumptuous Painted Paper

Three cheers to paint all the paper! I taught this class again a couple of weekends ago in the studio. It's a spin-off of my Playful Papers dvd and I have taught many variations. You can see pictures from the class here.

The process is pretty straight forward. Take paints and inks and spritz, drop, paint, spread around, drip, print, stencil. It's just good fun really.  Everything winds up looking fab. Watch your color families. Stay in analogous (neighborhood) color: red, orange, yellow or blues and greens. You don't really want mud here. 

The papers are great for collage, journaling, cards, mixed media canvases or any paper projects. I've made flower collages from them and used them for paper cloth. Or a tag book: good stuff. 

Enjoy the video. And check out that neat little extra technique I discovered. Spray the water through a stencil, lift the stencil and then spray the in. Very cool look. Supply list is below along with links to the other two blog posts on this topic - my inky holiday hauls :)

Use what you have. The following supply list are affiliate links. I get a % of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Color It In * Pencils, Pens & Books

DickBlick's got some free shipping today only (12/16/16) for merch over $29 (!). I've put together a little video comparing colored pencils. I love to use gelly rolls or other glittery, shiny pens in coloring books too. Amp it up. LOL. (I don't much care for loud music these days).

Crayola's are very inexpensive, widely availabe and you get a good bang for your buck there. 

Koh-i-Noor has a very nice set, vibrant and a darn good price.

I've used Prismacolors for years. They are a little pricey but a solid investment. I have heard reports of the leads breaking within the barrel of the pencils. I have not experienced this but there are suggestions on how to fix the problem (such as wrapping them in a heating pad).  I dunno ...

Shiny, glittery pens are fun to use to mix things up, so I've provided links to some of my favs. All of the art supplies are linked to Dick Blick. The books are over at Amazon. I like the Kum (koom) sharpener, btw. Nice one. I have an electric sharpener from Staples too. Perfect.

My favorite book is Flow. It's playful and the spaces are large enough to do your own shading and color mixing. I like that. You may not :).  Enjoy the video! My affiliate links are below and I thank you for using them. Remember: it helps me out and costs you nothing.  Have a nice weekend.  

Use code WOW2016 at DickBlick to get the free shipping. (Today Only).

Prang Colored Pencils	Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Oil Based Colored Pencils	Prismacolor Colored Pencils	Koh-I-Noor Progresso Colored Pencils	UniBall Signo, Silver Gold & White
Sakura Gelly Roll Hot Metallic	Sakura Gelly Roll Pens	Coloring Books	Chronicle Books ENCHANTED FOREST An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book 674889	Secret Garden Coloring Book
Flow Coloring Book	Lyra Super Ferby Metallic Pencils	Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic	Sakura Gelly Roll Star Dust Pens	Coloring Books on Amazon

InLinkz.com

Art Journal With Me, Bird Box

Art Journaling with limited supplies is so refreshing. Gather just a few supplies and go with them. I almost always start with the collage elements. Going through an old magazine or a pile of papers. Do this quickly, journal-spill style. Don't think, just react and pull what speaks to you. Try to do this quickly or with a time going - the 5 minute collage pull.

The next step in this system is to pull the colors that go with the papers. In this case, Distress Stains appealed to me and I used only three colors. Keep it simple. Big advantages of the Distress color line are that they all work together. Yes. You will get browns and grays.  They are also water-reactive and that suits my personality. Choose what you have on hand: acrylics, colored pencils, it doesn't matter.

Another thing to keep in mind is that your collage papers may be used as an inspiration point. In this case, one of the papers I pulled (all papers are from Flow magazine), was an illustration of a face. I realized that I wanted to create a self portrait. I kept it simple and stylized and tried not to get caught up in a great self portrait. Keep It Simple. I stopped when I ran out of time. 

I sometimes like to leave space for writing. In this case, I turned my mournal upside down so it's not so easy for folks to read it. Art Journaling helps me to feel centered when there are thoughts ricoheting around my head. It helps me focus like a meditation. Here is today's video and the supply list is beneath. I hope this gives you some ideas. 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

Stillman & Birn Alpha 8.5"x5.5" Sketchbook	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stain FOSSILIZED AMBER Ranger TDW43997	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stain SALTY OCEAN Ranger TDW36197	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stain RIPE PERSIMMON Ranger TDW36180	Set of 3 Micron Pens
Princeton Snap! Brushes	Niji Waterbrush	Ranger Inkssentials TRIANGULAR COLLAGE GLUE STICK Adhesive IWT40491

InLinkz.com

How to Paint on Japanese Paper

I'm a paper addict. I love the stuff. I've never held a paper that didn't immediately ask me to bring it home. Japanese papers hold a special place in my heart for its paradox of light as a feather, strong as an ox. Sumi-e paper, aka "rice" paper, is a long fiber very thin paper that is used in Japanese calligraphy and painting. It's fragile when wet but very durable when dry. I use it as a spine reinforcement in bookbinding. 

If you read/watched theblogpost on Etegami cards (Part 1 and Part 2), the techniques used are the same as techniques I used in today's video. 

The amount of paint to water determines the value in watercolor. More paint, deeper value. More water: lighter value. When you use a lot of water on Sumi-e paper, the color spreads mercilessly. There is no controlling it. It's a tidal wave.

 

In today's video, you'll see a bit more about working with this magical paper while I paint patterns to be used in a card project. I matched the paint colors to a few ink pad colors to tie everything in together when I made the cards. 

As usual, 

These are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale with no extra cost to you. By using my links you help me support my channel and blog.

 

Art Journal in Layers

Are you having trouble getting that layered look in your art journal? I get alot of questions about this! Let talk layers using a template. Bear in mind throughout that your layers need to be translucent or spotty. In other words, don't cover the entire page with acrylic paint or gessso. 

Layer 1 can be writing or a splash of color with stenciling or stamping. These textural type of stamps or pattern stencils work very well. Work in three colors on the same side of the color wheel: Warm OR Cool, to avoid making mud where you don't want it. 

I like to go a little heavy with the color and then tone things down with gesso. A thin coat of gesso will be see through and unify things. Choose three to five areas on your page spread and try using brush strokes that are light and feathery. I used a stencil with texture paste on this page too. 

If you are using collage, paint, sand or gesso around it to "bury" it in the page. Hard edges will call too much attention to the collage piece when you want it to become a organic part of the page.

Keeping with the translucency, use tissue papers to continue building pattern and color. In the picture above, Tim Holtz paper is acting like gesso by subduing the background while letting the pattern come through. I could have found some central imagery for this page but instead, I just did some writing and drawing. With black pens and gel pens. 

Working in layers takes time and thought. It's fun and unpredictable to work intuitively. Sometimes it's a challenge because things don't go as expected so you may need to put your critic in the other room. Let us know in the comments if you have any tips on layering. I'll put some of the products I used in the links below. As usual, they are affiliate links and I get a little cash back if you buy from me. Use.What.You.Have.

 

Artist of the Month: Mary Wheeler

Happy June gang! It's a pleasure to share Mary's journal pages with you today. Mary is a dog-lovin' scientist and a wonderful artist to boot. I'm honored to have her as a friend and student. Very few words needed here today. 

And speaking of Joy ... 

 

 

Seamless use of collage. 

This one may be my favorite. 

Mary uses collage in such a personal way. She makes it her own. I LOVE her color! She drives a cadmium yellow car and that makes me smile. I hope you've enjoyed this show. Let's show her some love! 

Thanks Mary! 

All photos c.Mary Wheeler, 2016

Spontaneous Journal Spill

Fridays's Live Stream was a success! Yay! I had great help. I hope that this video will inspire you and give you an easy way to work in your journal. You can apply this drawing game technique anywhere and with any media. I've done it with Crayolas with little kids and paint brushes on canvas with adults. It's just fun to take your pen for a wander and then doodle, color and add patterns inside the shapes. Go ahead and color outside the lines too! 

I've provided links for most of the products I've used. Many thanks to JetPens for providing me with some new supplies to introduce. The Deleter Neopiko pens are very nice to use; similar in quality to the Zig Clean Color. The colors are different so they are an expansion to your palette.

All of these dye-based brush markers, including Tombow and Distress work very well together. Children's markers work too! 

As a general note, you'll find that most art supplies at similar prices are similar. I like the color range of the Neopiko 4's and will probably pick up a few more. 

 

Deleter Neopiko 4 Watercolor Brushes: http://to.jetpens.com/1TanP0f
Global Art Fluid Watercolor Blocks: http://to.jetpens.com/1SDmnnz
Caran d'Ache Technalo Graphite Pencils: http://to.jetpens.com/1O0LQ8G
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors: http://to.jetpens.com/1WyWAAe
I just started practicing with brush lettering. It does take practice! I am using Creative Lettering and Beyond. There are some great tips, a few fonts and space in the book to practice. I also love Jenny Doh's Creative Lettering. 

Here are some brush pens that I enjoy. 

Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9
Sailor Fude Nagomi Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9

Here's the live stream recording. See below for more affiilate link supplies. 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Journal Spilling: Layering

At Saturday's MeetUp we worked in layers. Personally, I like thin layers so that the feel of the paper remains. But some folks don't worry about that. 

Most of my students have been with me for a bit so they go confidently into that dark night :). Because really, the best way of journaling is when you just Start. No plan. Allow the path reveal itself. One of my students had a revelation when we got to the collage part. And I did too. I had a feeling there was somewhere I was going with that page so I kept working it till I got there. I don't always do that though; some things are meant to be simple and playful.

The progression of layers was

Spill writing with an Inktense pencil
Brush over with water to "erase" the words
Stenciling with Spray Inks
Stamping with textured background stamps and Archival Inks
Collage
Adding black and white if needed for contrast
Borders

Barbara played with the idea of a surrealist parlor game, Exquisite Corpse

I love her layers and the playful imagery. 

Here are some of the materials we used.

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Circle Journal Online, Open Registration

Circle Journal is a reformated class from last year's work-along class. An independent study class that you can work at your own pace. The material will be permanently accessible.

This is a LOT of information: a painting primer, a mixed media primer, art journaling primer: much more than I could cover in 2-3 full day workshops. And you always have me on the other end of your computer! 

Here's an overview: 

Sign up and begin anytime you'd like. A total of 22 videos and a bunch of pdfs: one for each of the four lessons, plus symbol drawing, words to transfer and a tiny maze book zine. 

Lesson 1:  Painting & Markmaking. Using thinned acrylic paints, let the spilling begin. Brushstrokes, color mixing, markmaking with stamps, stencils, alternative items.  (5 videos, 2 pdf's) 

Lesson 2: Folding & Stitching your Maze Book. The possibilities are endless with this type of book. Make a mistake? No problem: stitch, cut, tape your way to a new bookform. Handstitching, machine stitching techniques and ideas are included (2 videos, 2 pdf's). 

Lesson 3: Line, Collage, Gesso & Paint. (8 videos, 1 pdf). Loads of spilling in this lesson in lines and images. Get the low down on using paint, gesso and portfolios. Creating your own stamps is simple if you've done the brainstormng on symbols. Includes creating foam stamps and symbol drawing. 

Lesson 4: Embellishments. (7 videos, and a bunch of pdf's). Includes tabs, blender pen transfers, simple lettering,  and other embellishments).

 
$60/Join Anytime, Permanent Access
After you have paid for the class, you will receive the blog URL and password from me 

Suggested supplies are linked below (Affiliate Links)2-3 Parent sized sheets smooth, heavy printmaking or watercolor paper
bottle of ink(s) or reinkers
small spray bottle(s)
straw, Eyedropper
craft foam (available in the children’s area at the craft store)
Stamp pad(s)
craft knife, scissors
glue stick
pens, pencils
masking tape
collage papers
Chartpak Blender Pen for photocopy transfers. 
Portfolios or Caran d’Ache watersoluble crayons

 

Art Journal With Me: Paint & Lace

Hello my friends. I had my second live stream yesterday. If you happened upon it, thank you! If not, it is linked below. I had my Dylusions journal, paint pens, gesso. You'll see in the video how to fill a blank marker with Hi Flow paints. 

Here's a kind of progression from when I stop the live stream to finishing the page up.

I went over the flowers with more paint marker, mixing the colors. Working wet in wet with paint markers may not be the best way to treat these tools but I really like to mix my paints.

I love the connection with lace and math. The writing is about the arts and the sciences being the purest forms of language. 

The little bit of lace collage was the impetus for this journal entry. My son does his calculus on tracing paper and sometimes gives me a hand full. I love the look of them and this was one of those "seat of the pants" moments that keeps me journaling.

The top photo is a detail from the finished page. Here's the video. Start watching at about 7 minutes. Before that it is just me looking confused. 

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

To my loyal blog followers, thank you for hanging in with me throughout this winter. I'm spreading myself very thin between making business changes and the unexpected surgeries. My aunt was recently very ill and in the hospital with pneumonia. I'm her main caregiver with lots of help. It's been challenging to keep up. My own health is improving now with three steps forward, one back. I treasure you folks and my work.