Axully, Vicki Ross! Blogs on topics that capture my attention, that I love to share, or that catch my fancy!
I explain in this tutorial how to take an inexpensive composition book and alter it for a Journal Jumpp (a Wicki coined phrase). Journal Jumpps are starters for your own journaling...gets you over the 'fear' of the blank white page. It is already grunged, so there can be no fear of ruining it as you add your own touches!
Click on www.Axully.com to see the original blog post and to leave a comment!
In this most sophisticated laboratory experiment (buahaha) I wanted to see if my favorite fixative for soft pastels would work for art journaling and waterbased sprays and media.
For those who are new to soft pastels, there is a continuing debate over "Whether to fix, or not to fix, that is the question, dear Watson". Many workable fixatives in readily available spray cans will drastically alter the color and look of the pastels. If the artist is trying to achieve texture and layering, this spray can ruin the texture...AND dull lighter colors.
Several years ago, Spectra-Fix was introduced at IAPS (International Society of Pastel Societies) and was an immediate hit. I wrote a blog post about it...and what I learned from Alan Flattmann about using it. Since my pastel easel and setup are but feet away from my mixed media workstation, it was an easy hop over to nab my mixture.
On 140# Fabriano watercolor paper I first wet the paper with a spray bottle of water. Next, I dropped and sprayed several different brands of ink and liquid watercolor, and some Tattered Angels and Smooch spray colors. After drying, I masked off the left side and sprayed my Spectra-Fix in two good coats...drying between.
Next, I sprayed with the water bottle again and put some deli paper on top. The un-fixed side pulled some color, while the fixed side only got a bit from the top...probably where I didn't hit the fixative good enough. Next, I re-wet it and used a paper towel this time. Violå! You can see the unfixed pigment stain the towel.
Page two: Get ready for it! I found a new product (to me, anyway) by reading a blog post on Google+ from a friend in England. She was showing her studio space where she used her "Brusho's". After a bit of research, I found that Dick Blick imports these from England...and they are fairly inexpensive. BUT, what FUN! They are highly pigmented watercolor CRYSTALS, about the size of glitter. In addition to all the traditional techniques for watercolor, these add an important ability...sprinkle a few granules into a water puddle and watch it explode onto your paper...reminds me of Fizzy's from 1960's.
The fixing and wetting and blotting process was repeated, with the same results. Spectra-Fix WORKS! AND, you can purchase it in a 3oz concentrate bottle and mix your own as the blog post explains. AND spray right at your workstation.
xxoo
What fun Wicki is having! This process is a more illustrative one, and requires much more time than I originally thought. BUT, it is very enjoyable and the mixed media materials are like being a kid again!
Gold, Glitter, Magic, Oh My! And somewhere between the worktable and photo she gained an angel kiss on her forehead. hmmm. curious.
You know, funny thing is...many subscribers have left this blog since I've started exploring mixed media, bookbinding, journaling, etc. Too bad cause they are missing out on a lot of fun. I can already see how learning whimsy is going to help with my regular painting. Besides, just another stop on my art journey. Life Book 2015 by Tamara Laporte
I've found such warm, PARTICIPATING artists on Google+ who are a delight to interact with. You don't feel like you are preaching to the choir as with 'fine art'. Join us! I'm Vicki Ross, (on google+) and will steer you to some of the groups.
xxoo
I have caught hints of this annual workshop for a year or so, and decided on a whim that I would 'Just do It'. As I've mentioned over the past few months, I've been exploring mixed media. This started with encaustics where anything that can be embedded in the beeswax medium is fair game. How much fun! Fibers, papers, junk mail, buttons...which led to the world of Art Journaling where much the same thing is done on paper.
The journal is not the end product, rather a recipe book of trial and error experimentation. Color combinations, layering, mono printing, stamping, stenciling...any thing that will add texture or a layer of intrigue is the name of the game.
Life Book 2015 is the brainchild of Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts in England. She has the most charming accent that shows her Dutch ancestry. She is also exudes an Earth Mother persona...it is all about self image. The first day of January, she jumped right in with a "warm-up" exercise. Took me TWO days to get mine done. Oh well, that, too is OK according to Tam. There are about 20 guest instructors throughout the year. I am EXCITED.
My word of the year 2015 is "DO". As in just do it. Quit reading and studying about it. I won't do a detailed step-out out of respect to Tam and all her hard work. I will say that she under promised and over delivered on the content!
I've also registered for a few other workshops similar to this one. I am determined to throw some color in 2015!
xxoo
Just in time for Happy Festivus! Now released for Kindle readers...on Kindle, iPad, mac.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RDNGQUA
"Soft Pastels...an Exploration" is now available for $3.99 on Kindle or FREE on KDP Select.
Would love your shares and a review on Amazon!
The Rice Paper Screen. Just WOW.
I've not been able to play with my colors in a week or so. Ran-DEE's dad moved to an assisted living facility, and he had to clean out their apartment. Whew.
That took him over a week, even after his sister cleared what she wanted, and our auctioneer moved the big stuff. Left Randy with all the toilet paper, laundry soap, magazines, etc., over 20 picture albums from 1940's to present, his dad's tour of duty in Korea (many pics of barracks...2x3" b/w faded images). Over 100 small framed family pics that had not been unpacked since they moved from their house in Little Rock five years or so ago.
We are both guilty of hoarding to a certain degree, so our place can't hold their hoarding too. However, it was a pleasure going through most of it since they lived in Japan when Ran-DEE was 7-10...and Teiko still had family there. The Japanese cards and papers! Even the envelopes were saved (stamps already cut out). A huge box of odds and ends from her sewing room in Little Rock. I've got enough elastic to last a lifetime. Teiko worked at Hancock Fabrics several years and must have bought ends and pieces of stock. I'll be looking for an innovative way to use those, for sure.
Big sacks of embroidery thread and spools of sewing thread. Postcards, 1920's b/w images from Japanese descendants, tchotzkes, genealogy files, medical files from 2000 detailing every letter, empty envelope, surgery and doctor visit Wesley had. THOSE were easy to recycle!
Anyway, I got some treasures! Have removed every picture from every little frame, all ready for donation to our Helping Hands.
The answer to GUESS? Waterproof pads. They measure 24" x 24" -ish, and are GREAT for studio work. The bookcase was made by Wesley, and will give us some much needed vertical storage for books we have, as well as all those scrapbooks of Teiko's. Insluded in those was a book of pictures of our house that isn't with us anymore...and some pictures of Sarah we didn't have.
That was the toughest part of the going through, for me anyway. I'll share more of the Japan ephemera later...great fodder for art. I will digitize the images and use those, passing on the originals to Betsy Ross Noble.
I'm ready for color and my studio! Bring it!
xxoo
Short and sweet, this post is. Vicki is creating an active YouTube channel with her short video demos. Make a request! I'll do my best to make it happen.
I've also had requests for a link to my old blog (2008-2013 posts). It is HERE.
Please visit, subscribe, and feed the Muse!
xxoo
Well, this is done. I love the material...and can't wait to put it to use. May have to carve deeper if I use acrylic paint with it, but so far it is working great with ink pads.
I've had some requests for blog posts back when I was posting about art and processes in oil, watercolor, and pastel. To save my sanity with all the social media to update every day, I started blogging here on Axully.com. My old blog posts are still 'out there'! I did my first post in March, 2008. Check them out...there's some good stuff there! www.VickiRossArt.blogspot.com
So without further ado, here is video 3 of 3 on Rubber Plumbers Pack carving. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel and like the video. I'm having fun sharing these...and my muse needs encouragement!
xxoo
Read the original post HERE!
I did this last week, and forgot to blog about it. I have numerous readers who stay up with me through these posts. Even though I've been active on Google+ lately, those groups are much smaller. Had a long conversation with a friend/student of mine today and I tried to explain that I haven't gone over to the dark side...just working with color and personal imagery of my own creation. All these techniques and tools can be used with any media...watercolor, oil, pastel, encaustic. I have come to believe that the current art journaling buzz, for me anyway, is a place to experiment with no pressure to complete a 'fine art' painting.
Anyway, If you saw my post on Linocut Carving, here is the link for that. I show the process of carving "the grey stuff", linocut vinyl by Richeson Art. Anyway, getting into the play mode I decided to make a texture plate out of the pieces left over from the carving. It worked GREAT!
Here is the new video. Please subscribe, join me over on Google+ Vicki Ross (vickilou92@gmail.com), let me know what you think!
xxoo
To read original post, click HERE!
Continuing to complete the 6"x6" square, row by row. It started to look tribal, so I decided to stick with that. Short video, showing the design process. I used Rubber Plumber's Pack available in home improvement stores and Speedball Linocut Tools.
The print on this row was with a Crayola marker. I discovered that I could take a bit more time to apply my color variations because these are water-based. I took one print quickly, then spritzed with water and got another ghost print.
The video is Here. And while you are at it, subscribe! Creativity needs encouragement...
First Print with Crayola markers
Ghost Print. A few minutes after the first print, I grabbed a spray bottle with water, sprayed the carving and pulled another print. SO, that means you can take a bit more time putting market on the plate!
To view original post click HERE!
I just LOVE research! In fact, sometimes I think that is my waterloo...then inspiration strikes, and I'm back in the studio giving it a go.
This material is rubber pack, made for plumbers. I found mine at Lowes, 6x6" $1.99. It carves beautifully! Softer than the Speedball Speedy Carve (the pink stuff). Here is my latest video carving Row #2 (Row #1 wasn't filmed).
xxoo
Click HERE to view original post
I've been having a ball on Google+ . The art communities are so focused and interactive. One of the groups had a flurry of activity on carving stamps on Speedy-carve (speedball). I went on to experiment with woodcut and linocut. The material I used for the woodcut was recycled from rubber stamp mounts. The grey stuff in this video was Richeson vinyl Lino-like material. Then, I tried plumber's pack. It may be my favorite of all!
This video is in two parts on YouTube:
Xxoo
Vicki
How much fun! Kelly Dombrowski, a social network friend and great artist, invited me to join in with this challenge. Let's see how many new artists we can get to know! Follow the links to go around the world and find wonderful art and artists. Be sure to subscribe to their blogs and follow their social networks...I'm sure they will do the same back to you!
Blog & website: Kelly Dombrowski Art
I'm inviting two artists I've met online, and have great admiration for:
A fabulous mixed media artist, who sent me a piece of her original art for correctly identifying a mystery organic item last summer.
Terri's Blog: http://terrisproul.blogspot.com
Terri is a mixed media artists who has a loyal group of followers. She graciously conducts a live demonstration on Tuesday nights. She is one of the featured artists on my Printable Collage Sheets product HERE
Now to introduce myself, Vicki (and Wicki and Victoria, my alter-egos):
Something new every day! New technique, new mark-making tools, interspersed with actual color work. Lately I've been designing printable collage sheets, and you can see them here. Next color session I will show my subscribers how I use these elements in my Mixed Media Art.
My work focuses on my own creative mark-making. I create my own stencils and stamps...learning to do woodcut stamps because I love the different marks they make contrasted with typical rubber stamps, my own abstracted backgrounds made with Gelli Prints or textured colors. My representational art is more realism, my mixed media art more abstract. The abstract is harder for me.
If I could answer that, I'd be able to predict what is coming next! I seem to hibernate in January and February, and hit the studio running in March with some new media I want to explore (I don't ever NOT go in the studio). 2014 started with a Crowdfunding campaign that kickstarted Over and Over Again: Variations with Repetition. As I completed these "littles" I started adding more and more mixed media: dryer lint, modeling paste, collage, etc. Encaustic was something i was very curious about, so that overlapped the project. I was able to use my pastels, oils, and love of ephemera with the encaustic. That was a natural crossover to printmaking, journaling, bookmaking and collage. I may work a year or more in a particular genre before moving on, or going back to previous media or techniques.
I spent 25+ years as a graphic designer, so combining elements to tell a story is second nature to me. However, now I am creating art, not marketing materials and advertising! I pretty much research anything art related in the evenings, and the next day pick up whatever my Muse is curious about. Scientific, huh? Some weeks I spend more time researching, and some are an assortment. My painting evolves when I can sever my computer curiosity and social buzz.
I've had fun visiting all the other artists participating in this Blog Hop! Join us!
xxoo
This printable is from a vintage hanky collected by Teiko Kazama Ross, my late mother-in-law. So perfect, with its original folds intact, I photographed it and folded it back. It will find its way into the collection already passed on to Betsy Ross Noble.
Printables are all the rage in the paper crafting/art journaling/collage market right now. Purchase, and a download link will be immediately emailed to you. Print it on any type of paper you wish, from clear label paper to nice 32 lb. paper. A coupon for 15% discount is available for a short time. SproulQFXBMFF is the code.
This hanky has been used as inspiration for me, along with several other items from her stash in a still life painting I did named "Phoenix". Full of symbolism from the Jessi Coulter lyrics hand printed on tromp l'oeil notepaper, the sticky note with a quote from Harry Potter, the ivory phoenix, the handblown mini-vase with the blue 'tear', to the candle mounted in a vintage candle holder and Japanese tea cup. The hanky provides the perfect grounding for this tableau. The baby Phoenix rising from the ashes is a crowning touch. ©Vicki Ross, Pastel on sanded board, 20" x 18". collection the artist.
© V.N.Ross
xxoo
If the mail chimp newsletter does not have the correct link, click here:
A new category of Printables! Teiko Ross, my late mother-in-law, left us a treasure trove of vintage Japanese papers, magazines, and other ephemera.
Click on the black purchase button. In the shopping cart, enter your name and personal info. (I'm the only one who sees it and never share) Enter the coupon code, chopstick 7Y77R8Q, Click on continue, and when the credit card fields come up, leave them blank, hit continue again...and you'll receive an email with the download!
Expires 10/26/2014. HURRY! and please share!
xxoo
ps: the long strip can be used as Washi Tape. Either print on clear label paper or on the thinnest copy paper you can put through your printer and use double stick tape. Ditto for the circles!
I received this comment on the new Iris Background Printable from an artist who planned to use it in her dream collage:
Your Iris background really moved me. It is Oriental-looking and I love that. I love origami and the Japanese ink paintings.
Which reminded me of the walls this painting has graced. The three photos above show how much we've downsized our living in the past five years (that's a good thing :). Its original home was in a house with 12' ceilings, and is a good fit on the wall. In the middle image, the Dining Room was part of the foyer, and it looks good size-wise as well. the third image is where the painting hangs today! In the foyer/hallway, and you can see it up close and personal! You can get your nose on it if you want!
I had also used this image in 2002, the year I painted it. It was only the third painting I had done, in a watercolor class. Talk about Running before Crawling! Its image was modified for use in an invitation/house warming/gratitude party for the neighborhood that nurtured us after the fire. Going through all those early paintings as I created the Collage Sheet Printables, I remembered the invitation and thought it would make a good candidate for the Collage Pages. So, with a few modifications, here it is! FREE! Here is the link
Click on the black purchase button, and enter your address information (I can't override this). When the credit card info crops up, click through to continue. You'll receive an email with the attached FREE pdf file.
AND, I included a matching name tag to go along with it. ENJOY!
xxoo
PS: As always, please share your project that use these! Wicki will be HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!
BRAND-NEW! Digital downloads for Collage/Assemblage/Journals. Use in mixed media projects from collage on canvas to image transfers in encaustic, Journal Jumpp starts, whatever your art is, these will be a great compliment to your artistic vision.
Each of the 100+ pages contains original painting elements and/or photography from Vicki Ross and are for your personal use ONLY. No sharing allowed, or the Wicki Muse will haunt your art forever. Capisce? (got it?)Not gonna list do's and don'ts because I expect everyone to treat these with the same respect you'd expect if they were your creations.
I am looking for a few partners who are willing to use their favorites in their art, and share with this my readers. Then, you will share on your blogs, social media, etc.
Easy-Peasy! We all share together.
Let me know...which pages you want to start, and when you will get your project and instructions to me. I'll prepare a schedule and see where this goes!
This article first appeared in MixedMediaArt.net
Love our local thrift store, Helping Hands in Bentonville, AR. Found an origami kit that followed me home. Since I like to see how I can incorporate these types of treasures into my regular art (I think that's an oxymoron...my regular art :)
Anyway, I tried folding paper. MUCH harder than it looks. And, of course instructions were not the best. I had to fudge a few folds.
Next, I took 4" square tumbled marble tiles and coated them with a couple coats of plain encaustic medium (beeswax and damar resin, I make my own). Yup, visit all those flowers and bring the pollen home to my web. Shoot, my colony. Then, off to Madagascar to drain sap out of the damar tree. (I made that up, FYI)
Each gets a pour because I wanted to keep the three dimensional look of the folded paper. After two pours, fusing, I took a brush and made sure all crevices were filled. When cool, I scraped back as far as I could, again maintaining the 3-D look.
When I declared victory, each was signed...not an easy process on such smalls. Here is the group.
all images © V.N.Ross
Encaustic, collage on tumbled marble tiles.
I just LOVE doing things twice because I'm not paying attention. Did this post once and then just as quickly, deleted it by accident. GRRR! Even 30-year computer nerds get stupid sometimes.
Anyway, I was just saying'...getting ready for a pop-up gallery show Oct. 4 and 5. If you are near Bentonville, AR come see me. 20 of us will be set up in the Majesty Gallery space between the Station Cafe (great burgers, says Wimpy) and Walton 5&10.
I'll have several 'smalls', unframed, to save on time and expense of framing. Prices range from $75+, sizes starting at 4" x 4". Oil and encaustic. I'll also have a couple of my new 'Journal Jumpps", art journals that are already started for you...and hand-bound, to boot!
The easel is necessary to showcase the itty-bitties. Randy cut a prototype, and i engineered it yesterday. Out of black core mat board, my Explore, heavy duty housing and deep-cut blade and three cuts, they still required some x-acto knife work to release. This stuff is sturdy...and Ran-DEE is going to have to do the creasing tonight.
Cut, fold in half, fold the lower tabs in to the middle and tape or glue gun. I used brown tape so you could see it in the upper image. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
The screen capture from Cricut Design Space is shown below. FREE cutting diagrams are linked below...
Enjoy!
xxoo
I'm SO impressed!
Had an idea for a cut-out on card stock, and in the past it would have required sharp scissors or good Xacto skills. NO MORE!
Figured I could combine an illustrator vector drawing with a laser print and trial and error do my cutout. Two hours later, I was just 1/4" away from matching my homemade cut file with a printout, when I remembered the new announcement from Cricut this am. Low and behold, the promised Print 'n Scan feature was Live!
i dumped the illustrator idea, and in :30 min or so, I had successfully cut my project!
Love it when technology works, and I only had to watch video twice (I do better with written instructions, not verbal).
Perfect cut!
xxoo
