whimsicals?

I think I finally have it, after an awful lot of reading and experimenting I am having a crack at whimsical art, from what I read this is about taking a real image and adding your own take on it, lets face it I have not quite mastered making it look identical LOL, but that was never the idea. So, I chose a few subjects and put on my own take on them, wondering if I can turn these into cards? might just have a try. Here is my take on an owl, I thought he was quite sweet, also mixed media I have used inks, pastels and watercolours throughout.




Here is my frog, I never showed you but I have countless drawings of frogs, never quite managing to get their feet right, but with whimsical you can add your own, and try give their own little personality.



Lastly here is Fiona the fish, started from a goldfish image and somewhat expanded.



Whilst resizing I then had a bit of a play in photoshop, not sure if I like the originals or the digitally modified versions, so here they are with a bit of PC drama..







I am still practising the calligraphy, about an hour a day as it is starting to feel a bit like 'lines from school', but its getting there.. then I find myself doodling around it. Had to stop doing lines and do some quotes to make it more interesting to learn.

Going to have a go at printing out some cards and 'maybe' try them on sale see how they go..

Hope you had a good weekend, as usual all over far too quickly - soon be time to start another new week, dont know were the time goes!

~SimJaTa~

Birthday Cards

Whoops, seems I have been neglecting the blog again! When I started my art journey last year it slipped my mind my original intention was to try designing some cards. I was reminded this week when first I had to hurry out and buy one, then realised I had another two birthday's this week. So, the above is for my uncle who is a Laurel and Hardy fan, I think he is 71 this time. Hope he likes it, it was quite fun to do. The next one, was another valuable lesson learnt, first this would not be a good idea to sell one like this, as I started it on Friday and finished today, so at an hourly rate cant see it selling somehow LOL. Secondly I learnt NOT to do zen doodle ontop of a printed book were the print can then come off on the back of the card! Luckily Mum helped me sort it out by suggesting another column of pattern design on the back to cover most of it, but of course this took another two hours to do.




I have been busy with my new journal too, this has helped me a lot as instead of filling my head with things I must remember I want to do, I have been able to list them at the back, along with a few tips I pick up thus emptying some space in my head and helping sleep. Still not finished playing with my first page either, but second page was used for some people sketching to help with proportion etc.

I was very excited on Thursday night as I won a blog prize in Darlene's blog of an Art Journal Doodle book, I cant wait for it to arrive - the very same book was on my wish list on Amazon. Also yesterday I was given a whole stack of paints, paper and brushes that used to belong to my late friend Jess, from her son Paul - so kind of him and I am very grateful.

Well, back to the sketch book, to work my way through this list of things I want to do. Hope everyone has had a great weekend, weather has been glorious very cold but lovely and bright and sunny, giving us some spectacular sunrises to look at.

~SimJaTa~