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NewsletterArt Every Day Month 11
Okay…I think I can do this…
So, I have been working on my watercolor pieces that are now part collage and part digital illustration. Definitely some ups and downs in trying to get what is in my mind out into reality and today I had a great breakthrough. Let me go back and say that this project started as watercoloring various hairstyles (inspiration from watching a lot of Mad Men), but then an unfortunate coffee spill got the papers stuck together and ripped some portions. I was a bit demoralized and didn’t know what to do, leaving my watercolors in a pile of other papers. In my previous post, I was blessed with the idea of collaging over the ripped parts to cover up…but then I was stuck in terms of how I wanted to continue. More time passed.
Finally, I took everything into the computer and started working on adding digital elements. I am so loving this method – I suppose you call it mixed media – although I really feel like everything is mixed media because you do what you need to do to get the look you want. I don’t know that I have any favorite medium, because they all have their pros and cons and serve different purposes. While working on these pieces I sort of had this epiphany of how they represent the jill of all trades that I am…that I can combine techniques and methods to get that image burned in my mind out into the world. Getting it out makes me feel so much better, it’s weird and I am definitely feeling weird right now in writing this and sharing these thoughts. As I have noted before, taking these risks in revealing your true thoughts and feelings…it’s scary. I am scared in so many different ways, but at the same time I am excited with those good butterflies in my stomach. They are telling me it’s a good type of anxiousness, because I want to share my work with all of you and excited about it. Whew…deep breath. So here goes…
Okay. I’m bracing myself for your thoughts and comments. For a few moments here and there, I still have those doubts and fears – that people will think I’m just silly for sharing my little work and making such a big deal out of it. This piece is actually part of a series, but I think I have this first one the way I want. The first picture shows her framed up so I can really take a look at her – sorry for the weird glare from the glass! I included some close-ups so you can see the textured paper behind it all and variation of media used…watercolor, collage and digital. You probably can’t imagine how many transfigurations this image has gone through.
Now that I’ve shared, I’m sort of feeling like I want to laugh and cry at the same time. This is really weird. Deep breaths…
Posted on November 11, 2009 at 3:36 pm | art every day month, designs, watercolor, work in progress
Hello fellow explorers and creative minds! My name is Linda, aka tortagialla - a nickname my adorable husband dubbed me meaning "yellow cake" in Italian. I'm your not-so-typical Californian girl who took the plunge and moved to the Tuscan hills of Italy. Now I'm living my dream designing, illustrating and crafting full-time. You can contact me via email linda [!at] tortagialla [!dot] com
No need to be shy or nervous.
She is lovely!
xoxo
Thank you for your kind words!
She is really cute and lovely! I really adore your art work.
Really well done and keep going! I hope you create many many more! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
You are so darling…thank you for your encouragement and happy thoughts!
WTG for sharing, she is cute!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
she’s beautiful and looks so lovely in her frame!!
Thank you! I really appreciate your comments.
Oh I love her ! I love the blue white and tannish squiggles for her dress. and those eyes – just great
Thank you for your thoughts…I really do appreciate you stopping to comment! It’s so wonderful and nice!
I think the different media combine well and give her life! I think you’re on to a marvelous idea; keep exploring!
Thank you! I’m definitely excited to be able to combine different methods and just do it whatever way I see fit!
AEDM is such a supportive tribe! I’m exploring mixed media for the first time myself. I think you combined the various elements very nicely.
You are so right about AEDM…so glad to have joined in because it’s the little push I needed to explore and sort of find myself…
YES, its so “scarey” to share. but, i think you will find this group very supportive ive never seen a mean nor negative thing here.
It took me about 15 year to say”i am an artist” with a straight face and no giggle. i dont think you have that problem at all.
your queen is wonderful,original and very artistic.
thanks for sharing, and DONT STOP
Sherrie
sherrie, thank you so much for your encouragement and words of wisdom. i’m just starting out on my journey, but have already met so many wonderful supportive folks like you…thank you so much!
She is so expressive! Good work.
Thank you! I really like her expression…something worrisome, but still happy.
No need to be shy. She’s really cute
and I think you did a great job. I
love all the different techniques
you used.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate your thoughts!
She is very pretty. I love all the elements that you incorporated.
Thanks, Regina! It was a process to get through…but I had fun along the way definitely.
oh Linda thanks for being brave and sharing, she is wonderful!
Thanks Liz! I guess I’ve done my one brave thing for the day…whew!
Very cute, good job.
Thank you!
Hi Linda,
I see the worried look in your pretty queen, wow. It’s amazing how we do reflect our feelings in our creations.
It’s so sweet that you are sharing not only your art but your feelings, and no I don’t think that you are silly. Art is very important and it’s good for us, we love our creations and feel protective of them, and therefore vulnerable, it’s very natural to feel anxious. What has helped me relax,(if you are interested)is to create for myself, for my expression and my satisfaction.
Ciao
Hi Carmen – You are so right that my thoughts, worries, fears and excitement live in her expression. I love that art is an expression of who we are no matter what…it’s a great journey and definitely one way that I can reveal myself to others. Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement…you are right also that we have to do what we love for ourselves – the first motivation!
I’m loving what you’ve done with your adorable little princess. She’s beautiful. (And I agree that she does look worried and anxious, but it only adds to her charm, in my opinion.)
I love her watercolored hair (and I could totally see why you’d plan a series around that!), and most especially love her collaged crown with all the details. Lovely! I think adding in your digital skills was an inspired stroke. Congratulations
Thanks Meredith! You are so kind and I am now super excited to finish up the series so I can share the other girls (and fabulous hairstyles!) It’s funny how the crown sort of came of nothing…I was just cutting and not sure what would be the right thing. And it just suddenly appear in my random stream of cuttingness! hehe…
Isn’t that what artists do, pour their guts out on a page & show people?
She is quite charming, & her crown is divine. I think adding the collage & watercolor elements brings warmth & depth to the digital elements. Way to be brave!
M
You are so right…it’s something we MUST do…yet it’s so scary at the same time. Thanks for your encouragement, I really appreciate it!
Wonderful post! You’ve got like tons of great comments already so I am sure by now you won’t feel unsure about yourself in creating anymore ^^ The drawing is lovely, the mix media is brilliantly done. Can’t wait to see the next one
and oh yeah, remember to share! =)
Thanks Alex! You are right that the community sure helps even though one shouldn’t be dependent on such things…because the work comes from within after all… but it definitely helps I have to admit!
Thank you for your thoughts and I will definitely share the other girls of this series…they aren’t totally “made-up” yet…but soon they will be and I can trust in myself and my way of doing things.
She is so lovely and sweet! Definitely something that you should be proud of. I know that at first it can be quite intimidating to put our work out there, but once you embrace the idea of doing what you do and not trying to do what others do, the true beauty of your work comes through. I can see that with yours!
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom!
Linda, it is awesome! I love it!!!!! Oh it’s beautiful. I admire you for taking what’s in your head and putting it out there. Absolutely love it!
Thanks Micki! You are the sweetest!
I think she’s lovely. I love her crown. We should all get one!
embrace the mistakes
let life spill into the day
and then brace yourself!
Great words!
This is lovely! I liked the coloring and her expression. Thanks for sharing! <3
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my work!
Oh, Linda, she is beautiful. So sweet! I do love her expression. It’s great to read your about your process. I love that you’re showing your work even with your fear and excitement.
Leah
Thanks Leah! It’s so great to have all of you helping me along on my journey… grazie mille!
Ahhh she is lovely and shows that you have a great imagination combining all of the elements to create her. Well done you!
xx Em
Thank you, Emma! I appreciate your thoughts and comments!
very interesting. I relate to your words…the anxious feeling etc. I like the computer enhancements, and I love the way you have collagede too! Brave and successful
Good to know I’m not alone in this…thanks for your feedback!
good for you!!
Thanks Margie!
Oh..she has such a lovely soleful expression. That takes talent to get expression in a face. Wonderful!
So kind of you, thanks Maron! I really appreciate your feedback!
beautiful work!
Thanks a bunch!
Linda,
How wonderful and brave of you to share. Thank goodness for accidents. I’m learning that they can push us in directions we might not have gone. I love the expressive eyes in this piece. My attention goes right there. And I understand about the fear of sharing your work and wondering what others will think. It’s so nice to have this supportive community via Art Every Day. Keep up the great work.
It’s so true that sometimes accidents and mishaps can take us to great places…we just have to work with them, right? Definitely AEDM has a wonderful community, thank you all again! I can’t say it enough.
Lovely expression in her eyes! i love the textures and colors you used in this picture
the crown has beautiful details. You are a wonderful artist and I hope to see more soon!
Thank you Sarah! I really like playing with simple shapes to create different expressions. I appreciate your feedback, grazie!
Very creative! I like the way you use mixed media.
Thanks so much…definitely experimentation helps with exploration of new things!
Hi Linda,
She is absolutely gorgeous!!!!
X Bel
Thanks so much Bel! I really appreciate your thoughts!
Linda, I love your work. Brave adventure from a happy little accident. I love where those lead us into new places where it’s at first uncomfortable but then we grow from it and get more courageous! Love the expression on her face, there are so many ways you can look at her and “read” her depending on our mood for the day. Because we all read into artwork we appreciate and it becomes a life of it’s own in each viewers’ eyes. Love your work! Thanks for inspiring and sharing!
Thanks so much for stopping by and giving feedback. I appreciate it so much! You are so right that sometimes growing and learning can be uncomfortable and scary at first. I am so happy to share my experiences and hope to inspire as well!