CATCH AS CATCH CAN

When I say I'm catching up, it sounds like I've been delinquent in my self-imposed, creative responsibilities, although that's hardly the case.  I have been working on projects everyday except for 10 days of travel to and from California.   For Jane LaFazio's Sketchbook and Watercolor class I completed all but half an assignment.
Despite all my whining, I got a lot from the class and highly recommend it when it comes around again in March.

What's really kept me busy and excited with no end in sight is another Joggles class I took  that began while Jane's was wrapping up.  I've been wanting to learn more about mixed media so I enrolled in Sara Whitmire's Paperbag Book.  Do take the time to check out the class link because no matter how I try to describe the project, I'd fall short.  Basically we constructed a book from paperbags and then decorated with a theme using various techniques and products (my paperarts stash got a jump start!), then created all kinds of hiding places for little treasures.

I did not go for a Christmas theme, worrying I might not finish in time.  I'm still working on three books.  The most fun for me was finding theme stuff, much like a treasure hunt.  One book, the closest to completion, is a gift for a mushroom hunting friend.  I was able to find pictures of antique botanical prints, vintage European postcards, tons of mushroom lore, mushroom art, mushroom fabric, mushroom buttons, and  I'm working in wonderful woodsy colors.  As you may suspect, the morel of my story is I can't stop!

I'm also making two books in pink, the intended recipient's favorite color, with a French theme.  I'm using pink & hot pink in both cases, one accented with grey, silver & black and the other with, oh la la, chocolat.  They are going to be delicious, and I will be working on them a little or a lot each day, as I've already cached supplies and pink frou-frou.

You may have noticed from the badge that I had the temerity to sign up for the Sketchbook Challenge.  I know, I know, but it'll pressure me to draw.  I am in Week 2

of  Strathmore's Visual Journal Workshop I, which is free and online.  This is what I made for the first week.

The assignment was to recycle previous art into a collage.  You can probably recognize bits of TAST samplers, CQ blocks, the creature doll I made.  Some of those pieces used recycled material in the original work.  The water lily is from a watercolor painting I did about 20 years ago.  I'm still working on the second assignment which uses graphite pencil, oil pastels and gesso.  I'm not too happy with results thus far, but I have faith it may be salvageable.

And that where I am to date, happily dabbling in new mediums and techniques.

SKETCHING WITH JANE LA FAZIO

I don't know how to draw!  There, I've said it.  I feel like a book club member who confesses she's illiterate.  I never learned to draw.  I know it is an acquired skill that takes careful observation, patience and practice, lots and lots of practice.  I don't think I ever wanted to learn (well, there were early issues, but we won't be visiting them), never really thought I needed to learn to draw.   I scribbled when I had to and got it over with as quickly as I could.

I began this blog as a journal of my creative endeavors.  I took a Joggles class from Sharon Boggan called Studio Journals: A Designers Workhorse.  As with any Sharon B enterprise, I highly recommend it.  I'm actually still working through the course and have several art journals going and new interests in mixed media and paper arts.  Cutting to the chase, these working art journals contain scribblescrawlies where there should be nice sketches.  No one will ever see them, but I'd like them to look more, more...  artful.

When Joggles published their fall class schedule I discovered this:
Sketchbook & Watercolor:  Journal Style with Jane LaFazio.

Be inspired to record your life, a special trip, or your daily adventures in a loose, quick journal style format. Jane will guide you through basic drawing, inking and a straight forward intuitive approach to painting with watercolor.

You’ll start with simple objects and progress to vignettes then vistas to draw and paint, and journal your thoughts and impressions on journal size watercolor paper. She’ll encourage you to take a little time to just sit and absorb the beauty around you, sketching and journaling your thoughts impressions right onto the same page.

This 6 lesson class is geared for beginners, but all levels are welcome. Everyone has their own drawing style, just like handwriting, and Jane will help you see and then record that on paper in a friendly, positive and creative way.

Guess who marked her calendar for the October 14 starting date???
I took an earlier class from Jane and have been following her blog ever since.  She is not only an excellent teacher, she is a gifted and versatile artist.  There was no reason for me to have misgivings about the class (except maybe draw-ing!!!!).  Every time Jane posted a lovely watercolor sketch with mention that she was preparing for the class I would gasp, then despair, for that is exactly the style I'd like to learn and I have serious doubts about my capability to do so.  A few days before Oct 14 I made the decision to register.  My shaky finger hovered over the confirm button quite a while before pushing -- a leap of faith moment.