Music To Dreamscape By

Krista and I met online because we both love Dreamscaping. I am honored she chose Dreamscape No. 343 as the cover art for her newest CD!

Krista’s Dreamscaping music, softly playing in my last two alcohol ink art instructional DVDs: Level 2 Alcohol Ink Dreamscaping and Piñata On Ceramic Tiles, creates a relaxed atmosphere. 

The state of heart and mind we find ourselves, is often revealed in our art. Feeling rushed, pressured, nervous, uptight, anxious or even angry? Consider listening to music to help lead the way to a state more conducive to creativity and free flowing art.

Listen to Krista’s newest CD: Dreamscapes Sampler

For CD Pricing Info:  Click Here

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Travel Lightly When Dreamscaping

Leave any extra baggage behind

 

Why I Love John C. Campbell Folk School

Over 300 DVDs Have Sold!

Over 300 Alcohol Ink Dreamscaping DVDs Have Sold!

                             

I so appreciate the feedback I’m receiving from people who have bought my DVDs and are practicing the Dreamscaping Process. These artists are creating art they’re pleased with and art that is selling well online, at exhibitions and at shows. Many are teaching what they’ve learned and gaining their own following.

Dreamy Falls
©Alexis Bonavitacola

While they may have started out with my DVDs, their own personal styles are emerging. Many have incorporated their own discoveries and are making their own contributions, introducing new ideas and techniques creating their own unique art.

Here are just a few, click on these artists’ names to see their work:

Alexis Bonavitacola

Ann McCullough

Constance Airing

Colleayn Klaibourne

Stacy Wills

Linda Powell

Leslie Franklin

Kathy Barclay

Lois Bittner

Charlotte Safewright

Katherine Smith-Schad

Billie Crain

Jane Steelman

Donna Burrell

Michelle Edwards Hudson

Michelle’s comment made my day:

In seeking a more vibrant & saturated medium, I was fortunate enough to come across a preview of June’s level 1 DVD of which I now have, as well as level 2 . I have been reinvigorated and re inspired with the fluidity and organic imagery that AI allows. Early on in my art endeavours & teaching watercolours, I could never have been accused of being an abstractionist, but with June’s gentle encouragement to release inhibition and to listen to intuition, I find my collections have really developed into a much truer expression of my artwork.

Over 412 members have joined the Alcohol Ink Art Facebook Group since it  began last fall. Many AIA members are sharing their own methods, quite different from mine. Others, while creating awesome work, don’t have a blog or website….yet To see their creations and learn more about this fascinating medium, request to join: Alcohol Ink Art Facebook Group

Let’s Keep Dreaming

Do You See The Difference…

In These Two Paintings Of Florence?

Florence Before

Florence After

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After I completed Florence, I put her away for a few days. When I  looked at her again with fresh eyes, I thought she needed a little “pick-me-up” of some kind.

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A  soft-edged, subtle, background, diagonal wash…

seemed to help .

Other Surfaces For Alcohol Inks

I’ve used alcohol inks on Yupo and ceramic tile, but there are members in AIA who are getting  amazing results experimenting with different substrates. Here are just a few:

Stacy Stall Wills Using Clay Board

Billie Crain Using Copper Simple Leaf, 5″ x 7″

Kim Peto Using Aluminum, 16″ x 20″

Jeanne Caruth Rhea Using Deep Cradled Panel 30″ x 30″

Come meet these artists and many more by requesting membership in Alcohol Ink Art Facebook Group.

Come join 378 others in AIA and learn more about this fascinating medium:

Alcohol Ink Art

Celebrating My Mom

I first began trying to sell my art in the mid-90s. Several framed photos and watercolors with quotes had been in a gift shop on consignment for about 6 months with none selling.

I was beyond discouraged on the day I opened the envelope from Bittersweet with a check reflecting the sale of 3 photos. I phoned my mom to tell her of my success. She celebrated with me. That first sale had been just the boost I had needed to keep me going.

When I visited my parents a few weeks later, I was shocked to see those three framed photos hanging in the hallway of their home.

I turned to her accusingly, “It was you!”

She laughed, “I can buy your work if I want to!” 

And soon had me laughing along with her, feeling very loved.

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Celebrating my Mom.

She was strength and joy, fun and laughter.

http://www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com/obituaries/Sabra-Plymale/

Florence, The Special One

If you’re keeping up with my Facebook Page, you know my latest fascination with Edward & his four lady friends

Edward & his friends: Marilyn, Margaret, Floosie and Florence, “Flo” to her closest friends, live at John C. Campbell Folk School and I am loving getting to know them through camera lens and paintbrush.

I was delighted to get this reference photo of Florence and have spent the day working on her portrait. She is an Ameraucana and the special one of the group. Maybe because her eggs are a pretty, mint green.

I’ve not yet been accepted into her inner circle to call her “Flo,” but I think she is considering it as she finally posed for the camera. Up until the two photos above, she has pretty much ignored me.

Here is the watercolor of Florence, last, but certainly not least of Edward’s Four. Portraits of Edward and the others are in my Daily Paintworks Gallery.

I’ll share most of the process of this painting over the next few posts. As usual, the first thing I do after the sketch is experiment with colors I want to use, this time, with Florence’s approval, of course

Edward and his friends are making my Spring a happy one!

Hoping for a happy Spring for all!

 

 

WC Process For “Busy About Her Business”"

Busy Wren – Basics & Background

In my January 1, 2013 post, I shared the 2012 stats for my blog and mentioned an upcoming return to watercolor. We’re entering the second quarter of the year. My 3rd DVD, Piñata Alcohol Inks On Ceramic Tile DVD is now available at a $19.95 intro price which includes six demonstrations along with all the basics to work on and seal glazed ceramic tiles. I have a sense of completion and the timing seems right to turn my energy and focus to explorations in watercolor and water media.

While I will continue to play in alcohol inks as they are quite relaxing, freeing and fun, and occasionally showcase some outstanding work by artists who have purchased my alcohol Ink Dreamscaping DVDs, it’s time for me to do a little dreamscaping in watercolor. Let’s begin with the basics and background of one of my newest and cathartic, (dreamscaping can be cathartic) watercolors, Busy About Her Business.

Basics

I used Daniel Smith’s Extra Fine Watercolors: Mostly, Hematite, Tiger’s Eye, Genuine, Sedona Genuine, Purpurite Genuine with accents of Turquoise Genuine, Amozoninte Genuine and Rhodoninte Genuine. Also used Maimeriblu Raw Sienna.

I worked on 140 lb. Fabriano CP using sable and sable blends flats and rounds. The background and gourd were painted loosely and quickly using Winsor Newton granulation medium and a lot of dreamscaping, dropping  and guiding. The next few posts will show some of the process steps. Below, you will see where I began by masking some of the details.

Now, The Background

Here is the reference photo for Busy About Her Business.

I took this reference photo while in Virginia visiting my mother Spring of 2011. I have fond memories of the two of us sitting around her kitchen table in front of her sunny picture window watching this busy, Carolina Wren build her home. I took about 50 photos while we laughed at her antics of going in and out. In and out. Talk about a purpose driven life

We didn’t know it then, but that turned out to be the last spring we would sit around my mother’s kitchen table. Nov. 2011 brought with it a move into longterm care. My mother’s house has recently sold. That chapter has ended.

Is there any wonder this painting set-up felt more like a healing station for me? As I worked, I heard my mother’s laughter and felt the sun and the joy and the urgency of this little wren, fully present, busy about her business. She was so intent on building her life as each of us are so intent on building ours.

I am thankful to have my mother’s kitchen table, to touch the smooth oak and feel the memories made around it. So thankful for the joy shared and rekindled in the painting of this unassuming, little Carolina Wren…the gateway for me hearing my Father once again sing, Precious Memories, How They Linger…

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Anything calling to you to be painted?

Consider following where it wants to lead.

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May Each Of You Have A Spring To Celebrate & Remember.

Time To Watercolor

Recently, I was exploring around John C. Campbell Folk School Campus with my camera and found inspiration when I ran across a Plein Aire Weekend Watercolor Class.

It’s turned cold in these NC mountains the last few days making the desire to paint outside diminish, but not the desire to wet my watercolor brushes.

Feels good….for this…

To turn to this…

To turn to this: Busy About Her Business

12 x 15 , Fabriano 140 lb CP

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Stay tuned for the story behind this image and a little of what happened in between