Sunday, June 28, 2026

Artful Sunday

This week passed rather quickly.  But I did get some work done on my altered books.  One of them is quickly nearing completion - and I think I avoid working on it for that reason. 

I have been saving the fortunes from my fortune cookies - well some of them. I like to add them to a page for content.   I thought this one was perfect for the inside cover of one book. 
It says "You are loved. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
The image is one of my AI creations that I printed and collaged on the inside cover. 
The facing page is just covered with tinted gesso right now. I will certainly be adding something. 
Here are two more pages that I gessoed while I was using the gesso.

I really like using the gesso with a few drops of paint to make an interesting background. 

Here is one that has been done for a while but I don't think I have shown it. 
The quote or something similar is attributed to Picasso.  I thought that was appropriate for my hand stamp - too many fingers, a subtle nod to Picasso.  A friend mentioned that the facing page looks a bit like a face. Do you see that?
Next is a two page spread with gessoed background and ATCs as the content. 
I confess that I had to go back and relearn how to draw the central design  on the upper left card. 
Now I had drawn many variations on that which will surely turn up in a later post. 

Finally here is a wish for you in the fortune. 

(Your dreams will come true.) 


Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Sunday in the art room

More page layouts from the altered books in progress.
Above an AI image I created collaged onto a gessoed page

Above Hieroglyphics I created on a gessoed page

Above, A tangle pattern that I collaged onto a gessoed page.
FYI,  rather than have plain "boring white" gesso,  I add a few drops
of acrylic paint to the gesso to color or tone it. 







Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Friday, June 19, 2026

Friday FaceOff Altered Book with ATCs

It is a delight to be revisiting my older artworks as I create altered book pages. I  am also revisiting drawing tangle type designs using pens and other marking tools.  For these two pages, I used ATCs from my older works. 

Interestingly the bottom one  reminds me of one of my art quilts.
It is different but somehow similar.
I think my past always adds into my artistic well of inspirationo
Linking to 



Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Altered book pages with ATCs

While I am still working on my first altered book,  the second one is coming along nicely also.  I am not good at waiting for things to dry, so the second one gives me  bit more time to play before I have to walk away as both of them dry. The second one started out as "Getting to Know Nature's children" (the muskrat and salmon edition.)  Mostly it was dull, there is one lovely two page photo that I may leave except for some embellishment to the photo. 
However, for today I will show you two pages that I covered with painted papers and then added some of my ATC stash onto it. It was difficult to decide which ATCs to use, but these two matched the colors nicely, I think. 

The face was done using a stamp that I carved. (it is a self portrait stamp.)  I colored it with Sharpie markers.  I still have the stamp so I can possibly add one to each altered book I make as a type of signature. 
The ATC on the facing page was just fun doodle work. (or should I say "doodle play"  hmmm?) 

You may see some bits of red on the upper side edges.  That was an "oops" when I was playing 
with acrylic inks. I have decided to leave it as an artifact of the process.

Linking up to Sunday in the Art Room.


Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Pens on Paper

I have been trying to fit in a little art work during the times I stay with Mom.  I have found that a sketchbook and some pens seem to work well as I can sit in the living room with her as I work.  

I have been using Micron pens and brush markers -it is purposefully limited so that I don't have a lot to corral when I need to stop.  I have both a regular sketchpad and a mixed media pad that I am using. 
Both of pieces I am showing today were made in the mixed media sketchbook. 

First up is a face - for the Friday Face Off.
I started with one of the larger nibs of the micron pens.  Then I went back
with the brush pens and added color.
If you look closely there is a lot of design in the hair area.  I do wish I had
taken a photo before adding the color.  (next time, maybe) 
Her skin with the brush pens was blotchy (more than it is now! You hush!)
At home, I used some Inktense pencil and water to smooth it out as 
best I could. 

Next up is a black and white creation.  
I didn't want to risk messing him up with color.
I may photocopy it and then play with color on it. 

He actually has a face of sorts also.  
I had no plan when I started this one, but he sort of called to me.
I did the head part first - not planning a head or ahead.  
But I saw a face and couldn't resist making it into a creature. 
I suspect Nicole will enjoy this one.

Happy Friday Folks!

                                                       Linking to the Friday Face Off.

Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 

                                                                    
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible.
 Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. 
  Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sunday, June 07, 2026

ATCs and an Altered Book Page


I have been playing with ideas for my altered book -errr...books since I have started a second one. 
After doodling on one page, I remembered that once upon a time I made lots of ATCs (artist trading cards.)  They had to be somewhere since I made many more than I traded.   Looking around,  there they were in an old wooden cigar box.  I missed the last FFO (Friday Face Off.)  So here is one that I found in my stack of cards. Do you see a face?


There were some cards that were larger than ATC size.  I found one that paired nicely with another standard size one.  Both were place on a page where I had glued in a "roll off sheet" - i.e. where I roll my brayer to remove paint from it.  I have been using an old training manual on Leadership as a roll off book."   I really liked how this page looked so I used it as the background. I purposefully created torn edges  before I glued it onto the page.  Then I glued the two cards onto it.  
I really like this layout. I am sure that more of my ATCs will show up in future layouts. 


FYI,  If I am missing your posts, I apologize - The feed for blog reader is acting up.
They are not showing in my reading list. I know that others are having the same issue.

Until Next Time,  
Stay Creative 


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.