In the meantime I wanted to share these two journal pages I did this past week. Although I [...]]]> I am working on a blog post listing my 10 favourite art supplies. I need to take some pics to jazz it up a bit and then I’ll post it, hopefully within a couple of days.

In the meantime I wanted to share these two journal pages I did this past week. Although I usually don’t plan my journal pages before starting, I do tend to work in a deliberate way where I think about something before I do it. With these pages, especially the second one I tried to ‘switch off’ that part of my brain that over-thinks things and makes conscious decisions. I literally just kept moving and grabbing the supplies that spoke to me.

You can click the images for full size.

It was actually quite an enlightening process. It wasn’t just a different way of creating, but I also felt very different about what I created. Afterwards I felt very.. I don’t know exactly, like the process had been cathartic. Usually I’m very critical of what I create: if I create something pretty that I like I’ll feel very proud, if I create something ugly or badly executed I’ll feel badly about myself. In this case neither positive nor negative judgements about the work came to mind, I just felt like I had expressed something that needed expressing but which I didn’t necessarily know consciously or verbally. That might also be a reason why the second page is much darker and more gloomy than I would ordinarily create if I were working ‘deliberately’.

I dunno, I hope this all makes sense and doesn’t sound like some kind of mumbo jumbo! If you’ve had any similar experiences I’d love to know about it. I really feel like art isn’t just about creativity and expression, but also about self-discovery and accessing the subconscious.

On another note, I just wanted to thank the handful of people who have left comments on my blog the past week or so (and also those people who visit but don’t comment). I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and interact, it’s very motivating and encouraging!

When I moved house (the first time, and the second time as well), I finally got an art desk. I’d wanted this for a long time: a dedicated space to do my art and leave [...]]]> After many many years (2, pretty much) of not creating any art videos, I finally made one again!

When I moved house (the first time, and the second time as well), I finally got an art desk. I’d wanted this for a long time: a dedicated space to do my art and leave all my supplies out rather than having to tidy everything away after doing art (which was very inhibiting). That did mean though that I couldn’t do any art videos anymore as I recorded them with my webcam which has to be attached to my computer (which is at my regular desk) to function.

I decided to get myself an ‘entry level’ camcorder. I didn’t want to spend too much money as I was not sure (and still am not, given my propensity to have fleeting intererests) if I’d stick with it. So I went with the Toshiba Camileo S20. The reviews were very good (for the price & size) and it does pretty much everything I need (although it doesn’t have an optical zoom which is the only real downside).

I’m still trying to figure out how to get the best angle on the art work. I have a small desk tripod (it came with the camera) which I used for this video. It came out alright but next time I would like to have the point of view a little more ‘face on’, so you can really see the details of what I’m doing. I’ll have to see if I can figure something out. Maybe a more sophisticated desk tripod would work. My art desk is in what is currently the storage room (we’re hoping to convert part of our house, so haven’t unpacked lots of boxes yet) so there isn’t enough room for a proper tripod. If you have any suggestions or tips I’d love to hear them!

Anyway, in the video below you can see me create this page in my art journal. I hope this is the start of more regular art video updates you’ll see from me!

As much as I enjoy painting I’m not that prolific creating it (not because I don’t want to, but usually because of self doubt and other such issues). [...]]]> I’m currently taking an online art class which is run by my friend Tam. It’s called World of Whimsy and it’s a lot of fun!

As much as I enjoy painting I’m not that prolific creating it (not because I don’t want to, but usually because of self doubt and other such issues). Beside a few sketches the below portrait is the first ‘finished’ piece I’ve created using the skills and techniques Tam is teaching. I absolutely love the shading techniques she uses, they’re quite easy and produce a subtle but nice effect.

I’m really proud of this one actually! The scanner hasn’t really done it justice though. Come to think of it, I really need to clean it, there’s a ton of dust and little specks on everything I scan.

I scanned it this time, rather than taking a picture of it and the colours are soooo much better this way. The only thing is, that scanning it in three parts and putting [...]]]> It’s been sitting on my desk for a few days, awaiting beeswax and I still need to paint the sides.

I scanned it this time, rather than taking a picture of it and the colours are soooo much better this way. The only thing is, that scanning it in three parts and putting it back together in Photoshop is worse than having your foot run over by a truck.

Painting is kind of like knitting (ya, rly). The actual process is fun, but then afterwards there are certain things you need to do to ‘finish’ it (like getting rid of yarn ends *shudders*) and those are just demotivating and result in having your painting sit on your desk for a week or your knitting forgotten in a bag somewhere.

Anyway, I’m totally babbling because I was waiting for the photos to upload.

So I’ve been thinking that I want this blog & site to be a bit different. OK I go [...]]]> Soooo I haven’t updated since August! I’m so bad at sticking with something (like blogging). I’m so good at starting stuff, just not great at finishing, it’s the story of my life I swear!

So I’ve been thinking that I want this blog & site to be a bit different. OK I go through a phase thinking that every so often and then fizzle out, but gosh darnit this time I’m serious! I think.. Soooo this blog post is gonna just incorporate everything that I was thinking this site will incorporate too, which is pure and undiluted ME. What else did you expect, right?

First of all, what has been happening in the life of Iris since August 2008? Well, I guess the most groundbreaking, earthshattering and interesting fact is that.. *drumroll* I got married! The lucky victim was (and is) Andrew, my boyfriend of 4 years. We got married in London on 31 October 2008.

We went on our honeymoon to Leicestershire (how exotic, I know) where we had rented a narrow boat. It was so peaceful and amazing. I would recommend this type of holiday to anyone. And even though we went in November and it was cold, that didn’t make it uncomfortable or anything. The weather was just part of it and we had some amazing days.

I did a bit of art while on the boat but haven’t taken pics of that yet, but I will soon. I just can’t stress enough how amazingly tranquil it was, SUCH a good place to get inspired and do art. It’s also nice to be in a place that doesn’t have the usual distractions of computers & the internet.

Now that we’re married we’re incredibly poor. *cries* I know I know, children in Africa are starving and I don’t know what the word ‘poor’ really means. It’s been good for us in a way though, because we’ve had to really evaluate what we spend, and what we can spend. Nevertheless, at certain times it depresses me a bit because going without luxuries, even though very doable, can be a bit of a dampener on our spirits. It also makes socialising very hard. People suggesting we go catch up with a drink/dinner, a friend of mine who has invited me to her wedding. Can’t afford to do those kind of things. Blegh, talking about it is making me feel sad, so I’ll just move on!

On January 5th it was my grandmother’s (if I recall correctly) 92nd birthday! Isn’t that amazing? As she doesn’t really need anything and we couldn’t afford anything, I made her a present! I created a painting for her.

Because of the ‘deadline’ (her birthday) this is actually the quickest mixed media piece I have ever done (2 evenings). I think that was really good for me, because it meant I had to just DO IT, rather than thinking about it for ages and ending up leaving it half finished in a drawer somewhere.

Apparently it made her cry profusely which was weird on the one hand and very touching on the other. I think maybe she thought it was supposed to represent me and my mother. I painted it having in mind a grandmother & granddaughter figure though (not necessarily me and her).

When it comes to work, work is just.. work. I wish I liked it more than I do. Just a bit of background, Andrew and I work together on our own video production business. He started it up about 2.5 years ago and I’ve been working full-time for the company for about 1.5 years. It is not my passion, nor what I want to do with my life, but I DO want to support Andrew and help build something for us. I just hope to figure out sooner or later what it is that I actually want to do. It’s all well and good knowing what you don’t want to do, but that still doesn’t help me find out what I do want to do. There are way too many do’s in that paragraph so I will stop it now.

This update is starting to become pretty epic so I think I will wrap it up, that way hopefully I will have something more to say when I update again soon.

No I actually like this piece, I just feel a bit crappy (and that taints my whole view of the world and [...]]]>

Pirate Girl, originally uploaded by rrreow.

ARRRRRR!! I am quite pleased with this one, apart from of course the mandatory acerbic self criticism and doubt that plagues me. *sigh*

No I actually like this piece, I just feel a bit crappy (and that taints my whole view of the world and everything in it) because I was sketching some faces and they didn’t come out very well.

I’m pleased with the way the skin turned out (this was done pre Suzi Blu’s class, so I feel quite proud) and the parrot. And I love the colour of the background. I feel like I could’ve improved on the layering on the background though, it all looks rather flat.

The idea for this painting started when I found a bunch of slides and wanted to do something with them. I sketched the girl and sheep when I was on holiday in Wales (how appropriate).

Materials used [...]]]>

I actually tried my hand at this ‘layering’ business. I’m pretty pleased with the result!

The idea for this painting started when I found a bunch of slides and wanted to do something with them. I sketched the girl and sheep when I was on holiday in Wales (how appropriate).

Materials used (LOADS! I’m sure I can’t remember all): Slides, plastic embellishments, acrylic paint, Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, tissue paper, beeswax, embossing powder, stickers, thread/wool