Still At It - Resin and Bezel Trays

I can only do so many at a time with all the steps involved and limited space on the tray I have to use to set these up on.

It's a definite and works quite well, sealing with Mod Podge first.  Two coats on the front and two coats on the back allowing drying time between coats.

After waiting at least 24 hours following the last layer of Mod Podge, I pour the resin over the front.  If I plan to place in a bezel tray, I do not flip and repeat on the back.  Not all will go into trays and with those, I will flip and repeat the resin pour and then while set but still pliable, I will drill a hole for a jump ring to be placed.

Resin pour, covering with dust cover, and allowing to set for twelve hours.

Top left - those I have sealed and still need resin.  Top right are still those I need to seal before doing anything else.  Top middle are those with resin I will probably flip and cover in resin for jump rings later.  Far left and far right of the key chains are my test pieces sealed using Matte Fixable Spray (which I will not use again due to how it darkens or changes the color of each piece) or one I didn't seal at all.  Key chains are being used as interchangeable frames for mini art.  For now I am not setting the miniatures permanently in each tray allowing me to change out other miniatures from time to time.

Method of Displaying.

First Full Drawing of 2020

Yesterday I actually started a fresh drawing in Procreate.  I worked another one days ago but was color only added to a line sketch I had previous done some time ago.

This is one of two in a set of collector dolls Terry gifted me at Christmas called Double Trouble.  I'll work on the little "brother" next.

Brush Tools Used:  Water brush, Airbrush Soft, Dry brush, Stipple brush, and Technical for the line drawing.

The subtle background is a combination of a canvas texture and crackle texture I created in photoshop elements and imported into Procreate.  I stacked the two patterns and used multiply to make each layer transparent for the texture look.






This other is the line drawing I finally decided to add color to.  A paper twist doll I made many years ago.

Basically the same brush tools minus the dry brush.  Added color to make a mini 2.5 x 3.5 print for magnets.  Background is a copy of a textured watercolor paper I scanned for this purpose and imported into Procreate.

Photo Key Chain Using Resin

Now this was more or less a success!  The trays can be added to key chains or other type hooks as zipper pulls or charms.

This is using one of the test pieces where I sealed the inkjet print with mod podge and then poured resin over it to create a nice dome.  For now it's just sitting in the tray as I await glue to arrive to put it in permanently.

Because I wasn't sure if I'd place glass over it in the bezel or add a resin dome, I had rounded the corners of the print.  Next time I will probably not round the corners unless I definitely plan to add the glass over the print.

I really like this resin that I purchased from little-windows.com.  It levels beautifully and crystal clear and smooth.  I was fortunate with the domed pieces as none had any bubbles to worry about popping or removing as it set (I must have done something right...lol).  Biggest plus............no odor.

Trial and Error with Resin - #2

This miniature inkjet print was "glued" to a piece of glass using resin as my "glue".

My initial plan was to add this to a bezel tray that the glass came with but decided instead to add a self-adhesive magnet (sheet) to the back.

As seen in the photo, there are gray spots either from bubbles I didn't catch or due to the fact I didn't seal the print first.  I won't know the answer to that until I repeat with a sealed print.  I think I already know the answer but need to verify that to be sure by trying again.

Results and what I think I should do with the next attempt:

Trial and Error with Resin

Another idea I'm working on is printing off tiny charm or jewelry size prints of my illustrations.  Mostly in bezel trays and some without.  I've never worked with resin so this is a work in progress with trial and error.

First try is printing off on Epson Ultra Premium Presentation paper miniature paintings about the size 1" x 1 3/8'  using my Christmas gift from hubby - Epson XP 15000 photo printer.  That's taking some playing as well as I learn what it can do on various papers.  The prints came out beautifully.

Next is using different methods of sealing the prints so that the resin doesn't cause the ink to bleed (to include a test seeing what happens if not sealed).

Two prints I chose to seal with Blair's Matte Fixable spray that I use all the time spraying graphite drawings and watercolor paintings on Aquaboard.  It has always worked great so I thought it would be perfect to seal the inkjet prints.  I notice they are taking on a darker tone.

Three prints I chose to brush on Mod Podge Gloss-Lustre-Lustre with the red label with two coats.  As hard as I tried to get a nice even coating, you could see slight brush streaks even after dry.

The resin I am using is from Little-Windows.com.  I purchased their starter kit to see if it would be something to continue with or go a different route.  Too soon to decide at this point but may be more involved than I care to deal with.

After mixing and pouring the resin over each, it didn't take long to start seeing the effects.

First Time Results:

I will not be using the Blair Fixable Spray as it darkens the paper turning it a buff color.

Those with the Mod Podge remained white and clear.  The brush streaks don't appear to be as noticeable but I'll have a better idea late tonight or tomorrow when I can examine it closely and under good lighting.

And forget skipping the step of sealing the inkjet prints.  The resin caused the ink to bleed giving the piece a pink tone and washed out image.

Mod Podge definitely wins this round.  I want to try Sakura 3D Clear Lacquer once it gets here :-)

Once the 12 hour waiting time is up, I want to repeat the resin on the back of the top three I'm using as experiments and then test out drilling holes at the top for jump rings.   The other three I will probably place in bezel trays I have to make keychains

Working With Previous Sketches and Paintings

One of the things I deal with from time to time is asking myself why I bother doing what I do.  I don't sell, show (well outside of sharing on the internet), or compete, but instead, do this for myself with the main reason being therapeutic in nature.  Sometimes, that reason is just not enough to keep me inspired or motivated.

There ARE times I will take something I've done and have it printed off to hang but I'm not real big on hanging pictures on the wall.  Or, I might upload to Shutterfly for coffee cups, key chains, or standing tiles for family gifts.  Other than that, my artwork resides inside journals sitting on a shelf.....seldom ever taken down to look at.

A dear friend shared what she does with some of her work.........creating gift and note cards.  She also makes photo charms (mini paintings in bezel trays and lacquered over) using hooks along with embellishments like beads, buttons, etc.  She finds ways to enjoy and share her work or display outside her journals.

Because I've been in such a funk with sketching or painting, I have struggled setting goals for 2020.  So in the meantime, I thought I could try and do something with what I've already created.  Maybe that might help inspire me into what I might want to do this year.

Inspired by my friend, I have decided to create note cards and magnets using previous illustrations I have sketched/painted in my journals (or Ipad).  Next I want to try my hand at taking printed miniatures and covering in resin (in or out of bezel trays).  Maybe then I can get past this "why bother" mode I'm stuck in and move forward :-)

This is just a very small sampling of the note cards I have created so far.  They are the size of RSVP or invitation cards.  I can use these for personal use and/or give as gifts.  The paper I am using is Hammermill Color Copy Cover 80lb weight paper.  I can fit two note cards per sheet of paper.  Envelopes and sleeves I found through ClearBags.com.

The magnets are being used to decorate file cabinets and personal size refrigerator/freezers we have.  They are ATC size (2.5 x 3.5") placed in magnetic photo sleeves.  Paper I'm using (for now) is Arches Infinity Museum Quality Digital Art & Photo Inkjet paper.  Unfortunately, it's no longer available, which is a major disappointment as I loved the texture of the paper and what I have always used for art prints.  My understanding is that Canson now sells similar paper but it's just not the same according to forums I've read where other people are in search for an alternative to their beloved Arches Infinity.  Thank goodness I have a couple/few boxes of this paper left.  As for the magnetic photo sleeves...........I used to get packages from Walmart but found others on Amazon I think are a little better quality.

Third Time's a Charm

Getting ready for Christmas and restocking our freezer, Terry made two trips to the grocery store.  First trip was to Winn Dixie (we like their meats better) and second trip to Publix.

Our freezer's drain plug had frozen up causing a build up of ice at the bottom and during the defrost cycle would leak out onto the floor.  We used up all that was in the freezer before turning the unit off to clear the ice and unplug the drain line.

Our grocery list was quite large and one item I needed was my butter spread.  I use something totally different from Terry plus he was baking cookies and needed stick butter as well.  First trip he forgets my butter spread but no biggee.........he can pick it up when he goes to Publix.  Second trip he forgets it again.  He made sure he had his and what he needed for baking so it's not like he wasn't already in the area where mine is located.  Needless to say, by this time, I was feeling a little agitated.  He had to make yet another trip but this time, not only did he get my butter, he also surprised me with this bouquet of flowers.  As he walks through the door, he says "third time's a charm."  Poof..........my agitated state was gone.......ha ha.

Tucked in this arrangement of flowers were four or five rose buds and one in particular called out to me to sketch.  I liked how one petal stuck out further than all the others.

Procreate sketch on a canvas background.

Birds at Feeders

Although we really don't have much of a winter here with plenty of bugs still hanging around and flowers still growing, we do get a lot of traffic at our bird feeders.  We can go for a long time between refilling the feeders during the summer but during the winter, it's like every other day or every two days.

One of our non-regulars is this guy.........what I've been able to identify as a Yellow Throat Warbler.

Another we don't normally see at the feeders through the summer months.  Various type finches to include this one.

Due to putting things away prepping for family time during the Holidays, I've been working on my Ipad.  I'm using the same three basic brush tools I find I enjoy using most.........Technical pen brush, waterbrush tool, airbrush soft tool.  I use these either placing color down, for blending, and for erasing.  In other words, I normal use the same brush tool blending and erasing as I do with putting down marks with.

Procreate drawings with a watercolor paper background.

Playing on My Ipad - Procreate

Any time I want to escape for a long period of time, all I have to do is grab my Ipad and work with Procreate.

When I sketch in a journal or sketchbook, I feel free and don't worry too much about getting everything perfect.  But when I work in Procreate, I am with a different mindset.  For me it's an alternative to oil painting which I cannot do for various reasons.  I guess for me.......the Ipad is more like a canvas for more formal work versus the sketchbook.

Digital painting for me takes a lot of time due to how I work.  I work in MANY layers with little rough marks at a time blending as I go.  I work on small sections at a time and each layer has the different values of colors.  And I use small brush sizes which also takes a bit of time to fill in areas with how I work.

In the time I take to work something like this, I sit and study what I've done already and where I might want to go next.  I'll do a rough line drawing on a separate layer trying out placement of different things to see how it might fit in with what I've already done.  In other words I plan as I go.

This took several hours and I enjoyed every second of it.  I was in no hurry and my mind was lost in what I was doing and that at times is a Blessing :-)

This Year's Christmas Card

After sketching and painting a few other of our plush tree ornaments, I decided to put these guys together for a Christmas Card.  These have been a lot of fun to work with.

FIbook75x75 / Lamy pens with Doc Brown ink / Stonehenge Aqua / DS watercolors

This is my wish for everyone viewing, to have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.  To be safe during travels; to enjoy without a lot of pressure or stress; to embrace this time with family and friends.  For those who are alone and may not be able to spend time with family or friends...........just know that there ARE people out here who think of you and send warm heart-felt wishes your way!

Mixed Media - Graphite Sketch Plus Digital Coloring

I thought I would play a bit with the last pencil sketch I worked of the standing fabric pencil cup.  Not wanting to add actual color to the sketch, I decided to import into Procreate, add color, and export back to my computer.  Now I have both a graphite sketch untouched by color and a color version either for digital viewing or printing off and adding to the journal.

First thing I did was erase all the writing.  Added color in layers and then inserted a photo I took of a blank page in a handmade sketchbook with rough textured paper.

One of the things I love about procreate is the blending of colors.  In ways it's like working with oil paint without the mess and fumes.

Standing Soft Travel Pencil Case

A new pencil case that stands on its own.  Second type I've tried and I love them both.  This one has the top portion that slides down into an open cup for easy retrieval of contents and then slides up to close with zipper.  Love the variety offered with colors and patterns.  I prefer these over glass jars or coffee cups I tend to use.......always fearing I'll knock one off the table and it shatter.

Purchased from Jetpens.

Quick pencil sketch in Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook using Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil .7 (gifted to me by my sons for my birthday in Oct).

Carved Santa Ornament

Last year my youngest son, Travis, went on a service call where the lady had several of these out on a table that she had made.  During the time he was there, he showed a real interest in her carvings and talked about art mentioning I sketched and painted and have for years.  He shared where I started out painting on wood and gradually changed course into what I do today.

When he was finished with the work he had to do, the lady gifted him (as a special thank you) with two Santas........one an ornament and one free standing to sit on a shelf.  She sent two so that he could give me one.

Travis gave me the shelf sitter and then the ornament as his gift to me to keep as a set.  I absolutely LOVE these hand carved Santas!!!  Something I might like to explore to learn to do on my own.

Although I've sketched these carvings before (last year), I wanted to do so again as a graphite sketch. 

I wasn't sure if I wanted to add color because I wanted it to look like a graphite sketch and maintain a rustic look.  I feared messing it up adding color.  I mulled over that decision throughout the day and then decided to go ahead and do so reminding myself if I did the sketch once, I could do it again if I needed to.

Because the ornament is the main topic, I chose to only emphasize it with color and leave the hand alone.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / Pental Graphgear 1000 .07 mechanical pencil / DS watercolors

New Golf Cart

Several of our neighbors have purchased golf carts to ride around in the neighborhood.  It's common in The Villages here in Florida but not so much in the other areas that are not designed as retirement communities.  The Villages is a self contained, very large retirement community (made up of several different style villages, actually) where people use their golf carts to go everywhere to include shopping.  They have dedicated lanes to drive, which is really unique.

Those here in our neighborhood basically just use theirs to get out and ride around our neighborhood.  We've been considering one and finally took the plunge and purchased this green one.............perfect size for my miniature bears.

Tried to sketch it finding it very difficult to get the perspective right.  No big surprise to me as that's one area I struggle with and I doubt will ever change.  I get lucky once in awhile but for the most part, I'm always off somewhere.   I came close to just giving up on it but stuck it out until I at least achieved what you see here.  By the time I inked in the lines, I was kind of bored messing with it wanting to call it done but decided to at least add some color to the bear. 

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / DS and QoR watercolors / Lamy with Doc Brown ink

December Challenge Between Friends

I was struggling with a challenge idea for December.  I had several written down on post-it-notes but all entailed a lot of thinking before jumping in.  With my going through this sketching lull, I didn't feel I had the energy to put so much thought into or be creative. 

After working the one ornament yesterday, I came up with the idea to sketch 3 to 6 items related to Christmas.....either as individual doodles or put together in a setting or composition.  I chose putting several together that told a story using another of the plush ornaments I have on the tree as my model.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / Lamys with Dark Green, Dark Red, and Doc Brown inks

Plush Christmas Ornament

Trying to get back into sketching, the ornaments on my tree came to mind as possible inspiration.  There are six plush ornaments that have little sacks you can place goodies or money in.  This is one that jumped out at me right off.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / Lamy with Doc Brown ink

Amazon Just Not the Same

For over the last two decades, my number one shopping source has been Amazon.  I bought practically everything through them from clothing to electronics to art supplies to household items and appliances.....as well as monthly grocery subscription items.   I would compare prices with other places and for the longest time found the prices were cheaper through Amazon.  Well it's no longer the case.

It used to be you could count on their Guaranteed Delivery dates minus UPS, USPS, or FedEx mix-ups but that too is no longer the case.  On the item page you might see you can count on delivery by a certain date only to learn AFTER placing the order that the dates are not as initially stated.

Used to be their customer service bent over backwards to work with their customers.  Now you basically get "oh so sorry for the inconvenience, BUT...."

Used to be if an item turned up lost in the mail or damaged, they would get a replacement right out to their customers.  That too is no longer the case.

Scams...........it happened to me this year where I ordered food storage containers only to receive a broken pencil.  Reached out to Amazon Customer Service and they did provide a return slip only for the return to be rejected and the broken pencil sent back to me.  I'm sure not all Marketplace vendors are untrustworthy but how do you know until you've been burnt who you can trust and who you can't.  You can't even go by company reviews.

Knockoffs..........again from experience ending up with what I thought was the real deal only to learn it wasn't.

Reviews cannot be trusted either.  I've learned that there are companies who have found multiple ways of generating fake reviews in their favor.

Used to be you could count on your items being packed well but now you're lucky to get a crumpled up piece of packing paper or a couple pillow packs stuck in the box.  And it's unreal the wastefulness of the company and their marketplace vendors sending out small sized items (often a single item at that) in huge boxes where contents bounce around during shipping.

As for paying the Prime membership.........I seriously wonder if it's worth it now that I fear placing orders through them.  I initially went with Prime because of the free shipping as it was worth it for a long time.  BUT, all other places do offer free shipping with minimum dollar orders that are easy to reach.  All the other benefits of Prime, I really don't use enough to warrant the high price, so why should I continue.   It keeps going up and yet their service continues to go downhill.  Something I'm going to have to really consider.

My latest attempt has been totally screwed up.  From one order, it was split up into several packages.  Three items were packaged together and shipped out only for an email sent to me the day it was to be delivered that the package was being returned to Amazon without a definitive reason.  Said I'd get a refund within 2-4 days after they receive the return but when will that be???  Another item was packaged by itself and managed to make it to me...a day late, mind you...yippeee!  And I'm still waiting on several other items that were supposed to be delivered on the 11th and I get a message they are running late.  Said I could cancel the order if not received by a certain date but they left the date off.  I go to cancel those items and I get an email saying cancellation failed and that they were in the middle of being processed and sent out.  Seriously???!!!!

I'm honestly afraid to shop Amazon anymore .........which is really sad.  I guess they've become too big and just can't handle things like they used to.  They don't appear to screen or care who sells through them because in the end, they get their commission.  As for customer satisfaction as it used to be..........the company is so big now that it doesn't appear to be of importance.  So sad to see quality and reliability become so diluted as it has with its growth.

The good news...............for places like Best Buy, Walmart, and the likes.......they are starting to regain customers from what I'm reading.  I'm definitely not alone in my disappointment and feelings..... more and more people are experiencing the same and worse.  At least with these other places, you can actually walk into a store or physically talk to someone in customer service or return without a lot of hassle (until their policies and service change.)

November Challenge - Winter Season

This month the challenge between myself and my friend overseas has to do with the Winter season.  Changes in temperature, foods we might eat this time of year, clothing we might wear, activities we might be involved in, holiday preparations, etc.

Winter Season to me means (or should mean) cold fresh air, beautiful autumn colors before the trees turn bare, relief from summer bugs and mosquitoes, the threat/anticipation of snow, the smell of wood burning in wood stoves and fireplaces, fixing hot chocolate and eating foods (stews, soups, etc.) to warm your insides, ..... all of which go hand in hand with back to back Holidays starting in October.  Unfortunately, it's not that way for me now and hasn't been the last six years.

For us there's not much change and I have a real hard time with the season and holidays. 

We don't really dress very differently except maybe throwing on a long sleeve shirt or light weight jacket.  We don't fix different meals you might with cold weather moving in.  Flowers continue to bloom and trees remain green (at least where we are).  Mosquitoes and all sorts of flying and crawling critters are the daily norm.  I avoid going out as I don't care for the craziness of holiday shopping or seeing Christmas decorations that just seem out of place here.  I don't even look forward to putting up a tree, nor do I set out all the decorations I used to.  Too much trouble for decor that just doesn't fit.

With all that said, I decided to work a page about some of what I miss by living in a subtropical climate....illustrating a new ornament representing one aspect of Christmas in Florida and how it contrasts with everything I associate with this time of year...........it just doesn't feel right :-(

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / QoR and W&N watercolors / Pilot Vanishing Point with Lexy Grey ink.

Bougainvillea Planting

A couple years ago we purchased this bourgainvillea that is different from a huge one growing in the front yard.  The one in the front has more reddish color flowers whereas the one we purchased produces purple.  Plus the flowers or bracts are shaped a little differently.

For awhile it was sitting in its original pot on the back patio until the canopy grew too large to get around.  Trying to make a decision where to place it permanently on the property, we sat it in the back corner outside of the sunroom.  And there it sat since we just couldn't make up our minds.

With the passing of time, the tree's roots pushed through the bottom of the pot to include a large feeder root making the decision for us.  We were afraid of what might happen if we cut that main root or ripped up the smaller roots growing in the soil.

We thought maybe digging under the pot and the root might work by lowering it into the ground when the idea came to us to instead work the ground up around it.  That way we wouldn't have to worry about stress or shock to the tree.  The pot was easy to cut away and now the tree is permanently in it's spot without fear of damage.

We love how this was trained as a single braided trunk versus the one in the front that is more of a large shrub branching out in various directions.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / QoR watercolors / Lamy pens - Dark Green, Dark Red, and Document Brown

New Fountain

We've been working outside (Terry works and I supervise.....lol)......little by little reworking the garden bed in front of the house for months.  We took out several overgrown shrubs that were crowding the area where we plan to set up large pots to house flowering plants.  The pots will hopefully help with minimizing maintenance where we're just getting too old to be down on our hands and knees trying to weed and whatnot with plants growing directly in the ground.

One of the additions to the front is a fountain placed in front of our bay window.  It's been a gorgeous last few days with the temperatures finally dropping around 80 during the day.  It's been breezy as well helping with all the bugs........especially mosquitoes that do not care if day or night to be out.

Sketched this over a period of the last few days representing the fountain.  Great exercise in working ellipses.  For the granite look, I only made enough marks to suggest the texture.  Finally finished this morning.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / QoR watercolor / Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils / Lamy with Doc Brown ink.