My Creative Process

I realized the other day when K asked me what exactly I was doing when I said I was going to make a block print that unless you had an epic high school art program or were an art major in college you probably have no idea what I'm talking about.  Everyone has a different creative process, here is a little peak into mine...

First I have an idea, I know, duh you need an idea, but mine usually come to me while trying to fall asleep or driving, both are problematic for writing things down so I have to bank on my fabulous memory, or grab the pen out of my purse and hope for a red light so I can quickly scribble something that  vaguely resembles the english language, that I will then jog my memory to the idea I had.  When I remember an idea I had or can make out the less than ledgable srawl on the back of a Nordstrom reciept I write it down is an ledgable manor and in the format or style I might want it, usually on a sticky note or in my sketchbook

I then, write it out or sketch it out a couple different ways, more if the idea is vague and maybe only once or twice if I already had an idea of what exactly I want the final product to look like.  After the sketches, I pick the one I want and make the final version.  In this case, I had to measure the surface area I had to work with, measure out eaqual spacing for the letters, equal borders, letter thickness, etc. In this pic you can see the sketches from my idea and the final version with the spacing lines.

After I have the final version just right, I trace in onto a piece of tracing paper, maing sure to use a dull-ish pencil and to go over the lines a couple of times so there is a layer of graphite from the pencil.  After my image is on the tracing paper, I flip it over, graphite side down and place it onto the linolium. I use my lovely acrylic nails to rub the image onto the block, but most people use a spoon or something of that nature.  The vola! the image is on the block... for you linear thinkers and rocket scientists out there, yes the image is backwards, but when you print it on paper, it will print the proper way. 

After the image is on, I take a nifty block print carving tool and cut away everything I want to be white, or not inked on the block.  A finished block looks like this:

Finally you roll ink over it, I got tricky and put a little piece of paper over the heart, inked the block black, removed the paper and inked the heard red with a tiny brayer (brayer is a rolly thing that you use to spread ink onto a block), put a piece of paper, card, postcard, etc. on top, use a wooden spoon to press it down, and you get a fabulous looking print.  For those that don't know, yes it is supposed to be uneven, it gives it character and the homemade feel : )

 

For the record, this was inspired by One Way street sign that the Princess pointed out to me on her visit to the apartment with her baby, the Duke :)



Well that's all for now, more to come!

Ta ta loves!

I Love You More... My Way!

K had this brilliant idea that I use art to de-stress, like I used to back in college before I became an art major.  It was a brilliant idea, I know I should have thought of that one myself, but hey at least he point things like that out to me lol   On my lunch break, I went home, put on an episode of CSI and started creating.  Since I wanted the I Love You More Than College Football Saturday print, but am trying to save money, I made my own!  It turned out fabulous if I do say so myself. 

I also decided that since I was on a creative roll, I'd do one more, a preview of a potential christmas gift...

We all know how much I LOVE Nordstrom & the Nordy's sale, as do some of my girls so I thought it would be perfect... I think the gifts will end up being different colors that reflect the girls, but any TRUE Nordys love knows, the red bag means its the sale, so I went classic with mine : )

ETSY!!!!

I officially did it... I made my own little shop on Etsy.  It's called Brushes & Bobbins... unfortunately they don't allow ampersand in store names, so to find it go here! 

I'll also be adding this lovely washintonian themed piece during my lunch break, spread the word and buy art!

On another note, told my mom, more commonly known as Ms. Colleen, that I was going to make a quilt out of my old dance competition tshirts and that I also wanted to make one for Mak out of her cheer competition tshirts.  I also updated her on life, how I'm out of milk, watching SVU reruns and that I made my shop on Etsy (to which she replyed oh thats nice... i don't think she quite understands the concept...) anywho... after updating mom on the finer points in my life she says:

Mom: OMG sis (yes weird random fact, both of my parents and my siblings call me sis) you should make one of those quilts for Mak with her cheer stuff!!!
Me: Mom did you not hear what I just said
Mom: Yes I was listening, you said you were going to make one for yourself, I think you should make one for Mak to
Me: Mom I said I was going to make one for Mak already
Daddy in background: yea Colleen, she did
Mom: oh.. well great minds think a like!

oh mom... but yes I will be making one for myself and Mak (the lil sis @ Western Washington Univ.)  they will look very similar to my UW one, see previous posts :)

BTW a random lady at the coffee shop told me I look Parisian today in my Via Spiga cape and riding boots, maybe that will be my new thing, dressing for different fabulous cities I've never been to...

Ta Ta for Now!

Forever and a Year...

Yes, I know it has been quite the hiatus... like a year long hiatus... not ok, i know, i know, sorry!  Well quick catch up!  I am working at a Building Firm as a Marketing Coordinator, i LOVE it.  I get to be creative and anal at the same time (fits me like a glove).  This new outlet for creativity has got me hot to trot on making my own art again.  I am starting with a couple old favorites, going to make prints of the art and start selling on Etsy, thats right, I'm actually going for it, selling my work... we'll see how it goes haha. 

My Etsy shop is: BrushesBobbins  ... its is rather slim at the moment, but I promise I will bulk it up this weekend :)