The Greatest Joy of All
When I was a child my treasure was a chalkboard. I also had 7 little plastic dwarf figures which were my pupils. When I got home after a shcool day I began to teach my silent dwarfs. I loved school and wanted to become a teacher.
But then, some years later, I heard about computers and that was it. I fell in love. I went to study computer science and my career in IT began. I do have taught IT professionals but nothing beats what I have been able to do lately: teach art!
Teaching is giving and there’s nothing greater than that. I have experienced big moments of happiness when creating art and it is wonferful if I can give even a small amount of that for others.
I created these two flying birds when leading a workshop called “Birds of Happiness”. We created not only birds but also bird themed decorative papers, feathers and bird’s nests.
(The photo by Askartelu Amalia)
All the elements were created by hand, using pens and colour pencils, watercolors and acrylic paints. I had made instructions for various elements but they were guidelines and everybody used their creativity for the end result.
We put the birds together in the end of the day and took pictures. I am so inspired by seeing how people have their own styles and how they express themselves while learning to let go and trust their inner voice. Plenty was done in only four hours.
I hope that in the future I could give you more with this blog, with my newsletter and with my services. The most importantly: bring you back in time when you were a child and wholeheartedly enjoyed creating. Giving that back to you would truly be the greatest joy of all.
Let me be your art teacher: Subscribe to my weekly emails!
Decorated Business Cards
I had run out of business cards, so I made some! I blogged about this idea a few years ago for the first time. This time I made it a bit simpler.
I took a business cards sheet and sketched circles here and there. Then I colored them with watercolors, leaving white background visible in some areas.
Then I used markers to add details. The white is from Copic White Pigment Jar, my newest purchase. If you have not found the perfect white pen yet (Uniball Signo Broad gel pen is my favorite so far), the Copic pigment is a great choice.
Here’s a close-up. Drawing these little doily type flowers with circles was so much fun!
Finally, I tore the business cards out from the sheet. Here’s a finished card.
I feel like I am repeating myself, but again: why buy when you can make it yourself?
Let me be your art teacher: Subscribe to my weekly emails!
Happy New Year 2014
With this overly doodled number, I wish you happy new year!
Doodling Idea
I made this image by making a roughly doodled collage that I scanned to the computer. Then I adjusted the colors and printed the photo. I made the size bigger than in the original.
Then I began doodling again. After doodling I adjusted some areas by coloring them with color pencils. I also added some collage pieces.
Finally, I scanned the collage again and adjusted colors in some areas.
This way I was able to add detail after another. I could have continued these steps over and over! Crazy – I know!
Let me be your mentor in art: Subscribe to my weekly emails!
Wrapping Paper from Newspaper
Did you know that newspapers are treasures? Neither did I before I began to wrap Christmas presents and realised that I had ran out of wrapping paper. I solved the problem by creating decorated gift paper from newspaper sheets!
Here’s the sheet in the beginning of the process.
I had three various reds of india inks which I used to color the background. Any ink would be suitable. And if you do not have ink, paint a thin layer using acrylic paints.
After the background paint was dry, I painted round shapes with gesso. If you do not have gesso, use white acrylic paint. Thin, even layers are better than thick and bumpy ones. Let dry.
Finally I took a correction pen, some markers and india ink to decorate the white areas.
Ironing makes the papers smooth and shiny.
I could not help making some more. I varied the shape of white areas to make different designs.
I was pretty pleased with all the three of them!
Who would have guessed these were just newspaper sheets in their previous lives!
