Scrap bits

Mini Art

My art & painting has taken a bit of a back seat lately, which does happen sometimes, especially around the busy holiday time, but I always come back to it at some point. I have found that I like to work with small canvases. The small size is not as intimidating as a big canvas, so it's easier to start. And once i get started, that's all I need! I can work on a bunch of these at a time, putting aside one to dry and working on another.  It's similar to working in my art journal: they feel like one of my pages.

Here is some "Mini Art" pieces. These small canvases measure 6x6, and come ready to hang with finished edges. Each piece is signed and titled on the back.

Here are a few I have completed recently;

They can be displayed on their own, on an ease, or displayed in a series.I will be listing these for sale in my Etsy shop once I get some more photographs. I will let you know when they are up and available.

Here's a bunch I had for sale at my art shows this past summer, displayed on a board attached to my easel.

I also do some really teeny canvases: part of my "Three Little Words" series, which I still have to photograph and post here for you. Those will be added to the shop as well.

Have you ever worked in a small (mini) format? Sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone, especially when it comes to your art. Who knows? You may find something you really enjoy!

Free Art for you!

Here is another free download. It is Free Download Friday after all- so today; you get two!. This one is from Bonnie at Going Home to Roost.

How sweet- wouldn't this look cute in a baby's room?

Pop on over to her blog for the download link.

A Few more Art Prints in my Shop

I posted a couple more art prints in my Etsy shop today. These stones are my new favorite!

My art prints for sale at ImageKind

I signed up for an account at Imagekind. This website will sell your photography and prints and take care of all the details. Order the print you want and pick your size. You can also order it framed, matted or even printed on canvas.

Check out my storefront

I still plan on adding more photos to my Etsy shop as well. I will let you know here when that is updated.

Talk soon,

Tanya

The Sketchbook Project 2011- Here is my cover.

I separated my interior pages of my sketchbook as detailed here. I thought a lot about what to do with the cover. My theme is "I'm sorry I forgot you"- with the idea that I would be finishing the sketchbook in honor of ART in general. I always did "art" in some form,but somewhere along the line, I stopped.

Why? I am not sure, I guess life just got int the way-I met my husband, had my two children and looked at my art as a luxury I could not afford the time to do. Like it was an indulgence. Maybe because it is so enjoyable to me, that I felt guilt knowing there was always something else I "should" be doing. I now know that art, for me, is the best thing I can do for myself. Denying creative time, was doing myself a great dis-service. It makes me a better person. I am happier, and less stressed. Everything is in perspective.

So-this book is for me- to remind myself to create, in some form or another, every day.

And- this book is for everyone else- to remind you to not deny yourself what you are passionate about. Whether it's cooking, photography, running or woodworking. Nurture your passions. It's good for you!

My cover so far;

And a close up;

 

...my pages all stacked and ready to be inserted into the cover...

I will wait till the pages are done, then sew the signatures back into the cover. I will add black fabric tape to the spine of the cover to finish it.

It's going to be hard to let this book go!

 

looking forward to some good reads....

Don't you love getting a new book? Especially one you are excited to read?  Usually I am a fiction reader, and I have 2 or 3 on the go at any one time.Sometimes they are audio books that I listen to on my ipod while i am in my studio working on something...

I just got back from a visit at Chapters with some non fiction art and craft books that I just cant wait to dive into!

I am looking forward to trying my hand at encaustic painting, so I picked up this book;

Also bought a book for my crafting business which looks promising and is getting great reviews; The Handmade Marketplace"

plus I ordered Craft Inc, another business book for crafts that sounds great as well

On a whim, I grabbed this book, "Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists", which boasts "52 creative exercises to make drawing fun!"  so we will see how that one is, but I flipped through it and it seems promising- something to keep the creative juices flowing, hopefully!

Then picked up the latest issue of Cloth, Paper Scissors. Man- I love this magazine. so full of inspiration! my goal is to get some of my work published in this mag... this year I will do submissions, and go from there!

Looks like enough inspiration to last me a long, long time!! My art business should get a boost with all this business advice and inspired reading!

I will give my review on these books as I get through them.... stay tuned!

Art Show this weekend. Oakville Fall Festival

I have been busy organizing my display for the Oakville Fall Festival on Saturday September 18. I will be one of 8 artists on display helping to kick off of "A Taste of Downtown Oakville" annual fall celebration, which celebrates the finer things- Food, wine and art. I will have some paintings on display as well as some photographs

There will be lots to see and do with a 9am kick-off pancake breakfast. Fun for the kids too with an afternoon hayride, face painting and fresh-shucked corn on the cob.

Hope to see you there!

Free Vintage collage sheet

Happy Friday!

Here is a free download of a digital sheet I collaged. I used old book pages, old sewing patterns, vintage maps, and other interesting paper i had in my stash. I plan on using this in a piece of art I am working on. This would be perfect if you are working on a Remains of the Day journal, scrapbooking, collage, and altered art. Print it out or use it digitally. Have fun!

Click on the image above for a larger view, or click here  to see it on my Flickr page to download different sizes. The image is free for you to use for personal use. Please do not sell any images you see here. If you post anything online using my image, please link credit back to me.

If you use it I would love to see what you did with it. Please share your results!

Last week I found some great vintage ephemera, so I will have more old images to share with you.

... stay tuned

The Sketchbook Project 2011 - progress update

After working on some of the pages and trying to paint them, etc, I realized that the paper that comes with the book is awful!! It is so thin, and doesn't hold paint well, not to mention sewing that I was planning on doing. So I did the only thing I could think of... I took all the pages out!  I am going to make my own pages,, and sew them back into the cover.

...wish me luck!

Check out my Facebook page

Hi Everyone,

Just finished my Facebook fan page. Click the "LIKE" button on the right sidebar to stay connected thru Facebook. The page is a work in progress and I will be adding more content and photos as I go. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Feel free to pass along to anyone you think may be interested!  Thanks for looking!