Trena's Creative Space

Blooms - Acrylic and Watercolor

Hello Beautiful!

Is it spring yet?! Where are you, sister?! I needed warmth and recently took a flower painting class with Christie Herrmann Hawkins. I came out of the class with an acrylic and a watercolor version of bold blooming flowers. 

 

acrylic                                                                    watercolor

I am a lifelong learner with many classes on my list. I love checking out new teachers, exploring new techniques, getting various tips and tricks from multiple people, and then see how I can fit them into my style.  I’m partial to the black outline, just a smidge. Painting with Christie @thesocialeasel brought back warm memories of watching Carol DuVall back in the day before YouTube - does anyone remember Carol?! Priscilla Hauser was a frequent guest, and I loved her decorative art paintings. That’s the first place I remember seeing a black outline of painted flowers. I took a photo of the piece before I added the black line.

Which style do you prefer, white outline (yesterday’s post), black outline, or no outline?

 Shout Outs: Christie is a lovely teacher. Austin Kleon, Author of Steal Like an Artist. I read Austin's book once a year.

 

#trenabrannonart #acrylicpainting #watercolorpainting  #flowers #blooms  #watercolor #blackgirlspaint #blackgirlmagic @alohawatercolors #janedavneportwatercolors #janedavenportbrushes watercup by @drowsy.wolf.studio #cansonwatercolorsketchbook #womenartists #womenillustrators #surfacepatterndesigner #surfacepatterndesign #surfacedesign #watercolourpainting #zigfineliner #kirin #rainbowpencil

Take Care and Stay Positive!

How Extraordinary the Ordinary Can Be

Hello Beautiful!

During the last week, I participated in a fun challenge with Ohn Mar Win. 

The prompts were identified to challenge creators to see how extraordinary the ordinary can be. She encouraged us to find items from our homes to inspire our daily artwork - jars of food, worn-down shoes, or that tube of toothpaste that’s almost run out, as well as share stories about them.

She encouraged us to think about how we may feel like we just live ordinary lives, but actually, we all live very extraordinary lives if we practice a little gratitude.

The prompts and my artwork are below.  To see all the lovely artwork and interesting stories, you can check out #ohnmar7 on Instagram.

 

BOTTLES & JARS

COOKIES & BISCUITS

KETTLES & JUGS

CLOTHES

TUBES

SHOES

LAMPS

 Shout Out: to Ohn Mar for being a lovely host and creating a fun and engaging challenge!

 

#trenabrannonart ​​#ohnmar7 #gingerbreadcookies #gingerbreadhouse #sketching #painting #cookies #biscuits #dailysketching #strathmoretonedtan #strathmoretonedtanpaper #watercolor #janedavenport #qor #oilpastel sennelier1887 #oilpastels #blackgirlspaint #blackgirlmagic #onmydesk #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #holbeingouache #arteza #mgraham #gouache #vintagedresses #vintage #dresses #janedavenportstorytimepaintpens #princetonpaintbrush #princetonselect #danielsmithwatercolors #pentelslicci #eddingdrawliner #eddingpen #pilot #pilotcoloreno #sakura #signo #tombow #pencil #winsorandnewton #watercolormarkers #drphmartins #indiaink #palette by @lilianmaystudio #carandache #carandacheluminance #colorpencils  #innertube #royaltalens  #holbeinartistscoloredpencil #tombowdualbrushpens #prismacolor #prismacolorpencils #fabercastell #fabercastellpolychromos #marvy #marvyuchida #marvylepen #uniball #signopen #uniballsigno #stabillo #kuretake #kuretakebrushpen #kuretakemetallic #kuretakemetallicbrushpen #mujijapan #gelpen #illustration #illustrator #africandesigns

Take Care and Stay Positive!

NEW StencilGirl® African Layers and Masks Stencils!!

Hello Beautiful!

Today I'm sharing new stencil designs that I've had to keep secret for several months - ohhh, that has been a challenge for me! :)

I am the artist for August’s StencilClub at StencilGirl Products! I am over the moon - where did that saying come from anyway?! I don't know, but it accurately describes my joy!!

I have a video on StencilGirl Talk today that shares how I got the inspiration for these designs.

StencilClub is a monthly subscription for exclusive designs that are revealed the first day of each month. It is like getting a present every single month! Members also get 20% off StencilGirl® ​stencils all the time. 

Each month, you get:

One 9" x 12" EXCLUSIVE stencil, one 6" x 6" EXCLUSIVE stencil, and one 4" x 4" EXCLUSIVE stencil.

An EXCLUSIVE video for MEMBERS ONLY provided by the designing artist.

A downloadable PDF with basic instructions to go along with the video for that month.

Entrance into a SECRET Facebook group for MEMBERS ONLY! A place to share, inspire and talk all about stencils!

You are eligible to purchase ANY past month for the membership price.

 Shout Out: MaryBeth Shaw. MaryBeth is a savvy business woman, talented artist, and has big heart!  I am feeling grateful. 

#trenabrannonart #stencilgirl  #stencils #africandesign

Take Care and Stay Positive!

I Don't Have A Style. I Want Every Project to be a Surprise!

Hello Beautiful!

I Don't Have A Style. I Want Every Project to be a Surprise! I heard that quote from Bill Bensley. I immediately became a fan of Bill.  I looked him up, saw his work, and heard him talk about his process. He captured something I've been struggling with - finding my style.

I am inspired by so many different things I see/experiences I have. Why do I have to pick one way to do my art? I have come to the realization that I don't have a singular style AND I don't have to have one.  I heard Marie Forleo talking about how it's ok to have more than "one thing." She was talking to me, I know it. I have more than one favorite of everything!  I have many goals and many interests in life. I don't want to be labeled by any one identity that I have - I have many identities and I embrace them all!   I clearly understand that in order to achieve a goal, I do need to focus and work diligently towards it. I have lead several successful projects as a Project Manager. :) I am finding joy in coloring, drawing, painting, stamping, creating, sharing, being in a variety of art communities. How many Facebook Groups can one person join?! 

So where I am going with this?

(1) Just wanted to say that out load and share in case you may be going through some similar thoughts. I encourage you to check out Bill and Marie.

(2) I'm sharing the next direction I am talking my art - surface and pattern design! For almost a year, I've been taking classes, engaged in communities and peer groups, and getting some coaching from successful designers.  So, in addition to posts with stamping, coloring and painting, I'll be sharing my patterns.  Cocktails anyone?

This pattern started out with watercolor. I took a class in SkillShare [when you use that link, you get a free trial] with Ohn Mar Win.  That lovely handmade palette is from Lilian May Studio.

I imported the images into Procreate on my iPad and created a repeating pattern. I learned how to do that in another SkillShare class, that one with Cat Coq.  Yes, I am a SkillShare fan, maybe even a groupie. :) I am a Lifelong Learner! I know I still have a lot to learn and I am enjoying the whole process.

 Shout Out: to all the generous people who share their art methods and encourage others

#trenabrannonart #patterndesign #watercolor #skillshare

Take Care and Stay Positive!

Another Color Chart - Watercolors This Time

Hello Beautiful!

I've been hanging out with Tangie Baxter!  She is having a joyful impact on my journaling.  Last time I hung out with her, we were mixing colors, having fun and experimenting. 🙂🎨 I get excited when I find new ways to think about and use supplies I already have. hehehe

 Shout Out: Tangie's Website of colorful Disney fun  and Happy Place. 

I hope you are finding moments of joy and peace during your day. 

#trenabrannonart #artjournalingthemagic #swatches #disney #mickeymouse #hydracolour #danielsmithwatercolors #qorwatercolors #janedavenportwatercolors #mgrahamwatercolors #dickblickwatercolors #strathmorepaper  #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Coffee To Go

Hello Beautiful!

Today I'm Dabbling in a little watercolor , just having fun.

 Shout Out: Mariya Popandopulo, Photographer & Illustrator, teaching at Skillshare

 

#trenabrannonart #marikaskillshare#jdmm #sennelier1887#winsorandnewton #tombowdualbrushpens #watercolor #coffee#pastry #crossiant #coffeetogo

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Vibrant Stenciled Vase of Flowers

Hello Beautiful!

Today I'm sharing how I made this vibrant vase of flowers.  I'm working in my large Jane Davenport journal - that has fabulous paper to create on! It's a nice quality watercolor, hot pressed on one side and cold press on the other.

My first step was to spread Golden fiber paste with a palette knife through StencilGirl® Spring Flower Vase L406 stencil. NOTE: this was the first I used it and had not cut it out yet. I dig the little boarder that showed up - I think it adds interest.

After allowing the paste to dry completely, I wrote some words/thoughts with a Sakura clear glaze pen. The gel pen acts as a resist. I learned this cool technique from Pam Carriker at a retreat last year. After the words to dry completely, I spritzed the page with water and dropped color, dripping warm colors in the flowers and cool colors near the leaves.  I chose purple as the dominate color for the vase, dropping in some other colors and spritzing water to balance the page. I repeated the process until I was happy with the colors. For a couple highlights, I used Peerless transparent metallic gold.

 When I got too much color in any one area and lost the detail of the stencil design, I dabbed with a paper towel or baby wipe - which turned out to be so pretty! I will save and use for collage!

I thought I had the adjacent page protected, but the color spilled over, so I just went with it - spritzing and dripping more color, pulling in some interest by wiping away color through StencilGirl ® Swirl M197. Had a ball and my fingers got REALLY inky [insert joyful face!]. 

 Shout Out: MaryBeth Shaw for creating an awesome company that provides so many ideas for creating. I never know stencils could be so much fun! 

#trenabrannonart #stencilgirl #stencils #mixedmedia #watercolor #artjournaling #art #onmydesk  #art #art🎨 #jdmm journal #drphilmartin #peerlesscolor #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Flowers and More Flowers!

Hello Beautiful People!

Today I'm sharing some of my homework for a Skillshare class I'm taking with Peggy Dean.  I did my home work in two mediums, 1st watercolor.

And, then with alcohol inks. I really dig how the colors mingle!

 I will be doing this techinque more!

 Shout Out: Peggy's class is called Find Your Creative Style: An Exploration Through Floral Techniques

#trenabrannonart #dylusions #alcoholinks #skillshare #peggydean #thepigeonletters #ranger #pinta #jacquard #yupopaper #fabercastell #pittpens #flowers #signo #drawing #watercolor #artjournaling #art #onmydesk #sketching #art #art🎨 #strathmore journal #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Chocolate Anyone!

Hello Beautiful People!

I'm practicing drawing chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

 

 

 Shout Out: SkillShare class with Mariya Popandopulo.☕🎨

  #trenabrannonart #inprogress #onmydesk #drawing #sketching #watercolor #skillshare #jdmm #art #art🎨 #strathmore journal #pentel #stabilo #fabercastell #marabu #artsnacks #donuts #pastries #cake #brownie #cookie #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

A Scenic Perspective

Hello Beautiful People!

Today I'm sharing my homework on one-point perspective drawing. I never knew homework could be so much fun! hehehe

 

 Shout Out: SkillShare class by Julia Henze

 #trenabrannonart #skillshare #urbansketches #urbansketching #watercolor #drawing #dylusions #dylusionsjournal #artjournaling #art #jdmm  #sennelier #art #practicing #marabu #finelinergraphix #crafterscompanion #waterbrush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Mmmmm....Good Coffee

Hello Beautiful People!

Today I'm sharing my love of good coffee in an illustration. I like my coffee 'like cake' (as Pastor Miller says) - let's put some real cream and some real sugar in it!  But then... my blood pressure says, hey you better put some Stevia and almond milk in there instead - and I say, ok.  It still tastes good and I enjoy it!

 

Shout Out:  Jane Davenports' neutrals palette is great for coffee! AND her new travel paint brush is fabulous!  SkillShare class with Mariya Popandopulo.😀☕🎨

#trenabrannonart #skillshare class with Jane Davenport lovely products. #jdmm #watercolor #coffee #strathmore journal #artjournaling #creamwithmycoffee #lattee #heart #art #drawing #delicious #coffeelover #coffeetime #janedavenportmixedmedia #fabercastell #pittpens #copicmultiliner #copicmultiliners #velvetouch #paintbrush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

The Art of Urban Sketching

Hello Beautiful People!

Have you heard of it?!  There's a book and I have a copy! I am so inspired by looking at all the drawings from around the world.  Recently, I joined SkillShare and found a class on it and of course I had to take it. :) This is my homework!

 

 

 Shout Out: SkillShare class by Julia Henze

#trenabrannonart #watercolor #drawing #janedavenportjournal #fabercastell #pittpens #princetonvelvetouch #artjournaling #art #jdmm

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Still Stuck...on Watercolors and Organizing

Hello Beautiful People,

I have now found a better way to organize the rest of my Twinks - the ones that did not fit in full pans. :) 

I was watching Youtube videos on art and storage as I sometimes (ok, a lot!) do, when I saw a video using a cutting board from the Dollar Store to adhere Twink jars too.

I went looking for clear and I found these cute square ones.  I glued the jars directly to the board. I wanted clear so that I can see the names of the colors.  I made color charts with a line of black gesso and cleaned my brush off on pages in my journal - a cool spread and a warm spread.  I really dig the vibrant background pages in my Jane Davenport small art journal.

 

 Shout Out: I got the idea from Yva's video on Twink storage.

 #trenabrannonart #twinklingh2o #twinklingh2os #organization #watercolor

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Coloring, Fashion and Organizing Twinkling H2Os

Hello Beautiful People!

Lately, I've been hooked on watercoloring! I had a coupon and picked up Jane's watercolors and ohhhhh ... such luciousness (which I do not think is a 'word,' but fits)!  I drew the images with a Copic multiliner and then filled in with color - my favorite part!

 

I recently saw that ColourArte's Twinkling H2Os will be available in a new formula packaged in watercolor pans. I thought that is a great way to organize them and decided to put all my current small pots into full pans. Well, first I tried half pans - they didn't fit, so I had to go full size. :)  I spirtzed them with water and let them sit until they softened and I could transfer them to the pans. Some took longer to soften than others.  I put the pans in the tin that I my QOR watercolors came in. The tin fits 63 full pans perfectly.  A small piece of self-adhesive magnet on the bottom of each one helps to hold it in place. Saw that tip on one of the many, many... many helpful youtube videos I've seen. 

 

The color chart I made has a thin line of black gesso. I wanted to capture how the H2Os look over black as well as show opacity. On the front of the tin, I dabbed white gesso. After it dried completely, I added the letters with  Pitt Pens.

 Shout Out: Jane Davenport and  JamesLukeBurke Creative for their inspiration, teaching, and encouragement to artists of all levels!

#trenabrannonart #janedavenport #jameslukeburkecreative #drawingfaces #copicmarkers #browngirls #cryogen cardstock #copicmarkers #colourarte #twinklingh2o #twinklingh2os #organization #watercolor #jdmm #sakura #epicpen #princeton #velvettouch #paintbrush #fashion #afro

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Watercolor Bird Journal Page

Hello Beautiful People!

Today I'm playing  in my art journal. Received my StencilClub September package yesterday!  I was drawn to the littlest one, the 4x4" stencil of the little bird and used it in my journal. I also used some of the 9x12" cool designs.

 

  #trenabrannonart #stencilgirl #steviewonder #watercolor #elegantwriter #qor #onmydesk  #danielsmith #winsornewton #blickartmaterials

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

 

InLinkz.com

Creating with my Travel Supplies Kit

Hey Sisters and Brothers! I used my little travel kit of supplies last week.

I was at a conference for work - workshops and booths during the day and coloring at night! smile emoticon I added Ken Oliver's colorbursts to my kit!!

#trenabrannonart #artsupplies #travel #stencils #stencilgirl #kenolivercolorburst  #spectrumnoiraquablend #watercolor #drawingfaces #browngirls #artjournaling

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Girlfriends Be Shopin'

More coloring with the new AquaBlend Artist's Watercolour Pencils by Spectrum Noir. 

Girlfriends are at it again, running for those sales. :) Love this fun image. 

#artimpressions #girlfriends #spectrumnoiraquablend #crafterscompanion #watercolor

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

You Can Fix Anything with Stencils - Card 8

Sharing finished card #8, the last one.  I have enjoyed sharing with you! The photo includes some of the supplies used on this card.

 

 

For a complete list of supplies, click here.

Click here to see Card 1
Click here to see Card 2
Click here to see Card 3
Click here to see Card 4
Click here to see Card 5
Click here to see Card 6
Click here to see Card 7

#trenabrannonart #stencilgirl #mixedmedia #stencils #watercolor #drawing #gelliplate #goldenacrylics #sethapter

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

 

New AquaBlend Watercolour Pencils

Look at these lovely, rich colors!

 

They are the new AquaBlend Artist's Watercolour Pencils by Spectrum Noir. I was so excited to receive them this week.  Whenever I get new coloring supplies, I make a color chart and a color wheel (stencilgirl stencil). :) I can see the true colors and have a reference.

I colored these adorable images from Art Impressions - one of my favorite sources for rubber!  I really dig the way the pencils blend smoothly - no lines.  I colored direct to Watercolour Cardstock and spread color with a damp brush. I also colored indirect - touched a damp brush to the pencils and pulled color.

On Wednesday, March 16th Sara Davies will be on HSN sharing these awesome pencils, plus other cool products from Crafter's Companion. To see the details for the event, click here.

#artimpressions #spectrumnoiraquablend #crafterscompanion #stencilgirl #HSNCrafts #watercolor 

 Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

You Can Fix Anything with Stencils

The background is my attempt at practicing blocks of watercolor washes on 140 cold press paper. To "save" them, I used stencils and mixed media. Hehehe. I added an  interesting background in each color block, with ink pads, watercolor and StencilGirl stencils. I'm in the monthly StencClub and I get fabulous designs every month to play with. The  February stencils just slid right out of the envelop onto my paper. Next, I created a unique design/image in each block. 

I continued to create in each rectangle, making a unique design. I drew, I stamped (my own and Seth's), I colored, I used stencils...I just had fun, not thinking about it too much, just using a variety of arts & crafts supplies - I just <3 arts & crafts supplies.  After I finished the focal layers, I trimmed them to fit on greeting cards. I created a variety of backgrounds using stencils and my gelli plate.  

 

 I picked out a background design to go with each focal layer. Next I used stamps and colors to bring together each focal layer with its background.   Over the next several days, I'll post the finished cards.  

Below is the complete list of supplies I used.  One of the joys creating with mixed media supplies is all the choices of supplies! :)

#trenabrannonart #stencilgirl #mixedmedia #stencils #watercolor #drawing #gelliprint #crafterscompanion

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

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