Happy Birthday PPF!

Paint Party Friday is celebrating its 3rd Birthday/Anniversary/Blogoversary!! Wow - where has the time gone?? When Kristin and I started it, we had no idea so many people would be interested in joining us in painting and showing what they had painted at the Party. Thank you to everyone who has participated in PPF, and who has dropped by here because of PPF. It has been delightful getting to know you and incredible seeing all the work you have created!

I wanted to paint a few party "treats" for all of you - wish it were an in-person party and these were real... let's just imagine they are. All parties need cupcakes!! ☺

and because one wasn't enough... I made a bunch more

Is anyone else fed up with this long hard winter we are having? (And lucky you if yours has been otherwise!) In my journal this is the type of thing that has been appearing to me. 

"come swim with me..."

I think I am going to listen and go meet up with this little guy soon!

Have a wonderful time at the party! Thanks so much for visiting and for being part of my art life.

xo

EVA

oh and for Monday - a favourite of mine...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Paint Party Friday and more Art Journal Birds

Hi! 

It's been a while since I have been to the Party... (except for working in the background with Kristin, that is.) I have 4 canvases, gessoed and sitting on my table - ready to paint but have I? Oh no... Well at least I have been playing and painting in my art journal though, so I finally have something to join in with!

For some unknown reason, birds are inspiring to me a lot these days. First a little blue jay - usually I see a few during the winter but this year it has been so brutal that very few feathered friends have been around. There has been the occasional chickadee and yesterday morning a gorgeous cardinal, singing his little heart out ☺ - no blue jays yet though...

Blue Jay flitting 

Blue Jay and Oscar Wilde quote

One technique a lot of people seem to use in their art journals is to pre-paint pages. I did that here and for me it was harder to figure out what to do with this darn page than had it stayed blank. I had seen a technique in paintings where an animal or face was painted using circles or black marks as shading, so I thought I would try that here. (Not sure I am even describing it well... or if it has a name... Anyone know?)

Great Blue Heron spread with van Gogh quote

Great Blue Heron (up close - double click to enlarge)

I am very intrigued by this technique/effect. I think I will try more!

After pasting a few thing into the journal, I was left with an odd space, so I decided to fill it by painting this quirky guy...

Virginia Rail

And then there were another couple of pages that weren't bird inspired but designed more to inspire me (or push me) to take action...

Next Step

50 Coffees Project

Looking forward to seeing your painting and/or art journaling efforts! Have a lovely week.

Paint Party Friday - 2014 Art Journal

For 2014, I started a new art journal (a red one this year!). And I am pleased to say, I have even started playing in it! I suspect most pages will have a combination of writing and images. The snowperson does already and I suspect the chickadee page will have writing added to it soon, Meanwhile I wanted to show my PPF friends what I have been painting.

January Chickadee

"Be Yourself"

Belated best wishes to everyone for a healthy, happy, prosperous and CREATIVE 2014!