A very Happy Monday shout artsy friends. Susan here to share a few highlights found while browsing the Art Journal Emporium this week.
Our first bit of goodness is by Cindy. I love the message and the hand reaching in the water for her page.
Cindy’s credits: Assimilations 1, February 2016 Collage Sheets and April 2016 Collage Sheets by Tangie Baxter (available soon in the Collage Sheet Shop), Illy Papers by Rebecca McMeen, Razzies Hand Painted Circles V2 by Crafty Button Designs, In The Beginning Water Land by ViVa Artistry, Sorrow by Tracie Stroud and Gesso It by Pink Reptile Designs. Font is Ed Gein.
Our next selection is by Rosie. Her page is filled with light, music and a wonderful quote by William Shakespeare.
Rosie’s Credits: Tangie Baxter's Resonateand Rebecca McMeen's Hattie (April Grab Bag 2016, now available as separate kits), Hannah & Cyan by Rebecca McMeen and Goddesses by Tangie Baxter.
Our next gem is by Donna. Her collage was inspired by the Monthly Challenge Prompt.
Donna’s Credits: April 2016 collage sheets (included in the April Art Journal Emporium deliveries, coming soon to TB&CO), a stamped fish from Tangie, and a head from Tumblefish along with acrylic paints and doodles.
TheArt Journal Emporium membership includesTangie Baxter's Collage Workshop for the current month BEFORE it's released in theTB & CO store. In addition to the digital downloads there is a video tutorial and some wonderful sample projects. Collage Workshop materials need to be downloaded before the end of each month.
Tangie Baxter & CO’s Art Journal Caravan is going strong and we’d love for you to join us on the adventure!
Don’t forget Monthly Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and priced on a sliding scale. Act fast for the best deal. For more information visit TB&CO Grab Bags.
"Two impulse collage art journal pages in my Salvage journal! I am so loving my Salvage journal! You can make your own or I sell them in my Etsy shop."
Tangie Baxter & CO’sArt Journal Caravanis back for 2016 and we’d love for you to join us on the adventure!
This Friday we are pausing the Flashback Fridays to give everyone one last peek at this month's challenge hosted over at the Art Journal Emporium. Enjoy the following post from Jan, part of the AJE Crew...
There’s still time for you to participate in the monthly challenge over at the Art Journal Emporium. All you have to do is use one of the ideas below, create and upload your digital or mixed media entry to the classroom by April 30, 2016. If you participate in the monthly challenge you could be one of two winners chosen at random – each prize is a $5.00 coupon to Tangie Baxter & Co. Woo Hoo!
April’s challenge is to use at least one of the following ideas:
Use the Following Quote:
“The greatest stories are those that resonate our beginnings and intuit our endings, our mysterious origins and our numinous destinies, and dissolve them both into one.” Ben Okri
Silent Movement
Use sound waves or another symbol to represent "resonate" or the energy of silent movement, things moving we can't normally see.
Resonate
What is good in the world today? What good deeds are in the news, what are your neighbors doing to help each other? Where is love alive and resonating in the universe we live in? Where is there peace and happiness?
Easy as pie!
To give you an idea of what you could do, here is my interpretation of the Ben Okri quote.
I used a collage sheet from the April Collage Sheet collection and wrote the quote within the spaces. Get those creative juices flowing, you could win a super prize! Come and join the fun!
The Collage Workshop materials need to be downloaded before the end of each month so there's only a few days left to join the AJE and get this month's workshop. For a look at all the different subscriptions available HERE.
Select option A through E to get the digital version of the collage sheets (option C includes printed collage sheets mailed to you) or Option I to have access to the printed collage sheets ONLY mailed to you.
Do you doodle? I do love a good doodle! Over the past year I've seen the doodle and hand lettering genres just explode across the Internet. Don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for a great font, but there's nothing quite like adding that special, personal touch to your digital art journal.
Would you like to join the trend, but are not sure where to begin? You've come to the right place! As I promised last week, this tutorial will take a quick and dirty approach to making your pen and ink lettering/doodling an integral part of your digital art.
As always, my disclaimer is as follows: Adobe Photoshop is a powerful piece of software and there are many different ways to get results, this just happens to be the best way that works for me at this time. This tutorial is written for the PC using Photoshop CC, if you are on a different operating system or version, there will likely be differences. And now... on to the fun!
The first step, of course is to doodle your doodle. For this example I will use some hand lettered words from last week's art journal page. Since I'm not a super-pro hand letterer, I traced the words out in pencil first and followed up with a brush pen.
I use an Epson XP-410. It's nothing fancy, but it does the trick, especially for small personal projects like this one. I like to scan my work at at least 600 dpi. You can probably get away with scanning your image at 300, but I like to have some leeway in case I decide to re-size my image.
This is what my original image looks like after scanning. Pretty rough stuff, huh? Don't worry, we'll clean this puppy up in no time!
I make it a habit of duplicating my original image {CTRL+J} in case I mess it up and need the original again.
First, I like to run a threshold adjustment layer.
This option creates a strict black/white effect that knocks out colors and hues of gray, which helps in my image extraction process. Your threshold levels will depend on your image, but for this piece mine looked like this:
Here's what my image looked like after I adjusted the threshold:
After merging the threshold adjustment level down on to my image, the next step is going to be to select your words. There are several different ways to go about this and how you approach it will depend on the image you are working with as well as personal preferance.
One of my favorite methods of selection, especially when working in black and white, is Color Range (Select --> Color Range...)
This option is a little-known magic trick that allows you to select only the range of colors you choose. Awe. Some. This option has a ton of uses and therefore lots of options to choose from... which I will happy to delve into at a later date.
However, due to the nature of this particular doodle, I chose to go with the old fashioned Wand tool {W}. I selected all the white space around my image, making sure to uncheck contiguous first.
Once the image is successfully selected, I usually make the following adjustments, though they can change on a case by case basis:
Select --> Modify --> Expand... (note: you would use contract if you went with the Color Range option)
I usually expand anywhere from 1-3 pixels, depending on the weight of the image and how much I want to trim away.
Select --> Modify --> Smooth...
I generally choose 2 pixels here.
Select --> Modify --> Feather...
This option will range from about .5 to .2 for me.
And lastly, you're either going to want to delete the background of the image {backspace}, or inverse the selection {CTRL+SHIFT+I} and create a new layer from it {CTRL+J}. Ta da!
The result may not be the perfectly clean and precise extraction that you might get from using the pen tool, but I assure you this way requires much less work and for the purposes of some down and dirty art journaling, it will surely do the trick!
And that's it! Now you have a beautiful, polished graphic to use at your will. I used this particular lettering in my latest digital art journal page:
I've come to realize that this process takes far longer to explain than to execute; once you've tried it a few times you'll see that it's easier to do than you think. An average simple extraction of this nature only takes me a few minutes now that I've found my flow.
How will you use your doodles in your digial art? I can't wait to find out! Post a comment below showing off your mad skills, or join us in the Art Journal Emporium for even more cool tips, tricks, and fun!
Hey guys, Carolyn here, Art Journal Emporium Team Lead. I’m back this month with another edition of “1 Collage Sheet 7 Ways”!! In case you missed last month’s challenge you can see it HERE.Just a little back story:
Tangie has challenged seven of us to use one collage sheet to be the primary focus of a project that we create then share with all of you to show you just how versatile the collage sheets really are. This month we’re using April 2016 Sheet #02 for our challenge, it looks like this: I am always amazed by how a group of people can take the same set of supplies and everyone’s end result is completely different. Most of us incorporated the fish in some form or another but none in the same manner. Take a look.
Glenda’s “If Fishes Had Wishes” submission is stunning. She used a combination of TB&CO products with the chosen collage sheet to come up with this beautiful piece: Next up is Audrey’s submission. She used the April Grab Bag, no longer available as a Grab Bag but each part can be purchased individually: {Tangie Bundle No. 20} and {Rebecca Bundle No. 20}(product images at the end of this post), along with the collage sheet to create this whimsical piece:
When Jan looked at the collage sheet the first thing she saw was eyebrows! For her
submission she turned those cute little gold fish into big bushy eyebrows to create this fun piece:
Susan’s piece is a digital page that she created using the April Grab Bag, no longeravailable as a Grab Bag but each part can be purchased individually: {Tangie Bundle No. 20} and {Rebecca Bundle No. 20}, along with the collage sheet to create this piece:
Katrina’s mixed media page uses the collage sheet, stencils, paint and pencils. I’m not sure what those circles are above the fish but the look dimensional and glittery and I LOVE them! Here’s her piece:
Anne also made a page in her art journal and is so painterly and pretty. I love getting ideas from my fellow crew members, she did such a great job thinking outside the box on this one:
I decided to create a page in my art journal also. Not being a big fan of orange I ended up painting over the strips I tore from the collage sheet to use as seaweed to make this:
I hope you all enjoyed this little challenge as much as we did. We’re already looking
forward to starting next month’s challenge! If you’ve used April’s Collage Sheet #02 in your projects we’d love it if you left a comment with a link so we can all see.
The Collage Workshop materials need to be downloaded before the end of each month so there's only a few days left to join the AJE and get this month's workshop. For a look at all the different subscriptions available HERE.
Select option A through E to get the digital version of the collage sheets (option C includes printed collage sheets mailed to you) or Option I to have access to the printed collage sheets ONLY mailed to you.
Spring has sprung. Some a little later than others but it looks like we have officially begun to warm up. Riding by the home improvement stores, I see lots of people collecting their garden goodies. Flowers, pots, garden ornaments and most importantly bird houses.
I have always loved bird houses and I try to make it a point to hang one or two by spring. This year the birds kinda beat me to it. I have one nest in a wall mounted fountain and several in gutter catches. Oh yes, one is in the newspaper catch under the mailbox. So I decided this month I would create a sweet page that was so easy to do. It's colorful and would make a great canvas print or screen saver.
I first drew rectangles for the houses and triangles for the roofs. Then added some poles to hold them up. Once I laid out where the houses where I used brushes from the following Tangie and Rebecca Pages. To create the bird houses and floral garden. I added the word SPRING across the top with Ephemera Alpha brushes. Then I created a floral garden below the houses with Rebecca Tansy Flowers and Splatter overlays Floral designs. Popped in a few birds with Tweet Sweet Stamp. I did my design digitally, but it will work just as well with printouts. Have fun creating your own Spring Garden.
Happy Monday artsy friends! It’s time again to share with you some of Tangie Baxter & CO’s Art Journal Emporium Gallery Gems... So let’s jump right in!
First we have Marilyn Curttright’s wonderful submission for Tangie Baxter & CO’s Art Journal Caravan No. 15. Call & Response, with a little help from The Beatles, reminds us that it’s really OK to ask for a little help now and then. Thanks, I needed that!
Next up is a richly colored piece created by William Charlebois for the April Challenge. The scene and the sentiment make a perfect pair!
Credits: TB&CO’s April Grab Bag now available as separate kits Tangie Bundle 20 & Rebecca Bundle 20, as well as the Billizetti character by William himself.
And now let’s take a look at Cindy Siebert’s very cool page inspired by suggestions from TB&CO’s Beginner's Art Journaling Guide. My eyes keep finding more to love!
And finally, I leave you with this amazing mixed media collage (including haiku) from Diane. Her take on the Art Journal Caravan Itinerary No. 14 weekly theme, Resonate, is simply charming!
The Collage Workshop materials need to be downloaded before the end of each month so there's only a few days left to join the AJE and get this month's workshop.
That’s it for today! Thank you so much to Marilyn, William, Cindy and Diane for sharing their creations! I hope some of their work “resonated” with you!
Tangie Baxter & CO’s Art Journal Caravan is going strong and we’d love for you to join us on the adventure!
Don’t forget Monthly Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and priced on a sliding scale. Act fast for the best deal. For more information visit TB&CO Grab Bags.
"I am so loving my Salvage journal! You can make your own or I sell them in my Etsy shop. I spent some time reorganizing my collage station in the Studio and wanted to share with you how I set things up so that when you see future videos you will know where I got these "mysterious" collage drawers that keep popping up!"
Tangie Baxter & CO’sArt Journal Caravanis back for 2016 and we’d love for you to join us on the adventure!
Today I am sharing with you a tutorial for using Printables as promised last week. I will create a hybrid Art Journal page with Border printables. I love Tangie’s Borders! I have for you a two-part video tutorial, and also the same tutorial posted in step-by-step photographs below. Watch the video or check out the written tutorial, or both!!!
TUTORIAL PART 1
TUTORIAL PART 2
WRITTEN TUTORIAL
1. Start with a roughly painted background. Adhere vintage pattern tissue paper with gel matte medium. Dry with heat gun.
2. Mix gel matte medium with a bit of white acrylic craft paint. This makes the white paint transparent. Paint over the tissue paper. Dry with heat gun.
3. Cut out Collage Fodder Head Printable and adhere to page with gel matte medium.
4. Draw journaling lines with a fine tip marker or pen.
5. Adhere large border pieces with gel matte medium. (photo below)
6. Adhere Dominoes Collage Printables with gel matte medium. (photo below)
7. Write the journaling “Don’t forget to be awesome!” Outline it with black. Start to outline the borders and add dots.
8. Finish with more dots and adhere a butterfly punch to the page. Enjoy your completed art! xoxo
The Collage Workshop materials need to be downloaded before the end of each month so there's only a few days left to join the AJE and get this month's workshop.
For a look at all the different subscriptions available HERE.
Select option A through E to get the digital version of the collage sheets (option C includes printed collage sheets mailed to you) or Option I to have access to the printed collage sheets ONLY mailed to you.
An annual worldwide event held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.
Earth Day’s Global 2016 Theme is Trees for the Earth. Over the next five years, as Earth Day moves closer to its 50th anniversary, Earth Day Network embarks on one of the most ambitious goals yet —planting 7.8 billion trees. Our planet is currently losing over 15 billion trees each year (equivalent to 48 football fields every minute). Why Trees? Trees help combat climate change. They absorb excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles. Trees help us breathe clean air. Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income. - See more at: http://www.earthday.org/earth-day/earth-day-theme/#sthash.fsI42AI7.dpuf
To celebrate this day, I created a page honoring the theme. I used elements from the April Grab Bag.
Don’t forget Monthly Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and priced on a sliding scale. Act fast for the best deal. For more information visit TB&CO Grab Bags.
