Hi my name is Katrina Rollings and I am a member of the Art Journal Emporium creative crew.
I am so pleased the Art Journal Caravan is back. This will be my 4th Caravan I will have taken part in and I have really enjoyed being part of all the others, so inspiring!
Our theme for January is Uncaged. Now some of you might already know I am a parrot lover, my online name is Arty Parrot, which is also the name of my blog. I have been keeping little parrots for over 20 years now and have loved every second. Our current feathered family member is Dexter, a grey male cockatiel who was found on our neighbours roof. I live in England, so that was hardly the place for a parrot. We took him in and as nobody claimed him he became one of the family. He loves to move from room to room with me in his cage for safety. He loves it up in my craft room the most but when we are in the lounge with him his cage is open and he has his freedom. We have done this with all our parrots over the years and so to me the word Uncaged conjures up the fun and often chaos when we had 4 cockatiels who all loved to chew the wallpaper and anything else they could get their beaks on, that ensues when our little feathered friends have their free time. Luckily Dexter just likes to sit on the back of the sofa and watch the TV and boss us around.
For this month’s journal page I wanted to portray my love of my parrots and the fun we have had with them all. So here is my mixed media journal page Uncaged, using 2 of this month's collage sheets and the tinted fragments from January’s Art Journal Caravan itinerary as my colour guide.
- First I printed off sheet 10 from January’s collage sheets.
- Tore off a tiny piece of the left hand side of it.
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Added a strip of paper from my paper collection to fill in the gap (my journal is square so it didn’t fit)
- I wanted to blend the new paper into the collage sheet so I took my watercolours and added some drips.
- I added some colour around the cage and the outside of the page using my Aqua Monolith watercolour woodless pencils.
- I added my parrots next, I printed out sheet number 9 at half size and cut out the 3 parrots.
- Then added colour around the birds using my watercolour pencils
- I felt the area to the left of the cage was a little bare so I used a peacock feather mask and some inks to add another layer, using the watercolour pencils to add more depth.
- To add the word Uncaged I decided to die cut the letters out of black card and then used my watercolour pencils to add some colour around the outside of the letters.
There you have it. My first Art Journal Caravan page for 2016, can’t wait to see what's coming next!
The Collage Workshop is included in the Art Journal Emporium and then available for sale in the TB&CO shop the following month.
Previous Collage Sheet Worshops can be found here: Collage Sheets by Tangie.
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO.
[Posted by Katrina Rollings]
Are you on a budget? You're not alone! That's why when I go in search of my next digital art purchase, versatility is at the top of my list. I try to pick a product that will stand the test of time, a product I can reuse over and again in any season, for any topic, and in many different styles.
In this post I will show how you can stretch your stash to do the same. I'm going to take you on a journey to see how one kit can create four separate pages without feeling overused. Today I am only working with Bountiful and Bountiful {Mixed-Media Papers} by Tangie Baxter and a couple of templates, credited below.
Art Journal style layout:
For this layout I used a couple of the mixed media papers, along with some elements to create a background that is colorful yet muted and full of depth.
Cluster style layout:
Drip Drop 3 Template by Fiddle Dee Dee
Here I worked on creating contrast between the stark clean paper and the layers upon layers of bright elements which draw the eye and give the image several interesting focal points.
Pocket style layout:
Though pocket scrapping is not my forte, it has become so popular in recent years that I thought I'd give it a go. While journal cards are their own kind of awesome, there's no reason to feel tied down to them, especially when you're working digitally. In this page I've created my own journal and filler cards from elements and papers in the kit.
Simplistic style layout:
Free to Wander 5 Template by EH Studios
Sometimes all you need is a few elements to make a bold statement. For this page, though I used hardly any elements, I tried to create interest by adding some color pops and mixing plain and patterned papers.
There you have it, one kit and four ways to interpret it. Thinking outside the box is a great way to make sure you're using your digital products to their fullest extent. Do you have any great tips for stretching your stash? Leave a comment below!
I am always on the hunt for a great deal. If you are too, head over to TB&CO to see the amazing and versatile products available.
Credits: Bountiful and Bountiful {Mixed-Media Papers} by Tangie Baxter
Templates: Free to Wander 5 Template by EH Studios, Drip Drop 3 Template by Fiddle Dee Dee
[posted by Karli-Marie]
Here’s a sneak peak at the January 2016 Mobile Art Challenge from the Art Journal Emporium. My intention was to create some sparkly fairy magic to sprinkle over the new year. This month’s tutorial focused on the Repix app. I also used Mextures, Snapseed and ShockmyPic.
Now, I want to disclose something. I wandered around in the iPhone app desert with this piece for a long time. I really struggled. Didn’t like this. Didn’t like that. That didn’t work. No, not that. That’s not right. Blah, blah, blah.
I’m not disclosing this to get sympathy or to beg for compliments. I’m sharing because I think it’s valuable to be honest about the process of creating. Not just the step by step, but also the stuff that circles around in our brains when we’re making choices.
For me, there’s always a fine line between making choices and triggering the dreaded “Inner Critic” or ‘Oscar’ as I like to call him. Oscar and I went round and round on this one. And, guess what? That’s okay. Because I’ve learned something incredibly valuable from Tangie and all the members of the Art Journal Emporium.
Watching Tangie’s videos and seeing her change directions, make different choices and hearing her say things like, “Yeah. I like that.” or “I’m not thrilled with that. Let me try this. Oh! That’s better. That’s what I want. Yeah, I like that.” is so helpful.
She shares her process and by doing that she’s shown all of us how to create a safe space for our own creative process. And being part of that safe space has helped me embrace curiosity and create a safe space within myself. So it’s okay for Oscar and me to duke it out because I know that, if we keep going, we’ll arrive at a happy place eventually.
A supportive, encouraging, and honest community has made all the difference for me. If you’re like me, and you prowl artist’s blogs and enjoy looking at creative magazines, you may think to yourself that making art is for other special creative people. I loved looking at the work created by so many mixed media and mobile artists and I wanted so badly to create something ‘like that’, but I never tried. I didn’t know where to begin. Finally, I was brave enough to take the leap and in 2012, I joined the Art Journal Caravan, and last year, the Art Journal Emporium. There’s been no looking back since. I truly can’t express how valuable this community has been to me and how grateful I am to be a part of it. I hope 2016 is the year, you’ll take the leap and join us.
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO.
[posted by Kirsten]
Here we are into the 3rd week of January, holiday decorations are down, old calendars are down, new ones are up, resolutions have been made, some already broken. It is time to face reality and get back into the everyday stuff. One of my chores this month is definitely sort and toss. WAIT, don’t throw out that cage and stopper from the champagne bottle, well if it is already gone, no worry, just remember to pick up a bottle of bubbly before the weekend, fix Mimosa’s for Sunday and next week you will have a new blender to use with your distress inks and other mediums. Come on, I will show you how.
Supplies you will need.
I adhere one of the rough fasteners to the base of the champagne cork, they come adhesive backed but I add a square of red line tape the back side, I can get aggressive with my blending. The back of the dauber sponge is the soft material (I am using the Tim Holtz sponges), if you are going to use a makeup sponge or other material for your blending apply the soft side of the fasteners to the material also using some red line tape.
When that is done attach your blender to the fastener and you are ready to go. Also you are able to use the basket that initially comes off the champagne as a holder, just bend the open area down and attach it to the side your pencil holder or anything with a lip on it.
A better image is below with my finished blended color sheet.
The sheet is ready for cut and finishing touches and you just saved $6.00.
Happy New Year!
Credits: Pocket Printable #TB147 available as part of the Art Journal Pockets Workshop.
[posted by Sandi Kelly]
Welcome friends! Glenda here to share with you another edition of the Tangie Baxter & CO Art Journal Emporium Gems... Today’s selections all center around the theme “Uncaged,” which is also this month’s focus for the Art Journal Caravan. And if you haven’t taken part in the AJC, I highly recommend it! There are several ways to participate this year - one could be just right for you!
Our first Gallery Gem is an amazing page created by Diane Foulds. Her wonderful Phoenix in mixed media seems to rise above the page - and take all of us with it! I love the the symbolism of the Phoenix rising and the cage staying behind.
Diane’s credits include TB&CO’s January 2016 Collage Sheet Collection Workshop Sheets currently part of The Art Journal Emporium, available at TB&CO in February, a poem by Maya Angelou and her own hand-drawn Phoenix.
Next we have a lovely page by Pam McKenzie. The bird seems to be bursting through the barriers that were once in its way, and flying excitedly out into the big, big world. The elegant flowers almost - but not quite - draw our gaze away from Pam herself, who appears in the gilded cage.
Pam’s credits include images from TB&CO’s January 2016 AJC goodies (http://shoptangiebaxter.com), as well as some washi tape and a photo of herself.
And finally we have a curious page by Marilyn Curttright. Each time I look at it, my perspective changes... Who is caged? The tigers? The woman? Both? Are the tigers watching as the woman uses the bubbles to float away from her captivity? And from a certain angle, it almost looks like one of the tigers is trying to pop the bubbles on the other side of the fence. This piece keeps me coming back for more...
Marilyn’s credits include images from TB&CO’s Uncaged and Uncaged Brushes, as well as images from Rebecca McMeen: http://shoptangiebaxter.com.
Thank you to Diane, Pam and Marilyn for sharing their sparkling Gems with us! Please leave them some love!
To find out more about the Art Journal Emporium or the Art Journal Caravan, visit http://shoptangiebaxter.com.
[Posted by: Glenda Mulac]
2016 Has Arrived!
The new year has been ushered in and it just may be the perfect time to try something new. What could that be? Exploring art apps. I began using my art apps as a convenient way to create on the move. I got totally hooked. In the beginning I still have to create the original art. I still have a need to grip a pencil or piece of charcoal. But once that is done, a quick scan and the fun begins. I can mix, cut up, add to, embellish the list goes on. You can also build quite a collection of elements to use over again.
People always want to know how much is my physical work part of the picture? It's all part of it. The computer is merely a tool, like a pencil or pen. You still have to know how to create the art you are trying to achieve. The computer can’t do that for you.
For this post I took one face.
Then added some TB&CO elements and using a few art apps created this journal pocket page.
The apps I used are Juxtaposer and Art Rage. But I encourage you to explore, there are so many out there now. Most are free to start.
So I say look beyond the pen and paper, App it up!
Kits used: TB& CO's Mint to Be, and various Tangible Plans elements.
For more information on Art Journal Pockets visit Art Journal Pockets- Tangie Baxter & CO..
[posted by Kimberly]
Are you one of the 48% of Americans who say they don’t have enough time? Like money (or chocolate!) we always seem to need just a little more time in our daily lives. If you are lucky enough to find the time to pursue your digital art, why get bogged down in doing things the hard way?
Photoshop shortcuts might take some getting used to, but in the long run they are a great time saving device. There are tons (tons!!) of Photoshop shortcuts out there, but I have compiled a handful of my go-to, must-have favorites. I hope these tips will help to take your workflow to the next level, novice and expert alike we can always learn something new.
HANDY PHOTOSHOP SHORTCUTS for PC:
CTRL+J = Duplicates layer or selection
ALT+drag = duplicates layers, effects, masks, etc.
Shift+drag from one canvas to another = copies layer in the exact same place on new canvas
CTRL+’ = hides/shows grid
CTRL+; = hides/shows guides
CTRL+Z =undo/redo
CTRL+ALT+Z = undo more
CTRL+SHIFT+Z = redo more
RIGHT CLICK while the brush tool is activated to easily change your brush options
RIGHT CLICK on your rulers to change the measurement (‘percent’ comes in handy!)
Bonus Tip: Did you know that each tool has its own shortcut? They're listed in the tools panel, but just for funsies, here's a quick and dirty reference list:
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V = Move Tool
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E = Eraser Tool
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M = Marquis Tool
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G = Paint Bucket Tool
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L = Lasso Tool
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O = Burn Tool
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W = Magic Wand Tool
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P = Pen Tool
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C = Crop Tool
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T = Type Tool
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I = Eyedropper Tool
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A = Path Selection Tool
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J = Healing Brush
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U = Rectangle Tool
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B = Brush Tool
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H = Hand Tool
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S = Clone Stamp
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Z = Zoom Tool
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Y = History Brush Tool
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SUPER Bonus Tip: SHIFT+tool shortcut letter = Scrolls through tools that share a palette position (ie: W = Magic Wand tool, SHIFT+W = Quick Selection Tool)
What’s your favorite Photoshop shortcut? Leave a comment below!
[posted by Karli-Marie]
I have known Bill for awhile and have always been impressed by his beautiful digital work. A lot of the pieces I've seen show his fun side and great sense of humor. I realized when I was preparing this post that Bill was my link to Tangie back in the Art Journal Caravan days, and was thrilled to see his name in the Art Journal Emporium soon after Tangie announced the return of the Caravan! I'm sure you will love him as much as I do!
Here's Bill in his own words:
Most people call me Bill. In some of the art groups I go by the name Billizetti. That came about because I love "zetti" art. I live just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I create all kinds of art. I love digital art, but have been trying to make myself do more mixed media art now. I started drawing as a young kid. I always drew elaborate undersea pictures. I loved porpoise back then.
I've journaled through four of the five years of The Art Journal Caravan, so I knew Tangie when she moved to her own website. I created all of my pages digitally for those four years. I would like to try mixed media journaling for this new year.
Other Juicy Details:
Favorite art supply: This will sound corny, but I love glitter. I love "kawaii" art, and have painted several canvases in that style. Adding glitter makes them really fun! Plus it covers a multitude of lousy painting.
Favorite technique: I've been drawing a lot more lately. I really like scanning the hand drawn pictures, and then using them in digital art. It's the best of both worlds that way.
Favorite embellishing tools: I like using plastic bubble sheets used in shipping boxes to stamp paint on canvases. It's a good way to add texture and interest.
Favorite color palette: I love turquoise with purple or red. I usually throw in some lime green and bright orange, too.
What I'm exploring now: I just took a short class by Mindy Lacefield. I want to create characters that are fun and colorful to add to my journaling pages.
Favorite part of the Emporium right now: I actually just joined the Emporium. I know, though, my favorite part will be The Art Journal Caravan!
I love to make...fun, crazy art.
Besides the Emporium, where can we find Bill on the internet?
http://wcharlebois.wix.com/purplemooseheartart or http://wjcsdigitalworld.blogspot.com/
And here's some of his art:
"Alien in France"
"Sunny Day"
"WJC The Virus"
"Chandelier"
"Kawaii Animals"
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO
[posted by Jennifer Rowe]
Happy 2016 to everyone. I do hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Susan here with some Art Journal Emporium goodness. If you’re looking for inspiration then you are in for a treat this week as the AJE is in full swing with planners, book club and The Art Journal Caravan is back. Sit back and enjoy this week’s highlights.
First up is this bit of awesomeness by Tina C who was inspired by the Bernard Buffet worksheet which is part of Art Journal Caravan Itinerary No. 1 included in the Art Journal Emporium. Amazing good job on her sketch.
Our next layout is by Heather. Love the background blending & color choices. Especially like how Clara is transforming from the inside out.
Credits:AJC 2014 Kit by Tangie Baxter, "Fat Belle" by Aly at CartoonBrew. Vintage image of Louise Brooks from Hello_Tuesday galleries at DeviantArt. Font: Orator.
Our third bit of goodness is by William. What’s not to love with his super cute art boy and camel.
Credits: Uncaged Brushes & Stamps No.1 included in the Deluxe Art Journal Caravan Package as part of the AJE, Bill's own art.
Our last layout for this week is by Mindy. Love her art journal page using her “phrase of the year".
There is lots going on this month at the Emporium:
January/February Book Club being hosted by Anne. We are on chapter 2 this week so there is still plenty of time to join and play along.
Word of the Year Workbook
Art Journal Caravan
These are just a few things already happening in 2016. Why not join in the fun?
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO
[Posted by: Susan - Thimbleberrie]
Greetings - this is Anne posting today about the first 2016 AJE Book Club!
Are you ready to explore new mediums in your art? Do you desire more play time in your life? Is 2016 your year to try new ways to express your artistic evolution? Join me in the January-February AJE Book Club as we work our way through: Unfurling: A Mixed Media Workshop with Misty Mawn.
Each week we will cover a different Chapter. We started on January 1, but it is never too late to join in.
January 1: Drawing
January 8: Painting
January 15: Collage
January 22: Stamp Carving
January 29: Paper Pottery
February 5: Paper Crafts
February 12: Journal Making
February 19: Photography
February 26: Poetry
Misty’s instruction, expertise, and examples provide so much inspiration for experimenting in new mediums. You will be encouraged to play and experiment, rather than to be overly serious about your art. This opens up the possibilities for endless joy in the act of creating!
Each week I post a little about the book and I try a selection of the projects from that chapter. As I have begun to post my interpretations of the assignments, I am finding that I am being nudged into areas that I have not explored before. It is a little uncomfortable, especially as I have committed to posting my work to share with you, so you will see the good and the bad! This is forcing me to move beyond my criticisms though, and keep going, as I know that I am learning along the way. This book is encouraging me to focus on the process of learning and experimenting, rather than only on the final product. Because of this, some of my final pieces are better than I could have imagined!
Anyone can learn to draw, paint, sew book bindings, or carve stamps - just begin where you are, and try some of the exercises. You can join in on any, or all of the chapters. Feel free to post pictures of your work, or not! Just have fun and enjoy the process.
The AJE Book Club is included in the Art Journal Emporium. For more information about the Art Journal Emporium: http://shoptangiebaxter.com/pages/art-journal-emporium.
Also remember the Art Journal Caravan is back for 2016 and the deluxe version is includes in the Art Journal Emporium!
[posted by Anne]
