Hello. My Name is Kirsten Malinee. I’m a new member of the TB&CO Crew and I’m incredibly grateful to create the monthly Mobile Art Challenge for the Art Journal Emporium. Creating and exploring new ways to create on my mobile phone and tablet has helped me stay in touch with my creative spirit no matter how busy I am and no matter where I am. Today’s mobile phones and tablets have become art studios on the go.
Each month I design a Mobile Art Challenge for AJE and post it for the members along with a tutorial. The tutorials focus on apps and workflows that can be tweaked and personalized to fit each person’s unique style. It’s very easy to outfit your mobile devices as mini art studios with just a few apps, some storage, and a little bit of organization.
Weaving back and forth between the art you make with your favorite non-digital mediums and the the digital art you can create on your mobile devices makes for endless possibilities. Truly there are no limits to your creative exploration.
Here are some of the reasons that Mobile Art is important to me and some of the reasons you may want to join us as in the AJE as you develop your own mobile art practice.
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Mobile art is Creativity on the Go
You may not always have the time you need to sit down with your art journal or open up Photoshop on your computer, but I’m fairly certain you have your phone with you most of the time. Having a mobile studio in your pocket gives you the opportunity to fill those unplanned moments with creative exploration.
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Mobile art is about Play (Trial and Error)
You will find your favorite formulas and workflows by experimenting and playing. There are no worries about the next choice you make ruining your artwork because of that marvelous undo button. Working on my phone doesn’t feel like a big deal. I have no expectations about creating my next masterpiece because, on my phone, I can try a little of this and add a little of that just to see what happens. Mobile art is about freedom. The freedom to explore without worrying about mistakes. There are always new discoveries to be made.
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Which leads to Happy Accidents
You can click along with an“Oooh. What does this button do?” attitude and suddenly something you do will take your breath away. That’s a happy accident. When I’m playing on my phone or tablet, I trust that I will always find something unexpected along the way.
I hope you will consider joining us for the Mobile Art Challenge in the Art Journal Emporium. Each month you will have the opportunity to explore different apps and creative ways to use them with step by step tutorials and examples. This month we experimented with blending digital and analog art to create ‘mixed media’ masterpieces using ArtRage. In October we created spooky images with Scratch Cam and Pixlr and next month … who knows what will happen. I look forward to seeing you there.
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO.
[posted by Kirsten]
I have noticed an increasing trend in both the paper and digital collage world of giving our ancestors fairy wings, headwear and wands. While there has been a diversity of headwear and wands, the fairy wings are pretty much all the same. Yes, they can be made out of different papers or materials, but essentially, they are the same shape and kind.
As a digital artist, this had me thinking. With so much at our fingertips, why are we making the same wings as everyone else? Could not anything, in fact, be turned into wings? Of course, some of this also applies to the paper artist.
As I am fond of turning fancy fonts into doodles, the idea of turning fonts into wings instantly sprang to mind. So I gave it a try, and it worked! My first ancestor fairy now has lovely filigree fairy wings, made with the capital letter C of an antique font (sorry, I do not know the name of it as this font came in a package of mixed-up fonts).
So, what else can be turned into wings?
Leaves and flowers, of course. This is a common practice in doll making and they do look gorgeous.
What about a musical instrument? Those lovely pear shapes of string instruments would work well. Then there are ribbons and bows, lace medallions and doilies.
How about a pair of open scissors? The shape lends itself so well to wings. The handles can be the upper part and the blades the lower part.
The bowl of a spoon, or the prongs of a fork?
Or a tape dispenser? Yes, I know what you are thinking but if you look at some of them, they have lovely curvy shapes. Speaking of office equipment, how about the handles on a bulldog clip, or perhaps paper clips?
An inkblot or paint splash, especially one that has drips running down in interesting formations. Scroll work of any kind, be it keys, gates, the backs of chairs, brackets. Maybe fish tails or fins. Even sports equipment would work. Tennis racquets, golf club heads, oars, table tennis paddles, just to name a few. Aeroplane wings, especially if you were inclined to make a more mechanically minded fairy.
And, last, but not least, the ever-present insect wing. But do not limit yourself to butterfly/moth, dragonfly or ladybug wings. Any insect wing will work and some are truly fascinating.
Credits: Art Journal Pockets Starter Kit, various Tangie Baxter Kits, Key & Ribbon unknown.
I hope that you too will experiment with ‘other’ wings. I would love to hear what you have used or found. Feel free to share in the comments.
[Posted by: Karin]
Happy Monday! Welcome to another edition of Tangie Baxter & Co’s Art Journal Emporium Gems! Today I have chosen two extraordinarily complimentary pages from last week’s wonderful AJE submissions. Both are art therapy, in a sense, as they deal with some of the difficult times all of Earth’s citizens are experiencing. Most importantly, though, they give us renewed hope for a world filled with beauty and love.
Let’s begin with this beautiful piece from Lynn Johnson. She has somehow filled it with all the sadness, hope and love that has inhabited our world and our hearts of late... And she reminds us that we all have the potential to be “true, loving human souls...”
Lynn’s credits: Tangie's Sweet Harmony, Rebecca's Tansy, November’s Collage Workshop Sheets currently part of The Art Journal Emporium, available at TB&CO in December, Tangie's font Bread and Butter and Eiffel Tower and Paris map overlay from Lynn’e personal digital files.
When I saw Marilyn Curttright’s wonderful page, overflowing with brilliant, multicolored flowers from Tangie Baxter and Rebecca McMeen, I knew immediately that it needed to be the companion piece for Lynne’s page! The flowers, so abundant and insistent, call out to us with beauty and love - and the hope for a brighter tomorrow...
Marilyn’s credits: Flowers from Tangie Baxter & CO. Additional images from Holliewood, Helly & Paprika. Font is Unknown Caller BTN.
Please leave these two artists some love! And remember to look for the love and beauty throughout our world!
Congratulations and a big thanks to Lynn and Marilyn for gifting us with this week’s gems. That’s all for today... Be sure to check back next Monday to see the treasures Susan uncovers!
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO.
[Posted by: Glenda Mulac]
I wanted to create something that embodies the heart of Thanksgiving. A cornucopia (horn of plenty) overflowing with autumn leaves and flowers seemed to fit the bill.
“Thankfulness”
Here’s How:
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Using Tangie’s Autumns Poetry, digitally copied leaves, flowers and birds onto pages, then printed (laser print or if using an inkjet printer, spray with a fixative).
- Next print an image of a cornucopia.
- Cut out each piece (this takes the most time, I suggest watching a Holiday movie while doing this step).
- On the background page paint a thin layer of paint (I sprayed Dylusions Ink Spray Pure Sunshine) then brush with a wet brush to cover page.
- Using a stencil (I used one that looked like basket weave) spray paint (I used Dylusions Ink Spray Dirty Martini), then roll paper towels over and blot.
- Thinly paint cornucopia with Dylusions Ink Spray Pure Sunshine. Dry.
- Cut a slit in cornucopia so that you can pack with the cutouts to overflowing. Glue bottom part of cornucopia onto page, leaving the part above the slit free so that you can place cut outs.
- Place and move around cut outs until it looks right, then glue each into place. Glue down top part of cornucopia. Glue birds to two corners. NOTE: Glue loosely so that some edges are free allowing more depth and dimensionality.
- Outline birds with coordinating pens (I used black and gold uni-ball® Signo pens).
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Draw a connecting line between birds with Martha Stewart Crafts® Fine Glitter Fire Opal.
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Highlight some of the leaves and flowers using silver, ZIG® Wink of Stella Clear and Black.
- Paint cornucopia with a thin mix of brown and gold glitz acrylic paint.
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Use a black uni-ball® Signo pen to write the quote:
“Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy.”
The art piece on my Autumn inspired mantel.
The digital product Tangie’s Autumns Poetry is available at Tangie Baxter & Co.
[Posted by Jan]
I bet your plate is full right now (don’t worry I’ll make this quick!). The fall semester is coming to a close; the holidays are around the corner; company is coming to town; there are deadlines and presents to buy and food to cook; and of course you’re probably dealing with a weighty head cold about now. It can all be so overwhelming!
In fast paced times like these it’s easy to take the good stuff in our lives for granted and focus instead on what’s going wrong or how much there is left on our to-do list. But I assure you, there is always time to cultivate a spirit of gratitude.
If you’ve been reading the blog lately you may have noticed a motif of gratitude sewn into the lining of several of my posts. It is because I am a firm believer in the practice of gratitude, not just during November or when things are looking up, but all year-round. I can't tell you what a wonderful impact documenting my gratitude has had on my life.
Don’t just take my word for it (or the multiple studies that show practicing gratitude can have a positive impact on your physical, psychological, and social well-being), try it out for yourself. Just a few minutes a day dedicated to giving thanks can mean big changes for you.
There are many different ways to fit a gratitude practice into your life, but the best way is the one that works for you. For me, that usually involves a simple notebook and pen that I keep by my bedside. Today, however, I was inspired by Tangie’s latest batch of amazing collage sheets and decided to document some highlights of my November gratitude list.
The collage sheets did most of the work for me; I just added a little sparkle, a pinch of love, and some journaling and: BAM. Gratitude documented. The process made me so happy that I’m considering making it a recurring theme in my art journal.
What’s your plan for documenting the amazing things in your life this November? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Supplies: Tangie Baxter's Sweet Harmony & November’s Collage Workshop currently part of The Art Journal Emporium, available at TB&CO in December.
[posted by Karli-Marie]
Growing up I always wanted to be an artist. But I never truly pursued it until later in life. Art was viewed as an impractical means of making a living. You know the starving artist tales. So for most of my life I worked jobs that suppressed my creativity. Then one day I woke up and said I am going to paint a picture. See below. I actually painted 6 small ladies. They were my first attempts at becoming an artist.
Then looking to make my work more exciting. I began researching various art apps to help enhance my work. I came across Tangie Baxter's site. What's this? Digital Elements that I could use to enhance my work. Whether it was a collage or painting this was truly exciting stuff. This began my journey down the Tradigital road. I would create the original, load it into the computer and enhance its beauty by using art apps and various digital elements from the site. Fun stuff. But how do I classify this type of work? I settled on the mixed media category. After all I was mixing a collection of media together. Paper, paint, digital elements etc. Explaining this to people was a bit involved. They would think I created the whole picture using the computer. But the computer is only a tool, like a brush. You still have to know what to do with it. I work on my art everyday and as the days go on I see the changes.
So it's official I am a Tradigital Artist combining original art with digital art/elements together to create a work of art.
Credits: Tangie’s Sweet Harmony and Rebecca’s Tansy.
[posted by Kimberly]
Our Art Journal Pocket Crew has been busy this month creating beautiful things. This AJP was made by Zeneva Kovic for our “A Day in the Life” November Challenge. She did a lot of journaling on the cards of an average week in her life.
Supplies:
Tangie Baxter & Co, Art Journal Sheets No. 136 (Available free this month for challenge in the Art Journal Pockets Workshop)
Tangie Baxter & Co, Art Journal Sheets No. 120
Tangie Baxter & Co, Melt Into Springs
Tangie Baxter & Co, Mint to Be
Rebecca McMeen | Biscuit (Art Doll)
For more information on Art Journal Pockets visit Art Journal Pockets- Tangie Baxter & Co.
[Posted by: Terri]
Happy Monday! I do hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Susan here with a few Art Journal Emporium treasures from last week. If you’re looking for a little inspiration you are in for a treat! Sit back and enjoy this week’s highlights. Please take a few minutes and leave some love for everyone.
Let’s get the party started with Chickie’s wonderful page. I love how the word art is tucked into the background and Tansy is jumping for joy.
Chickie’s credits: TB&CO Grab Bag #15 {November 2015} which is now available as separate kits: Tangie’s Sweet Harmony and Rebecca’s Tansy, November’s Collage Workshop currently part of The Art Journal Emporium, available at TB&CO in December.
The second layout is by Marilyn Curttright’s. I love how her page is grouped with three’s.
Marilyn’s credits: TB&CO Grab Bag #15 {November 2015} which is now available as separate kits: Tangie’s Sweet Harmony and Rebecca’s Tansy, Tangie’s “Impossible Things” kit available in The Vault, a paint spatter from Tangie's Spinning Daydreams. Font is Blackadder ITC.
Next up is a lovely page by Kay Oft filled with such softness and all kinds of wonderful blending.
Kay’s credits: TB&CO Grab Bag #15 {November 2015} which is now available as separate kits: Tangie’s Sweet Harmony and Rebecca’s Tansy.
Check out this bit of goodness by Liz Waechter. Love how the gal jumps right out at you and draws you to read this page.
Liz’s credits: Tangie's Spinning Daydreams, Rebecca's Crispin, Collage Workshop #16 which was part of AJE’s October deliveries, word bits from Tangie's Let It Shine and Tangie's ChristmasTime.
Congratulations to Chickie, Marilyn, Kay and Liz for this week’s treasures. That’s all for today. Be sure to check back next Monday to see the treasures Glenda discovers.
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO
[Posted by: Susan - Thimbleberrie]
A little about me: my name is Jan and I’m an aspiring mixed-media artist. I had scrapbooked until most of the scrapbook stores shut down (I loved touching products and mixing up all the bits and pieces). I discovered digital scrapbooking through Somerset Digital Studio magazine and eventually Tangie Baxter’s Art Journal Caravan, and this kept me engaged. But I still missed the touching and getting my hands onto products. Thanks again to Tangie Baxter’s on site workshops, I discovered mixed-media. The monthly Art Journal Emporium's (AJE) Grab Bags contain enough papers and ephemera along with an art doll to create not only lots of digitally created pages, but also fodder for creating mixed-media pages. Each month I will show you a page created digitally and the how to’s of creating a mixed-media page. Enjoy!
DIGITAL CREATION
“Birds of the Grove.”
MIXED-MEDIA CREATION
Using a combination of digital elements created a focal piece and bits and pieces from the Grab Bag along with various art mediums, created a mixed-media journal page.
Here’s how:
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Digitally enhanced Tansy and placed her on an ostrich (Rebecca McMeen’s Parker).
- Printed Tansy/Ostrich and a large rose (laser print so that ink doesn’t – alternative print on an inkjet printer and spray with a fixative).
- Cut out the Tansy/Ostrich and Rose (or tear if you want that effect).
- Watercolor background on a page (used 2 colors [Calypso Teal and Postbox Red] of Dylusions ink spray – or use your favorite watercolors, Caran d’Ache Crayons.
- 2-3 sprays of each color on the page, dip brush in water and spread color over page. Used bright colors so that the rose will stand out. Dry.
- Brayered Golden Zinc White over page to tone down.
- Glued rose on page leaving room at bottom for journaling/quote.
- Glued Tansy/Ostrich on top of rose.
- Outlined Tansy with black Uniball Signo pen, Ostrich with gold Uniball Signo pen and rose with dark pink Sharpie.
- With a pencil, drew lines for the journaling/quote. Printed quote, using black Micron 008.
- Doodled – separated lines of the quote with dots, lines on rose, Tansy and ostrich.
- Added round paint splotches to bottom of rose using Golden Fluid Acrylic Phthalo Green and Quinacridone Magenta (colors to complement the background).
- Brushed Faber Castell Glaze over Tansy/Ostrich.
- Made a gold circle (using Gold Glitter Paint – painted a circle of paint on a palette and let dry).
- Peeled circle off palette and glued onto the empty space of the page.
“Blessed is the Influence”
These products were part of TB&CO Grab Bag #15 {November 2015} which is now available as separate kits: Tangie’s Sweet Harmony and Rebecca’s Tansy.
Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and are priced on a sliding scale, so act fast for the best deal! For more information visit TB&CO Grab Bags.
By the way, over in the AJE, you can participate in monthly challenges. There are two winners every month. Just upload your digital or mixed-media entry by the end of the month.
For more information on the Art Journal Emporium visit Art Journal Emporium - Tangie Baxter & CO.
[Posted by Jan]
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
- William Arthur Ward
November is here and the time of giving thanks is upon us. What better way to show your gratitude to the people in your life than with a beautiful handmade thank you card? It doesn’t have to be a special occasion to tell someone how grateful you are to have them in your life.
So go ahead and grab some digital art products and a little washi tape, and join me in expressing your gratitude to someone special.
Supplies:
Art Journal Pockets No. TB 137
Sweet Harmony by Tangie Baxter
Cardstock
Assorted washi tape
Glue stick
Marker
Front
Back
[Posted by Karli-Marie]
