Cityscape Using Washi Tape

Finally finished my cityscape using washi tape (hey, that rhymes :)

I took advantage of the semi-transparency of washi tape and punched circles out of them to mimic paper lanterns. I then sewed these fun circles into a heavenly drape, anchored by the stars! The distant buildings are made from strips of scrapbook paper. Everything is on a watercolor background.

Want to see my washi tape collection?

Yeah. I have a slight addiction. 

Starry Night

Star light, star bright, 

First star I see tonight, 

I wish I may, I wish I might...

This mixed-media background,
is what I made tonight.

Jellyfishes To the Rescue!

When a painting goes sour, seriously sour, I try to make the most of it. One such painting wasn't going very well. I had to make some drastic changes by throwing on more gesso and glazing it with dark indigo paint.

I then added ripped paper, iridescent mica, splattered white gouache, and glammed it up with glitter pen! 

Can you believe this started out as a tranquil barnyard scene? LOL. Jellyfishes to the rescue!

Here's Stephen and daddy enjoying a bit of marine-life themselves.

What a stunning world we live in. There's an "ocean" of inspiration out there AND many ways to cover-up mistakes! Thank you Mother Nature :).

Home, Meadow, Pond

Currently, my personal style of art journaling has evolved into a storyboard format on 11x14" Arches or Fabriano cold press paper. 

My hope is that every image I create inspires a story. 

When I sit down to share these pages with my son (I make-up adventures as I go), he giggles and pounces on the watercolor sheet with his fingers.

 I try to add cuteness & whimsy like a little baby bird perched on top of a tall tree.

 And now that laundry's done....

....let's go swimming in the pond!

Late Night Art Journaling

"Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time."

~ Deborah Chaskin



Materials used: fabric, paper, metal, embroidery floss, lace trimmings

Note: all photos were taken under artificial light, so the colors are a bit skewed. I just couldn't wait to share!

When Stephen's asleep, I get busy at my craft table. Inspiration doesn't happen all the time but when it does, it's usually between 9 p.m. to midnight. Tonight my muse stirred me to do some late night art journaling!

Birches are appearing in my dreams again. I love using analogous watercolor to capture a simple row of trees.

Materials used: watercolor, fluid acrylics, french text, gel medium, gouache, glitter

 Sometimes I don't write anything down on my journal spreads but I feel that I'm still telling a story through the images I paint. A forest landscape, a bird's nest, a butterfly, trees, leaves, wings......these are powerful, personal symbols.

"For most people, we often marvel at the beauty of a sunrise or the magnificence of a full moon, but it is impossible to fathom the magnitude of the universe that surrounds us." 

 ~ Richard H. Baker

Materials used: watercolor, dimensional paint, gouache on paper

Pure Poppies

Poppies are magical. That is all.

Poppies, originally uploaded by ginaleekim.

Materials used: watercolor on paper with peach neocolor II underglaze.