Hello Blog :)

I noticed that when I'm good at updating my instagram photos (come follow me at ginaleekim), I'm a bad blogger! Sorry about that. Here's a page out of my 7x10 journal. I played around with some red, orange & bright pink watercolors, then cut it into a triptych. 

I've been feeling under the weather lately. But that doesn't prevent me from reminiscing a bit. This was Stephen at 13 months, laughing at an empty bottle of gesso! Enjoy.

And The Most Embarrassing Award Goes To...

Oh dear. 

Last week, I was trying to compliment someone on a blog but instead of "kick-ass" (as in, you rock!) I typed "kiss-ass". How'd that happen! This TOTALLY changed my sentiment. Uh....you're an amazing, extraordinary, out-of-this-world, phenomenal, mind-blowing, and unbelievably talented kiss-ass. Ugh.

Please enjoy my art while I go bury my head in the sand. 

Technique used: watercolor, stencil (Jill Berry designs), salt, white gouache splattering.

Summer Completed!

I know, I know. Summer hasn't even started (unless you're in Australia). But it feels good to complete the four seasons layout in my art journal.

Happy Friday everyone!

Two-Page Spreads

Enjoy some 2-page spreads out of my new 7" x 10" watercolor journal. I kinda went crazy and super saturated my paintbrush with bright watercolors. I think it's because I have cabin fever....I want winter to be over, like yesterday. 

As you can see below, I have yet to stencil in "SUMMER" on this art journal page.

Part of the problem is that I don't know where to place my lettering! I wouldn't want its font to obstruct or cover-up anything pretty. Hmmmmm, what to do....what to do....

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Nature Art Journal

I just finished an 11" x 14" art journal cover page. After giving it numerous glazes and truly overworking the mountain/sky, I am finally done with it. 

Painting landscapes come natural to me. You can't go wrong when choosing nature as your inspiration.

Here's what it looked like at the beginning stages (i.e. initial wash). I had no idea what this would morph into. I did see snow-capped mountains in the distant horizon, but I also saw a vase with white flowers!

 

And remember folks, no matter how tempted: 1) never dip your paintbrush into your coffee; 2) never drink from your dirty water bucket....it has zero caffeine in it!

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 :).

My Visual Diary - Part 3 of 3

I paint. I sew. I dream. I dance.

Enjoy my stitched birches!

My Visual Diary - Part 2 of 3

Enjoy flipping through my art journal, staring Stephen (adorable studio sidekick).

Art Journal Flip-Through from Gina Kim on Vimeo.

My Visual Diary - Part 1 of 3

I'm a child at heart. Life is a storyboard. Whimsy is my middle name. 

New Way of Art Journaling

New Way of Art Journaling, originally uploaded by ginaleekim.

Combining old and new watercolor paintings, sewn paper, and embellishments, I have finally completed three 11x14"art journals with accordian-style binding.

This is my new mixed-media form of the visual diary. I can't wait to share with you the contents of each journal. Stay tuned :).