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!

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.

I've Been Accepted!

Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) is having their 6th Annual Student Botanical Arts Exhibition, from October 5 to 21, 2012, and two of my watercolors have been accepted! 

Title: Botanic Study 1

11" x 14" watercolor on cold press paper.

(SOLD)

Title: Botanic Study 2

11" x 14" watercolor on cold press paper.

(SOLD)