Intro: For my first ever 1 on 1 trade on IllustratedATCs (monthly sign up trades) I got to make a 4"x6" artwork that I ended up turning into a postcard. KP selected a sheep or goat as the animal she wanted to get and she made me a horse portrait in exchange.
What I created: I wanted to hand-make a postcard that I did the back for as well. No stamps or templates were used for this postcard as I am testing if making postcard backs are better by hand or if I should invest in a stamp (perhaps custom made). The "Night Dreamers" is a series that I started in high school but never got any more ideas for again to make more pieces for. I ended up using the same setting but changing the main animal out. Originally I made a bunny in PJs looking out through his bedroom window. I wanted this to be different to show that the sheep is tiny (the bunny was in a room made for his size). I was going to have more cutout elements added here with the moon like stars and comets but they were too big to look nice so I just kept the moon only. Throwing salt onto the watercolors really does help to make the moon look better than the previous one I had made. I also did not sue a toothbrush or any other tool for spraying the stars on, I ended up using a pen to lay down the stars with a controlled hand. I did this to make it easier to create focusing areas for the moon - even though it was time consuming. Final thoughts: I am going to work my way through the other zodiacs made in a night setting (not the same exact scene). Along with that I think it is better to create a stamp for the back... I'll be repainting this image again in the future just because of all the mistakes I keep picking up everytime I view it.
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Intro: My first ARPG references are finally done! I was able to successfully get these two beauties for the Kahuvaa breed group.
What I created: I decided to make two portraits on postcard sized watercolor paper for both of them. I ended up coming up with names on the spot when uploading them to dA. I tested some watercolor pencils with these two references on top of watercolor paint to see if anything got muddy... and it did not. Everything flows as it should with watercolors. I do not think I like using the watercolor pencils for covering a large area (like the background and even the horses). They work great for small sections when you have to lay down one color type in a small part but for covering large parts the pencils are not great. Good thing I learned this now and not while creating a contest entry. With a few shows and some events going on at dA concerning horse focused ARPG groups you'll be seeing plenty of horse art from me. I hope by drawing and painting them more I am able to better understand the different structures and features of each breed. Intro: For those that are interested in this form of snail mail art please read: Deco 101 I have listed details on what I am willing to accept for books plus details on my own books. At the end of this post are instructions on what to do with any of my deco books if you are going to be or have worked on them. Details on Deco Books that I can take: I prefer to work with these mediums: markers, watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, acrylic paint, distress inks, color brush pens, other inks, and detailers (white gel pens or multiliners). Themes I prefer to work on: Any! I am open to any themes but I do love these as I feel more comfortable with them: goddesses, whimsical, pigs, owls, pandas (black&white or red), butterflies, drinks (tea, coffee, etc), food, animals, people (portraits or full body in realistic, comic, or anime form), fashion, flowers, nature (I love mother goddess), curiosity cabinets (kunstkammer), tarot cards, affirmation or oracle cards, origami, steampunk, gothic, victorian, girly (pink and glittery), dragons, pirates, fairy tales, marigolds, roses, harpy eagles, hawks, fantasy creatures, ARPG related, willing to try something new. Not willing to work on anything that requires gore, profanity, promoting a religion (I like making art related to religion but I'll not be promoting any), hard-core politics, suggestive... My Deco Books - Information These are my deco books that have yet to leave my house or are in transit but need artists. I have linked some Pinterest Boards that somewhat help with the theme of each book (if one is available) to help you get some ideas. I have some deco books in the following format: Deco book Name | theme | size | total number of pages in book | number of pages completed | medium | extra info | Pinterest Board | current location | next location
Binding: I am a bit picky on binding...and because my OCD kicks in during binding I like to get pages for anything that I am making done first before I bind them. I am okay with working on pages for something that was bought with the binding already done but if binding is an option that can be completed later then I prefer it that way. I personally feel that the binding sometimes prevents us from creating properly (it does for me). Don'ts: same things that I am not willing to work on are not to be included in my deco books...pretty please. Some nudity is allowed but nothing crazy. Try to keep the religious and political themes tuned down a little but they are not entirely banned. Absolutely no gore or extreme violence. I have a bunch of nephews and nieces that love to look at these so please keep that in mind. Mailing Details: Sending a whole book eventually starts costing more than 1 stamp and for this reason I offer you two options. Either you can make the pages yourself (following the measurements listed here) or I can mail the number of pages you would like to work on along with your trade. Please send me an email at ParadoxSketchbook @ gmail dot com if you are interested in these or get in touch with me on any social network that I am on. I want to get these ones done before opening a few other ones that I have prepared (odd shaped ones). What to do with my deco books.
Intro: I recently was involved with multiple MMH (Make Me Happy threads) of ATCsForAll where we had to create postcards. Some of them had themes already decided by the person who they were made for and one had no theme at all. I was also participating in a Valentine Exchange that let me create 2 Valentine postcards. Along with an EAU thread - I got make my first envie and mail it off. There was also an art marathon going on that inspired me to make some heart themed ATCs. What I created: All of the snail mail art that I made used the following materials:
Note: For those that these were surprises for: I am sorry if they still have not arrived and I have already posted them here. It has been over 2 weeks since they were sent off, so I posted these keeping in mind that they have already arrived. The longest time for me was a trade completed in Slovakia and the cards reached their destination within two weeks. Intro: As you already know I have plenty of portraits sketched out and ready to go. They are on their final stages, with the guided lines that I use to paint already set up on watercolor paper. All of them are 4"x6" and waiting for my to lay down paint on them. I do believe I have now roughly 24 total faces with half of them painted and completed. Below are the first pair that I actually got requests for during the 29 Faces Challenge. What I created: again, 4"x6" postcards done on Canson watercolor paper using Reeves watercolor paints and normal white gel pen with Le Pen marker for detailing. Face #11 - plumhill2001 (Lisa R.) She has given me permission to keep the original as a part of my portfolio. She provided me 3 references to work with and I found this one to be the most unique as it is not a simple selfy done with a mobile phone. This makes me wonder if I can get enough volunteers to sign up for a Selfy project... Face #12 - zandradee (Rebecca W.) I have got permission to keep this portrait in my portfolio as well. I really liked how the realistic anime approach worked out with this portrait - something that I need to practice. Define Selfy (Project): I mentioned it in face #11 so might as well give some details on it. I am hoping to get roughly 20 people to sign up for this project or more (even better if I get more). I think it'll be interesting to see how people take selfies, not just using a mobile phone. I'll limit a "normal" and modern selfy to only one individual from the group of volunteers and request that everyone else tries something different. It'll be hard to get volunteers as not that many people like getting paintings done of themselves. Limiting the use of phones might not be a good idea... but it would be less unique if everyone who volunteered used a phone. It would be free of charge of course... all you have to do is send me a reference picture to work with and be okay with getting a printed copy of the original work.
I really want to do this project, especially near September. Let me know if you are interested? Any tips or ideas maybe...? Intro: a bit late I know but I never got around to taking an image of this just because I was struggling with what words to use on the back. I completed the back and even gave this to my husband but then never got around to sharing it with everyone. What I created: the postcard-making-bug was still infecting me and so I ended up preparing the front of one card, backs of 3 cards, plus completing this postcard for my husband all during February. I learned how to age the postcards using Distress Ink which has now been carried over for all of them. I do believe that I'll never leave the back of a postcard blank now. I have only done that to my first postcard. This was my first attempt to work with scrapbook paper to assemble something. Finished product is a Valentines postcard given to my husband (and made for him). Happy valentines day to this blog! And a very happy valentines day to everyone who reads any posts here! =)
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Author: RejiI used to be a digital artist but switched back to traditional art as I feel more connected with the art I create this way. Currently, I create art whenever I can for art trades and commissions. I have worked with clay (earth clay to modern forms like Polymer, Sculpey, even Air Dry clay) along with watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, pastels, charcoal, pen and pencil drawings, India ink, Chinese Colors, wires, felt fabric, yarn, weaving, basket making, and the list goes on and on. I am currently working on exploring nail art, make-up, dress making, scrapbooking, and small canvas art. Archives
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