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Here's a real treat for you...

7/29/2015

Collage Your World's
Seven Easy Steps to Creating Your Own Vision Board

Susan invited me to talk to you about creating a vision board and I must say her timing is perfect. She has caught me red-handed procrastinating about making a new vision board for myself! Yes, even this instructor can be a huge procrastinator when it comes to making hers! I've been meaning to make one for a year and half now and just haven't roused up the enthusiasm.

You see I've suffered a number of great losses in the last couple of years... separating and divorcing my long-time partner, losing my house, various friends and family all in a short space of time and these things have taken their toll on my spirit. I found myself very disillusioned with life, so much so that I began to be too afraid to dream again.

In doing so I forgot how essential dreaming and imagining are to our lives. Author John Green has said: "If you don't imagine nothing ever happens at all." and this couldn't be more true. A vision board is just that; it's about imagining your dreams and making them real. As well as putting them front and centre in your life, so you don't forget them. If you believe that we only have one life to live, why not make it the best we have!

The first order of creating a vision board is to sit down and imagine what we want our lives to look like. My very first vision board was about beginning an art business as well as an art school. It's a big dream that is only possible to fulfill in small steps. Even though haven't fully realized it yet, since I began my vision board journey many amazing things have happened to me. I believe in its power so much so that I want to share it with others so everyone I know can grow and prosper.

I'll use my first vision board to acquaint you with the process of putting one together.

1) Ask yourself what aspect of your life you’d like to change? Do you want to acquire a healthier body, a new house, design a garden, embark on a new career, etc.? In my case it was to build an art business and later, school.

2) To envision what your board will look like, take 10 minutes to meditate to peaceful music while imagining your dream goal. Close your eyes and visualize this new world through your five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Doing this allows you to build a more detailed vision of it on your board. In my case sight was very important. How my school and business were built and who inhabited their spaces were important. There are a mixture of spaces: old, modern and contemporary on my board .... places to contemplate, make and enjoy diverse forms of art. There are mixtures of people: old, young, professionals, lay people and people of different ethnicities who I hope to engage in this endeavour.

3) After meditating, take at least 10-15 minutes to jot down the types of images and words that came to mind while you were imagining your goal. Throughout the process, when you get stuck, these notes will help you focus.

There were concepts in my vision that I wanted to capture so I did these through choosing words I found in magazines... "shelter", "passion", "tranquility" and "journey" were concepts that were important to that world.

4) Search for your images and words in: magazines, books, photo albums, flyers and poetry/quote books; even the Internet.

5) Spend a few hours cutting out your materials and arranging them in a manner you see fit. I have a few simple collage layout styles I introduce to students as a guide. Depending on how big a surface you use and how much material you have, it may take you 1-3 hours to glue. You can also add: paint, pencil crayons, glitter, stickers, fabric, etc.. to add further texture and interest to your board.... really make it you!

Because it's relatively simple, I like to use a grid style arrangement of images on my board (see image below); it's composed of mostly squares and rectangles that butt up together in linear grid format. I use illustration board for my board surface because it's sturdy and won't warp as much with liquid glues or paints. There are a variety of methods to "glue" things on your board. For fun ideas see my blog: "There Must be 50 Ways to Glue Your Collage" cited below. There are many other ways to present a vision board besides on an illustration board. Feel free to visit my Pinterest page (see below) for other vision board formats.

6) When finished, place your vision board in a room where you can contemplate on it for a few minutes every day... perhaps your bedroom or kitchen; mine is in my studio.

7) Share your piece with like-minded friends. They may be able to give you tips on how to achieve your dream goal. The ideas and support of friends and strangers has been invaluable in helping me achieve my dreams -- ah, the power of word-of-mouth!

If you decide to take up the vision board challenge, I’d love to hear how you felt about the process. If you’ve got more questions about the steps, feel free to email me. I’d be glad to give you more details. As well, see the links below to find out more about my motivations behind making my first vision board and other tips to make yours. If you'd like to take my next vision board workshop, please check my Workshops Page (http://www.collageyourworld.com/workshops.htm) periodically. My next couple will be in the fall.

Susan, many thanks for giving me this opportunity to spread the word and for giving me that swift kick I needed to get my act together again. Hugs!

Other Links:

Collage Your World: There Must be 50 Ways to Glue Your Collage
http://www.collageyourworld.com/blog/?p=187

Michelle Casey Pinterest Vision Board Samples
https://www.pinterest.com/mmmcasey/vision-boards/

Collage Your World: The Call of the Vision Board
http://www.collageyourworld.com/blog/?p=7218

The Right-Brain Business Plan: Michelle Casey's Vision Board
http://www.rightbrainbusinessplan.com/2010/06/28/spotlight-on-michelle-casey-of-collage-your-world/

Michelle's Vision Board

Susan's Vision Board
The result of one of Michelle's Vision Board workshops. It was a ton of fun and a very inspiring experience. Thanks Michelle!

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Well, it really had to be done...

7/16/2015

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Or as Popeye would say, "I've had all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" Then he'd pop open a can of spinach, down it and get busy!

Well, I passed on the can of spinach... maybe later, thanks... but I did get busy.

Over the last year I've started feeling as though the studio walls were slowly creeping in on me. There is so much stuff stored in my studio that there is almost no room to work. One corner has 30+ finished paintings on gallery canvasses (the thick ones); then there are all the blank canvasses lined up, patiently waiting for their turn to show off their beauty; easels in another spot, in addition to the big one that I usually use; rolling suitcases that I use for transporting art supplies to classes taking up more floor space; and piles of new art tools that have never even had a home... just put on the table to sort out later.

Finally, with having no space to lay my recent large paintings flat to varnish and wire, I decided that the time to deal with it was NOW, and I got busy. Although there is still lots to do, I now have two bare work tables on which to lay my large pieces. Paint jars are back on their shelves, brushes are back in their appropriate coffee cans, oh, and the box of brayers that I haven't been able to find for ages, I found it in the strangest place: where it was supposed to be on the shelf! Imagine that!

I now have a room in my basement that, with a few modifications, will become a store room for those 30+ finished paintings and canvasses-in-waiting, which will free up a lot of room in the studio, making it a much more creative space, and I did it all while waiting for paint to dry!

The art exhibition for the students at the Cumberland Lodge was this past Sunday and even though there were not a lot of pieces of artwork we had a great time. The students were thrilled to see their work framed and hanging on the office divider screens we used. You could just see it in their faces when they came in! Cheryl also put together bio's for each of the exhibitors and some also brought other art or crafts to display on their panel. Poet, Brenda, who is a resident, was on hand to do a book signing of her two published poetry books. Refreshments were provided by the Lodge and there were some amazing looking cupcakes, which I had to resist... oh, but they looked absolutely scrumptious!

Phil, one of the very generous donors of the art supplies for this course was also in attendance and it turns out that he is a talented artist himself, even having only taken up painting recently. We also had a visit from Diane, an artist that lives just down the road from the Lodge who came in to show us a painting that she had been doing of her amazing log home for a wedding gift for her son. The residents of the Lodge had regularly stopped by, on their walks, to see what progress she had made on the painting. They were thrilled to see it finally completed.

During the various conversations the idea of a Christmas Craft Bazaar came up and the talk, it seems, has been ongoing. I have agreed to conduct some workshops on Christmas ornaments etc, for residents to make, either for the bazaar or as gifts. This should be a lot of fun as there are some very talented residents and they are always enthusiastic about learning and doing new things! What a treat it has been working with them!

This Week's Painting Tip: Stencilling
One of the techniques we used to create journal pages at the Lodge was stencilling with spray inks and distress stains.

Here's the process we used:

Create a light coloured background using the distress stain dauber to spread some on your paper and then using a wet-nap to spread it all over the page evenly. Ideally you should let that dry or encourage it with a hair dryer.
Then lay a stencil over the background and spray it with the ink. Lift the stencil carefully.
Again let dry before you apply more.

You can also turn the stencil over and apply the wet side to the page to create some interesting effects.

Another trick is a subtractive technique where you lay the stencil over a wet background and apply a clean dry paper towel over the stencil to lift the colour where the stencil is open.

Stencils can also be used to add texture to a mixed media piece by spreading a wide range of acrylic texture mediums or high viscosity/heavy body paint over the stencil with a palette knife and then lifting the stencil off carefully.

You can also create your own stencils by cutting them out of plastic stencil sheets available at craft stores, or a sheet of acetate.

When purchasing stencils the design is always the most important thing, but pay attention to whether it will give a positive or negative image when used and also, you need to be aware of the durability of your stencil. Some of the first ones I bought were flimsy acetate sheets which barely survived their first use. Nowadays I see that the stencils seem to be more durable, but, non the less, it's something to watch for.

And, this week I came across a video on YouTube, produced by Lindsay Weirich, thefrugalcrafter explaining how to create stencils with a hot glue gun and a silicone baking sheet. Perfect for creating custom stencils! If you are into mixed media or journalling you should check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbLcxJ0RYQQ. Enjoy!

Below is a quick demo of stencilling with the inks. The bleeding can be eliminated by letting the inks dry between layers.

Dusk: The New Painting

With the painting from Jane's Photograph and Quiet Reflections finished, except for varnishing... which I can now do, I have started a new painting. This one is a little different from the last two as I'm not using metal leaf, and it will be done in multiple intertwined layers instead of simple layers. To start I sketched out my design on the canvas with a light gray soft pastel pencil, which easily wipes off with a cloth or disappears when you paint over it. I just wanted to sort out the composition in my mind as I am working from several different photographs to create this painting. Once I decided where things would go I blocked in my lower area with Payne's Grey and put two coats of gold gesso over the upper half. I'm hoping the gold gesso will maintain some of the luminosity that the leaf offers but not as strong as the leaf. When that was dry I spread my gloss gel medium over the whole canvas and created the texture, keeping in mind what would be going in the various areas of the painting. Remember, there will be several layers of texture to build the painting up to it's finished level. Now I wait for that to dry... usually ready to work on the following day, unless of course it's raining in which case it can take several days. This painting will also have some fun finishing techniques that I think you will enjoy, so stay tuned!

Best wishes,
Susan

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I just learned something I didn't know about Robins!

7/8/2015

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Tuesday morning I had a dentist appointment and upon my return home I found a baby Robin parked on my front porch. He was obviously missing his parents and called out to them every few seconds, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Then the chipmunk, who normally torments my cat, Morgan, at the patio door, came whipping around the corner of the house, stopped, sniffed the chick and went on his way to the studio... to critique the artwork, and then to over to my neighbour who feeds all the chippies! Oh what a complex community this is... I should write a book!

So, the young Robin left the porch and settled into the grass, still calling, and I went inside. I could still hear him calling and after a while went outside to check on him. He seemed fine but I was concerned: had he been orphaned, abandoned, or lost? I just didn't know what to do about him, and since he was on my front lawn I felt responsible for him.

Then I remembered the Wild Bird Care Centre out on Moodie Drive in the city's west end. I called them and talked to a very knowledgeable young lady who told me that young Robins leave the nest about a week before they can fly. They live on the ground and in the bushes, with their parents close enough at hand to watch over them, but far enough away to teach them independence... an internship, so to speak. She said that as long as he was alert and active that I should do nothing. If he becomes lethargic, unresponsive or very uncoordinated then I should bring him to them and they would care for him.

While I was on the phone with the young lady, an adult Robin arrived and was digging for worms or bugs on the other side of the road. This was not missed by young master Robin who began heading across the road in such a fury that he kept falling on his face. With an apparent resolution inevitable I went back to work in my office.

A while later I had to go to the Post Office and was looking to see if I could see the chick before backing my car out of the driveway. My neighbour, the one that feeds all the chippies, was out so I told him about the baby Robin. While we were talking we noticed an adult Robin landing on the curling club lawn across the road, and then we could see the chick being fed by the adult.

So all's well that ends well... and I didn't have to drive to the other side of Ottawa to deliver young master Robin to the Wild Bird Care Centre.

Summer art classes
The Acrylic and Oil class at NECTAR (255 MacKay Street in Ottawa) is running this summer from July 9 to August 27, and drop-in students are welcome to attend. The drop-in fee is $20 per class and is open to all media and styles of art. Bring your art, your materials, tools and your questions or concerns about what you are working on. I will help you resolve your issues and move to the next level.

Today's Painting Tip: Painting Red
Red is an interesting colour to work with. If you lighten it with white it becomes pink, but what if you really wanted a light red instead? Alternately, if you wanted to darken red would you add black and end up with a muddy red rather than a rich dark red?
Here's a couple of tricks to try:
Lighten a red by adding white and also some orange to counteract the pink effect.
When darkening red use it's compliment, green, and add a bit of purple to give it some life.

Try it by painting the red ball below, and let me know if it helps... or let me know what your favourite red mixes are.

Next Painting
After bringing you up to date on the painting I put on Face book as it progressed, I have taken the lessons learned from the painting of Jane's Photograph, and applied them to the first piece. Initially I found the painting rather bland, not much definition and while it did reflect what I wanted to show you, it was not pleasing to me. I have added some clouds to the sky, over the sun; more sun; and some ripples in the water. Here is the result, with which I am much happier.

Next week a new painting begins!

Best wishes,
Susan

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Let the Summer Roll Out!

7/2/2015

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Remember Those Lazy - Hazy - Crazy Days of Summer? The song that was immortalized in a 1963 album by the Late Great Nat King Cole. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OZrNDtRltg) Well haven't things changed since then? No lazy, hazy for us art types, although it does get a bit crazy sometimes.

A lot of my classes obviously don't run during the summer, however I like to keep my hand in, so to speak, and offer my most popular class (Acrylics & Oils) as well as some one-day workshops. It's also a time of year that I want to be working in the studio, with the door open and the chipmunks popping in regularly to offer their critiques. You should hear some of the things they say! Oh my!

This summer I'm offering:
Acrylic & Oil Painting
other media (pastels, watercolour, mixed media etc) are also welcome
Thursdays, July 9 to August 27 (8 weeks)
1:00 to 3:30 PM
Drop in Fee: $20/class Please let me know if you plan to be a drop in student... it makes a difference whether the class runs or not. Thank you!

Plein Air Painting
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $95

Alternate Painting Surfaces
Saturday, July 25, 2015
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $145 (Includes alternate surface materials and workbook)

Colour Mixing, the School of Colour Way
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $115 (Includes extensive workbook and exercise sheets)

Colour Harmony and Contrast, the School of Colour Way
Saturday, August 8, 2015
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $115 (Includes extensive workbook and exercise sheets)

Silk Scarf Workshop
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Fee: $65 (All materials supplied)

Developing an Artistic Journal
Saturday, August 22, 2015
9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Fee: $60 (Materials list at registration.)

All courses will be held at the NECTAR Centre at 255 MacKay Street in Ottawa.

For more information: http://www.susanashbrook.com/summer-workshops--classes.html or contact me directly at 613-833-8312 or mailto:ashbrookcreative@gmail.com.

Also this week I've been talking with two premiere artist/teachers about setting up some workshops later this year and next. One is a well known Canadian artist who paints in acrylics and the other is a Certified Botanical Illustrator from the US who works in a variety of media.

I really enjoy setting up workshops with guest instructors, so if there are subjects, media or even artists that you would like to have workshops with, please by all means let me know... if there is enough interest I'll set it up!

So, no lazy, hazy around here... this summer is going to be busy! So let's get it rolling!

Today's Painting Tip: Painting Clouds
First get your sky in, remembering that the sky is lighter and cooler toward the horizon. A quick and easy way to do this is to cover your sky area with Titanium White and then start at the top of the painting with a line of Ultramarine Blue and blend it down into the white. If you need to add more blue start at the top again so that you maintain the proper gradient as you move toward the horizon.

Next mix a light gray with a touch of purple to warm it up and apply it randomly across the sky where you want the clouds to be. Soften the bottom edges of the clouds so that they blend into the sky. Clouds appear smaller the closer they get to the horizon. The purple adds life to the gray of the clouds and without it they will look dull and flat.

Now mix a warm colour using white with a touch of yellow or yellow ochre and apply this on the upper part of the clouds you have already painted, blending the colour into the purple/gray colour. Finally, apply pure white at the top of the clouds, blending into the yellow colour. You can also leave some pure white harder edges at the top.

When painting clouds take some time to think about what they are... water vapour, rather than cotton balls. If your clouds look too much like cotton balls try softening some of the edges to that they blend into the sky. With clouds the light source (the sun) is above them so the shadows will be on the underside and the highlights on the top... simple observations that can really help.

The Next Painting
Now that the painting from Jane's photograph is finished, I've gone back to the first one I did in this series, that I posted on Facebook. As is often the case, the first one is a test and the second one gives the real lessons. Well I've taken those lessons and am applying them to the first one "Reflections". Today I'll bring you up to date on where we left off on Facebook. Next week you will see what I learned from doing Jane's Photograph.

By the way, if you wish to comment or suggest workshops please go to http://www.susanashbrook.com/blog where you can comment or subscribe.

Thanks and best wishes,
Susan

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Susan Ashbrook

I enjoy sharing my knowledge with other people. I teach oil painting, a variety of acrylic painting techniques and business of art classes. My workshops are offered through the City of Ottawa, Visual Arts Centre, Orleans, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York. I also offer workshops in my studio in Cumberland, (Ottawa) Ontario.