Tuesday's List of Favorite Art Supplies

Are you surprised? I'm writing 2 days in a row so far! Been a busy day. I bought the Caran d'Ache oil pastels I've been wanting. I went with the 12 pack and bought 2 other colors that I love. I can't wait to play with them! 

So here are today's supplies:

These are my favorite! You can see me using these often in my art and in my art videos. Those with the wooden stick handle are called Catalyst Blades. They come in 6 different blades, and in 3 sizes. They come in sizes 15mm, 30mm, and 50mm. I use 15mm and 30mm. The other items are called Catalyst Wedges. The come with 3 different shapes. You can buy them at Hobby Lobby, Dick Blick, and Amazon. I use them a lot for creating texture. It's fun to apply and scrape off paint with all of them!

These are cheap and easy to find tools. I hoard old gift cards. If I lose one, I won't be sad! :)  I use them to apply paint. The others are palette knives. The palette knife in the middles is perfect for scraping on paint or applying modeling paste. The palette knife on the right is what I like for applying collage papers with matte gel.

Last on the list for today is the glues and adhesives I use. Decoupage is a wonderful matte glue. I apply it with an older abused brush. It's perfect for collage on canvas. Collage Pauge (in the middle) is awesome because it pours/squirts out the top. It's perfect for traveling and making art on the go. I took it camping with me last fall. The jar on the right is matte gel. I use it to apply with my palette knife. It's great for working out the globs of glue when collaging.

That's all for today. I'd love to hear what your favorite art supplies are! Check back tomorrow for more supplies!

My Favorite Supplies Week

I'm trying to work on writing more often. It's something that I really use to do in other ways and all the sudden it's like I fell off the face of the planet. 

I am done homeschooling until the end of summer! Feels good to take a break and have more time and energy for making art and taking care of everything else. My first year of homeschooling went well. It was tough at first. After my boys understood my expectations and I found better ways of working with them, things got much better. 

I thought this week I would tell you a little about my favorite supplies. Every day this week I will write about a small selection of my go to tools.

These are my favorite pencils! I usually sketch with my HB Staedtler pencil or my Prismacolor Ebony pencil. I use a black Prismacolor colored pencil to outline my girls' faces and clothes. I also it to outline other things in my art. I use a medium charcoal pencil from Prismacolor for shading on my girls faces. The General's Sketch & Wash pencil for shading around quotes on washi tape.

My favorite black pen in the world is the Permaball black pen. I order mine from Scarletlime.com. The Signo Uniball white pen is the best white gel pen I've tried yet. Sharpie has pens made with water-based paint. They are my favorte. I'm not a fan of those made with oil. The sharpie posterpaint pens are great in my art journal. The Liquitex paint marker was a trial I got for free. I love it to make bands of color with the chisel nib and then write words on the lines created.

Caran d'ACHE makes the best water soluble crayons that I've tried. I've used them mostly for marks, scribbles and doodles in my art. The 7 shown are my favorite for that use. They are Payne's Grey, Prussian Blue, Lilac, Indigo Blue, Malachite Green, Toledo Brown and Greyish Black. I've also created some beautiful art in my journal with just the crayons. Sometimes I use them for shading or adding color to my girls' faces. Their possibilities are endless!

Portfolio makes some really creamy, delicious, water soluble oil pastels! I love to add these to make marks, scribbles, or doodles on my art too. They are great for art journaling too! These are my go to colors! Pink, white, yellow, slate grey, light blue, and black. You can buy them in packs of 12 or 24. They can be easily found on Amazon, as Michael's and Hobby Lobby don't carry them. Blick does carry them too.

Lastly, I'm sharing my favorite oil pastels. I use them like the other pastels, but I also use them for my girl's faces. My favorite Cray-Pas colors are pink, light blue and dark blue. I think I only have the 25 pack of those. Gallery has some awesome fluorescent oil pastels. I love the hot pinks, neon red, purple and teal-ish color. My new favorite is Caran d'ACHE! I only have a couple of color so far, but I'm hoping to get more for my birthday. The blend so beautifully, without lifting in color. 

Well, that's all for today. I'd love to hear about your favorite supplies! Check back the next 4 days for more of my favorite supplies!

Upcoming Online Class

Keeping busy! I've been recording videos for an upcoming class. This is super exciting! I've been wanting to do this for a very long time. I hope to post more information soon. So far I have a few tutorial videos done, as well as ideas to get your creativity flowing. Keep checking back for more information! I hope you will join me on this journey!

http://dhawkes77.wix.com/danielladaydreams

https://www.facebook.com/danielladaydreams

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DaniellaDaydreams?ref=si_shop

The Past Two Weeks

Well, I am finally a stay home mom.  I quit work last Friday.  It still isn't quite sinking in.  Hopefully, I will be able to keep up with my blog, youtube, and facebook pages A LOT more!  Leaving work was kind of sad.  I worked there for 13 years.  I will still stop in and visit everyone there once in awhile.  On my last week, I received some great gifts.  One of my coworkers made me this sweet goodbye present.  I wanted to play with it at my desk all day. 

I said many goodbyes and cried several times.  After I got off of work, my husband surprised me!  He told me he was out of town all day.  I believed him.  He showed up at the end of my last work day, with flowers, a charm for my bracelet, and told me he was taking me out for lunch.  He took the whole day off to spend time with me.  He wanted to make my day more memorable and help through the sad parts.  He's amazing!  Here is a small collage of things from that day...

The weekend prior to quiting work, I had my first craft show.  The week before was a busy trying to get ready for it!

My business card holder!

 My banner!

I had a 6x6 area to set up.  I didn't get it set up how I wanted to.  I had more displays to use, but it would have been too cramped.  

It was really slow, but I did make some sales.  This is my Usher pose, trying to lure people in.

I tried to keep low expectations so I wouldn't get discouraged.  I am happy with how it went!  I got a little experience under my belt, met some new people, made a little more money than expected, and had lots of laughs with my hubby.  :)  I have another craft show next month.  It should be a bigger turn out.  We will see how that one goes.  

That's all for now!  I hope to blog again soon.

She Matters

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted.  Things sure have been busy!  :)  I've created lots of art lately.  I've loved taking a workshop from Mindy Murphy Lacefield from http://timssally.ning.com/.  I highly recommend any of her workshops.  She really helped me connect to my inner child.  So much fun!!!

So back in mid December I created this painting.

I listed it on Etsy last Sunday and it sold this week!  Here is the story that the buyer included with her purchase:  This piece has really inspired me this week. I am an urban elementary school principal and after 14 years of practice I am faced with a new challenge. One of my sixth graders (12 years old) has recently found out she is pregnant. This piece will hang in my office as a reminder that I am committed to helping this young person discover her passions, receive a world class education and prepare for her life ahead. Thank you for creating this piece, as it brings a visual reminder to the essence of my work.

Her story really touched me.  Such a sad story and a tough situation.  If only there were more principals out there like this!  I've been praying for everyone involved in that situation.  I hope you'll join me in praying!  

I'm so thankful she shared her story with me.  It's encouraging to hear how something I create really helps someone.  When I created "She Matters", I was remembering the struggles I had with my self image and I reflected on where I am now.  God has shown me that I do matter, that I am special to Him.  Just before Christmas, this is what I journaled:  "So  after I made this painting, God gave me the idea to create girl paintings with positive messages.  It reminds me of the art journaling class I want to teach, called "His Esteem".  "His Esteem" can also be the name of this art series.  God has shown me that He loves me and that I matter.  I want others to experience God's esteem for themselves.  Now to come up with sayings to have ready!"

It is so important to me to help others, in regards to how they view themselves, and for them to see how God sees them.  Our self image really plays a big role in our lives.  It impacts how we live and the decisions we make.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to post more very soon with some of my latest artings!

Journey Art Journal

Life is a journey and there is so much going on in my life lately...

I got an early birthday present from my aunt and uncle to buy some new toys at Dick Blick.  I bought a small Moleskine watercolor journal.  I love it!  Right now I'm using it for girl faces with quotes.  They kind of tell the story going on.  This girl I was inspired to make after looking at some eye candy in the Somerset Studio Gallery Summer 2012 magazine.  After I was done with the painting I added the word "waiting...".  My husband found out he may be getting promoted, but we weren't certain.

If my husband were to get promoted I could possibly stop working for a few years and stay home with my kids.  If that happened, I would homeschool them.  It's been my dream for years!  Some people think its a great idea, and some don't.  

My husband and I adopted two little boys when they were 3 and 4.  They came to live with us when they were 2 and 3.  It was a year before we could adopt them because of things slowing down the process.  Our little guys have some challenges that aren't their fault, especially with public school.  They are such a blessing to us and we love them so much.  One has Tourette Syndrome.  His tics have always been issues at school.  Teachers constantly pick on him about it...all but one teacher.  Subs don't understand it at all.  Every year I have to educate his teachers on Tourette Syndrome.  He has always had issues with being bullied, and his Tourette Syndrome plays a big part of it.  He also has OCD with it.  It's made him have to get up in the middle of class, move a chair to move something way up high.  If I could homeschool him, it would benefit him so much.  He has a hard time sitting still long, too.  There are things to use for homeschooling that would allow him to move a lot more.  

My other boy has ADD and ODD.  He's always had issues at school and we get called up to the school a lot.  He's had lots of therapy to help him cope, and we have strategies that help him think through things better.  I can help him through his challenging times, but teachers at the school can't so much.  His teacher last year was amazing...she worked with us so much.  It was his worst year behavioral wise, but there is great improvement.  This year will be interesting with the new teachers to the school.  If I could homeschool him, he would be in class more and I can shape lessons in a way that would benefit him better.  There are lots of worries and oppositions which is why I use the words on the picture below.  I'm trusting in God!

This next art journal page I made after we found out my husband would be promoting.  There are things we are planning to hopefully allow me to stay home and have the life I've always dreamed of since I was a little girl.  I've always wanted to be a stay home mom and I've always wanted to be a teacher.  I loved school as a kid and playing school was my favorite.  In college I wanted to get my degree in teaching, but I let the advice of others to squash that dream.  The words below are God giving my dreams wings to take flight!

We were still waiting on the announcement of my husband's promotion.  We decided to see if we could get our house refinanced to put our 1st and 2nd mortgage into one smaller payment.  If this all happens I will be working until next summer and after that I would be a stay home mom and homeschool my boys.  The journal page below I put the words "She was waiting for things to happen".  That's what I'm still doing.  :)

My final art page has the word "Hope".  I have hope that God will take care of everything and I should not worry.  Now for me to be patient!  ;)

Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey lately!  I hope to have some really good news and some art to post soon!  Who knows...maybe someday I can offer art classes for homeschooled kids.  ;)  

All my art was made with Caran D'Ache Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels, Derwent watercolor pencils, Derwent Inktense, and Faber-Castell Pitt pens.

Waiting For My Heart to be Pursued Art Journal Page

Girls we are so worried, often times, to have a guy who likes us.  Sometimes we go through many ways to try to get their attention. Some of the ways we do that, we do it the wrong way and not the way God wants us to.  When we go about it the wrong way we create many problems and attract guys that aren't right for us.  The way God designed us is similar to His nature.  God wants us to seek Him, wants us to know Him and to love Him.  This is what us girls want.  We want guys to seek us, to want to know us and to love us.  We need to be comfortable with how we are, who God created us, and don't go beyond His measures to attract guys.  We just need to be who God made us to be and wait.  When we do those things, the right guy will pursue us.  We don't need to change ourselves to something we aren't.  We should be loved how God made us.  God didn't create us to be what others need and want.  God created us for Him and his purpose, which is perfect.  He wired you the way He did and He said you are worth pursuing the way He made you.

Ready or Not Here I Come Journal Pages

I finished these journal pages this morning.  It's represents me playing hide-and-go-seek with teach art journaling workshops.  I'm moving forward on this adventure, not knowing how it will go.  I'm trusting God to be with me and direct me.  Now I have to not be a control freak and go with the flow.  I can't get discouraged when I hear no's.  Eventually I will hear a yes.  :)

Take Flight or Stay Still Art Journal Pages

I finished these art journal pages last night.  I had been working on them over the past week.  On the left, there is a note I wrote.  Year ago, I was listening to the Bible on my ipod as I was going to sleep.  I heard "Cover the earth".  I knew God was telling me something.  The next day my husband was prompted about promoting and moving to Idaho.  I thought "cover the earth" meant we were suppose to move.  We went with it for a while.  It killed me because I didn't want to move.  I kept praying about what God meant by "cover the earth".  While praying one day, I saw a sign ... literally a sign and a sign.  ;)  It was the Sherwin-Williams sign.  It had a picture of a paint bucket pouring red paint over the earth.  It read "Cover the Earth" on the paint poured over the earth.  I thought maybe God wanted me to talk to someone who worked at Sherwin-Williams.  Now I'm wondering if I'm suppose to paint or teach others to paint.  I have a choice to take flight or stay still.  The choice is mine.

Get Out of the Boat Art Journal Page

This is "Get Out of the Boat".  I drew and painted it remembering a book I once read called "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat".  The book is about the diciples when Jesus walks on water.  All stayed in the boat, but Peter got out of the boat to walk to Jesus.  Peter started to sink when he began to see his fears and took his eyes off of Jesus.  I have so many fears about moving forward with teaching art journaling and using it in a ministry.  I'm trying to not look at my fears and instead keep my eyes on Jesus.

Smile Art Journal Page

This art journal page I made last week.  It's about some things that make me smile.  There is an M&M and a Skittle with arrows pointing toward each other.  The story about the M&M and Skittle is my husband invaded the kids candy from Easter.  They mixed M&M's, Skittles, and jelly beans all together in a baggie.  My husband didn't know and ate an M&M and Skittle at the same time.  His reaction keeps me giggling!  :)  There is a paint brush for obvious reasons.  I drew my cell phone with a couple texts from my husband when I was having a rough night ... they made me smile.  I drew a foot with arrows pointing to a big toe.  It's a game my boys and I learned.  The object of the game is to ask a question and the person you ask has to answer "grandma's big fat toe" without laughing.  For instance, I would ask my kids what they brush their teeth with and they have to answer "grandma's big fat toe" and they can't laugh.  It's gets fun!  I was upset one time ... I was crying.  My son said "mommy, I know what would make you feel better".  I asked "what?"  He said "Grandma's big fat toe."  He was right ... it did make me feel better.  :)

Precious Love Mixed Media Angel

This is an art piece I worked on for a coworker who had a friend who lost their mom to breast cancer.  This is probably one of my favorite angels so far.  She has short hair like her friend's mom.  I added pearls for earrings and a necklace.

Roaring Bear Art Journal Pages

Three weeks ago I was feeling very grumpy.  I tried to take a nap, but I couldn't sleep.  I finally went down to my studio and decided to work in my art journal.  I picked up some bright colors of paint, that I thought wouldn't make a pretty page...my mood wasn't pretty.  After I applied all the crazy paint colors with an old credit card, I found a picture of a bear in a magazine.  I added him to one of the pages.  I felt like a grumpy bear.  I took some foam stamp letters and spelled out roar.  I felt like I was roaring at others.  I painted more details to the word.  Next I took a cloud stamp I picked up the day before, and filled it in with some paint.  I added others stamps too.  While doing all this I kept praying, asking why I was in this mood.  My answer came while expressing all my emotions on the pages.  Grumpiness has other causes....anger does.  There is always a different emotion causing the anger.  There was an underlying issue that I was able to answer before art journaling.  I was upset.  I want to teach art journaling.  I have dreams of helping others through art.  I had negative feelings of my dream never coming true.  After I finished art journal pages, I felt so much better.  I had so much fun figuring out why I was upset.  The photo above is that day's art journaling.  I hope you give it a try the next time you feel like you are in a funk.

An Angel For a Dear Friend

This angel I made for my best friend for her birthday.  She has been there for me during the most difficult part of my life.  Not too long ago she moved.  Was so hard to say goodbye.  I know I will see her again someday.  We write each other weekly when we have time.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her!  Waiting for her to receive her angel in the mail was hard.  The day she received it, I was having a rough day.  She sent me a text telling me she loves it and that she cried.  Sure made my day go from rough to great.  It's my favorite text!  I get a smile every time I remember it.

New Doll Painting "Love Angel"

This is "Love Angel".  I thought it would be fun to make an mixed media angel.  It was fun!  She might have a home already, I'm still waiting on a confirmation.  If not I will be putting her up on Etsy.  This is my favorite doll yet! I included some close ups of her.  Enjoy!

 

"Goofball" Giraffe Painting

This is Goofball.  I started him in July I think, and finally finished him a couple weeks ago.  I found a picture on the internet and had to paint him!  He is now at his new home.  I miss him already!

Hawkes' Cakery

This painting I made for my brother in law and his wife for Christmas.  She makes awesome cakes.  :)

Glam Girlz (Mixed Media)

Lately I've been getting into mixed media.  I am loving it!  Years ago I use to create glam girls at work using my peers' faces on glamorous dressed dolls.  Everyone wanted one made of themselves.  Now I'm incorporating one thing I love to do (creating fun backgrounds) with another thing I love (anything girly).  I have made 4 so far and I have so many more ideas for upcoming artworks.  The pictures show (in order of creation) of the dolls I've made so far.  Three of them are for sale on Etsy.com.  You can visit my shop at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaniellaDaydreams  Some upcoming dolls will include a princess and a cheerleader.  Hope you enjoy!