Small canvas love

31 May

I escaped my family for 4 days earlier this month and while there did all the art journaling you saw in the previous post, along with this canvas done in a class run by the delightfully gorgeous Lisa Pate (http://lisakate.typepad.com/blog/)

I am tired of signing my name on works, so came up with this little “stamp” which I hope to have made into an actual stamp and put on all artworks and as a watermark.

Pretty cute, eh?

Quote from the retreat Welcome Pack….yay, love not thinking too much on retreat!

^^^Loads of texture again (love my raised bits)

Hope you are all finding time to get messy.
Honestly, I’ve not done anything since my retreat, but enough was done to give me about 3 blog posts’ worth LOL.

Yours in Messy-ness
Giovanna

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Art Journaling

29 May

There is something really relaxing about Art Journaling. If you are a fan, you’d understand (naturally). For the uninitiated here’s a quick run-down.

Most of us kept a diary as a child/teenager/angst-ridden young adult. Imagine combining both loves of writing and being visually creative?

These don’t have much personal writing but I loved creating them all the same.

Texture paste challenge ^

Managed to borrow a punch for this groovy challenge >>>

Loads of images from my Favourite Thing (frankie magazine)^^
Getting down and grungy with this one >>>

Using a pic from a Dunlop volley advert

And I’m really into outlining images in paint or ink or watercolour at the moment. You should give it a go.

Finally a collection of clothing tags>>>>

A much brighter colour palette but not as artsy-fartsy

If you’d like to play along, here is where you can find the prompts

http://oneyearartjournal.blogspot.com.au/

Awesome, messy, encouraging, experimental, unpressured and very very diverse!

Stay messy
Giovanna

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I Love my Mum

15 May

This is what makes parenting worthwhile.

20120515-165640.jpg
And to celebrate my awesomeness, I’ll be on retreat until Sunday. A scrapbooking retreat in fact, but I love that my friend Peta is letting me come anyway.
I’m looking forward to sharing what I accomplish in 3.5 days of non-mummy/therapist time.
xx
Giovanna

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Celebration Inspiration

10 May

The latest edition of Scrapbook Creations is out. Issue 93 is especially cool as my fellow Divas and I put together an entire library of ways to Celebrate your Life!
Fairly apt considering we get caught up in daily nonsense and forget to be still and say “Hooray for Us”.
Here is my little project which I can reveal is the easiest thing in the world to do. The hardest part would be choosing the photos to collage for the year. So many memories and candid moments to include.

You need to purchase the mag to get all the instructions.
You’ll find my project on page 19 which faces the Jo Sonja advertising feature. They were one of my fabulous Papercrafts Festival workshop sponsors so I’m thrilled to be placed next to them this issue.

I really don’t scrapbook much anymore as so many other duties have replaced all the spare scrappy time and I am simply in love with all my artwork and art journalling adventures these days. So my project reflects that shift in time and thinking and I’m positive a lot of women out there will relate to that and embrace the project.
If you do replicate my Memory Board project, email it to me and I’ll feature you and your blog here.

I have another layout in there too. We Divas were asked to play around with multiple photos on a layout (feature starts page 49).

I had fun working with a new The Crafter’s Workshop stencil and very minimal paper.

That is all for now. I have more art journalling and play-testing to share.
Don’t forget, Issue 93 of Scrapbook Creations

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For all Brave Souls

8 May


Totally love custom orders! The challenge seriously does my head in some days, but when you see the delighted expression on your customer’s face, it’s all worth it.
This lovely canvas now hangs on the wall at a sweet teen-girl’s room.
Here was the brief:
COLOURS: aqua/teal/turquoise (+2 others); FIGURE: Strawberry/Blonde hair, sassy-like, Taylor Swift-like; QUOTE: one of hope (later chosen by the customer).
Quick search of what Taylor Swift looked like (omgosh) then all plain-sailing from there.
Here is the message I received later that week:
“She absolutely loved it and told me to thank you so much! She said that the clothes the girl is wearing is so much like what she would wear and the hair is how she wants her hair! We all love it thank you so much!” P.H.

The surprising moment for me is how much I enjoy painting the HAIR! Strange, right? I totally get into the layers, the length, the movement, the colour. Totally captures my attention!

Then my beautiful customer ordered a canvas for herself. Similar brief but she chose the 2 birds stencil I already had and once again provided the quote.

Still in love with modeling paste, the colour orange and some gold texture paint for highlights.

It’s a real priviledge to make something specific to a person’s needs.

I take orders all year round but generally take a break during school holidays. Turn-around time is between 2 and 4 weeks, depending on the intricacy of the work.
All customised work is priced individually, according to how many layers and the detail required on the main figure.
Contact me at gistcreative@optusnet.com.au and we can discuss your next customised artwork!
xx
Giovanna

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Collision

4 May

Continue reading →

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123 Challenge for May

1 May

ImageHappy May everyone!

The weather has cooled considerably here in Brisbane but days are still nice and warm-ish. This time of year always reminds me of being pregnant; I had 2 Winter babes so the filtered sunlight makes me want to have day-naps and do some nesting….argh, the nesting syndrome.

Anyhoo, back to some creative stuff.

The criteria for this month’s 123 Challenge is: (http://ourbrightstarsandus.typepad.com/123challenge/)

Colour = orange (yahooooo) : Word = enjoy : Technique = baker’s twine

ImageImageImage Continue reading →

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Lessons in Courage

30 Apr

Image

Lesson #1 – I really really CAN do this! Evidenced by the fact I submitted it on time.

Lesson #2 – Big really is better. This canvas was 75x75cm and I had a lot of freedom.

Lesson #3 – Courage is required. Letting-Go is required. Belief in myself is required.

I am not 100% happy with my entry but I am happy I had the courage to enter. I wish I could’ve been braver; more layers; more texture; more EVERYTHING!! Nerves got hold of me and I simply froze. I froze at the sheer expanse of the canvas! Going from something a quarter of the size to THIS one, was perhaps too big a leap? You can clearly see the background is unfinished. I want to rip it off the gallery wall and attack it!

All the other entries were truly fabulous and put my insipid work to shame.

Once again, just happy to have put myself out there in a juried competition.

Lessons learned!

I am much happier with the work a customer collected on the weekend. Very proud of those and will share soon.

Off to kick some creative buttocks!

xx Giovanna

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Mixed Media Canvas Kits for sale

20 Apr


Hi all!
I have surplus kits of my popular INSIGHT canvas workshop at the Papercrafts Fesival in February. You get the same kit as the workshop attendees (including the jelly beans) plus a set of instructions (sent as an email attachment once payment is received).

Details

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~ 1 x 20x25cm regular canvas
~Jo Sonja’s Clear Collection Background colours (as 12 x 10g pots)
~Craft Queen ribbon (including a discount voucher)
~Helmar 450 Adhesive (We also used Helmar’s Decoupage Paste which was well received by all attendees. You can find this readily at Riot Art & Craft Stores or Spotlight)
~Kaisercrafts 2 x rubons and 1 x rhinestones
~Old paper: 1 x dressmaking tissue, 1 x old novel page
~Stamp-It stamp: 1 x Bathing Sheds, unmounted (We also used background stamps during the workshop, but you can use your own stamps)
~Texture Kit: and assortment of household items to produce a variety of effects
~TLC Crafts: 3 x handmade flowers

**PLUS – step x step instructions and my email address should you get stuck. This kit was designed with Scrapbookers in mind, or papercrafters who are curious about what Mixed Media is.

ALL FOR ONLY $30.00
(unfortunately I will not be posting outside Australia)

HOW TO ORDER:
Visit my MadeIt store

https://www.madeit.com.au/GiStCreative

or copy/paste this direct link

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=523666

POSTAGE:
Due to the size of this parcel, postage is a little more than regular post, but it still ends up being a good bargain!

SPONSORS:
Thank you to these wonderful companies who donated a lot of what you will receive. They have been marvellous in supporting me, so please let them know you’ve used their product in my class.
HELMAR AUSTRALIA
CHROMA INC (JO SONJA PAINTS)
KAISERCRAFT
TLC CRAFTS
CRAFT QUEEN
STAMP-IT

I look forward to sending these parcels of goodness out to you next week!

My artwork “Market Girl” is being judged tonight at Drawing Point Gallery, Brisbane St, Ipswich. Opening Night jitters well & truly established. I don’t expect to win, but I am relishing the experience of my first juried competition.

Have a fabulous weekend!
Giovanna

Vintage Plastic Doiley

18 Apr

A quick note to let you know that the vintage Tupperware doiley I used for this Art Journal page

art journal page with Tupperware doiley as stencil

original Tupperware doiley on right

has been reproduced by Christy Tomlinson (of Scarlet Lime and She Art fame)

Christy Tomlinson's She Art Vintage Doiley

and is available in Australia through Blue Bazaar (my favourite mixed media shop).

I hope you’ve had a fantastic day! My Wednesday was near-perfect.

Reminder that my INSIGHT project kit will be available for ordering in the next few days. If you would like to pre-order, there are now only 9 kits left and at $30+p/h, a real bargain. Can’t remember what that workshop was? Here is the BLOG POST.

Much love xx

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