The Playful Otter Art Studio

Shading With Pastels

2011-05-19T09:30:00.006-04:00

For this technique, I punched out a set of Tattered Florals by Tim Holtz and shaded them with the pastels.

Shading With Pastels - Paper Transformed - Page 40

This is a very quick and easy way to add soft color to a die cut or punch.

I used a very smooth piece of off-white cardstock and I had to work the colors in and still they're not as intense as I'd like. Next time, I think I'll try a paper with a little more tooth so it will grab the color better. Also if I start with a colored piece of paper it will help increase the intensity.

Pastel Layering and Masking Technique

2011-05-12T15:28:00.045-04:00

I cut out the Sizzix palm tree die cut to use as a mask. Once the palm tree was secured in place with some temporary adhesive, I added the pastels to the paper to create this beach scene.

Pastel Layering and Masking
Techniques - Paper Transformed - Page 39

It's always exciting to peel away the mask and reveal the white of the paper.

Surprise!

Next I took out my Prisma colored pencils and went to town coloring the palm tree, grass and coconut.

Prisma colored pencils are the best.

Splatter Effects

2011-05-10T20:52:00.004-04:00

I'm following Julia's book (Paper Transformed), page by page, recipe by recipe so I feel qualified to say this splatter project is out of place in the book. As an arm chair editor, I think it deserves to be in the watercolor section not in the paste paper section.

Splatter Effects - Paper Transformed - Page 36

It lends itself well for cards with fish and water. First I stamped the fish (PSX - Big Mouth Bass). After I stamped the fish, I put masking fluid over each one to protect them from the splatter. Then I splattered the page with denim ink from Posh Impressions. I removed the masking fluid and colored each fish with colored pencils.

As I was splattering the above I had an idea, what if I sprayed/splattered bleach on a colored piece of cardstock? The results are below.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T06:50:00.001-04:00

For Mother's Day this year, I made these miniature books for my mother and M-I-L. They are a variation of the accordion fold style book I learned how to make in the workshop I took last month.

To all the mothers in the world - Happy Mother's Day! May you have the opportunity to spend time with the people you love, doing the things you love.

Spackle Paste

2011-04-29T11:00:00.010-04:00

Julia made the rules. Then I broke them. First, I didn't have any outdoor spackle, so instead I used what I had on hand, indoor joint compound, the stuff used to patch walls. She suggested in her tip section to be sure to use an outdoor spackle because it's water resistant after it dries (I'm not sure why that would be important) and more stable than interior spackle (my paper is stable - thank you very much).

Next, she called for a polymer medium, I improvised and used a gel medium. The difference between polymer medium and gel medium is viscosity. Gel has a thicker viscosity and polymer has a thinner one. But thickness with a gel can easily be adjusted with a bit of water.

These are the paints I used.

And here are the results...

Spackle Paste - Page 35 - Paper Transformed
Artifacts Clock Stamp - Stampin' Up

I used a yogurt cup and a jar lid to make the circles.

The spackle was easy to spread. On this sheet I decided to
add some pure acrylic paint on top once it dried.

Luminous Paste

2011-04-26T15:32:00.003-04:00

It was a little hard to get the ingredient ratio just right as Julia didn't give specific amounts of pigment, water or medium. After several attempts of mixing and adding, I achieved fairly decent results.

Luminious Paste - Page 34 - Paper Transformed

I used two different types of black paper. One was smooth and took the paste well, the other just sort of fell apart with too many strokes of the palette knife.

The back of a paintbrush makes a great tool.

Luminous Paste on black paper stamped with
Ink Bottle Border Stamp by A Stamp In The Hand.

Traditional Cooked Wheat Paste

2011-04-19T19:18:00.094-04:00

This recipe was a real throw back for me. When I was eight years old and my mother would go grocery shopping, I'd head straight to the kitchen and start mixing up batches of flour, water and whatever else I could find. I was convinced I was going to invent a new type of glue.

Traditional Wheat Paste - Page 33 - Paper Transformed

My mother would be gone about an hour or so and I had to hurry to complete my experiments before she returned. In a rush, I'd hide my unfinished projects under the sofa meaning to come back to them later.

Wheat paste on ledger paper.

Of course I'd forget and she'd find my mess days later. I would get in big trouble. Even though there were many of us, I was the only one ever tagged for this crime.

Posh Impressions - Dee's Duets - Flower in a Pot Stamp

For this paste I only added a quarter cup of flour and about the same amount of water. Even with this adjustment it still made quite a bit of paste.

Don't be alarmed if the papers dry curled. This is normal and an iron with some steam will quickly straighten them out.

Before the Iron.

Same paper after the iron

Jelly Paste

2011-04-15T18:24:00.003-04:00

This morning my daughter wandered into the kitchen and asked me, "What are you cooking?" When I said I was making paste for an art project, she just raised her eyebrows and walked out. You'd think she'd know by now.

Jelly Paste - page 33 - Paper Transformed

Posh Impressions - Dee's Duets - Flowers In A Vase Outline Stamp

Posh Impressions - Dee's Duets - Flowers In A Vase Solid Stamp

Art Impressions - Antique Car

Traditional Cooked Cornstarch Paste

2011-04-13T19:48:00.219-04:00

I made two batches of paste paper. The first one was the traditional cooked cornstarch recipe. I had trouble with gauging how thick to apply it. Initially, I spread it on too heavy and as the paper dried, it curled.

Paste Paper - Page 32 - Paper Transformed

Oh how this paper curled. A warm iron and
some steam worked wonders.

Julia didn't give much advice on paper. I ended up trying seven different types including two different cardstock papers, watercolor paper (both student & professional quality), drawing paper, a page from an old novel and laser paper. The cardstock worked the best, while the laser paper was a total disaster.

Instead of using cheesecloth or a strainer, I worked my paste through my potato ricer. It didn't make nearly the mess that Julia predicted.

Waves on watercolor paper

The above example used the glue and cream of tartar recipe. The mixture never did turn translucent during the cooking process. It stayed white. The creamy texture was fun to work into the page.

Minature Bookmaking Class

2011-04-11T23:19:00.002-04:00

I'm going to sway from my Paper Transformed journey today to share with you the books I made at the miniature bookmaking workshop I attended over the weekend. I had the opportunity to learn from Peter and Donna Thomas at Bookworks in Asheville. Peter and Donna travel around the country in their gypsy wagon teaching book art classes.

In the workshop, I learned how to make two different structures. The first one (Kind Words) is an accordion fold style book.

The second book (Let's Scroll To Peshtigo) is a scroll book. I'm not quite finished embellishing it yet, but I have plans to finish it soon.

Here are a couple of pictures with some of the other finished books from the class.

I had a great time at the workshop. It was my first formal instruction and I finally know the proper way to make these mini books.

Watercolor Sprays

2011-04-08T14:43:00.093-04:00

This technique flashes me back to my girlhood. I used to spend hours mixing and playing with food coloring because my big sister wouldn't let me use her watercolor paints. Now I have my own collection of paints and colors. For this project I used Posh Impressions Rainbow Inks and Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent Calligraphy Colors.

Watercolor Sprays - pages 28 & 29 - Paper Transformed

It was a beautiful day, so I sat on my front porch with my colorful bottles of misters and sprayed away.

Bob C. on Bass

I got so lost in the process that I almost missed picking my daughter up from school. In my sample below I see a girl holding a bowl. I love when random art happens!

Girl Holding Bowl

Mottled Paper Technique

2011-04-06T14:41:00.192-04:00

Color my world!

Lately, the weather here has been so bold and dramatic even closing major roads and highways. That's why this mottled technique is perfect timing. These bold splashes of color help me forget about the two and half hour traffic jam I sat in yesterday.

Mottled Paper - Page 27 - Paper Transformed

I used a variety of Posh Impressions Rainbow Inks on glossy cardstock to create my mottled backgrounds.


Mottled Paper produces outstanding drama on the page.

I was so delighted with how these backgrounds turned out. They feel like under water scenes.

Mottled paper is another fun and easy background technique.

There was such an element of surprise with each one. For the sample below, I stamped the large swirly bird from Rhonna Farrer's Nature Stamps Series by Autumn Leaves with black Whispers ink from Sugarloaf. I colored in their beaks with an orange marker. Creating these colorful papers made me one happy chick!

Happy Spring!

Water Webbing

2011-04-04T14:40:00.183-04:00

Below are four examples using the same butterfly stamp (Holly Berry House) and same inks (Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Peeled Paint and Broken China) but using three different types of cardstock. Each type of paper had it's own unique reaction to water webbing. Hot pressed papers don't work as well as cold pressed.

Water Webbing - Pages 24 & 25 - Paper Transformed

This paper didn't react to the water much.

The next two versions are stamped from the same sheet of cardstock.

In this one, I over saturated the paper.

This time I spritzed the paper only twice.

I stamped the rooster (Rubber Cottage) and moon (Sarasota Stamps) on a piece of Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper. Once the paper dried, I stamped both images using analogous colors over the original water webbing.

A page from my creativity journal.

For more information see Julia's website for her version of this technique.

Watercolor Masking Techniques

2011-04-01T11:06:00.019-04:00

This is a great way to save the white of your paper. Many watercolor artists treat the paper as if it were an additional color in their palette (and it is).

Watercolor Masking Technique - Page 24 - Paper Transformed


Top sample is after masking fluid is removed. Bottom sample is before I removed the masking fluid but after I did my watercolor washes.

However you see it, it's a great technique, but be forewarned if you've never used masking fluid before - it stinks. The smell brings me back to when I was a young mother and I had all those dirty diapers to wash. Gross! I was one of those freaks that not only used cloth diapers but laundered them myself. Oh sweet memories!

Most of my examples in the watercolor section of this blog have been done on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed. But just to prove you don't need fancy & expensive stuff, I tried it (see below) on cardstock. Just remember, cardstock is fragile so don't flood the paper with water.

Cardstock sample - Watercolor Masking

Watercolor Pencils

2011-03-30T13:05:00.154-04:00

First, make a basic watercolor wash. Shave flecks of watercolor pencils into the wet watercolor wash. I used Arches 140 lb. cold pressed.

Watercolor Pencil - Page 23 - Paper Transformed

For the fish card below, I stamped the Water stamp (Stamp In The Hand) with Broken China ink (Tim Holtz's Distress Ink) to create some ripples. Next, I stamped the Leopard Fish stamp (Playful Otter Rubber Stamps) with Broken China and then with Bubble Gum Pink (Uchida's Marvy Matchables) to add depth. Next, I randomly stamped the fish with Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko's Momento Ink). And finally, I colored the fish with various Copic markers.

Leopard Fish - Watercolor, Ink, Marker and Rubber Stamps

This technique also works well on cardstock and store-bought tags. Please note, cardstock is not as rugged as watercolor paper. I did less of a wash here, but like the splattered effects.

This tag is just waiting to be finished.

Leopard Fish Tag

Watercolor Staining

2011-03-28T12:03:00.011-04:00

This is a magical technique. If you've never experimented with it before, try it, you'll be amazed. The paints I used are Grumbacher's Pan Deluxe Transparent Watercolors. On my first sample, I stained the paper with complementary colors - Violet and Yellow.

Watercolor Staining - Page 22 - Paper Transformed

For this example, I used Grumbacher's analogous colors of Lemon and Indian Yellow. This is one of my favorite watercolor techniques, mostly because it mimics life, so much of it is out of my control.

Watercolor Staining - Analogous Colors - Cold Press Paper

And finally, I tried it on a piece of hot pressed (smooth) watercolor paper. Although I prefer the results from the cold pressed paper better, I believe it's good to mix it up every once in a while and try something different.

Color Staining - Ultramarine and Yellow Green - Hot Press

Watercolor Plastic Wrap Treatment

2011-03-25T12:10:00.001-04:00

I've done this technique before, but it was on a wall with acrylic paints. Today I tried it with paper and watercolors. It's so fun and easy. The results are great and I think they make beautiful background papers. In this sample, I used cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Watercolor Plastic Treatment - Page 21 - Paper Transformed

This technique also works with cardstock. If the paper curls after it dries, you can straighten it out with a light iron.

A store bought tag sample - watercolor plastic wrap technique

Basic Watercolor Washes & Variations

2011-03-23T12:01:00.001-04:00

When I'm stressed or blue I like to make sheets of watercolor washes. There's something soothing about the process and it fills me with hope and joy.

Basic Watercolor Wash and Graded Wash - Pages 19 & 20 - Paper Transformed

You can do this technique on cardstock too, just be careful not to get it too wet or the paper will start to break down when you work the brush across the page.

Luminous Marbling

2011-03-21T13:00:00.001-04:00

This recipe calls for Perfect Pearls and Perfect Ink Refresher. I never knew that Perfect Ink Refresher could be used for so much more than just refreshing markers and ink pads. Here is Paper Transformed's first example of its many other uses.

Luminous Marble - Page 17- Paper Transformed

A Page from my Creativity Journal

Luminous marbling yields dramatic results plus it's a great excuse to get out and play with Perfect Pearls.

Basic Marbling On Size - Finished Project

2011-03-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Check out the tags I created from Basic Marbling on Size inspired from Paper Transformed by Julia Andrus (page 15).

Side A


Side B

Side A

Side B

Basic Marbling On Size

2011-03-16T15:14:00.000-04:00

I used shaving cream as my size and re-inkers for my pigments. I did not add any mordant to my paper because I was out of Alum and didn't want to let that stop my fun.


Some of my samples from Basic Marbling on Size - Page 15 - Paper Transformed - Julia Andrus. I used the middle tags in a project*

* Note: click here to see finished projects.

Basic Water Marbling - Paper Transformed

2011-03-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

I bought Paper Transformed by Julia Andrus as a gift to myself in January. Ever since I've been working through it in a random fashion. And I'm glad I did it this way.

I was drawn to this book like a moth to light.

Originally, I wanted to start at the beginning of the book and methodically work my way through it page by page but I was intimated by the first chapter's lack of detailed instructions and my lack of marbling success from previous attempts. The rest of Paper Transformed has not been this way for me. I've celebrated great results. It's been lots of fun.

Over the weekend, I decided to try Basic Water Marbling. I guess I'm finally ready to start at the beginning of this book and blog my way through it.

First, I watched Heather's video over at The Paper Castle. Then I dug out the Alum from the spice cabinet and got busy treating my cardstock and cold-pressed watercolor papers.

The results were not impressive (as far as marbling goes). This just does NOT look like Marbling to me.


Basic Water Marbling - Page 14 - Paper Transformed Cardstock treated with Alum

These samples (the one on the right looks a lot like a sonogram) were marbled on an old piece of cold-pressed watercolor treated with Alum.

Interesting Observation: I used two different brands for this project. Each one reacted differently when I dropped the ink into the water. The Marvy ink (yellow-green) fanned out while the Adirondack (denim) stayed pooled.

True Confessions of a Disorganized Crafter

2010-12-02T09:34:00.000-05:00

I've got a confession to make.

I'm a slob.

And I miss Rubber Stamper Magazine.
Rubber Stamper kept me organized.

Each month Rubber Stamper ran a feature called A Stamping Place in which a different stamper's studio was featured. Those art spaces always amazed me because they were so neat and clean. Yes, of course, I realize the owner cleaned up his/her space for the picture.

But still, it allowed me to fantasize about having my own studio, so perfectly organized that I'd start crafting like Martha Stewart.

Sometimes it even motivated me. Notice the clean space in the corner of the table? That depth and level of organization would've never happened without the inspiration from The Stamping Place.

A Stamping Place feature in Rubber Stamper always inspired me to get organized,
albeit one tiny corner.

Here are a few pictures of the Playful Otter Art Studio since the demise of Rubber Stamper.

No open space left for crafting. Except the floor.

December 2010


Same studio, different mess

VersaMark Resist Technique

2010-11-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

VersaMark Mask

A Resist Technique

Ocean Card by: The Playful Otter

Supplies:

8 1/2 X 11 white sheet of card stock paper
Bubbles Stamp (Rubber Stampede)
Fish Stamp (A Stamp In The Hand)
Various Sea Horses (Santa Rosa and Raindrops On Roses)
VersaMark Water Stamp Pad
Marvy Dye-Based Inks (Blue, Purple, Green, Orange,Pink, Yellow)

Instructions:

Stamp Bubbles Stamp with blue dye-based ink all over paper.
Stamp Angel Fish with VersaMark watermark stamp pad.
Sprinkle clear embossing powder over Angel Fish, tap off excess and heat-emboss.
Dry brush in "water" all over paper with a blue dye-based ink.
Stamp Various Seahorses, wipe away ink on resist Angel Fish with a tissue.
Rub different colors of dye-based inks into Angel Fish.
Cut paper into four equal part, mount onto background paper.
Mount each onto 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card. Viola four cards in eight steps!

Multi-Layer Masking Technique

2010-11-20T16:41:00.000-05:00

This is my version of a multi-layer masking technique my stamp club did for the month of November. I mounted it on some paper that I ran through the Cuttlebug using the Spots & Dots embossing folder.

Fabric Heart

2010-11-18T11:04:00.000-05:00

Project with Fabric on Canvas.

I'm not quite finished with it yet. Here's what it looks like as of now.

Card with Hand Made Paper

2007-01-12T19:34:00.000-05:00

This hand made paper has fabric from an old pair of cotton pajamas. Recycling at its finest!

Journal Page

2007-01-05T12:38:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year. Time for a fresh start. I love January for all she promises to offer. Today is rainy and I am spending it doing a little art and reorganizing my art studio.

And Mya my cat is trying to help. Don't you just love how obnoxious cats can be when in the middle of a project they decide HERE and NOW would be a good time to stretch out and demand some attention?

Purple Coneflowers

2006-12-16T13:43:00.000-05:00

These Purple Coneflowers were painted with Twinkling H2O paints.

Reading What I Wrote

2006-12-11T13:11:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I will be reading at Joseph Beth Booksellers in South Park for the Charlotte Writer's Club. I'm very honored to have the opportunity to share my writing. I will be reading a piece that Maureen Ryan Griffin published in her book, Spinning Words Into Gold. Currently I'm working on a children's novel.

My Big Fat Craft Show Failure

2006-12-04T15:10:00.000-05:00

In 2006, I've created over 350 cards.

This past weekend I was in a craft show. For months, I've been working extra hard on making my cards. Making those cards has been a great experience, internally fulfilling and I've really enjoyed all the time I've spent in my art studio. So all is not lost.

For the art/craft fair I put two cards with matching envelopes in a package, so people could see what they were buying. I started the price at $8 a pack, but lowered it after no sales were made in the first two hours. It's not that people were not buying, because they were, they just were not buying from me. So at 10:00, I lowered my price to $7 or 3 for $20. By days end, I had sold a whopping $41 worth of cards to four buyers. One customer, who also happens to be a friend bought three packs, making up half of my sales for the day.

No one really seemed shocked by the price. People did say they liked my cards. But there I sat hour after hour with NO SALES.

I felt like a complete chump. Here I was at my first show, which by the way I had a GREAT location (table #3), where no one was buying my art. It made me feel so sad, like a total reject. But I forced myself to smile the entire time, while inside I was in tears. I kept talking to God like I always do. Show me God, help me understand, I kept praying.

And in time I know I will understand.
But for now I need to sit with it.
Be sad with it.

A piece of my soul goes into every card I make. I thought others would have seen that and been drawn to it too. What happened? Was it a fundamental failure on the part of me as an artist? Is there something false with my soul? This is part of why it hurts so much.

The feeling of public rejection is a very humbling feeling. The craft show experience has made me feel artistically unworthy, stupid and not good enough to even call myself an artist. That's why being in this show was a BIG risk. Failing sucks.

Deep down I want to believe it's not true. Because failing sucks.

Long time, no blog here

2006-12-01T17:29:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I posted here but please visit my other blogs:

I promise to make this a more active blog in the coming year! Especially after February when my 365 project will be coming to an end.

Learning

2006-05-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

Today I learned to let go, to free the painter within myself, to not be so heavy with color, to allow the paint brush into the sacred partnership with my body and mind.

Thank you Leslie for being there just enough to guide, but far enough to let me soar!

Artist in Training

2006-03-28T21:55:00.000-05:00

I have some exciting news!
Leslie Carter has agreed to take me on in her studio. My training begins Monday, April 3. I am so looking forward to having a grown-up artist help me understand color and technique more thoroughly. Leslie is a fantastic artist and a patient woman. Just what I need!
Look for new art starting next week!

My Version of Chicago's Picasso

2006-03-10T22:41:00.000-05:00

Finished!

2006-03-07T10:24:00.000-05:00

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Ya-hoo!
I finished my Rooster!

Please let me know what you think. I know this sounds silly but I am totally unsure of myself as a painter. Painting feels a bit like staring in the mirror. I would appreciate any thoughts or comments.

The photo of this painting does not communicate very well the metallic paint I used for the background.

Welcome To The Playful Otter Art Studio

2006-03-03T15:10:00.000-05:00

This is rooster is being hatched in my art studio.

It is my first attempt at painting on a canvas.

There is another photo but I'm not showing it. I'm ashamed. The truth is I messed up the background. It looks horrible like someone (or thing) threw-up on it. I'm trying to recover. When will I learn when to stop, leaving well enough alone?