Monthly Archives: June 2009

June 30, 2009

Pursuing Portraits

Here is a sample journal page from my ‘Pursuing Portraits’ online workshop. I just finished up editing the videos and I’m ready to go! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUKGuJQLGLs
We start July 7th, so if you’re interested in going on this journey head over to Creative Workshops and you can view the supply list and class details. CW is offering several mixed media workshops and adding new ones all the time here is one from Jodi Ohl, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYXk4cSTGE . If you are looking for something and don’t find it there, don’t hesitate to ask. Remember, the classes are open ended, so you can fit them in to your schedule:-)
Now to finish getting ready for the Southwest Missouri Art Teachers workshop tomorrow…

6 comments | posted in art journaly, creative workshops, online workshop, pam carriker, portrait, pursuing portraits, self portrait, tutorial

June 26, 2009

Nurture

By pamcarriker

I was so excited a couple of days ago to find this sweet little gift of nature in a flower pot on my deck. Two precious little eggs in a nest so close to my back door. But I have come to realize these eggs have been abandoned, the mama bird nowhere to be seen.

They inspired this painting which I have titled simply ‘Nurture’. Seeing the eggs so lovingly tucked into the nest stirs the mother’s instinct inside my heart. Sometimes despite our best intentions and efforts, we are unable to ‘mother’ for various reasons. Sometimes our children are simply too independant and we must sit on the sidelines while they find their way. They will one day realize that even when they did not want our help, we were there all the time waiting and watching.

available in my etsy art shop

8 comments | posted in art, bird, eggs, etsy, mixed media, nature, pam carriker, portrait, spring

June 22, 2009

Beat the Heat

By pamcarriker

Ah summertime. It’s going to hit 97 today so we are off to the lake. I just wanted to share a couple of the journal pages I finished while on my trip. I have to say I’m amazed at what you can do in a Moleskine journal. The pages hold up really well to paint if you don’t use too much. Gesso works great on them also. I took limited tools with me and had already added some paint and collage elements, even a little stamping to the background.
Have a wonderful day, stay cool and don’t forget to do a little bit of art everyday~

11 comments | posted in art journal, eggs, flowers, mixed media, moleskine, portrait

June 16, 2009

Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas

By pamcarriker

Well I mugged the mail lady today and finally got my copy of the latest Somerset Studio. She asked how I knew the magazine was coming so I showed her the article and she ended up staying to chat for several minutes:-) It is good to be friends with the mail lady!

I am saving this to read on a plane tomorrow (if all goes well) but on my first run through I was excited to see several friends in addition to the sisters of the traveling canvas. Chrysti Hydeck has the most wonderful artist papers as the free gift inside, gorgeous as well as sharing her technique for making them! Lorraine Reynolds has two amazing assemblages that jumped right out at me.

And then there’s the ‘Sisterhood’. Eight women who came together on the Etsy forums to form the bonds of friends and sisters. Sharing techniques, giving advice, sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life. Our own little community supporting each other in the way that only another artist can.

When I first had the idea of doing the Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas, I had a much different vision of what it would be. I realize now that it is what it was meant to be all along. It was the best experience, creating and letting go and watching it develop into it’s final state. Thank you sisters for sharing this experience with me and for all of the other day to day sharing that takes place in our little world.

The Sisterhood: Kim Geiser Nancy Lefko Jodi Ohl Alisa Nordholt-Dean Kathy Maximo Denise Hayden & Glenda Bailey

30 comments | posted in alisa nordholt dean, chrysti hydeck, denise hayden, glenda bailey, jodi ohl, kathy maximo, kim geiser, lorraine reynolds, nancy lefko, sisterhood, somerset studio

June 15, 2009

No Time for Art?

By pamcarriker

I think I have a fascination with necks. I am very intrigued by looking at how Modigliani for example, rendered them. I just love his loosely shaped women. So graceful. He was able to convey a woman’s femininity with simple graceful lines.
I did not have any art time today, well not much, so I just did a little journal page, but the pleasure I get from even a little art time is so valuable to me.
Someone made a comment about how much artwork I get done, truly my ‘secret’ is just to multi-task wherever possible. I prep several backgrounds at once, and when doing a series of paintings like the ‘Blue Speckled Eggs’ I can do several pieces at the same time up to a point. I did this little journal page with the supplies I hadn’t yet put away from the paintings I finished yesterday. It all works when you find a rhythm of fitting art into life that works for you. ‘Art at the Speed of Life’.