Face Sketch in My Art Journal

Before I got out of my studio over the weekend, I decided to do a quick face sketch in one of my art journals. I wasn't in the studio for very long because I had other things I needed to get done in the house, but I felt like I needed to squeeze out one quick sketch before I called it quits that day.

Even when I can't spend a lot of time on things, I'm happy that I can at least be creative...even if it's just for a short while. And it sure doesn't hurt to keep practicing drawing faces. But, as you can see, I only drew one eye! LOL. That second eye is always the hardest part...don't you think?! ;) 

Mermaid on Wood

Finally made it into the studio for just a couple of hours over the weekend. I wanted to create something for a teacher at school. We do a "Mystery Friend" thing all year long, and at the end of the year we do a special gift for them. Since my recipient loves beachy things and the ocean, I did a beach-themed gift basket. It had a beach towel, a mermaid figurine, some tropical-themed plastic glasses and a couple of other odds and ends. So I decided to paint something too when I found a cool, rustic, whitewashed board at Walmart a couple of weeks ago. This Mermaid was the result.

The colors look prettier in person, and you can't really see the touches of sparkle that I added to the tail too. But you get the idea. It was fun to paint--I've never done a mermaid painting before this. I love when I get to try something I've never done before. :)

Teal Butterfly

I was in the mood to create some digital art this evening. I love the color teal, and I love butterflies, so they were my inspiration.

The background is actually made from a redux of a painting I did a couple of years ago, which I called Big Red Flower Mixed Media. I transformed that red flower into a teal one, and then I used it to create a mirror image background design. The butterfly gives it a pop of color, of course. I love the contrast, and the brightness of it overall. And as always, I love the teal...it's my favorite color!

Brush Magazine - Let Love Grow

I've been so busy with school that finding time to create in the studio--let alone blog--gets to be extremely difficult. I'm looking forward to summer when I can get in that studio whenever I want to! At any rate, I was about to post a couple of art memes when I got an email that made me smile from Brush Magazine. They were letting me know that one of my art journal spreads had been published in the current issue (#10). I'm so excited, so I had to share it with you too!

This is an art journal spread I did in 2015. The blog post about it was simply titled, Let Love Grow. One of Brush Magazine's themes for this issue was Flowers, so I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone and submit this art for consideration for publication. I was so pleased to see it in the magazine. 

If you haven't checked out their magazine, you should. They have a digital and a print version, and there is lots of great creative inspiration to be found inside each issue. I may even submit more art to them in the future. :) 

Meet the Artist - Art Chick Studio

Perhaps you wonder from time, just who is the 'Art Chick' in Art Chick Studio. Well, it's me, Tina Grimes, of course. But in case you would like a little more detail than that, I created this little meme--all about me. 

Are you an artist too? If so, how about creating your own #meettheartist meme and share it in the Comments. Or share it on your own blog, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook page? Then we can all get to know each other a little better.

Learn to Create Art Create to Learn

I did some simple sketching of some art supplies and decided to create some digital art with them. I love to be able to learn to create...and to create to learn!

Creativity is Sacred

Just a little creativity food for thought for your Saturday.

Creativity is sacred...

Outlander Digital Art for Summer

Of late I have been starting to get ready for my new school year, so I've not been in the studio. But here and there I have squeezed in some Outlander Digital Art that I thought I'd share today. I know, I know...I'm a wee bit obsessed with Outlander. I cannae help myself. At any rate, here are some of my latest digital creations, in honor of the love between Jamie and Claire Fraser.

This first one is based on one of my favorite and very simple quotes from the Outlander book series. "It has always been forever for me." Seven simple words that say a whole heck of a lot! I liked this art so much that I used it as the header image for my Twitter account. Any sassenachs who visit my Twitter page will instantly know I love Outlander.

This next one features another simple quote, "I was born for you." When you read the Outlander series, you have to appreciate Diana Gabaldon's gift of words. She is a talented wordsmith to be sure--and the sheer length of her books is testament to that fact. But every once in awhile she writes something so simple, but at the same time something that expresses so much about the love between Jamie and Claire. This quote is one of those times.

This next one features a quote that is really about the passion between Jamie and Claire. I didn't want to focus on the physical nature of that passion though. Rather, I focused on the separation of Jamie and Claire by time--and how that longing to be together could not be stopped. Not even by 200 years. So this art features the standing stones at Craigh na dun. The quote, "Does it ever stop, the wanting you? Even when I've just left ye, I want you so much my chest feels tight and my fingers ache with wanting to touch ye again." Wow. Is it hot in here?

Lastly, this next digital art features my second favorite redhead (the first being my husband), James Fraser. His love for Claire is is so deep and abiding that he professes its depth in his soul. "And when my body shall cease, my soul will still be yours. Claire--I swear by my hope of heaven, I will not be parted from you."

This is the stuff of wonderfully romantic historical fiction. It's the stuff that makes JAMMF such a captivating icon. And it's all thanks to Diana Gabaldon. To say that the Outlander series is a 'good read' is kind of an understatement. You don't really read these books, you live in them. And this is precisely why they, along with the TV series, inspire my creativity.

Sadly, there are no standing stones and time travel in my future. I must return to planning for the school year. But I'm sure I'll be seeing Jamie and Claire again soon...if only in my digital art. :) 

Seattle Believe Art Journal Spread

Well I was back in the studio again after a little bit of an absence and I was in the mood to add a spread to one of my Art Journals. I chose Seattle as as my subject, and added a little bit of magic.

First, let me say that this spread was inspired by a tutorial video I watched on the Silas Art YouTube channel. I like hers better than mine! But I still had fun creating this. She has a lot of beautiful art journal spreads, so be sure to check them out if you want a little inspiration. I didn't copy hers exactly, of course. But her video gave me the inspiration I needed to create this. I like the sky the most here. I think I need to create more art with skies!

I chose Seattle for my spread because I grew up partly in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. Went to high school there and was married there as well. I still miss it so much and will always consider Washington my home. So it was an easy choice for this spread. I used acrylics for this, and the fairy images are stamped on. And I just added a little reminder to always...Believe.