AGT: trust your heART – Art Journal Spread

 

This week I’m using Donna’s *heart texture* stencil to create this grungy, layered journal spread in my Dina Wakley Media Journal on the kraft paper. I had two different ideas in my head for the stencil…and when plan A didn’t work, I used plan B (which I love in the end!). I knew I needed a bold message on this messy spread, and while I was working the phrase “trust your heart/art” came to mind. I hope you take some time to play in your art journal….and trust your heART!

View my blog post over at donnadowney.com here.

AGT: Lotus Pod Butterfly

My sixth tutorial for Donna Downey’s Artist Gang was posted today. I made a canvas using Donna’s Lotus Pod stencil. When I saw this stencil in my package from Donna, I just knew it would make the perfect butterfly wing!

I love that I have the opportunity to inspire others as a member of donna’s gang! ? If you create something that is inspired by my tutorial, tag me on Instagram (@nicolewatsonart), post below, or in the donna downey: community of artists facebook group so I can see it!

The video is above. Please visit Donna Downey’s blog to read additional information about this week’s tutorial.

AGT: Layered Leaves

My fifth tutorial for Donna Downey’s Artist Gang was posted today. This week I’m using Donna’s triple leaf stencil to create a background with watercolor using masking fluid.

Sometimes I find it hard to juggle the not so fun stuff of life (laundry, dishes…) while fitting in moments of creativity. This project was a perfect way to accomplish both! Even though the process of creating the layered background itself is pretty simple, it does require drying time between the layers of watercolor and masking fluid. While the layers dried, I folded laundry and tackled the dishes…. without neglecting my need to create (or forgetting my clothes in the wash!).

You could easily keep this page in your art journal; just be sure to spray it with fixative so the watercolor doesn’t run. However, I cut my backgrounds into card fronts. The bright green leaves shout summer to me and make beautiful plain note cards.

I love that I have the opportunity to inspire others as a member of donna’s gang!  If you create something that is inspired by my tutorial, tag me on Instagram (@nicolewatsonart), post below, or in the donna downey: community of artists facebook group so I can see it!

The video is above. Please visit Donna Downey’s blog to read additional information about this week’s tutorial.

AGT: Gelli Printed Peony – Three Ways

My third tutorial for Donna Downey’s Artist Gang was posted yesterday. I tried to escape making cards, but one of the three ways I used Donna’s Big Peony Blossom stencil was for cards.

First, I spent about an hour making a bunch of gelli prints with the stencil. After sorting them into two piles (one pretty and one not so pretty, or not as pretty), I made card fronts with the pretty half and cut several of the others into circles for a Kandinsky inspired journal page. Finally, I picked one of my favorite prints that was printed on two pages of book text and highlighted it on a journal page. The tutorial for that page is up on my personal YouTube channel.

I love that I have the opportunity to inspire others as a member of donna’s gang! 🙂 If you create something that is inspired by my tutorial, tag me on Instagram (@nicolewatsonart), post below, or in the donna downey: community of artists facebook group so I can see it!

The video is above, and you can visit Donna Downey’s blog to read aditional information about this week’s tutorial.

And, check out the other blog posts and YouTube videos from the other members of this year’s gang – we are all so unique and different!