Relax… Unwind...

… Get in a Flip-Flop state of mind!

I love this quote. So I decided to use it for my one layer card entry for the Hero Arts One Layer Challenge.

Background in Dylusion ink sprays (lemon, teal, green, opaque white) and a stencil.

Focal image drawn from an image from Shutterstock. I inked it with acrylic ink (Posca), added a layer of gloss medium to prevent the Dylusion inks from bleeding through, added a layer of gesso, and finally painted it with Distress Paints and Amsterdam acrylics (skin tone).

"Relax… Unwind… Get in a Flip-Flop State of Mind"

Still Life (or: Miracles Do Happen)

I used to hate still lifes. For some reason, though, I decided to give it another go. And here's how it's turning out :)

In chronological order. Cobra oil paints on canvas with an acrylic background.

Sketch and highlights in oil

Added shading

Started with the tin objects

Perspective is tricky!

Added the bread and cinnamon 

Onto the cloth and lacework

Finished the cloth backdrop (minus the lacework)
and worked on the background

Dutch Montmartre

Last weekend, the culture & art center of Delft organized the Dutch Montmartre. One of the city squares was filled with artists from all disciplines.

So I took my little easel, paints, and canvases, and decided to paint the court of the prince of Orange (Willem van Oranje).

I had a blast! Not only because of the cool reactions from (many, many) passersby, but also because of the inspiration from being together with so many artists.

An impression and view on the court

"The Prince's Court"
Cobra oils on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Funky Fish and Baby Boys

So I made more cards today. Someone commissioned a baby boy card, so I made two for her to choose from.

The fish card came about after I created that background tag. It reminded me of a colorful ocean scene, so I added a clown fish for extra color and contrast.

The penguin and sock monkey were a special commission.

"Boys Rule"
Blue card stock, gear stencil, Distress ink and blending tool,
robots paper pad, white gel pen, acrylics, watercolor paper

"It's a boy"
Craft card stock, Sew Easy (We Are Memory Keepers), green
string, vellum, Versamark embossing ink, WOW white embossing
powder, white Dylusions spray, Distress Inks and blending
tool, gear stencil

"Birthday Wishes"
Circles stamps set (Simon Says Stamp), tag, Distress Stains,
Distress Paint, acrylics, watercolor paper, blue patterned paper,
white paper, orange card stock, reference image from Shutterstock

Acrylics on watercolor paper on red card stock
Reference images through Google search

I Ought to Use This More!

Card making is one of my guilty pleasures. I'm a fervent believer of learning and taking inspiration from creative fields that you don't normally dabble in. 

So I joined in on the Monday Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp, entitled "I ought to use this more!".

I have so many products, I sometimes forget how cool they all are. So I decided to play with my Ranger Industries/Tim Holtz products again.

Using Distress Stains, Distress Paint, manila tags, Faber Castell dot tool, acrylics, gesso, a splatter tool, I created the tags on these cards. The circles are a 2" punch, covered with Pearlescent acrylic paint.

Purple card: The Thanks die I received in the mail today from Simon Says Stamp (along with other yummy products!). Added purple washi tape and sequins for added interest.

Pink card: The dog I drew with a Micron pen from a photo (Shutterstock). I used the Always border die from Simon Says Stamp with the matching sentiments. The dotted ribbon at the bottom is patterned paper.

Fly Away With Me

Card making is one of my guilty pleasures. I'm a fervent believer of learning and taking inspiration from creative fields that you don't normally dabble in. 

Inspired by the Wednesday Challenge "You gotta have friends" from Simon Says Stamp. I don't have the Art Impression stamps mentioned, but I was inspired by those images to create something myself.

I searched for "Friendship" on Shutterstock and found this adorable photo of two boys in a suitcase. I bought the image and used it to draw my own little 'stamp'.

"Fly away with me"
Kraft card stock, watercolor paper, Lawn Fawn stamp sentiment,
navy blue patterned paper, navy ink from Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn
cloud dies, Ranger silver embossing powder, ink, watercolor.

En Plein Air

Open air painting! Yay! I've become addicted. As well as to oil paints.

"De Maas Sluis" at Maassluis, The Netherlands
(The Maas Canal Lock)
Cobra oil paints on canvas, 30 x 30 cm.

"Happy Wind" at Het Twiske, The Netherlands
Cobra oil paints on canvas, 30 x 30 cm.

"Time Travel" at Bruges, Belgium
Cobra oil paints on canvas, 30 x 30 cm.

"No. 4510" at Leersum, The Netherlands
Cobra oil paints on canvas, 30 x 30 cm.

Hero

Card making is one of my guilty pleasures. I'm a fervent believer of learning and taking inspiration from creative fields that you don't normally dabble in. 

It's Father's Day!

I made a couple of cards that combine my love for painting with my love for card making. I love getting inspiration from different creative areas!

Of the several Hero cards I made, this is my favorite.

"Hero"
Watercolor, watercolor paper ATC, white card stock, black ink

"Hero" (different angle to show dimension)

Guilty Pleasure

Card making is one of my guilty pleasures. I'm a fervent believer of learning and taking inspiration from creative fields that you don't normally dabble in. 

So here are a couple of cards I made so far.

"Bee Happy"
Speech bubble die, white paper, patterned paper, bee stamp,
honeycomb stencil, Distress ink, soft yellow card stock (pre-cut)

"Thinking of You"
Butterfly die, Perfect Pearls, Versamark ink, patterned paper,
enamel dots, white card stock

"Awesome"
Floral stamp, light pink ribbon, pink floss, heart stamp,
heart die, enamel dots, splattered tag (cut), Distress Stains,
Distress Paint

"Thankful"
Star dies, white ribbon, blue card stock, vellum, 'art' stamp,
'imagine' stamp, Perfect Pearls, Versamark ink, splattered tag (cut),
Distress Stains, Distress Paint

Artist Trading Cards

Have been doing some Artist Trading Cards again. I trade them over at illustratedATCs.com.

All of them are 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Acrylics on watercolor paper.

Swap: Horses

Swap: Horses

Swap: Horses

Swap: Horses

Swap: Fantastical Creatures of the Sea

Swap: Fantastical Creatures of the Sea

Swap: Fantastical Creatures of the Sea

Art Journal Pages

Two more pages!

Yay characters!

"Why play alone, if you can do it together"
Mixed media
Ranger art journal, app. A4

 Inspired by the birth of my brother's daughter :)

Mixed media
Ranger art journal, app. A4

Fairies, Folklore, and Angels

Joined some swaps over at illustratedATCs.com again! Yay!

Fairies and Folklore Swap
Mixed media on ATCs

Angels Swap
Mixed media on ATCs

En plein air

Did some on location painting over the weekend. An awesome experience! I have done it only once before (in the Efteling, my favorite amusement park), but never really had the guts to do it again. I will definitely do this more often!

"The Red Door"
The Old Church in Delft, the Netherlands
Cobra oils on canvas

Art journal

Having some art journal fun ^_^

Kikker & Beer op het strand
(Frog & Bear at the beach)
Mixed media in Ranger art journal
A4

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
Mixed media in Ranger art journal
A4

Diptych

I finally finished them! Yay!

Cobra oils on linen
60 x 40 a piece

Detail I

Detail II

Detail III

Detail IV

Detail V