Rythem of Life Series - Joy

This was just an experiment really.  I liked the idea of flowers, symbolizing joy, growing out of an old boot.  Sometimes life gives us an old boot, and it is an effort to plant seeds of joy. . . but once we do, the joy grows.  Happy sowing!

JOY
Mixed Media
by Cheryl Harris White
81/2" x 11"

Rythem of Life Series - Peace

Here is another one I tried the same way.  Layers with washes of color built up on top of each other.  I call this one Peace.  If you look closely there are pages from the hymnal on the bottom layer.  

PEACE
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media
81/2" x 11"

Rhythm of Life Series, Dream

I have been experimenting with different papers and how they absorb  diluted washes of paint.  I found that an old hymnal I found had thick pages that were very thirsty and just absorbed the rich colors very well, but didn't fall apart and get soggy.  I must admit, I hesitated at tearing up the hymnal.  It had been on a shelf for years and no one ever used it.  I went ahead and used it though, because at least now, the words from the songs are on display in some really bright pieces of art.  It is definitely getting more attention now than it did collecting dust.  I created several of these and call them my Rhythm of Life Series.

DREAM
Mixed Media
by Cheryl Harris White
8 1/2' x 11"

How to make your own Hand Made Art Journal

3 pages folded and sewn together.
Do this 5 times to create 5 booklets.

Book Supplies: 
*15 pages of heavy water color paper cut or folded and torn to 9" by 11" dimensions 
( fold them in half to create the shape of a book 4 1/2" by 5 1/2 " and put them in groups of 3)

5 booklets taped together to form
one art journal book.  You are ready
to make the cover!

 * Waxed linen thread and a needle (Use the     needle and thread to sew them together at        the fold to create 5 little booklets)
 * Binding tape (Slip the tape through the           thread on the outside spine of each booklet     and hold them all together.

Adhesive Canvas
can be found at art supply
stores in many sized.   For
this project, use 11" x 14 "

Cover Supplies:
*1 adhesive backed piece of canvas 
size 11" by 14" 
* Water colors ( or other paint )
* Brushes
* Masking fluid (optional)
* Stencils ( used these to plan my designs
but they are optional.)
* Ruler (before you paint the canvas, 
use the ruler to mark off where the binding,
the front cover and the back cover will be.)

Paint your canvas with whatever paint
you like.  I used some masking fluid,
water color crayon and markers for mine.
Notice that there is extra room on the top
and bottom edges that will not show.  It
will get folded over when you cover
the book.

* Scissors
* Sharpies

Finished Art Journal!

Once the cover is dry and your
booklets are sewn and taped together;
simply cover the book.
Use scissors to trim corners.

  

Thinking Pink Art Journal Page

Thinking PINK

 "Almost all words do have color, and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too." --Gladys Taber.

Since this blog is a celebration of color, light and life, the idea of a color belonging to a word or words was interesting to me.  It caused me to make a list of pink words. I began with the obvious ones to get rolling; lipstick, bubble gum, cotton candy, blush, roses and lips. Then I branched out a bit, which worked much better.  My top PINK words were; Joy, Lily, Sensing, Intuition, Inspired, Beauty and Lovely.  So share a PINK word with someone you love today and have beautiful, inspired day.  

Thinking Pink Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Poppies Art Journal Page

These pale poppies are so soft looking.  They are another example of a happy accident.  I put three blots of red paint on the page and closed the journal.  The result kind of reminded me of a row of poppies.  So I dropped a green drop of diluted acrylic paint at the base of each splotch and turned my journal upright.  Gravity did the rest.  All that was left was some outlining with a pen.

Poppies Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art Is My Passion

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.  --Albert Einstein

I loved putting this quote on this page because when I created this background, I was just playing with liquid acrylic paints and inks and nothing was intentional.  The drops of color are actually from drops of rubbing alcohol that bled through from the next page.  I was in a zone, creating as many backgrounds as fast as possible.  I found this image of a girl exercising and painted over her.  I chose her for her PASSION. She seems so intentional and focused. So when the pages dried, I added my focused, intentional, disciplined, passionate girl onto this happy accident of a page.

Art Is My Passion Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Java Mama, Cup of Joe

Here is another page I finished at the art journaling workshop at Misty Oliver Foster's Art Studio in Frisco last weekend.  I loved this old fashioned pair of ladies sipping coffee from their dainty china cups and silver tea service.  They seem so far removed from our current coffee shop culture; where we get to decide between Venti, Grand or Tall sizes of Mocha's, Frappes, Frappuccinos, Macchiato's, Latte's, Iced Coffee's and more.  Not to mention the choices of cream, soy, whip and other flavors.  The image of these two gals chatting over plain black coffee reminds me of a simpler time.  They are the focus of the page and to make them stand out, I painted over their images in grey tones, and used black and white pen to outline them. This contrast from the green page with red accents is what makes these two Java Mama's stand out and be noticed.

Java Mama, Cup of Joe
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Be, Live, Bloom

Last weekend I went to an art journaling workshop at Misty Oliver Foster's Art Studio in Frisco.  She is a very talented artist as well as an excellent teacher.  I highly recommend taking her workshops if you ever have an opportunity to do so and included a link to her site above.  Check her out.

Below is one example of an art journal page I completed while I was there.  I included a quote I just love from Charles Dickens as well... " Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of it's own."  I loved this because even though there were seasons of my childhood when I DID NOT believe red hair and freckles were beautiful, that all eventually changed.  As I grew, I realized that not only is it beautiful, it's what makes me shine.  That's what made me bloom.

Be, Live, Bloom
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 25

In Lesson 25 in Pam Carrker's book  Creating Art At The Speed of Life, we are challenged to create  tag using the artistic component of LINE.  I love lines, so this was a favorite of mine.  Lines connect objects and give our eye a path to follow as it explores the page.  We were to create a tag using our own signature or initials. If you look closely you can see mine  C H W.  I liked using my lines to also create some figures of people.  You have to look closely to see them, but there are 4 of them.  3 of them have blue and green heads and being connected with the main lines in the composition symbolizing their close relationship with each other.  One of them is purple and red in the lower corner and disconnected from the others and almost turned inside out, alone.  The line simply comes onto the page and travels back off again with out connecting with the others.

CHW
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Hope Springs Eternal Art Exhibit February 22nd through March 29th

I have 3 pieces up in the upcoming Hope Springs Eternal Exhibit  at the MCL Grand in Old Town Lewisville!  Opening Reception is Saturday night, Feb 22nd at 7:00PM.  Enjoy!

Dates: FEB. 22 – MAR. 29

Cost: Free

Hours: open Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. 

Address: 100 North Charles St. Lewisville, TX 75057 (972) 219-8446

Memories
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
36" x 36"
$200.00

Orange Tree With Purple Leaves
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
18" x 24"
$75.00

Red Tree With Blue Leaves By the River
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
18" x 24"
$75.00

On Love for Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day from Paint On My Walls to you.  This was a wreath I made for a fundraiser event in Highland Village and I wanted to post it yesterday as my blog valentine along with some of my favorite quotes and thoughts about LOVE.  More Art Journal pages coming soon as well as details about the Hope Springs Eternal Art Show at the MCL Grand opening next week.

Key To My Heart Wreath
by Cheryl Harris White
SOLD

"Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star." — e.e. cummings

Where there is great love, there are always wishes. Willa Cather

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2  

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 

Celebrating my blog birthday! Lesson 23 Art At The Speed of Life

Today is my blog's THIRD birthday.  February 11th! Still exploring the art element of form, Lesson 23 is called Make Your Mark.  Pam Carriker's book Creating Art At the Speed of Life gave us a chance to look back on previous art pages for marks, doodles, patterns used frequently.  I used a February Calendar page and set aside 2/11/13 to wish Paint On My Walls a Happy Birthday.  All the other squares are filled with line patterns.  I really enjoyed combining zen tangle patterns with color .  This was a very relaxing page and one of the most enjoyable so far.

Happy Third Birthday Paint On My Walls 2/11/14
Make Your Mark Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 22

Lesson 22 from Pam Carriker's book was an exercise in form to create a mask.  I loved creating the greyish pale face on the opposite page representing my somber self.  On my face are cool tones and collage images and dots.  The message on the face reminds me the beginning is always today.  This face is confronting real life.  The mask shows the dreamy, hopeful, life giving self, nurturing my soul with love and hope.  I liked the happy yellow and green color palate and whimsical collage and stamping elements.

Un-Masked
Art Journal page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 21

Lesson 21 in Pam Carriker's book was a pop up page and turned out really cute.  I had a lot of fun adding interest to this page with different pen strokes; patterns, cross hatching, dots, lines.  white ink and black.  It added some interest to the page.  The color filling the page is actually water color crayon, one of my favorite mediums on paper.  It is inexpensive, low mess, easy to clean up and allows for layering.  The crayon is activated with water after it is applied, but also can be activated with modge podge or acrylic sealer.

Whimsical House Pop Up Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed Of Life Lesson 20

In Pam Carriker's book Creating Art At The Speed Of Life Lesson 20, the goal was to create a page with cubist style shapes.  I chose to use hands as in her example but to assign each of the three hands to represent people in relationship with me.  Mine is the yellow hand, my mom was the orange hand and my daughter was the green hand.  I loved using washes of water color on already printed papers and then layering diluted paint on top to create the forms on this page.

I remember my mom's hands and the things they made.  She painted with watercolor.  She sewed doll clothes.  She quilted.  She made curtains.  She created the most amazing birthday parties for us growing up.  She used her hands well...  A gift I want to pass on to my daughter and those I love.  I create with my hands and it impacts the world around me.  With my hands, I leave my mark.

I Remember My Mom's Hands
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed Of Life Lesson 19

From Pam Carriker's book Creating Art At The Speed Of Life Lesson 19

The goal in this exercise was to bury and then unearth words through layers of collage.  I chose text from an add about paint colors.  All the words were describing vivid colors and the emotions they evoke.  Then, using layers of diluted acrylic paint, and pencil and ink, I created forms from the scraps of text.  The gray color palate reminded me of depression and the way it buried the colors that were originally there.  It was like a slow painful death of emotion, color, light and life.  I titled this journal page, "Searching".  There were a few color words that still showed clearly through the layers of mist and I highlighted them.  When I look at this page, it makes me thankful that I have gone through depression, because on the other side of that experience all the colors are even more vivid and alive than before.

Searching
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 16

Positively Negative was the title of Lesson 16 in Creating Art At The Speed of Life by Pam Carriker.  I created an original drawing of a face on two colors of paper I painted myself and cut them out.  Using positive and negative space added so much interest to the design and takes your eyes on a dance around the page.

Positively Negative Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 15

Arcimboldo-Style Self-Portrait

I LOVED this exercise. I included images from art and history to compose my self portrait.  I call it my Art Queen Arcimboldo-Style Self-Portrait.  I found a flower scrap that said "She most heartily enjoyed pursuing life" and thought it appropriate.  Then I thought about the times in the past when I most thoroughly enjoyed life, and it always involved some application of creativity.  Next I created an explosion of art and art supplies bursting forth from my head like ideas just popping out all over the page.  I used magazine scraps of a quilt for the hair and some of the other accents.  My favorite thing about this page is my crown. A crown for an Art Queen.

Art Queen Arcimboldo-Style
Self-Portrait
by Cheryl Harris White
Art Journal Page
Mixed Media

At The Speed of Life Lesson 14

Building Character was Lesson 14.  The goal was to create a character by collaging shapes cut from previous artwork.  I made an Art Fairy.  She peeks through the window from Lesson 13 when the doors open and I absolutely adore her.  She 's very whimsical with her chandelier crown and pink swirly wings.

Art Fairy Inspiration
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 13

Open Windows symbolize an openness in relationships to me.  This is a strong theme in all of my art and very important.  The shutters on the window actually open all the way up to show the art on the page behind it. Come back tomorrow and you shall see what it is.

Open Up Window
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 12

Lesson 12 from Pam Carriker's book Creating Art At The Speed of Life introduced me to an interesting new word.  Ephemera - written or printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved, junk mail, receipts, brochures, etc.  I found an article about the world of color and pages from my old passport to create this page.   I liked how monochromatic and cloudy this page turned out.  The key to this one was lots of layers of diluted washes of gesso diluted with gel medium.

Passport To A World of Color
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White

The quote on the bottom left page is from Renoir.  It says, " An Artist must have confidence in himself, and listen only to his real master; Nature."

Art At The Speed Of Life Lesson 11

Lesson 11 Getting Into Shape(s) of Pam Carriker's Art At the Speed Of Life.  The objective this time was to create repetitive shapes in varying sizes to evoke a feeling of unity on the page.  I stuck with the window theme from her example.  I like how it illustrates a way in, and symbolizes an openness to life with others and relationships.  This was my attempt.

Getting Into Shape(s)
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 10

Faux-toshop Collage Lesson 10 in Pam Carriker's Art At the Speed Of Life.  I substituted a photo I altered of my original Prodigal painting.  The background was done with washes and layers of diluted acrylic paint.  I found an interesting quote that seemed appropriate for the beginning of a new year.

Make no small plans, they will have no power to move men's souls and hearts. 

Unless our proposals are bold, they will be ineffective.  -Elton Trueblood

Faux-toshop Collage
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 9

In Lesson 9 of Pam Carriker's book Creating Art At the Speed of Life, we were to use the end of a pencil to create dots of color on the page with acrylic paint.  In this chapter she included a quote from Claude Monet which I love and have to repeat it here...

  People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love. ”
- Claude Monet
If that is the test, then I guess this attempt was a success, because I LOVE this pretty impressionistic girl.  She is lovely.  I mixed my own colors and was very happy with how they worked together.  I also really liked how slowly the image came to life, one dot at a time.  It was the most fun I've ever had with the eraser of a pencil.  I will try more like this on canvas later.

First Impressionism
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 8

Snowflake Texture
Art Journal Pages
by Cheryl Harris White

I was surprised at how easily the graphite image could just be rubbed onto the page.  I want to do this one again.

Art At the Speed Of Life Lesson 7

This chapter is exploring textures and in this lesson we were to use crayon resist, saran wrap, salt and rubbing alcohol to activate the spreading and texture of paint around a sketch.  Honestly, the ONLY thing I liked about this one was the actual sketch.  The fun part of this whole process is actually evaluating the results while I try each of the techniques.  So, even though I'm not happy with the effects of the saran wrap, I am happy with the process.

Multi Tasking Java Junkie
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 6

This one turned out quite a bit different than the example in Lesson 6 of Creating Art At the Speed of Life by Pam Carriker.  In the book, it is a much more abstract design that is created by the pattern of paint under saran wrap.  My attempts just seemed to naturally become the edge of a forest with light just beyond.  I have noticed a theme in my forest paintings lately, and that is that in almost all of them, I paint from the perspective of being deep inside the forest and coming out of it, toward light.  How similar this is to my own life as well... and refreshing.  To complete this lesson, I used heavy water color paper, diluted acrylic paint, slow drying gel, permanent ink pens, white gel pen, saran wrap and salt.  The patterns of paint were created first and the outlining was done after it dried around the natural shapes it created.

Dark and Deep
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At the Speed of Life Lesson 5

Continuing to work through Creating Art At the Speed of Life by Pam Carriker. . . In this lesson we were to choose two complementary colors.  Here's another art vocabulary word. Complementary - The colors opposite each other on the color wheel.  I chose red and aqua and the theme of LOVE.  I loved the color combo and the grouping of the collage elements at the bottom of the page. They look as if they have actually fallen downs and are caught behind a wire barrier.  I used diluted acrylic paint, slow dry blending gel, water color pencil, magazine and paper scraps, white gel pen, permanent ink pen, mod podge and stickers.

Complementary Love
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media

Art At the Speed of Life Lesson 4

Lesson 4 One Color At A Time

The objective here was to use different media materials in only one color to make a monochromatic journal spread. I chose green, cool as a cucumber.  I feel relaxed when I look at this page.  Materials used were heavy water color paper, diluted acrylic paint, slow dry blending gel, magazine and paper scraps, mod podge, white gel pen, permanent ink pens and the directions in Pam Carriker's book Creating Art at the Speed of Life.

Monochromatic Monarch
Mixed Media
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White

Art At The Speed of Life Lesson 3

Analogous Analogy
Mixed Media
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White

The assignment was to use analogous colors to create a journal page.  Analogous means two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.  I liked using masking fluid and permanent markers to create the opposing wavy lines and adding the white gel pen details to help it pop.  The layers of color were a fast easy way to create a background.

Art At The Speed of Life Lessons 1 & 2

Color Wheel
Mixed Media
Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White


Still working out of the Art At the Speed of Life book by Pam Carriker.  The first two exercises created a two page spread at the beginning of the Handmade Art Journal.  I thought the color wheel in exercise 1 was fun.  I didn't have a coffee filter, so I used paper towel instead.  If I did this again, I would try it with a filter and attempt to show more of the red-violet and blue-violet on the wheel.  On exercise 2 I used art vocabulary words to fill each section of the page.  The paint is a mixture of acrylic, water and gel to retard the drying process.  On this page a black water color pencil was also used for shading, as well as permanent marker and white gel pen. I loved the effect of the water soluble pencil and will try more with this later.  I liked using the diluted paint.  It behaves a lot like water color off the brush allowing layers to be laid down on top of each other,  but the colors pop so much much more.  I must do more of this.

Lesson 1 - Color Wheeling

Lesson 2 - Colorful Language

Creating Art at the Speed of Life Journal Cover

I found a book called

Creating Art at the Speed of Life: 30 Days of Mixed-Media Exploration by Pam Carriker 

and it looked interesting.  I brought it home and decided to try it.  This is the cover for the journal done with watercolor crayons, water, markers and a little masking fluid on heavy adhesive canvas.   This will be attached on the outside as a cover for the home made journal.  

Cover for Handmade Art Journal

 

The cover was painted on adhesive canvas pictured above.  After sewing the blank pages for the journal together, I just peeled the back off the back of the canvas and stuck it on like a book cover.  The result is below.  I loved how easy using the adhesive canvas made this.

Back

Front

Give Thanks for Messy

I made this Thanksgiving Wreath for a fundraiser benefit and it sold for $75.00!  I loved using some non traditional fall colors like pale yellowish greens and purples in this wreath and creating the messy raffia bow.  It reminds me that our lives don't follow the expected pattern sometimes and can be very messy, but in the midst of that mess, we are to give thanks.  I posted it today because it reminds me to count my blessings.  I am truly thankful for the gift of creativity and the chance to share it with people I love.  Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving close to the loved ones who make your lives messy. 

Colors set to music: Stained Glass by Keith Green

I grew up listening to Keith Green's amazing music and much of it has inspired my painting. I am thankful for every note.  Enjoy!

Red Tree With Blue Leaves By the River

Red Tree With Blue Leaves By the River
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas

18" x 24"

The fourth piece in my tree series is the most whimsical of them all. There are fish making up it's roots, birds at the river and hearts carved into it's trunk.  It is happily accompanied here by the perfect quote from William Shakespeare...

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.  ~William Shakespeare

Orange Tree With Purple Leaves

Orange Tree With Purple Leaves
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
18" x 24"

This one is the third tree completed in a set of four I am working on.  The first Two were  posted March 3rd and March 2nd earlier this year.   I'll show them all together once I finish the fourth one, but for now, here is Orange Tree.  She's beautiful to me.  I thought this quote from one of my favorite authors Willa Cather would be the perfect companion for her.  Enjoy!

I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.  ~Willa Cather, 1913

Shining Green Birch Trees

Shining Green Birch
Oil on Canvas
by Cheryl Harris White
12 x 12

This was a fun little oil painting to do inspired by a few lines of poetry I came across.  I used a lot of light shades of greens and yellows which makes the forest seem to shimmer.  Happy to be playing in my oil paint again!

The trees are God's great alphabet;
With them He writes in shining green
Across the world His thoughts serene.
- Leonora Speyer

Memories

Memories
Acrylic and Collage on Canvas
by Cheryl Harris White
3 ft x 3 ft
$200.00
In our yard in Ohio, when I was a child, there was a huge weeping willow tree.  Under it, my little sister and I used to play for hours and have tea parties.  We moved to Texas, when I was 8 years old and I have never returned,  but I remember it like it was yesterday,  and those moments were the inspiration behind this piece.  

Camino Global

Camino Global

by Cheryl Harris White

Acrylic on Canvas

4' x 4'
SOLD

I love how the dance of these bright oranges and reds on this huge square canvas.  This was a painting for the director of Camino Global where Duke works.  It is full of texture and passion.  I loved doing the cross because it reminded me of a path of stepping stones to be followed.  That is what we are all really doing anyway... taking a long journey, one step at a time.