ARIEL

Art Journal-6 and On Having Fun With Black

2012-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Created this page using oil pastels, watercolors and cardstock.

I think the color black has become so much a part of my Art Journal pages this year. I've used it in so many pages and most of the time it was not a deliberate choice.

Now I want to see how many more ways I can use it in my Art Journal. I'm going to experiment and do 5 pages with black as the main color in them.
If anyone wants to try this out with me, you're welcome. Do share your lovely art works by leaving a link to your blog page on my comment section. I would love to see how you'll play with this powerful color.

It can be used as a background, as a border, black can be the central element of your work, you can combine it with other colors- the ideas are infinite.
Only one rule- The color Black should be used in your creations.

Five days, five different pages in black.

I'll be creating and posting each page from Monday the 13th of Feb till the 17th.
Want to join and have some fun? I would love to see your work too.

Thanks in advance
Susan

Valentine Flower

2012-02-05T06:11:00.000-08:00

Last week we made this pretty Valentine heart flower.

To make this you need:

Paper plate
Red Construction paper
ordinary paper, paint, glue and a photo
a piece of ribbon to hang the flower.

Paint the inside of the paper plate with any color that you like.
Cut out little hearts from the construction paper. If your child is good with scissors he can try this.
Next, do some free painting on a piece of paper.After it gets dry, trace your little one's hand prints on it, cut them and glue them on the inside of the paper plate.

Then, glue the little hearts on the outer rim of the plate, in the shape of petals. If the number of petals are more the flower looks more pretty.

This one is his friend's.

Glue a photo in the middle. Finally, tape a piece of ribbon and there now, you can hang it. [If you have magnets you can glue them and stick it too]

Thank you for visiting. Do leave a comment if you like this and try it. I would love to see your little one's craft too.

Susan

Art Journal-5

2012-02-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

Art Journalling from the 25th till date. I skipped 2 days in between.
.
Love this page and had posted this before for IA challenge.

This is where all my secrets have been written-:)

From this month I started off with a new page butthis one didn't come out that well. Anyways, I love some of the doodle patterns that have evolved from my mind. I don't mind if some pages don't turn out that well,as that motivates me to come out with more creativity the next time.

Thank you for visiting
Susan

Layout-1

2012-01-29T19:02:00.000-08:00

I'm very new to scrapbooking. Recently, I did around 5 to 6 layouts for one of my friends and just fell in love with it. Thank you dear L for giving me the chance to try out and experiment this wonderful art.

This one below is the first personal layout that I've done of my family. These snaps were taken this Christmas and I looove the two little stars that are shining in front of the tree. The background has been created with water color, some glitter and hand painted butterflies. Wrote the title, 'A Special Christmas' with black acrylic. I wanted to keep it simple but creative with a touch of my own style in it.

I'm linking this layout to the weekly challenge at Studio Calico.

Thanks
Susan

Art Journal-4

2012-01-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

My Art Journal Page from the 19th to the 24th.

When I wanted to do a new page, I didn't have any idea in my mind except that I'd to use the color, turquoise. I loved this color when I had added it on the previous page. I pasted the book pages and used water color on them (washed it with the lovely shade of turquoise). The rest of the layers gradually evolved just as these pretty flowers that remind me of the coming Spring. I cut pattern paper in the shape of flowers and glued chipboard flowers on top of it. Below a fence kind of shape was stamped using acrylic and corrugated cardboard .

Thanks
Susan

Inspiration Avenue - Alphabets

2012-01-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here is my entry for this week's Inspiration Avenue:

I did this page as part of an online class, 30 Days In Your Journal by the very talented Julie Fei-Fan Balzer of http://balzerdesigns.com. These alphabets were done using water proof pens and watercolors.This is one of my favorite pages from the class.

I did this page today. One side is done in the form of a puzzle and on the other side I wrote the quote using watercolor. It says, "Wherever you go, go with all your heart."(Confucius).

Thanks
Susan

Art Journal-3

2012-01-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

I've two layouts for this week. I did only 4 days each on both the pages. Am trying different techniques and mediums on each layout.

The one above was created using only three water colors and sharpie fine point pen to write. This time I doodled using water color. Doodling is stress free. As there is no particular object or pattern in my mind I find it very relaxing.

For the next layout, from the 15th to the 18th of this month I used collage materials,watercolor and acrylic.

I'll show you from where I got the tree, the butterflies and the flowers.

This was an old bag that I'd. I love the pattern, the writing and the message on it. Thanks to my passion for Art Journaling that I cut the patterns and pasted it on my page. I was dying to do a collage for some time and voila!

These two layouts are good examples to realize that Art Journaling can be done using very little stuff and even with things that you've at home, stuff that you would love to cling on but don't need anymore. Just make slight changes, modify them, re-size them to your convenience and there you go.

Next week again a totally new page.

Thanks and Happy Art Journaling to all
Susan

2012-01-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Inspiration Avenue Team's challenge for this week is 'Butterflies'.
Here is my entry for it.

This page was done using acrylic, water colors, and collage material.

Thanks
Susan

Art Journal-2

2012-01-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

This is my Art Journaling page from the 7th to the 10th of this month. I'd so much fun doodling with white Sakura Gelly Roll and correction pen on black background.

Love Always
Susan

Craft - Cotton Ball Bunnies

2012-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

My son and his friends did these cute little cotton ball bunnies. I drew and cut the shape of the bunny and the two ears on construction paper. The children painted the shapes with the color of their choice.When it was dry they pasted the ears and drew the eyes, nose and mouth. Lastly, they glued the cotton balls on their bunnies. Aren't they cute?

Thank you
Susan

Art Journal

2012-01-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

My Art Journal from January 1st to 5th.

The above tag is for day-6.

The background was created using a butterfly stamp outlined with neocolor crayons. The doodling was done with acrylic paint. Each of the handmade tags uses different watercolor techniques and the numbering was done using Black and Metallic Sharpie pens.

What I really love about this page is that my journaling is all safely hidden under the tags.

Love Always
Susan

2012-01-01T04:39:00.000-08:00

2012

Let this Year be Filled with

Joy, Happiness, and a Creative Spirit

Love Always
Susan

Wrapping up 2011

2011-12-30T21:32:00.000-08:00

Some Memorable, Joyful and Creative events of 2011

March 12 - The arrival of our second precious little bundle, Siddharth (Sid) Panicker, little brother to Ashish. Then I had my parents here to help us. They were here for almost six months and we were so happy to have them with us.

I had neglected my blog during pregnancy In the month of April I started blogging again. Another important thing that I started and am still continuing is keeping a journal where I record my daily activities, thoughts and ideas. In fact I started 3 journals - A Gratitude Journal,My Daily Diary and My Dream and Idea Journal.

In July I accidentally stumbled on 'Art Journaling' and I just fell in love with it. I found some amazing blogs and visiting these blogs became a part of my daily routine.

In August I started homeschooling my 4year old son using the Sonlight Curriculum.

By September I started doodling on Index Cards, following Tammy's inspiring ideas and posts here,

http://daisyyellow.squarespace.com/

Through thehttp://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/ I met an incredible blogger, Dion Dior, and has ever since been a fan of her work. Her posts are so very inspiring and her paintings, bright and vivacious. She was kind enough to give me valuable suggestions on beginning watercolor lessons.
http://diondior.blogspot.com/

Currently I'm taking an online watercolor class by Alisa Burke, another amazing blogger and artist. http://www.alisaburke.blogspot.com/

In November I took Julie Balzer's online workshop, '30 Days in your Journal' and I loved it. If you want to try out Art Journaling I do recommend her class. She is a great teacher who explains things so well and takes time to go through each student's work.http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/

This Christmas season was so special for us. We got a tree for the first time and had so much fun decorating it. I and my son created tons of craft and we hung some of them on the tree. This year I was able to make handmade cards and sent them to dear and near ones.

I tried my hand at scrapbooking too. I did some layouts for my friend and really enjoyed doing them.

In the coming year I'm looking forward to take my love for art more seriously.

I'm asked how I get time to do all ths with my two little ones and the household chores.My answer to them is that : Life is too short. It's OKAY even if things aren't perfect. But what matters is that YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE and thus making your day worthwhile. I also try to break up what I want to do into small sessions so that without feeling pressurized I can do what I enjoy and at the same time I can even spend time with my family, So I always try to TAKE BABY STEPS.

In 2012 I plan to continue with
* Art Journaling
* Water Color Practice
* Reading- Read at least one book a week.
* Scrapbooking - to keep a record of the important events in my life.
Along with this I'll be teaching my son and hopefully we'll be doing tons of crafts.

Art work by my son.

Love Always
Susan

2011-12-24T09:54:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

ICAD

2011-09-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

My attempts in doodling on Index Cards.

I started visual journaling only recently. With a pre-schooler and a six month old at home, playing with art and craft is quite challenging but I try to do at least a little bit each day.

Index cards are very helpful for me as they don't demand much time and it's affordable to experiment as much as I want on them. My creations on ICADS are like quick references for me. If I like a particular pattern or texture that I created I try to do it on a bigger canvas.

Thank you Tammy, for coming up with this great idea. Your blog is very inspiring for a novice like me.

Usually I don't follow the prompts. Whenever I have time and a pen in my hand I come up with such drawings.

Love Always
Susan

Craft Time - The Rooster

2011-09-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

My son and I were going through this page in Eric Carle's book "Animals Animals"

The result was this Rooster made from construction paper, colored tissue and the googly eye. I traced the picture and helped my son to cut and paste the scrap papers and the eye.

We also read this book which had great information about chicks and chickens.

Susan

The Mermaid Dream

2011-08-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

[Photo: My finger painting:)]
The waves rolled calmly

Lulling the sea animals into a deep slumber.

As the little fishes slept among the corals

They heard her singing softly.

The murmuring of the mermaid

Soothed them in their dreams.

Was she beside them?

Or was she nearly a figment of their imagination?

As every night the angels of the seabed

Drifted away to sleep,

They came under her spell.

A flash of black hair,

Luscious like the waves.

A dazzle of bright colors,

Vibrant as the faraway rainbow.

A soft sigh, and the swish of a tail

She thus floated in and out of their dreams

As they smiled and slept on

Waiting for that first ray of light

To fall on them from above.

[Have you ever seen a fish smile? Do you think they can? Perhaps the song of a mermaid can put a smile on their face:)]

For: One Single Impression - 'Dreams'

Love Always
Susan

2011-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

In pursuit of my new passion – Art Journaling

I’ve been very busy the last one week, homeschooling my son, being there for my family, reading, and any spare time I got, I was submerged in creating these doodles in my self-made journal. I dabbled in colors, experimenting with different techniques. I know it’s nowhere near perfection, but I’m proud with what little I’ve achieved as all these are result of self-study. I browsed the net, got books from the library and slowly worked through each page.

Except for the last picture(that’s my palm:)) most of the other pages are yet to be completed. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with this art as there are no strict rules of what, and what not, to do. It all depends on us; it’s an expression of our creativity, where we unravel the layers of our own selves.

I’ll gradually complete the rest, whenever I’m able to grab more free time.
(I’ve neglected my poetry this last week. I hope my muse will visit me soon.)

Have a great weekend.

Love Always
Susan

2011-07-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

I swayed to the rhythmic movement of the train.
Outside, the concrete dwellings gave way
To lonely thatched huts in the green fields.
One-legged cranes snoozed on the fields,
The coconut trees swayed in the breeze.
A gust of wind brought in the stink of damp husks.
A lone boat drifted on the distant river.
Women took a dip in the pond
To ward off the summer heat.
Men sat on river banks patiently
Silent and erect; only their eyes darted
At the fish swimming below.
Urchins with their muddy faces and pearly teeth
Laughed and waved furiously at us.
I swiftly painted the images in my head
And carefully wrapped them among the other treasures.
I can see them even now
While lazing around in my apartment
Far away, from my homeland.

Love Always
Susan

For: Sunday Scribblings- Distant
Carry on Tuesday - In my head I paint a picture

2011-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

The whistle of the winds,
And the rustle of the curtains
Awoke me from my slumber.
I strained my eyes in the darkness
And what did I see?
An apparition!
Moving aside the curtain of night,
It loomed above me.
Paralyzed by fear,
But overcome by curiosity
I stared at the ugly monster
And wondered if it was
The spirit of my ancestor.
Waiting for it to pounce on me,
I closed my eyes and said my prayers.
A whimpering beside me made me sit up.
I switched on the night light
And held my crying baby.
The curtain rustled again,
But the apparition had vanished.

Love ALways
Susan

For:[Magpie Tales]
magpietales.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

Flowers of Summer

2011-07-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

This year’s birthday too passed by
Dear ones called and wished
Long years of happiness.
Kind words and beautiful gifts,
The companionship of loved ones,
All made my day worthwhile
To save in the archives of my memory.

Love Always
Susan

2011-06-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

June- This month was ‘dedicated’ to illness, pain and medication in the family. Everyone went down with the flu; even my three month old baby had severe chest congestion and cold. My mother’s blood sugar level got high. She is now struggling to control it with the help of Insulin and pills.

It took some real good effort from my side to try and see the brighter side of each day. Prayers and a feeling of Gratitude of all that I have had helped me to stay positive.

One good thing that I got to do was I could read some good books. This is the list of books that I read this month.

1. Little Princes by Conor Grennan
2. Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans
3. Sideways On A Scooter by Miranda Kennedy
4. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal
5. Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy
6. The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghivi
7. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
8. Haunting Jasmine by Anjali Banerjee.

Currently I’ve started reading ‘Atlas of Unknowns’ by Tania James.

I hope the coming month will turn out to be much better. I’m a July gal, getting a year older. I’m thankful for the last year that I had. Every day was beautiful and worth living.

How was June for you? Did you have a great time?

Love Always
Susan

Welcome, Summer

2011-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hot, hot summer days
Tall glasses of cold lemonade,
Cheerful chunks of melon,
Luscious red strawberries,
And soothing cool ice-chips.
A wicker chair on the porch,
A book or two beside it.
Sunglasses and sun blocks
To ward off the heat.
Relaxing in my chair,
Listening to the hum
Of the bees and the birds,
Silently watching the glow of sunset
And the crimson sky above.
I dream thus to relish my time,
For summer is here,
Knocking at my door.

Love Always
Susan

EXISTENCE

2011-06-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

As ambition crawled up his soul
Life slipped through his fingers.
Worldly riches filled his mansions
Yet, only emptiness welcomed
The four walls of his mind.
All through the day
Companions and colleagues chaperoned him
Secretaries and servants waited on him.
But all through the night
His vagrant spirit wandered in solitude.
The moment when his present paused
When no more future passed by
In vain, he realized-
That TIME has slipped through
His already barren existence.

Love Always
Susan

For: Carry on Tuesday
"Slipping through my fingers"