Joana Carvalho

I painted!

2012-02-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ever since I started painting I don't think I'd ever gone that long without it. I haven't painted since last year! Well, HADN'T painted since last year. This morning I finally decided to stop procrastinating and just go for it. Because, yes, I have small children and, yes, I have been house hunting for the last 2 months and, yes, I have other stuff to take care of, but procrastination plays a part on it too, make no mistake.

A few months ago I decided to start 3 paintings to hang over my bed. We have a Cal King bed, so 3 canvas should cover the entire width. Anyway, they have been staring at me forever, like this:

And today I worked on them a little bit more and added a few more layers of paint. I probably spent no more than half an hour painting, with regular interruptions from my 3-year-old, who asked me if she could paint too, after I was done. I said yes, so she kept coming back every 3 minutes to check if it was her time to paint yet. Oh, well.

Still work in progress, of course, but at least they are going somewhere now.
And so am I.

Still here!

2012-02-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! In fact, I haven't done anything even remotely artsy in awhile... The only paints and colors I've had on my mind lately are the ones that are gonna go on the walls of my new home!

Yes, we're buying a house! So, between the house hunting, the offer, the negotiations, and budgeting the necessary remodeling/repairs that need to done before we move, you can understand why the lack of art on my part.

my first 'art project' in over 2 months: a Valentine's Day box for my son

Meanwhile, my BFF came and went and all I have to show for it is this photo:

We had a fantastic time together (as did our kids, who seemed to have been BFFs themselves, which was an added bonus): we talked, and shopped, and went to Disney, and watched Bridesmaids, and laughed, and talked some more. Ok, a LOT more. All in all, a great few days...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Word for 2012

2012-01-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

If you follow some of the same artsy blogs I do, you probably read a blog post like this one already. There seems to be this trend going...people choosing their word for the year. So I decided to jump in.

I thought long and hard about this...not so simple to come up with ONE word to define your goals for the whole year, your hopes and dreams, your resolutions, your vision of how to get closer to the life you want for yourself. But I did it.

I have been known to - especially if you ask my dear hubby - get really excited about an idea, make plans, talk about it non-stop, get prepared and then...just drop it. Like it never happened. Like it was the most crazy idea ever. The last and most outrageous example was cake decorating.

my daughter's 2nd birthday

When my daughter was turning 2 I decided to make and decorate the cake myself. I had NEVER done that before, but for some reason I just assumed I would do a good job, and I had the idea for the cake already, so I did it. And I loved the result!

Long story short, I got so excited about it that a month later I had 2 "partners" and we had made cakes for all of our friends' kids birthdays. I was buying supplies, testing recipes, deciding on a name for our business and registering domain names.

some of the cakes we decorated

A month after that, one of my partner friends had basically dropped out (she wasn't really into it, plus she had a full time job), the other one was talking about going back to school to be a nurse, and I was frustrated with several failed cake recipes. Suddenly, I was like "Cake? Really?" And that was that. The "business" was over before it even had a name. Looking back, I still don't know what I was thinking...

But it is different with painting. It's self-expression, it's freedom, it's liberating... It's truly a passion. So I want to see it through. I want to see where it goes.

So my word for 2012 is PERSEVERANCE.

According to the dictionary, perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. That is exactly it! This year I want to be able to look past the problems - the eventual lost of mojo to paint, the low sales period, the lack of time to make art - and persevere, hang in there. That way I'll know, whether or not I become a full time artist, that I gave it my best shot.

PS: one of my cake partners actually stuck by the idea (well, sort of). She is now selling Brazilian Truffles. She finally decided on a name - SUGARTRIX - and I truly hope she perseveres as well.

My BFF is coming!

2011-12-08T14:51:00.001-08:00

Cinthia and I go way back. I mean WAAAAAY back. 1985 back. That's the year we met. We were probably around 10. But we didn't like each other at first. Well, not exactly. It's more like we had a completely different group of friends for the first four years. We sat on opposite corners in class, and we hardly ever talked at all.

Cinthia and I, side by side, TOTALLY by accident at that time.

It wasn't until high school that we became best friends. And after that we became a force to be reckoned with! Inseparable! We sat side by side, talked all the time during school hours and still came up with reasons to call each other on the phone 4, 5 times a day! We even had a joke about that. We would call and say: "Nothing..." (meaning, "I have nothing to say, but I called anyway").

In High School.

During our senior year, we were ALWAYS skipping classes! You would have a better chance to find us roaming through the halls of our school instead of inside the classroom. It was a good year!

In college we didn't see each other so much anymore, but we kept in touch.

We ended up going to the same University, although we studied in different campuses, so we never saw each other. Not long after that, we didn't even talk on the phone everyday anymore. We had new friends, new boyfriends, new routines, but still, our friendship remained.

In September of 2000, she was there, at my wedding, as my Maid of Honor.

Cinthia was my Maid of Honor.
She was waiting for me at the airport after I spent 2 years living abroad.
We became pregnant almost at the same time.
We were at each other's Baby Showers.
I was there when her son was born.
My son had his first sleepover at her house.

Showing off our preggo bellies. Our sons (yes, we both had boys!) were born one month apart.

I've been living in California for 5 years, and next month, for the first time, Cinthia is coming to visit me! Yeah! She and her son are staying with us for a week and we are both super excited about it!

We've been BFFs for 20 years! And here's to the next 20! Love you, girl!

PS: by the way, BFF, I spent the whole day digging up all those old pictures of us!

Belonging

2011-11-23T10:26:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday I went to the first Painting Studio offered by Jenny Doh at her new Studio Crescendoh space. It's also where I took Flora Bowley's workshop a few weeks ago.

Judging by my introverted personality, you would think I would dread painting among other people, but I don't. I actually really - really! - enjoy it. There's something about being surround by like-minded souls that is very inspiring and comforting. There is no judging, no competition. Just artistic individuals who are there to make art. Simple. And perfect.

Harmony, me and JenEve

I got a chance to see some of my classmates again, Jenny and Cynthia, finally meet my online friend Harmony and get to know a few other great women.

one of my paintings at the end of the day

I had two 24x24 canvases (which, by the way, felt TINY after painting on a 30x30) and kept alternating between them throughout the day.
And when both of them were wet, I would chat with somebody. <-- one of the many perks of painting with a group!

second painting at the end of the session

Last night, I realized I was very stuck on this painting above, didn't know how to move forward. Maybe I added imagery too soon and now I didn't know how to NOT ruin it. So I put on some music, 5 or 6 colors on my palette, and let go.

I still have a lot of work to do, but I am so happy with where I am now, not necessarily because of what it looks like, but because of what I did to get here. I even flipped the canvas! I was really in the moment and not afraid of doing something wrong! Plus, I am getting better with the foam brush, which is another reason to be happy. They are SO good to blend paint!

I'm evolving as an artist. And it feels good. I'm meeting new artists friends. And loving it. I belong here.

Lots to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!

My "Flora" experience!!!

2011-11-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Me and Flora.

If you read my blog you know I've been waiting and talking about Flora Bowley's workshop for months. And last weekend, finally, it was time. Two whole days, from 9 to 5, painting and learning from Flora.

So C-O-O-L!

Getting rid of the "white": Flora shows us the first step.

The workshop was at Studio Crescendoh, hosted by Jenny Doh. There were 18 students (if I remember correctly) from very different backgrounds, which, I think, only makes for a more interesting class.

How to make marks and add variation and interest to your painting.

Flora did short demos to show us the next steps, and then it was our turn. We had two canvases, 30x30 each. The biggest I've ever painted. And I liked it!

Sometimes I would walk around the see what everybody was doing. Amazingly different, each and every one!

While we waited for the paint to dry, we would work on the other canvas.

Times like these makes me realize how much I like being around other artists. Everybody was so happy to be there, so open to everything, so ready to dive in and paint their hearts out...amazing energy!

At one point Jenny turned to me and asked "Are you having a good time?" and I said "Yes!".
She nodded and said "Yeah, I can tell."

Some of the stages of Flora's painting. She really is the ultimate example of non-attachment.

Every once in awhile Flora would have us take a break and do some stretching and breathing and dancing. Other times she would walk around the room and read us an inspirational quote. And sometimes we would sit down, with our journals, and either draw or write. A nice break.

Everybody wrote affirmations and shared with the group.

On the second day, we could see everybody's paintings coming together.

Flora's painting by the end of the workshop.

As for MY paintings, I took some pictures of the progress too. I find it interesting to see how you can change a painting so much!

Painting 1:

Painting 2::

I still have to work on both of them, but I like them so far. I learned some interesting things from Flora, and I really liked meeting her. If you ever have the opportunity to take her class, do it. Totally worth it, I promise.

A final group pose.

I've been published!

2011-11-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, I had to share! I'm in the Winter 2012 issue of Artful Blogging! So cool!

As you may or may not know, Artful Blogging is one of the MANY amazing publications from Stampington & Company. Each one of their magazines is like a book, full of creative and artsy stuff. And they offer digital editions too!

Anyway, a few months ago I received an email from Jennifer Jackson Taylor, the editor of Artful Blogging, asking me if I would be interested in having my blog featured on their magazine.

"Let me think... YEAH! Of course!!!"

So I sent her some images, wrote an article, and (not so) patiently waited until November 1st. And here it is, and it's beautiful, and I'm so happy!

Thank you, Jennifer, thank you, Stampington.

PS: I know this post is totally my ego talking, but please bare with me and allow me to just enjoy this moment... :-) xoxo

Practicing unattachment

2011-10-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

You can clearly see the similar color schemes, can't you?

I always knew that it was a good thing to have several paintings going at the same time. I've said this here many times and I've always tried to do that. There is always more than one unfinished painting in my studio at all times, for sure. But never, before this week, had I really taken full advantage of this...

And I'll explain.

I have this really annoying habit of not wanting any - ANY! - paint to go to waste. "Why is that annoying?", you may be asking. Because my attachment starts there! I'm so hung up on the fact that I mixed more paint than I need that I start using it all, even though I know I should stop. I just can't bare the thought of waste! See? Annoying.

So, anyway...

The other day I was trying to achieve a certain shade of purple and, when I finally got it, I had a TON of paint! This time, though, instead of covering the entire canvas with it, I grabbed a couple more substrates and started splashing the purple around!

After that, I started doing the same thing with all the colors I used: poured them on my palette and went from canvas to canvas... It's so "duh!", I know... I'm in a 'duh' week, I guess (see my previous post).

All I can say is that, up until now, I'm having NO attachment issues. It is quite freeing to go from one painting to the next, applying color after color, completely unaware of what's gonna happen next.

I even let my daughter paint a little bit too. That's unattachment for ya!

If she is meant to be an artist and realizes that at age 3, more power to her!
It took me 33 years more than that!

"A-ha" or "Duh" moment?

2011-10-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today I was using, for the first time, a couple of new acrylic colors that I ordered for the (ahhhh!) Flora Bowley workshop I will be attending in 2 weeks (again: ahhhhh!).

It was supposed to be very quick, I didn't have a lot of time to paint at that moment, so I just put a few colors on my palette, grabbed a brush and - get this - SAT DOWN! Wow! I'm painting sitting on the floor! Nice! Never done that before! Will be doing it more from now on.

So, 'a-ha' or 'duh' moment?

Maybe both.

PS: photo by my precious 3-year-old daughter. :-)

oldie but goodie

2011-10-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I challenge myself to only use a handful of colors on a painting...

...but it rarely works.

Truth is, I like color!

And when it's too much, you can always paint over it.

Why I can't do commissions just yet

2011-10-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

In general, when I first started painting, my friends were very supportive of me and my art. Of course, being your friends, you kinda expect them to support you, but more than that, they seemed to genuinely like what I was doing. Even when I wasn't sure I did.

What really took me by surprise was the support of my not-so-close friends, acquaintaces, people that I only met twice or three times! When you put yourself out there, though, and have a blog, and a Facebook Biz Page, etc, that's what you want, ultimately: you want OTHER people (not only your close friends and supporters) too see your work and to hopefully fall in love with it. But when you do most of your marketing online, you don't realize that this is happening until you get their feedback, whether it's a comment in your blog or a "like" on Facebook.

There is this girl, in particular... she's friends with a few of my friends and we met a few times, at birthday parties and other social gatherings. So we're not very close and yet, every time I post a new picture on my Facebook, she leaves me a comment, and she cheers me on, she likes my paintings, and I sense she really wants me to succeed. This absolutely fills my heart with joy, to know that there is somebody out there rooting for me just "because"...

Anyway, the other day she asked me if I could do a painting with 2 boys. I only paint girls, for some reason, but she has two sons, so she wanted a boy painting. "I'll try". That's what I told her. A few days later I started 'trying'. The picture you see on top of this post is how that painting began.

But the whole time I was painting I wasn't 'feeling' it. It felt forced, planned, calculated. I usually start painting without any idea of where it's going, and this one already had an outcome from the get-go! I tried to keep going, because this is someone I really didn't want to disappoint. But it wasn't working; I couldn't finish it. Maybe she won't care so much when I tell her, but I do hope she understands my reasons and know that I really did try.

I am so not ready for commissions! :-(

Letting my heart go free...

2011-10-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

This painting has been ongoing for awhile now. At least for a month and half, according to this post, where I showed I technique I used here.

But that's my process, I always have a bunch of unfinished paintings at any given time. And I like it like that. Makes me worry less about their outcomes: if I 'mess up', there's always another one to work on.

Up until this stage (above), I was adding color after color, not thinking much about what I was doing or where I was going. Then, one day, I looked at one of the black lines and saw a face profile. So I went with it (below).

Everything started coming together after that...

"What is that 'window' thing on the left?" - Maybe it's a bird cage.

"What is she looking at?" - Well, she's looking up, so, whatever it is, it has to be flying...hey, maybe it flew right out of that bird cage! It's her HEART! She's letting her heart go free!

Still don't know if it's finished or not, but I like where it's going, and the story behind it. It has everything to do with me and where I am right now. I'm letting my heart (well, I'm trying, anyway) lead the way, guide me, show me what I'm looking for...

Tacky? Cliche? Well, maybe, but that's what I want now. Perhaps that's the World's Biggest Summit effect already and, if it is, even better. My heart is open.

iSad

2011-10-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

For my iMac, my iPhone, my iPad...thank you, Steve. 

New iPhone look!

2011-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to show you my latest purchase: a new customized iPhone case, with one of my paintings printed on it! I ordered it from Uncommon. They can print virtually anything on this case, and it's very easy to upload your own images and save your designs. The quality is amazing, I have to say. I'm very happy with it!

Changing the subject, I'm still doing Katie Kendrick's class that I mentioned on my last post, but I have nothing new to show today. The class is still amazing, Katie's videos and lessons are still awesome, but I haven't been the most dedicated student. No, that's not right; I haven't had time to do the exercises, that's more the case here. I hardly have time to read each lesson and watch every video without my 3-year-old daughter coming up to me wanting something.

How do other moms do this? Seriously, the next online class I take has to be about "Being a mom and an artist: how to manage your time". Does anybody know of a class like that??? ;-)

Have a great weekend!

Learning with Katie

2011-09-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

After my Flying Lessons with Kelly Rae, I decided to take another class - a painting class, this time. So this week I joined Katie Kendrick and a super talented group of artists/students and started LAYERED IMPRESSIONS. The registration is extended until tonight, Sep 18th, so if you think this is something you would be interested in, don't think too much! ;-)

Anyway, I am quite enjoying the class so far. Katie has a new lesson every day of the week (except weekends) and always with a video, in which she demonstrates everything. It's awesome!
This week we had to draw a couple of faces with our non-dominant hand - life drawing faces isn't hard enough, right?

And it was so good! So freeing! SO fun! Not worrying about whether or not it looks realistic, if the eyes are the same size or if the nose is too big...whatever! Just do it! Aaaahhhh!

Originally drawn with my left hand, then colored with pastels and gesso.

This one was first transferred onto another paper using gel medium, and then colored.

Yeah, they may not be the most beautiful women you've ever seen, but you have no idea how scary the idea of drawing a human face has always been for me. At least one that doesn't look like a cartoon!

All I know is I never looked forward for a Monday before! Can't wait to see what Katie has for us this week!

I'll keep you posted!

New business cards!!

2011-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got the new business cards I ordered from Moo. What a pleasantly unexpected surprise that was! I didn't think they were gonna arrive so soon - Moo got some points there, and I hadn't even opened the package yet!

Speaking of package, that's where the cuteness begins: a little box with all your cards inside. Adorable. (OBS: I only ordered 50 cards, so I don't know their packaging when you order, say, 500!)

Inside the box, "MINE" and "THEIRS" dividers for you to keep your cards separate from the cards you're gonna get from other people. Cuteness #2.

I loved that you can upload several different images to the same order too. It's so much more fun to have more than one design! People get more excited about 'choosing' one. Really!

Then, on the other side, my info, of course, and a QR code, just as the "cherry on top"!

Ah, yes, I forgot to mention the quality! :-) I am very happy with it! And the colors too, almost an exact match to what I was seeing on my iMac.

Will absolutely order them again!

Yay, I just invented my own technique!

2011-08-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like to do outlines in my paintings. Black outlines. But they never come out like I want them to. They're either not black enough, not thin enough, or too even, or they look too 'thought out' instead of 'casually hand drawn'.

So today I grabbed a bottle of alcohol ink that I had (in a color that I almost NEVER use anyway) and I emptied it out. Then, I put black acrylic paint inside. And that was my "brush"!

The difference was amazing!

Look at a flower done with a regular brush:

Now with my new tool:

There are blobs of paint everywhere, the petals are different from one another, the thickness of the lines is uneven (meaning: awesome!) and there are parts that don't have any paint at all - one of those "happy accidents" that make the flower look more natural. I love it!

Have you ever come up with a cool technique that made you happy? Share!

I, too, am taking flight

2011-08-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me that I might have never mentioned here one of the firsts - if not THE first - artist that inspired me to start painting: Kelly Rae Roberts (I'm sure she doesn't need an introduction, but you can visit her blog by clicking on her name).

I discovered Kelly Rae awhile back, bought a couple of her prints, bookmarked her website and started following her blog. Then I bought her book. And, on October of 2010, I created my first "Kelly-Rae-inspired" collage/painted box. That's how I started painting.

My next project was another box, made out of a recycled 'flexible straws' box. Also Kelly Rae inspired, but I had also just bought a Green Craft Magazine, so I was all about reusing, reducing, recycling!

Then, I finally had the courage to work on another surface - not a box - and call it 'a painting'.

Again, I was all about Kelly Rae's tricks and tips. I bought all kinds of materials that she recommended!

Now, almost a year later, I'm listening to Kelly Rae's advices again. This time, I'm taking her e-course: Flying Lessons. It just started this week and, so far, I like it! I'm really hopeful that this course will make a real difference for me, make me see things differently, make me believe that it can happen for me too.

Are you a believer? ;-)

Boy painting

2011-08-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

So one day I ask my husband "when are you gonna take one of my paintings to hang in your office at work?". And he said that all we had to do was choose one and he would love to take it. So we started looking at the paintings and he was like "no, this one has flowers, too girly", "that one too", etc. Apparently, none of my paintings are "boyish" enough.

So I decided to paint him a "boy" painting.

Not girly, yes?

Girl painting

2011-08-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

I had no idea how this painting was gonna turn out when I first started it.

At first I was trying to limit the number of colors I was going to use...

...but that didn't work, so I added a "couple" more.

And then - who knew? - it became a girl!

For the green "grass", I mixed acrylic with gel medium, so I got a thicker layer. Then I started scribbling in it.

And a close up of the girl.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

PS: by the way, I finally got my books and, so far, love them!

Embracing the pink...all the way!

2011-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my little girl's 3rd birthday. She is, in her own words, a "big girl".
And what a girl she is! An adorable, charming, deliciously cute princess. Really!
I know I'm partial, but I swear, to meet her is to love her!

Three years ago..............................................................and now.
And only fun in between.

Before I had a daughter I never thought I would be so into this, but now, let me tell you: let the Princesses dresses, tea parties and Disney movies' soundtracks come! We're ready! And we love everything pink!

Happy Birthday, my sweet sweet girl!

I love you,

Mom

Announcing...

2011-07-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

... my ETSY SHOP! Yay!

It only has a few paintings so far, but I'll add more soon. I'm very happy to have finally taken the leap and opened this store. I'm nervous too, but I guess that's to be expected, right?

Please stop by, browse, let me know what you think!

Many thanks to those who encouraged and supported me to do this. GREATLY appreciated.

Waiting for Amazon

2011-07-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

One thing my kids always like to do is to go to a bookstore and spend some time there. Of course we mainly stay next to the kids books, so I first stop at the Crafts section, grab a couple of books that seem interesting and then go sit down while my kids take half of the books off the shelves.

So yesterday, while doing that, I came across 2 books that were amazing! So I quickly took my iPhone out, launched my Amazon app, and compared the prices. Yes, much cheaper, so "add to cart", please.

And the books are:

Flavor for Mixed Media: A Feast of Techniques for Texture, Color and Layers

Mary Beth Shaw

Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression through Art

Misty Mawn

I also got another book - The Artist Unique, by Carmem Torbus - that I'm hoping is as good as the other two. I only saw a preview of this one through the "look inside" feature at Amazon.

Now I'm anxiously waiting for them to arrive...

Animation progress

2011-07-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

Remember the little preview of a painting I showed on my last post?

Well, here it is!

It's the biggest canvas I've painted so far - 22 x 28 - and I loved it!

Coming soon to a computer near you

2011-07-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Since apparently I'm in the middle of a creative slump, I decided that this was the perfect time to start working on my Etsy store. I keep postponing it and telling myself that "I'm just gonna finish this painting first" or any excuse, really.

Truth is, specially now that it's summer and both kids are home everyday, I get so little time for myself that, when I do, I want to do something fun - paint! Setting up an Etsy store, just between you and me, is the boring part: I have to have good pictures of my paintings, to write a description for each one, and - let's not forget this - price them! And that's why the store keeps getting bumped to "next week".

But now I started. Really started. Let's see how long it takes me.

Meanwhile, here's a painting that I finished recently:

First layers

Finished.

Hubby said he liked it very much - that made me happy! :-)

And here's a preview of another one I'm currently working on:

Very different of everything I've done so far, including the color choices - much MUCH paler.

Let's see where it takes me... or where I take it!