... exploring in my creativity further in 2022



21 February 2014

Paint Party Friday and more Art Journal Birds

Hi! 

It's been a while since I have been to the Party... (except for working in the background with Kristin, that is.) I have 4 canvases, gessoed and sitting on my table - ready to paint but have I? Oh no... Well at least I have been playing and painting in my art journal though, so I finally have something to join in with!

For some unknown reason, birds are inspiring to me a lot these days. First a little blue jay - usually I see a few during the winter but this year it has been so brutal that very few feathered friends have been around. There has been the occasional chickadee and yesterday morning a gorgeous cardinal, singing his little heart out ☺ - no blue jays yet though...

Blue Jay flitting 

Blue Jay and Oscar Wilde quote

One technique a lot of people seem to use in their art journals is to pre-paint pages. I did that here and for me it was harder to figure out what to do with this darn page than had it stayed blank. I had seen a technique in paintings where an animal or face was painted using circles or black marks as shading, so I thought I would try that here. (Not sure I am even describing it well... or if it has a name... Anyone know?)

Great Blue Heron spread with van Gogh quote

Great Blue Heron (up close - double click to enlarge)

I am very intrigued by this technique/effect. I think I will try more!

After pasting a few thing into the journal, I was left with an odd space, so I decided to fill it by painting this quirky guy...

Virginia Rail

And then there were another couple of pages that weren't bird inspired but designed more to inspire me (or push me) to take action...

Next Step

50 Coffees Project

Looking forward to seeing your painting and/or art journaling efforts! Have a lovely week.

45 comments:

  1. Wow your birds are great!!! Love all the pieces! You have been busy!!

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  2. Oh my goodness, I kept saying that's my favorite at each new bird!! Wow! HPPF! Thanks!

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  3. I like your birds! The blue jay especially calls to me. It's good to see you posting as well as doing background work. Happy PPF!

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  4. Love your birds! That Virginia Rail looks so fluffy ...

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  5. Great work, Eva, and good to see you around! I don't know the name of that techniques either, although I have often used it. Valerie

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  6. I LOVE birds! Always have and own parrots almost all my life. Happy PPF!

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  7. Lovely and sweet works. Thank you for sharing

    http://agagasiniak.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. Smashing pages Eva, so good to have you join in again. I especially love the birds they are so beautifully done. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. Your birds are so lovely and painting in a special way.
    I like the Blue Jay and the Great Blue Heron a lot, because these technique are amazing!

    Claudia

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  10. Nice catching up!! Great bird...Everyone seems to have their own process that works best for them....I like finding things in the paint too! Also I do a lot of mugs and shoes...it's my thing too... Hope you find your next step....thanks for sharing!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  11. well Ms EVA you sure have come to the party with a grand entrance :):) Fabulous projects!! I love your flitting blue jay.And your heron made with all those circles is really wonderful-I'd not heard of that technique before. Happy PPF and thanks for the years of hosting!

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  12. Eva these are fantastic. The Blue Jay is a true work of art. I really loved seeing all of your pieces.
    Have a very nice weekend
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  13. Eva!!!! these are so beautiful!!! love love all the birds!!!!

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  14. These are great pages Eva. Nice to see you. Love the birds, they are always inspiration. Have a great weekend.

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  15. wonderful pieces Eva, you have grown in your art.

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  16. Love your pages, Eva. Thanks again for sponsoring PPF. I know it is not all that easy.

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  17. i don['t know what that technique is called by i do like the effects and i think you used it nicely with the heron spread. love the quote on that spread too~!

    enjoyed seeing your painted birds. very inspiring.

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  18. Love your bird sketches especially that heron is so beautiful.

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  19. The birds in winter are really precious aren't they. ?.it's like they have to endure so much. ?. The blue Jay was lovely! The journal page became so dense I'd have trouble with it too though the bird was nice

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  20. Your birds are fabulous - I like that technique!

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  21. That bluejay is absolutely lovely! Fabulous artwork :D

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  22. Love the bluejay!!!! In fact I love all of the birds.... I love to watch the winter birds at the feeders on my deck. They provide so much entertainment I can waste a day watching them...but then it's not wasted if I enjoy myself not is it ?

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  23. Thank you so much for your comment on my blog! I love the pages you did and all the different techniques you used! - Irma

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  24. Love the blue jay. I love seeing birds, real or in art. Happy PPF

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  25. Beautiful work, love the Blue Jay! Thank you for your visit earlier.
    xx Monique

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  26. Oh wow wow wow I love your birds, will be back next week to see more of your art. Happy PPF.

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  27. Each bird is so special each in their own ways. I like the way you captured the bluejay in flight. This is the first year I have seen bluejays hanging around my place. They are very entertaining, aren't they?

    The technique you used to create the heron looks so fun and relaxing to make. I am going to have to try that technique for sure.

    The Virginia Rail is quirky, he looks like he is hiding something under his feathers, you know like the guy who is standing on the street corner with a trench coat!?

    Thanks for sharing, I hope you do what your quote says, "Take the next step", these are very enjoyable and I would love to see what you do next! Happy weekend, making more art, I hope!

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  28. The bird paintings are too good!
    Lovely :)
    Deepa
    http://deepazworld.blogspot.in/

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  29. Hi Eva. Thank you so much for visiting me and being a part of this awesome group. All you have posted is great. My favorite is the Virginia Rail wrapped up birdie since it has been so cold everywhere here and teh cardinal is amazing!!! Have a great week!

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  30. The birds start singing and chirping and squawking and screeching and then...I can't ignore them. That would by why I start thinking about them. Ugh, birds annoy me. Isn't that terrible!? Everyone loves birds. I had a bad experience in my youth. haha

    I love your birdie paintings. Inspiring journal pages too!

    Happy Paint Party Friday!
    Tam


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  31. Wonderful work. I adore your birds.

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  32. Very beautiful artwork! Great bird.

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  33. Eva your birds are all lovely!
    Blessings
    Kat

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  34. I love your blue jay. We get them sometimes in the garden here in Baltimore and they always make me smile. Happy PPF

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  35. Love the flitting blue jay - you don't often see people painting birds in that pose. It's so unusual and beautifully done.

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  36. How fun! I love how you practiced different ways to paint and draw the birds :)

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  37. I totally love birds. Your birds are beautiful and interesting. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  38. Beautiful projects...I like the both backgrounds!

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  39. How lovely! Your blue jay is just gorgeous and that cup with the heart! Love them all, xoxo

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  40. Such beauty in your birds. I adore the Blue Joy but Virginia Rail has got character, love her!

    Annabelle : )

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Looking forward to hearing from you!