Easter Week #ledartsupply #zebrapenus #schmincke

Easter week.

The week leading up to the remembrance

that is the most special one for every Christian.

Easter Sunday - the day we remember

not the death, but the

resurrection of a living Christ.

 Since I started making art a few years ago,

each Easter I make a special piece to celebrate.

While I am here, I'd like to walk you through

the making of this page.

This is my medium size Leda Sketchbook.

I love the book - it works so well with 

everything I throw at it!

(By the time my page was complete,

some areas had as much as 10+ layers

of wet media. The page held up great.

No buckling or dimpling, I did hold it in place

with a couple small clips till it was dry.)

I started with a base layer of Golden Fluid Acrylics.

 My hope was to create a page showing that the

tomb of Jesus Christ is empty.

Where better to start than in the scripture that

tells us about that time.

Luke 24:1-12, describes the women taking spices

to prepare the body of Jesus for His eternal resting place.

When they arrived, 

the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty.

I printed the New International Version of that

scripture, hand tore the edges and attached

it to my page with Dina Wakley's clear gesso.

A layer underneath and a layer across the top

both adhered the piece and sealed the edges.

I used standard (cheap) computer paper which is

why it looks translucent. I knew when I painted

over it that would all be covered up

and the words of the Bible would remain.

No problemo.

 I lightly sketched the main elements in pencil, 

then used my Schmincke Watercolors

to start placing the color blocks.

My thought was to make it look like as if

you are peering through the empty tomb

to the crosses beyond where the 

crucifixion happened.

When the page was completely dry, I used a 

paper towel to lightly buff the entire page.

This is important to remove any dust or

loose color particles so they won't clog up

your pens.

 My technical drawing pens from Zebra Pen

worked perfectly over these colors. 

I outlined the various areas, and started

tangling that tree.

If you are a tangle artist, you will recognize 

that tree to be the tangle pattern Finery.

 I continued with those same technical pens

and a white UniBall Signo Gel Pen and did the

remainder of the pen work. 

I darkened the edges to the tomb opening

to make it stand out a bit more.

I felt like the rocks were too dark so . . . 

 . . . I used an opaque white watercolor and

brushed some over the top of the rocks to

lighten them a bit.

A pencil and a tortillon brought a little shade

to the words in the scripture I wanted to

emphasize. 

And a parting thought to . . .

Rejoice in His mercy.

Were it not for that mercy we would not

have a hope for tomorrow. 

I hope you are encouraged as we go

into Easter Week, to remember the real reason 

for Easter is not the bunny and the candy -

although those things are fun and tasty -

but to remember the risen Savior! 

Have a great week!

Supplies used: Leda Medium Sketchbook, Schmincke Watercolor Pans,
Dina Wakley Clear Gesso, Zebra Zensations Technical Drawing Pens,
UniBall Signo Gel Pen. 

Love Wins

 This week our art journal prompt in 

Zentangle All Around

is to use lyrics on a journal page. 

I have been trying to journal more often in my

Bible, and thought this prompt was perfect timing.

Love and Theft is a country music group.

I usually like their songs, but this one just

really caught my ear.

The chorus is repeated throughout the song

(not like I have the lyrics typed here with

verse after verse after verse)

and is literally I Corinthians 13.

The love chapter in the Bible.

I took a sheet of scrapbook paper I like

and printed the lyrics to their song on the 

patterned side of the page.

The reverse is all white and a great surface

for tangling some designs.

I 'tipped' the page into my Bible using a

strip of the ever wonderful washi tape. 

Could it be that you need a reminder today

that Love Wins?

I know I need this reminder every single day.

Love really does win.

When we let God lead the way

and we open up our hearts.

Love and God wins.

Philippians 4:8

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is just,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is commendable,

if there is any excellence,

if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things. 

Philippians 4:8

 I am still getting used to Bible journaling.

Getting 'OK' with drawing in my Bible

And glueing things in my Bible.

And adding color. 

But I am going to keep going until I get used to it!

Haha!

This has always been a favorite verse for me,

and when I saw this little piece of art in my drawer,

I knew this was the verse for her.

She looks thoughtful and ponder-ful.

Haha!

My friend Evelyn pointed out to me

that this is the art of Leeanne Ellis.

I didn't know that. 

I cut this picture off a piece of packaging.

I especially like the 'think happy thoughts' sticker.

That is what this verse says to me.

To think on the good things,

the positive things,

the happy things in the life

that God has given us.

Verse 9 goes on to say that if we practice

the things we have learned and seen in Him,

that the God of peace would be with us.

That is what I want in my life. 

He is Risen! Happy Easter!

 Happy Easter from our house in Maine,

to your house and home!

Hallelujah, He is risen!

I found this photo online about three Easters ago 

and I have been using it for my Facebook profile photo.

Since then I have gotten interested in 

Bible journaling and I thought it would be a challenge

to try to paint this in my Bible to remember this

Easter weekend. 

From the crucifixion on the cross, to the tomb, to our risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus is Lord!
My first real 'painting' experiment went really well. I prepped the page first with a clear gesso, I want to still be able to read the scripture through the painting. I used a pencil to sketch the layout, and Schmincke watercolors for the painting. The water made the page ruffly, it has flattened out a good bit overnight. I am sure it will eventually lay flat. I'm told I could iron the page, but I'm afraid to. 
Happy Easter, All! Have a blessed year. We serve a risen Lord!

Easter Eve

1. The Old Rugged Cross
   George Bennard, 1913
   
   
   On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
   The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
   And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
   For a world of lost sinners was slain.
   • Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
     Has a wondrous attraction for me;
2. For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
   To bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
   A wondrous beauty I see,
   For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
   To pardon and sanctify me.
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
   Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
   Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
   Where His glory forever I’ll share.

• So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
  Till my trophies at last I lay down;
  I will cling to the old rugged cross,
  And exchange it someday for a crown.
  
  
  Art supplies: gelatos, sponge, Golden Fluid Acrylic,
  and Artists' Acrylic Clear Gesso.

I Washi Taped My Bible :)

 Having a lot of fun and enjoyment working 

in my journaling Bible. 

Still not comfortable with any of the preparation

steps I've tried in order to use watercolor

on those thin pages yet.

In the interim, I though I'd use washi tape

to mark the first page of every book

in the Bible.

It's a good thing I have a ton of washi tape.

I had no idea I had around 100 rolls. I guess a girl can never really have too much washi tape. I do use it for a lot of things. Hahaha!  I like the color it's bringing to my Bible. And it is a 'dry' media. That's a plus.

Proverbs 4:23

 Bible Journaling. 

Getting back to the basics in life.

The foundation of my faith.

Getting back to where God wants me to be.

Taking that step to put acrylic paint . . .

onto a Bible page . . .

wow! it's a great big step!

But one I felt I had to do.

It starts with finding a verse that means

something special to you.

Or a verse that speaks to you in your

daily devotions.

I focused on Proverbs 4:23 -

to guard my heart!

I began by prepping my page with some clear gesso. 

I just spread it over the entire page.

I don't mind if a little of what I'm doing bleeds

through to the back of the page,

I just don't want it to be overwhelming.

So prep.

The verse focuses on the heart,
so I traced out a couple of hearts.
And since I'm a tangler - 
I tangled a little line of hearts, as well.

I used Jane Davenport ink water brushes to add the color. My handy-dandy tool to make the spreading lines? A drinking straw :). I made the heart area real soupy with water, added the color one at a time, and blew like crazy through the straw. Aiming where the lines went. I tangled a small line of perfs around the inner heart, and wrote the word guard. A super simple page.  And I really like the way it turned out. A beautiful reminder to . . . "Guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life." ~ Proverbs 4:23 ~

Old Becomes New

 There is a wave rolling through Facebook.

It is a wave that rolls through about twice a year.

It is called the 5 Day Art Challenge.

Basically someone 'nominates' you for the honor and,

in response, you post a piece of your art each

day for 5 days in a row.

In that post you designate someone else to

carry on the challenge.

Currently I am in day 3 of my 5 day run. These two pieces of watercolor art were my first  attempts at watercolor back in 2012.  I think the first one with the flowers is prettier, but the bottom one with the pigs and birds is my favorite. Both are in a 3" x 5" watercolor moleskine. For color I used a couple basic Michael's kids' section pan watercolor sets.  The little birds and pigs idea was copied almost directly from  a piece by Lori Vliegen, with her permission. I know they aren't great, fantastic quality, but they were such fun to create. I really need to get back to this again.

The Old Rugged Cross

Ever wondered what a tangled stack is?

Here is the definition once again:

rows of tangles that go in the same direction and touch. They may be vertical, diagonal, horizontal, circular, or semi-circular as long as they touch. There may be words in between the tangles.

For this piece, I cut this page out of an old Broadman Hymnal that my grandmother gave me when I was around twelve years old. A really long time ago. The Old Rugged Cross is a song that has meant a lot to me over the years. It is also one of the songs we used at my father's funeral.

I began by tangling the stacks, making them touch as per the description, and leaving words in between. I went through and boxed the phrases in micron, then highlighted them with pan pastels. Deciding which phrases to use - keeping a consistent thought running -  was really the hard part for this page.  The rest was fun and games. Super easy to do and I really like the way it turned out.

Proverbs 3:5 Completed, I Think

 In my last post I introduced you to Bible Journaling.

I have to tell you I was really uncomfortable

drawing in my Bible.

Hahaha! I've taken notes in my Bible for years, 

so it shouldn't have bothered me.

But it did.

This is what I showed you last post.

It was my very first attempt - 

the bare minimums but I was loving it!

So I plucked up the courage to continue.
The words are from a sticker sheet I purchased on the scrapbook aisle at Hobby Lobby. Everything else you see was drawn by hand with a Sharpie fine point pen. Color was added with a sparkly gelly roll pen,  Derwent Inktense Pencils and  a waterbrush. Highlights on the heart are from a white General's Charcoal pencil.

Bible Journaling

You may remember that a couple weeks ago I went to Stamp Fest and learned a lot of new things. One lady asked me if I had ever heard of Bible journaling. I had not, but I tucked the term away to pull out later. Earlier this week, a really nice lady started following my Instagram :

That nice lady is a Bible journaler. So I researched the same way I normally do. I stalked pinterest boards. She also told me about a facebook group called Documented Faith, where a lot of people are Bible journaling every day. And did you know - they make special Bibles to journal in. Mine came in the mail yesterday. $28.00 or so on Amazon.

This is the first little thing I did. (And I just realize I forgot to crop the pic.  Oh well.) I stayed little because I am seriously afraid of messing the whole thing up. As you can obviously see, I used a sticker because my hand writing is not wonderful. I will probably need to get over that and  just do it√.
So last night I reorganized my stamps. Wondering why I ever bought some of them, getting rid of those, keeping most of them. Wondering where I can go with this today.  I may go back and add more to this one. Add a little shading and more tangling. Hmmmm. 
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your way.