the art of Kerry Cole, The Blue Octopus, painting parties at the painting studio of the blue octopus, DIY, art in progress, sketches, ideas, recipes, home decorating, eco friendly ideas for the home, my quirky life
As I was (cyber) window shopping and looking at some new design ideas, trends and directions for my next 'new line'. I was absolutely thrilled, shocked and thankful to find a new direction, a new concept, a new trend alright- but not one I was expecting.
I discovered the grass roots movement of compassion, peace, love + divinity has risen right to the top of the food chain. I found a company with a heart, a soul and a determination to make a difference.
Kudos to Abc Carpet & Home for being one of the leaders in what I call the corporate consciousness movement. I was shocked, and moved to tears by following link after link on their site that supports their vision, their mission.
We can all continue to make a difference if we keep the vision in the center of our hearts + at the core of our business plan.
I am thankful (even if it's painful) to be here, now...to see and help make these changes become a reality.
Here is an interesting look at 'mini
earth'...eye opening
Conversation with Deepak Chopra & Donovan, musician, poet and
2012 rock & roll hall of fame inductee, celebrating his visionary commitment to ushering in
peace, love & divinity through music.
♥In the coming weeks, I will surely be creating new designs for the shop...and I will also be creating gift bundles for sale...where the purchases benefit those (animals, children, people) in need with a low or no footprint.
I have collected 23 Amazing craft projects from Casa Sugar you can do
...for your wedding, your summer party...
or just because you're feelin' crafty today!
Enjoy!!
Not every bride is especially crafty, but with an abundance of easy-to-follow tutorials that yield impressive results, every bride is tempted to be! Whether you're looking for creative solutions for table numbers or still need a breathtaking backdrop for exchanging vows, here are some stylish options you won't want to miss. With difficulty levels ranging from simple day-of assemblage to slightly more laborious projects, you're destined to find something that suits your DIY-capabilities♥
These clay table numbers and flags will last far after the wedding is over. I like the idea of re-purposing the flags for cocktail parties and the numbers for custom address plates.
Add an element of surprise to your wedding invitations by lining them with vintage book pages
Let's warm up by pretending to be Jackson Pollock
With this Sweet Widget:
Click in the blank space below
Then again on the color to change it...this is your warm up for the real thing!
There are no mistakes possible...only things you don't like, and those can all be changed!
...So...
give yourself permission
and try this project
courtesy of oh happy day
at home!!
I strongly believe in supporting your local artists, and the local arts & crafts movement
-But-
Until you can afford the abstract piece of your dreams here are some tips on making your own.
Materials Needed: 2 Large Canvases 40″ x 40″ $20/each (depending where you get them...) a few large brushes 2.5″ wide $5, several tubes of acrylic paint $4/tube In total this cost $70. That’s $35 each for a huge piece of art. There are no framing costs because with canvas like this you don’t need to frame it.
A few notes: I know abstract art looks “easy” but anyone who has tried it can attest it can be difficult to get just right. I would recommend getting some cheap small 10″x 10″ canvases to practice color and composition and technique before you you try it on a big one.
This will save you time and money in the long run.
This project does takes a while.
Take your time and keep in mind you are working in layers.
Step One: Tone the Canvas. The first layer you’ll tone the canvas with another color other than plain white. This is so when the under painting shows through it will show texture instead of plain white. For this, just mix lots of yellows with white and grey. Get a clean spray bottle of water, spray your canvas...use lots of water, get sloppy and just try to have variation.
Paint the edges. Then let it dry.
Step Two: Draw out some compositions you like. You may not stick to this but it's nice to have a guide
to start off of.
Once you have a plan, began blocking out some colors. A
big part of this project is getting comfortable mixing paint. This is the part most people struggle with-it's okay, you will improve over time.
Basically, you start with a base color and add either white to lighten it (a tint), or black or a darker color to darken it (a shade).
Make sure
to add extra water to thin out the paint. I always say in the class..."water is your friend!".
Keep your paint and your canvas pretty wet.
You can add smudges and
streaks on that layer without thinking about it too much since its only
the second layer. Then let it dry.
Step Three: Now you’ll want to start to get more serious about what it looks like.
Sometimes abstract art looks simple but after working through a few variations you may find your favorite compositions seemed simple but when you actually look closer and break it down, it is made up of complicated shapes.
For example look at the painting on the left. The red and the blue look simple but in the close up you can see there are lots of layers and streaks and lines so that it looks interesting. Keep making small adjustments until you like it.
So if you are getting frustrated take a break and come back when your mind is clear.
Be experimental and keep trying things (adding white etc) until you are happy with it.
Step Four: Start to play around with the colors you want to compliment the top layer. You can see we also went through and lightened up the edges with some off white paint to make the painting feel brighter. At this point we were starting to like it but it needed to feel pulled together.
Step Five: In the final painting session, you're going to perfect the composition.
Block in some brighter colors and then make them meet in interesting ways with different lines and shapes. Here is how the final turned out. You can see that with the final layer there are 15-20 colors and 12 or so blocked out colors in the center. The main thing is to keep trying different colors and shapes until you are happy with it.
If you get frustrated...don't give up!!
Simply set your piece aside, and wait for your 'mojo' to return.
It will, and you will finish your piece...and be so proud of your new found skill!
to give a little kick start to this (snowy) March Day
(it's almost St.Pat's Day for cripes sake!)
This week, I'm inspired by bold walls that celebrate Spring. Undeniably
feminine, but more fresh than saccharine, these rooms are less about the
items that fill the space. Whether it's a single focal point or a room
with floor to ceiling patterns, these 2 spaces provide a perennial garden
that won't fade with the seasons.
"I believe that Magic is Art and Art whether it be music, writing,
sculpture or any other, is literally magic. Art, like any magic, the
science of manipulating symbols, words or images, to achieve changes in
consciousness... Indeed to cast a spell is simply to manipulate words,
to change people's consciousness, and this is why I believe that an
artist or a writer is the closest thing in the contemporary world to a
Shaman." Alan Moore
A breathtaking look at our magical planet
(long, but well worth watching)
Driftwood Magician
A Slow Chair...seems magically alive
using collected branches
From Bo Reudler
...and a Slow White Cabinet
using found wood for legs
the magic of Bo Reudler
Palette Knife Magic
creating motion with a knife and paint
Capturing the Light
magical moment
Still
yet still moving
A Painter's magical brush strokes meet his magical mind's eye
i talk to ghosts and furniture...and i think bugs have feelings.
i am secretly married to Superman.
you'll find me working with paper, daydreaming, seeing visions of people in the trees...and trying to focus on just one thing.
For full Bio: www.theblueoctopus.com
