Balzer Designs

Art Journal Every Day: Gelli Journal Pages!

If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here.  All of the previous posts can be found archived here.  Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day!  No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek.  Even if you're not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here. 

Today I'm sharing the last round of pages from the Gelli Journal I took with me on my crazy travels in October and November.  These are doodles and drawings done in a journal that was "base coated" with monoprints from a gelatin plate.

Take a peek:

And for the last page in the book, I let everyone know it was the end:

I really ought to draw men more often.  It's fun to explore what makes a face more stereotypically masculine rather than feminine. 

If you'd like to learn all about this kind of art journaling, please check out my online class on the subject.  Here's what to expect from class:

• There are more than 30 HD instructional videos.
• What you see in these photos and video is just a tiny taste of what awaits in the classroom!
• The online classroom is packed with written tips and take aways.
• You can leave comments and questions and interact with other students, just as you would on a blog.
• The first half of the class is all about gelatin printing directly into a sketchbook -- how to make sure you get the crack, how to fix problems that occur, how to create layers of color and pattern, how to keep pages from sticking together, etc.
• Whether you're an experienced gelatin printer or you've never ever tried it before, this class is for you.  Experienced printers will proceed through the gelatin printing section quickly and less experienced or brand new printers will take their time going lesson-by-lesson.
• The second half of the class is all about creating pictures in your printed journal.
• You do not have to know how to draw.  I share methods for creating pictures by stamping and stenciling -- there's even a video on creating a stencil from a photograph!
• If you want to try drawing, I share how to combine simple shapes to create wonderful pictures.
• I share my tips on embellishing your pictures with gel pens, paint markers, and more.
• I focus in on correcting "mistakes" (aka happy accidents) and getting the results that you want.
• Take as much time as you want or need to complete the course.  Once you purchase "Gelli Journals," you have lifetime access.

PLEASE NOTE: The first four videos of this class have some auto-focus issues and so they go in and out of focus, as you can see in this YouTube video.  If the bouncing bothers you, do not sign up for class.  No refunds will be given.

Thanks for stopping by!

Days 3&4 of #CarveDecember 2018

As I promised yesterday, here's a peek at days 3 and 4 of #CarveDecember.  These photos are embedded from instagram.  If you're reading this via e-mail, please click the title of this post or this link to view online.

The prompt for day #3 was "fern."  This was my interpretation:

And here are some from the #CarveDecember pool:

The prompt for day #4 was "away."  This was my interpretation:

And here are some others:

So many fun ideas!  I love how the prompts have taken people in so many different directions!  Isn't imagination a wonderful thing?!

I hope you'll carve at least one stamp this month!

Thanks for stopping by!

#CarveDecember 2018 Days 1& 2

This is year 5 of #CarveDecember.  Can you believe it?! I can't.

This is the first year that I've done prompts.  My assistant, Suzanne, suggested it but I was totally resistant to doing it.  I've never been good about sticking to prompts.  I put together the list and told myself that I didn't have to stick to the prompts if they started to feel stifling. And you know what?  It has been shockingly great to use prompts! 

I have purposely not been looking ahead in the prompt list.  After I carve the stamp for the day, I look at the prompt for the next day and I let it percolate overnight.  In the morning, I'm usually filled with ideas and take a few moments to sketch out some possibilities and then get to carving!

Like a lot of people, I felt that if I used the prompts, I would just be carving stamps to match the prompts and not carving stamps that I would actually use....

That's why it's so important to let the prompt percolate.  Not only am I thinking about what I can carve to match the prompt, but I'm also thinking about what I can make that I will like and use.  This often requires a slight turn away from something that matches the prompt exactly.  And that's totally fine.  

The verb definition of the word "prompt" is:

1. (of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling). "his death has prompted an industry-wide investigation of safety violations" synonyms: give rise to, bring about, cause, occasion, result in, lead to, elicit, produce, bring on, engender, induce, precipitate, trigger, spark off, provoke "the statement prompted a hostile reaction"
2. assist or encourage (a hesitating speaker) to say something. "“And the picture?” he prompted" synonyms: remind, cue, feed, help out; jog someone's memory "the actors needed prompting"

The prompts have given me a spark to get my own ideas rolling.  They're called prompts and not "rules" because that's all they're meant for.  Something to get you started instead of having to start from scratch.

And part of the fun this time around has been seeing how everyone else interprets the prompts as well!  Take a peek:

Prompt #1 was "heart."

These photos are embedded from instagram.  If you receive this blog via e-mail, please click through to view the images.

This was my interpretation:

And here are a few others:

Prompt #2 was "splash."  This is my interpretation:

And here are some others:

Tomorrow I will share some more from #CarveDecember!  It's not too late to join in!  Even if you just carve one stamp this month, that would be amazing!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Landscape Painting

I'm not really a landscape person.  I barely stop in front of most landscape paintings when wandering through a museum.  I rarely ooh and aah over landscape work I see online.  I've never even considered purchasing a landscape.  And yet, I have now painted a landscape, which I love.

Here it is taped to my painting wall:

And now, on the drying rack, with the tape removed:

Things I like about this landscape:

• The gestural feeling -- you can really see those brush strokes.
• The monumental nature of the landscape.  (Marsden Hartley is one of my favorite painters and his landscapes make me swoon!)
• It's abstract and yet not.
• The looseness I see in it.
• The color palette.

After not paying much attention to landscapes over the years, I think I might be willing to adjust my attention.  I would definitely like to play with this kind of gestural abstract landscape painting more.

Here's to trying something new!

Thanks for stopping by!

Screenprinted Cookies with ScanNCut

These are beautiful custom cookies.  And you don't have to have almost any frosting skills in order to make them!  Yay!  It's easy when you have a ScanNCut.  Check out the video for the instructions:

I tested this process by making cookies with my logo and discovered that screenprinting directly onto iced cookies didn't work for me:

I was ready to scrap the process until I decided to roll out some fondant and see if it was the surface I was printing on rather than my technique.  And it was!

I used both store bought (pink) fondant and homemade marshmallow (white) fondant:

It seemed to work equally well on the two types of fondant.  Though, I did find that I personally preferred the brighter printing on a white background.  But, I think they both look great!

Here's a quick visual guide to the process:

And if you don't want to print on cookies, remember you can screenprint on almost anything!

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know if you have ScanNCut questions!

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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut.  It is a machine that I love and use.  All projects and opinions are my own.

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