Clare Davis Etheridge

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Get Messy Art Journal. Season of Connections Week 1.

The new season over at the Get Messy Art Journal community has just started and I have gracefully dived in headfirst. Today I have had nothing but ideas pouring out of my brain. I am not kidding when I say I am surrounded by index cards and scraps of paper with notes on them!

I had no intentions of gathering a pile of supplies together, but it organically happened so I didn’t argue. I may stick with them to make the first pages only, or I may use this base ‘kit’ through the whole season.

I have some vintage threads to sew photos and other ephemra into my journal along with some needles which are equally vintage. I like the idea of sewing stuff down and I have already done some machine stitching in my book, inspired by the wonderful Vanessa at Dans Mon Crâne.

I love vintage thread spools for the thread and the graphics on top of the wooden spool!

I made a new journal for this season and this one is a whopper at 18 inches tall! It is made in the ‘dos-à-dos’ style so it has two books in one. Inside it has watercolor paper, atlas paper and kraft paper.

Another supply I picked is Paynes Grey (in any) paint which I used to make these watercolor swatches (the paint pictured is acrylic, because my watercolor tube is teeny tiny!) I intend tearing these swatches and maybe stitching them in somewhere.

For the season of connections, how perfect are stamps! I have a box of old stamps from an estate sale so I fished about until I got the dark blue ones to go with the Paynes grey.

For a pop of colour and also a connection to a lovely friend, I have gathered some copies of vintage cigarette cards to scatter about. These are also a connection to my grandma who gave me her collection of cigarette cards when I was a teenager.

The first photo of an old National Geographic also has some vintage photos, a recipe card and a library card. All connections waiting for me to explore and use.

I have started some pages in my journal but not completed any yet, so I am off to grab some paint and get going!

Happy Thursday x

Daily Moleskine 2017. September Pages.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Another month flies by and here we are in October. The weather is just starting to cool off and Autumn temps are on the horizon here in the mid west. I completed my September pages in my daily Moleskine planner and the book is looking very full!

I am really enjoying how these small art pages reflect what I am doing or learning and what is influencing me at the time.

I love to see the variety of colours I use and what techniques I go back to time and time again.

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This past month I have used blind contour drawings, gelli plate prints directly into my Moleskine, a list of new paint colours, vintage National Geographic pictures, inky moons and dried flowers and petals.

Lots to do and lots to see, I am looking forward to what October will bring to my ‘arted’ days!

Happy Wednesday x

Weekly Photos 2017. 39/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

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1. Shadow of one of the ferns I used to make prints with this week.

2. A mini collection of bits and bobs, including matchboxes, gummed stickers and vintage index cards.

3. Getting ready to photo the prints for a blog post, blu tac and camera at the ready!

4. A circle print on one of the aforementioned index cards.

5. We went for a hike this weekend at Rockwoods Reservation and enjoyed the cooler weather.

6. Sign on the trail.

7. Looking up.

8. Lots of steps!

Happy Monday x

Gelli Plate Leaf Prints.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

While out walking the dog today I saw and snatched some fern leaves which I brought home to use with my gelli plate and the ever faithful Paynes Grey acrylic paint.

While I was at it, I popped across the road from my house and snipped some frothy grass which I thought would print well too.

I used my large rectangle gelli plate and my small circle to pull prints of the outlines of the leaves as well as prints of the details of the leaves.

I always start with a layer of paint then I put down the leaf. To get the reverse silhouette print I press down the paper and smooth it out as carefully but as firmly as possible to get as much outline as I can.

Once the paper is pulled off, I remove the leaf and press down a fresh piece of paper to get the detail print of the leaf left on the plate.

If there is enough paint left on the leaf itself I press it onto the paper and get an extra print from the leaf itself.

I had in mind to use a few colours but got set on Paynes Grey as it gives such effective prints especially when it is a mono print with no additional effects to be added using the gelli plate.

I love the vintage index cards when they are printed and of course my all time favorites are prints on old dictionary paper and dry wax deli paper.

I will use some of these prints as they are, for example I am thinking I might use the index cards to mail as postcards as they are the size of a postcard.

The prints on the deli paper are translucent so I like to stick them onto journal pages where there is something already on the page so that you can see it through the deli paper. It makes a lovely layered effect.

Do you make gelli prints? What do you do with them? What is your favorite paper to print onto?

Happy printing and happy Thursday x

Taking Stock September 2017

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

TakingStockSept2017

Time for a stock take! I have attached a blank list at the end for you, respond to each word in as many or few words as you like.

Thanks to Meet Me At Mikes blog for starting ‘Taking Stock’.

Here’s my latest!

Making : Sketchbooks and more sketchbooks!

Cooking : Waffles, egg and bacon for lunch.

Drinking : Coffee with home made pumpkin spice syrup even though it is a thousand degrees outside.

Reading: The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall

Wanting: To read my massive magazine pile.

Looking: At a cloudy sky.

Playing: BBC Radio 2 – Steve Wright in the Afternoon.

Deciding: What to make for Friday’s dinner. I am still not the best at working all day and getting dinner organized and made!

Wishing: I could get the shopping list just right for good dinners and snacks!

Enjoying: The month long class on Creative Bug hosted by Faith Hale – Daily Book Art Challenge.

Waiting: For the kettle to boil to make a cup of tea.

Liking: The home made rice krispie treat I am snacking on.

Wondering: How I have missed three weeks of The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4.

Loving: That I am catching up on The News Quiz now.

Pondering: Whether to start buying Christmas presents…

Considering: Making some stencils.

Buying: A new phone holder to make videos with.

Watching: Project Runway Season 16.

Hoping: The weather is going to cool down soon. Ninety degrees is not right in September!

Marvelling: At the fact that I called DHL to schedule a pick up an hour ago and the parcel has been collected! Yay.

Cringing: At the thought that I have to go to the dentist soon for a check up.

Needing: More shampoo.

Questioning: Whether to rip images out of 1909-1911 National Geographic magazines.

Smelling: Fresh tomatoes, I love the smell of tomato plants, it takes me right back to my Grandad’s greenhouse.

Wearing: Everything creased! Which reminds me, I need to decide what to wear to work tomorrow and iron it.

Following: New accounts on Instagram as I discover them via The Jealous Curator’s podcast – Art for your Ear.

Noticing: That my tomatoes are growing better than they have done all summer.

Knowing: I have pizza dough in the fridge which means tonight’s dinner is sorted!

Thinking: About starting a new sketchbook/art journal.

Admiring: The amazing artists I keep discovering.

Sorting: and throwing away out of date science projects in the fridge.

Getting: Used to my new short (ish) hair.

Bookmarking: Wanderlust 2018 which I have just signed up for.

Coveting: All of the art supplies.

Disliking: An attempt to paint my homegrown tomatoes in watercolour.

Opening: September Vogue.

Giggling: At Russell Howard on the radio.

Feeling: Confused at the whole High School/College process.

Snacking: On salty crisps.

Helping: My kids keep on track with homework.

Hearing: Podcasts – This American Life, Radio Lab, Art for your Ear and Simon Mayo’s Confessions.

Happy Thursday x

Here is a list if you want to take stock too.

Making :

Cooking :

Drinking :

Reading:

Wanting:

Looking:

Playing:

Deciding:

Wishing:

Enjoying:

Waiting:

Liking:

Wondering:

Loving:

Pondering:

Considering:

Buying:

Watching:

Hoping:

Marvelling:

Cringing:

Needing:

Questioning:

Smelling:

Wearing:

Following:

Noticing:

Knowing:

Thinking:

Admiring:

Sorting:

Getting:

Bookmarking:

Coveting:

Disliking:

Opening:

Giggling:

Feeling:

Snacking:

Helping:

Hearing:

‘I Like’ Friday – Treasures from 1930’s and 1940’s National Geographic Magazines.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I recently had the good fortune to come across a pile of National Geographic from the 1930’s to the 1950’s and as I rifled through them, I came across some wonderful images along with some equally wonderful captions.

They are totally of their time and I love the fashions, the optimism, the language of the time.

The man carrying the giraffe and the policeman about to go headfirst into the Thames are my favorites!

Old magazines are so interesting to look through as well as wonderful images. These National Geographics swept me back in time.

Happy Friday x

Are ‘creative’ prompts helping my creativity or hindering it?

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I make every effort to do something creative each day, I keep a Moleskine planner which I fill with a different ‘arty’ thing every day so I will at least do that page if nothing else. For this I have no rules, I just paint, stick or draw what I like, consequently some days are all the details and some are a wash of paint.

Usually I manage something extra in the creative genre, but I have been noticing more and more that this ‘something else’ is often a prompt or an idea from someone else. What’s wrong with that? Prompts are great for creating ideas and the accountability which often comes with prompts – share on Instagram or to a website for example – will usually keep the momentum going for as long as the prompts are there. This is usually a monthly process and every month of this year so far I have had at least one prompt based challenge on the go.

I have noticed that most of my recent arting has been prompt or tutorial based, in fact almost all that I am doing at the minute follows some ‘challenge’ from the great world of the inter webs. Not a bad thing, I am consistently creating which is my personal goal and I am being pushed to sketch or create something I may not normally. All good.

However I am beginning to wonder if it is all good.

The trap I feel like I have tumbled into, paint brush in hand, is that whenever I create it is someone else’s idea getting me started. Of course I can take these starter points and go where I like, but the niggle in my mind has begun –

Don’t you have any ideas of your own?

How am I going to develop my own style if I just follow along with everyone else?

Do I have any ideas of my own?

Do I?

I think I do and I like to think that I add my own spin onto the various prompts/challenges/classes I am taking and using in my work.

But am !?

Currently I am doing the September sketch challenge set out by the Sketchbook Skool which is a list of daily prompts to sketch from and post on Instagram using a group hashtag. I am up to date with this and I have done all the days but I have not posted them on Instagram. Why? I don’t know. I think I am getting very aware that my Insta feed is all my art goings on and nothing else, and who wants to see my bad sketches anyway. Hi inner critic, how are you….

Also I am loving the Creative Bug September daily challenge which is a book making daily class hosted by Faith Hale and it is fantastic, I am loving it and again, keeping up, doing it every day, looking forward to the videos and not posting to Instagram.

Then there is the Get Messy Art Journaling community which I like to stay active in and keep up with at least some journaling each week. Again I find myself using the tutorials for my journal and not so much my own ideas.

As I write this I am realizing that all of this is my inner critic being a big jerk (phrase unashamedly stolen from the wonderful book by Danielle Krysa). Of course anything that keeps me creatively active is a good thing and I like to think I always add my own spin to the challenge at hand. I am sure my style is developing, it is just being very shy and not presenting itself just yet.

My problem seems to be that I am expecting my style to leap out at me and declare itself in some dramatic way. ‘Look! I am here, I am your distinct style!’

In reality it is probably just hanging out in the vintage book section wondering when I am going to notice because it has been there all along.

Do you have your own fabulous style? Do you recognize it? Does it recognize you? Are you friends?

I want to be friends with my style when I meet it, maybe we can share a sandwich.

Happy Thursday x

Weekly Photos 2017. 36/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

1-5. Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

6. Seasonal ‘Count Orlok’ pumpkin beer at Urban Chestnut on the way home.

7&8. Making some pages with vintage National Geographic images and some ‘moons’ I have been experimenting with. I try and mess about with some form of art every day, keeps me on an even keel!Do you have something you have to do on a regular basis or you miss it?

Happy Monday x

My Daily Moleskine 2017. August Pages.

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Following one of the daily creative prompts over at Creative Bug, I decided to make a blind contour drawing every day of August in my daily Moleskine.

A blind contour is a drawing done without looking at the page, only the subject, and without removing the pen or pencil from the page.

I don’t think I have made any masterpieces, but I drew quite a lot of self portraits, and about one of them had my facial features inside the outline of my head!!! Abstract, let’s call them abstract!

Front Porch – fan and chair.

Wineglasses from Goodwill, $1.00 each.

Self portrait. Why can’t I connect face and head?!

Orange jug of brushes

Art Jug and found sticker.

Washi tape peeled off mail and a gladioli.

Pile of books from the book sale $8.35 total.

Ruby asleep on the sofa.

Me with sunglasses on my head and my features somewhat inside the outline!!

Chair at the hair salon.

Dried Honesty and stickers.

Self portrait.

Polaroid Land Camera.

Blind contours are very fun to draw mainly because they are quick and the pressure is off. They are mainly funny and sometimes you get a pleasant surprise. If you give them a go, be sure to post in the comments or on Instagram and tag me so I can see – @catseatdogsmakes.

Happy Wednesday x