Art Journaling and Air Dry Clay

 

photo by Marla L. Niederer

I love to create and surround myself with pretty little things and I thought I would share a few things that have been on my work table lately with you. 

I designed and created this pretty little art journal to work in while watching different art videos and trying out new techniques.  I recently signed up for Ivy Newport’s Studioworks which gives you access to her online art magazine and art classes.  So far I have been having quite a bit of fun with it.  The theme for this month’s magazine was flowers so the journal I created has a flower theme too.

 I used my silhouette design space to design the journal and cut it out except for the signature pages inside it.  For the front cover I used a print of a watercolor painting of flowers I did to embellish it.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

 For the inside cover I used some public domain images from the Smithsonian as part of a collage. I also used some stamping and vintage lace.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I used some vintage sketching paper for most of the signature pages.  For my first two page spread I created a mixed media piece inspired by my beautiful Valentine’s Day flowers that I received from my awesome son.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

For the center spread of the signature I used a black and white print of one of my paintings.

 

Pretty Little Art Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I created a little pocket to keep some paper ephemera in the back of the journal.  I used some public domain images from the Smithsonian and vintage wallpaper for the floral designs in the back of the journal.  I also used seam binding tape to reinforce the spine.  I used some of my rubber stamps to embellish the seam binding before attaching it to the journal.

 

Pretty Little Journal by Marla L. Niederer

I’ve also started to work with air dry clay again.  I’ve been working on creating this sculpture called Seher which is the same theme for the shadow box I created in the last paper doll exchange that I participated in.  I’ve never used LaDoll clay before and am really enjoying the smooth texture it has. 

 

Seher clay Sculpture in process by Marla L. Niederer

I also saw a clay over wooden clothespin Grodnertal inspired doll made by Rhonda King on facebook that intrigued me so I had to try my hand at it.  I actually used a drill to make the holes in the clothespin since my beloved husband bought me one for such things but I hadn’t really used before.  So instead of having him drill things for me I did it myself and I know it’s silly but it was such fun! So this is the armature for my own Grodnertal inspired clothespin doll. 

 

Grodnertal inspired clothespin doll armature by Marla L. Niederer

I also wanted to share with you that my Sleeping Mermaid Class is now a self study class.  You can find out more about it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Sleeping Mermaid Self-Study Class by Marla L. Niederer

To see more of my self study classes click on the picture below.

 

Self Study Classes by Marla L. Niederer

To go to my OrsinisAngels YouTube Channel where all of my free video tutorials can be found, click on the picture below

 

Free Video Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To see all of my free tutorials you can click on the picture below

 

Free Tutorials by Marla L. Niederer

To find out more about me click on my picture below

 

About Me

Until next time……….

 

Warm hugs,

Marla

 

Inspiration

This is my dear friend Vola at her home after we went out to lunch together a few weekends ago.  Vola has been a dear friend for many many years. The way she lives her life is an inspiration to me and most who are fortunate enough to have crossed her path.  A long time ago she tried to teach me how to quilt.  I wound up making a quilted table runner, realized how much time, work, and effort is involved in quilting and decided to go off into the worlds of doll making, beading, painting, jewelry making, and collage.  I may sometime go back to trying my hand at quilting when I feel I have more time to spend.  But I still use the stitch she taught me that hides how the thread is tacked onto the quilt, and how to use it to end a thread you are using to quilt.  I use it all the time in my doll making.   But, that is a little off topic.

 What is inspiring about Vola is that she spends her life every day trying to do something to make someone else's life just a little bit better.  She lovingly works on quilts daily to give away to all that she knows, to the homeless,and  to the children that are victims of domestic violence.  When she is not busy making quilts to give away with love, she is knitting hats to keep those less fortunate warm in the cold winter months.  I had the good fortune a year and a half ago of sitting beside her at her 90th birthday tea party.  People from near and far came to wish her a happy birthday.  Many shared with me how Vola had touched their lives in a very significant way by her acts of kindness during a difficult part of their life journey.  I have always told Vola that when I grow up I would like to be like her and feel lucky to have her friendship as a part of my life for so many years.  Not only does she inspire my art but she inspires how I try to live my life. 

Dragonfly Marie

I had the good fortune to attend Andrea Melione's, aka Eraser Queen's, Altered Women Workshop at the Art For All conference in Rochester last June. IT WAS WONDERFUL! I had so much fun that I asked Andrea if it was alright to share some of what I learned at her workshop with my doll making club in Ottawa, All Dolled Up. Being the generous and sharing artist that she is she gave me the okay. I will be presenting the Gothic Arch and Artist Trading Card program this Sunday in Ottawa and made the Dragonfly Marie to prepare for the program. You can see an article on the Altered Women workshop in the ArtTrader Magazine issue 12 which is free to download at
http://www.arttradermag.com/ and you can check out Andrea's website at http://eraserqueenstudios.blogspot.com/

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful New Year!