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December 07, 2015 40 Comments
Hi Everyone! Lisa here. I hope you are enjoying the Diamonds Blog hop and all the fabulous artists and artwork. If you would like to see all the artwork together in one place, I set up a board on Artistcellar's Pinterest Page, just click on: DIAMOND PINS.
Today, artist Felicia Borges is wrapping up the blog hop with her art journal page using Diamonds. Be sure to leave a comment on THIS page for yet another chance to win to set of Diamonds Series stencils of your very own. Details at the end of the post.
Without further adieu, here's Felicia!
Felicia Borges (rhymes with gorgeous) here, creator of the Art Journal Rebellion, coming at you live from Sacramento California to share my totally rad take on Artistcellar’s new “Diamond” stencil series. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend (see what I did there?) I generally go for stencils that can be used in multiple ways and these multi-faceted stencils don’t disappoint. So many ways to use them! And at 6x6 inches they are large enough to make an impact (cuz you know you want a big one!) and yet still small enough to be portable. These are great for making quick and easy art in my Midori Travelers Notebook, used as my on-the-go art journal.
For me, the first step is almost always to free write on the background of a blank page. Here I used a basic writing pen with pink ink (because PINK!). I don’t worry about being profound. Who cares? It’s my journal. I don’t have to impress anyone with beautiful penmanship, dripping with deep meaning and significance. An art journal is defined as something an artist (HEY-that’s you and me!) uses to record things visually and/or with words. It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that. SERIOUSLY!
I then rubbed a white Faber-Castell Gel Stick quickly and loosely across the two pages and smudged the gel with a Martha Stewart Foam Pouncer (you can get them in a set—I tend to carry the one that is similar in size to the gel sticks around with me). OR you could try the Sponge Finger Dabbers from Artistcellar.
Next I used the “Heart” stencil from Artistcellar’s “Diamond” stencil series, along with a red gel stick. I swiped the gel stick across the foam on the pouncer and then smudged through the stencil. A little goes a long way. I prefer building up several light layers to get the coverage that I want. I also used my fingers (for me it’s so hard not to!). The stencil did a beautiful job of holding up to all that rubbing (and as expected, the foam held up well to the stencil)
Doodling faces is kind of my “thang.” So I did that with a basic black pen. This one is from Smashbook and is double-ended (the other is a glue stick—great for portability!), but any black pen will do. I prefer to draw with a pen. Erasing is not an option and forces me to just keep going. You can do it too! Just keep scribbling and eventually it will look somewhat like a pleasing face (and all the extra doodle-y lines make you look like a fancy artist)
This gel stick happens to be very dark green but the actual color doesn’t matter (there are no rules!). I just used something dark to create shadows. If you would like to see in more detail how I work with my fingers to shade a face (regardless of the supplies I am working with), head on over to my YouTube channel for several examples: www.youtube.com/FeliciaBorges
Some of my favorite supplies to use with my fingers are Faber-Castell Gel Sticks, Crayola Slick Sticks, Caran d’Ache Classic NeoColor II Water-Soluble Pastels, and my all-time favorite Uni Posca Paint Pens.
Once I had the shadow layer down, I followed that up by adding a mid-tone (apricot color) and highlight (white) to the other areas of the face as well as warmed up the eyelids, cheeks and lips (essentially added some make up in a reddish/pink color).
To finish up the page, I again used the “Heart” stencil from the “Diamond stencil series, along with black and purple gel sticks to add some depth to the edge of the stenciled image and to grunge up the edges. I then added some collaged words (cut out of a magazine) and a tag that I had previously created. Both were in my stash of collage, ephemera, and washi tape that I carry with me in my Midori Traveler’s Notebook. This page is now ready to be journaled on the next time I take myself on an art-date. I spent a total of 25 minutes on this page and had zero clean up.
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Lisa here again:
If you want to go back and see all the fabulous artwork that has already been posted on this blog hop, and enter to win a set of stencils, you still have that chance! Please, one entry per blog, we will be picking winners soon (each artist has their own cut off date, so please read when that is.) I will hold comments open on THIS blog post until midnight on Thursday December 10th.
Get to know the artist:
Creator of the “Art Journal Rebellion,” Felicia Borges (rhymes with gorgeous) loves abstract, modern, and street art. She is inspired by patterns found in traditional cultural symbols and art from around the world, graffiti, stained glass windows, sand painting, and more. Current favorites are Day of the Dead, Chinese cut paper designs, African tribal masks, motifs from India, and sand art in all forms (including Native American, Indigenous Australian, and Tibetan). Using bold colors, patterns, and textures, Felicia works primarily in mixed media and what she refers to as "Kiln Formed Graffiti Glass." Tools are often found, recycled, or handmade and can range from a handmade Tibetan-inspired "chak-pur" to original stamps and stencils. Finished pieces, often containing 100 layers or more, are contemporary with an industrial edge. Felicia lives with her husband, a blind golden retriever, and her beloved pink scooter in Sacramento, California.
Felicia’s work has been on display throughout the greater Sacramento and surrounding areas, including the 2014 Sacramento Arts Festival at the Sacramento Convention center, Gallery 1075 in West Sacramento, the Blue Line Gallery in Roseville, the Red Dot Gallery in Downtown Sacramento, and at various locations as part of Second Friday (Davis) and Second Saturday (Sacramento). Felicia’s work has been commissioned by private collectors and organizations worldwide.
Felicia has worked with organizations such as UC Davis Extension, Red Rover (event held at the Adamson Art Gallery), The Yoga Seed Collective, and PSI Makers—an emerging makers space in Rancho Cordova. She has also recently made her e-course teacher debut for “Radiant II: Art Journals.”
Current ways to connect with Felicia include:
December 10, 2015
Thank you for the tutorial! I’m always trying to learn new layering techniques and you make it look so easy! Please enter me for a chance to win.
December 10, 2015
I would love to win the diamond stencil. I can already envision all sorts of wonderful pages to use this with.
December 10, 2015
Love this page – the face is so striking. And I love how you’ve used the stencil. Thanks for the chance to win!
December 10, 2015
I just love Felicia! I’ve not tried this technique but love the effect. And zero clean up…gotta love that! xo
December 10, 2015
how much fun – please include me in the drawing. Thank you.
December 10, 2015
This is SO cool. I love the face you created and that you shared your process.
December 09, 2015
Fantastic and creative use of the stencils! Beautiful finished piece! Would love to win a set and give them a try! Thanks!
December 09, 2015
Enjoying this blog hop. So much creativity! Really needed now.
December 09, 2015
Just a gorgeous spread :). I love these stencils! <3
December 08, 2015
These are fabulous stencils!
December 08, 2015
Love the journaling and how you used the stencil!
December 08, 2015
What a fun hop. So many ways to enjoy these stencils. I am in love with all the art
December 08, 2015
Would love to try these!!
December 07, 2015
I would love to use these in a dream series and incorporate text into the lines.
December 07, 2015
oh my gosh. I think I’ve commented on every single blog! Crazy :)
December 07, 2015
25 minutes and 0 clean-up, and a beautiful spread emerges! Thanks for sharing your process and also for the opportunity to win a set of those Borgeous stencils! <3
December 07, 2015
love the simplicity and do what ever its your journal, so perfect.
love the stencil too.
Cheers
December 07, 2015
I am really into faces and masks. You do a great job. Stencils help in that I’m a terrible artist. But I try.
December 07, 2015
Would love to try these stencils!
December 07, 2015
Fun stuff!! Would love a chance to play with these.
December 07, 2015
Very cool, thank you for sharing your process, Felicia!
December 07, 2015
Love the walk thru and steps to get a page together. I can always use this kind of inspiration. Thanks so much
December 07, 2015
Love this Felicia. Really like the size of these stencils and how you put this together
December 07, 2015
Your journal page is inspiring to the rebel in all of us! (I joined your FB page because of it, too!)
I like how you did multiple layers with the heart stencil and gave it depth. I also never thought about creating a page and then journaling at a different time. I have always know wn what I was going to journal then created the art and wrote to the art. I like your idea of doing it this way. Thanks. ;)
December 07, 2015
Great image! Great product ideas! Thanks for a chance to win!
December 07, 2015
Yes, please! Love your work and these stencils!
December 07, 2015
Love that heart facet stencil…hope I win a set. Great idea to write on the page before doing any art, I will give that a try
December 07, 2015
Another unique creation from the Diamonds stencils! I can totally see myself attempting something similar. Just love these stencils! Thanks for a chance to win a set and Merry Christmas!
December 07, 2015
Am totally loving this new series of stencils! I can see using them in my journals!
December 07, 2015
Great tutorial Felicia! Thanks for the opportunity to win a set of these new stencils!
December 07, 2015
Very fun!
December 07, 2015
I love this! Amazing use of the stencil!! Such a wonderful hop!! Thank yoU!
December 07, 2015
I love what you did with this stencils!!!
December 07, 2015
I just love Felicia’s work. She has inspired me for a very long time. And I love this page! The face is gorgeous, as per usual. And I, too, love covering a page with my handwriting as a first step! This is awesome.
December 07, 2015
love the stenciling blog. Would love someof the stencils.
December 07, 2015
Gelatos are great with these stencils!
December 07, 2015
I don’t know why this popped up in my Facebook but in glad. I loved this blog post. I’d love to win those stencils❤️
December 07, 2015
Love her, and love the whole enchilada!
December 07, 2015
I love these stencils and the work from all of you. Thanks for the chance to win a set!
Jorin
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M. Austen
December 10, 2015
Thanks for sharing your process Felicia! I love stencils & could really use these in my art journaling!