A piece of Barcelona

If I were to talk about my journey to Barcelona, I couldn't do it otherwise but in drawings. I love to sketch different moments spent in Catalonia's capital. They all come to life when you draw the pictures into a paper and add some watercolor to it. Just a splash of color, not too much. And what a better way to remember Barcelona if not by flipping an art journal? 

This is just a photo illustrated in my journal from so many others waiting to come alive into my pages. I'm only getting started, so this is not quite perfect, but only by practicing every day will become better and better. I'll let you with this journal page.

See you soon,
Cristina

Whimsical animals

These days I feel I need to try everything when it comes to art: if it's not painting, it is drawing, if it;s not real, it;s whimsical! So here it's my first whimsical dog I ever did. And to tell you the truth, I love it so much!

I just started to sketch this sweet dog without having the final result in my mind. Then I thought it would look good with some splash color all over his face and body. SO I took my acrylic paints and started to add color. And this is the result: I'm loving every bit of it!

I started drawing on a page I no longer liked. In fact, this was a page I didn't liked any more so I added glue and then paper collage. In the end I added color (blue) and on some other day, golden acrylic paint using a gorgeous technique I'm not going to talk about right now. And because of that collage, the page became thiker than the rest of the pages, just perfect to add even more layers of color.
I think perfection comes with practicing. JUST draw something today! Right now!

See you soon,
Cristina

Abstract painting

Justa quick note! Abstract painting is in the house again. I´ve found inspiration in so many online websites that I had to try painting something abstract once again. It´s been a while since my last abstract try, and I´m happy with the result I got.

This is just a detail cut from the big picture. I just wanted to upload this first until I get the chance to show you the final result.

Raining cats and dogs in Bucharest

Streets are rivers here and everywhere you look, you see apocalyptic images.  

See video here

And this is nothing...the water is above knees in many areas.

I am in love...again! - letter of the week 15

Middle of the week. Hope you're not bored or tired...just yet! I mean, I hope you're not bored at all, because that would be a big problem to be solved. If you're bored, it means something isn't quite right. Right? :)

I wake up today thinking about what I shall write in my journal, and I opened Louise Hay positive affirmations to just listen in the background. I instantly loaded with positiveness and good inspiring thoughts. A new day begins, what are you going to do to make it awesome?


I don't know how the shift happened, but it did. I think I was browsing the internet for some beautiful art inspiration when I saw some drawings and paintings completed with soft pastels. And I don't even know what the technique being use is called, but I love they way those paintings are looking! It was then when I realized that I was unfair to the "poor" soft pastels. I thought they are too chalky for me and that I could never create something with them. BUT I was wrong. It was probably the poor quality of the pastels I tried to use that left the impression on me that I don't like soft pastels.

{ I took a break from writing here and when I came back, I found a comment to one of my paintings on a group I belong saying: "I really like the fauvist style of this piece.". It was just what I needed to know. The fauvist style it is the technique I was talking about earlier! It all come to me just when I need them!}

Have an amazing Wednesday! 

Dreaming of summer days

Inspired by Jane Davenport online class, I drew this beauty into my journal-book. A journal book with hard cover and glossy pages, but perfect to add gesso on them and then color with acrylics.

Here you can see the name of the book on the right page. I just added more color and completely transformed the page, so can no longer read "master chef".

Ink sketching is fabulous!

Even "ugly" faces can become famous!

Ink sketch in my Canson A5 art journal. 

Handmade paper stencils

 The leaves you see on the left page are handmade stencils I made.

This girl you see here was painted on my A4 art journaling, a journal with sketching paper from Derwent, who still takes water very well. 110lbs/ 165grm is more than OK for me, because I gesson my pages most of the time, and even if I don't it's still OK. And when you build layer after layer, even better!

And after using the paper stencils once or twice, you can create collages in your art journal. Imagine this stencil on a complementary color background! Just lovely!

I've also used this stencil to draw with my Inktense pencils. And look how gorgeous it came out!

Recording life

Recording life by cristinalove11 featuring a wooden clock

Pier 1 Imports buddha wall art / Spicher and Company black home decor / Spicher and Company black home decor / Green Leaf Art wooden clock / John Derian glass tray, $140 / Bird poster / MikeyLins by Petal Lane home decor / Wooden wall art / Pier 1 Imports Enjoy the Ride Journal / Ladurée Set of 6 Pencils, $21

The Documented |Life - Week 3 - Insert an envelope

For this week, most of the participants to the project have only inserted envelops without painting over them, but I feel the need to get dirty in the name of art, and started to add color and collage over it.

As you can see, I've done this again directly on my agenda, which has very thin pages. I've manage to stick to pages on the right side. In the left, the selfie backside was strong and heavy enough to hold the paint and collage.

After the selfie, this could be my favorite! The leaves you see above are not a stamp, not a stencil. I drew them by hand, just right after I randomly added paint in the shape that was somehow close to a leaf. After letting all set and dry - I've come and added the contour of the leaves with a Black Pitt Pen (Faber Castell). Used a lot of light stamping and the gelatos  from Faber Castell (well, the gel sticks).

I haven't been doing too much of a real journaling, like writing about what was happening, a thing that I shall correct in the future. After all, the documented life it's about every day life, with simple - but so meaningful notes. :)

The documented Life Project - Week 2 - Serfie!

This Selfie received lots of Likes on Facebook, and I thank you for that. It was build on my agenda paper directly, after doing some collage using newspapers cuts. I've started to draw the face and the eyes, without thinking too much of the shape and if they are properly aligned. In fact, I believe the left pupil is bigger than the right one, but I just left it as it is. I do love the lips, though. They look more than perfect to me!

It is true that when you just draw or paint and don't think too much how the result is going to look like, in the end you'll gonna love what you've created. 

This picture has a little Instagram effects applied to it. I just loved the colors ans saturation. 

This was week 2 - I think the most loved prompt until now! Let's see what's next on week 3!

The documented Life Project - Week 1

Have also posted about my week 1 journal on my Bubblews account. 

YEY! here's week 1 from the documented life project! I'm behind with posting about it, the project is already on week 4, but as I told you I have done all the three previous weeks. Here is week 1!

For the week one we were supposed to paint, draw or attach a photo with the front door. My door pattern is pretty hard to draw, so I've tried to draw it as simple as possible. Oh yeah, I gotta tell you this was a real challenge for me! Still, this is the original door pattern, and I'm more then happy with the result. When I first started to draw it, I didn't thought it's going to come out so beautifully!

I did sketch after a photo I wanted to attach here, but I've decided not to. The illustration should be enough to make an idea about it. 

When I've started to add color, I could see the whole picture with color and everything turned into a beautiful illustration! I sure have to create other sketches and paint them with watercolor, it was so relaxing painting this, even if it took me more than one day, giving the fact that I had to stop multiple times. 

But it doesn't really matter, as long as I managed to finish it up! What do you think of it? Are you part of the documented life project? :) 

I also wrote about the documented Life on Bubblews.

The documented Life Project

Originally posted by me on Bubblews:
A new year is a perfect time for a new project, isn’t it? And if there is an art project, even better to me! I didn’t think twice when stepping into this wonderful project run by 5 magnificent talented young ladies that initiated the project. The documented Life Project is made up of 3 parts: one part planner, one art journal and other sketch book. I ended using a planner only, in which I am going to insert watercolor for the time when I need to journal. 

Hello, dear creative soul!

I'm back with The Documented Life Project, initiated by the 5 magnificent ladies who are so inspiring that I've decided to join the project in a blink! I've never been part of such a big challenge, I have to admit it, it's something BIG. It's a whole year of fascinating art and a self-discovering journey. And making this public online is even bigger to me. I've never published so often my art and never shared my art journals until recently, when I felt I want to share them with other amazing artists from all over the world.
SO there we go! I'm already behind with posting, we are on week 4 with the challenge, and for every week there will be a theme.

Here you can check the themes from week 1 to 4.

I've already finished week 1, 2, 3, but I haven't got the chance to write about it here. I know I will definitelly going to enjoy the week 4 challenge: write a secret message and paint over, showing only one key word!

Saying "Hi" to 2014

Good morning or good evening where ever you are, dear creative soul! I know I haven't been writing much on this blog, and it's mostly because I've been doing a lot of writing on another, publishing articles about life and personal development, finding your soul and practicing forgiveness. I'm on a journey, and I only now discovered how much I really enjoy to write.

I haven't been neglected my art journal, though - I have a lot of beautiful and inspiring journaling pages I'm going to post about in here, so bear with me. 

I'm gonna leave you with this art journal page while I get myself back to post about what has been going on in my life and with my art creating process.Until then, stay tuned on your way and keep that smile on your face, shining like nobody else can, but you!

Not perfect, just like me! Oh, but I love her ;) 

Free Stamp carving book with love from Kristal Norton

YEY! Incredible news for all art journalists out there looking to work using stamps in their journals! Now you can create your own custom stamps with the help of this incredible book written by a lovely artist, Kristal Norton. As a Christmas gift, she offers her book STAMP CARVING for FREE! Yes! Go grab your own copy from Amazon.com, the offer won't last too much! 

This offer is available between Dec 24-26, 2013, so hurry up and get a free copy now!

Who is Kristal Norton? 

Let the Christmas vibe be with you

We are getting very close to Christmas and I'm so excited as I slow down with work and let myself pampered with Christmas decorations, fine delicious food and maybe some red boiled wine (with no brandy added), why not?

As I work with my soul to embrace the peace of the moment, I've drawn some Christmas globes in my art journal. Here's the result I got:

At first I wanted to glow them with some glitter and make them pop, which I did...until I get to play with some white acrylic on the right globe above, which turned to be very much like snow. This is when I've decided to add snow to my page. 

The golden touch couldn't look better on the globes, and so I've added more and more on the red and yellow ones.

And here is the final result, with the snow flakes flying all over the page:

This page has a watercolor background made with sprays and simple dripping play. Then I drew the globes with watercolor pencils and filled in with acrylics, changing the colors tones and reflection. I've added the snow ans show flakes accidentally, while I was painting the right white globe. It's that beautiful? 

How are you getting ready for Christmas? 

Merry Christmas to all of you and have a creative time with the family!

Watercolor flowers in my art journal

Just posted some on my latest flower illustrations on Facebook! See below

una publicación de Cristỉña Gàbriella Pärüś.

Journaling my life

It is true that I have been journaling and not posting a thing in here. I did wrote many articles, but not necessary about my art journaling creations. And totally left this place with no interesting posts to read.

Recently I've created this cute face on my A5 Canson Journal I bought from Barcelona this summer. I wanted to create something simple and still beautiful, and as I didn't had too much time to work on her face, I've choose to use watercolors and oil pastels.

I did her face free-hand without worrying about the result. The result came out pretty interesting and I decided to try another girl with the same technique. 

 First I've started with some stamping, one flower stamp that belongs to a 3D stamp set, used all over again changing direction of use. Then I went and filled in some color with the oil pastels. I have covered the whole flower petals, but next time I'm going to leave some petals blank and run with watercolors over it. This was the next step, water-coloring the pages with different colors, with lots of water and sprays. Once you get the desired result, let it dry. Or use a heat gun if you can't wait that long ;)
After applying the background, you'll need to draw the face and hair and also fill in some shadows and highlights for the face and neck.

Et voila! The finish product with some text added and the pages are ready to be loved and appreciated.

Happy National Day of Romania!

Happy birthday, Romania!

Today it's a special day for all born Romanians living all over the world. So where ever you are, dear Romanian sisters and brothers, wave the Romanian flag and be proud of being Romanian.

Happy National Day of Romania!

What do you do when other people harm your goods {without any reason}?

I have arrived home today just to find my car dye scratched probably with a key by someone that wasjust passing the street and haven’t got something better to do than to ‘enjoy’scratching cars on his way. Why do peo...