Creative Process...

I found that my crazy schedule leaves very little time for me to be creative. I lack the focus when it comes to actually work on my art, even though I am always craving to do so.
I found a mini temporary solution to this: Join Swap-bot swaps for either note cards or ATCs. This gives me a serious time line I need to meet and having a deadline helps me focus. Also, it allows me to stretch my brain a little to come up with an idea to satisfy a theme. I have been joining swaps with random themes in order to be able to come up with ideas that I wouldn't of otherwise.

I love looking at other artists work and process of coming up with a final finished piece, and I decided to share with you my creative process.

The theme for the ATC is Love. The word Love has to be somewhere on the ATC.

First I start out with sketching out ideas, not necessarily related to what I will end up putting together. In this case, I was just browsing and using different images to sketch out ideas of things...




After I have my sketch and idea, I decided that I want to create a cut paper illustration of the bunny idea.
Therefore, I had to choose the papers I will use in the piece. I am the least organized person when it comes to my supplies, and thus I usually have no idea what I have and work from the latest I have purchased. One day I will be organized, one day...




And now time for lots of cutting and gluing takes place. Of course I am super messy and sticky when I use glue.



And here we have an almost finished ATC... I let it sit for a bit until I figured out how to finish it



Can you spot where the word Love is?

And finally the back receives a label and my contact information, next stop the post office!



Creating these ATCs to trade also allows me to come up with an idea for an ACEO to add to my shop

Happy Sunday...

oh how I wish Sundays did not end with Mondays...

This weekend I found myself living the life of shut-in as my only venture into the real world was a quick but expensive trip to the pet store followed by another quicker trip to the art supply store.
The rest of the time I was somewhere in between the piles or should I say mountains of supplies that I own.



I gathered and packaged my Journaling supplies swap



Two packages to fly of to different sides of the world.

I also completed another swap titled "Flowered ATCs: Daises"



I haven't worked on mixed media projects in a while and I thought that the best way to get myself back in the groove would be if I signed up for a few swaps.
My style is a bit different now and the whole process has evolved for me. I actually sketched, picked out the papers & organized them prior to starting. I used to just splash things together before.
The swap called for 2 ATCs and I created one slightly different to put in the Shop! as an ACEO.



"Dream Big"

"Dark Balloons"

Dark Balloons ACEO
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

I have to admit I am a little crazy about woodblock printing. I have had a few failures and made stupid mistakes, like cut an awesome print to ATC size but instead of 2.5 inches I cut it to 2 and it no longer is useable. I am sure I will find a good use for all the cool scaps I am collecting.
Carving is really hard right now because I don't have the right wood and the proper tools, but one day soon.... I have to sell a few prints before I could affort to buy more materials. I guess this is a good time to point out that this ACEO is very available and in my Etsy Shop! ;p
The prints are hard to photograph, which makes me really miss my scanner. Another thing I am saving for, a new all in one printer.
2 More days till the weekend Yey YEY!
...now back to watching my lecture on Managerial Accounting.

more eBay

Last week was the first time I had success on eBay and this week I have two more auctions.
This ACEO and another "Self Image" print

I have a bid!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually have a bid!!!!!!!!!!
I wish I knew what happens when someone wins the action.

Ink Tree ACEO card
of my Self Image Sketch

a little auction!

trees in ink ACEOs
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

I am giving good old eBay another try. I have two items up for auction this week. One is the middle Ink Tree ACEO card in this series and a print of my Self Image Sketch

So far the ACEO has one watcher! yey!
Please take a look and perhaps see something you want ;)

A day off and new work in the Shop

Yey for a day off!
I finally got to taking a photo and editing it and listing it of this ACEO. I had to use Paul's computer. The background is greener than it looks but close enough.
It lives here
Pear
I also did a little work on my website

Birdy ACEOs

I love these two new ACEOs. They are mide with mostly 'saved' materials and are super fun. This is the first time that I have inlcuded fiber in my work. They are living in My Shop! right now.

Lets trade...

A little collage work I did late last night. I used mostly recycled materials to create these.
The birds are from a greeting card I received
Fibre from a material swap
and recycled cardstock from more old greeting cards

Perhaps I should say that the materials are saved!
The girl one is ink on 'saved' cardstock



all are available

Also skip over to my Shop! where you will find new ACEOs for sale as well as a listing for a custome stylized portriat

One lonely ACEO

In a Dream series
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

Once upon a time there were two of these ACEOs. One was fortunate to find a new home and the other was relisted many times. Upon being featured a few times in treasuries and such, this heart ACEO is yet to find a home after 450 views. After the card expired the other day, I debated a while if I should relist it. I still believe that there is a home out there for this wonderful ACEO titled 'In a dream: Honesty"
Here is a Link to where it currently lives

'In Time for Spring' - new ACEO

'In time for spring' -ACEO
Originally uploaded by iva_o.

Yey for new art work in The Shop .
I am really happy how this card turned out. I combined blue and coral and the combination is wonderful.

Thank you Amy for the wonderful afternoon. Looking through old yearbooks can really remind you of where you came from. Who I was five years ago and who I am today, seam like two different people.

ACEO collab

Believe it or not I actually managed to finish a project early. This cards is for the ACEO project either for the VAST street team or the ACEO street team. I can't remember they are mixing themselves up in my head.

School is keeping me really busy. This weekend I have to write a seven page strategic analysis. It is single spaced and worth a big chunk of my mark. Yakes.
Non the less here is something new that is in my shop. The dragonfly ACEO will be in my shop on Monday ;)