Mimi paints Dogwood

Ever wonder how much a rainy day effects you mood? Mimi gets tired of the rain most days, but today she welcomed it because it kept her indoors to paint. The frogs are croaking, and last night the air smelled of blossoms. It is no wonder Mimi would paint flowers again. Somehow her painting—as well as her mood—has been influenced by the rain. The lack of sunshine in the sky has shown up in her painting. Still only three colors have been used on her palette, red, blue and yellow. It is helping somewhat with color harmony and she is getting better at mixing colors. Mimi is still working on focal point and foreground vs. background. If you have any helpful information, leave Holly a comment and she will pass it along to Mimi.

Poppies for Sandy

What inspires you? For me it is people, my kids, family, friends, special occasions like birthdays and holidays. It always comes back to who's on my mind. Today I had coffee with a new friend, who seems like an old friend. She continually inspires me to be the best I can be. So today I paint for Sandy. "Poppies for Sandy" Thanks for the inspiration wise friend, and the laughter. Check out Sandy's blog and you'll know why I like her so much.

Spring is Here: Surprise.

Here in Southern Oregon we have had a very strange winter, and equally odd Spring. Winter, Mimi thinks, might have been warmer than spring. Finally this week the butterflies and bees will come out and do what they should. Mimi watches them pollinate and transform life in an amazing adventure. Mimi says—enjoy spring. Here at Creative Home, we believe in observing everything, alive, from nature. There is nothing more amazing than what God has created before our very own eyes.

Official International Fake Journal Blog: The 2010 International Fake Journal Month Contest

Official International Fake Journal Blog: The 2010 International Fake Journal Month Contest

Dreaming of fresh apples by "Mimi"

As I enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine today decided to work in my IFJ, "International Fake Journal." If you don't know what this is, then you missed my last post. International Fake Journal Month is a challenge for artist to focus on art from a different perspective or persona and journal about it. Mimi, my alter ego, is studying watercolors. She is only using red, blue and yellow—the primary colors—"very efficient". Mimi is also working on focal point and color harmony. What inspires Mimi, you never know. Mimi takes her sketch book with her everywhere now. She likes to look at life large, yet crop in on what's most important "of course."

Here is Mimi's Journal Entry for "Day Five."

As I painted, all the colors were vibrant and everything was popping forward. Here is a hint I got from a fabulous children's book author, Lee White. Glaze over the background with the color opposite on the color wheel. For example, I used red to glaze over the green leaves and take the intensity of the color back so the apple would pop forward. It is hard to do without making things muddy, but Mimi is learning.

Birthday Cake

Day one quick sketch was actually finished on day three. Mimi is not happy with the focal point (there is none). Mimi is using a Pen Sketcher's Book from Bee Paper Company: Professional Series size 5.5" x 8.5 " 70lb. 114gsm paper. She really likes the smooth finish and bright whitness of the paper.

April Fool

"Adventures in Design" is taking an adventure.

This month I will have an alter ego called Mimi. Mimi is a perfectionist and is obsessed with watercolor paints, only three colors of watercolor paints—the primary ones—of course. Red, yellow, and blue. The primary colors make up all colors on the color wheel and Mimi likes to be efficient— why bother with anything that is not needed. Mimi has decided that she will paint at least three times a week for the month of April. Hereby known as "International Fake Journal Month" or IFJM. In this journal she will study primary colors with watercolor paints, focusing on color harmony and focal point. Mimi likes to make a point. Only perfection, only necessities. Mimi says things like, "of course" and "I knew that" or "practice makes perfect." She really thinks she knows it all. Don't let her know that "practice makes progress"—not perfect.

Mimi's—Day one entry—"For Cassidy"

Follow along with Mimi this month. Please note: International Fake Journal Month idea came from officialinternationalfakejournalblog.blogspot.com/ Check it out by clicking the dog button on the left side of my (Mimi's) blog.