CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-18 11:53:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

What's On Your Saturday Platter?
Beautiful morning here in lower Alabama and I am prepping for a workshop today in Mississippi on torn paper/mixed media collages. I was curious what you all are up to, hope there will be some creativity on your platters! 

2013-05-17 03:25:56 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

Art Journal Love<!
My latest page about dreams it seems. I so love altering books to practice my ,mixed media ideas, especially when they count as therapy as well.
 http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-conundrum-of-dreaming-art-journal.html
#artjournal  

2013-05-16 02:28:26 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Toilet Yoga
Well....I have seen it all, lol! 
http://www.toiletyogamovement.com/the-book/

2013-05-16 02:14:11 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 19 +1s)

Haha, I kid because I love. :)

#GoodOldDays  

2013-05-16 01:15:45 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

Checking a Vertical Share

2013-05-16 00:17:10 (25 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

ARTISTS! If you're sharing your work on Google+ there's one important new "feature" you're going to want to disable immediately! Auto Enhance.
You know those colors you slaved over for hours to get just right? Google+ thinks it can do better, and if you don't turn it off it will boost up the saturation and blow out the contrast, forcing you to go back to every image individually to undo it.
Or, you can nip it in the bud right now. Go to the left to make the pop up menu appear, hit settings, and uncheck the box I've highlighted below.

2013-05-16 00:01:54 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Join the New To Google+? Team

For some of us, we love Google+ a great deal and are anxious to see it succeed. We have sent out invites, only to find that our friends, family, and co-workers join but don’t find their first experience here successful and leave after the first day. I want them to enjoy Google+ with me and am actively trying to make their first visit here one that shows the brilliance of G+. Although Google has in place many help features, we believe that there are steps we can take as a user base to help those new members feel at home from day one as well. We also realize that the Google+ Community Managers are pretty swamped and can't always engage in one on one conversations to answer questions, (although +Natalie Villalobos does a pretty sweet job!) That is where we, the users can help.

Here is how you can help:

1. Join the New ToG... more »

2013-05-15 23:32:36 (24 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Who Decides?
Can we decide if an image is shared in wide view or is that a Google+ internal decision? Anyone know?

2013-05-15 22:56:15 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Test post of a photo 
Hmmmmmm.....

2013-05-15 22:46:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Google+ Changes
As you probably have figured out there are tons of new changes to Google+, including community changes. It will take me a day or two to update our About page here, but this is where I will 'land' our guidelines and such. I am actually excited about the changes, but with everything, there will always be a learning curve. In the meantime, if you use the hasthtag #mixedmediatechniques   or #mixedmedia  in your personal posts, they can be picked up in a separate stream now much more easily! Hope your creativity was productive today! 

2013-05-15 22:36:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Say hello to the new Google+!
A quick tour of what you're about to (or just) see(ing)

It baffles me how quickly and unilaterally Google is rolling out massive updates to its social network. With each new update, Google+ helps you find and interact with more and more content. This update is no different. Frankly, it's putting facebook to serious shame. Announced at Google IO today, I made a simple slideshow so you can check out the new experience you're about to have here!

#IO13   #GPlus  

2013-05-14 01:48:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The Influence of Rosemarie Beck
Until this week I was not familiar with Rosemarie Beck's figurative work, but since I read the interview she gave in 62 as part of my art journal page development I have become quite enamored with her and hope to learn more. To celebrate the finding of a gem, I chose to practice a few quick, gestural studies and write a bit about drawing from the inspiration of Nicolaide as well. This, along with the prepping of a bunch of art journal pages, made for a glorious day! http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/page-prepping-and-rosemarie-beck-art.html

2013-05-14 01:15:12 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

The Influence of Rosemarie Beck
Until this week I was not familiar with Rosemarie Beck's figurative work, but since I read the interview she gave in 62 as part of my art journal page development I have become quite enamored with her and hope to learn more. To celebrate the finding of a gem, I chose to practice a few quick, gestural studies and write a bit about drawing from the inspiration of Nicolaide as well. This, along with the prepping of a bunch of art journal pages, made for a glorious day! http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/page-prepping-and-rosemarie-beck-art.html

2013-05-13 06:24:12 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Cure for hiccups.....or just shoot me at this point? 

2013-05-11 13:50:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

GROUP GUIDELINES
Welcome to our All Things Mixed Media Group! Please read and follow these guidelines so that our community remains a safe, welcoming, and a spam free environment for everyone. 

1. Sharing - Feel free to share your own work here. If you share works from any other artist, please give them credit and give us some info so that we can learn about them as well. 
2. Critiquing - Sharing our own art can be risky, especially if we are concerned that others will be negative. In our group, if you share your work here, we will give POSITIVE FEEDBACK ONLY because I prefer that this group grows as a nourishing, supportive group. You are welcome to ask for more specific critiques of your work within your posts, but defaults for critiques will remain positive and encouraging always. 
3. Spamming - Any spam posts will be deleted and you will be blocked....period. Respectou... more »

2013-05-11 13:47:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

+Shad Hall created this great jpeg for us as a visual guidelines for sharing posts and pics in our community here so a big thank you to him. We are a friendly group of artists here and welcome anyone wishing to share and learn about mixed media techniques. Here are some suggested guidelines for sharing in our community. When you visit, please don't just share a pic and run, we desire and value feedback in this community. I am really proud of the growth we have had but more importantly, that our community is filled with artists at many different levels and nationalities willing to discuss and exchange our ideas. May it always stay so. 
Because I work on paper and in my journal so often, I may or may not photograph my pics with a spatial reference but I love the idea of sharing an album with spatial reference if I were to work on canvas or with a framed piece. This gives us all a reference toc... more »

2013-05-09 23:00:05 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Collage 303 A Common Passion
Lately I have been reading through different views from people who either love Mothers Day or dread it. My heart breaks for those who miss their moms, have/had difficult connections with their mothers, or who have lost a child or children. The more I thought about the myriad of feelings that will occur over the weekend, the more the optimistic part of my own spirit wanted to reach out and make some sense of all the loss. Not sure that I can really, as the loss isn't my own, but I can do this. I can view Sunday as a day to celebrate Motherhood, not just my own mother. I can celebrate along with those who choose to embrace a common passion of parenting children, even the adult children in our lives who have yet to reach their potential. Regardless of man or woman, relative or friend, I can stand together to honor every person I know who seeks out to lend a hand,... more »

2013-05-09 19:24:57 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Mixed Media Collage Workshop
For all my Gulf Coast friends in Mississippi and Alabama, I will be teaching a workshop next Saturday, the 18th, at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Arts Center! We will be painting papers, ripping them to shreds, and applying them in a mixed media collage! It's going to be a ton of fun and with Mothers Day approaching the class would make a great gift as well if your mom is artistically inclined, :) http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/mixed-media-workshop-at-mary-c-okeefe.html

2013-05-07 23:36:34 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

The Disconnect of Self Art Journal Page
Today, I really gave a lot of thought to my friends who have family members dealing with dementia or Alzhiemers while I created this page. As I studied Diebenkirk's figure, I simply felt the sense of loneliness and longing, which led me to visualize a scenario of the woman being trapped inside a body. Before today, I wasn't aware of his figurative work, but am now a big fan, thanks to my choice of altering this book "The Perspective On The Arts 1962". My heart breaks for those who live this reality,  and although it has touched our family, I have not had to face this reality with my ow parents. You can read about the creation of this page and its process if you click through to my blog. Art journaling is such a remarkable way to practice my mixed media skills while delving into profoundly important... more »

2013-05-06 16:59:46 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Monochromatic Art Journal
I found this yellow address book at Goodwill last week and couldn't wait to break it in with a simple black Sharpie. I have not theme for this book other than a monochromatic palette, and by the looks of this page, it may just turn out......odd. You can see the beginning pages on my blog. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/monochromatic-art-journal.html

2013-05-06 14:35:26 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Blind Contour Challenge
Here is my mixed take, blue sharpie, Uniball blue ink, and red crayon. It is really interesting how this gets a bit easier the more one does it. 

2013-05-11 14:20:05 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Need A Self Portrait?
Started my morning off with my first blind contour sketch and can't seem to stop laughing out loud with this outcome. I was looking in the mirror, couldn't see my page, and had to use only one line for the most part. It now appears I have decapitated myself....but I like it, ;) Happy Monday to all of my Google+ peeps! 

2013-05-06 16:58:25 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Need A Self Portrait?
Started my morning off with my first blind contour sketch and can't seem to stop laughing out loud with this outcome. I was looking in the mirror, couldn't see my page, and had to use only one line for the most part. It now appears I have decapitated myself....but I like it, ;) Happy Monday to all of my Google+ peeps! http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/monochromatic-art-journal.html

2013-05-03 13:59:44 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Creating A Sampler To Test Out Art Supplies
As part of an online art course I am taking from the beyond talented artist, Juliana Coles, we had to create a sampler of the tools we would use in our sketches when we travel out in our communities to paint/draw/sketch. I have always loved this type of 'practice' as it give me a chance to test out and play without expectation. I also learned that even Crayola markers have great value to the art journalist on the go, lol. How do you test out your new tools? http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/art-journal-page-testing-tools.html
#artjournal  

2013-05-03 13:48:40 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Creating A Sampler To Test Out Art Supplies
As part of an online art course I am taking from the beyond talented artist, Juliana Coles, we had to create a sampler of the tools we would use in our sketches when we travel out in our communities to paint/draw/sketch. I have always loved this type of 'practice' as it give me a chance to test out and play without expectation. I also learned that even Crayola markers have great value to the art journalist on the go, lol. How do you test out your new tools? http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/art-journal-page-testing-tools.html
#artjournal  

2013-05-03 03:06:21 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

"St. Joseph's Cathedral at Spring Hill College" 8" by 10" watercolor, fluid acrylic, graphite, and ink. This one was for a dear friend, version #2 of the church, and I love the brightness of this one. 

2013-05-02 17:00:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Went to the doctor with the hubs and managed to sneak in a 10 min sketch before he walked into the room. This is in my 2.5" by 3.5" calendar book using graphite and a .05 Micron

2013-05-02 01:49:39 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

What a Week! 
I have had a crazy two weeks that just wrapped up with my finishing of one of two pieces I made to submit for membership to our Graphic and Watercolor Society locally. I chose a watercolor and acrylic piece, the acrylic you see here. I am posting it because I couldn't get over how similar the Golden fluid acrylics performed like watercolors. I had added graphite as well, and the background has about 20 glazes applied with teal, titanium, pink, and pistachio applied with sponges and the last layer of saran wrap. So many times the mixed media techniques we practice here tend to stay in art journals but I have to tell you, I was grateful for the saran wrap challenge because it really made the difference in the layers. Now that I have come up for air, a new challenge launches tomorrow and since we have passed the 500 mark, are seeing lots of new faces, I hope you all will decide... more »

2013-05-01 21:56:59 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 23 +1s)

Art Journal Page - The Freedom of Choice
I totally love this art journal, for its randomness, its visual inspiration, but most importantly for the freedom I have to make a thought, express it, and then share it. I am totally blessed when so many aren't allowed to express themselves. You can see how this page came to be from start to finish, and take a peek at my other pages if you click through to my blog. 
#artjournal   #mixedmediatechniques  
http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/05/art-journal-page-freedom-of-choice.html

2013-04-29 22:07:45 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

This is how I spent my afternoon, getting my new bridge put in! Can't get over the relief of not being embarrassed to open my mouth and smile. When the swelling goes down I will post a pic of my new smile tomorrow. 

2013-04-29 21:54:34 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

The Abstraction of Glass
Oh, this piece has haunted me. There are many things about it that I look back on and realize 'shoulda, coulda, woulda,' but I am finding that there is a time to simply stop the progression and let things be. I painted this in acrylic, 11" by 14", but used it similar to watercolors. The piece is totally out of my comfort zone, almost monochromatic, a bit ambiguous, but overall, I am quietly pleased with the 'irritation' of it because I am thinking there is something to be learned here. We shall see, but for now, my favorite blue glass of all time, that I shattered, at least has a resting place in my memory with this. Lots of great times had with that glass, ;)
http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-abstraction-of-glass.html
#acrylicpainting   #glasspainting  

2013-04-28 00:51:13 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Catching A Ride
Sometimes a little humor goes a long way when slinging paint, and when riding on a ferry with these feathered friends as a captive audience, ;) 
11" by 14" watercolor 

2013-04-27 02:14:28 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Hi all! My first post here is my newest watercolor, "Reflections In Creation." It is 20" by 30" on 300lb. Arches Watecolor paper. I totally love capturing the essence of light  in reflections and this was a tad challenging but I am pleased with the result. Love all of your work here, amazing talent! http://ardithgoodwin.com/watercolors/

2013-04-27 01:59:35 (15 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

Lawd have mercy I am finished! 
"Reflections In Creation" 20" by 30" watercolor. Finally finished this piece and what a journey it was. Had I had a 'normal back,' there would have been a few things I would have done differently but considering what my challenges were the past few weeks, I am over the moon pleased with it. You can view a few in progress pics if you click through to my blog to see how I painted it.  http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-journey-of-painting-glass.html
http://ardithgoodwin.com/watercolors/

#watercolorpainting   #paintingglassinwatercolor  

2013-04-26 15:43:57 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Drawing What You See Vs. Drawing What You Think You See
From beginning art students to the professional artist, learning to sketch and draw can make the difference in a confident painter/drawer/artist and one that always feels as if he is a beginner. Though I can draw pretty much anything, I never taught myself to sketch from real life so I join my students on this journey to push myself forward as an artist. If you are a beginner, or an artist like me who is willing to expand my skill set, here are a few simple tips to get you started. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-challenge-of-drawing-perspective.html
#drawing   #sketchbook  

2013-04-26 00:07:41 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Altered Art Journal
This week begins my journey of the online sketching/journal class called "Field Notes" by the amazing Juliana Coles. I love her edgy, outsider take on art journals and was over the moon to land a place in her class. For my book, I chose a 1962 copy of "Perspectives On The Arts" which I have had for several years, and it finally called to me for this project. The first section of the book, which I will use as a dual journal for my daily work and my class work due to its length, is all about the Dadaist, which I love to study. So far, with my first few pages of my own done, I am thrilled with this process. Loose, figurative sketching with thoughtful word choice and mixed media techniques. I am totally in my comfort zone with this. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/art-journal-page-walk-into-light.html

2013-04-25 19:04:38 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

How is our Thursday going?
I have started Juliana Cole's Field Notes workshop and am so looking forward to sketching on site and altering it into mixed media. This is the book I have chosen and here is a page from it as I will be using it as a dual journal, one for class, one for my daily pages. I am stoked about it. This double page uses fluid acrylics, markers, collage, transfers, and graphite. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/art-journal-page-walk-into-light.html
#artjournal   #mixedmediatechniques   #mixedmediapaintings  

2013-04-24 22:29:06 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 16 +1s)

Art Heals, Or At The Very Least Makes One Not Wish To Throw Eggs!
It was one of those days, so I turned to my art journal for a bit of sanity. I so wish the act of writing, painting, or creating to face stress was more "common" among the masses. Life just might appear a bit more colorful amid the egg throwing. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/altering-book-alters-soul.html
#artjournal   #mixedmediatechniques  

2013-04-23 12:09:15 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

Watercolor Travel Palette
It's a great day to spend it with artists slinging paint and my Watercolor Art Journal Class along with my Watercolor Sketchbook class starts today. Rather than spend big bucks on fancy travel pans, I opted for a $5 bobbin case and my own tube paints. Looking forward to the added variety in my color palette as this little case is only about 5" by 4" and for teaching my students a few cost shaving shortcuts when I can. Happy Tuesday to all of you this morning! http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/watercolor-travel-palette.html
#watercolor   #sketchbook  

2013-04-22 15:02:09 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Collage 301 - The Gift of Mornings
The older I get the more I realize just how precious a new morning can be. Hope yours is swell! You can read and view all of my miniature collage works through this link. http://ardithscollage.blogspot.com/2013/04/collage-301-gift-of-mornings.html

2013-04-22 14:59:54 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

Collage 301 - The Gift of Mornings
The older I get the more I realize just how precious a new morning can be. Hope yours is swell! You can read and view all of my miniature collage works through this link. http://ardithscollage.blogspot.com/2013/04/collage-301-gift-of-mornings.html

2013-04-21 16:45:39 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 18 +1s)

Wallowing In Color
So, I am standing at my kitchen sink scrubbing cruddy messes and the light from our skylight windows comes streaming in and electrifies the bottles on the edge of our counter. For me, wallowing in intense, transparent color is better than fudge..... Just thought I would share it with you in case you are surrounded by gloom today, :)

2013-04-21 01:37:02 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 19 +1s)

The Walk of Orange
I am drawn to color and oddities like ants to a trash can. Some days, the oddities are a bit more subtle, so I throw a quest for a specific color in the mix just to challenge the little grey cells. On the afternoon walk the color orange was obscure for most of my steps until I turned the corner between the front of our house and the drive way. What do you know....an odd little plug growing out of a tree, which just so happened to be orange. The juxtaposition  has kept me amused most of the afternoon, not sure why, but it just seems to be deliciously odd.....

2013-04-20 14:04:58 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

25 min sketch - Grouping of Three
It is really hard to photograph such a linear image with my phone but this comes close enough. Had a great time sketching these three little guys for a study in a larger piece. Not sure of their purpose, but the more I look at them, the more their unusual characters seem to appeal to me. Graphite, Neocolor II's, Derwent Inktense, and Micron Pen. #sketchbook   #watercolorsketch  #sketches

2013-04-20 13:43:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

25 min sketch - Grouping of Three
It is really hard to photograph such a linear image with my phone but this comes close enough. Had a great time sketching these three little guys for a study in a larger piece. Not sure of their purpose, but the more I look at them, the more their unusual characters seem to appeal to me. Graphite, Neocolor II's, Derwent Inktense, and Micron Pen. #sketchbook   #watercolorsketch  #sketches

2013-04-20 13:25:01 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

25 min sketch - Grouping of Three
It is really hard to photograph such a linear image with my phone but this comes close enough. Had a great time sketching these three little guys for a study in a larger piece. Not sure of their purpose, but the more I look at them, the more their unusual characters seem to appeal to me. Graphite, Neocolor II's, Derwent Inktense, and Micron Pen. #sketchbook   #watercolorsketch  #sketches

2013-04-19 20:00:21 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Totally zen moment sketching and painting the cathedral in town. 

2013-04-19 19:42:52 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

The Joy of Painting Glass in Watercolor 
I have a love/hate relationship with painting glass in watercolor. The part of my brain that loves systems, order, and patterns loves painting glass. The part of my brain that is a free spirit, loves to make loose, intuitive marks, hates it. Such a fun dynamic for mood I would say. This piece, which is about half way finished, has so many more glazes to go I cringe to think about it, but I am pleased with how it is progressing. You can view my WIP pics if you click through to my blog. http://ardithsart.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-journey-of-painting-glass.html
#watercolorpainting   #painting   #watercolor  

2013-04-19 17:35:16 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Day 300 - Inspired By Beck
Hard to believe I have made over 300 of these tiny 4" by 4" miniature collages! Today's piece was inspired by artist Beck Lane and gave me the wonderful pleasure of slowing down long enough to realize just how lucky I am in this moment compared to many of my friends in Boston or Texas. #mixedmediapaintings   #collageart   #collageartist  

You can view Beck Lane's Youtube channel at this link.....maybe she will inspire you as well, especially if you need a nudge in the 'Be Bold' realm! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYKJsjxt-OsPQovntmsYWgQ

2013-04-19 15:35:04 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Challenge #11 Anything Goes, Show No Fear
I was introduced to the amazing work of Beck Lane this morning and had one of those aha moments where I almost fell off my bed because I connected with her artistic point of view and passion so much. For the past hour I been viewing her videos and listening to her talk about her painting process and one of the boldest ideas she embraces is don't give into fear, paint things your way, from your heart. I LOVE THAT! 

What I mean when I say I love that is that she inspires me to throw caution to the wind, step out of my predictable comfort zone, and try new things just because my spirit says to....not because someone else is using a specific medium, product, style etc. She uses spray paint, acrylic, oils, paper, and on and on in her works. She lets it flow, so I gave that some thought and wanted to really walk her talk this week. 
more »