Feautured Artist: Rochelle ~ Madame Ro





Hola! Artsy Addict Divas… 

I am super excited and over the moon about being asked to be a featured guest on this blog. If you could see through your computer screen right now you would see me doing my happy girl groove...lol Thank you ladies so much for allowing me this great opportunity, I am very appreciative!

Well if you are wondering who I am my name is Rochelle, but I have another person that lives in my head and she goes by the name of Madame Ro - my creative alter ego. By day, I live as Rochelle who is an eccentric, down to earth, photographer/graphic designer & single mother of a beautiful one-year-old son- Cameron Jordan.  Rochelle is the more responsible, level-headed, and organized one.  By night, after the bambino takes his trip to la la land, Madame Ro comes out and wrecks creative havoc and causes colorful mischief in her art lab. Madame Ro is the more fun, edgy, adventurous, and creatively crazy one who loves to push creative limits. She is definitely not afraid of color, she loves dimensional art. She is not one to be confined to a boring box. Why play in the sandbox when you can have the world as your playground.

 

My "Right Brain" at work

I am an artist. I was born an artist. I live, eat and breathe art. Heck! When I go to bed I even dream artistically.  That's how passionate I am about this field. I feel that art is who I am, not just what I do. I am most definitely a dreamer. I feel that dreaming is a big part of how my art is created. My creations start in my dreams, when all the pieces of the dream come together then I am able to manifest it onto the canvas (or whatever medium I'm working on at the time).  And in case you were wondering YES! I dream in vivid, saturated colors! (wink)

 

Ever since I could remember I have always loved to create. I started out coloring, and then that led to drawing/painting, which then led to designing (graphic and photography) which in turn led me to where I am today, mixed media. Although I love dabbling into many facets of the arts. I'd have to say mixed media is my obsession.

 

I started crafting/mixed media not too long ago, September 2012. I got my start by creating cards and as my passion for learning, and my urge to create amazing art grew, so did the depths of my projects. I went from creating cards to altering gumball machines.

If I had to pick a favorite on the crafting side it would be altering. I love altering items. I think it's amazing to start off with one thing and turn it into something totally different. I've recently got into mixed media and now I'm hooked. I am a mixed media junkie.  I enjoy playing around with different textures and mediums and learning new techniques. The best part of mixed media is getting dirty... I love it!

 

I have a secret love affair with Marion Smith's designs - she had me at "Romance Novel". After doing some browsing around to learn more about Marion Smith I found the Artsy Addicts Facebook Group and had a total EYEgasm looking at all the wonderful inspiration that all the crafty artists share in this group. AMAZING!

 

Okay so now that I've have written my own novel on this blog..lol… I will shut up now and share with you some of my creations.  The following are a few projects in a series that I’m doing called "Graffiti Chic" you all are getting the first look. I am also sharing a few old projects. #HappyViewing

 

AfroDisiac. This is a painting I created as part of an obsession I have with big afro's..lol. I'm also doing a series called Naturalista it will feature different paintings of ladies with afro textured hair.

 

  

This part of my Graffiti Chic series
 This is an Asian Inspired project called "The Pursuit of Happiness" and the quote says
"Some pursue happiness, others create it". 

 

 

This is another Asian Inspired project called "The Journey" and I used an Chinese Proverb as the quote. It reads " The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step". Also a part of my Graffiti Chic series

 

 

 

 

Confidence. The quote reads: " ...is believing in yourself when no one else does". As an artist my goal is to inspire, uplift and create something that could change someone's life, or at least brighten their day.

 

 

 

 

Love is All You Need. My graffiti chic series is a mix of vibrant colors, lots of texture, with an urban "street" vibe.

 

 

 

Here are a few more paintings and craft projects I've created.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for sharing a moment of your time with me today. If you are interested in stalking me (wink) here are my details:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madamerocouture
YouTube: (I do tutorials) http://www.youtube.com/user/stationerychic
Google +: https://plus.google.com+stationerychic
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/GlamCraftsInc/madame-ro-couture-handmade-with-love/
Zibett Store: http://www.zibbet.com/Divaglam

Muah!
Madame Ro



Featured Artist - Char Gibson

Hi Artsy Addicts Bloggers!

My name is Char (Charlene) Gibson. What an honor it is to be asked to be a featured artist here! So let me tell you a bit about myself. I married my soul mate about 7 years ago. I have a daughter, a
step son and a grand daughter. To round out our family we also have a doggie and a couple of kitties. I have been crafty most of my life, which I think I inherited from my Grandmother. She taught
me how to sew and crochet when I was just a young girl. My mother is a painter. She works with oils, acrylic and water colors and my sister is a flamingo costume designer and seamstress. So
crafting is really in my blood. I started paper crafting after I got married in 2006, because I wanted to scrapbook our wedding pictures. I wasn't really sure on how to start and my husband suggested I
look on YouTube. Well it all took off from there. Marion was one of the first YouTubers that I watched religiously. I followed her blog and was thrilled when I got the chance to join the Facebook
group. I love all types of crafting, card making, layouts, altered art, and mini albums. Recently I have tried my hand at a little mixed media. When I first stated crafting I would sketch out my project, but
that didn't last too long. Now I just start creating. Sometimes I have it in my head and sometimes I don't. I just let it happen. It's fun to go back to my old sketch book and just remissness. So here are
some of my favorite projects that I completed recently.

 

Cigar box using Bo Bunny The Avenues paper, some mixed media stenciling, some pretty lace and flowers. I also altered the hardware with paint to give it a patina look.

 

 

This was a silver sugar bowl that I turned into an elegant pin cushion with lace flowers and bling. I altered the frame to give it the look of silver.

 

This is one of my favorite mini albums. I heart that rooster!  It is using Graphic 45's French Country collection.

 

Lasty, here is a canvas of my baby girl -- One of my mixed media adventures. I used a brick stencil, paints and sprays and just went to town.  Love the paper and embellies. It's a school picture of my beautiful grand daughter!

 

So that's a little bit about me. If you want to see more please follow me here...

blog: http://www.papergirl50.blogspot.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/char.gibson.3

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/charlenegibson

 

 

Thank you for this opportunity!

 

Char

Featured Artist - Rita Barakat

I live right outside of Dallas, Texas. I am happily married and  am blessed to be a stay at home mom to five fabulous kids. Two are now adults and the younger ones are 11, 10, and 8. We are a busy bunch so there are always photo opportunities! 

I started scrapbooking ten years ago when we adopted our first child; I was hooked! I have always made crafts and mixed media art (before I knew it had a name), so scrapbooking was a natural transition for me. I love being a part of this industry and being creative on a regular basis. I have had my work published in a variety of magazines and have been honored to work with some really great manufacturers.

In addition to scrapbooking and mixed media art I have a passion for youth. I direct a youth choir and drama team.  My hubby and I are the youth pastors at our church. I also love to sing, I have been performing with song since I was in elementary school.  

Today I made a video of this project because I had so many step by step pictures to show you!

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed that!

You can find me and more of my work

blog  http://letsembellish.blogspot.com 

facebook https://www.facebook.com/rita.barakat.1

pinterest  http://www.pinterest.com/ritabarakat/boards/

instagram http://instagram.com/rbarakatmusic

you tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/rbmusic1

Featured Artist: Keri Sallee

I am so excited to have a chance to jump on the Artsy Addicts bandwagon!
 

My name is Keri Sallee and I am a 33 year old lover-of-all-things-creative who lives in beautiful Northwest Arkansas with my three crazy kiddos (10, 6 and 3) and my hot red-headed hubby of 11 years.

Like many of you, I started scrapbooking when my son was born 10 years ago because "it's what all good moms do!", but as I did it more and looked around, I found there was a bigger world than sticker vomit, rounded corners and matted pictures. There was a whole BIG world of actual ART being made by papercrafters. They were using paint and ribbon and texture and sprays and all sorts of other stuff that the hard core "acid-free/lignin free" creators would cringe at!

So I started to expand my horizons, if you will,  into a little altered art and fell in love with making mini albums, but...there was always a little secret dream I held on to...I wanted to be Christy Tomlinson! Her pieces inspired me with their texture and depth and composition...they were these amazingly BEAUTIFUL MESSES!

For years, I wouldn't let myself even experiment with it. I let myself be ruled by the negative "what ifs": "What if it doesn't look right?" "What if no one likes it?" "What if I mess up?" "What if..." "What if..." "What if..." I never even allowed myself to thing of the positive "what ifs": "What if it looks great?" "What if you like it?" "What if it's fun!?"

Sound familiar to anyone you know?

So one day, I decided to YouTube stalk Christy and I began to notice a pattern to the way she did her work. Not a pattern in the "everything looks the same" kind of thing, but a pattern in her techniques and steps.

Since then, I have found a fun and fabulous freedom in doing my own version of "Christy Tomlinson Mixed Media." I have found a little bit of myself each time I am fearless in trying new things and have found that there's more to my art than just paper and glue and "making pretty stuff." It's therapeutic...freeing....and revealing.

Today...I want to share with you one of my favorite pieces so far. It's only the 3rd piece I've ever done, but the words just say so much: "Enjoy Yourself and Pay Them No Mind."
 

Here are some closeups of my favorite parts:

This project was made using the "Birthday Wishes" collection that Glitz Designs designed for Echo Park's Photo Freedom line. I'm not a "pocket" scrapper, but I loved the bright colors, fun prints and sayings, so I had to have it. 

The black "lace" is actually just a lace stamp that I stamped on a coffee filter and scrunched. Coffee filters are easy (and cheap!) ways to add texture. I use them all the time!

A few other products you might recognize are Tattered Angels' Glam, ArtC damask stencil, Prima Marketing Flowers and drywall tape (from my hubby's DIY stash.)

I hope you've enjoyed my little project today.

You can find me in cyberspace here:

Instagram: thecreativelifestudios

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thecreativelifestudios

Twitter: thecreativelifear

Blog: www.thecreativelifear.blogspot.com

Thanks for letting me share today..,.and remember...if you ever get caught up in the "what ifs", remember this little project...the cage is empty because the bird is FREE and so are you. Enjoy yourself and pay them no mind.

God Bless.

XOXO....KERI

 

Nail Art Plaque - CHA Project

 

Hi everyone, I'm really excited today to share with you a project that I created for the Canvas Corp, Marion Smith, 7Gypsies and Tattered Angels booth at the Summer Create -n- Connect 2013 Show (also known as summer CHA). 

 

 

I wanted to create a vibrant mixed media piece with the luscious Tattered Angel's Blue Green mediums but wanted it to be a bit unusual. I was inspired by some string art projects that I found on Pinterest.   Since I live in Florida I decided to theme my project around the beach.

I pulled out all of my Tattered Angels sprays in blues, turquoise, and mint greens.   (colors used are  listed under the photo)

Glimmer Mists: True Turquoise (not pictured),  Lake Shore, Caribbean Blue, Bubbles, Mantis,  Maya Blue, Chalkboard Glimmer Mist:  Sandy Beach, Mantis,  Plain Jane: Sky, and Glimmer Glam: Palm Leaf

 

 

I started by painting my unfinished wooden plaque with white full bodied gesso.  Once it was dry, I began building layers of the Tattered Angels Glimmer, Plain Jane and Chalkboard sprays all over the surface. I started with the blues and added small amounts of the greens to give the colors of the Florida coast line.  I then mixed in some of the Palm Leaf Glam and hit is with my heat gun causing the glaze to crackle and provide texture.  This texture gives the illusion of looking through the water to ground below. I love how all the glimmer swirled to give the piece movement and depth.  I made sure this surface was very  dry before starting the next step.  

 

I made a paste of clear Elmer's Glue & Sea Shells - I spread this paste across the plaque diagonally.  I encouraged the dripping along the sides of the plaque for interest.  The Glue is so thick that it took a long time to be completely dry.  I let it sit for at least 24 hours.    

 

I combined modeling paste and full bodied gesso into a paste and spackled some irregular lines  to give the illusion of waves crashing the shore.  I also spread a little of this into the shells to give the look of sea mist. 

 

Once EVERYTHING was completely dry I sprayed the entire plaque with a clear Acrylic Spray paint to seal the Glimmer mists.  I didn't want them to get wet and run.

 

For the star,  I started with a silhouette starfish image that I found on the Internet.   I printed it the size of my plaque. I went out to the garage and found used rusty nails (they need the flat head on top to make sure the twine doesn't slip). The nails were about 2 inches long. I nailed around the perimeter of the star pattern, and removed the pattern from the plaque before wrapping my twine. The Canvas Corp twine was the perfect "rustic" style to give my start fish life.

 

This was a super simple project that resulted in a cute home decor item.  I think I might hang this  in my guest bathroom.  

 

Thanks for stopping in today,

 

Tonya Gibbs

http://www.psychomomscrapbooks.blogspot.com