Process.
One of the things you will find as you read through my new book is a collection of canvases that open each chapter. While I was working on them early last year I took some photos of the process so I could share how they all came together.
I started with blank 8x10 canvases that you can get at any craft store (your local scrapbook store may have some too) and a bunch of different colors of acrylic paint and some foam brushes.
There were a few things I knew from the beginning:
1. I wanted to work on them all at the same time - meaning I wanted to see them all as individuals and as a group. The dining room table turned out to be the spot I could spread out best.
2. I knew that each one would have a theme and that I wanted to have some consistency between them (ended up mainly being size and a bit of color). I also knew that I wanted the creation to match the theme at least a bit.
3. I knew that I was going to need to be flexible and open as I worked through the process - experimentation was the name of the game. That some of them I wouldn't like as I was working on them and I would need to be ready to change, adapt, or start over (on top of the same canvas).
I started off by painting each of them a base color - two coats. An easy first step. And as you can see above I like to just pour some right out onto the canvas.
Next I started working on the individual canvases. Most of them came together in bits and pieces. I would work on one, adding this and that, and then switch to another one. I liked that movement.
For some of the canvases I used found (junk) pieces to create patterns. This is a left-over after a print job that I picked up at a store in Vancouver, Canada.
I also used scrapbook items such as a Heidi Swapp mask or circle punches with patterned paper.
For the patterned paper (and paper such as this below) I used gel medium to adhere it to the canvas. Here's some info about using gel medium. I first learned about it from Claudine Hellmuth's book Collage Discovery Workshop
I liked having them all laid out together and working on them all at once. I think it is similar to why I like to stand-up to scrapbook - I like to look down on the work at hand and have a view of the whole from above.
In addition to paints and papers and templates and masks I added rub ons, letter stickers, acrylic accents, stamps, and handwriting with black and white pens. I kept things consistent from one to the next with bits of color added here and there.
Lots of layers. Lots of moving from one to the next. Loved the process. Hope to do some more again sometime.
In the meantime I am super inspired by this guy: Rex Ray
And finally, I loved one of the comments yesterday on the really long word post about taking all those words + using them as the basis of some sort of project. Maybe a journal, a word of the week, a prompt for something creative. Definitely something to consider.
I got this book as a late Christmas present to myself, and I've been reading it this week. It's really changing the way I think about my scrapping. I usually stress because I haven't got any photos to use as I don't have a photo printer, but I'm coming to the conclusion that it's ok (using your fab phrase!!) for there not to be photos on the pages. Writing is probably what I'm best at anyway, so I just just let that tell my story, right? Thanks so much Ali!
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Thanks for the babysteps on the canvases!!! Makes them seem very do-able for us easily-overwhelmed-uncrafties! :)
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I'm new to your blog. Ali, you do beautiful work. Keep it up.
Carolyn M
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I have to admit, I loved seeing the colored canvases all next together on your table. And thank you for the link on how to adhere paper to the canvases!!! I've been wondering how to do that, as I have 4 blank canvases lying around (that I will eventually do for my girl's rooms). I think I have a project that I will be working on this weekend! Thanks!
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My word 2008 is simple. Thanks for the zen-link, love it!
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Ali: It is so funny that you posted the instructions for this today. I was at Michaels yesterday checking out all of the paint supplies as I had decided that I wanted to do a few of these for my new scraproom. I did not buy anything as I was overwhelmed and did not even know what to get. Thanks for the great advice! Now I plan on heading back to the store!
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I've got your new book but literally haven't had time to do much more than glance through it. I MUST find time this weekend to read it cover to cover!
Sue
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Would you mind sharing the supplies you used for the canvas located on the poster?
Thanks!
Andrea
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Ali,
I loved seeing the list of words. I choose a word for myself this year : BREATHE. But as I read through the list I realized that many of the words spoke to me. We can learn so much from each other.
So this year, in addition to my word, I'm going to create a journal about everyone else's words too. I haven't planned it out yet. But it will be something like a word a week or day. I may journal them alphabetically or pick a word out of the list at random. I plan on writing about each word and what it means to me and my life. My favorite thing about scrapbooking is sharing our experiences and creations. I like the thought of bringing it all together in one big project.
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very cool Ali....Would love to see the finished products...Do you have a photograph of all of them....(I don't have your book yet if they are in there)
TFS.Emily
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Hi Ali,
Loved ready about your process. Process is what it's all about...well, for me it is. Love to hear how others work. Here is another book you may enjoy. I think it's out of print and sometimes scarce, but worth looking for..."Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit" by Corita Kent and Jan Steward. I did find it one amazon today.
Wishing you a blessed day. Keep on being you!
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That last picture, with the in-progress canvases and the brushes and paint bottles and piles of stuff developing around the edges? Looks just like my studio space when I'm in the middle of a project. :) There's a wonderful energy being in the middle of all of that "creative mess."
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They look great!...I feel like scrapping now :) Thanks for sharing with all of us honey!
-Karla
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So what does the finished "process" look like now?
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Your a such an inspiration! Thanks!!!
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Hi Ali. I just picked up your book on Friday. I have no idea what I'd been waiting for. I LOVE IT! I flipped through the first time and now I'm reading. I love all of your words of wisdom and all the awesome pages. I'm a digi scrapper but you make me want to play with paper and glue! Thanks so much.
Kerry
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I LOVE your book, Ali. I actually just posted a review of it on my blog the other day - http://www.amatterofmemories.com/2007/01/review-life-artist-by-ali-edwards.html.
I am so inspired by you and your work! I didn't post previously, but my work for the year is simply 'create'. I think others had that also.
I have been mainly a maker of layouts over the many years (a lot of this is due to time constraints as I work full-time...and, unfortunately, my job doesn't involve scrapbooking) and you really inspire me to make more of an effort to 'branch' out to other things...mini books, home decor, etc. If you read my review, you'll see that I already have a mini book started based on your 'little things' mini book - it will be my first mini book ever and I am SOOO excited about it!
THANK YOU!
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Ali, thanks so much for sharing your creative process for the canvases. My favorite one is "simplify", and also was my inspiration for my word for 2008!
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INCREDIBLE. I love seeing these photos of others' creative processes -- especially yours, Ali!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us -- I say this constantly, but you are SUCH an inspiration!
Sarah
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thanks for sharing those...as I read through the book I was wondering what your process was. To see how you lay everything out in front of you and work on more than one is so cool. I tend to do this too. I find this so freeing, when something doesn't work on one project just move it to the other one your working on :)
re: the "reallylongword" post, my thoughts {if I may} as I sat reading all those inspiring words I thought about how many of them also resonated with me. I thought this could make great background paper, copy and pasted to an editing program mixed with some cool digital-effects, a collage of sorts of this awesome collection of words!
** Would it be allowed to copy and paste portions of it? -- and I mean this for personal-use only of course.
as always - very inspiring!
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thank you for showing your creative steps....i got your book (signed, no less!!!) back in october...love every single page! isn't life grand!
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I really liked seeing your process in creating your canvases. I am off to buy the book asap. Thanks for sharing.
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So excited to see my word for '08, and I can't wait to apply the 4 laws of simplicity. Thanks for taking the time to share one of your amazing creative processes...you're such a great source of inspiration.
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So glad you shared your process. I was intrigued to copy those chapter headings after reading your book.
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I, too, have chosen "SIMPLIFY" and was tickled to see the page from your book! I don't have it yet, but now it is a must- have!!
Very inspired to create something and I have a canvas and paint sitting at home. THANKS!!
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