creativityUNLEASHED by traci bautista

happy holidays!

wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays! I'm am so grateful for your continued support throughout the years. I feel very blessed to being doing what I love everyday and sharing my passion for art with you.

thank you for being part of my creative journey!

love, light and many blessings..xoxo~Traci

santa's reindeer coupon code giveaway

SANTA's REINDEER coupon giveaway!!

A HOLIDAY special just for you...my annual HOLIDAY coupon giveaway is here!! 

Santa's reindeer coupon codes

SAVE $10 - $60 on e-courses and printables.  

There are only a limited number and once they are used up they expire.

Head on over to my treiCdesigns digitals boutique

I've created special coupon codes for you for additional savings on all my e-courses and printables. The coupon codes are hidden within the product descriptions in my shoppe.

HINT: the codes include SANTA's reindeer names :) make sure to click on the tabs to watch the video previews.

Here's my NEW workshops you might want to check out...

my NEW mixed media lab session starts in February!

art.journal.PLAY mixed media lab + DREAM BIG creative business incubator VIP charter beta program {module two}

only one coupon code per person. so if you find more than one, please only use one. cannot be combined with any other coupons. some coupons are specific to the products, others give you a discount on any e-course or printable.

save EXTRA on your entire order!! Happy holidays..xo ~Traci

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treicdesignsdigitals.com

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To take advantage of extra specials, head on over to my digital shoppe and place the e-courses or printables in your cart. You will be prompted to checkout using your credit card or Paypal, enter your info {you won't be charged yet}, then you will be taken back to the shopping cart where you can enter the coupon code and then complete the checkout process. Discounts will be taken off entire order. This is on top of the already discounted HOLIDAY prices too. only one coupon per order. coupon codes expire 12/24/15 at 11:59pm or when they are all used. Please allow 48 hours from next business day to receive the e-course classroom invite.

documented life project: be KIND tutorial + video

I'm thrilled to be part of the Documented Life Project Featured Artists for 2015. When Roben-Marie asked me to take part in the challenge, I was excited to see that my prompt was stencils, stamps and masks and to incorporate the quote...Three things in human life are important.  The first is to be kind.  The second is to be kind.  And the third is to be kind...” -Henry James

If you've followed my work, you know that I'm a big fan of ALL THREE of these mixed media tools plus I love to hand letter quotes.

In my book Printmaking Unleashed and in my online workshops I share numerous techniques on how to create your very own handmade stencils, stamps and masks. So for this project I combined the three tools with a couple of my StencilGirl deconstructed floral stencils to paint the journal pages. I also did a little printmaking with plexiglas to create collage sheets, hand lettering with a brush marker then to create my final page I did a little digital mash-up.

{creative toolbox} 

• handmade tools {paper masks, hot glue stencils and craft foam stamps}
• found tools for stamping + mark-making {25 ideas}
• Golden Fluid acrylic, Golden OPEN acrylics, Golden High Flow acrylics
• Spray ink – Dylusions, Distress Sprays
• Speedball soft rubber brayer
• 11" X 14" plexiglas sheet
• found tools - needlepoint canvas, drawing lining
• Collage Pauge Matte or gel medium
• 1" foam brush
• plastic paint scraper {old hotel room key}
• Fiskars mixed media scissors
• StencilGirl Deconstructed Della Robbia Cluster Mask and Stencil by traci bautista
• StencilGirl Deconstructed Della Robbia Mask and Stencil
• Strathmore Printmaking Paper 300 series
• Dylusions journal
• baby wipes
• iPad + Photoshop Mix app + stylus {optional}

Here are the results of my afternoon PLAYING in the studio...

When I work in my journal, I just dive right in and PLAY, usually it's all about color and mark-making for me. I don't use prompts very often, I prefer to let whatever artwork flow intuitively while I'm painting. Since this project had a specific challenge, I took a different approach to creating these pages.

Prior to starting the project, I decided to go back to my graphic design concepting roots and spend a little time drawing out thumbnail sketches in my journal. It's a technique I learned in college to brainstorm ideas before diving into the project. It's a great way to get all those ideas on paper and out of your head. 

One of the biggest struggles I hear my students mention over and over is, "I don't know where to start" or "I'm scared of the blank canvas." To get you inspired to start, I have a few tips and ideas to help you brainstorm your next project...

• draw small rectangles or boxes that represent the page, draw ideas of page layouts
• work quickly...these ideas are very rough sketches 
• set your timer for 15, 20 or 30 minutes and sketch uninterrupted
• put everything that pops into your mind down on paper
• I draw in pen and rarely use pencil
• create an adjective bank - brainstorm a list of  words that describe your project
• sketch/doodle icons or images that relate to your project
• scribble notes...write whatever comes to mind
• for larger projects, create a pinterest board or gather inspiration from a magazine and keep a folder of images
• create an inspiration board
• experiment with lettering and writing with different fonts
• this is not an exercise in perfection, scribble...cross things out...make marks
• have fun with the process... 

 

I spent about 20 minutes doodling and sketching...letting the ideas flow. It's fun to see all the notes even if I don't use all of the ideas. It's my visual library and I usually go back through the pages at a later date. Many times those scribbles inspire another project. 

I gathered a selection of my handmade tools and stencils, not knowing if I'd use them all, but kept them by my side as I worked, just in case. You can find instructions on how to make many of these tools in all of my books, online workshops and throughout my blog.

create floral shaped hand cut stencils and masks from paper

I used Strathmore Printmaking paper 300 series for the masks, but you can experiment with any recycled paper. fold the paper in half, then in half again and cut random shapes starting from the folds. I cut freeform shapes not knowing what the result is until I open it. It's always fun to see what is created without a pattern. find details in my DIY paper stencils tutorial.

TIP: once they are covered with paint, they make great collage pieces. 

 create journal background with paper masks, stencils and stamps

1. place large floral paper mask onto the surface of the journal
2. roll over the top with a painted brayer to create a print
3. place additional stencils and stamps over the page and spray them with ink sprays
4. remove wet stencil and turn it over onto the other page to take a print
5. prints revealed
6. roll over the page with Titanium White Golden High Flow using a brayer, this will help set the paint and prevent it from bleeding.

add painted FLORAL layers + collage 

1. spray handmade craft foam stamp with spray ink and stamp on the edges of the page
2. repeat the stamped pattern across both pages. let dry.
3. collage painted floral masks with Collage Pauge Matte, brush on a layer of glue onto each layer then adhere the shape.
4. use a plastic hotel room key card to smooth out the surface {TIP: keep a baby wipe handy to clean your hands since the adhesive is very sticky}
5. the final pattern revealed.

art journal PAINTING with stamps, stencils & masks VIDEO... 

enjoy a short hyper-lapse video of the journal painting project. The full version, step-by-step HD video is part of my art.journal.PLAY mixed media lab workshops.

{if you are viewing this in an RSS feed, you will have to come to the blog to watch the video} 

Take photos of journal pages with NO flash...

TIPs for taking photos of your journal pages...

• place your journal in good light {natural light is best}
• open iPhone/iPad camera app and turn off flash
• hold the camera level right above the artwork
• frame the page to the edges in the viewfinder, make sure there are NO shadows
• hold camera study and take a photo
• TIP: if you have overhead lighting and it's causing a shadow, stand our journal up and take a picture of it at an angle where the shadow disappears    

FIVE photos blended to ONE journal page

I created a few pages of writing using the quote incorporating doodles, flowers and faces. I also had a couple of pages in my journal that I thought would make great images to blend digitally to create my final piece.

1. quote and doodles written with Sakura Pigma Sensei black permanent markers and pens.
2. a face in my journal...Girlie glam face drawn with copic markers and prismacolor pencils
3. photo of a painted floral mask
4. painted journal background from tutorial above
5. another page of the written quote, this one I used a Pentel brush permanent black pen

digital mash-ups with the iPad and Photoshop Mix app

1. Open app and import each of photo into a separate layer
2. experiment with various blending options
3. cut out the excess photo edges to get rid of the hard edges and blend the layers together smoothly
4. save the image and export it to your camera roll or Adobe library. It can then be imported into Photoshop for additional editing.
5. Print a copy of the final image and collage it into your journal or planner.
6. Learn more about creating digital art journaling using iPad apps in my digitalCNAVAS ecourse.

 be KIND by traci bautista

Take some time to sketch, PLAY and paint in your journal this week...enjoy the process!  be inspired by my process and techniques, then do your best to make it your own....choose your own colors, make stamps and stencils inspired by your doodles,  grab your favorite pens. The more you experiment and try not to copy artists exactly, the more you will develop your own style and start coming into your own as an artist.

My goal with my tutorials is to inspire you to be PLAYFUL and think outside of the box, to use your imagination and "look with new eyes" to all the possibilities...have fun! 

Thanks for stopping by..play. dream. be FREE!

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SMALL business Saturday...shop small!!

It's BLACK FRIDAY weekend in my shoppe...the biggest sale of the year! head on over for daily specials on mixed media + creative business e-courses, DIY planner printables and my daily free download. here's a special coupon code for Documented life fam..

coupon code:DLPbekind

SAVE an additional $25 on orders equal to or over $100.

there are 10 coupon codes available, shop early before they're gone. follow all my other social media for additional coupons. one coupon per order/one coupon per person. expires 11/28/15 at 11:59pm pacific USA time

happy holidays..xo ~Traci

 

{visual inspiration} 14 handmade printmaking tools

Today's post is all about visual inspiration..sometimes it just takes a picture to inspire you into action.

Recently I shared a list of 25 ideas for found printmaking tools, so I thought I'd expand upon that and share more ideas in photos. Here are 14 ideas for handmade printmaking tools that I have created including inscribed handmade stamps, needlepoint stencils, cardboard stamps & printing plates, crochet chains, handmade paintbrushes, hot glue stencils & stamps, hardware store finds, masking tape, hand cut paper masks, vintage doilies and clay printing plates. All of these techniques can be found in my book Printmaking Unleashed and Printmaking Unleashed LIVE e-course series.

Use these images as a spark to create your very own handmade tools...as always I encourage you to "see with new eyes" and find everyday objects that you can incorporate into your artwork. 

Learn how to create these handmade tools, PLUS a how to use them to create beautiful art journal pages and paintings.

Join the FALL Printmaking Unleashed LIVE session! I’m opening up my Printmaking Unleashed LIVE e-course for a fall session and I will be hosting one live stream event. Spend the Fall taking a deep dive into unconventional printmaking that doesn’t require a press!

Learn over 65 techniques in numerous technique and project HD videos from techniques in my book Printmaking Unleashed. The three e-courses provides you with inspiring exercises that will lead to hours of colorful PLAYful painting. It will infuse bursts of creativity into your art making sessions.

• videos are broken down into short segments that provide quick tips and ideas to incorporate handmade tools and innovative ways to apply color onto your canvas.
• my online workshops provide a mix of content including HD step-by-step videos, creative prompts, tips/ideas, art journaling + collage PDF workbooks, idea remix challenges, color palette ideas, creative business tips, and photo tutorials.
• explore ways to use everyday items you have around your house like plastic freezer bags, hot glue, foam and cardboard to create layered mixed media prints. 
• avoid feeling isolated in your studio, come PLAY in a live stream google hangout, where you’ll meet artists from around the globe.
• FALL session live stream event #1 Thursday, November 5, 11:00am-12:00pm {pacific USA time} during the live Q & A google hangout you can ask questions about supplies, the workshop, techniques.
• if you can't make the live event, a replay available for self-guided access.

If you are already a member of the Printmaking Unleashed LIVE BUNDLE e-course class, you will have access to the NEW live stream event. It’s a great time for a mixed media refresher!

 

The e-course bundle is filled with 65+ lessons and live stream event replays that you can work through at your own pace.

 

play.dream.be FREE. happy printmaking! xo~Traci

 

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printmaking unleashed LIVE e-course

details + preview video + register

#artjournalPLAYLIVE: creative conversation with Kathy Cano-Murillo

Hey creative lovelies! Have you heard of blab.im? It's an awesome new app and website where you can connect with with 2-4 people through live stream conversations...think Periscope combined with Google+ hangouts.

I'm super excited about this new platform, it's going to be another way to great way to share art and creative business inspiration with you.

Join me for my first #artjournalPLAY LIVE event on #blab with my good friend, artist, blogger and creativeprenuer Kathy Cano-Murillo.

#artjournalPLAY LIVE: creative conversation with @CraftChica

5 ideas to energize your creative business

Friday, September 4, 2015  ~ 11:00am-11:45am pacific {USA time}

The live stream events lasted about an hour and was jam-packed with ideas on a variety of topics, inspiration, peeks at artwork and creative conversations with one or two of my artist friends. You can watch the replay online using the link below or in the Blab app for iPhone. 

come BLAB with us...

Head on over to subscribe to the blab live stream

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always be inspired...PLAY. dream. be FREE! xo~Traci

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art.journal.PLAY

mixed media lab + creative business incubator

creative IDEAS and online courses that encourage you to infuse your own style, create unique artwork and build a successful business on your terms.

 

art.journal.PLAY is OPEN..join me!

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