creativityUNLEASHED by traci bautista

mixed media valentines peek

a MESSY and fun day in the studio....I spent yesterday painting papers and fabric using my NEW graffiti GLAM stamps, handmade HEARTS hot glue stencils and ILoveTo Create Tulip paints...making prints and stamping patterns for handmade valentines day gifts.

here's a little sneak peek snippet video of my upcoming valentine mixed media tutorial. just when I thought there was not room for more social media...I took the plunge and started a Vine account. I was a bit hesitant because of the bad press it had the past couple of days, but decided to go for it. I had fun making my first vine video..I think it might be highly addicting...get a peek into snippets of my everyday life...find me on vine at Traci Bautista!

**************************

TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY  ILoveTo Create

artJOURNAL PLAY date workshop

Last weekend I taught my first studio workshop of 2013. I had a fabulous group of students join me for artJOURNAL PLAY date..an afternoon of painting and mixed media play.

Here are some snapshots from our day exploring and creating colorful pages and fabrics...



>>---------------------------------------->>

It's been wonderful to have people come visit my studio. Both my September and January art JOURNAL workshops were sold out. I'll be teaching another art JOURNAL PLAY date in March which focuses on mixed media faces and hosting an art journal open studio.

Just a reminder, I'm not teaching on the road this year..so take a trip out to California to come PLAY at my studio!! My next 3-day studio workshop is in the Spring...

color + journal LOVE weekend retreat

May 17-19, 2013

details + register here

>>---------------------------------------->>

or join me for my NEW e-course...

digital CANVAS...details here

NEW e-course: digital CANVAS

I'm excited to offer a brand NEW online workshop...

digital CANVAS

>-------------->>>

Digital art has always been a part of my mixed media creations, after all my college degree is in Graphic Design. I learned Photoshop in 1990 before there were one-click Fx actions {you had multiple steps to create a drop shadow}...lol. I've been creating digital art for many years using my computer and tablet. Since I got my iPad mini it's opened up a whole new world of drawing and painting...it makes creating art accessible anywhere and on-the-go.  I've been sharing peeks into my digital iPad art journal the past few months and it's inspired me to create a class that explores mixed media beyond the traditional canvas.

Explore the world of digital art journaling, drawing and painting! This online class will explore a variety of digital app mashups and incorporate digital drawing, painting, collage, stencils, stamps, photo layers and creative letterforms all using the iPad! I'll also share ways to use the digital canvas as tool for creating visual color storyboards and how to incorporate the digital art into your handmade creations.

Don't worry if you don't have an iPad, there is still a lot you can learn about mixed media layers by watching video lessons and exploring art journal prompts. Also, you'll receive two of my NEW treiCdesigns digitals art journaling kits, exclusively available ONLY as part of this class!

>>--------------------------------->>>>

here's a video preview...watch one of my digital art journal paintings unfold...

>>--------------------------------->>>>

for class details and to register visit here

CHA winter recap

It's been a busy week since returning from CHA Winter 2013, my sister came to visit and I had an art journaling workshop at my studio this past weekend. This was my tenth year going to CHA and it's always fun catching up with my lovely friends at CHA and seeing new products. I had a weekend full of meetings..which I'm super excited about! NEW product development and writing opportunities that I will reveal as soon as I can. CHA is always great for networking and making NEW connections. So many NEW ideas came from my meetings and presentations!

I was so busy in meetings, I didn't take many photos but here are a few snapshots from CHA...

my demo table at Sakura of America..experimentation with Gelly Roll Glaze, Koi Travel Sketch Watercolor set and waterbrush and my NEW Graffiti Glam stamp sets on Strathmore Mixed Media paper & cards!

I hosted the Filling Stations at ILoveTo Create booth where we made a bunch of fun projects.

my girlie glam doodles & stencil painting demo at ILoveTo Create...we converted painted t-shirts into totes!

my sister came in from Hawaii and my cousin met us at one of my Venice Beach FAVES..Gjelina..so yummy!!

and more fun pics with some of my lovely artist friends {I borrowed some of these from the photos I was tagged in on Facebook} good thing other people took photos..lol :)

hanging out and chatting with my sweet friend Elena from Charity Wings at Live from CHA...talking about my new stamps and giving away a fun Doodles Unleashed package of goodies!!

always fun to catch up with Sonya Nimri...you can catch her on the Marie Osmond show and see our other Venice adventures here.

Sakura hosted a dinner with all the designers who demoed at their booth with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Joann Fink and Lisa Engelbrecht.

hanging out with my 49er football game watching partner..Steve Piacenza!! love this guy...every year we meet up at the Hilton bar after the show..a CHA tradition. Cathie and Steve have a fun new line with Plaid.

more creative meeting of the minds with Pam Carriker, Mary Beth Shaw and Christine Adolph!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now back to business...I'm finally getting to catch up on email, mailing out stamp set orders and getting ready to launch my new treiC designs DIGITALS shoppe next week! lots of work to do...have a great day! xoxo~treiC

keep moving forward

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

>>>>>>>>>

art journal prompt: in honor of Martin Luther king day create a journal page..paint a background and write your favorite MLK quote.

happy MLK day...

artJOURNALING fridays: creativity

{creativity}...where will it take you?

creativity flows in and out of our lives on a daily basis. sometimes we choose to embrace it with open arms. we dive right in, create with abandon and PLAY without worrying about its outcome.

ENJOY the journey.

creativity...how did it make it's way into your life this week?

what did you do to enhance your creative life this week?

how do you embrace creativity?

find a quote about creativity and write/journal about it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

cre·a·tiv·i·ty

  /ˌkrēāˈtivitē/

The use of the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

{art technique} the artwork above is from one of my clean up pages. I clean my brushes and stamps onto another page in my journal. often times these random marks create a beautiful springboard for my journaling. I used this stamp set from my new Graffiti Glam collection, stamped through a dyed paper towel, added a wash from my paintbrush then scribbled with Prismacolor pencils.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>SHARE YOUR WORK>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'd love to see what you are up to in your own art journals, please share links to your photos or blog posts in the comments. what did you journal about this week? where did CREATIVITY take YOU?

*be inspired by the lovely pool of photos & share your artwork in the artJOURNALING daily flickr group

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

artJOURNALING fridays: RIGHT NOW

Lots goin on over here...I've been packing and getting ready to leave for CHA Anaheim. So much to do!! It's Friday and here's a fun digital journal page using one of my NEW digital journaling kits. I've been LOVING my new iPad mini and Noteshelf app, it's FAB for adding layers of collage, my decorative digitapes and photos onto the page. Explore the theme RIGHT now in your journal this week.

art journaling prompt: RIGHT NOW

{i am loving...}

listening to...

on my desk...

i want to travel to----->

taking photos of...

my FAVE color is...

i am eating...

I'm challenging myself to do this fun prompt at least once a week to remind me of what's been going on in my daily life. Use this idea to record your day or week, add your own prompts and have fun! Collage photos of your week, stamp the date or add your favorite washi tape.

enjoy the RIGHT NOW.  happy art journaling...xoxo~Traci

>>>>>>>>>>>>>SHARE YOUR WORK>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'd love to see what you are up to in your own art journals, please share links to your photos or blog posts in the comments. what did you journal about this week? what's happening in your life RIGHT NOW?

*be inspired by the lovely pool of photos & share your artwork in the artJOURNALING daily flickr group

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

p.s. I've designed journaling cards and a digital art journal kit using this theme, which will be available in my new shoppe soon. I've been working long hours everyday to get the new shoppe ready for a VIP preview launch at CHA...it's almost ready...I'm soooo excited! I'll share more on that in an upcoming post. have a great weekend!!

DIY snowflake stencils

As you know I always love to make my own mark-making tools to use for art journaling and painting. Today, I'm sharing a simple and fun tutorial to create your very own DIY snowflake stencils and making prints on fabric. A great project for winter journaling or crafting. You can make them a variety of sizes to use in your own artwork or even as home decor!

creative toolbox {supplies you'll need}

12" x 18" construction paper

scissors & pen

Tulip Fashion Sprays

Fabric {i'm using Drill Cloth for this project}

Soft Rubber Brayer

The paper snowflake is nothing new, I used to make paper snowflakes when I was younger but needed a refresher and found this post to figure out how to fold the paper, then drew my own designs onto the papers. Once I cut them out, I used the snowflakes as stencils and to decorate my holiday gift wrap.

BASIC DIRECTIONS

1. begin with a square shape paper then fold in half to create a triangle, then fold again in half to create another triangle. 
2. take small triangle then fold it into thirds, you'll have small flaps on the top
3. trim off the edges
4. draw random shapes onto one side of the folded paper
5. cut out the design with scissors
6. then unfold to reveal your snowflake shape.

I really LOVE the surprise once you open the snowflake because you really have no idea what organic shape will appear from your drawing. Experiment with different sized papers. I decided to use construction paper because I was visiting my nieces and they had a big pile of it.

 The thinner the paper the easier to fold, but it's not necessarily sturdy to keep reusing as a stencil since the paper gets saturated once it covered with paint. It will last for a few stencil prints and you are left with beautiful paper snowflakes that can be used for many other projects...collage into journals, make wrapping paper, take photographs...so many possibilities with such a simple technique.

Once the stencils are cut, place them onto a piece of drill cloth, muslin or canvas. Then spray Tulip Fashion Spray Paint over the stencils. The stencils act as a mask, experiment spraying 2-3 colors. Keep in mind the colors will blend. To avoid brown "muddy" colors, don't use the three primary colors together or let the layers of paint dry before you add another color.

I'm really LOVING the paint in small bottle size, they are great for travel! Plus when they are half empty you can mix the colors to create your own paint colors. So don't throw away the spray bottles recycle them!

Once I spray through the paper stencil, I turn it over to take a print, so I don't waste any paint. Continue to spray different colors onto the fabric surface and make prints. until you are satisfied with the outcome. Use the fabric to create a journal cover or art quilting. Use this technique for your scrapbook pages to create your own snowflake backgrounds. Have fun experimenting!

**************************

TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY  ILoveTo Create

 

CHA winter 2013 schedule

{image above was created with my NEW stamps!!}

It's January and the annual CHA Winter Show {Craft & Hobby convention} kicks off my event schedule 2013! I LOVE attending this show not only to demo with my favorite manufacturers but to catch up with my lovely artist and crafter friends from around the world! If you are attending this year, come by and say hi. I'll be at the following booths...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ILoveTo Create

I'm hosting the "Filling Station" come by for fun make n-takes!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sakura of America

I'll be demoing my NEW Graffiti GLAM stamp collection with my FAVE Sakura products!

Monday, January 14, 2013

11am - 12pm

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LIVE from CHA with Charity Wings

TBD {I'll post as soon as I find out the date/time}

Join me for a LIVE stream interview with Charity Wings! I'll be giving away a copy of my latest book Doodles Unleashed, one Doodles Unleashed Video Kit Club membership and one of my new Graffiti Glam stamps with a small box of my fave mixed media supplies.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Check out my previous CHA adventures! hope to see you there! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for updates from the CHA show floor.

xoxo~Traci

artJOURNALING fridays

{01.03.13} let go...MOVE forward

this year I have decided to explore NEW ideas...new techniques...new ways of extending my artwork. I've been working on a lot doodling, drawing, collage and creating mixed media digital art journaling pages on my iPad mini. It's a great way to explore new directions and also allows me to journal and brainstorm visually when I don't have access to my paints and supplies. This page was created with Paper53 & Bamboo Stylus. I've been pushing myself to explore creating layers like I would in my actual art journal...lots of fun..experimentation! I've also been working with a few other apps to create mixed media layers using collage and my photos. I'll share peeks of those soon!

a few creative prompts/thoughts...use these to jumpstart your art journal pages.

what do you want to let go of?

MOVE forward------> arrows, up, NEW, go

what symbols or ideas represent movement?

what are you hoping 2013 brings into your life?

find a quote using MOVE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

introducing artJOURNALING fridays...

In 2010, I launched a blog series called artJOURNALING daily, with the hopes of encouraging myself to spend more time inside the pages of my art journals everyday and inspire others with prompts. But work, daily life and travel got in the way of continuing the series daily...plus I just plain overextended myself with online workshops, writing my book, creating products, designing new art journals, etc.

My goal this year is to create a few art journal pages each week. I was going to say daily, but I know that won't be the case. So I'll be sharing some of the pages in my digital journals, sketchbooks, mixed media supplies and creative prompts with you each week ...so join me for Art Journaling FRIDAYS!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>SHARE YOUR WORK>>>>>>>>>>>>

I'd love to see what you are up to in your own art journals, please share links to your photos or blog posts in the comments? what did you journal about this week? what's your focus for 2013?

*be inspired by the lovely pool of photos in the artJOURNALING daily flickr group

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

TEACHING/workshop update: I've decided to take a break from teaching most of this year. I will have a few special workshops at my studio, a couple events to launch my new art stamps and I'm only planning 2 NEW online workshops {as of now} this year. I really want to focus on NEW things and NEW directions with the launch of my digital boutique.  I'm working on an e-course about digital art journaling which I'm planning to launch in March. I'll announce details next week!! stay tuned...looking forward to a creative 2013 with OPEN arms, mind & heart.

happy art journaling...xoxo~treiC