creativityUNLEASHED by traci bautista

halloween memories

Every year we had a halloween tradition, which was to take a photo with my dad in the front doorway on our way out to trick or treat. Now he continues the tradition with my nieces. I found a few photos circa 1977 when I was visiting my mom and dad...halloween memories...so fun!

wishing you a Happy Halloween!

pre-order Printmaking Unleashed!

EXCITING news...just found out that my new book

Printmaking Unleashed: More than 50 techniques for Expressive Mark-Making

is available for pre-order on Amazon!

order your copy today...check it out here

life book 2014 giveaway winner

Happy Monday!! thanks to everyone who participated in my Life Book 2014 giveaway! I have chosen a winner by random drawing....

Congratulations Christy K!!

Please email me with your contact info.

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

I look forward to seeing you all for Life Book 2014!! Registration is now open.

REGISTER and details here

inside my art journal

a little peek inside my art journals to inspire your day! Lately, I've been using my art journal to experiment and play with different materials and techniques. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, I don't strive to "finish" a page but to explore and make marks. Most of the pages in this post are created in one of my fave blank journals, an 11''x14" Strathmore 300 series Mixed Media spiral bound. It's great because it has perforated pages that I can tear out and bind into handmade books or use the paper for printmaking. Also, I've been LOVING the new Golden Hight Flow acrylics!! I've been able to squeeze in short periods of time between all my book deadlines and other projects to work in my journal, so I thought I'd give you a peek.

art journal tips and inspiration...

• make handmade stamps or hot glue stencils {one of my most popular blog posts} to create unique marks in your journal
• look for interesting found tools in the hardware store like screens and plastic gutter covers to create patterns
• experiment printmaking with Plexiglas
• scribble words into paint with the back of a brush
• create a set of alphabet foam stamps
• take close up photos of your art journal pages while you work at different stages not just the finished page {important: don't use a flash and if possible use natural light} 
• experiment with color palettes you normally don't use.
• add black into your color mix
• have a family art journaling night...I LOVE painting with my nieces. kids make marks freely and experiment in ways different than adults. let them guide you in the process..give them the tools to PLAY.
• draw a face in your journal using watercolors and gesso.
• photocopy or scan and print your pages then use them for collage.
• pull apart a silk flower to use the petals as a stencil.
• create symmetrical patterns using cut paper stencils...fold the paper in half then cut out a shape.

enjoy the inspiration...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?

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

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

p.s. today is the final day to enter my giveaway to win a FREE spot in Life Book 2014! more details here...

p.s.s. for more art journaling techniques, video lessons & ideas take one of my art journaling e-courses or download a digital art journaling workbook. SAVE $10 on all my art journaling e-courses for a limited time! coupon code: artJOURNAL10off

life book 2014 giveaway

happy Sunday creative lovelies!! If you haven't heard about Lifebook 2014, it's a year-long mixed media e-course that starts on January 1, 2014. I am honored to be one of the 22 teachers leading you during the workshop!

The course aims to inspire and encourage you to connect to and honour yourself through a series of mixed media art sessions. Under our guidance you will create one or more journal pages per lesson which will, by the end of the year, be combined and bound into a journal (or Life Book). This book will represent your 2014 and function as a magical art recollection of the journey you've gone through.

In April 2014, I will be teaching  "In the moment..."

art journaling in the moment. explore creating backgrounds with color and patterns, while you work intuitively without a plan. we'll explore printmaking techniques using found objects and handmade tools. build colorful layers on the page, explore expressive mark-making and let your thoughts unfold using creative jumpstart cards. be open. be free.

join us for the creative journey! check out the fabulous team of instructors...

Life Book Blog Hop

Tamara Laporte, Tascha Parkinson, Lesley Riley, Alena Hennessy, Kat McBride,  Carla Sonheim, Jane Davenport, Danielle Daniel, Jennibellie, Kelly Hoernig, Micki Wilde, Kate Thompson, Flora Bowley, Anna Dabrowska, Steven Speight , Mika Diaz, Serena Bridgeman, Dyan Reaveley, Effy Wild, Carissa Paige, Marieke Blokland, Christy Tomlinson

*******Life Book 2014 GIVEAWAY*********

I have ONE seat to giveaway for this amazing creative year-long workshop!! Please leave a comment on this blog post and answer...

why do you want to participate in Life Book 2014?

ONLY ONE COMMENT per person please. Comments close Friday, October 11.

*******Life Book 2014 REGISTRATION is OPEN*********
class starts January 1, 2014...join us!!

For more details and to register visit here.

xoxo~Traci

art journaling with pam carriker stamps

Today, I'm excited to be part of my sweet friend and amazing mixed media artist, Pam Carriker's blog hop! Although we have very different styles in our artwork, I wanted to show you how I incorporated her beautiful new line of stamp images into my art journal. I had fun playing with Sketched Harlequin Grid, Sketched Chain Link Fence and a few other stamps from both of our Stampington rubber stamp lines..here's a peek inside my journal and a mini tutorial.








art journaling supplies used in this spread...

• pam carriker mixed media stamps {Sketched Harlequin Grid, Sketched Chain Link Fence, Beatrice}
• traci bautista graffiti glam stamps {beautiful life, reversed lily}
• stencil girl by mary beth shaw {web stencil}
• strathmore 500 series mixed media art journal
• speedball soft rubber brayer
• clearsnap ColorBox archival dye ink pads {glacier lake, pinkolicious}
• clearsnap Crafter's  ink pad {limon}
• tulip slick dimensional paint {lectric lime}
• social artworking paint neon pink
• martha steward satin paint {wild salmon}
• montana acrylic paint markers {shock pink, shock black, shock green light, outline silver}
• sharpie paint markers {white poster paint, aqua glitter paint}
• crayola extreme colors twistable crayons {heat wave}

working in my journal is ALL ABOUT PLAY! I work on numerous pages at once...making marks, stamping patterns and scribbling words. I don't worry about "finishing" a page, for me it's the process of experimentation that takes over. I push paint across the surface letting each mark unfold as I go. Doodles and patterns are drawn over the top with various pens and markers, this allows me to see how the tools work in different layers. If I don't like a mark I've made, I paint over it or leave it until later and draw over the top. have fun with "working out ideas" in your art journal.

ideas and tips for creating stamp layered pages...

• scribble with crayons onto the page then add neon paint with various brushes.
• draw flowers, paint circles, add dots
• use stamps unmounted..either brush on paint with a foam brush {I find using a foam brush creates a smooth layer of paint} or ink stamps by pressing the entire ink pad against the stamp.
• use a brayer to apply even pressure when transfering the image to the page.
• stamp one of the inked/painted stamps onto a page, don't worry about placement..anywhere on the page will work. then build around that stamp with more images and mark-making.
• after spraying through stencils, make sure to turn them over and brayer to take a print.
• clean stamps and brushes by using them on them on multiple pages, this way you don't waste any ink or paint.
• use archival dye ink if you want to work quickly because this dries faster than acrylic paint.
• LET the layers DRY! this is very important so that your colors don't become muddy, working on multiple pages at once will help with this.
• If the paint/ink is wet and you want to work on another page, place a piece of deli paper in between the page, so the paint won't smear on the facing page.
• once the first couple of layers is dry, add patterns on the page by doodling with your favorite markers and pens. I used Montana acrylic waterbased paint markers to draw all the floral patterns.
• add a little texture to the page by writing words with dimensional paint
• tip: choose a contrasting color and draw over the dry paint. I love using black and white pens for high contrast.
• some markers will bleed/blend if they are used over water based products. So if you are not sure about how two products will react, test them on another page in your journal.
• to clean stamps...if using ink pads I use baby wipes or a wet paper towel. If using paint, I throw the stamp in a tub of water and let them soak, sometimes use a toothbrush to remove paint.
• most of all have fun...PLAY and let the marks unfold as you go.

If you missed the start of this blog hop it’s not too late to join in! HERE is the original post on the Stampington & Co blog. Check out the other artist who are part of the blog hop...Seth Apter, Jen Cushman, Dina Wakley, Mary Beth Shaw, and Christen Olivarez.

happy art journaling!! xoxo~traci

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

{*some products in this tutorial were provided compliments of the manufacturer. I only share products that I truly believe in and have used in my artwork. Some of the product links above are affiliate links, meaning I am minimally compensated for the sale. Read my disclosure policy here.}