DIY - Painting on Porcelain

I've experimented with decorating white porcelain plates with sharpies before.

But my experiments were always in black and white.  I decided to do another experiment with color.

Here's a super short time-lapse video of how it all started ...

Steps:  Make sure to wash your plates first, to make sure there is no residue.   I find it's easier to cut up my stencils (GASP!) to make it easier to lay the motifs on the plates.   (Note that the 4 x 4" stencils from Stencil Club are perfect - no cutting needed!  The orange/yellow middle swirl flower was designed by Maria McGuire for March 2017.    All of the other elements are from my designs for November 2016.  (If you don't know about Stencil Girl's Stencil Club - check it out here.))

I sketched in the motifs (plus some doodles), using regular Sharpie markers.  (The recommendation you'll find on the internet is to use oil paint markers.  But I used regular Sharpies and the result was good.  It was good to have both the fine and extra fine tips depending on the size of the opening of the stencil.)

Once I had all the designs drawn in, I baked them in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  (you can find varying instructions on Pinterest.  Some say 150 degrees, others 450.  I went in the middle, which turned out to be fine.)  I've washed these with soap and water and a scrubby sponge - and they're holding up just fine.  (I haven't put them in the dishwasher.)

Quick and easy, one-of-a-kind gifts for summer entertaining!

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How to Use Stencils for Finishing Touches

Happy New Year!  I wanted to show you how I often use stencils for finishing touches in my art journal.  These pics are from a new online class I'm working on, called "Facing Faces."  I hope to unveil it soon!

I glued a sketch into my art journal, and began painting it.  I also adhered a small embellishment I made using embossing paste and my Medallions stencil, from this tutorial (which has a video). 

 Here are more progress pics.

Although her face felt done, somehow, the page just didn't feel complete.  I brought out the Medallions Stencil again, and laid it over the hair.

I also painted up the embellishment, and went over the stenciled area with gold paint.

She still didn't feel "done."  I felt like she needed words.  Seth Apter's stencils for November Stencil Club were perfect!    Now she felt finished.

What do you think?  Do you like her better with or without the stenciled overlay?  With or without the words?  Are there certain elements you feel unfinished without?  I'd love to know.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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Why Art is Good for the Brain and Soul

Some of us make art because we HAVE to.  But even if you're not compelled by some energy buried deep inside of you, making art, playing with color and shapes, is good for you.  It stimulates parts of your spirit and brain that may not have been touched in a long time.

Recently, I collected some leaves while walking my dog.  The colors and shapes touched me deeply.  While admiring nature's canvas, I "received" a lesson from these leaves on the ground... they knew when to fall.  They didn't hang on.  They let go.  Just when they were at their most beautiful, they released.

They had profound wisdom to share with me.

When I came home, I thought about painting with the leaves.  Instead, I started playing on my GelliArts Gel Printing Plate, using the leaves as masks.  I made many prints.  And then I pulled out some favorite Stencil Girl leaf stencils and started over stenciling on my prints.  On one of them, I saw a head and hand behind Terri Stegmiller's Curvy Stems.  I traced it out with white chalk - can you see it? (Looks a little bit like E.T.!)  I had to "bring her out."

here's how she progressed.

And here she is, finished.  Around her head are marks from a border stencil by Pam Carriker  and around her neck are marks from Stencil Club Stencils.   She holds her hand up to feel the wind and catch the wisdom of the leaves. She will remind me when it is the right time to let go.

So make some art - collect pretty things from nature and use them as inspiration to make pretty marks and patterns.  See what ideas they spark in your brain, and what emotions they spark in your soul.  Here's a link to 20 Different Crafts with Fall Leaves.

 

LIMITED TIME OFFER ALERT:  
Have you checked out my new online classes?  There are only 6 more days to purchase them for $9.99!  Buy them now and do them whenever you'd like - they are downloadable and yours forever! 

Here's what people are saying about them:

"Thanks for jump starting my creative juices, Jessica. The flowers are growing and blooming..on wood panel, canvas, and in my art mournal. Thanks, Jessica Sporn...love your Floral Canvas online lesson."  Robin Bass

"I just loved your Village Shadowbox class! It really helped me loosen up, and just have fun! Your instructions are clear and helpful, while still allowing us to use our own style. Loved it!"  Michelle Rydell

"Thank you! I just watched all the videos for Village Shadowbox and absolutely loved it! I learned so many tips and techniques!! Great videos!!! " Laura Marshall

"Just finished my page from Jessica Sporn's online class called Floral Canvas. Great class with lots of insight on painting, layering, and mark making!"  Marjie Kemper
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Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Creating a Village with the September Stencil Club Stencils

I'm on the Stencil Girl Talk blog with step out photos of how this canvas came to be.  I used the September Stencil Club stencils, which reminded me of building blocks, to create this village.  I hope you'll hop over for a visit.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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Art Journaling with the August Stencil Club Stencils AND Quirky Dutch Summer

It's a day of TWO guest posts!

I'm on the Stencil Girl blog today with step by step photos showing how I used the August Stencil Club stencils in my art journal.  I hope you'll stop by!

AND, I am thrilled to be a guest artist today on Marit Barentsen's blog, where she is hosting a series called "Quirky Dutch Summer."    There has been a line up of amazing artists, sharing step out tutorials in their own styles.  Today, I'm sharing step out photos and a video showing how I used my Stencil Girl stencils and Rubbermoon stamps to create this piece, which is part of the Psalm Project on which I've been working.  I hope you'll hop over and take a look.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Art Journaling with the July Stencil Club Stencils

I'm on the Stencil Girl blog today with step by step photos showing how I used the exclusive July Stencil Club Stencils in my art journal.  I hope you'll stop by!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

June Stencil Club at Stencil Girl Products

Today, I am over at Stencil Girl Talk with step out photos showing how this canvas came to be, using the June stencils from Stencil Club, designed by Cecilia Swatton.  

I hope you'll hop over and take a look!  I'm linking this piece to Art Journal Journey, where the theme this month is Masculine/Feminine.  

Also, today is the first day of a huge art sale I'm having on Facebook.   Click here to be taken to the group page.  Many paintings, stitched items, and altered art available for graduation presents and more!
Faceback.

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Angels and the Eyes of Wisdom

Remember the art journal spread I shared last week?  It started like this:

On the left hand side of the spread, I started outlining some of the flowers from the April Stencil Club 9 x 12, and ... wouldn't you know it, an angel grew out of them.

 I began filling in the flowers with a mixture of paint and glazing medium...

And then worked on my angel...

I continued to work on her, adding some doodling to her halo.  The page sat like this for several days.  And then, one of my yoga teachers said something so beautiful in class:  "Through the eyes of wisdom, difficulties can become good fortune."  I added those words to the page, to remember.

Even though I designed the April Stencil Club Stencils with a "Feelin' Groovy" theme, I think they work nicely in more muted colors as well.  Do you agree?

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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Textured Mixed Media Mini Canvases

Today I'm on the StencilGirl Talk Blog sharing a video showing how I created these mini canvases with Carolyn Dube's February StencilClub designs!

Here's a sneak peek:

Be sure to go to StencilGirl Talk to see the video and more detail pictures!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!