I have started a new endeavour where I hope to inspire you to take some time to be creative! I am hosting monthly shows on ConnecTV called “Lets Create! with Barbi Defazio”. ConnecTV is a local (Ottawa) grassroots live streaming platform. Their aim is “To connect people, places and things and have a higher quality of life!” That sounds great to me! I will be going Live every second Thursday of each month at 2:00pm est. on ConnecTV’s facebook page. You will see a post on their facebook page as well as mine where you can set a reminder a few days before each show. So make sure you are following me on Facebook here and give ConnecTV a follow too. I also have each episode listed on my event’s calendar on my website so you can subscribe there for reminders too.
The main topic I will be focusing on is Art Journaling. I find an art journal is a nice entry into exploring ones creativity and art supplies. They are not a large blank canvas that can be overwhelming to some, and no one has to see your pages so you don’t like it, don’t show it but I challenge you to keep it so you can see your growth along your creativity journey. Just like with a writing journal, your art journals can be for your eyes only but can be such a treasure to see how far you have come and grown. Oh yes, your art supplies needn’t be expensive or of professional quality to follow along with me or to explore on your own. I will focus on some ways that I have enjoyed creating and exploring in my art journals. Of which, many of the techniques and steps are easy to replicate. You will also see peeks into my own Art Journals. Of course, part of the fun of these shows is if you watch live, you can ask questions as I create and I can answer right away. Or leave a comment when you are watching a replay and I will answer there. Now and then I aim to feature an awesome local or Canadian business that I think you should know about as well.
My first episode features me in, first time doing this nervous energy. I did a bit of an introduction and then went off script in 2 seconds! Lol I played with watercolours, exploring what magic they create when we overdo the water part. It’s messy, swirling good fun and once dry creates beautiful backgrounds. If you dare, you can watch here.
In my second episode, I got right into it! Creating a page using a charcoal stick, washi tape, mod podge, gesso, acrylic paint, tissue paper scraps and bits that I saved from the recycle bin because reusing is awesome too. I am a collector of bits that catch my eye and of things I feel I can reuse. Which is really code for, I have bins of stuff! 😉 That stuff in those bins have made wonderful Art Journal pages as well as in my Salvage Flower series. Watch the episode here.
Once I am done, I allow the paint to cure/dry on the palette. Then I can
My Salvage Flower series is about reusing all that I can. Some of the magic is I can only create a Salvage Flower when I have acrylic skins available.
These are leftover paint peels and form the petals. I use acrylic paint for the most part in the studio which is basically plastic, so I try to be very mindful with its use. I purchase nearly exclusively Tri-Art paints because of their own reclaiming and reuse in their process and products. They are Canadian-made as well, right in Kingston about an hour from Ottawa. I use their cool non-stick pallet when I am painting. Once the paint cures, I can pull up all the leftover paint that would otherwise go to waste. It is so satisfying to peel the paint off the palette! And each is different; colours, accidental patterns and even doodle can make up a typical peel. This process means that no piece is the same as another.
I recently created a series of mini Salvage Flowers. They will be sold at Mint & Honey Tea and Gift Emporium located at Unit 120 – 150 Katimavik Road, Kanata On. I will update this blog post when they have been delivered. and are available for purchase.
Though I have mentioned and linked products. These are not affiliate links. I am just happily sharing the information for your ease if interested.
Written by Barbi
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A much procrastinated blog post… And Announcements!
I have been trying to collect my thoughts in a bigger way since the beginning of the year for my “Yay, It’s a New Year!” post. I am introducing Let’s Create! These workshops/lessons will be virtual, in-studio, out in the community and some will be collaborations.
A much procrastinated blog post… And Announcements!
I have been trying to collect my thoughts in a bigger way since the beginning of the year for my “Yay, It’s a New Year!” post. I am introducing Let’s Create! These workshops/lessons will be virtual, in-studio, out in the community and some will be collaborations.
A much procrastinated blog post… And Announcements!
I have been trying to collect my thoughts in a bigger way since the beginning of the year for my “Yay, It’s a New Year!” post. I am introducing Let’s Create! These workshops/lessons will be virtual, in-studio, out in the community and some will be collaborations.
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