This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Friday 22 July 2016

Our very talented Friday Guest Designer is En Vogue down at the ranch!!

Oh my gosh you have the most amazing treat in-store today here at A Vintage Journey and this lovely lady needs no more introduction as she has done that for me, but I am sure you are going to be WOWed with what you see and read .....

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HOWDY, from Joi at the Ranch, to my creative family.... 
you ARE - you know - like family to me!

For someone that just two years ago never dared to dream...
here I am watching another dream come true. 


Never would I have believed I would be a guest designer on A Vintage Journey. Thank you all soooooo much. 

I love hats! I wear one most every day - seriously I do :) 

So when I told a friend about this challenge she said - do a vintage hat project. Great idea! In my search for inspiration, I saw an umbrella girl on a 1950's Vogue Magazine and decided to recreate her. Nope - no hat but the umbrella seemed perfect to cover her head from the 100 degree summer sun here in Texas!

And in keeping with the "hat" theme - here I am in one of mine a few year ago (gray hair has arrived now)!!!

As most of you know, I live on a ranch/retreat in Texas. I have "crafted" all my life but I didn't start painting until a few years ago. Now mixed media painting is just what I do and who I am.

I do commissions, gallery work and donate to a lot of fund raisers.

Stop by and see me on my blog: Joi at the Ranch.

And I love sharing with you - my sweet friends. So here we go...

I began with a sketch on an 8 x 10 canvas board. My monochromatic color was hues of orange (my fav color!).


Ranger Adirondack Inks began the process.



Blending and spreading for a fun beginning. I used the end of my brush to scrap out the white lines through the ink.


Then I added some speckles to the background with a Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Stencil and Ranger Burnished Brass Distress Stain. Of course, in the end - it didn't stay this way. Just getting started! In the end - the speckles were much lighter.


The background of my dress was Ranger Antique Linen Distress Paint. Heheheh - maybe it was really Linen fabric when it was designed in the 50's!!!


The skin tone was done with Ranger Distress Inks. I just kept adding and playing until it looked right. 


The stripes of the dress began with Ranger Mustard Seed Distress Paint and a tiny brush. But there were actually layers of colors added before it was finished!


I worked on the face a bit with my liner brush and that's about the time hubby came by and said... what's up with those pouty lips??? What???!!! Ugh! I like her new lips much better, in the end!

And that's when everything changed - I didn't like the lips, the umbrella, the bow, her collar, the back of her dress - nothing was right. Guess what? Out came the gesso!!!! 

And just so you know... that's par for the course for me. I always come to a place where I don't like what I am doing. But wise mentors have taught me - don't give up. Once you get past the ugly stage, things begin to look up. It's soooo true. 


First - the umbrella which began by adding Ranger Distress Paints and Stain. Ahh - better. Not there yet - but better.


Next, the bow. Some Ranger Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain on my brush - it doesn't take much! To be honest, I was afraid to try a big bow in the beginning. However I realized that my little tiny excuse of a bow was not at all like the design intended for the dress so... I got brave and tackled it. It's far from perfect but I'm glad it's bigger and more like the original. 

I also used Ranger Distress Markers to highlight the bow.


So here is how it looked after the gesso came out and the changes were made! Not done yet though!!! 


Time for some stamping - don't you think?! 

I am not an expert stamper by any means so I am thankful to have a "Misti" Stamp Tool to help me along. I used Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Worn Text for my words. Preparing to stamp...


Closing Misti to stamp on tissue paper with Ranger Distress Ink


Out came the DecoArt Media Matte Medium to put the words in place. Here you see one done and one not done.


If you know me - you know I adore glitz and shimmer. When the Ranger Stickles came out - I began to feel satisfied that my Chic Gal was going to be ok in the end! Stickles on the umbrella.


Ranger Stickles on the dress and bow. YUMMY!!!


However, it still just didn't feel glamorous enough so I shuffled through my lace and ribbon and added a border.


And here she is... visiting YOU on you journey. 





And Wow did I use a lot of products, most of which can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. 

Don't forget that if you enter this July Monochromatic Challenge - you could win a $25 gift to purchase great items from The Funkie Junkie!

Again, thanks bunches to A Vintage Journey for the opportunity to be a guest designer. And thanks bunches to all of you for spending time with me and for your sweet comments! Big Hugs. joi


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See what I mean? Isn't this most wonderful work of art and I'm sure you learned something along the way through, I certainly did.

Thank you Joi for sharing your most amazing talent and creative processes here at A Vintage Journey, it has been wonderful seeing your thought processes through this beautiful post and I am totally inspired to just paint. I love how you used all the products together, you certainly mixed the media and oh boy didn't they mix well. I shall certainly hope to find some time soon and go back over your post again with paints in front of me.

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As Joi says the monochromatic challenge is still on and as it is a five week month you still have a bit of time to join in. I just popped over to have a look and we have some fabulous entries, so why don't you join in and share your monochromatic designs with us.

See you Monday with a new Destination Inspiration post.

have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda, Joi and the Creative Guides Team xxxx

19 comments:

  1. What a stunner!!! I mean the lady and the artwork! Congrats on your guest design spot Joi, you have surely delivered a fantastic piece of art and it was a treat to read thru all your process. I can relate to several steps, in particular, gessoing over and smiling when Stickles delivers that 'je ne sais quoi'. All the shadings, and skintones are fabulous, and those stripes really are superb. Well done You! Nicola x

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  2. This is UNBELIEVABLE! What a masterpiece and all that with inks and paints, Wow! Joi...enjoyed every bit of the process to this lady come alive. I love the umbrella...it is just a stunner. Great make and so so perfect for this challenge. Thanks for the detailed tute and a wonderful inspiration! Hugs, Rupa

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  3. what a beautiful work of art Joi, she is just so stylish !!!! enjoyed reading about your process....gesso is such a godsend at the 'ugly'stage hehe !!thank you for the wonderful inspiration !!

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  4. A mini masterpiece Joi, I loved seeing how you bring one of your fabulous paintings to life and hearing your thought processes along the way. This is absolutely stunning, the lady is definitely very chic! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing talent with us here at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  5. Welcome Joi. What a wonderful monochromatic piece of art you share with us today . Thanks for sharing the process - it was great to see the various stages of your creativity. Those sunshine colours are a delight.
    have a lovely weekend
    Amanda x

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  6. Really interesting project. Beautiful image. You are very talented!

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  7. Fabulous! Love seeing the process and how beautifully Joi painted her image!

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  8. Not only a gorgeous creation but such a wonderful blog post! I enjoyed reading and absorbing your creativity, enthusiasm and positivity xxxx

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  9. I can only echo what everyone else has said already! You are such a talented and creative artist, thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us here at AVJ! I loved reading your post and following your creative process, and yes, those warm and beautiful colours give both the feeling of elegance and of happy summer sunshine, - what more could anyone want....

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  10. This is fabulous! Love the image you have drawn and gorgeous colours, some of my favourites.
    Hugs
    Linda xxx

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  11. What a wonderful vintage canvas creation Joi and how fun to see your creative process - I often stop at "I hate this' - good to know I should continue on! thank you so much for joining us at AVJ! Julia xx

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  12. So amazing to read through the creative process as you went along, and boy, do I love these hot colors. I happen to think the '50-s style clothing for women was probably the best ever..Such classic lines and natural fabrics. You've captured the colors and textures perfectly, just wanted to reach out and touch. Loved seeing how you've used the different Ranger inks to work together on the canvas, and had a chuckle at the gesso step. Always good to know you can 'fix something'. The final result is just stunning, and I sure did enjoy seeing the smiling face of your sweet talented self. Stay cool, we've had a couple 100F days here in Upstate SC too. Thank goodness for a/c! Happy wkend, and TFS

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  13. Absolutely ADORED going on this 'journey' of creativity.....love the retro vibe and that lady.....WOWSIES!!

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  14. Gorgeous project. Firstly I love your picture of you wearing a hat. I also love how you were inspired and the colouring is fabulous on your project, just perfect to reflect the hot weather we are experiencing here too in the UK. I adore your colouring and depth you achieved on the umbrella. Great design, beautifully executed. Tracy x

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  15. Thanks bunches to ALL OF YOU dear friends for your sweet comments here. They mean so much to me. It was surely an honor to be here with such FABULOUS vintage artists! Hugs, j.

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  16. What a fabulous post to come home to! Joi, this is one of my favorite projects of yours! I love the subject matter, the colors and the subject's demure look from under the umbrella. And the design of the dress makes me swoon! Love it all, and so much enjoyed reading your descriptive post! It's like spending the day in your studio! Bravo to you, Joi and Big Hugs! PS--you are a beautiful lady yourself!

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  17. Wow, what a wonderful painting Joi! Thank you for sharing your creative process, it was amazing to see how you created your beautiful portrait. So glad you joined us as a guest creative guide, truly inspiring! Deb xo

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  18. Gobsmackingly gorgeous Joi!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE the painting with alcohol inks, that splattered background, the elegant striped dress, the glamour of this 50's lady, the way you've got glistening sunshine in with the Stickles and most of all that you go through an 'ugly stage' with your art like I do!!! SO inspiring - thank you so much for sharing your considerable talents with us xx

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  19. Joi, you are a doll in your hat! A pure doll! And what a beautiful tribute piece and terrific post. Congrats on your feature! <3

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