Textures with Acrylics - How not to use ALL of your paint!

When I started to experiment with painting, my brother, Jerry Piper, an awesome artist (jpiperart) filled my head with so much information due to his great excitement in me pursuing this medium. We would talk for hours, we would facetime and paint, skype and paint, he sent me videos, pictures and magazines. He started me off right out of the gate with textures, and it kinda ruined me :) 

Painting with acrylic is hard to achieve texture without adding something to your canvas. Not like oil, where you can build and build with the layers of paint. That being said, you can goop and goop acrylic paint onto a canvas to build up texture, it takes about a week to dry and it is lovely, but - you have used a lot of paint, and that can be expensive!

"Finger Painting Underwater" Tish McDermott 2014

Here are some ideas to experiment with, to add textures and visuals to your paintings. 

Joint compound. Use this in a thinish layer. As you knife it on, it will roll, and create ridges. Now go crazy! Get a fork, or a chop stick, or stencils, your fingers, anything with a pattern, and roll it around or mash it into the wet joint compound.  Play with it!

You have to take extra care with joint compound. It has to dry completely, about 24 hours, then you have to gesso over it, let it dry completely, then varnish it (clear coat) let it dry completely. So there is some prep time to your canvas. But it is so worth it!

Spackling. I will do a post on spackling soon to show you it as well. There is some FUN things you can do with it!!!

Here I have already prepped my board, with joint compound, made swirls, and applied gesso and varnished it. Added a bit of sheet music with mod podge. 

Tissue paper!! I crumble it up, and place it on the board in a wad. It will loosed up and flatten out as you mod podge it on. If you are going to use tissue paper, in this thickness you have to add extra drying time before painting.

It is hard to see, but there is the tissue paper over the joint compound.

I wanted these paintings to look, old, aged with patina, like a treasure map, so I added this bit of magazine with a turquoise necklace. 

Oh and where else to find treasure, but Santa Fe!

As you paint, choose your colors to accent the peaks and valleys of your designs. It makes a world of difference. You go into the painting with all the depth!

"Treasure Hunt" Tish McDermott 2016 - 14x18 mixed media $126

"Hidden Treasure" Tish McDermott 2016 - 11x14 mixed media $77

 "Frustrations" Tish McDermott 2016 - 14 x 18 mixed media $126

What will you use to texture your next creation?

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Anatomy of a Painting - Tie Dye Garden

I wanted to do something bright, something floral and still abstract. I work alot with blues, and for once wanted to have a painting with no blue in it. 

I laid out the canvas for a tryptic style layout. I used ALOT of paint because I knew I was going to loose a lot of it in the process. Now think of a bug crawling thru a flower garden in full bloom. As you look around, what would all that glorious color look like? That is where we start.

We are a bug in a garden and have an up close and personal view of a bloom, now lets move forward shall we?

Water - tons of water, this is where I am loosing paint. I spray, spray, spray the canvas and then tilt it around slightly for all the colors to run. This gives is a tie dye effect - cause you know I can't leave the house without at least one piece of tie dye on :)

This is going to take a while to dry, so I am really looking into this piece, taking the vision further. It needs depth, it needs some shadows, it needs a darker color. 

Lets go for the blue :)

There is still a lot of water on the canvas, so the blue/green begins to 'melt' into the pattern, PERFECT! I don't tilt it around, I just let it do it's thing. 

As it dries, you can see how the blue started to crawl thru the painting, making it seem alive. 

Now that the painting is fully dry, there is still some need for depth, for definition. On the parts of the canvas that had little to no paint, I used a black color pencil to shade in areas.  That helps to bring the color forward. Then to help define the 'petals' of the flower, I used a sharpie and made random lines, tracing the 'petals'

Now you can see them side by side, finished, as I had envisioned them!

Items used, acrylic paint, color pencils, sharpies.

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

New Multi Strand Bracelets

Multi strand bracelets are not a new thing, and part of a natural transition when experimenting and trying to find a 'look' for your jewelry line. 

They are also a great way to finish off a strand, or incorporate a few left over beads into a design. Using one offs as the focal helps to use up your bead stock, so you have room for new things! Well that is what I tell myself, we all know I am a bead hoarder :)

This is one of the styles I like to make. One strand made of alternating beads, and a complementary color/property for a solid second strand.  Is a fun look, and has the appearance of wearing two separate bracelets. 

                                       

Then, as the design starts to grow and transition, there is the new style I am working on, a more chunky design, lots of texture and limited amount of color. I want the chunky texture of the tumbled chips to be the focal of the design. 

It is a real fun bohemian look

 Well I am back to the bench, have lots of events and shows coming up over the next two months, will keep you updated as I go,

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Agate and Jasper Necklace - Harmony - People Helping People

I saw a plea on Facebook for items for a silent auction for an acquaintance who was burned. He burned his hand badly, and he works with his hands, so while he is rehabilitating, people are coming together to help out.

People are coming together. It is a beautiful thing, and a real thing. People can look passed themselves and see the need in others and help out. It isn't hard.

I offered to donate jewelry to the auction, then I had to sit down and think about it. What do I want this jewelry to represent.

Jasper is gentleness, it drives away “evil spirits” and to protect you.  Also aids in balancing the mind and body and stabilizes healing.

Agate is harmony and balance

Amazonite soothes tense, aggravated emotions and situations.


 It all came together beautiful. When I look at it, it looks like a piece that would be worn by a gentle spirit, a spirit that genuinely loves humanity. What do you think of when you see this necklace. Do you see a fashion statement? Do you see an extension of your spirit that is enhanced by the properties of the stone?

 And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Tiny Cluster, Simple Statement

Sometimes I think I am ahead of the trend. 

I love the simple look of the cluster necklaces, it gives just that tiny pop of flash and color. Making a statement without screaming it upon entrance. Cluster necklaces are a great way to use your one off beads from previous designs, a great way to make new memories out of an older piece of jewelry that may have broken, and you don't have all the pieces.  They are really versatile, and I am seeing them everywhere now!!! 

I like to make them longer, opera length, for an over the head design, so you don't have to worry about a clasp (keeps costs down). Add a coordinating bead to the chain where the clasp would have been instead.  This is aventurine, jade, calcite and swarovski, for love and prosperity.  It also is brilliant fall colors. 

Headed to the mountains this weekend, maybe I will take it with me and wear it in honor of the foliage change!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind.

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

What Fuels Your Creativity? Music!

Music is definitely an inspiration motivator for me.

I am a romantic at heart, and music when I hear it, makes me think of a scene in a movie, or a chapter from a book, and I think about the girl, and wonder what jewelry would she wear for that scene/chapter. Funny right? But that is how my mind works.

This song inspires me, and as of late has become my favorite. When I hear the lyrics, I think of sitting in a coffee shop and over hearing people talk, catching random snippets of all of the conversations. I love these conversations because it feels like it is a room of positivity, and they are all dreaming, or changing the world.

Plus it doesn't hurt that I am a Dave head :)

Have a listen if you will, and maybe it will inspire you too!

If I could fly at the speed of light

I could get to Canis Major in 5,000 years

Butterflies and black and blue birds, I'll never be the same since I met you

Pennies thrown into a fountain

Make a wish, blow out the candles, take a breath

Not as troubling when you consider believers that would welcome the end of the world

Got a job and it pays me

I want love more than I deserve

I read the paper, makes me crazy

There's gotta be a way to make it work

Ashes, Stardust

Look at us, crawling out the mud

Let's go, around the block

We'll make the most before the jig is up

Dreamers, the big top

We'll never know, I guess never stop

Ashes, stardust

Look at us, crawling out the mud

I know that dying is scary to us

But everybody do it, 1-2-3

On the sidewalk, the dandelion is reaching from a crack up to the sun

Words can be a wicked tool

For twisting truth

I wanna be true to you

Blood and bones, black holes and stones

All those things paved the way for you and me

Got a job and it pays me

I want love more than I deserve

I read the paper makes me crazy

There's gotta be a way to make it work

Ashes, stardust

Look at us crawling out the mud

Let's go around the block

We'll make the most before the jig is up

Campfires and high rises

You never know quite when to stop

Ashes, stardust

Look at me crawling out the mud

If I could fly at the speed of light

I could get to Betelgeuse in about 600 years

Butterflies and black and bluebirds

I'll never be the same since I met you

Maybe dying is scary too us, but everybody do it A-B-C

Not as troubling when I consider

Believers that would welcome the end of the world.

Got a job 'cause it pays me

I want love more than I deserve

I read the paper, makes me crazy

There's gotta be a way to make it work

Ashes, stardust

Look at us crawling out the mud

Let's go around the block

We'll make the most before the jig is up

Ashes, stardust

Look at us crawling out the mud

Ashes, stardust

Look at me crawling out the mud

Butterflies and black and blue birds

I'll never be the same since I met you

If I could fly at the speed of light

I'd get the Betelgeuse in about 600 years

Butterflies and black and blue birdscould fly at the speed of light

I could get to Canis Major in 5,000 years

Butterflies and black and blue birds, I'll never be the same since I met you

Pennies thrown into a fountain

Make a wish, blow out the candles, take a breath

Not as troubling when you consider believers that would welcome the end of the world

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind.

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Thoughtful Thursday - Love

We voted today!

Standing in line, listening to people, thinking of all the facebook posts, the tv ads, the family arguments around the dinner table, the division of friends - I re worded conversations I was hearing in my head, but with a different perspective, a positive one.

Words are really that powerful, love is really that great.

For example - "How long are we going to stand in this line?" - I said "What a beautiful morning this is!"
                       " If I would have known there were going to be this many people here, I would have come earlier" - I said "What a great turn out! So many people are voting!"

At this point I zoned out the conversations, and began to think about this subject, the power of words, the power of love, here is a break down:

People can be so passionate about things, they become consumed by them. This is not a bad thing. We should have passions that we will stand up for. We should be able to stand up for what we believe in peacefully, not be so caught up in it, that we feel we have to defeat a person who thinks differently.
Name calling, belittling, violence doesn't get your point across, it most times creates even a bigger wedge between people.

Think before you speak - an old adage, but a true one.
Choose your words wisely - again, we all know this

These truths have been around forever, but have been forgotten because we have become entitled.

Next time someone says something that makes you mad and you want to retaliate, stop - take a breath - think about your reply. Can you reply and keep it thoughtful, constructive, neutral to where you can have a conversation instead of a heated debate.

If you can't, do you really want to say those words? Will they be heard, or are you just feeding your own ego by hearing yourself say the words that will not be heard by anyone else?

I think these things, I rehash past conversations trying to learn from them, trying to make myself a more peaceful person from my past, so in my future I am more enlightened and peaceful.

I base my existence on whatever I put out, I will receive. I choose to send out love instead of hate.

What do you do to stay peaceful?

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind.

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Hand Painted Cards - Show You Care!

I started making little hand painted cards as thank yous for my pet sitting clients. Just an added touch that separates me from others, and keeps me remembered.

From that grew other ideas. I made angel cards for my mom, a birthday card for my daughter and it just kept going.

I enjoy it so much, making these little hand painted works or art, that people can send, or can keep and frame as a fun little conversation piece.

I have now added them to my Etsy store so everyone can have some! More designs coming!

Here is what is at the store right now! Click on the picture to be taken right to the listing.

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind.

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Quinoa Patties!!

I have been vegan for quite some time now. It all started with developing an intolerance to dairy, and it just seemed like the natural progression. I am not a staunch vegan, I will eat an occasional egg, or fish, so instead of labeling myself, I am just a picky eater :)

This being said, I do not buy all the processed "nutritional" vegan meat substitutes. They have too many ingredients, and I am suspect of them. I am a very limited ingredient type of person. I don't need to buy pre made food. It is easy to make with things I already have in my pantry. ** I had left over quinoa and didn't want to waste it, was pretty tired of eating it, and wanted to find a way to re use it that I could freeze for later.

Stumbled on these, and modified the recipe like I always do!

***** for this to be vegan, you can substitute eggs with mashed sweet potatoes, but I haven't done that yet, and can't tell you how much to use. Please experiment and let me know!!! This recipe also called for Parmesan cheese - I used the nutritional yeast instead. It also called for 1 cup of bread crumbs, and touching back on the limited ingredient thing, I didn't want to use that much. I had some panko in the pantry from another recipe, so I just backed off the amount and added other things to help with the binding.***

Quinoa patties! (these are NOT vegan) 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
4 eggs (beaten - poor eggs)

small chopped onion

3 cloves garlic

parsley flakes, salt, pepper, cumin to taste - bout 1 tsp each, mabbe a little more parsley

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup bread crumbs

MIx all dry ingredients until mixed well - add eggs and mix until wet - you can add a bit of water, I did. Use some olive oil in a skillet and get it hot. Drop 1/3 cup of the mixture into skillet, mash down a bit, and brown on both sides.

OMG so good!!!

They come out bout the same size as a hamburger pattie and would fit on a bun perfect. Makes 9 patties.

I am going to freeze them and see how they re heat.

How have your experiments turned out? How do you substitute? Share and let us all know!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind

All of my creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit.

Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry made with love!

Exploration in Creativity - Acrylic Abstract Painting

Inspiration is all around me, and it keeps a constant chatter in the creative recesses of my brain. Some things that inspire me or not jewelry related, therefore I explore many creative outlets. Painting has become an outlet of creativity for me. And I love it

August I went on vacation with my brother Toog (or Jerry Piper as the rest of the world knows him) to Santa Fe/Taos and I was blown away. We ran at break neck speeds all over the town going thru every gallery to take in as much 'culture' as we could. We took in so much, I think, no, I know, I blacked out a couple of times. So much stimuli, I was in art overload, and I loved it.

My painting style has been forever changed. From exploratory to experimental, and I really think I have found my niche. 

I can't wait to see where this journey takes me. 

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind

All of my creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit.

Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry made with love!

Peridot and Pearl - Breaking Old Habits

I think peridot is such an underrated stone. Bound to August babies as their birthstone, mined all over the world, found in meteorites and part of the Olivine family, but because of it natural weathered state, rarely considered gem quality.  All of this aside, peridot at its core holds great and gentle magic. Magic of dissipating negative patterns and old vibrations that play over and over, keeping one from realizing they are deserving of success.

I think of it as a guardian angel when worn, gently reminding me to move forward, and I am worth it.

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind

All of my creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit.

Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry made with love!

Support Local Artists - Have A Home Party!

Do you love jewelry, hand made purses, door decorations? Do you love it when it is free? I thought so :)

Live in the Raleigh, NC area? Host a jewelry party, and I will bring the store to you! Don't live here? Don't let that stop you, you can host a party online!!

Have the party in your home - No ordering! The product is right there, take it home with you the same night!  It's called a floating party. Schedule your party to last a few hours, example 5PM - 7PM. Tell your friends to stop by. All the jewelry will be set up and ready for them to browse. No pressure, no schpeal, no marketing schemes! Use the time to shop, catch up with your friends, and have a good time!
OR
Have the party online (even if you live in the area, don't have to clean your house :) - orders are shipped the following day to the person who made the order. (*) The responsibility of delivery is off your shoulders! Seamless. It is super easy. Create an event on Facebook, and invite all of your friends. The event can last a maximum of 3 weeks. Post links from my Etsy store and some back to my Facebook page and let the shopping begin! I will issue you a special comment code for your friends to used when placing an order on Etsy. That way I know the sales came from your party.

You and your friends have ample time to shop, and chat about items, even message me or comment on my fan page about custom orders you would like to have. Remember, all items are one of a kind, I don't intentionally duplicate pieces, if there is a piece you are looking at, don't wait too long, when it is gone, it is gone. Orders ship to the buyer immediately, no need to wait til all orders are in! When the event is over, I will tally up all of the sales, and 10% of the sales, goes back to the hostess/host of the event in free jewelry or other hand made gifts!!!!!

Example - $1000 in sales, $100 worth of free hand made gift items!!!!
And it doesn't stop there!
If the event does $2000 or more in sales, the hostess/host of the event gets a LIFETIME 30% off coupon code to use in my shop anytime.
What is stopping you!!! Create your shopping event today and message me for your comment code!

Check out my prices on my Etsy Store and see how much that gets you!

Email me - tish at justatish.com!! Lets get this party started!!!!


So yeah, you heard me right! Happy shopping!!!!


*Due to the weight of some items, there is shipping costs that will have to be added to the online order. But as always, shipping on jewelry is free!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind

All of my creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit.

Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry made with love!

Tips For Getting Back Into Blogging

Getting back into blogging can be hard after a hiatus. What do I blog about? How to I find my flow? How do I prevent the "sit and stare", you know, when you type two words and sit and stare at your screen hoping for the words to just pour out of you?

I am in this same boat. I used to be a consistent blogger. 5 days a week. Exploring different techniques, show casing different artists, how tos', DIY's, product reviews. I had a great formula. Then I chose a different career path, and found I had less time to blog. So instead of making myself stressed by worrying about where my next blog post was coming from, I just put it on hold. I may want to come back to it, I may be inspired and have a great topic to share. 

What went from blogging 5 days a week turned into 2 times or less a month. 

And you know what? That is OK!

Since I am beginning again, I thought I would share some tips I have used to put myself back out there. 

 

1. Just do it! Seriously, sit down and do it. Make your first post - "I'm Back!." Don't pick up from where you left off. You are a different person now than what you were before. Grow your blog again, just as you have grown. 

2. Be consistent. Start small or go big, it is up to you, but be consistent. For example, commit to blogging two days a week to start. Give yourself time to jot down and flesh out ideas. As you gain momentum add and extra day. 

3. Rearrange your office. Get a new perspective.

4. Get a sketch book, composition book, note cards, keep them with you at all times. When inspiration hits, jot it down. That could be your next blog post!

5. Get back in touch with your favorite bloggers, find out what they have been blogging about. Let someone inspire you. 

6. Brain dump, brain dump, brain dump. As crazy as it sounds, it works. Just start writing. Let the words fall out, even if they are nonsense and are not on topic, let them out. Go back and clean it up later. You may have three topics going on at once and don't know it until you get all the words out. 

7. Have fun!

Below is my brain dump. Below is what my first blog post after hiatus was going to be about. As I wrote, I got a different idea, and now this post has become a post on getting back into the swing of things. 

See how it works!

"I would love to have a dog but I just can't afford one" 

I hear this a lot, and huge kudos to you for knowing that having pets is a big expense to give proper care. 

That being said, let's find a way for you to have the love and companionship of a dog or a cat with little to no expense! 

why is it expensive, how can it be free

I am talking about fostering for local rescues and shelters.

i need coffee

First you have to ask yourself, am I strong enough to do this. This is a very important question, because if you become a foster failure (i have 3 times now) then you have just done what you said you can't do - afford a pet. jldlskdflskdfjlksdlkjsldkjfsldkfjslkdjflskjfdakljdfowiegoaskjdfkasjdflksjdflksjdflksj You have to be strong because some rescue groups don't understand the damage they are doing by pushing people to adopt pets. 

fosters can be desperate and pushy. be kind with these words

You hear it all the time from fosters "he is up for adoption!" "don't you think he is cute! you should adopt him!" and when you tell them "no, I can't afford a dog, or no, I already have a dog" they keep after you. desperate to place that dog in a home, so they can pull another dog from a shelter. 

adopt don't shop

desperate can be the death of that animal - because that foster may find a home that the person was not strong enough to say no and now has a pet they can't afford, and that pet just went back to the shelter. 

don't forget to call about my sewing machine, get the car from the shop

So I am strong enough, what do you I do?

Contact local shelters and rescue groups to inquire about becoming a foster

what am i doing? how am i gonna start blogging again?

Foster for your local county shelter

ASPCA 

Local rescue groups

1.

2.

3.

There is an example of my process. I hope it inspires you get back into your groove and share your thoughts with the world.

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind

All of my creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit.

Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry made with love!