Faces In May - Day 5

Afternoon my darlings! its day 5 in the faces of May challenge, and since I enjoyed playing with the monotone of yesterdays girl I thought I'd play with some pink acrylic ink and gesso and see what I came up with! below is my face for the day and what she developed into. Two pics from our day today.

I thought since I, working at my desk everyday this month, I'd do daily desk shots, so you can see how things morph and merge as I create.

on our outings today, I was looking for some new storage for my copics, my old square vase finally had no room left, so a quick trip to ikea, and now they all fit nicely into this one container..with dividers. once I fill that up.. I'll get a couple more!

how is your Saturday shaping up?

xx Courtney

a day in the city.

Today's Selfie after a day in the City.

We had another big day, with a trip to another garden place, to look at fruit trees and herbs, writing down what we want to plan, what we want to plant them in and so forth, one thing I'm making sure we have in our little potted veggie/fruit patch is strawberries.

after the plant place, I ducked into a little op shop to check for some treasures, I only came out with two little things, one being a beloved little Bambi mug, as my pet name from the boyfriend is Bambi, and a little Japanese pencil case for my handbag, so that my pens and pencils are safe instead of swimming around when I chuck them into my bag on the way out the door.

once we got into the city and parked, I spied an art store on the way to our bookshop destination, and I was drawn to the singular prismacolour pencils, so I nabbed a couple for my collection, including a new white one, as the white pencil gets an epic amount of use.

we took the kids to their first sushi train experience, and both devoured many a plate of chicken and avocado sushi. I was most pleased as sushi is a food both the boy and I adore! now we have the kids addicted aswell.

after we were all full, it was off to the big bookstore in sydney the kids picked a book each as is customary when we go to a book store, and I stole a pic from the big bay reading windows they have in the store. Beautiful old clock.

after much browsing I finally set my sights on this one, it won my heart the moment I flicked through the beautiful pictures of sad girls with a touch of whimsy. I will have fun curling up tonight to lose myself in this amazing little world.

so that is all I have for you today, tomorrow I'll be back with Supply Sunday, where Copic Markers will be my supply of choice!
take care
xx Courtney

Thursday Night in the Brook-Diaz House

Thursday night in the Raven house, was bbq movie night, a little treat for the bumbles, and also a reason to test drive the boy's new bbq! was a nice night, kids played outside while we cooked the meat, sorted a movie out and made popcorn on the stove.

lily being a little dork hehe but shes adorable.

eli playing with me on the bed, first time I've gotten him to just be silly and let me take photos! this was a happy accident snap...and its one of my faves of him.
we had snags, chicken kebabs, and a mexican marinated beef for dinner, served with wedges and fresh crusty bread! was soooo good! the boy has taken left overs to work for lunch hehe.

and after they watched the lion king, ate their mumma cooked popcorn they were off to bed...and I finally got to slink into bed, and do a little art, before the boy and I watched Water for elephants...adored that movie was so beautiful.

so that was Thursday night in our house! tonight a whole different story..packing today and driving through the night to get home to Inverell for a mere week before we are back in Sydney for two weeks! crazy time in my life I must say!

take care my dears
xx Courtney

I am alive!

Image from Lobster and Swan

Yes yes, I am alive..barely lol, I am in the throws of packing and moving, with just over a month to go..but really only 3 weeks in this house physically (because of our sydney trips) I am frantically trying to get things done.
I have hardly arted, and my soul feels it! I did try sit down last night but because I was so tired and so not feeling it, my art was just a hot mess. I shall gesso over both the shocker pages and start again.
I shall photograph two of the things I have worked on in the last week, tomorrow before I leave for a week in Sydney, of course I'll take the mac and blog from boys house.

xx Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 25 - Faces Faces Faces.

Today's art is all about the faces, purely for the love of it, and one for the love of the child I'm making it for. Below is the workings of the ATC from last nights post, its still rather wet so I can't add my white highlights, as they keep sinking into the wet watercolour. It was fun workin on that small scale. In the background is the covers for my neices to be's notebooks that I will bind myself once I finish cutting the inside paper for them.

I've been daydreaming about bookbinding lately reading hungrily all the info I can find on it, flicking through the books I've been given on the topic from girlfriends, that I started drawing little book sketches for when I get back to Inverell to have a play.

and the last face of the day, is working on the second doll for my mans little nieces, few more layers of paint then a sealer, then I'll knit them little scarves sew her head up and they are ready for their new homes.
that's all the art going on here, whats happening in your world art wise? I'd love to hear what you're working on! leave a link to your work in the comments so I can pop by and check it out, I love a good blog hop to see new things.
xx Courtney

oh and pop over to Traci's blog to see what shes doing for her day of art!

Get Your Art On Day 24 - a book binders heart.

As Traci stated in her blog post wow its already day 24 almost done but not quite. Today I started laying down messy watercolours onto an ATC that I bought in a pack of 10 from spotlight, I wanted to challenge myself to work in smaller form for a few days, excuse the weird little markings on the ATC thats a little bit of my lily's work on there hehe its all layers right? playing with the watercolours on the old letters again, to rip up and start collaging them onto the ATC tomorrow me thinks then maybe one of my girl sketches, we shall see!

While I've been in Sydney I've made a few purchases, nothing major but just little things that add to my world first was a mug from typo, since the boy has just plain white mugs a girl needs a little bit of colour and girlyness to her morning tea! so for a mere $5 I bought this cute little arty mug and I adore it.
as I mentioned in a previous post, I went to a bookbinding paper store in Sydney called Amazing Paper this is where I picked up the supplies for my new little venture of journal making. I really want to get into making leather bound journals and junk journals as they have won my little paper heart.
pop over to Traci's blog to see her lovely artwork for the day! and I shall see you tomorrow with the progress on the ATC and also some random little sketches I've been doing to fill in time I guess.

xx Courtney

Get Your Art on Day 23 - a little detail.

I started this picture a few days ago, and today while we ate lunch at the zoo I started filling in the details, nothing major but its all the art I got in. Building shadows more of the blue background, and using my black sharpie for all the outlines where needed.

so today We went to Taronga Park Zoo with the little humans and man did we have a good time! the kids were mesmerized by the magic of the zoo animals. Here are our little ones in some new clothes my boyfriend's mum handmade for them. so so cute, she made them a few items of clothing they are just adorable.



this is the view from the sky safari we went on at the start of the day and at the end of the day, it takes you over the top of the zoo so you can see the animals from above. Fantastic view of sydney.


the Giraffes were spectacular to see! Elijah picked a soft toy of the giraffe and lily picked a Koala. I also bought them little elephant cups from the zoo shop.

the Lemars, such adorable quick little creatures! this one came right up to the window and sat there for the kids to have a good look at him before he scurried away.one of my fave pics from the day, my man and my kids...they are perfect.

pop over to Traci's Blog for her arty photography
see you tomorrow for another little art adventure
xxo Courtney

My Creative Space - Day 20 of Get Your Art On!

Another Thursday and for once I'm on the ball! I am reaching the end of my art journal, and its such an experience..this is the first journal of any kind that I've even come close to finishing since I had kids. Its been such a journey for me. So I've been going back and finding my blank or half worked pages and filling them in before I finish the last few pages of the journal.

Today I worked in watercolour and graphite, the combo has become my absolute favourite in these last few weeks. I have created some of my most beautiful images I feel in these two mediums.
sticking to a small colour palette I sketched and began layering the 4-5 colours down to create these odd necked beauties. Instead of an aqua brush I used a small pointed tip paintbrush.. I love the way it glides the colours down onto the page.

I am not completely happy with my second girl, maybe because shes smaller and the details aren't as popped out as my bigger girl, but shes still part of the process of creating.






so there you have my creative space and my 20th day of get your art one! below you shall find the links to...
The Creative Space Hub...lots of beautiful places and blogs to get lost in.
and Traci's Blog for her post and the links to the other artists who are arting it up.

I am off to late night shopping tonight! and a spotlight trip, I am in need of some Punchenella, and there is a sale on stamps... dangerous!
then we are off to a shopping complex (a real one!!!) hehe few things I need to pick up, and I think a trip into typo just because I heart that shop, and need a lappy bag for the mac.
take care lovelies.
xx Courtney

Get you Art on Day 19 - Rainy Day Art

Its overcast wet and cold here in sydney today, the little ones are playing cubby house with the boys couch cushions so they are happily occupied, so I sat down at the table complete with kiddy splatter mats for their art, hence the roads and car map in the background. I did a little simple sketch and went from there. This page is an off load page, where I use the last of my inks left on my stencils which is why there is ink randomly splattered on the page, I think it always adds a nice textured element.

I used my budget watercolour paint set to fill her in and an aqua pen. A little white jelly pen for eye highlights. I love that I can use two items in my stash and create an entire page. The watercolour set and an aqua pen would be an easy thing to pack into your bag and create art wherever you were. So simple and so effective.

so thats my little bit of art for today, I might do some more later on when the little ones are more settled and I can concentrate. I dont have many pages left in my art journal! Very excited.
and tonight is officeworks night! yes yes another silly country bumpkin moment for me! but I have pen needs! and stationary lust! its black pen stock up time, if you hear a manic cackling during the evening..its just me in the pen isle hehe

take care!
and pop over to Traci's blog for her post.
xo Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 16 - Car Art

8 Hours, what a drive, what a drive, teacup humans were very well behaved, I was very impressed by them, they watched dvd's and they drew pictures with their etcha sketch (arty mumma go go) so car art wasnt that fab, I spent most of my time keeping the boy entertained while the kids watched Dvd's so I played with my watercolours for a little bit and did some sketching in my little sketch book

I would love to stay and chat a while, but the drive took it out of me, tomorrow will be a little of my art for the day and a little of the kids art, as I have craft things waiting for them to play with in the next few days.



pop over to to Traci's blog for her post today!
and I shall see you tomorrow with some proper art and proper photos
xoxo Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 15 - Arty Packing

The only arty thing going on at the moment is packing Art Supplies for my two week trip to sydney with the little ones and the boy. So I spent more than 3o mins doing that! lol there was sorting and trading off with myself, if I take this and this I cant take that and this. But I might need this (when I never use it) but there is always the what if I suddenly really wanted to use it...the boy watched me as I took things from shelves, boxes paint tubes, stamps, sprays and muttered to myself over what was coming and what wasnt...'You're taking your distress inks' he asked confused as to why I would need my entire range of inks, I just looked at him...and the look said it all... Never come between and artist and her supplies when its road trip packing.

I am taking a little portable watercolour moleskine for the drive, with an aqua pen and my colours to see what 'car art' I can come up with. Im sure alot of background randomness will occur in the 8 hour drive.

I shall see you tomorrow with the fruits of my car art. Sorry the above photo isnt my usual image quality, I snapped with that new app everyone seems to be using instagram. My cannon battery is charging for the trip!

pop on over to Traci's blog to see what delightful thing she's arted up!

xoxox Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 11 - She MAN!!!

More days more art!! now cast your minds back to when I was talking about the she man drawing of mine, she was a bit blokey, well after three nights flicking back and forward in my journal working on her a bit here and there, fixing covering highlighting she almost got the axe on more than one occasion but I stayed with him/her till she finally started looking more woman than man.



lots of layers, sprays paints drawings, complete with a little doodle in the corner that my dad did one night when my parents were over for dinner test driving some of my new coloured pens. so I ripped it out of the envelope he drew it on, and glued it down to work on at a later date, and wahla! there it be!

so there is my art for the day, I'm glad I stuck it out, I don't love her...but I don't hate her either. She is in there as a reminder to myself to never give up on something, because some times the effort is worth it in the end.

that's me done for the day! I will work here and there tonight...actually scrap that I have little girls journals to put together for my boys nieces as a gift to them from the little ones and I.
Thinking fabric covers with girly paper inside, we shall see what my mind does.
take care, enjoy the afternoon sunlight.
xx Courtney

Get Your Art On Day 9 - Stencil Goddess!

Holy Tolito Batman!! its Cold here!!! my fingers are literally hurting typing this little blog post, but alas I shall do it! for art is my heart! and I refuse to fail the month of art challenge. So Tonight before I went to a family bbq I got out my stencils to try and do something in my little journal that wasn't my usual style. To try and push myself a little to be different. So I used some orange and brown spray inks and got to work, its still a work in progress, but with a few more layers I think it could be cool!


not loving that stupidly placed blue flower though lol, so I might do a bit of cover up magic with some layer work tomorrow. I shall let the work take me where ever it wants to go! While I sit and sniffle through the inking and the arting. I think I'm coming down with a cold...*dramatic flop* fingers crossed I'm not, because nothing sucks more than arting while you are ill!
This week will be all hands on deck getting the teacup humans and I packed for our little trip to sydney! well not little two weeks, but still big job for mamma with all the washing folding packing list making. But it will all be worth it, I've warned the boy the art supplies are coming with me, and he was more than happy with that...'cant stop the art month!'
well its almost 9pm and I think my electric blanket and a biscuit are calling me while I wait for the boy to arrive home safe and sound from his 7 hour trip from my place to his.
I'll see you guys tomorrow with maybe some more work on this spread..or something else! who knows...
pop on over to Traci's blog to see her delightful watercolour page and to see the other lovely ladies work too.

xoxo Courtney

Get Your Art On - Day 7...A VID!

It has been a month since I last did a video! how time slips. So below find yourself today's video for the week, lets cross our fingers that I get time next week aswell to do another one! I do enjoy making the videos, just time is never my friend.
Today for Get Your Art On, I finished off the pay below, the girl I painted a few days ago needed a home, so I glued her down and let loose.
I feel like I'm slowly getting somewhere with their faces, when I looked at her from a distance I realised that her head wasnt straight on her neck!!! I had to laugh, all you can do really lol. Focus so much on her face the rest is just legwork...wonky legwork apparently.

So yesterday I said I'd be sewing my remains of the day cover *insert mad laugher here* yes well, that didnt happen, with nights -5 the last thing this little artist is doing is sewing at her desk!! So I snuggled up and moaned to the boy how cold I was. Maybe tonight...but its already freezing so unless I layer up like a crazy woman I don't see it happening!


enjoy the video, something a little different for you for get your art on.
pop over to see Traci's beautiful journal page for today


the boy arrives tonight for the weekend which is muchly needed! I need a hug, because I'm so damn cold!!! and of course next week, we are off on a mini holiday, but I'll be bloggin! the mac and me will be bloggin from the boy's couch in Sydney! and I can't wait, mainly because I get to go to a few places like Ikea, and Amazing paper, which is a book binding place I so desperately want to visit!

take care, enjoy your friday night, rug up and make some tea!
xx Courtney

My Creative Space

Another Thursday is upon us, and after my trip down 'I'm Sick Lane' I am back in the game, with my trip to Sydney coming up fast, I want to make sure my 10 hour train ride isn't one that is going to make me want to scratch my eyes out with bordem, so I'm reviving and old box that I've had for quite a few years now, needs a few things fixed which I'm hoping my dad will help with, but it fits all the things I need, that I use day in day out....





As I've been sick lately, there hasn't been that much artwork going on! but before I got sick, I was working on my art mail, I have a few art pen pals, so I've been getting all their letters done for the post box on Monday, here is just one of the several I've already got finished.
Now all I have to do, is get a big A4 envelope and decorate that, half the fun of art mail isnt it...the brightly coloured crazy envelope in the mail

for more creative spaces pop over to Our Creative Spaces

enjoy your thursday, and never stop the creative process...art saves.
ox Courtney