More Fun with Citra Solv

I first talked about Citra Solv on June 13th, here:
http://thedigiartblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-computer-is-one-of-my-art-mediums.html

When I first mentioned Citra Solv, it was my very first experiment and I forgot to take pics during the process. This first pic is from that first experiment showing SOME of the pages drying on my floor.

Drying on my tiled cellar floor on vinyl tablecloth. When I got some ink on my floor, it came off with Citra Solv!!!

Also from first experiment.....learned using bubble wrap with Citra Solv will dissolve the bubbles right into paper!

Here's what the Citra Solv looks like. There might be other "flavors", but it MUST be concentrated!

These mags are made with clay paper, which is why this amazing process works.

 I finally got to spend an entire afternoon playing with Citra Solv and 3 National Geographic magazines. (thanks for finding me more mags, mom!) Each time I "play" with this process I learn something new. I have already viewed every video on YouTube about this technique more than once! (I highly recommend this!)  I need to do my own video, I know....maybe at the end of the summer? But, I did take some pics before my hands got too messy. :)

Here's pic of spray bottle I used and how I sprayed....obviously, I need to do a video on this!

Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to how long it took to get to this point, it will vary. Start checking after 10 min.

Towards the end I started experimenting with stamping INTO the ink and using the ink while it was still wet.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED SO FAR:
FIRST...working with 3 magazines was too much for ME.....drying happens too fast to put all of my attention onto each page. And you do want to look at each page, because you have no idea what each will end up looking like. Believe me, when you do this, you will get lost in this process. It is SO mesmerizing. I love patterns and I love abstraction and you will get lots of that!

SECOND...I prefer spraying the Citra Solv to "painting" the pages with it. I also learned that spraying outside will give you different results than if you do it inside. I know this because an hour into my playing, it started to rain and I brought everything into my cellar. (with lots of ventilation....although I love the smell!) The reason you get different results I believe, is that it was a little windy and I'm not sure the pages were getting completely covered. On the other hand, when I painted them with Citra Solv they got too wet.....which of course was probably MY fault. This is NOT an exact science! Have fun experimenting.

THINGS TO KNOW:
1. The National Geographics must be post 1970. Have tried 80s, 90s and 2009....they all worked!
2. The process is affected by temperature and humidity.....humidity may slow down drying time,
    and Citra Solv prefers the warmer temps.
3. Citra Solv dissolves thinner plastics.
4. I found my bottles of Citra Solv at the health food store.
5. Tear out all ads from magazine, they will not work with Citra Solv.

This is an ongoing experiment, I will be blogging again and hopefully doing a video by summer's end. In the meantime, I have already been scanning in the pages and altering them. There are SO many more things to do with these pages!!!

Art Journal Therapy

Hello my Art Peeps. I have not forgotten about my blog, it's just been a real crappy summer. Nothing horrible....just lots of stress with medical issues (not mine) and if I didn't have my art, my art supplies and my art journals, not sure where I'd be right now.....perhaps the loony bin?

I read Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog every day. She's amazing! (see her widget on the right)
She advocates spending just 10 minutes art journaling every day. It's good for you. And you know, she's right! Art Journaling reminds me of the "Morning Pages" from Julia Cameron. I used to do those, but got out of the habit. Now I have more time and it's important for me to make more time, so I'm Art Journaling every day and I'm loving it! Also, my creative juices are flowing like crazy!

Below, are a few pics of journal pages and a journal cover.

Most of my journal pages are painted with the brayer when I'm working with my gelli plate. Here I also used my 2 favorite masks, my woman and my bird. Then I just played with my markers. It's not finished, but I'm enjoying the colors and the texture. Who knows what it will turn into?

Never been a fan of drawing people, but one day I decided to spend the day sketching faces. I went on Pinterest and typed in "Art Journal Faces" for inspiration and just drew my own. She's not finished either, but I like her expression.

Still a fan of blue, green and purple. I have one whole journal dedicated to those colors. And still prefer organic shapes to geometric ones. But, that could change! :)

I have 4 journals I'm working in simultaneously and I think I'm going to start another one this weekend. But, it will be a Citra Solv journal. More on THAT later! This is the only cover that feels finished to me. I got the cool texture from gluing tissue paper on top of the paint (once dry). The tissue paper had fibers in it....so cool!