Today on the Paper Crafter’s Library blog, we’re continuing our weekly featured artist spotlight whereby each week we spotlight a different artist/designer in the paper crafting & mixed media world and introduce you to their fabulous work.
Today we’re thrilled to welcome – Dina Wakely. Dina is also sponsoring a give-away of her book, Art Journal Freedom. Read more about the give-away below.
Before we show you Dina’s fabulous project, let’s get to know her a little bit more…
Hi, I’m Dina Wakley. I am a mixed-media artist living in the sunny desert of Glendale, Arizona. I’m going to share with you a bit about my book, Art Journal Freedom.
Why did I write Art Journal Freedom? I wrote it because I want you to feel good about your art. I want you to have the freedom to express yourself confidently and strongly. If you make something you’re not thrilled with, I want you to be able to figure out what’s wrong. I want you to grow as an artist. I want you to make your mark on the world.
In Art Journal Freedom, I explain some of my favorite composition and color principles that apply to art journaling and mixed-media. Take a look at this journal page:
The orange and blue colors on this page are complementary. That simply means they’re opposite each other on the color wheel. When you use complements together, you get a lot of contrast and visual POP. The line from the orange bubble to the woman is a continuance line. Continuance is a principle that helps draw the eye around an artwork. Our eyes follow lines that are there. In this case, we follow the line and it leads us right to the drawing of the woman.
If you want to make art that is really striking, try using complementary colors. And, if you find your subject is getting lost on your page, try using flowing lines to draw the eye to what’s most important. Easy as pie, right?
Continuance and complementary colors are just two of the many principles I cover in the book. There are lots of page challenges in the book, too, to help you practice the principles. The challenges also help you break the rules!
You can visit me at http://www.dinawakley.com. There you’ll find links to my blog, online classes, stamp line, stencils, and more.
We hope you have enjoyed today’s project courtesy of Dina Wakely. You can get a copy of her book here. Be sure to leave a comment here under this blog post for your chance to win a signed copy of Dina’s book, Art Journal Freedom. Also, be sure to stop by Dina’s blog to see even more of her beautiful work (and let her know we sent you).
I could so use this book! I am a math/science brained person who struggles with art. I need to learn to let it go. Love Dina’s blog!
I have taken a face class from Dina in Waxahachie,TX and adore her! I’d love to learn more from a book of hers!
This is a fantastic book and would love to be able to read it.
Freedom is a great thing and understanding what goes wrong can be very freeing. Sounds like a great book!
Would love to get a copy of this amazing book, thanks for the chance!!!
What a lovely book filled with hours and hours of dedicated designing and editing! Thanks for the continuance line and complementary color tips…..Appreciatively, Claudette
Hi, I have followed your work for quite some time and LOVE it. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of your book.
i would love to see dina’s take on art journaling. i love seeing others’ work.
I think this book would be a great learning tool for me. I would love to win it.
I’ve seen Dina’s work and influence on other blogs, as well as her own. I’ve never been able to “let it go” and draw, but I hear from others that it’s possible. I’d love to take advantage of her knowledge she’s shared in her book so I can see for myself what I might be able to make happen.
What a wonderful giveaway! I admire art journals, but they seem scary to me……what if I mess up a page….I can’t exactly tear it out! I guess I need to just let go and enjoy some freedom. lol… Thanks for the chance to win!
<3 J
THanks for the chance to win own of Dina’s wonderful books. I have a few of her stamps and love using them!
I would love your book. I took a class from you in Albuquerque. It would be great to have you come back!
Ooohh..awesome….would love to win.
I was just looking at that book on Amazon.com! It looks really awesome 🙂 I am just getting interested in Art journaling and need some guidance.
Awesome – thanks for the chance to win this book – I don’t have a lot of education about the
variety of art available – and would love to learn more.
I don’t even know how much time I spent by browsing Dina website! would really love to have one of her book in my hands! thanks again for letting me know her!
this should be an excellent addition to anyone’s resource reference material to have a book by Dina.