Illustrated Scripture Prints now in shop

Hey sweet friends!


Last week, I was in complete "struggle mode" trying to narrow down color palettes for an illustrated scripture print I designed. 

There were a total of 8 different color combos. Naturally, I wanted to offer them all BUT the editor in me showed remarkable restraint + I was able to narrow my choices down to 3. ::whew! that was tough!::

With these 3 color combos, I hit up my favorite place for some feedback: Instagram.

full disclosure: You know I had to make one of the options all the colors, right? I mean, you already know I'm color-obsessed + wouldn't mind rolling around like a three-year-old in a boatload of rainbow glitter confetti...but that's beside the point!

A poll was created + within minutes I knew which color combos were the most popular. (Thanks Instagram tribe!) 

I was excited to learn so many people share my love of bright, cheery colors + voted for the 'Gimme all the colors!' option. 

I did an impromptu photo shoot in my small studio so that I could show off the illustrated print in a cute way. (Check out those disco balls. I just love their fun vibe, don't you?) 

The second most popular choice was 'Simple Black'. (I added a splash of red just because I like to be extra sometimes.)

The third choice has a muted background. Tints of blue, grey, + soft pink. Yeah, this one has a totally different vibe than the first two designs.
 
All 3 designs have just been listed + are now available in my SHOP! As a thank you gift, I also threw in a really cool (free!) BONUS GIFT for ya: 

Receive a BONUS GIFT with purchase! A set of 12 collage stickers from my Tribal Chic collection. ($10 value)

A set of 12 collage stickers! This set is from my Tribal Chic collection. (Inspired by abstract + intuitive mark making + graffiti.)

Display your love of Christ in your space with a downloadable art print. 

Click here to get your scripture print + stickers 

I hope you enjoy these gifts + have a wonderful holiday season. 

Surround yourself with people you love, people who uplift + support you + most of all, remember to do the things that make your heart pitter-patter with JOY!

As always, thank you for your love + support!

xoxo Martice

NEW VIDEO: Jumbo Gelli Printed Tags

I'm at it again, friends...

NEW VIDEO ALERT!!

I had the great honor of being a guest designer, again, over on the Stencil Girl blog and was so happy to be able to create these tags for my art journals.


In this video, I'm sharing 3 ways to add contrast in your artworks using: SHAPE, TEXTURE + COLOR.


Watch me play with stencils on the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate to create JUMBO gelli tags for my art journal!

3 ways to add contrast in your artworks using: SHAPE, TEXTURE + COLOR. Watch along as I create these JUMBO gelli tags for my art journal!

**Also, please some me love by leaving a "thumbs up" + SUBSCRIBE to receive notifications when I upload new videos!**

Link to watch the video >> https://bit.ly/JumboGelliTags2

Catch the written tutorial of Jumbo Gelli Printed Tags over on the StencilGirl Talk blog.

Thank you lovelies!
xo, Martice

NEW VIDEO: Creating a Layered Monoprint with RubberMoon Stencils

Hello creative lovelies!

Today, I’m giving you behind-the-scenes access to watch exactly how I create my super fun backgrounds.

Armed with only a handful of supplies, you get to watch my every move as I build up layers of color and texture, create a sense of depth + sprinkle everything with some hand lettering.

By the end of this video, you’ll feel more confident to approach the blank page or canvas, equipped with a bunch of easy to apply techniques to your own masterpieces.

LINK TO VIDEO* > > https://youtu.be/g-eE_eBeM8g

*Subscribe to receive a notification when I upload a new video! ;-)

RubberMoon Stencils:

• Months and Numbers Planner Pack of Stencils
• Kae Pea Paper Lanterns Stencil

Supplies + Tools used:

• Paper to print on (white cardstock)
• Acrylic paints (Titanium White, Sap Green, Cerulean Blue)
• Gelatin plate + Rubber brayer
• Sponge
• Craft mat or paint palette

::Project steps::

STEP 1// Create a monoprint using a stencil and a gelatin printing plate.

STEP 2// Apply second color; Pull second print

STEP 3// Stencil directly onto pulled print
Using acrylics and a cosmetic sponge, hold the stencil in place with one hand as you pounce the acrylic paint onto the stencil. (A sponge allows you to have more control and to help you vary your pressure.)

Remember to pounce off excess paint to prevent seepage under your stencil.


STEP 4// Journal with paint pens + embellish!
Add dots, lines and repeat shapes from stencil design.

There is no wrong way of doing this - just have fun, make bold color moves and enjoy the process of experimenting!

----

I hope you enjoyed my video on creating textured backgrounds enhanced with RubberMoon stencils.
xo Martice

I AM A COVERGIRL!!

Oh.my.goodness.......This! I'm a COVER GIRL! 🎉🎉🎉

Such an incredible opportunity to be featured + to be interviewed by Arkansas Style + Tech in July.

The interview is in a comic book style. I think it's sooo cool! Come learn more about my story + creative process!

A lil back story for ya:

3 months ago, I was setting my quarterly intentions for me + my biz. I wrote on a neon pink sticky note that I was gonna "be on the cover of a freakin' amazing art magazine". I didn't know what magazine that would be or how to make it happen.

Nevertheless, I kept the 'reminder' on my studio desk. Every time I saw it, I forced myself to read it out loud.

I kid you not; within 3 months, BOOM💥! It happened + I was sho nuff ready for it 😂.

So yeah, you can read more by clicking here > > 'Interview with Arkansas Style + Tech'bit.ly/ARStyleandTech

Digital goodies just landed in my shop

Happy August, my creative lovelies,

I have a new, digital goodies alert for you!!

Feast your eyes on my brand new, graffiti-styled downloadable STICKERS!

"Tribal Chic" collection of Collage Stickers from Martice Smith Art + Design

I wanted to offer an affordable option for you to get my art in your hands + into your own awesome creations. (If you have any suggestions on other products you'd want, please message me via the Contact form on my website.)

(Seriously, I'm like a toddler, running around the playground + squealing with joy over these boldly saturated beauties!) This collection has been all types of FUN. What's not to love? 

I've designed TWO sets - both are inspired by the symbols, tribal mark-making + grungy textures found throughout my artwork.

My hope is that these stickers, not only infuses joyful color into your world but also:

• Make you feel loved, encouraged + makes your creative process even more magical. 

Basically, the more colors you have, the better you'll feel. It's science.

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE!

You have the option of getting BOTH SETS of stickers as a bundle!

With the BUNDLE, you'll receive:

• 24 hi-quality unique stickers (instead of 12)
• unlimited reprints! Save the PDF to your computer + print them out as many times as you want

"Tribal Chic" BUNDLE of Collage Stickers from Martice Smith Art + Design

From my heart to yours, the "Tribal Chic" collection of stickers is now available!

  SHOP STICKERS >>  

P.S. When you purchase any set of stickers, you get *unlimited* reprints!

New art to bring joy into your space. My new shop is OPEN!

Hey abundant, creative lovelies!
A li'l miracle was born in the wee hours of the night, on Thursday, at 8:57 pm. I want to officially announce the arrival of my...

ONLINE ART SHOP!

::Cue HALLELUJAH music for the singing baby unicorns!::

Seriously tho, this art shop has been a true labor of love. I've relied on word of mouth for awhile (which has been great) but this feeling of having all my best work in a central place for you, is incomparable.

I love how so many of you have cheered + encouraged me to do this. 

(I've got butterflies in my tummy from being so nervous about this new venture; not knowing how people will respond...but I'm HOPEFUL + believe in miracles!)

The feature collection is called "SHOP MY INSTA".

This collection features high-quality art prints from the 30 day art challenge I hosted in April.

(Fun, behind-the-scenes moment: my favorite part of setting up shop was writing the product descriptions!)
I'd love for you to come by / buy + please let me know what you think of my li'l art shop! (I just LOVE saying that!)

I have another collection in the works! If you would love to see something else from my Instagram feed in the shop, please let me know, via email or leave a comment below.

I am SO grateful that I have an online BFF (like you) to celebrate right along with me!

Your support + encouragement means so much to me. My shop wouldn't be a success without you!

High-fives + confetti toss!

Pantone Inspired Abstract Art

 Pantone Inspired Abstract Art - Large Scale Color Swatch

Hi friends!
Today, I’m sharing how to create a large scale color swatch using DecoArt's new Americana® Premium™ acrylics, which are now available at select Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft stores.

I've included a downloadable color guide, below, so you can see the entire range of colors.

This project is great for the color-mixing-challenged folks. Super simple, I pinky promise! There's no exact rule on how to mix the colors - we are just gonna layer them one-by-one, on top of each other. Simple + instant happiness, which I know you love!

With all of the colorful frenzy happening in my studio, this muted pink was the perfect color to bring a sense of calm + more feminine energy.

This isn't just a simple, solid-color swatch - it’s layered with multiple colors so that it gives the illusion of depth. Let's get started...here's what you'll need:

Products Used:

DecoArt Americana Premium Acrylics:

• Titanium White
• Titan Buff
• Primary Magenta

Supplies Used:

• Watercolor paper
• Paint palette
• Paint brushes (flat, wide bristle brushes)
• Container of water
• Picture frame (16”x16”)
• Black marker
• Pencil + eraser
• Utility knife + cutting board

Time to complete: 1 hour (includes drying time!)

  

Step One: Clean the frame + cut out paper

I purchased a frame from my local thrift store + gave it a good cleaning because it had a lot of yucky dust buildup. If your frame has a cardboard backing, make sure you keep it as you’ll need to use it later to keep everything snuggly inside the frame.

Next, I cut a 16"x16" piece of watercolor paper. This will be our Pantone swatch.

  

Step Two: Draw lines to create the Pantone box

I don’t know about you but I don’t mind getting messy while creating art! I drew a border around the paper to represent the space where I'd paint.

One inch borders on the top, left, and right side. The bottom has a four inch border.

Step Three: Paint the color swatch

Don’t be afraid to paint outside of the box! In fact, the messier the paint strokes, the better.

(Notice the test swatch! I referenced the exact Pantone color, "Pale Dogwood".)

Squeeze out the acrylics onto your paint palette.

Take a large bristle paintbrush + apply the colors to the paper. You don't need to wait until each layer is dry - keep adding colors until you're satisfied with the color.

Order of application:

First layer of color: Titan Buff
Second layer of color: Titanium White
Third layer of color: a small dip of Primary Magenta.
(These premium colors are highly pigmented so, literally, a dip into the Primary Magenta will quickly change the mixture.)

Step Four: Add hand-lettering

Using a pencil, write the words on the Pantone swatch then trace with a black marker. Erase pencil lines.

Finally, add a pun to make it fun! I love a clever play on words.
Mine says “I have a blush on hue”. (This is a play on the phrase ‘I have a crush on you”.)

Step Five: Reassemble the frame + hang on the wall

Carefully place everything pack into your frame + admire your new Pantone-inspired abstract art!

  

Still curious about these awesome acrylics? Watch the video to learn more about 'em...

Americana® Premium Acrylics™ provide an intermediate-level, artist-grade tube acrylic at an affordable price point. YES! ::insert all the heart eyes::

They're similar to the Americana acrylics that you may already be using. However, these premium acrylics are medium-bodied...just a bit thicker than the craft ones.

They are intermixable which means that they blend well with other paint brands so that you can have #allthecolors! I also appreciate the flip tops which makes them super easy to use.

Happy creating!

How to Make a Color Wheel for Your Art Journal

Color is definitely my thing. (I'm guessing that if you've been hanging with me since the beginning of my blogging career, you already knew that, didn't ya?)

I admire how people respond to color in different ways. We know what we like + there is such a yummy buffet of combinations. Being able to articulate what turns you off about a certain color will help as well. (Maybe you prefer olive green over pine green or light pink over flourescent pink...)

I understand the frustrations of not being able to mix that perfect color from your imagination. Learning the basics of color theory will help you immensely. Color theory is easy to learn!  

Tutorial: How to Make a Color Wheel for Your Art Journal

Every artist - no matter their skill-level - uses a color wheel at some point for their creative projects. Learn how to make your own color wheel, so that you can study at your own pace.

Fear no color.

Allow yourself to be open to experimenting + playing with color. This activity teaches you how to mix up your own, unique colors, apply them to your work + what you want to express.

Alright creative peapods - are you ready to slosh paint around? Hop on over to my guest post on the StencilGirl Talk blog to create a color wheel for your art journal.

April Art Challenge Days 11-15, Plus a Roundup!

I feel like I can be honest with you - we are art sistas after all, right?

I cried happy tears this past weekend. Sure did. I'll tell you why...

A sweet lady, who is participating in the 30 day challenge, reached out to me to share her experience with the art challenge. She's given me permission to share her words:

"Martice, I can not tell you how much I love your 30 day art challenge! Your prompts are the best ones I've come across and they have given me the motivation to get up and create something. I am thankful to have found a fellow artist who leaves such thoughtful, generous comments on my art. You are a true example of what I aspire to as a professional artist. I have hidden my love for painting for the past 5 years. Yesterday, I decided to show my husband what I painted for the day 5 (spirit animal) prompt. He was shocked at the amount of detail I put into it! He also said that I should have it framed so we could hang it up in our living room!"

AH-MAZING, right?! Watching someone get past their fears to reach their breakthrough is nothing short of a miracle.

Want to join in? It's never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

Here's the cover of my board book for this 30 day challenge!

Click HERE to see a step out tutorial: How to Layer Jane Davenport Collage Papers.

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 11: DEEP IN THE OCEAN

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 11, 2017 at 6:45pm PDT

DAY 12: STREET

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 13, 2017 at 3:25pm PDT

DAY 13: CRYSTALLIZE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 14, 2017 at 11:12am PDT

DAY 14: VINE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 14, 2017 at 4:10pm PDT

DAY 15: SOMETHING FUNNY

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 17, 2017 at 7:11pm PDT

  SHARE THE INSPIRATION!  

Here is a roundup from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt.  

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!

April Art Challenge Days 6-10, Plus a Roundup!

:: Trumpet fanfare ::

We made it past the first week of our challenge! Woohoo!

I am blessed + completely in awe of the participation + encouragement that's been shared during this challenge.

Want to join in? It is never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

Here are two things I love about this challenge:

1. working on a smaller scale (Most of the time, I'm working on 9x12 or larger if it's commissioned pieces.) There's not a lot of pressure, which means, I get to enjoy being in the moment, creating something that makes me smile.

2. cheering for other people! I'm as proud as a mama hen when I look at the work that's being created under the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30. I make an effort to respond to EVERYONE'S posts. I leaving thoughtful comments - not what you might expect, right?! Well, I like to let you know what moves me, what makes me say 'You go, chica! You are rockin' this prompt!' Emojis can only say so much...

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 6: SPLASH

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 6, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

DAY 7: REVERSE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 8, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

DAY 8: STAMP

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 8, 2017 at 11:16pm PDT

DAY 9: PATTERN PLAY

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 9, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

DAY 10: LEAST FAVORITE FOOD

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 10, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

SHARE THE INSPIRATION!

Here is a roundup from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt.  

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!

April Art Challenge Days 1-5, Plus a Roundup!

Hello, fellow art challengers! I hope that this first week of the 30 day challenge was a creative one for y'all. I'm having the best time creating my marks + illustrations in a cute, little children's board book.

The board book only measures about 5 inches by 6 inches. The pages are a fun, random assortment of scrap papers + textured surfaces: phone book paper, canvas + heavy duty watercolor paper (300lbs!).

My favorite thing about the journal itself is that each page has a unique personality - there are wrinkles + some papers are torn. I LOVE it!

What kind of journal are you working in for this challenge?

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 1: PATH

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 1, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT

DAY 2: TROPICAL

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 2, 2017 at 9:19am PDT

DAY 3: 3 (333) THREE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 3, 2017 at 8:01pm PDT

DAY 4: MANDALA

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 4, 2017 at 2:38pm PDT

DAY 5: YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 5, 2017 at 1:20pm PDT

Want to join in? It is never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

SHARE THE INSPIRATION!

Here is a roundup of incredible art works from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld! 

How cool is this?! You can follow these BRAVE artists on the 'gram + cheer them on!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt. 

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!