Wanderlust: Weeks 1 and 2.

Hi! So, I have thoroughly been enjoying Wanderlust so far! Every week is a different teacher, lesson, technique, etc. The first week, one of the hosts Jamie, taught us about products; specifically inks. He encouraged us to find our journey through paths and maps.

I really wanted my first pages of my 2018 art journal to be very impactful and meaningful to me. My word of the year made itself very clear during the last few weeks of 2017. And that word is VOICE.

So, I took Jamie's words of "find your own journey" and created a page where the soundwaves of my voice is my journey to expressing my inner self. Also, I feel this page represents so many people in the world right now. My hope is that my voice will empower others to lift their voices high, to stand up for themselves and others, and to be a light in the world.

I started the blank pages with journaling my intentions for this spread and for the year. Then, I painted and collaged; building up the layers.

Week 2 was so much fun because it was led by an artist I have followed for some time now. Michelle Turbide helped us to find our touchstones and to paint intuitively. 

"The Path" is my mixed media piece created on a 12x12" canvas. I enjoyed this process so much; that I have another canvas halfway done, and want to do this in a journal spread. 

I hope you've enjoyed the art so far! I will be sharing my Wanderlust work every 2-3 weeks. 

I have another project in the works, as well. As soon as I get far enough into it; I will be posting those photos. 

Happy creating! 

B

Cheers to Jeanne Oliver!

 Artsy friends, I'd like to share Jeanne Oliver's new creative network right here. With her first blog post about it here. She talks about how long the road was and the hard work it took to get there, but they made it! I am so happy for her! She is one of my favorite, most inspiring artist-role models! 

One of my favorite classes of hers is Wild Awakening. This class was such a soul-pushing, limit-busting, expression-finding workshop! If you ever have the chance to take this class; you will not be sorry! Here is the 8-piece set I am working on during this class. These are about halfway done. There are many more layers to go! 
And this class has so many different processes you learn that can all build onto each other to make a series like this, one big piece, or even art journal pages. The sky is the limit once you learn these fun techniques! 

I had never played with charcoal or soluble pastels. Seriously, this class really stretched me creatively, with new mediums and techniques! 

Layers of coffee stains, charcoal and pastels... so far. Going to add some light blue and other contrasting colors and mediums before it's all said and done! 

Well, I hope you all will leave me some love below or tell me what class you've taken over at Jeanne's!   Also, go check out her new site and get entered into a fantastic giveaway! 

xoxo

B

jazzy christmas

Anyone else ready for Christmas? I am pretty excited about it this year! I am getting to go to CA with my man to visit his family. We are going to be hitting up San Fran, San Diego and L.A.! First time for me to be that far west. I am definitely packing a mini art travel kit. I hope to art journal while I'm out there. My art journal has a band that keeps it closed. So, that will also make it easy for me to insert/hold any inspiration or keepsake ephemera I may find. I'll be sure to share the fun photos and journal when I return. (there will not be a blog post next week)

This past week has been filled with parties, jazz concerts and more painting! Let me catch you up!

PARTIES:

My work holiday happy hour was a blast! We had such a great turnout and everyone had fun. Sybergs on Dorsett always takes good care of us. This is our 5th year doing it. (I co-started it 5 yrs ago when I came to work at USTL)

Mix+Mingle with Pour Favor. My girlfriend (below, right) Kathy started a nonprofit company called Pour Favor. She brings in handmade goods (purses, bags, clothing, etc) from her home country of Honduras and sells them here. Profits go back to Honduras to further the education of women and girls there. This is her way of helping this violent area move in the right direction. You can find out more here and here. 

We had so much fun singing and dancing! Eating good Latino food and meeting new people! 

My man won the door prize! (which really meant *I* won the door prize! hehe). It's a beautiful "weekender" bag! 

JAZZ:

Gotta give props to my man. First off, he spoils me rotten! Second, he plans amazing date nights. One of my fave venues in STL is Jazz at the Bistro. He took me out to eat at Barcelona, then we headed to The Bistro for a Jazzy Christmas with Tim Warfield. If you know me, then you know I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC! The whole night was Christmas music...jazz style! It was such a great show! The next day I downloaded his album, Jazzy Christmas. It's a superb album. I have been listening to it all week! 

Joanna Pascale was the vocalist. She almost brought tears to my eyes. I was so filled with joy that evening!

PAINTING:

Here is my very first commissioned canvas piece! It's called "Somewhere in the Stratosphere". It's going to it's home today! Very excited how it turned out. 

The next 2 paintings are now available for sale. Contact me for more information. They are 14x11", gallery wrapped canvas. Acrylic paints and inks with a glossy protective varnish. 

"Shake Down Street"

"Cloud Nine"

I'm also very proud to report that my art ("Peace of Mind") was featured in this month's Lost Blvd box. This is a monthly subscription box filled with fashion, art, home goods, etc. They also sell items on their website.  

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a fun and safe New Year!! See you after the first! 

in other funny news...

I've been painting a lot lately. Starting on a new piece tonight. I've been missing my art journal, too. So, I want to make time for that in the next few days. I am also now taking requests for commissioned pieces in the styles you see below. Contact me for more information. 

I gave Harrison one of his Christmas gifts. I painted this red/teal canvas for his office at work. It's called "Lost at Sea".  Happy to report that he loves it!

In other funny news: over Thanksgiving, my Dad did a hilarious Jeff Bridges impression. So much, that we all were dying laughing. So, I just HAD to get him a funny Christmas gift. My friend, Brian, has his own small shop called Coffee Mugs Never Lie. (his FB page) He can literally put anything you want on a coffee mug! Plus, it's totally inexpensive. Check him out when you have time! 

Check back in next week for new paintings and to see what inspires me!

back in the saddle again

Hello, world! I'm back!

It's been almost 3 years since I last blogged. (2 years and 10 months to be exact)
I've decided to take it back up again. Basically, I needed a home base for my art projects. Here, you will find the latest and greatest of all things beth perry art. i.e. links to Instagram accounts, contact information and coming soon: ways to purchase my art.


As most of you know, I have around 12 years of scrapbooking experience. Recently, I've moved more into art journaling. I felt this need to be more artistic without the photos. I fell in love. It was this internal "push" that got me here. (I'm listening, God!) Once I knew I really wanted to focus on art again, things just kept falling in my lap. It was really amazing! The 'push' also led me to acrylic painting on canvas. It was truly awe-inspiring how doors have continued to open so quickly for me. I know that I am on the right path!

 As of now, you can purchase prints of my art over at Society6.  2 of my prints are also available on iPhone cases. Fun, right?!

In The City

Bliss

Peace of Mind; Parts 1&2

Right now, I do have some art journals for sale. They have a light wash background; perfect for adding more art, photos, scrapbooking, journaling or even leaving it as is! They are 6x4.5" and $25.00. Comment below or email me if you'd like one! You can choose if you'd rather have Happy (pinks, teals, yellows) or Moody (dark blue, grays, orange, and reds)  Obviously, each one will be different and unique.

These were inspired by a class I took from one of my favorite mixed media artists, Dina Wakley. 

Here is one of my favorite art journal spreads. The right side turned into a print over at Society6 called Echoes. 

I have a few goals for next year. 

1. selling commissioned work direct

2. create videos (tutorials, behind the scenes, etc)

3. have an exhibition

I truly started this a few months ago with those above goals being in 2 years. But, with the overwhelmingly amount of support from my friends and family already; that lead time is quickly shortening. I am blown away by the amount of requests I currently have for custom pieces. I thank God for showing me this path and I thank YOU for your love and support. 

So, let's take this creative journey together, shall we?!