We're starting a little late today because I had a project to finish up and the Woog decided to take a 3+ hour nap so we probably won't have the finished product to show until tomorrow.

She knew right off the bat what she wanted to make so for the first time, I let her pick out the items for it. The first thing she dug out was a box of pencils and declared that it would be the horn (glad she's seeing a vision with different objects) and the frame would be the head and the Melissa & Doug puzzle box would be the grass. The star and hardware bits were extra things she just threw in. I'm guessing he also wants to paint something purple. We'll see how it goes!

Oh, and today she drew one of the best portraits I think she has ever drawn. You can see it here.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Completed! The Woog's involvement was pretty minimal for this one than it usually is. Since her daddy was home she wanted to play with him a lot which worked out well for this piece since I did a lot of painted detail.

Labels: junk-a-doodles, uncle_sam

Happy 4th!! We're working on the base of Uncle Sam and doing this one a little different by using clay (she made the "snakes" for his hair and beard) and painting the body in gouache. We'll then junk it up from there. Check back later...

Labels: junk-a-doodles, uncle_sam

Thanks to Amy's post this morning I sent my husband and the Woog to the moon. Space was our inspiration today and this is what we came up with, It took way much longer than I anticipated because we kept switching stuff around. I think we pretty much used all the junk we picked out.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Here's the begining of todays project. The theme is space. We may not use everything here but we'll sure try. Check back later today for the finished piece.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on January 16, 2007

It's Wednesday again and time for Woogie Wednesday. This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodles) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:


I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"Diamonds" she said with a smirk on her face. She was wearing a "diamond" ring and she wanted something to match.

I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do, so it took me a while to figure it out and in the meantime she lost interest but did check on me from time to time and hand me pieces of junk to use.

The best thing I could come up with was a cat with diamond stripes and diamonds on the collar. I also did a few stitch lines and am calling it Illustration Friday this week too.

Here's how it turned out:



I'm still working on the Woogie Wednesday site, but prints should be up for sale over the weekend if not before.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on January 9, 2007

It's Wednesday again and time for Woogie Wednesday. This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodles) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:


I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"How 'bout a DUCK!"

OK. I guess we both have birds on the mind today.

She starts picking out which parts will be what and paints the head, beak and paper punches random bits, while I paint the background. She them turns her attention to doing one all by herself and confiscates 2 of the pieces. She made a mouse and thought it was hilarious that I took a picture of it:

And here's how it turned out:



And then here's out finished product. more of a chick than a duck. It would make a cute Valentine's Day card I think.



I'm launching a Woogie Wednesday site next week and we'll be selling prints of our pieces, so stay tuned!

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on December 18, 2007



We finished up our snowman and our cards go out tomorrow!

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on December 12, 2007

The past several (SEVERAL!) Woogie Wednesdays have consisted of deadlines for me or the Woog helping me measure, paint and whatnot in the new studio. We didn't do pictures of those days because it really wasn't all that interesting. But now, since the studio is done, this is the first Woogie Wednesday and really the first kind of art (besides those 60 illustrations I had due yesterday) that was done in the studio. And, since we've started late in the day it will continue into a Woogie weekend.

Today, we are working on our Christmas card. We're making a Junk A Doodles snowman:



And the Woog is loving her new studio space. Here she is while the paint is drying:



And I don't like to show a room that's not yet fully decorated (hopefully I'll be able to do that some tomorrow in between projects), but here's a sneak peek at one wall:

Labels: junk-a-doodles, studio

Originally posted on September 26, 2007

It's Wednesday again and time for Woogie Wednesday! today I'm also announcing a contest I'm hosting for Halloween. Pumpkin Junkin' I had this idea last year but didn't have the time to execute it. It should be lots of fun so won't you join in? All the details are on the site.

The Pumpkins:



The Junk:



The Final Product:



And Details of Each

Labels: junk-a-doodles, pumpkin-junkin'

Originally posted on September 10, 2007



Well, we finally finished up our pieces from here and here. Hope the little ones like them!!

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on September 5, 2007

Well, here it is Wednesday again and we're still working on the dog gifts from last week. I've gotten busy with work so we haven't been able to make much progress until today.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on August 29, 2007

Well, here it is Wednesday again and I think out project for Woogie Wednesday will turn into a Woogie week and weekend for a few reasons. Number one, we aren't home today so I'm working remotely and I can very well bring all my junk with me to create and two, the canvases I want to do these on should be arriving from Dick Blick today so the Woog can't start painting yet.

I decided this morning that our project would be a gift for a little boy and a little girl. You may not be able to tell anything from this messy sketch, but at least "I" know exactly what I'm doing :)



Oh, and last week's start of a giraffe never happened and may have to turn into something else another day. There has been zero interest from the Woog.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on August 19, 2007

Obviously Woogie Wednesday didn't happen this past week due to deadline and not being home on Wednesday so we did something this weekend instead. The Woog wanted to make a silly face for her project and she was more interested in playing with the pieces rather than painting them so we ran with it. She made 2 faces she really liked. A happy one and a said one that HAD to have a different nose and HAD to have eyebrows. I then attempted to make a face with her objects but "had it all wrong" and it was swept away before by a little hand before I could get a shot of it.



Work has slowed a little for me a now so I can get back to all my blogging. My blogs have been so neglected :(

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on August 8, 2007

Another quick pop-in to share Woogie Wednesday. Not extremely creative but creative none the less. The Woog woke up this morning wanting to make a chocolate chip cookie. She did everything herself on his one. She even placed it on a flower folder I had. If the flower was yellow, it could of doubled for a sunflower too!



I'll be back to blogging soon. I just have had and continue to have deadline after deadline. I have a big post I've been wanting to write for a couple of week about my promotion process. I'll get to it soon. Promise!

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on August 1, 2007

Just doing a quick pop-in to share Woogie Wednesday. I've been working non-stop since the week after my surgery and I've got so much more to go. This particular Woogie Wednesday has been a work in progress since last Wednesday. The Woog has painted here and there all week as I met deadline after deadline. We finally finished it up today. Her contribution to it today was trying out her new pair of siccors and cutting every piece of scrap paper in my studio, which is now all over the floor now.

The pieced we worked on was the ornament for Robert's Snow. They were nice enough to let me turn it in a little late due to my surgery. I think it turned out pretty cute! Wish I could keep it :)

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on July 12, 2007

Here's the completed Woogie Wednesday piece we started on yesterday. The Woog picked out the pieces for the hair and did some painting. During the process of painting and gluing she kept telling me "good job" and "I'm proud of you." Pretty funny.

Here's the final piece. It might be my favorite junk a doodles piece so far. I'll show my postcard when I have it all laid out.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on July 4, 2007

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for Woogie Wednesday. Since it's Independence Day today we did more of a collage with junk rather than the things we normally do and instead of painting the Woog had the job of "sqiiiiiisshhhhh-ing" the glue and gluing on the fireworks (aka buttons). I decided to stick it in a frame and it's new home is in the kitchen. Happy 4th!

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on June 27, 2007

It's Wednesday so it's time for Woogie Wednesday. This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces.

We actually did a little something different this time. We're posting Hickory-Dickory-Dock pieces over at the Illustration For Kids blog this week so I thought we'd work on that.

Here's what we started off with:


She helped me pick out the watches (I came across a huge back of old watch parts last year and had to get them) and painted the background. She announced that she was done painting so she helped me by handing me different paint colors and paint brushes.


Here's how it turned out:



I noticed that the floor and table in the background was a bit camouflage so I decided I could kill 3 birds with one stone and submit it for Illustration Friday this week.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on June 20, 2007

Nap time has resumed and everyone is happy again so it's time for Woogie Wednesday. This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:


I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"How 'bout a flower? No, a doggy!"
"Which one" I asked.
"A Doggy!"

We work on the background and she would rather stamp some paper instead so she does that. I then start to assemble pieces and she decides to go off an do her own thing. She does come in and check on it from time to time and ask if I'm making her dog, Do-Wop. I tell her it really doesn't look like her dog, so she decides it must be someone else's.

Here's how it turned out:



I made him a yodeling dog since she's been yodeling all day for some reason. Not sure where she picked that up?!

I've had several people sign up for Big and Little Art but no one has confirmed their membership. It's pretty lonely over there with Stacy and I so won't you join us? By participating it helps your search engine results :)

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on May 30, 2007

She woke up in a decent mood so we were able to squeeze Woogie Wednesday in. This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:


I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"How 'bout daddy?!"

Alright, I guess since she already made mommy, it's daddy's turn.

She paints his goatee and then proceeds to paint herself for the duration of the project. "Hey, look at my tummy mommy!" Humm...whatever, she's having a bath tonight anyway.

And here's how it turned out:



I think anyone who knows him would say it looks like him. And he'd even wear a funky patterned shirt like that, much to my dismay.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on May 23, 2007

It's Wednesday again and that means it's time for Woogie Wednesday!! This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:


I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"The circus!!"

So we're off. She paints the frame and then the paper under the frame, then the table, then her hand...ok we're done painting. While she goes on to destroy my studio and toys, dess-up clothes, etc. she checks in on the progress with comments such as "amazing," "beautiful" and "awesome."

And here's how it turned out:




Many people have emailed or commented asking about participating in something like this, so I've come up with a new blog dedicated to it. Check it out here! Here's how it works: Grab a child in your life and let them dictate what you all will do. Work how you work so they can see what you do and how you do it. If it's on the computer, give them the mouse to color something in or if your medium of choice is paint, have them paint. Just be creative!! Participation is open to all.

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on May 16, 2007

It's Wednesday again and that means it's time for Woogie Wednesday!! This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces. We started early this morning since we have a busy day ahead of us.

Here's what we started off with:



I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"Hey, there's a B!"
"Yes, that's a B, but what do you want to make?"
"A B!!"
"Like a bumble bee?"
"YEAH!!!!!"

So we're off. She's a little distracted by Dora (again) but she manages to paint the background and tells me she wants a blue bee (like the blue B I guess). She paints a little more and then just wants to watch Dora while she checks on me periodically.

And here's how it turned out:

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on May 9, 2007

It's Wednesday again and that means it's time for Woogie Wednesday!! This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces.

Here's what we started off with:



I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"Mmmmmm...how about me!"
"You?" I said
"YEAH! Hey, where's my nose?!" she yells.
"Umm...I'm not real sure where it's going to go."

Oh boy, how was I going to do this? While she paints the background, I play with the shapes to see how it would work. Ok, I got it! She finished painting the background and then moves on to dancing and singing to Johnny Cash (actually it's Joaquin Phoenix singing as Johnny Cash) never to return to helping me, but she does want to play with her little head I've made.

And here's how it turned out:


Her response: "Mama, how pretty! THREE! I'm three!"

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on May 2, 2007

It's Wednesday again and that means it's time for Woogie Wednesday!! This is where we make one of my found object (Junk A Doodle) pieces. I was out of town last week away from the Woog so we didn't get to do it then. I'm also contributing this to Illustration Friday's theme this week: Remember. Remember to involve your children in your work!

Here's what we started off with:



I then asked her, what should we make out of all this?
"A yiyon" she says (aka "lion).
I ask her what color it should be an she says orange. "OK, let's paint it orange."
She then proceeds to color and paint different pieces. Once assemblage starts, she looses interest in it and moves on to something else but she does check in with me from time to time to see it.

I start having my doubts about picking the light bulb because I have no idea where to put it. Ah, ha! The king of the jungle needs a crown! Perfect! And here's how it turned out:

Labels: junk-a-doodles

Originally posted on April 18, 2007

This is another thing I've been wanting to do on my blog for over a year now. The woog (in case there are any new readers out there, this is my 3 year old, daughter's nickname) has gotten to the age where she has a huge imagination and likes to help me "work." So, I'm declaring Wednesdays as "Woogie Wednesday" in the studio. Today she happened to not take a nap so I took advantage of the time. I hope to post one every Wednesday - cooperation permitting :)

Here's how it works:

I pick out several random objects:


I then ask her what we should make.
"Ahhhh, ummmm......a COW!" she says.
"OK. What color cow should it be?"
"wed" (aka "red")
And then we go from there with her choosing colors, painting and coloring and then I take what she's done and put it all together to where it's a cow.



Not bad for our first go at it. She giggled at the balloon :) Oh, and notice there's no blue button like in the first picture? Yeah, "we" lost it during our creative chaos. I wanted to sit down with her and look over the before and after to see if she could pick everything out but she's already onto Dora and snacks, so maybe later.

Labels: junk-a-doodles