Welcome to my channel, I'm Denise Love, the founder of 2 Lil' Owls Studio and I'm thrilled to have you here! I'm an artist, photographer, and creator of digital resources and creative workshops. My passion for art and the creative process has led me to explore various mediums and techniques throughout my career.
Whether it's paint, pencils, or pixels, I'm constantly pushing boundaries to find new ways to express myself. I believe that creativity is an essential part of life and I'm dedicated to helping others discover and cultivate their own artistic abilities.
My channel has shifted from a photography focus to an art focus in April 2023 so on my channel, you can expect to find a variety of content that showcases art tutorials, art hauls, tutorials on various art techniques, intuitive painting tutorials, art challenges, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into my creative process, studio tours and more. Join me on this artistic journey and let's unleash our creativity together!
I rebelled against my office job, went to school and became a massage therapist, a fun and challenging work I did for 27 years. I totally believe in rebelling against the status quo. LOVE your abstract you did today.
I am really starting to get into this type of painting collage with all the varieties of mediums my question is can these be sold and if so how would something like this be marketed?
So the Kakimori brass nib needs the Kakimori holder but the Kakimori traditional nib does not? The Kakimori traditional nib will fit in a standard holder? Thank you for your channel!
Correct. My Kakimori traditional nib fits my other holders. That brass nib is a hard circle base and doesn’t fit my other holders. I had to get that kakimori holder.
Denise you definitely rebelled in a good way to begin your creative path,art was maybe your true 'calling'. I love the mix of the sheen of the walnut ink and the matt acrylic,you have such a fun time discovring new things as you paint that it inspires us to do the same. Draw liner for the win for sure!your videos aleways make me smile and always motivate me in my own mixed media work. (matt) P.s you sor of inspired an idea for my next batch of handmade sketchoooks too,you use wax aper to protecr other pages,and it got me thinking about that paper as a surface to actually paint on,so am creating a handmade sketchbook,using waxed paper,velum,tracing paper,glassine paper,drafting paper etc,just got curious and had a what if moment,so thank you for insping me to try something different.
Art has definitely been my calling! When I was growing up people didn't pursue art as a career... unless you want to be starving... how times have changed! So glad you loved this one.. I have a handmade book using my wax papers - turned out cool! Thank you! 🥰
@@2lilowlsstudio Denise I agree I began my career as a self employed illustrator/graphic designer in a time before the internet existed and it was much harder to actually earn a living,but it gave me a discipline that I still have now as I still earn a living doing those things,but the internet has made this much easier (Matt)
I did not like abstract art until I started watching your videos....then I decided to try it myself. Like you have said it isn't as easy as it looks!! Now I am hooked and have been making books, even creating journals out of old hard cover books from the thrift store. Thank you for sharing.
I love that you brought out the walnut ink! We used walnut ink in art school and used those bamboo dip pens to draw with it, and also used it as a wash and for monotone painting. I haven't had any walnut ink in years and decided to order some about ten days ago--it's arriving tomorrow! Coincidently I watched another RU-vidr artist I follow last night, and her video this week was also about using walnut ink! Looking forward to seeing more RU-vid artists pick up this medium and watching what ideas they come up with for walnut ink.
I painted with coffee and cream once. It wasn't intentional. Once the page dried and I added more paint, it wasn't half bad. Coffee stained some of the other papers I had on my desk, so I had the opportunity to try different things. Think I'll make me a cup and see where I end up this time. Thanks for the inspiration.
yep...love my composition book journal, not precious abt using it, & w/crazy beryl power issues sort of resolved, getting back to adding is cathartic...ty!!
Lovely to hear more of your story Denise -- I could *not* have done your design job -- the closest I have been to that kind of precision was doing calligraphy & I can't even do that anymore because I cannot stand to measure anything! That may be part of why your way of making art is so inspiring, it's about breaking out of constraints and literally creating something that has never existed in this universe ever before -- abstract painting is the key to sanity :)
My eye site isn’t what it used to be… so I’m glad to not have to be so precise anymore… been more than 10 years since I’ve done the design work… now I can’t see the tiny marks on my architectural scale 😂… Thank you! 🥰
The brown &blue are a great combination. I love the bottom left section of the page on the right with the swirls and dots and lines. I recently rediscovered some walnut crystals that I purchased YEARS ago. I'm having fun staining paper with it. Thank you and have a wonderful Sunday.
I’m excited that you have had a great week of creating art! I nodded my head several times as I listened to you…I remember you showing us the Dina Wakley art journal and I was so intimidated by the different types of materials and it was so big! Then I started regretting that I didn’t order one as I enjoyed what you did in your book. I’m getting materials today to make my own thanks to your skillshare class. I also smiled when you talked about being in a 365 photo group and how that changed your life. I’ve been in a 365 photo group since 2014. 😊 Lots of friendships and much more creativity have been unleashed because of that and I that’s how I found out about your still life classes. You are very much appreciated! ❤
I feel like I was in a 10 year 365 project after doing that 1st year and started my creative business… I posted everyday for all those years… probably why I’m a bit burned out on it right now 😂… so glad you are making a journal!! Can’t wait to see what you create! Thank you! 🥰
Love this piece! I just got some of that packaging material the other day. I was more excited about getting the package material then I was getting what I ordered. 😂
Hi Denise! I love this art journal painting. I really appreciate how you show up for yourself and us in an authentic way. Thank you for all the tips and advice. I’m so inspired to start my creative journey/business. Have a blessed week! ❤
Mmm LOVING this. I did not like painting in journals I wanted my paper to be flat. Ha, ha 🙃😁. Then I saw the large Dina W journal here, and thought, ok, lets try one. I can always give it away if I don´t like it. It made me paint things I never would have tried otherwise. I have the benefit of being retired. So I can paint when I want. Like everyday 😂 I saw your class on making my own journals. Oh Denise what have you got me into ??🥰 Now I´m obsessed. Folding pages, making holes, sewing, making covers. I will not be able to use all of them up even if I get 120 years old. 😅I will have to give some of them away. I am so happy to meet you in every video you make and appreciate your channel so much!! Se you in the next one :)
I wanted flat paper too!! And after starting that Dina journal, I’m hooked! I’m obsessed with making my own too. It really is a different feeling to make art in a book you created yourself… then flip through the pages.. such a feeling of pride! So glad you are enjoying making your own too!! Thank you! 🥰
You became rebellous - quitting your job and doing arty things instead. I did a similar thing about 30 years ago and it was a wonderful feeling, although scary at the time, but I'm so glad I did it. I went to college and Uni, got myself a design degree and do arty stuff every day. Money isn't everything, but being content with your life is a very satisfying feeling and I don't miss going out to work at all. I'm 'retired' now, but still do my art and am happy with who I am and what I do. Taking a chance can reap rewards, and I'm so glad you took a chance as I'm now able to watch your inspirational videos and enjoy them very much. Thank you!
I might have still had that day job... and just kept this as a side hustle... but my parents got sick and I quit to go take care of them... my mom passed with lung cancer... and when I finally came back home - (I had magically made it all work during that time somehow)... so I continued the small business instead of going back to work.. wish my mom could have seen how that all worked out. She just knew I was ruining my life when I quit my job... but I'm so thankful I got that time with her. 😊
Love that walnut ink! I have some inks but can't open them. Not sure if all inks are so hard to open but will be using those when I figure it out lol. Thanks for getting me started this year on my own 365 day project. Its going well!
Try putting the top of the ink bottle where it screws under running hot water…had to do that with gesso last week as it was stuck but after just a little while it opened easily…always I try this way with everything that is stuck on…Hope ot works for you….🥰
Denise @2lilowlsstudio shared a gripping device with us from Golden that helps open different sizes of paint tubes that have stuck. It was a few months ago, last year definitely. Maybe if Denise sees this she can let you know it's name. I hope you get sorted soon. 🤞 😊
This is fabulous. New subscriber! Love the combination of subtle colours, circles and doodles. That shelf liner texture is awesome!! I use that paper mesh a lot in my collage. If you spread it out and tape it down over some other paper, you can spray it with ink to colour it, and it acts as a stencil at the same time, producing awesome results on the layer underneath. I've sprayed it with gold over a dark coloured card which looks fantastic. In its raw state, you can expand it, and rub the raised surface with gilding wax which looks great against the brown paper. You can also use it to create texture on the gel plate, and then use the piece with the paint on it in collage. I need to stop saving this now, as I've got a whole roll of pieces of it that have come with deliveries. As for the paper punchinella, I use the leaflets that come with my medication. It is already accordion-folded, and it's printed. Without unfolding it, I punch holes in it with my Crop-a-Dile and then unfold it. You get a much nicer effect than punchinella because the holes are not completely regular. I combine both sizes of hole from the Crop-a-Dile. Again, you can spray this and use it as a stencil at the same time. It tears beautifully along the perforations, leaving a great edge, and I often use little strips that are torn from two adjacent lines of holes. The printing on it adds texture and interest. You can search for examples of this in my projects on my blog - link in my profile.
