Love & Carnival: February Art Guide
There's something magical about February - a month where love mingles with celebration, where quiet moments of pattern-making meet the joyful spirit of carnival. I invite you to join me on a gentle creative adventure that combines painting, zentangle meditation, and the healing art of paper collage. Each 30-minute project is designed to be a peaceful refuge in your day, a moment to breathe and let your creativity flow.
Color Palette
Our February colors tell a tale of love and celebration, each one carrying its own gentle energy and story in our creative journey:
Purple - Like an amethyst catching the winter light, this nurturing shade brings us the protective, healing energy of February's birthstone. Let it remind you of wisdom gathered and peace found.
Light Blue - Gentle as a February morning sky, this soft powder blue wraps around us like a cozy blanket, inviting peaceful contemplation in our creative moments.
Yellow - Think of winter sunshine dancing through frost, bringing warmth and joy to our days. This golden tone reminds us that light always returns.
Cherry Red and Pink - The tender heart of Valentine's Day speaks through these romantic hues. Cherry red whispers of passionate creativity, while pink embraces us with gentle affection.
Lavender - Delicate as flower petals in a winter garden, this ethereal shade pairs beautifully with black or silver accents, creating spaces for dreams to bloom.
Aquamarine - Fresh as ocean spray and clear as winter ice, this color brings the visionary spirit of Aquarius, inviting us to explore new creative horizons.
Turquoise - Deep as tropical waters and bright as winter sky, this shade carries Aquarius's gift of inspiration, encouraging us to trust our unique creative voice.
Remember: Each of these colors is a doorway to expression - there's no need to use them exactly as they appear. Let them inspire you, blend them, play with them. Your interpretation of these shades is part of your unique artistic journey.
Gathering Your Tools
Beyond our paint colors, we'll be using:
A selection of papers in our palette colors.
Fine black pens for zentangle patterns.
Gel Pen and acrylic markers.
Scissors and glue stick.
Canvas or heavy paper.
Brushes (wide and medium).
Your favorite peaceful space to create.
Week 1: Carnival Rhythms
Where pattern meets celebration.
Start with flowing turquoise strokes across your canvas, creating gentle waves of color, you can also add light blue to create color variation and some yellow touches to make it more fun. As this dries use your fine black pen to add zentangle patterns - think of swirling waves and carnival ribbons. The repetitive patterns become a meditation, each line a peaceful breath.
For the final layer, cut simple shapes - circles like confetti, curved lines like streamers. Arrange these playfully over your patterns, letting some float free while others nestle into the zentangle designs. The combination of painted flow, meditative patterns, and paper elements creates a celebration that's uniquely yours.
Week 2: Love Letters in Color
Whispers of pattern and paper.
Begin with soft washes of deep purple and pink, letting them blend like gentle conversations. While these dry, create small zentangle hearts filling them with patterns that speak of love - flowing lines, interweaving circles, tender dots that pulse like heartbeats.
Cut out red paper hearts and arrange them on your painted background. Add white pen details flowing between the hearts, connecting them like whispered words of affection. Each pattern you draw becomes a love letter, each piece of paper a tender note.
Week 3: Masquerade Dreams
Where mystery meets meditation.
Create a base layer with the blue colors from our palette. Add zentangle patterns drawn in metallic pen - masks, feathers, and swirling designs that speak of mystery. Cut delicate shapes from dark paper to create silhouettes of masks and flowing ribbons. The contrast of shining pattern against dark paper creates a magical dance of revelation and shadow.
Let your patterns flow from paper to paint and back again, each medium supporting the other in a graceful masquerade. Some patterns peek through layers of paper, others appear across the surface, creating depth and intrigue.
Week 4: Heart's Carnival
A celebration of colors and textures.
In this joyful finale, we bring everything together. Start with your favorite color combination, then add zentangle patterns that make your heart sing - perhaps the waves from Week 1, the hearts from Week 2, or the masks from Week 3. Cut and layer paper elements that echo your patterns, creating a conversation between media.
Let each element - paint, pattern, and paper - support the others. Your zentangle designs might flow onto your paper shapes, your paint might embrace your patterns. This is a celebration of everything you've learned, every technique that spoke to your heart.
Zentangle Patterns to Explore
Throughout our month of zentangle patterns, we'll begin our mindful journey with the patterns: waves, interlocking hearts, feather-like swirls and spirals. Let each pattern be a moment of peaceful connection with yourself, allowing your breath to flow as naturally as your pen moves across the page. There's no rush, no need for perfection – just the gentle meditation of line following line, creating a dance of patterns as unique as your own heart's rhythm.
Collage Tips
Your collage journey begins with an exploration of paper's natural beauty. You can start by tearing it slowly to create soft, organic edges that feel like clouds. As you build your composition, experiment with layering transparent papers atop one another, watching how they create mysterious windows of color and light. Sprinkle your work with tiny pieces of paper like joyful confetti at a celebration of creativity, each small fragment adding its own spark of delight. Let your paper shapes flow naturally alongside your zentangle patterns, echoing their graceful movements. Remember that each torn edge, each layered piece, each tiny fragment is part of your unique artistic voice, coming together in perfect harmony to tell your story. Trust the way your hands want to place each element - they know exactly where each piece belongs in your composition.
Mixed Media Magic: A Guide to Layering
Let's explore how different materials can work together on your page. Each medium brings its own gift to your creative journey adding depth and mystery.
First Layer - The Dreamscape (Watercolor + Ink):
Start with water to invite the colors to flow.
Drop in watercolors, letting them blend naturally.
While still damp, add drops of ink.
Tilt your paper gently, allowing the materials to embrace.
Let this layer dry completely.
Second Layer - The Heart (Acrylics):
Add thinned acrylics in gentle patches.
Leave some of your first layer visible, like memories peeking through.
Build slowly - you can always add more.
Let your brush dance lightly.
Allow to dry fully.
Final Layer - The Stories (Pens and Markers):
Begin with lighter gel pens for delicate details.
Add acrylic markers for bold accents.
Finish with fine liners for intricate patterns.
Let each mark be intentional and caring.
Reminders for Mixed Media Play
Each layer needs time to dry - like thoughts settling in meditation.
Test your pens on a scrap piece to ensure they'll flow over paint.
Embrace unexpected interactions between materials.
Keep paper towels handy for gentle clean-up.
Remember that "mistakes" often become beautiful surprises.
Nurturing Tips
Work from light to dark.
From fluid to opaque.
From broad to detailed.
Let each layer guide the next.
Trust the process of building depth.
A Note for Your Creative Heart
As you explore these projects, remember that each element - paint, pattern, and paper - is simply a different way to express your heart's voice. Some days you might spend more time with zentangle patterns, finding peace in their flow. Other days, the play of paper shapes might call to you more strongly. Trust your intuition; it knows exactly what your creative spirit needs.
The beauty of combining these techniques is that each supports the other. If a painted area doesn't feel quite right, a zentangle pattern might make it sing. If a pattern feels too busy, a simple paper shape laid over it creates a peaceful pause. Everything works together, just as every part of you is welcomed in this creative space.
Share your creative journey with me on my social media - let's celebrate each other's expressions of love, carnival joy, and peaceful pattern-making.
Next month, we'll greet spring with new patterns, colors, and paper dreams. Until then, keep drawing, painting, and collaging with joy.
Winter Magic: January Art Guide
As the new year unfolds, we're embracing the quiet beauty of winter in our first month of 2025. Get ready to explore frost patterns, winter botanicals, and starlit skies through mixed media art! Imagine early morning frost sparkling on windows, winter clouds heavy with snow, and the golden light of a winter sun. Our palette and themes captures these magical moments of this month.
Week 1: Frost Morning
Let's create some winter magic! Start by getting your paper all cozy with an ice-blue and silver gray watercolor wash - this is where the fun begins! While it's still wet, sprinkle some salt like you're seasoning a winter wonderland (trust me, it's going to look amazing). Once that's dry and you've brushed away the salt crystals, add some misty silver-gray touches around the edges, if needed - think winter morning vibes.
Now comes the really fun part: grab your stencils and dance some patterns across your winter scene. Layer them like falling snow. While that dries, let's create some paper snowflakes in different sizes - mix up regular paper with some fancy metallic ones for extra sparkle!
For the grand finale, arrange your snowflakes across the piece and sprinkle in some silver gel pen details. A few tiny snowflakes in the empty spaces, and voilà - you've just created your own piece of winter magic! ✨❄️
Week 2: Winter Sunset
Ever noticed how winter branches cast mysterious silhouettes against a twilight sky? Let's capture that magical moment where deep navy meets winter's rose and golden light! Start by sketching graceful branches reaching into your evening sky - keep them bold and flowing. Once you're happy with their dance across the paper, trace them with your fine liner to create strong silhouettes.
Now for the color magic! Begin with a deep navy wash at the top, blend it into soft winter rose tones in the middle, and let pale gold illuminate the horizon. While that dries, fill the spaces between branches with delicate patterns that echo the last shimmer of daylight. Add metallic gold accents where the light catches the branches, and finish with white gel pen details like frost catching the final glow. Remember to leave some open spaces - just like glimpses of the twilight sky peeking through winter branches! 🌅✨
Week 3: Night Sky
Ever dreamed of capturing a starlit night in your own artistic style? Let's create a geometric night sky where moonlight meets mystery! We'll start by mapping out a constellation of shapes - imagine the night sky divided into windows of wonder as you draw your grid pattern. Some spaces large, others tiny, like glimpses of different moments in the night.
Now for the magical part: fill your geometric spaces with layers of soft black watercolor, letting some areas fade into moonlight silver, like clouds dancing with starlight. While that dries, add trails of white dots and lines, creating your own constellations across the canvas. Finally, bring your night sky to life with shimmering silver accents and delicate white details - like stars winking in the darkness. Remember, some of the most beautiful parts of the night sky are the spaces between the stars! 🌙✨
Week 4: Dawn Light
Time to catch winter's softest moment - when dawn whispers awake! Begin by creating gentle flowing shapes across your paper - think of how morning light drifts through winter clouds.
Start with soft washes of winter rose at the bottom, like the first blush of sunrise. Let this gently blend into ice blue in the middle, creating that crisp morning sky feeling. Add touches of champagne where the colors meet, like sunlight breaking through. While these layers dry, create movement with flowing lines and gentle swirls - imagine the morning breeze stirring awake. Finally, add delicate highlights where your colors dance together, creating that sparkling frost-meets-sunrise magic that only winter mornings can bring! ✨🌅
Week 5: Snow Shadows
Ready to explore winter's subtle side? Let's dive into the quiet beauty of snow shadows, where simple patterns create a story of light and texture! Begin by mapping out gentle geometric shapes across your paper - these will be our canvas for shadow play.
Start with a base of pearl gray washes, like fresh snow catching the morning light. Layer arctic blue in your chosen areas, creating those mysterious shadows that winter casts. Add pure white details for where light catches the snow's surface. Now for the fun part: fill your shapes with zentangle patterns - think of ice crystals, snowflakes, and frost patterns. Keep some patterns tight and intricate, others flowing and free. Let each section tell its own story while maintaining that peaceful winter mood. Finally, enhance your shadows with deeper touches of arctic blue, letting your patterns peek through like secrets in the snow! ❄️✨
I've prepared a year-long art guide for 2025! Each month brings new colors, themes, and creative adventures - all wrapped up in easy-to-follow weekly projects. You can expect weekly tutorials and complete supply lists.
Remember: Art is about personal expression - these guides are just starting points for your creative journey. Feel free to adapt techniques, swap materials, or follow your artistic intuition!
Join the Journey:
• Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates.
• Watch tutorials every Wednesday.
• Tag me on social media, I'd love to see you share your creations.
Let's make 2025 our most creative year yet! 🎨
30 Days of Gratitude: Daily Collage Challenge
20 minutes to reflect and create with thankfulness. I've prepared simple prompts to exercise creative freedom and develop the habit of daily practice. Feel free to use it in a way that makes sense to you.
Daily Prompts & Reflection Ideas
Creating With Gratitude Tips:
Before Each Session:
Take 1 minute to reflect on the prompt
Write down 3 specific things you're grateful for related to the theme
Gather materials that represent these elements
Set your timer for 20 minutes
Time Breakdown:
2 minutes: Material selection
15 minutes: Creating
3 minutes: Finishing and photo
When Stuck:
Start with a background
Choose just 3 elements
Focus on composition
Trust your intuition
Success Tips
Prepare Ahead
Sort materials weekly
Set daily alarm
Choose workspace
Stay Consistent
Same time daily
Keep kit ready
Document everything
When Short on Time
Simplify approach
Use fewer elements
Focus on composition
If You Miss a Day
Continue next day
Combine prompts
No guilt - just create
I’ve prepared a list of material, in case you need it and I have some options listed in my Amazon StoreFront, but feel free to use what you already have at home.
Basic Kit (Keep in a Box):
Cutting Tools
Sharp scissors
Craft knife
Self-healing cutting mat
Ruler
Adhesives
Glue stick (2-3 backups)
Double-sided tape
Regular tape
Papers
Background papers (A5 or 6x8")
Magazine pages
Old books
Wrapping paper
Tissue paper
Newspaper
Junk mail
Paper bags
Organization
Folder for paper scraps
Container for tiny pieces
Plastic sleeve for finished work
Journal for notes
Optional Materials:
Washi tape
Paper punch
Decorative scissors
Postcards
Maps
Sheet music
Vintage ephemera
Stamps
Tickets
Memory Keeping:
Date each piece
Add a brief gratitude note on the back
Create a gratitude journal from your collages
Share with loved ones
Make copies to give as thank you cards
Remember: This challenge combines mindfulness, gratitude, and creativity. There's no "wrong" way to express thankfulness in your art. Let your heart guide your hands! Each 20-minute session is a success, regardless of the outcome!
Follow me on Instagram and Youtube to see my creative interpretations of these prompts!
I'll share the second week prompts next Friday, November 8th.
With gratitude,
Rosi.
Transform Your Creativity: The Magic of 20-Minute Collages
Have you ever wondered how just 20 minutes a day could revolutionize your artistic journey? Today, I'm excited to share the transformative power of daily collage practice AND invite you to watch my latest video showcasing this technique in action!
Why 20 Minutes of Collage Will Change Your Creative Life?
🌱 Nurture Your Artistic Growth
Build confidence through consistent practice
Develop your unique visual language
Learn to trust your creative instincts
Watch your style evolve naturally
🧠 Boost Mental Wellness
Create a mindful pause in your busy day
Release stress through artistic expression
Practice present-moment awareness
Build a sustainable creative ritual
⚡ Practical Benefits
Fits easily into your daily routine
Uses minimal supplies
Perfect for using up scraps and found materials
Creates a visual diary of your journey
Ready to Start Your Daily Practice?
Essential Supplies:
Collection of papers/images or pateterned paper
Your creativity!
Quick Tips for Success:
Set a specific time each day
Prepare your materials in advance
Focus on process, not perfection
Document your journey
Keep it simple and enjoyable
Stay Connected:
You can find me in about every social media by @rositonacostudio.
Share Your Journey:
Tag your daily collages with #20MinuteCollage #DailyCreativePractice
With creativity and joy,
Rosi.
From Code to Canvas: My Journey into the World of Art
Six years ago, my life took an unexpected turn. With a Master's and PhD in Artificial Intelligence under my belt, I was working for a major tech company, immersed in the cutting-edge world of computer science…
Six years ago, my life took an unexpected turn. With a Master's and PhD in Artificial Intelligence under my belt, I was working for a major tech company, immersed in the cutting-edge world of computer science. But the high-pressure business environment began to take its toll, and I found myself yearning for a change.
That same year, I faced a personal tragedy with the loss of my father. In my search for solace and a way to process my emotions, I turned to art. What began as a coping mechanism soon blossomed into a passion that would reshape my entire life.
During the challenging times of the pandemic, art became my escape and my anchor. In 2019, I started sharing my creations online, initially as a way to document my artistic journey. Little did I know that this simple act of sharing would transform my hobby into a full-time career.
Over the past few years, I've dedicated myself to studying and experimenting with various artistic styles. My background in AI and computer science has given me a unique perspective, allowing me to blend technical precision with creative expression.
Recently, I've found myself drawn to surrealistic collage. This medium fascinates me because it allows for the perfect fusion of reality and imagination. Through surrealistic collage, I can express the vivid imagery of my mind, creating worlds that exist beyond the boundaries of our everyday experience.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been sharing my passion for art with my audience. It fills me with joy to see my work inspiring other artists to create. As an introvert, I've been amazed by the meaningful connections I've made within the art community. These experiences have helped me open up to the world in ways I never expected, showing me that I needed this artistic path to grow not just as a creator, but as a person.
The sense of community and the relationships I've built have been transformative. They've helped me understand that art is not just a solitary pursuit, but a powerful means of connection and communication. Through my art, I've found a voice and a way to engage with the world that feels authentic and fulfilling.
As I continue to evolve as an artist, I'm grateful for the unexpected path that led me here. My journey from the world of algorithms to the realm of art has taught me that creativity knows no bounds, and that sometimes our greatest passions are discovered in the most unexpected places.
I invite you to join me on this artistic adventure, as I explore the limitless possibilities of surrealistic collage, continue to push the boundaries of my imagination, and foster connections within this vibrant creative community.
