more abstract play

So here is how I finished up the abstract pages, that I shared last time...
...per prompting from Tori Weyers' lesson, I added a little gold (I am not usually a metallic, bright, blingy person, but I have to admit this was fun for me)...

And then I added some journaling which included the definition of abstract, and its significance to me...

This was very fun...out-of-the-box for me...I highly recommend trying something new, something creative...stretch...just for the fun of it!!!

abstract. play.

I don't think I've ever done an abstract before...at least not intentionally.  :)  This was inspired by Tori Weyers "lesson" from Creative Jumpstart 2017.  I love playing with my paints but don't consider myself a "painter."  Tori made this project very "accessible"...in other words, I wasn't intimidated but instead couldn't wait to get my paints out and try it.

When I looked up the word abstract, my favorite definition is from the Latin word meaning "pulled away, detached," and the basic idea is of 'something detached from physical, or concrete, reality'...hmmm...this makes me think 'fantasy.'  Maybe that is why I didn't feel any "pressure"...it is made up...in other words, it doesn't have to "look like" anything other than what I make it...woohoo!

It was super fun to "stretch" my creative muscles with something new.  I am not sure it is finished (like a lot of my journal pages)...In the lesson, Tory added gold metallic paint...that might be fun! Also, since I did this in my art journal, I am thinking I want to add some writing...maybe I will write out the definition of abstract...I'll keep you posted.  :)

happy new year!

Happy New Year!!!  Every year I choose a Word of the Year...a word (with its corresponding thought, definition, etc) to watch for, to focus on.  It is amazing how significant these "words" become as I live with them over the course of the year...and it is so much F-U-N to see them pop up...like a surprise...found treasure.  I highly recommend giving this "exercise" a try and see how it impacts your life.

My Word of the Year (WotY) for 2017 is SHINE.

I will now begin to incorporate this word and its various meanings and what I am discovering about this word FOR ME during the year into my journal pages.  This is the cover of a composition book that I altered.  I used an S dictionary page (S is for shine!) and then used my acrylics, a stencil, and cut the star...easy peasy...cheery and fun!

2017...I'm ready!!!

yummy texture!

One of the things that I LOVE on my journal pages is texture...

This page included texture paste, crinkled and glued tissue, textured cardstock, a doily, a kraft paper (brown paper bag) scrap, a manila paper die cut (with a Tim Holtz layering texture die), dictionary paper-of course!  :), and the perforated edge of a spiral page.  (You can "play" Where's Waldo and hunt around to find and identify these different elements :)...)  I glued all these down, "embracing" any wrinkles.  Then I applied the texture paste to overlap and touch the different elements.  When the paste was dry I applied a thin coat of gesso which really enhances the texture of the cardstock and the wrinkles in the tissue and kraft paper...YUM!!!  For color I used watered acrylic paint...

I now have a great foundation for my art journal page.  I could add my focal image at this point, or continue to layer on collage elements and more color, or...well, the possibilities are limitless!  Too much fun!

Time to play!  :)

playing around...

Playing around is all part of the process...and so I experiment with my supplies, and with different color combinations...here I wanted to try a "neutral" background.  I layered gray gesso, black gesso, and white gesso with a variety of circle themed stencils...

Then I smeared bright acrylics onto a dictionary page, and decided this would be a fun pop of color on this background...I wrote "art" and cut it out...

Then I tore strips to create a frame...what to use as a focal image?  I decided to use one of my own sketches (a Juliette Crane inspired owl)--sketched on deli paper with a Stabilo ALL pencil and then "activated" with matte medium...

That was fun!  Engage the process!!!
Have an art.full. day!

autumn

Loving autumn...

...and journaling inspired by this season...happy, happy!

oops!

Oops!

My last post got "published" before I got the pictures posted...so here they are...this is the result of playing with stencils and acrylic paints.  This is the envelope I referred to in my last (incomplete) post...

 

 

And this is a "print" made from a stencil with the acrylic paint...

 



 

 

Playing and experimenting with supplies is a great way to get to know what supplies can do.  Art journaling is such a great "place" for this kind of play because it is great for creating backgrounds for journal pages...let the journaling fun begin!

five

Documented Life Project prompt from a few weeks ago was "five layers"...this is my interpretation on my art journal page...
The collage element was "one" layer :) which we created in my Creekside Studio Sew Fun Art Journaling class last week (stitching-both with a sewing machine and by hand-is super fun!  Try it!)

First, distress inks were applied directly to the paper, and also sponged through a hand-cut stencil.  Second, I spritzed black marker ink through the Tim Holtz spritzer.  Third, the journaling came next, in the "white" space created by the stencil...prompted by the word 'thrive' on the dictionary page and by Frida, my focal image...along with the doodling.  Fourth, I glued down my collage layer.  Finally, five!, I added a little acrylic paint grid for texture.  Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!  :)

best job ever!

I have been teaching classes and so I HAVE to create classes, make samples, put together class kits, organize supplies...and, of course, practice techniques...this is a peek at what I will be teaching at the Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville on Sat. 3/21...

 

Too much fun! I truly am blessed to be able to "work" at what I LOVE!

I am so very thankful...best "job" ever!!!

 

greetings

For you...

Hope you're having a good one!

a good reminder

Looking back through an old journal served as a good reminder...not only of what was going on in my life at that particular time, but for now also...When we record life what we are "processing" and the lessons we are learning in our journals we have the benefit (just one of many benefits-hint, hint) of remembering that important lesson or event. And as many of us know, those past "lessons" can be invaluable instructors and encouragement for today.

 

 

An acrylic wash of that happy green paint, scraps of various paper around the edges to create a border, the pointing hand from a Trader Joe bag, pictures of cute boots from an ad, NeoColorII watercolor crayon highlights, and then journaling...tada...and so it was "documented".



just because...

A little gesso, a few pieces of tissue, a spritze of acrylic paint, a stamp turned into a stencil, a rough attempt to sketch that stamp big...just because...  :)

Just because I LOVE "playing" in my art journal!  And why not?!? 

Fall...

aaahh...fall...

 

 

"living, enjoying, celebrating the GIFT that is today...this moment...NOW.  Today is a gift...untie the ribbons."   Ann Voskamp

 

Enjoy!

playing!

I am having a blast getting ready for the next Creekside Studio art journaling class (Monday 3/24)...we will be playing with acrylic paints, using stencils...discussing a little color theory...incorporating a "tip-in", a transparency, putting a pop-up in our journals...lots of fun...here is a peek at the prep going on around here...

 

 

 

Just look at all that yummy color! I can hardly wait!  Check out Creekside Studios on facebook for class details... Creekside Studio