that was fun!

I've been teaching altered book basics this year, and so this has been my "playground."  This is one of the pages I have been playing with...

Combining my love of letters, collage,wash tape, fun edges, doodling...it is still in process since I know that I want to add clip art or a stamped image...I will update you as I finish it...

Too much fun!!!

much ado about nothing

I'm either reverting to my childhood or I am just needing some not-so-serious moments when I sit down in my studio...yep! I am still playing with crayons and watercolors...and enjoying every carefree moment!  I did several pages one day:  just scribbling the crayons around the page...

and then swishing watercolor over the top...

So much fun!!!

And then from one, I completed an art journal page...

 

 

Since this was just playing-around-on-paper fun...AND I had just seen Shakespeare's play by the same name...it seemed an appropriate journal entry (I used Kuretake Zig Sumi ink brush pen for writing-Love!).  :)

contrast

 

  

This is a project that I did for Lifebook 2015...It was a bit of a stretch for me since I don't usually "work" like this...but I really enjoyed exercising different art muscles...

 

On 9"x12" Strathmore Bristol paper, I collaged tissue, book pages, washi tape...then I added a bit of stamping, acrylic paint and then gesso to tone things down and unify the page.  Next came these fun doodly imaginary plants (per Tam Laporte's instructions)...this was the big stretch for me since, while I love to doodle, it is a little intimidating to me to have MY "drawing" actually be the focal point of the page...yikes!...Next, I used NeocolorII watercolor crayons to add color.  This was super fun since I only occasional "play" with watercolor crayons...BUT, note to self:- keep them out and use them more...this was so much fun!...

 

The point of this exercise was to explore value contrast...so I created a few very dark (thickly colored) spots and then contrasting lighter spaces...this was a very interesting, very meditative, very thought provoking art time...I thought about contrast and diversity...and how without the dark and light...the differences...that art...and life...would be a bit monochromatic...definitely less interesting.

I really, really liked the light and darker color blocks I had created, so it was a "stretch" again to add penwork (I almost didn't do this)...white acrylic paint pen to the darker areas, and black to the lighter areas...

 

Here are some close-ups of different spots on the page...

 

 

Oh, and of course, I added WONDER (my WotY)...printed on vellum and stapled to the page.

 

There you have it...the value of contrast.  :)

 

 

mark making

The theme for March for Documented Life Project was mark making...this is where I started...

I "sat" with this for a while...wasn't inspired to add any more "marks" soooo...

...my default is usually dictionary page pieces...  :)

A little acrylic paint-colors of spring-swiped on with an old credit card...this is where I am...I'm liking it this way, although I know that I will add to it...what would you add to this page?

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!  :)

it helps

As I practice "mindfulness" it helps to create a journal page to remind, rehearse, and "handle" whatever it may be that I am processing... 

 

This page consists of a few key words...a simple doodly sketch which I outlined with Tombow markers and then "watercolored" with my water-brush...that's it...enough to remind me to keep my "eyes peeled."   :)

book report

If only...

If only I had been allowed to do book reports like this as a kid in school!  :)

So...our Women's Bible Study just finished a short 3 week study on the "book" of Habakkuk...It was a wonderful study:  relevant, deep, applicable.  I loved it...and I haven't been quite ready to "be done" with Habakkuk so I decided to do my own review during my quiet time...which led to jotting down highlights...which led to these blocks all lettered out...  :)  Since I penciled it all first and then inked it (with my favorite pen...the Sharpie PEN)...I got to REALLY "handle" these highlights...so, not only was it a fun review but interacting with the Word helped reinforce it too...very fun!
...hmmm...I'm thinking color might be fun now...  :)

What do you think?  Give it a try with the next book you read...the who, what, where, when, why and how just might be alot more fun penned with a little playful "flair".  :)

still giving thanks

My heart is full and as I bask in the mood of Thanksgiving...

I am STILL giving thanks, counting my blessings, CHOOSING gratitude...and this is the perspective...the frame of mind that I want to continue to carry into the Christmas season...into the new year...into my everyday, in fact.

Blessings and Thanks to you!

the finished page

Here is the finished page (from the last post)...at least for now I am happy with it...who knows, I may add to or alter it sometime...:)  That is one of the things that I love about art journaling...just like me, the pages are always "in process".

 

 

I cut the "frame" with an exacto (a technique we worked on in my "Cut It Out!" class at Creekside Studio https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creekside-Studio/573215292765578 )...then I added a little doodling around the frame and the leaves...plus, I used the Gelly Roll stardust pen to add a bit of sparkle to the wing...you can't really see it in the photo, but its fun.  :) I also gave the polka-dot butterfly antennas with a bit of thin brown twine tied on.

 

Hope you are enjoying your summer.  :)



A is for...

The next page is A...
A is for "Appreciating, Acknowledging"...

and the back...
  (dictionary scraps, gesso, Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, clip art, washi tape, flower embellishment)

Then, N is for "Naming, then"...
  (Tim Holtz tissue paper, scrap with ransom letters-"take note", psalm 100 distress inked)

and on the other side...
  (dictionary scraps, gesso, Broken China Distress Ink, scrap paper, postage stamp doodled around, border added with Tim Holtz tiny staples)

Thankfulness really is a game-changer...Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  :)

November

When I was thinking about November's journal, I knew that I wanted the focus to be "giving thanks"...for the obvious reason of Thanksgiving this month, but also to keep me mindful to appreciate and enjoy the moments-big and small-of my days...so here is the beginning...
I cut a manila file folder into the basic tag shape, and then put the letters on each...

 ...together the pages spell out...

...and then doodled..."zentangled"...

I'm working on a THANKS acronym...as I ponder thankfulness.  :)

Till next time.

How doodle you do?

As I mentioned before, most of my journal play this month has been done in 10-15 minute increments...so this page began with the doodling...

...later I added some color...and in the final sitting I added the words (which had been on my mind during the week) at the bottom of the page...

...pause...breathe...rest...smile...
                                                                    ...doodle...

Time well spent

Wanting to be productive while "waiting" one day, I doodled this...

I noticed it on my desk, and since I had a bunch of phone calls to make, I grabbed it and my bag of pencils and pens.  As I was talking on the phone I colored it...

 

This little reminder to myself is much more fun now...plus the image is much more secured in my memory now that I have "worked" it...Time well spent. :)