cheer up!

In the class I taught today we looked at the art of Teesha Moore, the amazing artist who introduced me to art journaling over 20 years ago.  We talked about what we observed in her style and these are the notes that I made, highlighting the things I want to remember...

It is not a great photo but you get the idea...I used a craft tag...created little journal boxes for the different points that I wanted to note...used a variety of "fonts" to letter in my notes.  (I used my trusty Sharpie Pen for this.) Then I added a bit of embellishments with my Prismacolor colored pencils. Finally,  I added little pops of color with the Sakura Gelly Roll gel pens in fun neons.

Then this is one of the pages that I created Teesha-style...
(watercolored background...plain and simple since I knew I would be adding lots more to this page...)

Then came the collaged borders...and the girl (I couldn't resist her cranky little face!)...and her autumn dress...doodling...shading...and journaling...

So, so much fun!!!  It is so good to look at other artists and their work...really study them...find out what resonates with you, and then experiment, play, and learn new things!

Thank you Teesha Moore...for sharing your authentic style and for so much inspiration.

onto the page

I L-O-V-E art journaling for so many reasons...but you know that already don't you...I love it just for the joy of creating, but there are times when I am working through "something" and the processing is screaming to be expressed on the pages of my art journal...this is what happened with this page.  As I was "struggling," a picture of a cherry pie came to mind...hmmm...and so I hunted through magazines till I found just the right picture...and I propose that even that "hunting" helped with the processing...anyway, here is the process as it developed on the pages...

First, I "spilled" what needed to come out all around the edges, creating a border...

Then, since it wasn't "pretty,"  I covered over parts of the journaling with dictionary text and strips of a magazine page...

Then came the "antidote"...one of my favorite Scripture verses, written big and loose, some of the letters ending with an upward swoosh and some with a long finish line...

Next, I added some swipes of gesso over some of the journaling and the collage elements, plus some texture paste through a stencil, to unify the different elements... 

  

Since I knew I was using a cherry pie I decided to sketch some cherries over the verse and watercolor them with Tombow markers and a waterbrush...kinda scarey, but so much fun once I just committed, and did it...I had fun with the doodled leaves too!   :)  I also added a bit of shading around the sketches with a Distress marker (Antique Linen) and waterbrush...

Finally, I outlined the pie with a Fudeball pen-all squiggly-plus a Stabilo pencil and the same Distress marker and then blended with a waterbrush...

That's it!  I had worked it all out right there in my journal...it is hugely significant to me and the page will serve as a reminder and encouragement to me to engage and be faithful to the process. Once again, our art journals serve us well!  :)  Hi Ho Cherry-O!!! 

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!).  :)

borders

When was the last time you got out your crayons and just played?
I decided that I wanted to do a watercolor wash over crayon...I just love the resist effect.

Love!!!

Then, inspired by the Documented Life Project prompt of "Borders," I cut strips of clip art from Teesha Moore and bordered the page. (It was at The Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA many years ago that I heard Tracy and Teesha Moore speak about art journaling, and so began my art journaling journey.) Next I cut my memorial stones and "stacked them in the center...added some pen work and journaling ...done...(at least for now. I'm trying to decide if I want to add a bird sitting on the top stone...)

Simple! Basic supplies and a simple lay-out and you are set! (And when you open that box of crayons...it HAS to be Crayola...take a deep whiff...it will take you back to your most creative years...kindergarten...truly!  I just love how they smell!)
Have fun!!!

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."   :)

art

I read this quote and have been thinking about it. (It is always interesting to think about why we are compelled to create-at least for me it is.)  :)  And then Joanne Sharpe showed this flower in Artfully Inspired Life 2015 and I figured I could do that.  So I decided to create a journal page...

I sketched out the layout...the lettering and the flower...in pencil first then I inked it all with my trusty Sharpie pen. When I was sure that the ink was dry I erased all pencil lines.  Now for the fun!  Using my Tombow markers I "loosely" applied color.  Then I took my waterbrush and "moved" that ink around, filling in and softening lines.  I love having the control of a marker, yet the look of watercolor.  I decided I needed just a little something else so I put a blue marker in the Tim Holtz Spritzer and spritzed here and there.  (It is a little hard to see this in this picture.)   Finally, using a Kuretake waterbrush filled with sumi ink, I brushed ART.  I absolutely love how very rich and bold that black-black-black sumi ink is...I definitely want to "play" with it in more projects.

Have a great day!  And go ahead...create something, make your soul visible!  :)

better than therapy

Getting color on paper...

 



Ink sponged through a stencil...ink pad brushed on the page...watercolor splattered-which, by the way is SUPER fun, maybe because it feels a little out of control :) in a good way...hmm...better than therapy. Try it!  (Just watch the walls when you splatter :) just saying)

"playing" and processing

The last "official" day of summer...wow...it has come and gone so quickly...I have been (of course!) sneaking in moments of journaling time when I have been able...I thought I would share some of what I have been "playing" with...

 

 

..."playing" with Tombow water-based markers and a water-brush, Distress Stains by Ranger, Prang watercolors, stencils, and my trusty Sharpie pen..."playing" and processing...

winding down

...the month, I mean, is winding down...already...whew!  I've only been journaling in fragments...or so it seems...But all those bits add up...last night I discovered that I had finished my family camp "page"...This is based on something that I saw on Teresa McFayden's blog...I just LOVE it since I enjoy doodling letters and words more than images...super simple and the concept can be applied to lots of things...

I used WATERPROOF black ink and a calligraphy pen to ink the boxes and journal in the "memories"...It is a fun challenge to use the dipping pens and ink...definitely slows you down...I find it very relaxing and meditative...plus, I just love using as many "fonts" as I can think of...

...Then with Marvy brush markers and a water-brush,  I watercolored each box and added extra embellishments (white polka dots, sparkly gel-pen highlights, blue ink in SHOW) when the paint was dry...

 

 There you have it! My notes and memories from Family Camp...journaling in the box...:)

Go ahead...get out some scratch paper-so there is no pressure...its only paper!-and give it a try..Play a little!