Monday, November 14, 2011

1 SQUARE + 1 SQUARE = A STAR

How can that be? How can 1 dark square in a square plus 1 light square in a square equal a star?

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Sunday, November 13, 2011

30 DAYS: 7-12 finished spread
"Hmmmm," I say to myself, "you know you created this problem yourself because you didn't start fresh with a new journal that is the same size as Julie is using." But I wanted to use what I had on hand. As I get further into the class I'm learning how to work around and problem-solve my way out of issues AND learn some new skills. Here I am, makin' lemonade :)


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Saturday, November 12, 2011

LEAVES ARE FALLING

It's hard to believe that just two weeks ago we had 24" of snow on the ground and still had leaves on the trees. The neighborhood kids were building snow jack-o-lanterns rather than snowmen.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

ENOUGH ALREADY

inspired by CLOUDS 365 Project Blog
The best laid plans seem to go awry but enough already. Friends are calling. Emails come in daily. Facebook messages and notifications. Yes, I'm still here. Yes, I do believe life is beginning to slowly return to normal. Yes, the distractions are gradually beginning to dissipate. I say, ENOUGH ALREADY!

... read more ...




Thursday, November 10, 2011

30 DAYS: additional pages prepped

Getting ahead in the process with page prep ... possible prompt: I'm thinking blueberry memories and the song Blue Velvet. (did I just date myself?) LOL

the collaged sentiment points in a pretty clear direction for this spread ... we'll see what happens.
no ideas yet where this will go just using up left over paint and inked stamps

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

30 DAYS: Day 8 and Day 9

On Day 7 when our task was to use tags in our journals, my page was already pretty full with BIG numbers and collage borders not to mention my play with collaging a lady as a focal point. My solution was to draw a tag behind the lady and continue with the journaling in the remaining space. But that just didn't seem right. I didn't feel as if I was being true to the intent of the technique or format of the lessons for this week.

So, I pondered ... and I paced ...
and I thought ... and I wondered ...
And then, on Day 8 Julie made a postcard flap on her page with "secret" journaling hidden underneath. Ah ha! The light bulbs went off. Surely there is a way I can incorporate a flap in my journaling. After a little more thinking and plotting I came up with a way for add a fold-out flap to the edge of my page to add journaling space to Day 8. I also added a center seam flap for Day 9 having the two flaps meet with a mitered corner.
edge flap open
center seam flap open
center seam flap closed

Other things added:
  • I finished the shoes and legs for the collaged art dollie
  • I used a receipt from the art supply store and some ad material for collaging on the flaps. Strategic placement of gesso over the sale total was critical. LOL
  • I closed both flaps and re-stamped the number 9 on top of the flaps so it shows if flaps are closed but is there if they're open
  • I played with some circle stencil texture
One more thing I would like to do is find the tie closures for envelopes and add that to my flaps so they could be closed until I want to reveal/read the hidden journaling beneath the flaps. I'm not sure if I will continue with more flaps or tags on the right side of the spread. That is to be determined yet. For now, back to doing some advance page prep ... gluing 2 pages together for added foundation or base strength, coating with gesso creating more "tooth" to the surface which will help the paint adhere to the page, adding some collage materials and stencil texture, and one of my biggest helps:
 
 
I jot down quotes, meaningful phrases, and journaling prompts on post-it notes and stick them in the my journal on different pages at random so when I'm out and about I am already to go ahead with journaling on pages that are all prepped.

Monday, November 7, 2011

30 DAYS: Day 7

There's nothing like waking up in the morning with something to look forward to. The inner dialog goes like this:

"Oh, these quilts are sooooo warm and comfy. I don't want to leave the warm nest to get up to a shivering cold room. What time is it anyway?"
"Ugh, I need coffee ... Miso, what did you do with my other slipper? My toes are freezing!"
"Wait," ... hurrying out to the computer ... "get this puppy booted up. It's time for the next installment of my 30 Days in Your Journal class. What time did Julie say we could expect the new lesson to be posted? Gosh, I can't remember a thing these days. Coffee, I need coffee."
"Ok, computer is booting, coffee maker is heating up. I think I'm going to make it."
"Oh, YAY, the new lesson is posted," sigh, settling into my comfy chair coffee in hand ready to be inspired and energized with art journaling goodness for another day!

Today was all about tags and personal ephemera, but I'm facing a major dilemma with my page layout. I auditioned some tags on my page but even for "maximalest me" this page seems to be pretty full with out many more additions. I pondered different solutions throughout the day thinking i might have a major light bulb moment, but such was not the case. So, I mapped out a tentative plan for the journaling text path for each day and decided that I will go ahead making my tags and saving them in the "fodder file" for another day.
Having said that, you can see what I did do with my page spread today ... check out the close-up. In addition to my short, very short patch of journaling, I doodled my tag and my art dollie. She definitely is sporting an up-do these days but needs some serious help in the wardrobe department. I need to do something with her heels but I'm not sure if I should color her legs or leave them as is. What do you think?

Note to self ... next time remember ...
        • smaller numbers (but I like my big numbers)
        • fewer numbers on a spread (I can live with that)
        • use a larger journal (but this fits so well in my purse)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

30 DAYS: Day 6

My previous spread was full earlier in the week so I moved forward in my page prep; I wanted to play with a little bit of Teesha Moore style with creating a collage lady and page borders. I wanted to keep continuity with my big numbers. This part was done earlier in the week - I think about Day 3 or 4.

Day 6 rolls around and it's time to prep new pages and to add tags and background texture. Oh no, I was so intent on continuing with my theme and my agenda, I forgot that Julie would have "assignments" for me. She would have ideas for me to experiment with in my journal. Like ... adding tags and doing more with my background. What to do ... what to do ...

Problem solved! I doodled my tag around my lady and painted the "tag" with white acrylic. I also punched a hole in my tag/page and will add a ribbon tie after I'm finished with this side. and now for the background. How to stamp all those circles ... that is the questions at hand.

In my vast stash of rubber stamps I don't think there are any plain ring circles. Always time for a little shopping on the Internet, but then, do I really want to buy MORE supplies for the class - especially rubber stamps. Think, think think ... walk away from the studio table and ponder a little.

Problem solved! I found my perfect circle stamp using the end of an empty thread spool and then using a Smooch spray misting down inside. The ink ran down the insides and allowed me to create a "coffee cup" stain type of print. Gotta love the happy accidents.

Now to think about my journaling text path ... but, not to worry ... that's not until tomorrow ...

Friday, November 4, 2011

30 DAYS: Day 4



 
I added some collage, played with my pan pastels and checked out the journaling over the gesso and paint with the new Pitt pens. Wow, what a difference. Just like anything - when you have the right tools :) (the BEFORE page)

My new favorite thing for adding definition to the collaged shapes - playing with the pan pastels. I have only the basic colors but will definitely be going back and adding to the set.

As close friends and family know, those who know me well, my patience is non-existant. When I'm ready to go, when I'm ready to try something new, I need to do it now. It's called striking while the "creative iron" is hot, and that's how I am right now wanting to play with stenciling my page backgrounds. I can't wait for some of Julie's stencils to get here. So, in the meantime I did a little bit of play with a basic stencil from the local hobby store. The visual texture adds a whole new dimension to the page. AND ... now that I'm seeing them all together across the spread, I'm liking my big numbers. I wasn't sure about them to start with because they seemed to take over the whole page. I'm sure it doesn't help that my journal page size is about 5x8. I had to change around my way of thinking about what these pages are all about.

This journal is about:
  • recording your days ... simply with spontenaity
  • having fun playing with new techniques and different materials
  • exploring and enjoying the process

Thursday, November 3, 2011

30 DAYS: Day 3

I love a treat. I hadn't really thought of my day as a treat but that is what it turned out to be. In the beginning my day started as a day of running errands. Let's just take care of everything that needs to be done all at once and then I'm in for the next few days not having to go anywhere and i can create or do whatever strikes my fancy without interuption. (Mike flew out to Oregon early this morning so that REALLY helps keeping the interuptions under control LOL)

First on the list was to plug into the GPS the address to Miller's in Pittsfield. This is an art supply store I'd seen once during one of my exploring escapades but couldn't really remember exactly how to get there again. Ahhhh, I was in heaven the minute I walked in the door. How wonderful to wander the aisles soaking up all the goodness on those shelves. My bag was suprisingly small when I left but full of goodies I'd been secretly wanting for some time. I found my pens (Pitt pens from Faber Castell) and my pan pastels. I can't wait to get home and play with these last little pots of goodness. I've always loved playing with my oil pastels. I like getting my fingers into the mix and creating smeared blurred softer lines over my work.

And then it was off to Michaels to see if I can find any number and alpha rubber stamps that might work for the art journaling workshop and some stencils. I know I can always find stickers (DD and I had such fun playing in our calendars with stickers.) and I wanted to check out the paint markers from Sharpie.

My biggest quandry in all of this is that I'm not sure about the kind of journal I'm using. So far I've just been working in my moleskine. I wonder, do I need a journal filled with watercolor paper; do I need to be making my own signatures; what am I doing and where am I going with this art form? Not sure but I know my direction and my style will eventually emerge.


Later: While the "delete gesso" in the 30 Days journal was drying I decided to play with a digital design (see picture above) I had done earlier and make it more hybrid. I'm liking the more organic feel to my page when I play with it hands-on compared to printing it out digitally. The real-time dimension and texture make the page seem more alive. Aside from the fact that I haven't quite figured out how to correct my spelling error ... thank you DD for pointing out the right way to spell acupuncture.

I feel good about this page. I experimented with the new pens doing some drawing and outline work with the grass and sand castle bridge and had fun playing with the text.  The journaling is all about taking time out for yourself - recognizing when you're weary and stepping back for a little bit. And then the hard part ... Get Back to Work!


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

30 DAYS IN YOUR ART JOURNAL: DAY 1 and Day 2

Today is the day I start a new-to-me online workshop with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. I stumbled across her blog the other day, did a little exploring and found myself signing up for her class. I excited to learn some hands-on techniques with my art journaling. I've been playing with the digital side for quite some time now and feel like I missed a step or two in my learning along the way because I have never done the paper scrapping.
And so it begins with a wonderfully organized lesson format delivered daily ... lessons filled with clear consice directions, great suggestions for alternative materials or techniques, and learnings to take away from the lesson of the day to tuck away in your bucket of tricks.
Day 1: we prepped our pages and played with creating a background, stamping, and journaling.
Day 2: we continued adding more visual interest to our page
Now I'm frustrated because I don't seem to have the supplies I need to get the effects I want to create. I'm struggling to find the right pen that will write over my painting ... arrrrgh ... I see a shopping trip looming on the horizon.
I also don't like the way my journaling is jammed up against each other. I need some breathing and doodling room between the entries. I think it might be time for my favorite "hands-on" delete key ... paint over what I don't like with gesso and then start again.