.....what do you count as lasting?
Quotes/Script
Words of Warfare
Here is my bi-monthly memory verse in my art journal.
......thanks Deb, for the inspiration!
The Door
Part of my scripture memory series, done in an art journal spread. The right side is actually a photo of a great door, which I took in Santa Fe...but the transfer did not come out as I would have liked. Ah well! That is the nature of transfers-unpredictable.
.....keep knocking
Composition Journal
A while back I mentioned that I was co-leading an art journaling class for the summer. The basis for the journals were composition notebooks. I really liked working with these! We have wrapped up our meetings, and had lots of fun learning and sharing amoung the group's members. Here are a few final pics from my journal, in addition to the earlier ones I posted here.
These are a couple cover samples:
And a few more pages:
This last page was practice from an online class I took with Martha Lever called Calligra-Fun through Creative Workshops.
Art Journaling Class
I have been busy with a lot of things these days. One, being a sample journal I am getting ready, for an art journaling class I will be co-leading with a writing teacher. She will be providing the writing prompts and instructions for each session, and I will be offering the page 'embellishments' to make the journal fun! It will be offered for 8 weeks, as a small group through our church. This week is the kick-off rally for people to sign up to whatever group they wish to do. I am hoping this sample journal will entice 'newbies' that do not see themselves as 'artsy', to give it a try. That is my biggest hurdle to getting people to give it a go!
You and I know the secret....that ANYONE can do this...with a little guidance. Here are a few of the pages that I have gotten ready, to give them a look at what can be done, very simply! The basis of this journal will be a composition notebook. Inexpensive, and the pages are not so 'precious' that they would fear messing it up.
Daily calendar-done with oil pastels, then brushed over with a waterpen. This gives them something to do, at home everyday, between class meetings.
Black gessoed background, write on it with white pen and colored gel pens; also drawing a frame around a page, with a word or phrase incorporated into it. I used the example of a cinquain. I don't know that is what the writing teacher will do, but I was trying to 'flesh' it out a bit.
This will probably wig out those who say "I can't draw!"...but I wanted to show a background of brushed paint and just a page for doodling. Do it while you are talking on the phone. Write your grocery list! The page behind it, that doesn't show well here, is metallic tape that I drew all over with a stylus. Did you know you can color this stuff with Copic markers?!!! Very fun.
Scraps of paper arranged in a way you like...saved fruit stickers down the brown kraft paper. Still areas of the page left to write the exercise upon.
Left side: a list. Right Side: page of book text with masked off words to make a 'nonsense' sort of story. Simple painted/rubberstamped background. Easy, right?
This page is to show a gesso resist (when painted over) for a background. Also to play with lettering and some placement of what you write.
Couple colors spread around with credit card as background. Use magazine pic as focal point and write something about it on some prepainted gesso'd lines.
Left Page: Another list; adding photos you have laying around; Right page: Layered background of paint, cross writing (perhaps stream of consciousness) is a way to write so something is not easily read, if you don't wish to share it, and a tape transfer over the top.
Left Page: Cellophane envie glued in to hold treasures. Those are dried paint blobs that I had laying around, which I just glued in for interest. Right Page: Paper punches embellished with marker. Still room to write......
Background is any floatsam/jetsam you have in your pockets or purse, glued to page, dry brushed over with your favorite color. Here I used a photo and made up a little story about it on the opposite page.
So....you get the idea. Do you think these are simple enough? Do you have any good ideas for 'easy' pages, that won't scare anyone to do, or take more than 15 minutes to accomplish....send 'em my way! I would love to have plenty in my arsenal if this class gets some sign ups!!
.....until later
I Can't Help Myself
After I just got done telling you I have several of my favorite journals stockpiled, I got another new journal this last week. Yep. I am powerless. This one was made by one of my art journal heroines, Patty Van Dorin who oozes talent on a lot of levels I was lured in by the cover:
Seriously.
The siren call to any mixed media lover.
The inside is….well, magic! She used so many different papers, photos, tags, transparencies and tons of other clever inclusions, that the thing practically journals itself! Here are some individual pages I have already done:
In the last 5 days, since I received it, I have logged hours and hours playing in it! To my sheer surprise, I think the ‘fear of the blank page’ is eradicated with this journal, because the papers all have something on them already. This is the first time I can recall being utterly fearless starting a new journal or messing it up! I just do whatever I want on whatever page that comes up, with no real thought to theme or continuity. Just FUN!
Song Lyrics and art journals
It is no secret that I can rarely think of things to write in my art journals. Sometimes I struggle with that--I should be more profound! Other times--c'est la vie, who cares!? One of the more frequent things I do write are song lyrics, or bits of a tune, that speak to me.
This is a phrase from a tune by the late Rich Mullins, a contemporary Christian (and prolific!) songwriter extraordinaire. You cannot feel down when he is on your CD!
I won't kid you, this takes some time. The background is collaged and gesso'd. After that comes the surprises! There are a lot of 'little parts' to draw in, then paint, draw some more, then paint more...well, you get the idea. I like this sort of approach, because you never know where it is going, until you get there! The only thing you know for sure is the phrase or word you have selected to work around. Sort of just unfolds. This is the only journaling style that I am able to sit in front of a TV program and do. Like one big doodle!
Frequently I only do one side at a time, and not an entire spread. The size is soooo great!
A word about the journals I use. I REALLY love these! I opt for the 10 X 10 size-not too big, not too small. It does comes in many sizes and even a rainbow of papers inside. I prefer the white paper, which is heavy weight and can take a beating. When you are a 'layer-er' this is crucial! The spiral binding allows me to work flat. Glitch: These are made by Magenta, a Canadian company, and can only be obtained through shops that are willing to order them in for you! Because of this, I have a few stockpiled....that and the fear that they will stop making them! Gasp!
.....until later
Exercised by Lettering
Check out her website for inspiration and challenges!
The latest Street Crusade, by Michelle Ward, is to play with lettering on our journal pages. Mostly....get some! A lot of us don't do much writing in our art journals, so this is a chance to try some. It could be in any form. Here are a few pages with lettering I have tried. I am not consistent!
Background: Watercolor wash. Lettering: rubberstamped and scratched lettering with a skewer dipped in India ink, smearing some. For interest, I like mixing the lettering forms (i.e.stamps + handwriting). Used oil pastels and watercolor to add in some additional color.
This was one of those pages on which I wanted to vent, but not be very readable at first glance. Background: matte medium transfer. Lettering: with Pitt pen, I wrote over the whole thing horizontally, rotated the page and rewrote over top the first layer, forming a grid.
Background: Layered paint and photo. Lettering: I made a computer generated library card list, then used that list to write some more additional thoughts in a scratchy print (Pitt pen)...changing up direction of writing segments. Also doodled a title "Top 10" to make more interest.
Background: DTP distressed ink pad rubbed around, newspaper and picture embellisments added. Lettering: 'Wallflower' was done in 2 tone markers then pen outlined, 'Swashbuckler' was a doodle that I embellished as I went (Pitt pen). This page was a play on those GE ads in magazines where two unlikely people paired up then created the kitchen that suited them both! I think they are great adverts.
"Creative Mind' wording is done on black cardstock, with a calligraphy nib/pen and gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous Pearlescent Ink. Scribbles are bleach pen and metallic marker. I am not a calligraphy expert in any way. I have learned a bit of Italic, but for the most part, this is just slanted handwriting and flowing scribbles in different colors. This sheet has been folded in half and is now a cover for a few sheets bound into it.
Background stages: layers of torn text, glued on with matte medium, brushed over with gesso. Made random marks with texture and a few light watercolors. It is actually a much ‘whiter’ look than this picture indicates. Birds cut from various 'texts' and glued on. Lettering: I just doodled to fill up space. (Black Pitt pen or Sharpie fine point). Also rubberstamped a quote with Staz On Ink (waterproof). Filled the curl of the ribbon, with some journaling. Wrote down the bars doodle at the far right, with pencil.
AFTER: I applied watercolor to the drawn doodles, with my Niji waterbrush pen (love this!) Also used graphite pencil, fine white Sharpie paint marker, and some typed words glued to birds. I counted 8 different types of lettering on this page.
Now that I have your attention: What kind of white pen do you prefer, and why? (I am having issues!)
.....until later.
