Show and Share

I keep coming back to these words, over and over again.

Oh darling, let's be adventurers.

See the bits of map showing through the paint?

I'm really loving making pages in my art journal with some weight and texture.

This means layers of paper or stickers or whatever, followed by gesso and more layers with paint.

This week I discovered if I wrote with a gelato, then lightly sprayed the writing, the words would just pop off the page. I'm calling this a good discovery!

And in an effort to make sure I spend some time every week creating something, I will be sharing a peek in a post on Mondays.

Maybe from the art journal. Maybe a scrapbook page (I'm back to making a few of those again). Maybe a canvas. Who knows...it will be a surprise.

Pieces

 

Sometimes the pieces make me happier than the whole picture....

And that's OK.

Spending a rare moment in my giant moleskin book with paint on my fingers.

Might need to think about making those moments less rare....

Travel Journal (Recycled Magazine) Tutorial

A few months ago I found this magazine at Barnes and Noble and had to buy. It's just full of good eye candy. I even wrote about it here.

 

I finished reading it this past weekend (yes, it takes me a while to finish reads these days since I bounce around so much with various books, blogs, and magazines). And I just couldn't make myself get rid of it.

 

Why not reuse-recycle-repurpose? It's a trend I've been trying to support. Like when I redid my business cards using my old ones. Or when I created new art from someone else's art.

 

 

The magazine already has some gorgeous full page photos that I left intact, such as these....

 

And other pages with quotes...

 

The pages that wouldn't work so well for my travel journal? Cover them with the gorgeous wrapping paper that came included in the magazine. And maybe finger paint with gesso...

 

There was also a pull out mini journal included in the magazine full of grid paper. Get out the Modge Podge and cover a few more pages...

 

How would that can of gold spray paint look on magazine pages? Like this....

 

And maybe drag some gold paint and gesso around other pages using an old gift card....

I love the way the magazine is getting thicker and thicker as I'm filling it with art love....

Stay tuned for part 2 when I add journaling and photos and anything else I can glue down while we're in La Jolla for Fall Break. We'll be loading the car up and heading west in 4 days.

Just Add Water

  

 Last night I did something I haven't done in a while.

 

I played.

 

And it made me happy.

 

The end.

I Am Seeking

 

Had a little play time over the last week. I am finding that I can work on a piece for a bit, then come back to it when time allows. This is new for me, but it works. And it gives the paint some time to dry. Because I can be a bit impatient. Shocking, I know.

It's not the prettiest art I've ever created, but I tried some new things and it sure made my heart happy!

I didn't use a single traditional paintbrush.

Background is gelatos, which I blended with a watercolor brush.
Traced the outline of each color block with oil pastels.
Added dimensional dots with a thick gesso and a template.
Used my new palette knife to add gold and grey paint around the edges.
Airbrush paint to add a spot for the quote.
Then I finished it off with the gold glitter by finger painting.

Did you see that glitter in the 2nd to last photo? Makes me squeal with delight!

I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.
-van Gogh

Art Journal Magic

Well, I did it. I made time to play in my art journal this past week. Not every day. Like the days we were in San Diego. And a few other random days. But most days I played. And got paint on my fingers. And it made me happy. And it made my heart happy.

Art Journal

Happy Monday everyone.

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend. I work weekends, so not a whole lot of relaxing for me. But I did take an hour yesterday to play in my art journal.

I knew it had been a while since my last play time in the journal, but didn't realize it had been 4 months! That is just too long!

I painted with my fingers, mixing paint and gesso on the pages. I accidentally made these cool paint bubbles on the leaf. I was drying the paint with the heat gun and bubbles formed. I have never had this happen before, but I thought it was cool, so I added more. And did some doodling. It was fun, even though I wanted to play longer.

So, I told myself once again, that I need to try to take time daily to play in this journal. Just a few minutes even. But it helps my brain and my heart when I make the time.

Do you take time to play? You should!

Laters