Journal Girl

vivid soul*ful art & a creative kick in the pants
  • Home
  • the girl
    • About
    • Blog (2007 - Aug 2013)
    • Couch Art
  • Portfolio
    • Paintings
    • Gel Prints
    • Journal Pages
    • 30 Minutes a Day
  • Offerings
    • Art Journal Summer Camp 2014
    • Friendly Faces
    • Gelli Print Junk Journal
    • Digital Adventures
    • Video Guides
    • Inspiration Ink Club
  • Shop
    • Custom Journal Shop
    • Online Classes
    • Digital Collage Sheets
    • E-Books & Zines
    • Etsy - Original Artwork & More!
  • Home
    • About
    • Blog (2007 - Aug 2013)
    • Couch Art
    • Paintings
    • Gel Prints
    • Journal Pages
    • 30 Minutes a Day
    • Art Journal Summer Camp 2014
    • Friendly Faces
    • Gelli Print Junk Journal
    • Digital Adventures
    • Video Guides
    • Inspiration Ink Club
    • Custom Journal Shop
    • Online Classes
    • Digital Collage Sheets
    • E-Books & Zines
    • Etsy - Original Artwork & More!

Home

  • All
  • 30 days 30 pages
  • 30 minutes a day
  • art journal
  • Color
  • finding her
  • Journal Girl Review
  • life + art lessons
  • Mandalas
  • Mood Board Monday
  • Paintings
  • Tutorials
  • Video

Bloom Where You're Planted

Samie Kira March 20, 2017

A couple of weeks ago, I was gifted this random triangle of wood by Becca. I had no idea what I would do with it, but I kept it in my car just the same, carting it around as I waited for inspiration to strike (to either make something with it or bring it inside; either would be nice!). 

I happened to bring it inside and stare at it, not knowing what to make. I've wanted to get back into creating items rather than pages in my various sketchbooks and art journals (they each have a purpose, or paper specific to certain supplies. I'm a paper addict!) and thought I could make a sign out of this one. 

I started by spreading around my favorite teals and blues. Then the edges were colored with Inka Gold Metallic Rub (as seen below) and blended with a baby wipe. The flowers are a wood piece I grabbed at Michael's like, ages ago, and I finally had something to do with them! 

I practiced the lettering I wanted on sheets of plain white paper, erasing and drawing until I got the words just right. I used transfer paper and applied my sketch to the wood, going over the marks with black Holbein Acryla Gouache. I love doing lettering with it because it a. dries matte, b. goes over anything opaque on the first try, and c. the consistency lends itself to lettering. 

Here's how it came out, and I even got an action shot! 

IMG_1669.JPG
  • Home
  • Older
  • Newer
Transient

Hi there! I'm Samantha Kira Harding, aka Samie, a writer, artist, & videographer from Phoenix, Arizona. 

When I'm not rockin' it on freelance video & graphic design gigs, I'm painting, and writing. All. The. Time. 

I exhibit locally in Phoenix & attend fairs with my artwork and book, 101 Mixed Media Techniques. 

I've had Fibromyalgia/CFS for 17 years, along with an alphabet soup of medical issues. Creativity and art saved my life. I also write about grief, suicide/mental illness awareness, and chronic illness. 

Search:

Join the Studio community, a place for art, health and happiness! 

Join the Studio community, a place for art, health and happiness! 

Transient

RSS Feed

Transient

Instagram Feed:
(I do a lot of mobil blogging there!)

A flare up had me spending the day at home, mostly in bed or in my recliner. So I had a little fun in my art journal with some easy-to-use supplies. Having a couch box close at hand means I have the ability to make art no matter how I’m feeling. A little bit of paint on your fingers can make you feel better no matter how crummy you feel! #journalgirl
A flare up had me spending the day at home, mostly in bed or in my recliner. So I had a little fun in my art journal with some easy-to-use supplies. Having a couch box close at hand means I have the ability to make art no matter how I’m feeling. A little bit of paint on your fingers can make you feel better no matter how crummy you feel! #journalgirl
This is where keeping at it really shows its rewards. As I was working on this page, I began to dislike it. I think I started to get an image in my mind as to what I wanted it to become, and that got in the way of what *it* wanted to become. 
Over the years, I’ve learned my best work comes from allowing one mark to influence the next. This developed naturally when I first got treatment for my general anxiety disorder when it got bad enough it interrupted daily life. When dealing with uncertainty and intense anxiety, sometimes, you can only deal with the next 5 minutes. Do what you can in the now and worry about 5 minutes. Now, this window of time expands as you work through things and get therapy, but with my art, I keep the same mindset. 
Make a mark. Make another. How does this color look next to this one? What if I dipped my fingers in this color? How about a line here? What if I used my left hand? 
Don’t think about the final product. Just let the art lead you. And keep letting it until it tells you it’s finished. What marks can you make today? What new ideas can you give room in your life today? #journalgirl
This is where keeping at it really shows its rewards. As I was working on this page, I began to dislike it. I think I started to get an image in my mind as to what I wanted it to become, and that got in the way of what *it* wanted to become. Over the years, I’ve learned my best work comes from allowing one mark to influence the next. This developed naturally when I first got treatment for my general anxiety disorder when it got bad enough it interrupted daily life. When dealing with uncertainty and intense anxiety, sometimes, you can only deal with the next 5 minutes. Do what you can in the now and worry about 5 minutes. Now, this window of time expands as you work through things and get therapy, but with my art, I keep the same mindset. Make a mark. Make another. How does this color look next to this one? What if I dipped my fingers in this color? How about a line here? What if I used my left hand? Don’t think about the final product. Just let the art lead you. And keep letting it until it tells you it’s finished. What marks can you make today? What new ideas can you give room in your life today? #journalgirl
Lunchtime art journaling. 
I used to be self-conscious about making art while at work. I have a very Grown Up Job in a corporate environment, where I try to dress nice and do my make up, so I felt weird pulling out my art journal and colored pencils or pens. Most people read, or watch things on their phones. But I’m here with art supplies sprawled out on the table, drawing or spreading color. 
Now, though, it’s a welcome break from being on the computer all day, talking to people, and investigating. I can switch my brain over and be creative, allowing myself a bit of down time in the middle of the day. 
It’s the same thing when creating in public. Who cares what you’re doing? Most people are focused on themselves. Unless they’re me - I once saw some guys sketching at a donut shop and had to stop and look through their drawings. We got to talking creativity and stolen moments at work to draw a bit. It was fun! Art in public allows you to make connections and maybe inspire others. 
So I challenge you to try it. Even if you just have a pen and paper and do something small. Get out there and make your art wherever you can and don’t worry about what other people may see. #journalgirl
Lunchtime art journaling. I used to be self-conscious about making art while at work. I have a very Grown Up Job in a corporate environment, where I try to dress nice and do my make up, so I felt weird pulling out my art journal and colored pencils or pens. Most people read, or watch things on their phones. But I’m here with art supplies sprawled out on the table, drawing or spreading color. Now, though, it’s a welcome break from being on the computer all day, talking to people, and investigating. I can switch my brain over and be creative, allowing myself a bit of down time in the middle of the day. It’s the same thing when creating in public. Who cares what you’re doing? Most people are focused on themselves. Unless they’re me - I once saw some guys sketching at a donut shop and had to stop and look through their drawings. We got to talking creativity and stolen moments at work to draw a bit. It was fun! Art in public allows you to make connections and maybe inspire others. So I challenge you to try it. Even if you just have a pen and paper and do something small. Get out there and make your art wherever you can and don’t worry about what other people may see. #journalgirl
artjournals.jpg
findingher.jpg
inthestudio.jpg
thingslearned.jpg
tutorials.jpg
videos.jpg
Going Further: Finding Yourself in Creative Art Journaling
By Samantha Kira Harding
101 Mixed Media Techniques
By Cherril Doty, Isaac Anderson, Jennifer McCully, Linda Robertson Womack, Samantha Kira Harding, Suzette Rosenthal

BUY ON B&N.com

Transient
Check out my stamp line @ Paperbag Studios!

Check out my stamp line @ Paperbag Studios!

Transient

Check out the archives!
See what blogs I love.

Search for some inspiration below:

facebook instagram youtube instagram instagram
  • Privacy & Copyright
  • Archives

Journal Girl

vivid soul*ful art & a creative kick in the pants

Journal Girl | PO Box 8743, Mesa, AZ 85214, USA

facebook instagram youtube instagram instagram