Hiding...

If you were to page through my journal for this project, I might wave you through this one quickly so I could show the rest of the pretty pages I've been able to make. 

And when I did this with a friend recently, they flipped back and said, "I want to see ALL the pages!"

Reluctantly, I turned back and let her look them over. "Why don't you like these?" 

"Because they aren't my best. I was experimenting and things didn't happen right. They're simple and silly; just look at that odd abstract!"

But something lovely happened as she ran her hands down the pages...her love for them allowed me to see them in a different light. I could see all those little details I had loved, and down to the ideas I was trying to say with each. 

The light in someone's eyes when they connect...wow. Can I bottle that up for a rainy day? As she looked further, she said, "You're going to make me cry!"

There's no better compliment than that! I need to get over myself and SHARE more! So here's the spread that I didn't like, you know, for the project.  

Numbers  19 & 20!

Sending Love...

Across these great miles, I'm sending you love, darling, as you read these words. The love is flowing to you straight from my heart. 

I think for awhile, I forgot what an art journal is. I got swept up in paint and pictures and lots of covered space.  

I forgot that art journals are for recording how you FEEL. For being inspired by an artist and making a tribute page for them. A place for COLOR and EXPRESSION.  

I took myself out to my favorite cafe, armed with collage materials, a glue stick, and some markers & pens. Sitting there with a dopy smile on my face, I stopped thinking about if I covered something up or if my pages were complex. They just ARE. And I love how reflective they are of me...quotes I love, songs I'm listening to, lists of thoughts I don't want to forget. A declaration because I needed one. 

Just get out of your own way, Samie. And enjoy yourself while you're at it.  

Be brave enough to take the first step

I can't sleep, so I thought I'd get a head start on things. ;)

I started this page with the blue doodled line at the bottom. I didn't really know how to start things, so I fell back on the old favorite of letting my brush glide across the page and dance, leaving color in its wake. This time, I used Peerless Watercolors, but any watercolor will do. Just make sure it's thin enough to let you play around.

Then I went the completely opposite direction and started making short, fast marks with my fattest paint markers. Calling this any kind if graffiti form is an insult to true graffiti artists; maybe this is just the Crystal Light version. It's a fun way to fill up space in a chaotic, unpredictable way. 

I then went in with some green gold and more watercolors. The new Faber-Castell white pen is great in the way gesso covers a collage in while, but isn't opaque about it. It's a soft white that let's color show through it and I'm actually loving the effect - it's behind my journal writing.   

My poor little brother said to me today, "I just don't want to be in any pain." And all I could do was give him an encouraging smile and say, "I'm sorry, but that's never going to happen." His back is messed up from a car accident  over a year ago, and he'll carry that for the rest of his life. 

But here's more of what I said: "You see people on FB or in movies going out and having fun, partying all night or walking around an event all day. We think this is how normal people our age act, and that we're missing out because we can't do those things.  

"God put all of us here for a purpose, and has a plan for us. But pushing yourself to live this life given to us by society and media is only going to bring you misery and pain. And will make you depressed. 

"None of this means you can't have an amazing, fulfilling life! You can help others, and contribute to society, and figure out what God has in store for you and go for that with what you can.  

"People don't realize that what they have access to helps define their work. If you only have paper from the printer and a pen, you can still create amazing art. And if you only have pieces from old computers, then that's what will be in your new creation. God is pretty good at giving us what we need....we just have to take the first step." 

There's my little pece of wisdom for you guys today. 

Journal about what you'd say to someone you love or yourself. Paint on your body to remind yourself of how awesome you are. Tell me the next part of the secret story. Share pics in the Ning group. 

Get out there and start art journaling!