I owe you all the greatest thanks for the support & love & inspiration you've all shown me and my little daily art journaling project! I am a very happy girl over here -- it can take a lot to share some of what I posted at the beginning of the month, and even more to post every art journal page created, good or bad. This kind of internal pressure is what kept me from sharing every page of the Red Storybook (which is now on hold), but sometimes I need this level of accountability to keep me going. Your lovely comments and messages have meant the world -- I've taken screenshots of a lot of them and am totally going to cover a poster board with them to hang in my new studio space/house next month.
Really, they mean so much. Such a little action as leaving a few words has a BIG impact!
I don't work/post on Sundays, so I'm posting both yesterday's and today's pages...which makes these 7/30 & 8/30. It's been raining here in the desert which means my fibromyalgia is a bit flared up, and doodling has helped so much. Keeping an art journal, even if I just doodle and color, or write out my feelings, or glue down some random papers, helps me manage my illness in a way medications and exercise can't. It heals my sometimes-sad mind and brings peace to my body as a wonderful distraction. And creating a page is an accomplishment I can be proud of. On days when it can be a struggle to even get dressed, an art journal page is a type of magic beyond my understanding.
Even if I have to create while wearing arthritis compression gloves (which gave rise to my abstract painting style) or propped up in bed, I can let my imagination play. And when I find it hard to stay awake at church, or struggle to remember something learned in Sunday School, my drawings, odd notes, and snatches of hymns allow the spirit to swell in me & comfort me.
Anyway, these are just my thoughts tonight. Here are a bunch of pictures! And I've added something special over on the Ning group about the "Easter egg" I've included on every page -- and how you can contribute to the project as a special collaborator! All you need to do is comment somewhere and you're in! As always, you need to read the post to understand...that's how magical sister (and brother) hoods work!
I also happily found an awesome pencil case that organizes all my stuff very well & keeps it all from getting scuffed up. I usually use cosmetic bags, and all the writing on my pens and markers gets rubbed off by other things, like scissors or little rulers.
Pens, paint markers, parallel pen, water brush. I don't need two white pens, but one is almost empty and I don't want to be caught out when it stops working and not have the replacement handy!
Here's my compass, favorite eraser, glue stick, & giant paint pens (I just got the Faber-Castell white pen so I'm still figuring out if I like it!). Behind the pens are my little scissors, tiny protractor, & a couple of cards I wrapped my favorite washi tapes around so I could save space.
I just sold my biggest painting AND got my largest commission, so I figured a little treat was in order. Did you know I take commissions? And I'll be updating Etsy tomorrow with some new work, so stay tuned!