Reconnecting with my Art Journal

This just in: local girl misses her art journal!

I've been spending my time, as of late, coloring in mandalas, doodling, & painting. Which is awesome and so amazing and full of magic! 

But I realized I missing living in a sketchbook/art journal. Carrying a book around and gluing in paper scraps, drawing dreams, and writing - poetry, yearnings, or whatever other words are aching to come out. I pulled out my old issues of Play & Art & Life, paging through all the art...the raw pages, the scribbled words, the photos glued into painted spreads. 

In my yearning to paint more, I'd lost touch with what brought me here, to this point in my life.  

And so, when I was able to get to the studio, I immediately pulled out my Neocolor II crayons, spray inks, white paint, and neon color and just started playing around. No need for balance or perfect or thought - just a girl pouring out her heart on paper. 

I love, love the pages I created​! The colors and textures and mistakes. All of them. All I made. And I want to make more! 

I'm thinking of giving myself a 30 day challenge to get back to myself & my art journal. A way to be accountable. And maybe this will turn into something different because of my new knowledge and techniques and favorite supplies. I don't know. But I'm super psyched to find out. ​

Would you like to participate? I'm going to give myself a prompt list, & blog each day, even if I don't finish or only make a few marks. I have a lot going on, lots of moving, but I know I can make time for my art.  

I'm thinking I'd post each day, but have a separate blog for progress pics and tips that would be a $5-$10 donation thing (more for energy exchange than anything else). Thoughts?  

I'm off to draw my own mandalas...I think after all the coloring and embellishing I've done, it's finally time to branch out on my own.  

PS. I've been updating my Etsy shop with new work twice a week. Here's my newest piece! Don't forget - I do commissions!

Art Journal Summer Camp 2014 is almost here!

Yes, yes, here it is!!

I had so many students ask me to do camp again, so this is for you guys! I've infused some of my favorite techniques with all the new-ness in my art...for example, no paintbrushes! More vivid colors. Texture and collage and all sorts of fun! It's creating awesome new work that is easily accessible for everyone, no matter how long you've been art journaling!

I'm also offering packs of papers -- from my stash, painted papers, little foam stamps, camp stickers...

So why don't you hit the info page to learn more & I hope to see you soon!

Going BIG

Some days, I go to the studio and have a plan in mind. There's something I want to try, or finish, or a combinations of colors I want to explore (lately, it's been color palettes from Doctor Who I found on Pinterest). 

Other days, I just go and doodle or mess around. Draw for a bit or clean my tools. I've been known to sit there and look at Instagram or read. Not all creative work is done on the surface; the atmosphere in the studio is so amazing, I like to soak it in and let it guide me. 

Recently, I noticed that I was liking the pages created in my journal better than the ones on canvas, where Wireframe Girlsw were concerned. I just liked the look, or the way the pencil and inks worked on paper rather than canvas. I adore my garden series on canvas, but these girls...they work on paper so much better.

So I thought I'd step up my game and pull out my GIANT pad of Strathmore mixed media paper (18"x24") and start exploring this new vein - if I like the a Wireframe Girls on paper, but only in my art journal, could I translate the experience to bigger pieces?

To answer: yes, so far. 

I did the top one last week, but went in and added subtle shading with a Conté crayon and a paper blending stump, which was a great way to warm up. 

The second is still a WIP - I had a bunch of paint left on my palette from some other work I did, so instead of collaging and stamping and grabbing a reference image, I just started doodling and throwing down paint. There wasn't a full range of colors, since I just wanted to use up what was left, but I think it came out kind of amazing. 

And I think it serves as a reminder to how I got into doing these abstract girls in the first place - as a way to use up paint, or make a mess. I think I've gotten so concerned with adding texture that I've gone a bit overboard...you can kinda see it in the first one...all that texture added with each layer. It's magic and practice that keeps it all from mixing together (I don't wait for layers to dry...I just keep working!). 

I want to know what these women are thinking. What's going on in their lives? What is surrounding them? Do they need to escape, or are they content where they are? I feel like there's so much emotion, despite being faceless. Someone asked me if I was going to be adding faces later, and I honestly don't know. I'm leaning towards not, and here's why: 

The less detailed a face/illustration, the easier it is for the reader/viewer to put themselves into the story. The more detailed, the more we see it as 'other.' I'm terribly paraphrasing a book on creating comics, but this is the general idea. I felt like we all got super obsessed with making face, we forgot about everything else. 

What do you think? 

Also, if you're local, I'll be teaching this method of brushless painting on May 17th! Link to info and to sign up on the sidebar.  

go past your comfort zone

I unintentionally stumbled onto the best time of day to snap amazing neon shots with my iPhone 4S...sunset. I ran outside to grab a shot of that journal spread I promised yesterday before the sun went down, and noticed the neon colors I use in my journals POP off the screen. Of course, there's a bit of graininess to the shots, so I guess tomorrow I'll be running out a little earlier to see what happens! 

Somehow, the above and below pages (part of the same spread) got skipped in blog post land! I made these pretty quickly while at an art sleepover at Becca's, with some scrapbooking paper from Target (little hearts!), neon markers, and the addition of some texture gel to my acrylics. I call them my feather girls, and will be adding to them tomorrow. ;)

Here is the spread I was talking about. I wanted to push myself past my comfort zone...I love the silhouettes and the bright colors, but wanted to do more. Add in some journaling, maybe a drop shadow...I noticed my girls were getting lost in the busy backgrounds and needed to do something. 

I painted in their hair with Distress Stains, then outlined them with my Pentel Pocket Brush & added journaling. The clothes were painted with gouache, and then I painted in their skin just to make it easier to see the figures. 

I've always loved when you can see portions of the original background inside the shapes. I don't know if I'm explaining that right...just look at the gold triangle in the left girl's hair, or the right girl's hair. They don't have names, yet, but I'm sure they'll come to me! 

This is my new endpoint. I have a half a dozen spreads to ink and write on and paint...just look a the black stamping in that yellow tank top! YUM! Color, texture, drawing, journaling, expression....paint me ecstatic! 

PS. If you're Phoenix local, I'll be teaching in-person workshops soon! I'll announce 'em tomorrow. :) 

find flight!

I've been dealing with a flare up, and just wasn't able to really create yesterday. I have tons of older pics that have yet to be shared, but I feel like they're all for longer posts I'd like to write, and when you don't have much energy, the last thing you want to do is a long, complicated blog post! 

But I said I'm going to blog every day, and I'm gonna stick with it! I was feeling a little better today, so I ran off to the studio to finish up some paintings...and ended up staying for a few hours (and I'm glad I brought some projects home with me so I can take it easy tomorrow!). 

I'm totally in Writing a Class Mode - turning the magic I've been spinning in my journals lately into a class others can follow is a challenge, since I work intuitively, but I really know this class could be amazing. I did a little demo of it for an open studio a few weeks ago, and everyone had fun! And my studio mate has been dropping hints... 

(And if you're totally ready for it, plus the next Friendly Faces class, have you checked your email for the All Access Pass offer?) 

Also, I'm working on a post about using gouache since I've gotten so many comments on my gouache pages. Gail's given me a great email of questions, so please send along your own -- about gouache or anything else you've seen me use! -- and I'll do my best to answer! I've gotten some lovely messages about living with fibromyalgia and staying productive, and wow are you guys sweet! I'm always here to chat! 

Of course, the spread and little canvas aren't finished yet at all..I've been experimenting with Next Steps to see how far I can push myself and my art; I'll share it tomorrow, as there's never good light to take pics at night in here! 

Here's that bigger canvas finished, though. I adore it. It's available, BTW...I'll be listing it on Etsy this weekend, but you can drop me an email if you're interested! 

Find Flight - 12"x12" mixed media on canvas

Room In the Red Storybook...

I love illustrating, but lately, I've been feeling the need to go without a plan, and see what comes out. 

This is also a very relaxing way to approach your art journal...put down some paint and see what happens. The color study started looking boring, but the more I played and explored, the more complex it became! 

The right page was me drawing random shapes with one color, then wanting to fill them in...gives you some great time to play with colors and mix a few,  One awesome side effect of all my color play spreads is that I have a better understanding of where and how they work.

I really wanted to remember the girl drawing, so I pasted her in. I didn't have a sketchbook at lunch, so my father gwve me the receipt and the Fisher Pen in his pocket (he's had it for 25 years, a present from the guy who invented it! ) . I doodled as we chatted, and when we were about to leave, he slid it around and said, "wow, look at what you can do! When you started, I had no idea where you were going, but this looks great!" 

High praise indeed. But it's more...it's my parents becoming invested in my work, comfortable to give advice. I think they were secretly artists back in the day, because they're really good at helping me out!  

A magical application of messy

Despite not feeling too well in the morning, I crawled out of bed around noon and got ready for the day before heading down to the studio. Tangie is back in town and opened it up for an open studio day, and i knew there was a high probability I'd see people I haven't in awhile. 

This always makes for conversation and geeking-out over new/new to me supplies. We share our pages and how things are going and try each others' supplies. It's great fun. I learned that I'm not the only one behind on The Documented Life project, but turning it into a different kind of planner seems to be the way to go. Having a written record of my emotions and general health would be super helpful right about now.  

I did finally get to making a mess. I decide to try and save the canvas from Thursday and use my smaller journal as an overflow book. 

I told you I tweak something each time I sit down to create; today, I found some complex poses in a copy of In Style and drew them on these pages. Was I intimidated? Hell yeah! But I knew the only way I'd get better as to try...because a "bad" piece of art is loads better than the art you never made because you were too afraid to try. I also gave them cloths, and used the Distress Inks to layer the colors in their hair to create more depth. 

And here's a great tip, and how I stamp larger stamps. Grab some of the new high flow acrylics (or airbrush colors, if your local art store has them) by Golden and brayer it on a piece of wax paper. Then apply to the stamp! I used a foam stamp and the image comes off really crisp and even. Plus, the paint dries and is easier to work over! I'm sure you can use the Liquitex ink! But I have found the Golden to be better. Thinner is better than thick!

And here's some more mess...

and textures...

here's what the spread looked like when I left. I find myself quite pleased because I can see forward momentum...this little journal is filled with experiments. And I often page back to earlier pages to get paint and texture ideas for the current one! How nice and convient!

But what happened to the canvas, you say. How did it come out? Like this. For some reason, I really love it. Not in the gaga way I do, say, an abstract from last week, but just...feel so settled. Rather, calmed. I can look at this painting and calm down and realize that's a type of love, too. And I'd love for someone to look into a painting of mine and feel something...it may be new, but it is most welcome!

I haven't listed it yet, but will probably do so next week. I want to sit for I a little longer (don't you?). 

How was your Friday? What did you learn? Let go of so you could create something awesome? Also, thanks for the tips about the Dollar Store, ladies! I found some great tools there and can't wait to start cutting them up to make pattern shapes! Woohoo! 

Super awesome special newsletter coming out on Monday...make sure to join using the form on the sidebar to get in on this action! 

Scraps from the Studio Floor + extra sweet RAK

Yesterday's post - and my own self-issued challenge to share something small every day - came about in this way: I had bought Show Your Work a few days earlier to prepare for the author's visit to my local bookshop. The talk Austin Kleon gave was funny and insightful, and I loved how he didn't have all the answers....just knew where you could probably look.

One of my questions was this: if I am the kind of artist who has more than one interest or project going on, how will people follow the narrative thread? 

Answer: Watch Pulp Fiction to study disjointed narratives. But more so, that I am the thread that commnects everything I do. A woman in line offered this addition; that I show how the work I did yesterday influences today. How did I apply something I learn painted to how I do my calligraphy, etc. This feels like an amazing idea, and I can't wait to start exploring the interdependent existence of my handful of projects and growing list of interests. 

I got into the studio a bit late today, but found this note on my table of drying paintings: 

Tell me that wouldn't make your day more awesome (especially since she's one of my admired artists!). We got together to chat and brainstorm and work out the plan for the next few months...which all sounds amazing, btw. I have a new class coming out, a video series, and I'll be getting over my fears and teaching in person again! 

After we chatted the day away, I was only able to do a couple of things. One is that I wanted to find easy and cheap solutions to paint with since not everyone can get the Catalyst tools I use most. This is a first idea, made from a stick, Solo cup, and some packing tape. 

It actually works really well, and I'm super excited to hit the dollar store, then start constructing my own tools to paint with. I get to play inventor for a day! 

Since I didn't get to painting, I thought I'd just share random bits from my work area, like my collage pile and WIP pieces. All the "scraps from the studio floor."  

So that's what I was up to....collaboration, some of the Work, and sharing. What did you create today? Feel free to email me or tag your pics as #jgdailycreative so I can pop in and see you! And don't forget to follow me on Instagram, as I usually post there first!

PS. There's open studio today, Saturaday April 18th, from 10am-4pm. Comment with your email address if you want to come, or grab me on IG where more details are posted. Should be an awesome fun day of art journaling!