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q & a (october 2009) from kira harding on Vimeo.
I have been a busy little bee! Finally back at it with loads of content to share, I've already edited and saved my next video.
Check out my page on facebook and become a fan. I'll be updating there with little things, here with big things. Sound fair?
I am now off to finish my entry for the Papayariffic Challenge!
You asked for it, and here it is! I had to switch over to Vimeo for this one, as it was over 10 minutes and rejected by YouTube.
I've also started a new thread in the forums: help suggest topics for new videos! Put down what you'd like to see by following the Forum link on the sidebar.
I am now going to collapse, as editing this + deep cleaning = dead!kira
ink splots: writing with sumi-e ink in your journal from kira harding on Vimeo.
I am SUCH a bag collector; I have over a hundred, and can't go three months without buying a new one. I don't know what it is...I feel like a bag is an extention of my personality, and I usually change them based on how I'm feeling/where I'm going. The nice thing about this is that they're all in really nice condition because I never carry them longer than a month at a time!
Here's my current bag; I LOVE IT. Click on the image to go to flickr and see the notes on each of the items. And then, come back over here to read about how I select a bag for my on-the-go journaling adventures!
One of the greatest ways to truly capture your life in your journal is to carry it with you everywhere, searching for those snippets of time when you can take a moment to record your world. But taking your journal with you, whether on a specific journaling journey or in search of spontaneous, elusive moments, can be a bit tricky, especially if it’s not a tiny Moleskine affair. Tossing a 5“x7” or larger journal into your purse can be...tricky. Here are some pointers on how you can find the perfect bag to either replace your purse or supplement it when you’re off on an adventure.
Obviously, it needs to be able to fit your journal. But what more than that? Along with deciding to carry your journal, you need to take a look at what supplies you’ll be carrying with you. One of the mistakes people make is carrying TOO much; that can overburden you and your bag, causing you to re-consider carrying anything at all. You don’t need many supplies. Realistically, most of your on-the-go journaling will be writing or doodling on pages you’ve already painted and collaged, so papers, scissors, and other tools aren’t really necessary. I do recommend carrying double-sided tape for those slips of epherma you gather along the way, but other than that, pens and a pencil are fine. Personally, I carry the following in addition to my journal:
I find that these serve my needs while out and about very well, and if I do end up drawing something that needs more, I’ll color/add to it at home.
Are you a messenger bag type person, a tote person, or a backpack person? You can find any style of bag in the size you need if you really look around. The bag needs to be comfortable and practical, with the organization you need to carry your supplies. If you’ll be replacing your purse, make sure you can fit your daily items in the bag in addition to your journal and supplies. One with a great variety of pockets is good, but you want the bag to reflect your style and personality as well. You can choose to grab a canvas bag to embellish and journal on (here’s some inspiration for journaled bags), completing the feel & look of your new accessory.
If your bag doesn’t have a ton of pockets, you’ll need something to keep your stuff in! WIll you use a pencil bag, tin, or school box? Again, this depends on what you choose to carry. Perhaps you can use a small bag for daily use and set aside a larger box or tin for when you’re going out specifically to journal; this can double as studio storage for your favorite pens and markers when not in your bag. Check out the storage aisle of your favorite art supply or hobby shop for plastic boxes perfect for organizing pens, crayons, markers, and whatever else you love to use! I can tell you from experience that organizing supplies like crayons or colored pencils in a plastic box by color is really helpful when out working in your journal. My favorite is the ArtBin Solutions Series. These boxes are around the same size as a nice school box, but easily dividable for customization. I use the 3 to 13 size one for my watercolor crayons, giving each section a color range to store. A larger holds my Portfolio Oil Pastels. This allows me to just grab a bin and go, and the layout makes it easy to work as I can see everything laid out in front of me -- I prefer this to a pencil pouch, since things can get “buried” in the bottom of those pouches. If you can find the right bag, supplies, and organizational tools, carrying your journal will become second nature, and soon, you won’t be able to leave home without it! Now, we just need to get you working in it out in public... love, kira
Sara+H asks:
I have a question...how do you keep your journal pages from sticking together?? I paint on all of mine and they get ruined from sticking to each other!! Any tips? I've tried matte varnish, gel medium...
I answered her question in an email, but felt this was a question that others would like to see the answer to.
My first experience with acrylics was a sticky one. Using full-body acrylics, I painted a page in my journal without using much water at all, and the page stuck so horribly, I wondered why anyone would use such paints. I didn't use them again for about six months, as I learned a few tricks.
Here are a few tips:
+ Gel medium is basically full-body acrylic paint without color pigment. Without watering acrylics down, they're really, really sticky. And thick, obviously. So, sealing your pages with such doesn't make much sense, now, does it? If you want to, though, make sure to water down your mediums.
+ Instead of doing one thick layer of acrylics, do three thinner ones. This will cut down on stickness (and help with writing over your paint).
+ Try putting a layer of watercolor crayons or oil pastels on top. The wax and oil create a non-sticky surface. If you're afraid of the oil pastels rubbing off on the facing page, spray on some Workable Fixatif. This stuff is awesome -- it seals in the pastels but allows you to work with them later. It's great for sealing pages that you might want to work with later. :)
+ If all else fails, gesso. A watered down layer will solve it all.
The biggest thing is to use your water! This helps cut down on the elements that make your pages stick together. Have some tips of your own? Or maybe you've got a question? Leave a comment -- I'll amend the post with your tips and answer your questions. It's a new feature I want to add to this blog. What about something you've always wanted to try but haven't? I'm mighty adventurous!