{cleaning and weeding in the land of art}

Would anyone be interested in random art supplies? Something's happened that's moved up our time-table for moving, and I'm spending the day cleaning out the studio, trimming it all down to things I can fit on one desk. There's all sorts of things -- containers, pastels, flow retarder, diamond glaze, punches, stamps, ink -- that are going in the 'not keeping but nice enough to sell to someone else.' I was thinking of just putting it all out at a garage sale, but I realize there are people in this community that would probably benefit more from this stuff.

I'm also going through my art books and selling a bunch of those. I know I have Claudine Hellmuth's two books, and The Art of Personal Imagery, and What it Is, and a few others -- anyone looking for a certain art book and want to get it for about $8?

The big paintings are going on Ebay later today to help pay for moving expenses. I've got stacks of canvases I just can't pack -- so if you're interested in any in my etsy shop, go ahead and mention this blog post and I'll give you 30% off. I Just need to get things out of the house and rather do it this way than just throwing it all away or giving it to people who won't appreciate it.

Since all the vids are done, the studio's being broken down. The class starts on TUESDAY. I'm soo excited!!! And I'll be working between packing on a new 'zine of my journal pages and essays. That'll probably be the last big project from me until I'm settled somewhere else. ;) I'm scared but excited!

{ playing in the sandbox without an edge }

 

 

Next week, we're at 4pm CST. I will always tweet and post on the Facebook group to remind you!

[ may 25th, 2010 -- playing in the journal ]

 

drops like heat across the summer

Look! An actual blog post! There must be pigs flying up above, because these have been few and far between for the last two weeks!

Or, I may be excited because, except for a few tweaks here and there (there is a vast difference between how something looks on-screen and when printed), the class PDF file is finished! YAY! I love creating things that I can hold, whether it be ‘zines or simple workbooks. Binding them is the next best thing, which is why I probably am in love with making my own journals.

As I said in today’s vlog, I haven’t journaled in about two weeks. What a difference working in it makes! My brain feels like it’s been on overdrive, always thinking, creating, plotting, dreaming. And with no outlet, everything just built up until I couldn’t even sleep. Sitting down to work in my journal, however, let me BE. Just leak out and get to the bottom and scoop inspiration and resolve from my Inner Well, allowed me to dig back to the water hidden by the dirt of everyday matters.

I really need to take notes on all the ideas I have, even if that means I am pulling out a notebook every ten minutes in every situation. I will be that girl! My thin Moleskine has a pretty spray-painted cover, now, and I miss writing out journal entries and recording these thoughts.

Have you ever finished something on your to-do list only to discover three more items have jumped on it? Cause this is how I’m feeling. I even have different to-do lists: personal, professional, fangirl (yup, this gets a list, too!). And last week’s great fun with a new medication that I reacted….the wrong way with? In opposition with? Anyway, I lost all motivation and just could not get up. *sigh*

rain is coming tonight....

Now, to finish everything this week! And get supplies for a new project! And start packing the studio up for my big move in two months (yes, this last one makes me sad, but I’m also really excited to move!)!

Thank God all the shows are pretty much ending this week — that means I have about two weeks of free nights to work work play (or is it play play work?)  before my lovely summer shows start up again. Maybe I should just record everything and hook up my new music…

a speck of blood played by ink

{points of two week #19: stars, stencils & stitches}

Points of Two is an experiment in journaling with myself and Roben Marie! Check out our archives to see the previous weeks' pages.

This week, we decided to continue with material/item prompts and went with: stars, stencils, & stitches. Which was totally a ton of fun.

For this one, I used my Tulip Fashion Graffiti sprayer, some papers I made myself, and a bit of sewing machine fun. I considered working digitally over the background, but then decided I like my handwriting too much to substitute it with type. What can I say? I've worked hard on creating different handwriting styles to work with!

Don't forget to check out Roben-Marie's blog for her story!

(okay, so i did use type for the date. i'm getting more comfortable with digital/handmade hybrids)

 

{an end, a beginning, and class help}

I've gotten a bunch of sign ups for my newest class, and there have been questions. XD Let me help you out!

To enroll, you need to go Artjournaling.ning.com and ask to join the Class Group.

Since I've requested you submit your username with your payment, I'll have a record of you so I can say yes! If you didn't give me a username with your payment, leave me a comment or send a message.

I'm sorry I haven't been around much! I'm a perfectionist, so in laying out the PDF file for the class, I'm printing copies, finding mistakes, and fiddling. I should probably just let it be, but some part of me enjoys creating professional-looking documents for you all! That, and I'm editing video. All the raw material's done, I just need to make it pretty!

"flight"

On Monday, I allowed myself some art time outside of class and Points of Two, and finished the girl with the wings.

I'm really happy with how she came out. The mistake I made last week actually allowed me to approach her in a new way -- I was forced to think around the "mistake" I made, and ended up creating luminescent wings (by mixing Interference Violet in with the color) that shine when you walk in the room. My love of large canvases continues.

Sometimes, you just need to go and do it. Forget about fear, or not being able to fill the entire canvas -- just grab one with a coupon from Michael's and start painting. I've found focusing on smaller parts at a time helps fill the white space edge to edge.

Then, I draw a girl. The girl is always me, a reflection of how I'm feeling. What I need to do. What I'm looking to achieve. Whatever spiritual or mental problem I'm working through. These girls are me. They are you. They are every one of us who feels and lives in the moment.

smaller pretty in progress

Here's the board I picked up at the Habitat for Humanity resale store. I'm pretty sure these are used suspended between poles to make movable places to stand -- the other side is full of foot marks, and the edge it all marked up -- but I thought this was a perfect size to work on for a new idea I got. The top and bottom have metal edges, and I love the feel of found art.

Hard to believe, but this has about five or six layers so far. I'm trying to find a sand paper that gets through the top ones so I can show the color underneath. It's a lot of experimentation. So I'm scraping and scratching and painting wildly. I'm so excited to see how this turns out! I'm treating it as a giant journal page, so anything can happen!

{points of two week #18: CIRCLES!}

Points of Two is an experiment in journaling with myself and Roben Marie! Check out our archives to see the previous weeks' pages.

This week, we decided to focus on CIRCLES! Which was kinda fun -- I'm enjoying working with a material theme instead of a content theme; it has me trying new things! For this page, I used some circles cut from cardstock and my black PanPastel to create the appearance of shaded circles coming out of the page. Shading with the PanPastel is tons of fun, and works so very well. And because of the way they're made/applied, you don't need to worry about fixitif as much!

(click me! i get bigger!)

And be sure to check out Roben-Marie's blog for the story behind her lovely page. I actually like hers more than mine this week -- so colorful and fun!

{new art journaling class: true to you, organic explorations for the visual journal}

Here it is, the class I've been talking about for the last few weeks. I'm really excited to be presenting this one to you -- I've poured a LOT into it, trying to create a complete class experiance that will really get you thinking about how you approach you journal while guiding you to a more authentic creative life.

 

 

The Story Behind It

When I began journaling, I never knew what to journal about. I crawled the internet for ideas, searching through the few blogs out there devoted to visual journaling. While my early pages were cluttered with drawings and stories of what I’d done that day, I was enamored with the beauty of art journals.

But what to journal about? I could create pages I loved, but they would simply be that -- pretty pages. I saw artists with imagery, speak about Symbolic Alphabets and know what they were saying with the images, but I couldn’t figure it all out. How do you know what to journal about? And how can those pages help you find a more authentic self?

 

What This Class Is

One of the things I’ve noticed is that people are always searching for prompts -- they are looking for inspiration through ideas others have come up with, and journal about memories and thoughts outside what is going on in the here and now.

I have a different philosophy when it comes to journal content:

It should be authentic and true to you where you are in your life at this moment.

Journaling is about finding your deepest self, celebrating the magic of everyday moments, and bringing joy and serenity through art. It is a practice that has changed my life and how I view it -- brought me from a darker place to a girl living in the silver lining.

There is so much out there waiting for you to capture. Waiting for you to discover your own internal power and magic. This class hopes to show you all the different ways you can journal your life authentically, not looking outside for prompts, but discovery the rich material you already have. It is there, waiting to be discovered. 

 

examples of what you'll be learning!

 

What This Includes

This class is structured into 6 chapters, one for each week.

Each chapter begins with an essay, a story from my life experience that outlines the method being presented and how I’ve applied it in my life and journaling. Then, there is a discussion on how you can use the method in your life, giving you pointers on ideas and brainstorming and even resources to help you out! Finally, each chapter ends with ways you can take the idea further -- homework, if you will, that can be completed during that week or over the duration of the course.

The ultimate goal, however, is that you learn to integrate these ideas into your daily, artful life.

It doesn’t stop there! With each chapter comes a video demonstrating a related technique to use in your journal. Learn how to create a dreamy collage, or write with inks and paint, or scrapbook a bit, mixed-media style!

In addition, you’ll have me at your beck and call on the message boards, ready to take your questions and guide you through your blocks. Little essays will dot the boards as well, additions and ideas for you to think on.

All this material is provided up-front. This means you can do a chapter a week, a chapter a month, or three in one week. Fit it into your life. Perhaps chapter four speaks to you right now -- start there! These lessons can be used however you’d like.

The Lessons

Here’s what the lessons cover:

  • Taking a Walk
  • Reflecting on Your Day
  • Chronicle Big Events
  • Use Word Lists
  • Playing with Song Lyrics/Poetry
  • Journal Significants


All designed to help you find all that amazing material already around you every day. By journaling about those things found in the moment, you begin to discover new, hidden depths in yourself and your life.

more samples of what you'll be learning!

Who This Class is For

This is a class for those searching for an authentic journaling experience. Those looking to learn new techniques to use in their journals, new ways to work with paint and collage and those little things you collect while moving through life. It will help you find so much to journal about, you’ll never go to your journal with a blank mind again. It’s for those who want to engage in a working dialogue with their deeper selves. It is for those looking to take their journaling to a new level, one where you are the focus.

This class is a collection of what I’ve learned from myself or others, tips and techniques that have brought me to a place where I am not afraid to branch out and try something new because it is all part of me.

 

Won’t you join me?

This class costs $38 for access to all the materials for as long as you need to take it. You can register at any time -- early or two months after, it doesn’t matter.

This class is being hosted by the Art Journaling Ning group; you will need to create a membership over there and send me your username so I can give you access to the group. And voila!

Starting June 1st, we’ll have a ton of fun!

 

Art Journaling Ning Username

 

{vlog tuesday: just playing around!}

 

Sorry for cutting this one short, but I'm feeling pretty under the weather in a way I haven't for a long time! Just me showing my experiments with the new Tulip fabric canon + paint and some ink writing. And then I just couldn't sit at the desk anymore.

[ vlog: May 11th, 2010 ]

I am entrenched in the TV room watching The Hangover with the puppies on either side of me. May nap later. Am working on today's second post, the introduction of my new workshop!

{points of two week #17: cheesecloth!!}

Points of Two is an experiment in journaling with myself and Roben Marie! Check out our archives to see the previous weeks' pages.

Here's a second material-prompted journal page. Roben-Marie and I were chatting on the phone and she mentioned working with cheesecloth. It was something I'd seen and heard about, but never worked with. So why not make that our theme for the week? I was actually in Wal-Mart when this came up, so I was able to grab a package for $4.50.

And will now have enough to last me several years. ;)

I've been having fun working on loose pages; they allow for greater versitility and more 3-D embellisment. Don't get me wrong, I love working IN a journal, but sometimes, you've gotta just let go and pull out that sewing machine.

(Which I've wanted to do for weeks and just now pulled out and put on my packaging desk.)

So -- there was a lot of experimentation going on with this one. I glued dow the cheesecloth. Then sprayed with the Tulip Fashion Grafitti sprayer filled with liquid acrylics (thanks, Chrysti!). Which actually took hours to dry since there's that word cloth in cheesecloth and I had to water down the paint for it to work...

But I LOVE the effect and now am not limited by the colors made by spray-paint companies. ALSO, with a coupon from Michael's, it was only $4. Much cheaper. May get several to have many colors ready.

Then, I took the bits left over from the signatures in my other journal, pulled out the sewing machine, and went to work. The cheesecloth's kinda hard to work over; paint doesn't spread very well. So I decided to just sew on some papers, do a bit of doodling, and BAM, page done!

And I really, really like it.

While I may not use the cheesecloth for journal pages, I am interested in putting it OVER a painting or something to see how it looks.

(click! i get bigger!)

And Roben-Marie's page:

Check out her blog for the story behind her page!