Just popping in for a quick update! This is the first of this week's two canvases.
12"x9" mixed-media on bristol
The second is halfway finished!
{weekly wrap up -- out of the journal, week 1}
About time for a wrap-up, don't you think?
With all my energy going into True to You 2 (it isn't easy producing 4 videos a week!), I dear say this blog's being a little neglected. In fact, most of my online pursuits are ignored behind the grey-black screen of iMovie, Pages, and other miscellaneous things (music, chat, etc). A problem that's been plaguing production for two weeks has been solved -- hurray! -- which means things shouldn't take quite as long to do.
Which means I can share more on here.
I feel like I have a back-log of stuff, stories to tell, stories I want to tell. I think I'll be writing them out over the next few days, and scheduling some posts, because there are nugget of wisdom, inspiration, and fun in there! But it comes down to this: would I like to be on the computer doing internet-y things, or would I like to be painting and creating? And I think that's why there are some artists who don't interact via the net all that often, or only post on blogs with photos -- because there's a world of awesome outside this grey box I call my computer.
(It actually has a face, I've discovered, since I wanted to punch in the face after the fifth time of losing a few hours of work; there are two monitors -- eyes, and the speakers -- mouth.)
So allow me, then, to wrap up this week, the first one, of the Out of the Journal challenge. Above is my first canvas of the week, done on gessoed loose canvas with pastels, pencil, oil, and acrylics.
And here's my second, done on a small canvas board, with pastels, acrylics, and pencil. It's a lot of experimenting and playing around, which is usually reserved for my journal, but canvas and paper are two different mediums to work on, and sometimes, something works better on canvas than paper (see first painting above).
I had a neat little epiphany last week, and that's lead me to a lot of self-exploration, so don't be surprised if things around here change a little bit over the next week. Now that I have a little time to write, I think I can get things out in words (isn't it always a mess, in your head, that you can't fully express until you figure it out yourself?) and let you all see it. But for now, why don't you check out a few other canvases painted this week?
(Also, as a side-note, I was considering putting this month's canvases on Etsy, but wonder if anyone would be interested?)
Remember -- it's the effort that counts. I admitted to Dina on Thursday that I was insane for taking this on in addition to working through my online class, and she said as long as you make an effort, that's good! And that there isn't anything set in stone, so progress over product. I am paraphrasing -- half was shouted across the asile in a parking lot (though how we managed to park across from each other without knowing was a bit odd!).
I love Sandra's collages. She did two this week!
Tomorrow means a new week. Remember to leave a comment for each canvas to be entered to win a slot in one of my classes! :D
{out of the journal challenge w/ me & Dina!}
Now I know what she was buying all those canvases for a couple weeks ago!
Dina and I are taking a challenge, and wonder: are you game?
Here are the details (as written up so nicely by Dina):
- In August, do 2 canvases per week. Any size (well, I'd say 8x10 at the smallest...biggest is up to you). Weeks run Aug 1-7, Aug 8-14, Aug 15-21, Aug 22-31 (you get extra days in that last week).
- Theme can be ANYTHING...and you don't have to be entirely finished. But at least a GOOD start, if you know what I mean. Make an effort.
- Canvases can get pricey...if you like, you can work on canvas board. Or, even large sheets of paper or chipboard. The point is to work on something OUTSIDE of your journal structure! There's nothing like putting paint on a canvas, though...hint hint, push push.
- Post your canvases each week if you have a blog...and link back to our weekly posts.
- Don't stress, don't worry...this is loosey-goosey. It's about the experience, it's about stretching, it's about doing something new. We'll be posting tips, observations, etc. as we go along.
I'll be running an online class while doing this, so you can do it, too!
And each time you work on a canvas, leave a comment with a link to it -- one comment per canvas (either on your blog or flickr, etc) -- and I'll enter you in a drawing to win a free spot in one of my classes! Make sure to go over and comment on Dina's blog, too, so you can be entered to win a spot in one of her classes, too! We'll have a drawing Sept. 1st.
I'll also do two more drawings for 2 prints from my Etsy shop. ;)
It should be FUN! Get out there and just go for it! We'll be sharing our experiences and inspirations along the way, so make sure to check back in to see how we do, too!
Can't wait to see what we all come up with!
{true to you 2 lesson 0 -- available to all for FREE!}
Hey, guys!
True to You 2's start date is almost here! Have you signed up yet? I'm really excited to start teaching this class -- so much so that I've put together what I consider Lesson 0...a sort of pre-workshop exercise to get you thinking more about your art journal and habits, etc.
And then I thought, "Why not share the PDF with everyone?" And it just felt so right, I'm posting it here on the blog for everyone to download and fill out. If nothing else, I hope you discover something new about youself and are able to translate that into your journal.
So here's a nice little video of me talking about the worksheet and what it's aimed to dig up (where I am wearing a strapless dress...I swear!). Enjoy and let me know what you think!
(please hit 480p for better quality! youtube is being mean to me today...)
True to You 2: Lesson 0 (beginnings) (4.7MB)
Want to join us? Go here and sign up!
I'll also be honoring the combo deal of getting True to You (the original) for $20 with the purchase of True to You 2 until August 1st.
{shifts and changes and new ideas...just what a journal is for!}
lost stars; 10"x8" mixed-media on gesso board
I've been trying new techniques, playing with new and loved materials, and grabbing new tools. It's fun -- some are things I've used before and purged from my collection when I moved on to newer, shiny-er things. Others are brand new, interesting, lab experiments in a studio done in vivid Technicolor. I used my first Shiva Oil Paintstick on the painting above, creating a creamy layer above some paint. And while having to wait 24 hours for it to dry (though I'm thinking I may start leaving things outside to dry in this 105F heat) kinda cramped my usual style, I loved going back over it with more paint, more materials, blending and discovering and smiling through the whole thing.
I like trying new things. But this new shift feels like another step in the road created by my move, when my style shifted and flipped and took me along on the ride.
You may recognize this as the self-portrait I used in my last video. I decided to keep going, working over it and then re-drawing it with a Stablo pencil (which has become a favorite, as it will write and draw over ANYTHING). This page was done entirely with a palette knife.
I've also started playing with soft pastels again, and have found that there is a difference between the cheaper ones and more expensive ones. I started with an inexpensive set and found, as you can see above with the magenta, that they spread a lot. Which some people like. But I was looking for something a bit between that and how Caran d'Arch crayons spread when you use your finger on them. I've discovered Prismicolor NuPastels, and love them. I'll post pics tomorrow of a page with those.
I love love trim that is more crocheted or lacey than any other. And why not paint over it? Create something entirely new? I just love how I kept going -- I didn't say, "There is trim here. No paint, please!" I simply treated it as another collaged element of the page.
More paint. The hearts are the discards from punching shapes with my Cuddlebug for tags. Why not keep them? I'm finding I'm drawn more and more to discards, small bits, and odd, ripped shapes. For awhile, I was into using scrapbooking or patterned papers in my journal, and then painting over them. Now, I want what's left over when I've finished something else.
And while the drawing may be in a style totally different (it was a blind contour from a photo), I love it. I love not only the idea that it is me, as I am, not how I would like to be, but that all the materials and ideas and application and colors are just as much a part of the portrait as the actual drawing. At first, I was unsure. Scared. Is this art? Is this good? We can often ask ourselves such things when something so drastically new comes from us, but as I learned today, you never lose what you've done before, not completely. It simply shifts and grows and takes you for a ride.
You simply need to be willing to get on.
{all clean and ready to go!}
Everything's all clean and organized, ready for me to jump back in. I can't wait to get my feet wet tomorrow and get back to normal life. Arg! And I thought I needed a vacation...not that the last three weeks have been one (anything but!).
Click through to Flickr, because I've added notes to the photos for fun. :D
{last chance for early bird pricing on my new journaling class!}
Also, I've had a few people ask if they can do payment plans...and yes, yes you can! I am more than willing to work with people.
I'm hoping to have some fun pre-class bits up in the group on willowing.ning.com next week!
(I am off to relax...everyone is home from the hospital, recovering, doing well, and I'm trying my best to care for them AND stave off a flair-up of my FMS, so I appreciate your continued patience with me. Being sick then having 2 family members in the hospital is NOT FUN.)
{journal girl presents...drawing in your journal (or painting!)}
More experimentation with editing and such! Remember -- you can now view these at 720p HD and full-screen...oh, I get so giddy when I export the finished video and view it full-screen on my big monitor! To know I've come SO FAR in such a short time simply because I started paying attention and accessing all that info I learned in college (I have a BA in this stuff, for God's sake!).
I filmed this on Sunday, found out my brother was in the hospital, and was gone the rest of the evening. I did the artwork and editing last night after spending a few hours with him. And now, I have a few journals to finish before running over for a short visit! PHEW! And I have the mixed-media meetup tonight!
But I woke up at 7:30AM so I could finish editing and export this and work on the overdue journals and visit and then go across the city tonight. I really hope this one is enjoyable! And please, leave suggestions in the comments as to what I should film next!
Don't forget: True to You 2 is open for sign ups! Don't miss the early-bird pricing -- $44 until 7/15! And you can get True to You 1 for $20 by purchasing the new class! Sounds like a deal to me! (fine print: because 2 is hosted by Tam, you will have to do two seperate transactions in order to do this...sorry about that!)