Same Old Story

"fate comes a-knockin', doors start lockin'
your old time connection, change your direction
ain't gonna change it, can't rearrange it
 can't stand the pain when it's all the same to you, my friend.."
~Aerosmith  "Same Old Song and Dance"


I'm having a great weekend all hunkered down from the cold and flurries and hanging out with my hubby.  I spent yesterday journaling and strategy planning to get through the horrordays, er, holidays.  NOT my favorite time of year, but journaling is a great way to navigate around potholes and dodge shrapnel.

I've been forced to revisit some dark, unpleasant places over the last week, and I've been fortunate to have journaling as an outlet for my thoughts and emotions.  Journaling has mostly become a  fun exercise in creativity and experimentation for me, but I never underestimate it's usefulness as therapy.

My new journal gives me almost twice the unlined area that I've grown accustomed to with my Composition Notebook journals.  I began this spread by adhering some magazine photos to my pages. (Fuchia colored mountains and a slate blue/black stone looking pattern)

This spread initially started as random shapes created with water soluble crayons.  I then applied a light layer of super heavy gesso on top of that, and then I finished with artist acylics. Muliple layers are conducive to deeper therpy. 

I'm enjoying my new journal.  The larger format is inspiring me to try new approaches and techniques even though my holidaze, er holiday subject matter is the same old story, same old song and dance.  I used Mod Podge to adhere lots of torn paper to the left side, and horizontl strips of paper on the right.  There's a lot of texture that's difficult to see in the photo.  Doodling the hair was very therapeutic.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and whether for fun experimentation or emotional release, I hope you pull out your journal and favorite art supplies for some  "Happy Creating!"