The Black Keys

I've continued playing in my new moleskin, and I have to say I'm really enjoying myself!  Now that the weather has broken, there's a lot of yard work and garden prep to complete- not to mention prepping materials for my new art journaling class.  The smaller scale of this moleskin journal is perfect for my springtime journaling!

I began this spread by randomly scribbling over both pages with water soluble crayons.  At this point, I didn't have anything in mind to journal.  I just wanted to play.

I blended the colors together with a little water and let the pages dry.  Meanwhile, I was listening to the radio and heard a song that I really like.  I didn't know the artist or the name of the song so I researched the lyrics.
It turns out the song is "Why I'm Here" by Oleander.

I also researched lyrics for two other songs: "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys, and Placebo's "Keep Running Up That Hill".  I incorporated imagery related to the songs using black India ink.

I used watercolor pencils to add darker tones and cooler tones to my pages.  I thought about the black piano keys and how I've been feeling a little "flat" and "sharp" over the last couple weeks.  

I'm not feeling so overwhelmed as the week winds down, and I'm looking forward to sitting at the senior center for a few hours tomorrow to recruit students for my class.  I'm also looking forward to taking a colored pencil drawing workshop on Saturday with John Smolko and a cookout at a friend's house afterward.  

Here's my finished spread, and I'm happy to say I'm hitting more white keys.  But the black keys are good, too.  After all, life would be really bland without them!  Here's to a hitting a perfect blend of keys in your life as you "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"


PHOTO OF THE DAY

"Gosling" Taken at Mentor Headlands Beach