Weekend Journal

New Journal Pages

I was a creative mad woman this week.  It felt like I couldn't get the paint down fast enough.  I like it when I have that much creativity flowing through me, but thankfully, that kind of creative energy seems to come in spurts.   Here are some of the pages I created in my journal this week.

I continue to work intuitively, focusing in the moment and enjoying the process with no anticipation or destination.  The bird imagery continues to manifest and leave me puzzled as to why they keep showing up.

This page never evolved beyond doodles.  I wonder if using this (very unlike me) color palette had anything to do with my lack of vision?

Yet MORE birds!  This time I was feeling goofy and a bit whimsical.  After I outlined the birds I remembered the cover of this Somerset Studio magazine I was browsing through the night before.  Luckily, there was a small image of the cover inside the magazine.  The cover art was created by Mindy Lacefield, creator of  "Tim's Sally".

THE CANVASES

I continued work on all of the canvases.  I work on multiple canvases at one time for several reasons: 1.  It allows time for paint to dry between layers.  2.  It gives me an opportunity to set aside what I'm working on and come back to it with fresh eyes.  Here are the three that I completed this week.

This strange little skeleton creature makes me laugh, and since Dia de los Muertos will be here before we know it, I decided just to roll with it!  In addition to these completed pieces which are 9" x12" and 8" x 10", I'm working on 2 additional 9" x 12", two 16" x 20" and one larger canvas that I haven't measured yet.  Hopefully, I'll be showing those completed paintings to you next week.

A COUPLE PHOTOS

It seems I'm not the only creative genius in the house!  Keith has been busy with the new photo app upgrade on his phone.  I would tell you what he has (if only I knew).  Some type of smart phone?  Maybe I'll be a tech geek in the next life!  Anyway, he captured my true essence - barefoot and cross-legged on the bed surrounded by art related stuff!  I rather like it.

Keith also took this photo of these lilies at the side of the garage.  They are lovely in spite of the fact that like so many other places around the country, we are in quite a deficit of precipitation for the year.

So that's about it for this Weekend Journal.  I hope that you're keeping cool and creative.  Have a wonderful, arty weekend, and I'll see you again on Monday for more of my musings!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: How Well Do You See Color?

This past weekend, my "California Daughter" posted a link to a 100 Hue Test on the website X-Rite.  The test involves putting 4 rows of color squares in correct hue order.  I scored a 7 on the test (0 is perfect - all hues in correct order)  My color deficit was in row 2 with the bronzy/green tones.  I found it interesting to note that those are colors I seldom use in my artwork. 

Are you interested to see how your color vision is?  Take This Test to find out!  Let me know how you did by leaving your score in "Comments".

Were you surprised at your score?  Were you surprised to see where your color deficit is? (Assuming you have a color deficit, of course!)  If you have a deficit, how much do you tend to use the hues associated with your deficit?

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings

I was thinking...........

This technique used by Amy Shackleton might be fun to use in the journal.........

Little squeeze bottles filled with watered down acrylics.........  Hmmmmmmmm........

Weekend Journal

As usual, it's been a busy week and I've been concentrating on projects for my upcoming shows.  Here's a look at what I've been working on.  These two are finished.

"Altered Ego"  8" x 10" mixed media on canvas board

9" x 12" mixed media on canvas board.  Not yet titled

The weather was perfect yesterday, so I set up a work space on the deck.  Ready...Set...PAINT!

Nearing completion, but still a few more touches to add.  The color is most accurate in the above shot. 

Abour 98% complete!

I didn't do any additional work to this yesterday, but I'm really liking it.

These Native American inspired images intrigue me.  I don't know where they come from...

I'm eager to see how this one progresses.  I'm liking it a lot.  16" x 20" mixed media on canvas board.

Every time I look at this I hear Alex Harvey Band's, "Faith Healer", playing in my head!

This one has a slight African feel to it ...

And remember this one?  Wave bye-bye.  It got a new paint job today and I'm liking it better already.  I just wasn't feeling it before....

ART JOURNAL PAGES

There was some art journaling but not a lot is completed.  I'll share what I have though.

I'm teaching "Windows, Doors & Pockets" this month in my journaling class.  This is the beginning of "The Windows of the World", based on the song made popular by Dionne Warwick. 

One of my students gave me this clipping of a de Kooning painting because it reminded them of me.  I LOVE it!  My intention was to use it on the pages below, but I like these pages so much I had to put de Kooning on another set of pages.

Here's the one spread I finished.  I created it while I was watching one of the worst movies I've ever watched.  It was called, "A Bucket of Blood", and it was released in 1959.  Here's the synopsis of the movie.  As with any bad movie, there were some funny and redeeming moments in it.  I like the line, "All that is comes to the eye of the artist."

Here's yet another spread inspired by a movie.  I was flipping through channels last night and stumbled upon one of my all time favorite movies - Alfred Hitchcock's 1954, "Rear Window", starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly.  Maybe I'll get it finished this evening.

Last but not least, here's a preliminary drawing for a special project I'm working on.  I'll tell you more about it in the weeks to come. ( Yes.....I'm being mysterious!)

I hope you're having a wonderfully creative weekend, and I hope that you're finding time to enjoy the outdoors and the wonder of all that surrounds you.  See you tomorrow with "Monday's Musings".

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings & Tuesday Tips and Techniques

Monday's Musings

What a weekend!  It was glorious fun that began early by celebrating Heather's birthday on Thursday night.  Well, it was Heather's birthday, but we actually celebrated Father's Day by going to Keith's choice of restaurant which was Joey's Italian Grille.  I had the Big Italian pizza - garlic sauce, salami, pepperoni, ham, mild pepper ings, onions, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and provolone cheese.  I ate half of a small pizza and washed it down with a Long Island Ice Tea.  I may have exceeded my dinner calorie allotment. HA! 

After Joey's, we went to Heather and Nick's for homemade strawberry shortcake (of course Heather made homemade ice cream!)  Heather also made lots of other goodies that we HAD to try - truffles and two different kinds of no-bake cookies.  In a word - YUM!

The party continued Saturday as we went to Heather's choice of restaurant which was Melt Bar and Grilled.  You may have seen previous posts about Melt - ENORMOUS specialty grilled cheese sandwiches with heaps of french fries. I had the breakfast burger - Ground steak burger, fried eggs, bacon and American cheese.  Yah - all fat free and low cal.

I picked up "handouts" along the way - a takeout menu from Joey's, a table menu featuring the specials at Melt, and assorted other goodies.  (You know how we like to pick up freebies that might be used in our journal!)  Joey's menu was my color inspiration for these pages.

Not to ignore the actual Father's Day, Heather suggested the four of us go to breakfast, so off to Perkins we went. I had an omelette with pancakes and hash browns.  Uh-huh - more low fat/low cal choices.  And then there was after breakfast dessert compliments of Heather - lemon cake with heaps of buttercream frosting.

The good news - I weighed this morning and was only up by .2 ozs.  I'm calling a victory on that front, and I have to tell you every morsel that passed my lips was a taste of Heaven.  So I didn't lose any weight last week, but I did escape the ritual of eating healthy for a couple meals and feel rejuvenated as I continue my goal to take off the next 20 pounds.  The moral of this story:  Life is short - have your cake and eat it too!

TUESDAY TIPS and TECHNIQUES

Things to do with Hand Outs and Fliers

1. Use them for color inspiration.
2. Use them for collage.
3. Use them as pages in a junk journal. Gesso over all or part of the images and create more artwork on them.
4. Put them in a box and pull one at random as a journal prompt for a new spread.
5. Put them in a pocket on your pages (Like I did below!)

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Weekend Journal

I haven't spent a lot of time in my journal this week.  Most of my creative time has been spent on canvases as I have shows coming up this autumn.  However, I do have page to share with you that we did in my journaling class.

We created our pages using a resist process with water soluble pastels.  I had my class apply color with wax pastels (I used Neocolor II) around the perimeter of the page covering as much of the white paper as possible.  Once this layer of random color was applied, a layer of black was applied over the colors.  This process is a lot like using scratch board.  After the black crayon was applied, a design was scratched into the layer of black with a wooden skewer, revealing the color beneath.

I instructed my class to complete the center using techniques and media that appealed to them.  I painted the center of page with a wash of black acrylic.  After that dried, I painted the butterfly and highlighted it with a wash of yellow acrylic.

I hope you're having a peaceful, creative weekend, and let me wish all you dads out there a "Happy Father's Day".

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Stamp Your Feet!

That's right!  "If you're happy and you know it, stamp your feet!"  But not in the way that the song intended.  I want you to go outside, put craft or acrylic paint on the bottom of your feet (or foot) and stamp it into your journal.  I don't think I've used this as a Tuesday Tip and Technique, but even if I have it's well worth repeating!

I guarantee you that you're going to have a blast doing this!  It feels so naughty to purposefully paint part of your body.  Do it outside near the hose where you can rinse, and you won't have any of those adult worries about getting paint all over the house!

Once your footprint dries, do some journaling around it.  Here are some prompts to think about as you contemplate your journaling:

1. Where have your feet taken you?
2. Where would you like your feet to take you?
3. Does a song/poem/movie come to mind that makes you think of feet?
4. Who's path do you think you would like to travel for a day?
5. What are you thinking as you look at the shape and size of your foot?

I hope you give this a try.  I'm going to be doing it again because I had so much fun with this one when I did it last year.  I hope you're having a creative week, and I know you're happy - so go ahead and STAMP YOUR FEET!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings

As predicted, I feel mostly "normal" today, and at long last, I pulled out my journal.  I didn't do any creating in it yet as I had some icky tasks to complete (such as grocery shopping - ICK!), but looking back over my last completed pages was fun.

I had forgotten about this totem that appeared in one of my intuitive sessions.  I have to say I'm pleased with the finished product and think I may purposely create some more.

Meanwhile, I'm walking around with a perpetual smile on my face.  My girlfriend, Kathy, surprised me with these adorable little bugs from The Dollar Store.  They're solar powered and the leaves bounce up and down as the bugs gently sway back and forth.  Every time I look at them it makes me chuckle.  They've found a home near my piano so I can see them while I practice.

I hope you found something to put a smile on your face as we begin a new week.  Now I'm off to MAKE SOME ART!!!  See tomorrow with another Tuesday Tip & Technique.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Weekend Journal

HEALING

That is the word that best describes my past week.  My spider bite is mending well and my leg is back to 98% of normal.  My cold/virus/whatever is finally subsiding and losing it's powerful grip on my energy.  I'm looking forward to a new week with renewed creativity.

This past week has been a rough one for me.  I spent hours sitting in the sun, watching the birds, thinking of the projects I had no energy to attempt doing.  I fought  battled the force of guilt that kept popping up telling me what I could or should be doing when what I obviously needed to do was just take it easy and allow myself to heal.

"Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts."  - Alan Cohen

In the midst of my misery, a package arrived.  Keith spotted it on the front stairs when he arrived home from work.  Neither of us had any idea what it could be as Keith went back to the front of the house to retrieve the mysterious package.  "It looks like you got something from your friend, Barb", Keith stated as he returned with the package.  

I was so excited!  Barb and I had spoken by phone several weeks earlier and during the conversation, Barb asked if I would be willing to except one of her Soul Dolls.  She said she would surprise me with one sometime and I never thought of it again.

(Barb and I have become friends through the Internet and our mutual love of art.  We've never met in person but hopefully will soon.   I was also honored and privileged to review her book, Normal Doesn't Live Here Anymore.  It's must reading for those of us facing aging parents and who may one day find ourselves in the situation of being a caregiver.  I highly recommend this book!)

When I opened the box, I immediately felt how much love was packed into it.  The handmade, hand-written card and the carefully packaged postcard and ATC greeted me before I met my new Soul Doll.

What struck me immediately was the bird theme.  Birds have been popping up in my work recently and have a very spiritual connotation to me.

As I carefully unwrapped my doll, I literally gasped when I pulled her from her protective cocoon.  I could feel how much love she had been created with, and I could sense immediately that she was an intuitive creation.  My horrible photography just doesn't convey how special she is or just how much of herself Barb put into her creation.  

Barb's attention to every little detail is stunning.  From the felted body, to the beaded bird fetishes, to the tiny necklace, to the detail on the back (complete with envelope that contains a small gift and treasured note), to the bird charms, Barb included so much on this beautiful creation.

Since I'm so far behind on my blog reading, unknown to me, Barb blogged about my doll before she sent her to me!  You can read all that Barb had to say HERE.  My doll also has two sisters.  You can see and read about them HERE and HERE.  All of these "sisters" are spectacular, but how Barb knew to send me the exquisite bird themed doll is uncanny.  Barb, like your friendship, I am grateful and will treasure you both forever.

And as we enter a new week, I'll continue my WIP.  (Can you see the bird on the left of the face?)  

And yet another bird appears in this WIP.  Do you see it?

I hope you're enjoying the weekend, and I hope you're finding ways to express your own unique and creative nature.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Put It on Paper

So I know you're thinking to yourself, "Put it on Paper?  What kind of tip is that?"  Well, I GOTCHA!  "Put It on Paper" is the name of a new art journaling Magazine and it's hot off the press!

THE COVER OF "PUT IT ON PAPER"

This first volume is jam-packed full of lots of journaling tips and techniques, including an interview with art journaler, Ted Micu.  There are articles by Eveline Hessels, and Jasmine Aresco, featured in this issue, as well as an article by "yours truly"!  I'm really honored and excited to be a part of the exciting first issue of this  quarterly magazine!

THE FIRST PAGES OF MY ARTICLE IN "PUT IT ON PAPER"

Leslie Herger, of Comfortable Shoes Studio, is the publisher of this new magazine.  She is also the creator and administrative host for the Art Journaling.Ning site.  If you've been following my blog for over a year, you may remember her name from the "21 Secrets" art journaling workshop.  Either way, take a trip to her sites- you won't be disappointed.

Well, enough of my babbling.  I most definitely am feeling better as evidenced by droning on and on!  I hope you enjoy visiting the links, and oh, yah - here's a link to preview the 52 page magazine.  You can have a downloadable file in the next 10 minutes, or you can also order a hard copy.  If you you do order a copy of the magazine or decide to join Artjournaling.ning, let me know.  I would love to hear from you!

PREVIEW OR PURCHASE THE MAGAZINE HERE

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE