Weekend Journal

I haven't done a lot of posting, but I have completed a lot of pages in my art journal during the past month.  Here's a sampling of what I've been doing.

Intuitive art journaling offers fascinating insights into the subconscious.  I wasn't the least bit surprised to see this mask and armor appear as I approached each day like I was "headed into battle". 

I'm in a skull and skeleton gallery show this autumn, so once again, it's no surprise to me that a skeleton would make himself known to me.

When I'm working in my art journal, I like to begin by writing thoughts, phrases and words.  Sometimes I just use a regular ink pen.  Sometimes I use a brush and craft acrylics.  Often times, I'm listening to a lecture or music while I'm working, and that's where some of the phrases and words come from that I use in my work.

An art journal is the perfect place to experiment with new media.  I recently purchased a set of Inktense pencils (which I LOVE!).  Experimentation is all about the journey and not the end result.

What better place to determine how acrylics, Inktense pencils, and Neocolor II water soluble crayons interact with each other than in my art journal?   The 9"x12" portrait landscape is perfect for me.

It seems that I was channeling Klimt for this page!

I threw some oil pastels into the mix, and how much fun were those?  It's great to pull out those art items that have somehow gotten pushed aside.   It's easy to get into an art journaling routine.  It's a trap!  Rotate your supplies periodically.

I hope you enjoyed the tour through some my "experimental" art journal pages.   Remember the smaller, "Winter" journal that I made?

I'm happy to announce that I haven't missed one day of art journaling in this page a day book!  I'll be showing you these pages in the near future.

I hope that you're new year has gotten off to a happy and creative beginning, and I hope that you're creative muse is bursting with new ideas for you to explore.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Be A Mystery Muse!

Artella is hosting this great opportunity to share some of your artwork in the spirit of Secret Santa. The basics: Send two pieces of artwork to your Mystery Muse during the month of February, and receive two pieces of artwork from your Mystery Muse, too.   Registration is open through January 31, 2013.  For more information and to register, just click on the image below.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings

January.  Not my favorite month, and I'm afraid that February and I have an even more disagreeable relationship.  One might suspect that a dislike for the snow and cold are the main culprits that make these months so distasteful to me, but not at all.  

January and February are about fighting the demon named Depression, and conditions are optimum for him at this time of year. (Yes, Depression is clearly a male energy!)  He knows that my defenses are weakend; the songbirds are gone, there is no smell of earth, and nothing blooming in the garden.  There are no leisurely walks on the beach.  There is no warmth from the sun.  He knows I am vulnerable, but I know he is there and I dress myself in full armor.

 

 I know his tactics. and even though some battles are more difficult than others, I am always certain of my ability to win the war and reach that place where all of creativity lives.  And I have arrived.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Go Fly A Kite

Go Fly A Kite!  That was the art challenge offered by April Cole at The Studio, and it was a challenge that spoke to the little girl in me.  I can still recall the magical feeling of seeing my first kites riding on the wind, and being amazed that an unseen force could carry those beautiful, colorful diamonds so high up into the air.

When I think of kites, I think of those first warm, windy days of March.  I think of big, puffy clouds and I think of being by the lake.   I remember being a young girl, laboring with my best friend to make newspaper kites that never made it off the ground.  I recall that I have never been able to get a kite off the ground.

I've spent a lot of time looking out over the lake, and sometimes I'm fortunate enough to watch others successfully fly kites.  April's challenge sparked my memory and I suddenly remembered that I purchased a kite about 10 years ago.  I looked for it and found it still carefully tucked away in it's still unopened package.  I'm determined to take it to the beach and fly it this March.

As I sit here on the sofa wrapped in quilts and doped up on cold medications because I'm sick AGAIN, I fill my mind with thoughts of warm, March breezes and the billowing clouds that accompany the arrival of spring.  I imagine myself standing near the shore guiding my first kite into the wind, and I allow myself to think that good health and spring are both just right around the corner.

To see more of April's colorful and inspiring artwork, please visit her blog HERE.

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings

Where Are We Now?

My word for the year is "evolve".  I didn't select this word as much as it selected me, (but that's another post entirely).  I guess it's only natural to take stock of one's life from time to time.  Apparently I slowed myself enough to turn and look behind at where I've been, and I also strained my eyes to see if I could glimpse the future.  Those are not activities I'm accustomed to, but if my word is "evolve", well.....you get the point.

Anyway, synchronicity being what it is, I've been humming and/or singing David Bowie songs (Yes - I'm a huge fan since the early 70s!) over the past couple months - specifically "Seven" ("...seven days to live my life or seven ways to die..."), and "Changes" ("I still don't know what I was waiting for and my time was running wild - a million dead end streets...."  "....so I turned myself to face me...").    They somehow seem to go along with this "EVOLVE" that I can't get out of my head. Here's where synchronicity comes in:  I'm browsing Facebook, and to my absolute delight, I see that David Bowie has released a new single, "Where Are We Now?", from his new CD, "The Next Day", to be released in March.  

It's his first release in a decade, so I'm really excited to see him back and eager to hear the rest of this album.  I'm not one to keep up with celebrity news, but when I did a little research to see where he's been for 10 years, I discovered that he had a heart attack at some point.  I also discovered that he's 66 years old as of a week or so ago.  Why is any of that important to me?

I consider David Bowie to be a creative genius.  He's been an ever-evolving, outside-the-box, no holds barred, exploring, chameleon whom I've greatly admired over all these years.  He must constantly ask himself, "what if", and he doesn't seem to have any reservation toward experimentation.  His music has been a great source of inspiration to me.  Do you know that he also painted and did some print making?  http://www.bowieart.com/default.asp

Image courtesy of http://www.spin.com/articles/david-bowie-producer-the-next-day-album-details

Also, as they say, "misery loves company", and this image of David Bowie looking a tad like the grim reaper struck a chord in me.  In a way, I find it far more bizarre than the Ziggy Stardust image, and almost a little disturbing.  I  listen to "Where Are We Now?", and I look at this image and think that he must be looking back at where he's come from and looking into the future to see where he's going.   Maybe it's taken him 10 years to do it, and I guess that helps me to justify my own 10 week creative silence.  Don't expect me to return looking like the Grim Reaper though!

          CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Monday's Musings

Well, it's a week into the new year, and I'm still trying to get it together.  I'm still pondering exactly what "evolve" means to me and in what direction I am to venture.

Part of me feels like I've stepped off the roller coaster and don't want to get back on.  It's nice just strolling around the grounds and taking it easy.

There's another part of me asking questions and awaiting answers.  Maybe it's just the time of year.  Even the most beautiful days of winter don't agree with my psyche.  

Anyway, I thought I'd pop in long enough to wish ALL of you a wonderful 2013.  I also want to thank all of you for your kind comments, and I will answer each and every one of them.  I have a lot of catching up to do....