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

Weekend Journal

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I taught preschool.  One of the things I enjoyed most was reading to the children, and two of their favorite books were Tikki Tikki Tembo, by Arlene Mosel , and Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

I learned earlier this week, that Maurice Sendak died, and I reflected once again on that wonderful story.  If you're not familiar with it, ask your favorite 5 year old - I bet they have a copy!  I have a copy of that book here, too, but it is somewhere.  My boys never tired of it when they were that age, and I read it to them many times as they had their pre-bed snack.

As I played with my paints, randomly applying color, words, and lines, these creatures emerged and they reminded me of Maurice's characters.  Funny how the subconscious works!  I recall a line in the story about Max, the main character: "He roared his terrible roar, and gnashed his terrible teeth."  (Max was misbehaving and his Mom sent him to bed without any supper).  I've GOT to find that book and read it again!  In the meantime, thanks to Maurice Sendak for a great and memorable story.

I continued to experiment with this new style and I'm really beginning to make it my own.  I didn't realize how blocked I'd been feeling.  The inner critic NEVER wants you to roam into new territory:  "It doesn't look like what you've been doing".  "What if no one likes it?"  "Are you sure you want to try something so different?"  Blah, Blah, BLAH!  Call me a rebel!

I think creativity is a bit like dieting.  You must constantly change your diet to trick your body into thinking you're not really loosing weight - or something like that.  I think you have to trick your creative muse into using new techniques and materials in order to embrace true expression.  Otherwise, aren't you just copying yourself over and over again?  What do you think?

Well, that about sums up my journaling for the week.  I've been planting vegetables and flowers, and I've been enjoying the birds at the feeder.  All's right with the world in my neck of the woods, and I hope that you can say the same thing!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Beautiful tulips from my " Madison daughter", Heather

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me. 

Maya Angelou

Heart cookie made "with love, not calories", by Heather

From my heart to yours, Happy Mother's Day to YOU, Phenomenal Woman, and to all the Phenomenal Women that you celebrate on this day!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE