Weekend Journal

I've been busy finishing my canvases for this week's upcoming show.  I've also done some journaling, but not very much.  Keith also bought me a new laptop.  I love it, but there are lots of changes to contend with and it's been really time consuming making friends with it. 

I think I've figured out enough to finally post.  Here are some teaser snippets of my new canvases.  I'll have photos of the finished canvases posted later in the week, and I'll get you caught up on my journaling.

It's looking less like fall now and looking more like pre-winter. The last few days before the storm were spectacular.

 Sandy gifted us with rain every day all week, as well as wind and cold.  It's dark at 6pm, and beginning tomorrow it will be dark at 5pm.  This is not my favorite time of year.  I miss the sun and I miss being outdoors feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.

There are still things to look forward to though.  5pm darkness means it's puzzle time again, and Keith and I have completed our first one.  It's comforting to turn on some music, grab a mug-o-coffee, and catch up with Keith while we work on a puzzle.

Puzzle number two is in the works.  The sun is trying to peak through the clouds and the rain has finally stopped for the most part.  And now...........I'm off to finish my canvases.  Have a wonderful weekend!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

Weekend Journal

I tend to go through "technique spurts", and this week it's been all about layering.  I created two more journal spreads using the techniques I shared in the last Tuesday Tips and Techniques.

The inspiration from these pages began with the magazine image of the woman running up her pharmaceutical stairs, and another magazine image of a tee shirt which reads " Why would you want to be like someone else?  It's exhausting just being yourself."  Amen!

My friend, Staci, gave me some magazines last week, and these pages were inspired by images from two of those magazines.

The predominant face is a black and white photograph taken by Andy Warhol.  The eyes captivated my attention and she demanded to be placed on the page - with a makeover.  I was also inspired by a headline which declared, "The Mind Has To Travel" - hence the bicyclist.  The fish and bird imagery evolved on their own.

I had a couple pages that had been smeared with magenta paint from a previous project, so I added more magenta, blue,black, and white in irregular geometric shapes.  It wasn't long before the pages began to take on a Piccaso-like feeling.  What else could I do?  I had to go with it!

The pages seemed a little boring to me, so I flipped through my newly acquired magazines and began cutting black and white patterns, words and letters to add some interest.  I couldn't pass on the mouth, and I like that it feels a little whacky and out of place.

Tapestry Cat


Keith and I finished our last puzzle of the "winter". ( I have to use the term "winter" lightly as I was absolutely roasting on Wednesday as the thermometer climbed above 80 degrees.)

I've enjoyed puzzles since I was a pre-schooler.  Each little piece is a miniature work of art in itself, and I love handling the pieces.  Even the sound of the pieces being poured from the box brings back a feeling of comfort and nostalgia.

Keith and I browsed puzzles on the Internet one evening, and as soon as I saw Tapestry Cat, I knew I wanted it.  Luckily, it was an appealing puzzle to Keith, too.  What wasn't appealing was the price - $16.00?  I don't think so!  I put Tapestry Cat out of my mind.  A couple days later, I was browsing the shop at a local senior center when what should catch my eye?  You guessed it - Tapestry Cat, and a steal at only 50 cents! (Yay - more art supplies for me)  It was a bargain even if there are four pieces missing!  Gotta love synchronicity.

Now that Keith and I are "empty nesters", it's a great way to hang out together after dinner and "coffee on the veranda".  We turn on our favorite 70's music station and recall "the good ol' days" as we work on the puzzle.   It's a great way to celebrate our lives, love each other, and create a pieced masterpiece.

I hope you've had a wonderful week filled with creativity, and I hope the upcoming week is wonderful for you as well!

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE