Women's Voices

Once again, I had the privilege to attend the annual Women's Voices Project, a collaboration between Cleveland Public Theater and Elyria YWCA Campus Project.  This event is a presentation of creative writings and poetry written by the participants who are recovering from addition, domestic violence and other adversities.  


This year's event featured works by Satedra Beasley, Charmaine M. Castaneda, Clancy, K. Kitchen, Nova, Brandy J. Logan, Melody R., Tiffany R., Pam S. and Prudence D. Wallace.  The readings were poignant, emotional, heart breaking, and moving.  They were sprinkled with humor and sarcasm, but mostly they were filled with honest insight into the cruel things that humans do to one another under the guise of love.

This was the fourth performance of the Women's Voices Project that I had the pleasure of attending.  Some of the faces have changed, but the messages have remained the same.  These women have been to the darkest depths imaginable.  They've chosen drugs over children, they've been beaten to the brink of death, and some of them have tried to take their own lives.  Their stories vary, but their results are the same; they have found the courage to change the direction of their lives and climb out of their dark abysses. 


 Through recovery and therapy, they have learned a new way to live.  Through creativity, they have learned to express the grief, the horror, and the pain of their experiences.  Through writings in diaries and journals, they have faced themselves with honesty and they have learned that it is indeed possible to triumph over adversity and embrace hope for a brighter future.  And perhaps most courageously, they have shared their journey with the world. 

Coming face to face with oneself is difficult to do under the best of circumstances.  I think most of us learn to bury the unpleasant events in our lives and carry  that excess baggage by way of pain, grief and self loathing.  I hope that you'll consider taking the steps to empty your excess baggage onto the pages of your journal.  Demons only have as much power as you give them.  Life is indeed short, dear friends.  "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

Journal Spilling with Diana Trout

I was sorting through some of my art related material and came across the book "Journal Spilling" written by Diana Trout.  I flipped through the juicy, colorful images and decided that I would try some of her methods in a few spreads.

Before I began, I gathered some of the left overs from recent projects that I had piled nearby.  I tore pieces from my potato stamped paper, some paper that I had used to mask areas of a page, and a couple rubbings. I wrote random thoughts and doodles in Sharpie pen, and I applied a light wash of water soluble crayons to my pages and applied the torn paper with Mod Podge.  I added more crayon and added some additional thoughts and words.

Afterwards, I moved on to one of the exercises in "Journal Spilling".   Diane's methods are much like the methods I teach in workshops, so I didn't exactly leave my comfort zone.  I started with her exercise, "Taming the Critic" on page 48, and I followed the first 7 steps as follows: 1. Lay down water soluble crayon  2. Spread color with water  3. Add gesso  4. Write into gesso  5. Scribble in objects  6. Add additional crayon.  7.Scribble into crayon.  My page felt complete to me after these steps, so I didn't use the last 2 steps which are: 7.Grab color from crayon  8. Soften with white.  It's a spread with personal meaning and quite unlike anything I've completed recently.  I've never written into wet gesso before, and I have to say I really enjoyed both the action and result.

When I completed this spread, I moved on to the next lesson, " Crayon and Collage".  Following her directions I began:  1. Lay Down Crayon  2. Spread color with water  3. Lay out paper and words  4. Adhere papers  5. Add more crayon  6. Detail with pen.  These are the techniques I originally used when I first began art journaling -choosing images on a whim and adhering them to the page without a lot of thought or analyzing.  This method works on a subconscious level and has been instrumental in my personal and spiritual growth.  It's what drives me to encourage anyone who will listen to release their creativity and to start journaling.

Whatever methods you're using in your journal, I hope you find it to be an insightful and rewarding activity.  Spend time with yourself - there's no one else like you and you owe it to yourself to get to know the fabulous person that you are!  Have a great evening and remember - "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Unlikely Sources of Inspiration

One of the most frequent statements I hear about art journaling is "I don't know what I would journal about."  The obvious special occasions and events are exciting and momentous, but unfortunately, they are few and far between.  The answer: don't underestimate the value of everyday life as inspiration for your art journaling.


Like it or not, we're creatures of habit. We wake up each day to the same morning routine. We drive the same route to the same job with the same people.  We shop at the same stores, call the same friends, travel the same roads, eat the same food.  All these routines are carried out as if by auto pilot, but they can be excellent sources for art journaling material if we only turn off the "auto pilot" and really see.


If I never stepped foot out of my house again, I would have plenty of material for art journal inspiration - and so do you!

Take a look in your fridge.  Pull out a few items and examine them.  Ask yourself questions and let your imagination run wild.  What makes vanilla "French"?  Does sour cream come from a cranky cow?  Is the girl on the chicken stock carton drawn from a real person?  Why do most of us lovingly swoon over a luscious plate of deviled eggs? (I'm convinced I could dedicate an entire journal to eggs!)  And what does "Dijon" mean anyway?  Don't forget to take a look in the cupboards.

Take a look at the bric-a-brac that you mindlessly walk past on a regular basis.  What meaning do these items hold for you?  Where did you get them?  Were they gifts?  If they're "antiques", where might they have lived before?  What stories might you create from them?

What's hanging on your walls?  What do you like about these items?  Are they photos from places you've been?  Are they artworks that you've created or purchased?  Are they artworks from your favorite artists?  What emotions do you feel when you look at them?

What books, magazines and other paraphernalia do you have bedside?  What are you reading?  What have you read?  How do you feel about what you read or are reading?  What images come to mind as you read the printed word?

Take a look at your text message inbox/outbox.  Taken in or out of context, they offer some great journaling possibilities.

These everyday items and activities are just the beginning of what you have access to in your daily life.  The possibilities are endless: Twitter, Facebook, email headings, TV shows & commercials, things you see on your road trips - you get the idea.  Turn off the "auto pilot", explore your world with new eyes, and get busy - "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!".

Messin' with the Masters: Joan Miro

Next in my "Messin' with the Masters" series is Joan Miro.  I've never been that attracted to his work, but was prompted to take a closer look at his techniques.

Read more about my Miro journey HERE, and I hope you are inspired to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!" on this fine Sunday.  Cheers!

April Art Journaling Prompts

At long last, April has finally arrived and so have your "April Journaling Prompts".  I'm hoping that warmer weather will prevail and that hopefully, we've seen the last of the snow for a few months!

Remember, monthly journaling prompts can always be found at the permanent link in the sidebar.  Did you miss the prompts for January and February?  Not to worry - use them for journaling inspiration anytime.

I hope this post finds you in good health and good spirits, and I hope you're taking time to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"