Journaling Outside the Book: Planting Flowers

As I sat on my deck this morning drinking my mug-o-coffee and enjoying the flowers, birds, and sounds of the neighborhood coming to life, I thought about planting my last few flowers into pots and contemplated the similarity of planting flowers and art journaling.

I thought about how I approach flower combinations in much the same way I approach paint combinations on my journaling pages.

I thought about adding contrast, color and texture.  I thought about balance and using materials I already have - like digging up some Lamb's Ear from the yard to help fill the space in this pot.

I thought about taking color cues from mother nature.  How fabulous will a yellow, red and magenta art journaling spread be?

I thought about the similarity in rescuing these less than perfect yellow petunias from the clearance bin, and turning a junk mail brochure into a fun journal.  All they needed were some tender, loving care.

As I looked around the deck, I realized they symmetry and balance I had created with color.  I could see pink/magenta paired with red dispersed evenly around the deck with splashes of yellow and deep purple.

I thought about discovering new things, like this phenomenal, black and yellow petunia, and that sometimes a pricey supply is worth it's weight in gold.  I still can't believe I paid $5.00 for this single petunia, but the great joy in watching this spectacular specimen grow is worth every penny.  I've never seen a petunia like this!

I noted that over the years, I have carefully planted my perennial flowers so the colors vibrate off of each other.  I have purple Spiderwort planted in the vicinity of spectacular, orange-red lilies which are planted next to a tall, spikey, purple, sage-like plant.

I looked at the non-flower elements on my deck.  Like old, familiar friends, my sun faces welcome me each time I venture out to the deck, and greet me on the way into the house when I arrive home.

My giant, artsy frog watches over the deck and flowers waiting for any bug or creature who would do harm to my precious flower children!

Different elements of life, like my sun water fountain or the birds coming in to feed, bring vibrancy and interaction in much the same way you stop in to read these posts and leave comments.  

Photo by Nick Thompson

As the beans from my garden box shall feed and nourish me (hopefully!), art journaling feeds and nurtures the spirit.  As a creative spirit, I realize that most every activity I undertake involves some form of creativity.  Are you realizing that in your own life?  Even when I'm not able to be directly involved in the art making process, I am almost always involved in a creative process.


Like art journaling, planting flowers over the last week has been a healing process as well as a creative process.  As we bid farewell to our "baby" as he traveled across the states to a new adventure, there was healing and acceptance as I once again realize that change is inevitable and things are "as they should be".

Photo by Keith Thompson

I'm thrilled to hear from Mike that he's "having the time of my life", and "it's a whole different world out here". After spending a good deal of time on Google Maps Street View with Keith, I know that Mike's new adventure is just right for him, and I have come to the realization that this "extended trip" is probably going to become more of a permanent situation.  I also realize that although separated by distance, we are always closely joined forever in the heart.

Whatever journeys and adventures you partake of this weekend, I hope they're exciting and rewarding, and I hope that you recognize the creativity in your life outside of the art journal.  Above all else, dear friends, remember this life is an amazing adventure, and remember to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!".

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Using Previously Prepped Pages

Using prepped pages has always been an intriguing exercise for me, and I think if you give it a try, you'll get some of the same results.  One of the most profound things anyone ever said to me was, "your subconscious doesn't have a sense of humor".  I've found that statement to be quite true.  


Last week's "Tuesday Tips and Techniques" was about prepping pages in a random fashion.  You may remember the first pages that I prepped.

When I looked at these pages days later, I could see the rough shape of the United States as soon as I looked at it.

I sketched the outline of the country in with a marker, and I sketched out my state of Ohio and the state of California.  I added blue to the water areas and green to my Canadian neighbors.  What's all this have to do with the subconscious?  For the last 2 weeks, I've been coming to terms with our youngest son headed west for an adventure.  It's been a roller coaster ride of emotions.  The four of us have remained within 20 minutes of each other for almost 30 years.  This is a significant family event.  

I found an image of a California map in tones of red, green and gold, and a piece of mail arrived that had this Love stamp in shades of blue and gold.  Coincidence or synchronicity?   Either way, they fit the page and the entire spread allowed me to face my emotions instead of burying them in my usual fashion.

When I looked at my second set of prepped pages, I noticed what looked like a hand blocking a face so I sketched it in with a marker.  Beyond that, I wasn't sure where to go with the pages so I looked through the items torn from magazines that I have tucked into the back of my journal.  The Prismacolor pencil and the words "shine on" seemed to fit.

The left side reminded me of a flower garden so I sketched in some floral shapes.  I thought about how blocked I felt creatively and suddenly realized that by trying to block my emotions, I was also blocking my creativity.  I wrote, "Embrace and accept the emotions or they will block the flow of creativity".  Once I came to that realization, I've been much more creative.  I spent all of yesterday afternoon journaling from one journal to the next.  I couldn't get things on the pages fast enough!

I finished the spread with colored pencil and also wrote "Comfort is in the sanctuary of the garden and the connections of the heart".  When I initially prepped these pages, I had no idea that they would become a significant source of healing and dealing with my deepest emotions.


Prepping pages ahead of time doesn't always lead to such profound journaling.  Sometimes the results are much more playful and the pages become a catalyst for using some of those magazine treasures that you have tucked away, or for experimenting with new techniques and materials.


My posts have been few and far between in the last month or so, but my plan is to get back on track in the next week.  I'm having a great time with my new Creative Art Journaling class, and this past week has been filled with lots of family time as our days with Mike nearby draw to an end.


Whatever's going on in your life at the moment, I hope you always take the time to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Honeysuckle

This is the one time I really wish you could click a button and get the full, intoxicating  fragrance  of these Honeysuckle blossoms.  I don't know who's enjoying it more - Keith & I or the hummingbirds!

Rich Blacks with Water Color Pencil

Black pigment can often appear lifeless and dull in a painting or drawing, so it's a great practice to mix your own.  I still haven't had a chance to find the picture I want to use for my next drawing in my colored pencil drawing class, so this morning I just took my journal and decided to play with a picture of orchids.

I did a quick sketch of my orchid blossoms and decided to use water color pencils for the background.  My first layer of color was magenta.

My second application of colored pencil was a dark violet.  The strokes were applied randomly in many different directions.

The third layer of color was black.  It was applied evenly over the previous colors, again in a random fashion.

Here's the page after water has been applied.  The strokes have been blended and traces of magenta and violet bleed through the black and give the darkness some life.

The final layer was made even richer and darker by adding a layer of indigo blue colored pencil.  These are just one way of creating a rich, black for your artwork.  You can also try a combination of alizarin crimson, pthalo green, and prussian or ultramarine blue to create a deep, rich black.  Don't be afraid to experiment as you "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

PHOTO OF THE DAY

"Charlie"

Charlie came to visit our colored pencil drawing class today.  He was rescued  from the pound  from  his new friend, Tina

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Prep Multiple Pages

Prepping multiple pages is a great idea anytime, but during these busy summer months it's even more handy.  It takes about an hour to prep a week's worth of pages, and when you get ready to journal you already have a place to begin.

Prepping pages in this manner is all about color and having fun with different processes.  Here, I dampened the pages and dropped red and yellow acrylic inks onto both pages.  I pressed the wet pages together and added more ink drops.

This is a great time to pull out your hair dryer and fast-dry those pages.  It's really the only time I ever use my hair dryer now.  Who knew what a handy art supply it would become?

It's the first time I've used the acrylic inks in this journal, and I found out that they bleed through the paper.  Not to worry!  You can always gesso over the page, or you can make it work for you.  

I applied Neocolor II water soluble crayons to both pages and then I moistened my fingers and rubbed the crayons to blend.

The blended pages are softer and ready for additional artwork.  It's anyone's guess what will be journaled on these pages later this week!

I prepped a third set of pages with colors that I don't use very often.  I like to do this now and then to break out of the rut of using the same colors that I'm always drawn to.  I scribbled on Neocolor II water soluble crayons once more and and lightly blended them with wet fingers.  I'm curious to see what these pages become, too.


Prepping pages ahead of time is the method I began with when I first began art journaling, and it offers many possibilities for each journaling spread.  It's amazing what you see in the paint once you return to the pages days later.  Until next time, "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Mentor Headlands Beach Park

Here's the beach like I've never shown you - buzzing with sunbathers, frolicking children, and scantily  clothed  women prancing the shoreline.  Nothing like a warm, sunny day and a holiday weekend to bring city folk out to the beach!

The Week in Review

I've been most neglectful of you over this past week, but as holiday weekends are bound to do, my schedule became null and void in a flurry of fun, impromptu gatherings, much needed yard work, planting, workshops, well - you get the picture!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

The weekend began on Saturday with a great cookout at my sister's house in the country (where we grew up).  It was immediate family and was much needed, long overdue time together spent catching up, having fun, and indulging in way too much yummy, down home cooking.  I forgot my camera, but the memories will linger forever.


As I predicted, the weather turned from miserable, rainy, 50 degree days to humid, 90 degree days virtually overnight.  I planted my peppers and tomato plants on Saturday, and on Sunday, I planted my Blue Lake green bean seeds.  I brought art supplies out to the deck to journal, but as it turned out, it was even too hot and humid for my Pitt pens to work!  I did manage to work on the cover a little bit before throwing in the towel.

I also started working on the inside cover.  I decided to do a schematic of both the back garden and deck box.  I still have a lot of work to do on both pages.

TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY


I spent most of these days working on the yard, grocery shopping, and spending some time with Mike.  I was also gathering supplies for my new art journaling class.

THURSDAY- MY FIRST ART JOURNALING CLASS!


This was the moment I've been working toward for such a long time.  I finally have a class and enthusiastic participants.  We had so much fun, and it's such a joyful reward to share what I know with others who are anxious to learn about creative journaling.

"Fun Journaling" Photo by Katherine Szerdy Harris

The first class was very basic - experimenting with water soluble pastels and incorporating magazine words and images.  This group of creatives embraced the entire process with remarkable ease.  I'm so happy to get the positive feedback and I'm looking forward to many more weeks with them.

My first Creative Art Journaling class

FRIDAY


Friday became another impromptu family day with my brother hanging out with me on the deck while we watched my sons Nick & Mike complete a brake job on Nick's car.  Of course, there were snacks involved and it was really good to spend the time with them.

At some point during this flurry of activity, I managed to complete another sugar skull journal spread in my moleskin journal.

Creating these little spreads has given me more ideas than I'll have time to complete on canvas - or maybe not!  I know I'm having a blast working with them, and the bright colors are scrumptious!

I completed both pages using only my Pitt pens.  I can't tell you how much I enjoy using these for small details.  They're worth every penny.  I haven't found the colored pens locally (I ordered these from Dick Blick), but I have found the black and sepia paint pens at Pat Catan's.

SATURDAY


Saturday was National Drawing Day, and I was happy to obliged by attending a colored pencil workshop with Jennifer Kosarko.  This workshop was about the technique of using watercolor pencils as a base for applying colored pencils.  This method of colored pencil drawing is "legal" and acceptable by the AWS.

Here I am working on our first project; a pineapple developed with a base of yellow and green watercolor pencils.

My completed drawing.  There are additional layers of colored pencil in the leaves using indigo blue, Tuscan red, and white.

Our project after lunch was a a little fish vignette.  Here, I'm applying the first layer of watercolor pencil (magenta).  A layer of violet and black watercolor pencil were applied, wetted to blend, and then dried before applying indigo blue.  The "black" in the fish is very rich and has lots of depth.

My completed drawing includes a wash of 2 shades of blue Neocolor II crayons for the water.  This workshop was a lot of fun!


As if my day hadn't been exciting enough, we had a cookout with close friends in the afternoon and had a great time well into the evening.  The 6 of us have a lot going on and it's sometimes a struggle for all of us to gather at the same time, but when we do, it's quality "family" time and as always, way too much food!

"We feasted like royalty"

SUNDAY


Yesterday was another fabulous day.  The humidity is gone for a couple days, and I got to spend time at the beach with a Twitter friend that I met face-to-face for the first time.  We both enjoy "shopping" for beach glass, and it was the perfect venue for getting to know each other better.  

"Melanie and I take a break from shopping for beach glass. Check out her groovy boots!"

It was a fun time with Melanie, and I hope to go shopping with her again sometime.  It was a delight to spend time chatting and getting to know her.


So, that's my week in review.  I hope you had an enjoyable holiday weekend, and I hope that as you "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!", you embrace the love and celebration when "create" is taking a back seat.  I'm still playing "catch up", and will try to get the June journaling prompts up tomorrow.



PHOTO OF THE DAY

"Clematis"

I wasn't too busy to notice how beautifully my clematis bloomed this year!