SDC88: USING TEXT IN YOUR ART

Last night, my husband, my 17-year-old stepdaughter and I gathered in my "art loft" (fancy for attic craft space).  We each did our own thing, yet spent time together as a family!  We laughed, we talked, we created--ok, so Russ was playing computer games, but, in his defense, they, too, were "creative" games!

I actually created three pieces of art, one with a dual purpose.  The first was to answer the Stampotique.com Design Team challenge for this week.  Details are here, but basically, the challenge is to incorporate text into your art.  I chose to use a stamp with old fashioned script rather than text taken from pages of an old book or an out-dated dictionary because it fit better with the second purpose!

The second purpose was to create a postcard to mail to Jane Davies, owner of the one-room post office that serves the small town of Rupert, Vermont.  Jane feels her post office may be at risk for closure, so she has come up with The Postcard Project to increase the volume of mail both passing into and out of her post office.  You can read about the details of this great project here on Jane's blog, but, in a nutshell, you send Jane an artsy postcard, she sends you one back!  Jane is a collage artist, painter, writer and teacher when not in the post office.

Here's the postcard I am sending Jane and also entering into the Stampotique Design Team challenge this week:

You can see the text stamp next to one of my favorite Stampotique images (this one is called "Girl With a Heart Purse"--although you can't see her purse the way I used it).

I also used this same Stampotique image to create another project, which is a piece of art created on a piece of torn corrugated paper.  This is going to a very dear friend of mine with whom I used to work before my retirement!  I hope you love it, G!

My third project is a fun tag, which I will share on another post.  So, thanks for stopping by my blog!  Please take a moment to JOIN if you have not already done so.  There is also an option for you to "follow by e-mail," so you will receive a notice when I update my blog.

Joy to you!

A CREATIVE DARE

I have mentioned before (but it bears repeating) that I am following an artist by the name of Tracy Weinzapfel.  Tracy maintains an art studio in California from which she broadcasts a weekly video show on Monday nights at 6:00 p.m., a very active Facebook page, as well as a daily blog).  Tracy has challenged her followers to what she calls a "creative dare" for February.  You can read about it here if you're curious or would like to participate--or both!  But, the bottom line is to create what some call a bucket list, others a life list, and still others a dream list.  Not that that isn't challenge enough, but she also challenges us to "embed" that list into an artistic project.  Over the last several days, I have been working on this project, and, today, I called it done!

"A nice journal page," you say, "but where is that list?"  If you read between the lines, and I certainly hope you can't, you will find my list.  I have chosen to keep my list private for, you see, some of the things on my list may seem a bit silly to some (like skinny dipping at midnight when I am 70) and some totally unattainable (like attending a presidential inauguration), but nevertheless, this is my list!

I would encourage you both to create such a list for yourself and to create art!!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Please take a moment to JOIN my blog followers if you have not already done so.  You can even subscribe by e-mail, if you wish!

Joy to you!

 

BELIEVE IT!

I have been following an art journalist by the name of Corrine Gilmore of Sparkle Days Studio for only a short time, but have fallen in love with her art!  She is more about the "why" than the "how" of art journaling.  It is with her encouragement that I present today a very personal art journal page.  In 1987, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Once known at Kent State University's College of Education, the Assistant Dean, only shortly before having been diagnosed with prostrate cancer, came to my office to present me with a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking by minister and author Norman Vincent Peale.  It had been given to him by his mother during his cancer treatment.  His only request was that when I was done with the book, I would pass it on.  His mother had inscribed inside the front cover, and, likewise, when I passed it on, I did the same.  I can only imagine where it might be today!

The book encouraged me to visually imagine myself as healed, as a stronger and better person.  I carried that image to the operating room with me that day in November of 1987.  Now, more than 25 years later, I am here, most definitely a stronger and better person!  The message?  When faced with the unthinkable--dream, imagine and believe in a better tomorrow.

Thanks you for visiting today!  Much joy to you!

A VALENTINE MONTH CHALLENGE

Stampotique Challenge! SDC 86

I have never shared here a challenge from a website with which I am not associated, but I have found one that is pretty simple and is a month-long challenge. You can read all the details here and join in the fun. I suggest this challenge for two reasons: one, it involves only colors and a stamp (does not have to be from Stampotique); second, I think the stamps sold on this website are top quality, have character (I have used one of their images on my journal page), and are reasonably priced!


If you have never created anything before, pick some red, pink and white paints, papers and/or inks and have a go at this.  You don't have to create an art journal page.  It can be a scrapbook layout, a card, even altered art!  I have been challenged and created an art journal page which otherwise would most likely not have happened--and, frankly, I like it! Its a "valentine" creation that is not full of mush and love, but of reality!

Thanks for stopping by and much joy to you!

TODAY I AM AN ARTIST!

Some of you will remember this art journal page I created some time ago entitled Let Me Sleep.  The journaling reads, "Let me sleep so that I might dream . . . for in dreams, I am an artist."

This is how most artists feel in the beginning of their artful journeys.  The critic looms over their art tables, shaking his head at every step of creation.  For my critic (myself, actually), my work has always fallen short of being even in the "acceptable" range.  Sure, my husband loves everything I create.  Of course, my family always applauds my work.  Even my fellow crafters always "like" my work on Facebook.  But, still, I never feel my work is really good enough.

But, today is different.  Today I am an artist!  That statement is profound, isn't it?  And, how, you might ask, did I arrive at that conclusion today?  Well, today, someone I don't know "pinned" my most recent art journal page on her Pinterest board entitled Inspiring Art!  Oh, yes, I have had my work pinned before, but always onto a board called "art journaling," or "mixed media," or "art journal ideas."  But this person chose to pin my most recent work onto INSPIRING ART!

I left Kathy a comment on Pinterest to thank her for repinning my art journal page.  She commented back, "Love love your work!!!"  Today, I will drink champagne.  I will toast Kathy with words of appreciation.  Then, in a grand gesture, I will toast the artist!

Now, my most recent art journal page:

Thank you for stopping by--and much joy to you!

VARYING THE SIZE OF YOUR ART JOURNAL

My first art journal, and one in which I continue to work occasionally, is 5-1/2" x 8".  As a newbie to art journaling, I found the smaller size journal a bit less intimidating than the larger ones.  I have created about 20 art journal pages in that journal.  I enjoy especially working with this size now when time is limited.

The next size up for me was 6" x 9", and contained water color paper.  I bought the watercolor paper journal as a required supply for an online class I took (where the journal was never used).  Since I am not watercoloring in this journal, I have found it a bit more difficult with which to work.  I have created only three art journal pages in this book.

As a birthday gift to myself, I bought Dyan Reaveley's new Dylusions Creative Art Journal (from Ranger), where the pages measure 11-3/8" x 8-1/4".  I have only completed one page in my new journal, but will share that with you today.  

Since in her videos, Dyan never says whether or not she has pre-Gesso'd her pages (or whether they are already pre-Gesso'd when you buy the journal), I was hesitant to start adding inks directly onto the page.  For this reason, I took a piece of patterned paper, cut it to size and adhered it to the journal page.  I then was confident about adding my inks!  I love the look since my patterned paper had an embossed "chicken wire" element to it.  I then added stickers, including the title letters, and some mail ephemera.  Here's the result:

Thanks for continuing to visit my art journaling blog.  Working in my art journal(s), regardless of size, gives me great pleasure.  One of the lessons I have learned in this new endeavor is to embrace imperfection!  You see, in art journaling, there really are no rules!  And, it's more about the process than the end result.

Joy to you!

WHO CAN FLY?

Most often, with the idea that I want to share the process of creating an art journal page, I take photos of the steps leading to the final page.  Sometimes, however, I am so engrossed in what is happening on my page that I never reach for the camera.

I can share with you that the background was created by layering paints onto my "canvas."  Using an old plastic gift card as an applicator, the paints were applied one after the other, drying each coat before moving on.  First  blue, then green, next white, finally  topped off with yellow!  Additional texture was added with stamps and bubble wrap.   My title was created by stamping individual letters on paper.  A fabric bird with stitching was the final embellishment!

I am happy with the page, and feel I am progressing in creating more "personal" pages!

Joy to you!

MY WORD! (for 2013)

Today was a play day for me! My husband was at work and Jake was at The Common Dog for a bit of R&R with his buds!  The piano solos are playing in the background.  The new inks were at my newly-organized studio craft table, and I was pumped!

My challenge for today was to create an art journal page about MY WORD!  On her blog, Tracy Weinzapfel (http://tracywburgos.typepad.com/treasure_the_momentlove_l/2013/01/january-2013-creative-dare-1.html) challenged her followers to choose a WORD for 2013. A word to inspire, to direct and to create a path.  It took me half of the month of January to decide on my word.  Several words came to mind, but I finally settled on the word JOY. I hope it will keep me focused! My art journal page is now filled with color and personal inspiration.  I want to find joy.  I want to recognize joy.  I want to share joy.  And, finally, I want to create joy.  Here's my WORD page:

The path I took to get to the completed page was long and challenging, but not without JOY!  I began with a brand new art journal!  As is usual, no matter what the surface, I begin with a coat of Gesso to "prime" the page and make it ready for whatever I might do!  You will also notice that I placed a piece of waxed paper under my page since I am working on this page IN the spiral-bound journal rather than removing it.

Next, I spritzed my page with water, then began to spray it with three inks, again with water, then yet again with the lightest ink.  I began to tip my journal to allow the  inks to run and create some interest.  When I was happy, I rolled across my page with a paper towel role to absorb all the liquid, then dried it with my heat gun.

Next up was tissue paper (from an actual dress pattern), torn and randomly adhered with Mod Podge.  I then used a tube full of distress ink across the top, lifted the journal, and allowed the ink to drip down my page.  Again, with the paper towel role and the heat gun.

I love to add layers to my pages, so I added some circles cut from a greeting card, several stamped images and bubble wrap with white paint, used as a stamp.

I have, over the years, tried my hand at making ATCs.  My title ATC was created in 2009 and has just been waiting for today!  It is constructed of a piece of cardboard with a piece of orange joint tape (think hardware store) atop it, and the chipboard word JOY.  

When my page was completed and I sat back and looked at it, I was pleased.  Indeed, today I have created JOY!

Cheers!

JOURNALING ABOUT YOURSELF

Journaling about yourself is not always an easy thing to do, but, if you wish those who will one day read your journal to know who you are and what is important to you, its time to do this!  My New Year's resolution is to do more "personal" journaling, or, what some like to call "soul" journaling.

It is in that vein that I created this quick journal page today:

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Take a moment to leave a comment so that I will know you were here!

Cheers!

CAPTURING MY MOJO

To an artist, mojo is more than the common interpretation of charm or spell.  It is that place within us that drives us to create.  It is in our thoughts, our dreams, our very being and essence.  When we lose our mojo, we as artists are at a standstill.  You will find us doing the laundry rather than in our art studios sitting empty and without direction!  But, once found, our mojo can drive us for days (the heck with that laundry)!

One of my resolutions for 2013 is to create more, but without that artistic mojo, what is one to do?  Well, today, when I walked into my studio, there she was...just sitting on my table waiting for me.

Had she not been sitting in the middle of my work space, I would have immediately taped her down!  But, wait, I had another thought.  I could capture her in an art journaling page and I would *always* know where to find my mojo!

A bit of paper, acrylic paint, ink, stamps and a bit of ModPodge, and I had captured my mojo for all time...or have I?

Cheers and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!  Make me happy; leave a comment!