Book of Days

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There is a new fun thing to do in the new year.  Effy Wild is hosting a journaling event called Book of Days. Here is how she describes it on her site


 Beginning in January 2012, I send out two or three e-mails a week containing my musings on the subject of journal art and memory keeping. Along with my musings, you get links to videos I produce that feature ways to create a sustainable art practice, journal art tips and tricks. links to resources I find on line that inspire me and are bound to inspire you too!


It looks like its going to be quite fun.  She is using an old book as a journal and already has a few videos up for you to get started.  You can sign up here  Oh its also free.

Lots of Experimentation

Ah its Friday already, just where did the week go?

This is a collage I made in my Strathmore WC journal. I chose 3 main elements, a person place and a thing, I like to think that the lady is looking down that long railroad track to her future, to the unknown.  The crow is their as her guide, to help her make that first step, to know she is not alone.

This was a little experiment with some new tape I bought recently. After I laid down the greeting card I covered in clear gesso. It gives you a gritty service that you can write on and it takes charcoal really well.

In class we are doing experiment with NevrDull and magazines.  This is so much fun. NevrDull is a wadding polish that you use to rub off the ink.

Some of the part of the pages turn out great and some don't, which doesn't matter since I'll be cutting them up for collage.

Underneath the paper I am putting stamps, embossed wallpaper and other textured items. I even used embossing folders. I have been scouring the house looking for more texture ideas. This was a picture of a towel.

I love how these flowers now sort of look like people.

These were jewels and now they look really cool. I could play with these all day.

 I plan to work in the studio today on several projects and then on Saturday to take part in Massive Action Day Its for writing but I imagine you could use it on any project. I don't plan on doing all 8 hours but I do plan on spending some time on getting some serious writing done.  Check it out and join us if you can.

B.F.'s Daughter

I finished up the altered book journal that I have been working in.  These are the last pages.

I kept the title page so you could see this was called B.F.'s Daughter by John Marquand. I did another doodle over a wash of watercolor. I am really enjoying playing in this way.

This portrait was done on old book pages with pastels. The background is acrylic paint.

The borders on the page were paint chips cut up and then painted over. I like how they add dimension to the page.

This was started long ago, it is found art and by that I mean the woman was pulled from the background. At the time I figured she was giving birth to a baby or a new idea.

This self-portrait I did completely with white gel pen.  I used an old photograph of myself as the model. I was feeling particularly blue at the time so it seemed fitting.

This one is another self-portrait from an even older photo that I found lying around. I thought I would try a face in watercolor.

This is the last page in the book, so I can happily say that this journal is complete.  Ah now I can start a new one.

Journal Spilling

I recently got a copy of this book. I was drawn to it because she uses watercolor a lot. I really feel watercolor challenged so trying some of her techniques really helped overcome that block and just play with the medium. She has some great exercises on dealing with the inner critic, something that often plagues me. There isn't a lot new in the book but just some ways of looking at things differently. There are sections on dyeing papers with inks that I am interested in trying too.  I also have never put the inner critic right on a journal page and that might be fun to do.

This was my first sample. I have a small traveling WC palette that had just a little bit of paint left on it. I didn't know what the colors were.  Over the past few years I have been buying some Daniel Smith watercolors.  I thought I would use up the paint and add the new colors. I have about 12 colors now so I think its time to start using them.

This was my second page, I love the swirly nature of it.  It reminds me of those pictures in space.  So maybe I can do watercolor after all. I need to change the thought in my head that says I am watercolor challenged. Now I am going to say I love watercolor and it loves me. I think that sounds a little bit better.

Do you ever buy and art supply and don't know how to use it?  How long does it take for you to really connect with it?  I got some new supplies in the mail today that I am so in love with.  But that is for tomorrows post.

Some new books

I got three new books in the mail. Some that are brand new out there and some that have been in publication for awhile.

So now my art book pile to read is getting big. So far I like all the books. The thing with art books is you really don't read them like you would a novel.  Sometimes you spend months with them. Do you have a big pile that you are spending time with?

A collaged journal page I made a few days ago.  No special techniques, the words on top are from a scrap of vellum. I like how you still can see the decorative paper underneath.

Jamie Ridler had this little Love exercise for Valentine's Day where you just wrote out things you love. It was simple so that you just went and did it now.   The idea is you can go back next year and see what you loved on this day in 2011.  Its a great idea and not too late to do your own. I drew the heart in pastels and then added all the words. Then added pastel in the background for some color.

and here is my latest sketch. She is from a magazine image and looks nothing like it, but I wasn't going for duplication.  I kind of like the far away look she has.

Have an Artful Day!

Some Art Journal Pages

I am back from eight days at Yellowstone N.P. It was a fantastic trip which I will post about later this week.  I have been home a few days just doing laundry and trying to catch up with things.  Coming back from a wonderful trip is always hard.  I always find it difficult to get back to my old life.

For now I think I will just show some art.  I managed to do a little art there and some more when I came home. I took 2 journals with me and worked in both of them. First the manila folder journal.

Here are some pages in my other journal; the one that is made from an old book. I am really liking working in this book.  I have been gluing 3 pages together, adding gesso and then paint.  All the pages have a real nice feel about them.  This book is turning out to be a lot of fun to work in.