Not Broken and 10 for 10 Swap

THE PROMPT: Love
THE SONG: Not Broken by the Goo Goo Dolls
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Sillouettes

A year in the Life of an Art Journal

Recently my mom gave me this postcard for my journal.

She knew I would do something creative in some way.

I collaged it into my journal,

and scribbled on some red and gold color

with my Sennelier pastels.

Without thinking, I grabbed a Lysoll wet wipe,

to clean my fingers and wondered what would

happen if I smeared the color on the page.

It got really creamy and became so vibrant.

I was surprised actually because the pastels

are so chalky, and don't work well with water.

The page sat for a couple days until

I saw the prompt for yesterday.

I knew instantly this already prepped page

was perfect, and created a black silhouette,

subtle black accents, and journaled a

few lines from the lyrics.

I seem to be gravitating to these colors lately!

* * * *

The following photos are from a 10 for 10 swap

with about 40 gals from the yahoo Remains of the Day group,

created by wonderful the Mary Ann Moss.

(Seriously this workshop is the best!)

We sent 10 packages to Jan who was hosting the swap,

and she mailed back 10 packages from different gals.

It was like Christmas opening presents.

My sewing machine motor died in December,

and I just got it back recently.

I now have no excuse to work on my "rod" journal.

 

Socks for Japan

There is something you can do to help.

Donate new socks!

Click this link to learn more.

http://jasonkelly.com/helpjapan/

I found this information on Michelle Ward's site
Find out more, and snag a translated sentiment
to ship with your socks!

Spread the word!
This is good thing.

Strut!

3.15.11 Prompt

read about it by clicking here:

A year in the Life Art Journal

THE PROMPT: Confidence Shot
THE SONG: Strut by Adam Lambert
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: eye shadow

This morning  began with starting the coffee

early after a restless night.

I don't know what came over me,

as I started to browse a Vogue magazine

just looking for some "confidence shots"

and inspiration for a journal page.

My original thought was to create

a stencil of a "confident looking position".

I laid a few elements on the page,

and after a quick shower,

thought maybe I would play with the

elements to find a good composition.

I realized my concience is

"keeping an eye on the clock"

and the muse is whispering

"go for it, you are on a roll!"

I quickly collaged,

used the heat tool,

and cut out some letters to spell

"S-T-R-U-T"

I was definitely on a roll,

so I decided to look at the lyrics

 for a little more inspiration...

A little doodling

with a Tombo marker,

and cool smudges with a

charcoal vine came next,

to finally finish the page.

Sometimes you have to let your

"muse" take over.

As a result, I drove to work (late)

with a smile on my face

getting to squeeze in some journaling,

in spite of skipping breakfast

and a bad hair day!

Sweet!

Post Card Mail Art Inspiration and Experimentation

This morning I decided to play

with creating postcard mail art

for the swap I signed up for here

For inspiration, I decided to browse

1,000 Artist Trading Cards

by Pokey Bolton

I knew instantly what I was going to do

the moment I realized Misty Mawn

was a contributing artist on page 238!

So I printed out the perfect postcard 

template on ivory cardstock

(generously provided on Hanna's site).

I began the background with Distress Inks

and soft pastels.

I printed out tiny faces of my prior creations.

I worked quickly without
thinking about it too much....

Each figure was dressed in
newspaper print that had been used as
"table protection" during painting sessions.
This paper is carefully stored in rolls
for special occassions such as this.

The text was taken from an old book;

Andersen's Fairy Tales

and randomly cut and placed

to create odd sentences.

Final touches of fixatif and marks-all pencil

and a coat of Golden's Polymer Varnish.

I coincidentally have these clear little bags

that the postcards will fit oh so snugly in,

adding protection until it reaches it's destination.

I will print a paper version of the template

to place over the original, and the top

copy will have the recipient's name.

Then I can tuck a little note inside!

These whimsical cards were so much

fun to create.  I think I'm on a roll!

Postcard Swap - Care to join?

There's still time to sign - up

Deadline is March 18th

Details here: ihanna

Last year she reported 1,500 participants.

Imagine getting 10 little pieces of art

in the mail from where-ever?

Swaps are an easy and fun way

to meet other artists that

maybe will create lasting friendship bonds,

not to mention the inspiration

and keepsakes that you will acquire.

Won't you join me?

Love and Peas

I received this awesome wallhanging

all the way from Scotland,

from my new friend Jenny Blair of

 Love and Peas

I signed up to participate in the February

Creative Color Challenge

hosted by Louise Gale

Our creation was to be two

complimentary colors in the color wheel,

and had to have something to do with "bloom".

Jenny chose the colors orange and turquoise.

I can't believe the detail with the image,

as well as the machine and hand stitching!

On the back she adds

"Stop! and smell the flowers".

It now hangs in my studio.

The little flower brooch is adorable,

and personal card reflected her talent,

and super friendly, and bubbly personality.

You can check out other participant's

work on the Flickr site.

I also made a wall hanging,

using some homemade red cloth paper,

and green watercolor paper,

red and green beads,

and interestly black and white accent

 (like Jenny's card).

 

Recently I stumbled on this site

Megans Creative Bliss

where her motto is

 "Make Art and Live Happy".

I am intrigued with her videos

where she demonstrates her techniques

of painting whimsical ladies and journaling.

She makes it look so easy,

and I can say it's NOT.

I attempted to sketch my image in pencil

on watercolor paper,

followed by colored pencils,

acrylic paint and glazing medium.

I cut her out, and pasted her into

my moleskine.  I decided to add an application of

Golden Polymer Varnish with UVLS.

That stuff is totally awesome.

It sealed my page beautifully,

and I was able to journal on it.

I'll keep trying!

I painted this gal with Paulette Insall's technique,

in a child's board book that I altered recently.

I want to fill this book with all types of painted ladies.

Well that wraps up my post.

Thanks for visiting!