Just a few random shots of some pages in my art journals.
The one above and the one below is built upon a foundation of mixed media collage from magazine ads, water color paper, and clear gesso.
The two below are a work in progress...I usually fill up white space as the mood takes me.
I love making these, and am finding that it is fast becoming my ministry to others. Often times when in a small group or when spending time with others, God will place a word in my heart for someone. Instead of right away sharing the word, I take it home now and put it on one of these. Then when I share the word with that someone, they have something tangible to remind them of God's heart for them.
I could kick myself for not taking pictures of all the ones I have created but here are a few.
The above and below were actually canvas' I did for my friend Tim's memorial. I made four of them.
My poor neglected creative blog.......I need to be more diligent in putting things up on here when I complete them.
So had a great day in the studio/office today. (need to take some new pics as the art room totally doesnt look like the same as the ones posted.)
I did a few paintings, playing with watercolor over oil crayons...love the result. This is the one I settled with...after two debauchings....ha. I am a total abstract person, so no real or still life from me. Not done yet....going to add more journaling on it but need to find a good pen...the sharpie is not working for me.
Then I had a bunch of leftover scrapbooking embellishments so threw together these tags...dont know what to do with them....any one want one... comment me and I will send you a couple.
Finally.....
I have been working through a couple of books...
The Artists Way and I Thought it Was Just Me. In my attempt to redefine my creative self and embrace it......I lost it along the way....and so desire to have it back. Our God is a creative being, and he made me the same....and I am happiest when I pursue the right side of my brain as much as my left. So...I made this UGLY thing as a first step back....its what I call creating ugly and just letting it go.
Two encouraging websites I want to encourage you to visit....
Ordinary Courage by Brene' Browne ...she is amazing...
Bone Sigh - her poems have been life giving to me. Her paintings inspiring.
Thats all for now....working on my Summer Manifesto, an address book for a friend and of course the 2 pieces of embroidery that I started over the weekend. LOVE IT!
I had so much getting into my scrap area and {creating}. It's one area that I promised myself and Michael that I would get re engaged in. I am such a {right} brained thinker and I have put it to bed for way too long. So look what I did...
Simple layout of Jillian at 13. Beautiful.
This picture of Justin has been laying around for while. Love the look in his eyes. Finally got it down on a page.
Another layout of the Jill-ster. I always leave the journaling for last as sometimes I just need that perfect saying, quotation or lyrics from a song.
We have taken alot of road trips over the years with our kids. Some of our {BEST} memories are made in the hotel rooms we stay in. This is just one example.
Whoops, didnt edit this one. Took these photos of Jillian on the CalBaptist campus in May 2008.
I love this layout of my tattoo. I couldnt journal about it just yet. This was such a personal and poignant symbol for me.
Last but not least I started this little challenge blog called....52 Pick Up and here is my first ATC card. I actually cut up 15 cards to get me started...no reason to say "no time."
I did a couple more layouts, started to "healing" canvas' and am working on getting two circle journals done for a friend...(Yes, Bee, they are coming your way shortly)
Back in the saddle and I hope to not fall off this year.
New Year.... New Goals...Always persuing....
I have to be honest...I have a ton of irons in the fire right now....teaching, state standards, lesson planning, gymnastics 10 hours a week, Justin's community service at the library.....6 hours a week, the start of highschool baseball, and the "need" of just keeping it all together.
I joined Teresa McFadden's Winter Bella challenge to help me jump start this new year...and so far so good. She encouraged us to "engage" in our word for 2008 and to "create" a sign for it. I loved creating mine so much that I also created one for my mom and Miss Guny.
Mine - PURSUE
My mom's - FAMILY
And Miss Guny's "FOCUS":
I will post my two layouts I did this weekend tomorrow....
So excited...I was not only focused left brained this weekend but also right brained....Hee
I took this from my recent "Soulful Sunday" post at Creativity {Unbound}.
Making art your life is not something that comes about just naturally, it is a habit that we form as we pursue our dreams and desires for our lives. They say it takes {21 days} of solid repetition to form the habits that we desire to surround us. Yep, thats it, just {21 days}, however they have to be solid repetition days, not skipping one here or one there. It's the goal of creating a pattern of a desired result.
Since my life is so hectic and I am on this journey to create art everyday, I realize that I cant always get to my studio to sit and play. Most often now, I am on the go running here and there. So I created a way to take my art with me. I created an ATC journal of sort.
I cut down {21 days} of handpainted watercolor backgrounds (I will share the technique on another Sunday in the future) in 2.5 x 3.5 sizes. Punched holes in them and bound them together with a loose leaf ring. I added a basic embellishment to the blank canvases already so that I had something to work with
add some journaling when the mood hits me, and Walaaaaaaa.... done... I can now carry them with me, as I go about my day and journal as I want. When I am done, and if I feel like I need to add another element, I comme into my studio and randomly grab something that I have available on my table. Not much thinking involved...and I feel a sense of accomplishment, that I let my creative muse play for the day.
This is my blank canvas for today. I added the letter "F" last night because today is all about focusing on getting my college homework done.
The Whole package:
Let me leave you with this quote, that spoke to me this week:
"To be absolutely free to create without fear or formula heartens the soul and opens a path to the joy of living." ~Cesar Monnique
Leave me a comment here if you take the {21 day} challenge.
Finally took some decent pictures of my canvas' that I completed. They are growing on me. I really like them. Now where to hang them. I am feeling like creating an "inspiration" wall for my studio.
I also have up my first "Soulful Sunday" post on Creativity {Unbound}. check it out and if you participate in the challenge, comment here and link your creation to it. I would love to see what you art you live.
Have a fab Sunday...and wake up your muse today.
Thought I would share my challenge that I did on the Creativity Unbound blog today:
I know we are all out and about getting our kids ready to go back to school this fall. Whether its school supplies or clothing, you have a ton of tags to cut off. So what are you doing with all those tags....? Create a layout with them. Nothing difficult just get them down on a layout with a picture of your child on their first day of school.
Here is mine: This is Jillian on her first day of 7th grade. I just glued on some of the tags that I saved from our shopping trip, doddled and wallllaaaa... a "first day of school" layout completed.
