so much to say

I will be doing a post over at winnsangels which will speak more directly to what this journal page is about. In this place, I want to share that I have been adding many fabulous links to this site so it can be a place for you to be reminded of all the inspiration available online and within printed magazines and books. I am quite certain I have left out important sites and publications. But this is definitely a start.

For this journal page, I chose a background I had done a long time ago (cannot remember exactly). I added to it. The page was done in my large Hilroy Studio scrapbook which  had received some water damage while sitting on the floor in our basement during a humid summer. I think it is perfect for art journaling. The water stain adds character.



The next step was the addition of three old small book pages glued down. Looks like I drew some flowers with a white gel pen. The next part I am not certain about. The background colour was done either with watercolour pencils followed by water or watersoluble crayons followed by water. Yesterday I added the black script going vertically (where I discuss this concern of having so much to say). Then I drew the young woman first with pencil, followed by added colour with the watersoluble crayons and water. The white parts of her eyes were dabbed with a tiny drop of white gesso on a stick pin (handiest thing available). I also put a bit of red ink on a stamp with script on it and stamped randomly on top right corner and bottom left corner. I have been using technique of applying ink to only part of stamp, which I learned somewhere along the way from one of my fave artists, Pam Carriker. I used a couple of other stamps with the same red ink. They may not be visible in this part of the page. Whoops.

Links:
watersoluble crayons
winnsangels
Pam Carriker
Hilroy studio scrapbook
Derwent graphic sketching pencils
Inkadinkado stamps 
Dawn Houser "Letter" stamp is one of my all time fave script stamps though not the one I actually used on this page
Copic markers
I believe copic markers are "the best" for using on top of background done with watersoluble crayons.

balance - an art journal page

If I would be asked right now what I seek most within my life, balance would be very high on the list of answers. Of course peace and calm would be marvellous too but balance seems to quite adequately describe everything that I would seek.





As you can see I made this art journal page almost a year ago. If I stop to review the situation, I suppose I have made some progress within the past few months and weeks. Some ways I have tried to seek this balance -
- I try to set the timer for 15 minutes when I am at the computer so I remember to get up and do something different for a few minutes. Sometimes I ignore it or think "just have to finish this". Then I forget. But I am making the effort.
- I am trying to get to bed a bit earlier at night so I get more early hour sleep. Also does not always work. A friend of mine sets her alarm for midnight to remind her to get off the computer. She said doesn't always work either. But sometimes that's when we make our most fabulous finds.
- I am trying to get outdoors to do art when the weather will allow. Even if it is after dark :) It feels good.
- I am trying to go for walks in the country more and enjoy life, rather than just going out cause I need the exercise or need to take dog for a walk.

What are some of the ways you are trying to make more balance? Maybe you would like to write or create a journal page about it.

A little more about the page. As you can see there are words written all over the page beneath the paint. After I painted I think I glued words from a magazine on the number of pages. Later I designed the page around the words.

That's all. How's about going to do a journal page right now? Here are some ideas if you need:
Choose the word blue and journal around that.
Write a question about balance and then answer it. Journal on top of or below some art or maybe around the journal writing.
Choose a word from a magazine. Glue it on a page and try to journal around that.

I would love if you show me by a link or at my Winn and friends group on FB what you come up with. I'll give you new ideas by next Friday, October 15.

Happy Journaling!

one good place to begin with words

I was very fortunate to attend a mini workshop a few days ago with Ray McGinnis as the presenter. Besides being presented with some lovely poetry suggestions, we had writing time and sharing time.

This page includes one of the writings I penned that evening and decided to share.

Much of what Ray speaks to is the writing in the psalms. They provide many examples of ways to journal. For this particular assignment we were asked to record 5 to 10 questions important to us. Then we were to choose one of the questions and write about answers. Typically in the psalms, more questions followed, together with answers. Usually some positive resolution was found.

Some of us are very much into writing, into journaling. Others of us struggle with words to put to the page. For the next week I would like to challenge us to write in response to an important question, of our own determining. If you want to do it in a journal that is fine. If you want to just write on a piece of paper that is also fine. The idea will be to save the writings, every project that you do, so they might eventually be incorporated into an art journal. Perhaps you will choose to some day totally cover, in paint or some other fashion, the words you have written. That is totally acceptable. If you choose to write on a lined notebook page you might like to first apply a layer of gesso to strengthen the page. If you want to write first, and then gesso, that is also appropriate.If you want to do lots of art around right now, that is entirely your choice.

I would like if you share with us your writings. If you are not comfortable sharing the entire piece, then just give us the question, or whet our appetites witha portion. Either leave a link to a blog post or flickr entry here or share a picture or the link at my Facebook group called Winn and friends. If neither of those options works write a note in the comments.


I look forward to your sharings, and to your thoughts.