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.

beading

or that which may help you to get away from your computer (as if anything I say could help to make a difference I know the magical secret). Remeber, this is called tips and tuts - not the answers to every mystery of life.

Some days, many days, my to-do list seems very long. I never seem to get to art. I get tired. I feel frustrated. I know I should do art. I start to feel guilty about not doing art. Suddenly a few minutes open up before me. While I know it would be terrific to paint, I also know I do not have the time to set up for that. I do not have the time for clean up afterwards. Maybe my creative work space is filled with other projects and supplies.
Should I just sit there and mope? Should I cruise around on facebook or twitter? Should I see who I might add to my facebook friends or twitter friends? Maybe I could play a game or two or five or whatever it takes of solitaire? After all, I need to exercise my brain so I might not develop dementia, as many I know.

You know the answers to those questions as I do. The thing is - can I actually follow through on doing the better choice?

The possibility of journaling would be a fabulous choice. Though what if I am too brain tired to even do that? Unfortunately, I find it happens often. So if journaling gets counted out and painting gets counted out - what might I do?

If I want to stay sitting by my computer, probably not the best idea, but, there are a few places I like to visit if I need to be inspired. I find it best to just watch something, like a video. It is best if I try not to have to get involved with comments or questions that need to be typed. Of course there is you tube - I find most of Suzi Blu's videos to be inspiring, also the videos of willowing and Milliande. For me the viewing of fave flickr slideshows can be inspirational as well.

When I am able to talk myself away from the computer, I sometimes find my spirits lifted if I choose one specific stash - fabric or beads or charms - to look through. Sometimes I am inspired. Even if I do not have time to actually start a project, I can be reminded of the splendidness of previous choices and items available.

There are also a couple of creative ventures I have recently found to require very little thought and concentration. The end results can be quite beautiful. One is to crochet with some lovely coloured crochet cotton. I can only do chains, so far, but they take very little thought. The other thing I really enjoy is making long strands of beads. The closures can be a bit more challenging. Provided you have a safe place to keep a strand - leave it to finish for another day.



I need to get away from my puter now so I will wish us all well in finding inspiration even when there is very little energy.

A few links for today:
Milliande
Willowing
Suzi Blu early days
Suzi Blu more inspiration


Flickr slideshow of suesviews

Angels be with you.